travlbug

I love that the first portion of the chapter simply explores the evolving relationship of two new friends. “How many times have you done this, Giaco?” Daniele asked as they passed between the old buildings. “...I dunno,” Giacomo said. “A few times. I’ve been doing this for a couple of months, ever since…” Clearly, a specific event, or set of circumstances, has forced Giaco into his present role, and all we really know is that he feels, at the very least, that he "[doesn't] have a choice." Unfortunately, he is not yet comfortable enough with Daniele to share those circumstances, so Dani is prevented from helping him to find a solution. (Come on, Giaco, please let him know!) I agree that Leggero will be hard pressed to shield Antonio, especially with an eyewitness involved. His situation has become even more untenable. I have gained some respect for Marco: He is willing to fight for his friendship with Giaco and is honorable enough to tell Dani to his face. Perhaps it's time for Giaco to mediate and spare both his friends.

Giacomo may just be acting friendly, but his suggestion to swap clothes with Dani creates more intimacy between them than one would expect for a first play date. While I'm not sure that this is Giaco's intent, the effect on Dani is marked: Their semi-nudity leaves Dani with "unfamiliar and confused feelings," but his ultimate sensation (on leaving Giaco) is being "dazed with happiness...to have the total acceptance of a friend his own age." While he may have experienced something vaguely sexual, the same-age camaraderie is still more important. (That said, our little Dani is growing up. ) Of note, Dani is primarily a thinker and Giaco, primarily a doer, but they complement each other well (even if Giaco pushes Dani somewhat out of his comfort zone ). Giaco may be a criminal scout, receiving a cut of the gang's money, but he wouldn't have known how to seek out Ettore to obtain such a job: Rather, he was likely approached by the gang in view of his circumstances, and he (or any child) would find it hard to say no to a thug who knows where he lives (and where his mother works), where reprisals for refusing the job could be expected. Giaco's relief on confiding to Dani, and his hopefulness on hearing that Ettori's "scheme" could soon "fall apart," suggest that his participation (despite the pay) is not completely voluntary. Lastly, Marco's hatred and resentment of Dani are once again prominently displayed, and their ongoing mention is making me nervous....

Interesting that Dani chooses to confide in Toto and Michelle, the friends closest to his own age; but they still are boys. Dani may feel better after talking to them, but they provide no practical advice for him to follow. Poor Dani! He's right when he says that the world is not always a good place, but he is realizing it for the first time. Yes, there is an inevitable loss of innocence with such a realization, but there is also the evolution of character: Rather than retreat from the situation, Dani follows Filippo, and he gains additional knowledge of the protection racketeers and of Filippo's home circumstances. (He continues to do what he feels is right.) I love the scene where Filippo, the hotshot erstwhile gangster, eats an ice cream and shows himself as little more than a kid himself. (Sadly, he hates his mother enough to ignore her advice regarding Ettore: She may have no obvious affection for her son, but at least, she tells him the truth, whereas Ettore manipulates him with false affection. [Which is worse?]) "The whole scene struck Daniele as a display of wealth at the expense of good taste." If even a child can see how kitschy the home looks.... With due respect to @raven1, Marco doesn't need to have a crush on Giacomo to be jealous of Daniele: He may simply be afraid that Daniele intends to steal away his only male friend. (Sad to say, he doesn't have much else going for him.) Unfortunately, his jealousy may make him easy to manipulate--turn him into a "weapon" against Daniele and even Giacomo--if the bad guys ever gain access to him (but @James Carnarvon would never let that happen...right? ).

After accosting Giacomo after school--and frightening him off--Dani shows unexpected maturity in deciding not to force the issue further. (Yes, Dani, you can't win them all.) I love the scene at the outside bar, with Angelo, Gianni, Pietro, Anna, and Marta: Their discussion of police disinterest/ incompetence beautifully lays the groundwork for the revelation of the police chief's complicity. (So how far does the corruption extend, or is only the police chief involved? [I would think that the rank and file would be fairly suspicious of a chief who declines to investigate crime!] Also, I wonder how long the local constabulary has been corrupt--the chief's whole career or only more recently? Dani is too hard on himself: while I have met some six-foot tall, line-backer-equivalent 12 year olds, Dani isn't one of them. With Ettore and Antonio, hiding is the right thing to do. (Note that while Leggero has some decency left--placing a child's physical safety before his career--Ettore actually orders Antonio to hurt Giacomo [how badly isn't clear] and Antonio has no qualms about doing so. [Antonio is scum: Not only is he willing to hurt a child, but he is also willing to abandon a child with head trauma.]) I think that most children, when faced with Dani's circumstances, would be more than happy to tell an adult and pass the burden. However, Dani's decision to hold his own counsel, albeit at Giacomo's request, shows the depth of his commitment to his "potential" friend (even if it may not be the wisest decision ).

