First Impressions

[tato]

Hi everyone!

I really liked the opening scene in 1565. I found it mysterious and gripping. The setting with all the graves is perfect, adds a darker mood to the already desolate and spine tingling night, and one can immediately find itself hooked by the two characters, Chauncey and the mysterious boy. Since I just started reading the book, I have a few theories that have been mentioned on other posts. Could Chauncey be related to Patch? At the begining, I don't know why, I got the impression they might be the same character, the same persona, given that Patch is old enough to be in college. But then, I told myself, what if the mysterious boy is Patch? They seem both manipulative and arrogant, but...do Nephilims grow old? If they don't, then this theory is completely discarded because we know that Patch is older than that boy.

As for the jump in time, I didn't find it troubling at all. I think it's perfect, it accelerates the pacing of the story.

So, in conclusion, I think Patch is there to watch over Nora (the scene where he asks her about the scar she has on her wrist is definitely a pointer) because she is, of course, involved in the whole Fallen Angel business (the things she sense at nights are a pointer, too). Whether good or bad, time will tell.

For those of you just opening the novel, this is a thread to get started with. What do you make of our opening scene in 1565? What impression do you get of Chauncey, or the mysterious boy who seems to be able to manipulate him? Was is jarring to turn the page and find yourself in a contemporary setting? What might the opening tell us about the novel to come?

[malcocer]

I think Chauncey is very unsure of himself, and doesn't enjoyed being controlled, although he does laugh at his situation to himself in irony. The "mysterious boy' seems to be a fallen angel, while revealing that Chauncey is half fallen angel. Will the mystery boy show Chauncey more about his familial history and a greater purpose?

[mjcwriter]

Well, now that I'm finished with the novel, I'll have to go back a reread that prologue.  At first impression, I love the setting, the dark mystery of it and the gritty characters. Since I knew (from the back cover) that the bulk of the novel takes place in a modern setting, I wasn't jolted and actually I sped through reading the prologue and didn't get too hung up on the mention of the Nephils and the month of Cheshvan, thinking I'd be getting more details later.

Chauncey seemed like a stuck up rich kid with no backbone. 

I think the prologue is essential to establishing a tone for the novel and give some history to the characters or story I'm about to read...

Mary Jo

writerinspired.wordpress.com

[khimair]

the truth, I pass it quickly, not appreciated. Is assessed and reread more carefully when I finished to read the book and go back to the front pages.  In that stage, I understood clearly and enjoy it

[khimair]

I think the same:

I think the prologue is essential to establishing a tone for the novel and give some history to the characters or story I'm about to read...

And i think that the prologue of this book reach the goal...

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mjcwriter wrote:

Well, now that I'm finished with the novel, I'll have to go back a reread that prologue.  At first impression, I love the setting, the dark mystery of it and the gritty characters. Since I knew (from the back cover) that the bulk of the novel takes place in a modern setting, I wasn't jolted and actually I sped through reading the prologue and didn't get too hung up on the mention of the Nephils and the month of Cheshvan, thinking I'd be getting more details later.

Chauncey seemed like a stuck up rich kid with no backbone. 

I think the prologue is essential to establishing a tone for the novel and give some history to the characters or story I'm about to read...

Mary Jo

writerinspired.wordpress.com

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[dunicable]

I liked that the opening scene was in the past. I think it provides some background for the rest of the book; although I feel that mentioning fallen angels gives too much away. I did not find it jarring to turn the page and begin in a contemporary setting. Many books do this and the transition was not difficult to understand.

[molie111]

I really like the beginning part with Chauncey. It was really cool how it was written and how it was a very long time ago. It made me want to keep reading.

[kanellio65]

I was not upset with the change. I like books that jump around either from diferent characters narrating or from different time periods. I want to know more about the mysterious boy. So far Chauncey isn't that interesting to ome

[JosieKramer]

I remember reading a poster on here stating that a lot of Spanish based reviews took offense to a characters face being described "as dark as a Spaniards"

My entire family is from Spain.  Some are darker skinned and some are so white they are almost see-through.   There are definitely different shades of Spaniards.  As in every race.  While it did seem odd when I read it, I understand why it was written.  When most people think of Spaniards they think darker olive skin.

