Stephen

I love to read your work because it's so clean and well written. The characters are colorful and interesting but I'm not sure what side they're all on and what their functions are. Could it be that you are being purposefully oblique? Intentionally vague? Not you surely! Really, what silly ideas I have... We know that Nero's a snake, and a toxic one. Agent Crawley and Mrs. Sterling are good guys and fun, -handy to have around. Triskeleth and that Tempest woman are vague in purpose still, but have crazy scary abilities. No idea about Theo except he's hot and I hope not evil since he's a potential love interest. Order and Conclave? -ask me later. Oh, and Baby's fledged. Do I have anything right so far?

A big surprise, -another one that I didn't expect. I don't envy Liz now that she has this huge new grief and a load of remorse and explaining to deal with. This is a fascinating tale, I'll be looking for the next part.

I expected drama and fire and brimstone, but this surprised me, AND maybe I'm wrong but Caleb's vision is already being enhanced by Satan and they aren't even in Hell yet. Just shocking!

Liz has a clear and capable mind, among other gifts.

Tragic, but we were warned. That still doesn't make it easy to accept. It never does. I'm glad I'm not that doctor. This is a sharp, short scene but very effectively written and we haven't even gone to hell yet.

The story description indicated the death, not whether or not it was suicide or a car wreck. I think we readers were well warned. I've read enough of your work to know that you don't deal out drama and emotion in half measures. So, now when do we go to Hell?

So it begins, and Ethan's heart is broken, and Caleb is filled with frustrated concern. I'm apprehensive now, having read your story description, that things will happen fast now.

I was reading another remarkably similar story at the time that this one appeared. Both centered around a main character who was a scion of a wealthy Florida family in the Palm Beach area and the attempt of each young man to escape the oppressive hypocritical snobbery there and the burden of coming from a society family. This tale has a happy and conciliatory outcome following Toph's escape into the world of small town America and more 'normal', unpretentious people. Toph becomes a stand alone personality all his own without the involvement of his family. His success in becoming his own person instead of just an appendage makes everyone come to respect him, -even his own family. It is a fine, well written story that I recommend to everyone.

Yes, like Glennish above, I worry about little fluffy in the storage shed burning it down with a pyro-belch and I also find myself, like any concerned parent, asking 'Just how big is this thing gonna get?' It's like some cute little reptile that Junior brings home that ends up really being the giant anaconda that eats every dog and cat in town before turning to the neighbors themselves. That is a cool trick being able to brown your own meat on the way to your gaping maw. This reminds me of the hibachi restaurant I ate at last week with all those flying chunks of meat and leaping flames. I digress... I am now in love with this story.

I picture a winged, red variegated horned devil the size of a cat and with similar movements and attitude. Doesn't sound very cute, but maybe the looks grow on you?

I didn't know about this story until now when strangely enough a notification for Chapter 3 appears. I'm so glad it was there. I like this and will tell you about it but I've got more chapters to read...

I was thinking about your stories tonight and I accidentally found this discussion. I'm not sure I'd know how to do it again and I want to offer my thoughts on the matter (as if they do matter): Do what you have the strongest desire to do. Unless you've signed a contract to complete the trilogy, then take yourself away from it for a while and do something less engrossing to work on. I can tell by the quality and intensity of your work that it likely absorbs you, and since you don't seem to do things in half measures, do something for pleasure, -yours that is, and enjoy your talent. When a project becomes a burden then it becomes something different than it was before, less pleasant and more like an obligation. Basically, I'll read anything you publish. Just bring Shay and Mira back when you're ready and don't forget!

I just now read your comment from Wednesday, and I didn't expect to see a response. Cephas is a likeable character, but is really secondary to Adlai and Tavi. I like the way you portray him and can't think of any reason to change him, -or the story for that matter. It is a tragedy, and those are sad and this one is no exception. Unless you are dissatisfied, then don't change a thing. Now if you are thinking about writing a story about Cephas' adventures I'd read it. But that's a differet matter, isn't it?

I can't say that the last chapters were easy to read, -there's too much pain, death and betrayal there for my taste. There is a detachment in the biblical version that seems to moderate the story. Your version is personal and touches the emotions and the pain is sharp. I suppose that's a sign of a talented writer. What you say in the final paragraph here couldn't be more true, and is the most important message to take away from this tale.

I didn't know the story of Horus, and it certainly does have a lot in common with the story of Jesus. I wonder why this is not better known. Were these similarities suppressed?

I had an idea that Hamal was going to be Momma Sharkness' dinner, but I hoped you'd pick somebody else, somebody less sweet and loveable. Maybe somebody unknown or even disliked. Art imitating life I suppose, -or is it the other way around?

Does this chapter explain why Adlai probably never has another woman in his life? There are people who only love once in life and maybe Adlai is one of those. I'm glad to know that Cephas is doing well in Egypt, even if he's living with a dreadful catamite (Oh the HORROR!). I hope he's fun.

The boys are each suddenly scattered and I hope that their ingenuity and skills will see them through these changes. This is definitely a different kind of story from your others, no doubt about that, and I am still intrigued.

A brutal chapter ending after the unexpected start. The world was a hard place then, and isn't very different now, same bad things happening to good people.

I always enjoy your stories and they never disappoint, so this departure from the norm has my interest, mostly I wonder where it is going. I'll need to read on and see. The missing 20 years eh?

I have had more than one person like your Jeb character in my life. It seems that I attract them and I have no idea why but I can't deny the truth. Blondes do predominate among them but the one actually named Jeb shaved his head, so I can't say for sure. Bobcat cubs are cute but they do mostly just hiss and spit, -perfect analogy for a Jeb. You had me laughing at that. As far as how "cats in a blender" sound, I can only think of a karioki birthday party I went to once and the memory still makes me shudder. So, in a nutshell this chapter made me laugh and it made me cringe. Good work!

I've never kept a diary but after reading this I sort of wish that I had, since it seemed to help Reggie so much to come to terms with himself and who he is. It allowed him to break out of his shell and to like himself. It was good for me too because it is a dynamic story and the format really drops you in it...and as I said before, I love the bold comments, -just like Mr. Byrd. Reading this story also shows me how different the world can be (and actually is in some places) and it makes me happy to know that even though this is fiction, reality can be better now than ever. As usual, you use your gift to portray a young boy's mind full of contradictions and ironies all under the heavy influences of hormones and an endless need for experience. So much in life is new and exciting only once. You take us back there, and thank you for that. I'm so glad you wrote it.

I like this opening chapter. Your characters are interesting and make me want to know more about them, so I suppose that I'll need to keep reading to do that. ..and I will.

Why yes Reggie, I do have a 10' pole, and I keep it just inside the front door of my house. I put it there because sparrows kept trying to build a nest under the eves over the front steps, dropping twigs & stuff and making a mess. They don't do that anymore, but the pole stayed and I'd use it to repel persistent solicitors if necessary, -drive them off the porch, you know. Really it only stays there because there isn't a better place to keep it and I tell visitors I use it when my friends misbehave or won't leave. Then I'll shove them off the porch and down the front steps with it. Actually I've never used it in over 20 years. Not saying I haven't wanted to however... I'm glad to know a teenager who's thought about regret and remorse at such a young age, but I'll tell you now that they only grow with age.

Good riddance to Linda. I don't care enough about her to hate her, but if I did I would. I have no time or patience for stupid, unhappy and selfish hypocrites. Giles is better off without her. People like her are always like a dark cloud on the horizon. I feel sad about the children, -they don't deserve all the drama. Maybe you could kill her off so she won't ruin their childhoods?