This is a big one, folks! However, it's one of my favorite parts of the novel (as written so far...!) I apologize for any inconsistencies in worldbuilding spellings; again, I'm attempting not to revise, but to just move forward.
Feedback is SO welcome!
Been going back and forth here, trying to get a handle on how the calendar works. I think I would probably be helped on a bit if I knew French at all. As I do not, the context clues have been rather helpful. And I am very glad for the articles that Reinhold included. They at least give the order of the months. I'll probably have to keep referring back to that for a little while. Although, on that question of how to present a calendar, I think a page devoted to community happenings might be useful. An event might happen on the very last day of the month, so as to give an idea how long the months are. Or if this world even goes by the standard 365-days-to-a-year timetable. As it stands right now, I can't make the count fit. But that can come later.
ReplyDeleteI've heard of bella donna being used to have some brightening effect on the eyes, but I never understood how it was to be done. And Giselle's adverse reaction to it was quite interesting. So her eyes are hyper-dilated and occasionally contract enough for her to see specific details? I bet Mundanity meant for her to use the oil to "open her eyes" to Snow's true character or something, but I will not adjudge his intentions too benevolently yet. I can't really say why, but I'm kind of hoping he proves himself to be a mild sort of villain. The sort where I find him to be obnoxious, and later the heroine finds him to be obnoxious, too, and casts him out of her society for being an all-around wart. And then I get to cheer and thumb my nose at him in my imagination. Or something like that. Aside of that, though, I really want to know what causes Giselle to see some things when most of the time she can't get the light to go away.
Dr. Snow is interesting to me. I can't quite place him yet. I want to see more of him. Luce makes me think of Caroline Bingley, only she sounds prettier. Nice introduction of a rudimentary stethoscope, by the way.
The allusions to magic and the Coliseum of the Gates and Ylondas once again makes me think of Diana Wynn Jones' "Chrestomanci" books. Particularly of "Witch Week" and "The Lives of Christopher Chant". The other thing that keeps bugging me is all the references to some kind of Liberation. I keep wanting to know what the population was liberated from, how long ago, and why. Plus, I keep wanting to know the world's history. And many other things that may not be related to the story itself but would help explain details. But then, I am something of a detail nut, and to indulge every question I have may help flesh out the world but might not move the story any further.
Ah well. Many questions to be answered. I'll keep reading. Maybe I'll find some answers.