[PureImaginatio…]

I love when books start out with a bit of mystery. After the the opening scence I was left with a lot of questions. That makes me keep turning pages so I liked it. I did not like Chauncey at al. He seemed very spoiled but I was very intrigued with the other boy.

[Mariandy]

Actually I rather enjoyed the 'historical' twist at the beginning . . . but then I'm a huge fan of historical fiction. To me, thought, it added not only a nice layer of intrigue but a little foreshadowing about things to come, and that set the pace. I *want* to know what happens to Chauncey . . . and how he is connected to the characters in the contemporary story.

[girlie0620]

I enjoyed the prologue- it started my engine- so to speak. I was very hooked from the beginning of this book. Becca's writing flows and that got me very involved in the story. 

[Popper19]

The prologue really drew me in.  I didn't put the book down until I was through chapter 9 last night!  I didn't think I was going to enjoy the book as much as I am.

[lg4154]

I really did not care too much for the historical background and had to kinda review it again. It was a foreshadowing of the novel to come, I am not a fan of the historical aspect of it. Chauncey seemed to be a little of the bully type to me.  I was thrilled when it jumped to present day.

[ras1513]

I really enjoyed to opening to this book with the different time setting and everything. However I feel like it may or may not have given something away that I personally think it shouldnt have. Overall though I loved the diolaug that the opening had and how it went right into the first chapter.

Rachel =)

[jaxz_book-babe]

I thought it was a very mysterious opening setting it up like that. When the mysterious boy appeared I knew some sort of bond was going to be formed between him and Chauncey. I fell in love with the mysterious boy as he was walking away and Chauncey saw "...two thick scars on the back of the boy's naked torso. They narrowed to form an upside-down V." That was described so perfectly right then you knew he was special in some way.

[tato]

Yes, I am, too, Spanish descendant and I can vouch for what you're saying. There is a wide skin-tone scale in Spain. Some are ghostly white and some are deeper tanned. I do understand why Becca used this simile. She wanted us to picture an olive skinned boy. But there is a lot of people out there who won't get this image quite straight. It may be confusing.

I really do think she should use anoter simile, just for the sake of clarity.

[LCriste]

What impression do you get of Chauncey, or the mysterious boy who seems to be able to manipulate him?

I found the opening scene intriguing, although I generally don't read historical books (I have nothing against them, I just tend to gravitate towards other books). I began to enjoy Becca Fitzpatrick's writing style immediately. Chauncey seems to be arrogant and I disliked his character immediately. I wanted to know more about the mystery boy before I was finished with the chapter. So many questions! Hopefully they'll all be answered before the book is finished.

I wasn't jarred from turning the page and finding myself in a contemporary setting, I found it exciting! I was curious to find out how what I'd just read would influence the pages to come.

[photogirlMO]

I felt that the opening scene was a little like reading a play by Shakespeare. What I mean is, you are kind of dropped right into the middle of a story without any lead in or background information, and have to pick up what is going on by the contextual clues of the dialogue. It was an interesting way to start the book, and then I found it kind of jarring that it switched to modern day. However, as I kept reading, it was interesting to think back to that very first scene and try to figure out who those characters were and if they were both in the modern day story. But most importantly, using that little snippet as a clue to determine character motivation- who is good, who is bad and why?

[Lil_Irish_Lass]

I agree with others, I personally wish that the prologue lasted longer - hopefully the questions that it caused will be answered later in the novel. I almost wish it had stayed in the past, but then again that wouldn't be the point to this story I guess.

Sure Chauncey comes across as spoiled and privileged but that's the nature of the timing. Those born in to wealth in the 1500s would have been like that and it would be normal behavior, not exactly a direct reflection on their person. The mysterious boy is very intriguing and I want to know more about him.