Reader 1:
Q: What other comments do you have for the author?
“A great sequel – I really enjoyed reading it.”
Q: Please provide comments on the character arc and development of Zara. Is her growth
story compelling?
“Yes, it is much more compelling and intriguing.”
Q: Please provide comments on the character arc and development of Peter. Is his growth
story compelling?
“Yes, like Zara’s character, much more compelling and intriguing.”
Q: How did you react to the relationship between Zara and Peter? Compelling? Forced?
“Because both characters’ developments were more compelling, so was their
relationship. It flowed much more naturally”
Reader 2:
“The opening intriguingly compares irony as a gift from a dark god, which in hindsight, nicely fits into the ironic ending of the Messiah being [deleted spoiler]. The prologue is that of another piece of the oral tradition linking to a blue light that must be found, a continuation of book 1’s lore. It was interesting reading the events of 1944 seeing as both Nikolas Gollinger (Peter’s relative) and Ghurdzi (Rachel’s relative) experience torments, not only related to the sensitive political situation of the Nazis.
The link between the two characters begins when Ghurdzi convinces the professor Gollinger that his wife, Ariella (a much later recurring character) is integral to the legend. Instead of this being a misunderstanding on his part, we much later find out the importance of her descendants in the grand scheme of the plot. When Nikolas enters the cave, it is described as smelling like life, and his life is spared in the cavern after relaying the tradition to a mysterious woman. Even a Murometz is tied in with the backstory, capturing the reader’s interest. This sets the tone of the rest of the story, hinting at the dynamics to come in terms of character relationships.
I found it interesting that despite the events of Book 1, Peter and Alexander have moved on to collaborate, while Zara is the only one with a grudge. The 5 sense algorithm is the method used to link to visions of the past, however, Zara and Peter have their own special method. I like the inclusion of Zara’s theory that over time men altered the ancient traditions to include perverted fantasies. This ties in well with how Alexander is painted as a master manipulator, insistent on her and Peter getting together, and revealing that the events of the past were simply to activate dormant genes for the second part of their mission. This links to the plot point that requires becoming with child, finding the second object, and ultimately returning to the cavern of the blue light. At the book signing event,
Beverly Fontaine seems to be coming from a psychological standpoint, however, she calls Zara delusional and pretty much exposes her to something traumatic, adding to what will later become the plot point of having doubt in the voice’s existence. The early chapters introduce Rachel as a key character and go into detail about her and Mei’s investigation of an ancient tablet and pendant from an old temple. These appropriately set the
foundation for the rest of the book.”