I'm glad to see that Enzo, the local tough, is immediately excluded as a suspect in the protection racket. He's proven himself to be a better person than he portrays himself. That the perps are young and amateurish also excludes the mafia. That said, these punks do mean business. (I wonder if the police have clues we're not yet privy to. Of note, Pietro "sent him [the contact gang member] packing," so he [and the owners of other vandalized businesses] might be able to provide eyewitness identification, including artist sketches and photo identification.) Daniele once again shows himself to be a sweet, intuitive boy, and he tempers his thoughts of being a superhero with what he might more realistically achieve on Giacomo's behalf. His decision to follow Giacomo is also realistic in this context. "So far, Giacomo seemed to have no idea he was being followed. He peered into each of the houses in turn, pausing every so often to make sure nobody was coming down the street. One building, a small workshop that bottled and sold the local Limoncello liqueur, he seemed to examine with particular intensity." If Giacomo's activities are above board, he would have no reason to "[pause] every so often" to check for witnesses. If he were himself checking for suspicious characters, a glance should suffice to show their lack, so his determined study of a specific business at least appears odd. (Of note, Angelo comments on how Elena barely makes enough to run her business, let alone buy new doors, so Giacomo certainly has a money motive if he is acting as a scout for the gang. He might also be helping the gang in lieu of providing protection money, so that his involvement, if any, is forced.) That said, any concern that Giacomo is involved in a criminal enterprise remains mere speculation (at least at this point); and I'm certain that Daniele will continue to investigate to help his potential friend.

Hi, Carlos, your point on Florida politics is well taken. Unfortunately, Mexican black coral has probably been mined past the point of no return. Hawaiian black coral (the official gemstone of Hawaii), which is found in the Hawaiian archipelago itself, is under federal fisheries management and requires a mandatory permit and reporting of the harvest (there is a maximum annual "catch" allowed). Only hand harvesting or submersibles can be used, and no coral can be harvested with a stem diameter less than 1 inch or a height of less than 48 inches. Yay for common sense: With this kind of oversight in place, I can wear my little black turtles without guilt.

A lovely primer on the endangerment of coral reefs (it should be required reading in grade school!). I'm frustrated by the relative lack of attention to this important topic. (While I admit to wearing Hawaiian coral jewelry, the black coral is sustainably farmed, and there is now a moratorium on the harvesting of gold coral.)

Dante's early death in each cycle effectively prevents Dante and Tani from getting together later that cycle. Who amongst the gods benefits by preventing their successful union? Eren says that the Septum feels that they set a bad example: Has the Septum appointed a secret assassin who kills each Dante incarnation before he can correct his mistake (after pursuing Violet)? Might Cale be using his proximity to Tani to foment maximal chaos? Etc., etc. My biggest fear is that, with Dante and Tani closer than ever to a loving union, the unknown villian won't wait for Dante to reach 30 to strike: Rather, he'll have to strike now. In other words, I can't help but think that Dante's life is in imminent danger.

I love villian monologues! 😂

Tani may have unlocked Dante's empathy, but Dante is still a hot head and attacks Landi when he probably didn't have to, just as when he attacks Tani in the garden. I don't know if Dante has burned a bridge with Landi, but the grandmaster refuses tea from Dante's hand and accepts it from Nora's. That said, Landi still seems to support Dante, basically telling him that he's not responsible to fix the problems created by his prior incarnations, but he seems to be missing the point that Dante wants to.

If I were Tani, I'd be annoyed at all the people who address me as "little lordling!" I love that Atri Manor is a character in it's own right. Now, who is the villain who brought black weed to Arturo's vineyard? I wonder if it's actually a god who supports Tani knowing that the black weed would force a meeting between Arturo and Tani! That said, the trail looks like it's leading to the Fox clan: Since Anit herself visits the fortress, could it be the goddess herself? With Tani the bridge between the Fox Clan and Immortal Clan, one would think that he would have been treated with kid gloves instead of punished in a way guaranteed to drive a wedge between the clans lasting a millennium. Eren might get to speak with Anit, but what impetus is there for her to be helpful? Best lines in the chapter: "Go get her [Eren] before she makes all my elder bushes bloom for no reason," and "Damn it, she’s ruining my eco-system." Hahahaha! Sui, kudos for making conversation around a dining table into a riveting chapter!

This chapter makes for a lovely character study, proving that action is not required for a fascinating tale. Interesting that Tani is now the one who is playing harder to get! Kinon is a surprise, but his involvement is logical. That said, his motive remains unknown. (He may be sympathetic towards Tani, yet he still refuses to give him answers and tells him that "my interference is not for you to judge." His reticence to confide in Tani may suggest that Kinon is playing a deeper game.) Ah, so Nora also has information vital to our story, but she's not telling (can't tell)--at least for now.... The reader is always the last to know! 😉

I thoroughly enjoyed this story of the rise of the Sentinels, and I doubt that this adventure will even prove their greatest challenge. And who's to say that their future adventures will be confined to helping only shifters? (Superheroes go where they are needed and give the help they can.) Whatever Elijah is working on, at least he's safe for the present. Further, he has help (the mysterious "Ka--"), so he's not working alone. (I'm waiting on pins and needles for Elijah's story!) Resolution for the hybrid pups--the rescued and the missing--may be months to years in coming, so the novel, by definition, must remain open ended. That said, my anxiety levels will be treatable only by additional stories till all the loose ends are addressed. (I estimate that about 30 stories ought to cover it! ) In other words, @kbois, we've mapped out your entire writing future catering to our insatiable need for incredible stories just like this one. And giving up your day job (so you can write faster) is really a small price to pay.... 😂😂😂 Thanks again for another wonderful read! ❤

I have to remind myself that humans and werewolves are different races with different cultures. The decision to torture the condemned before killing them (particularly Alberts and Nichols) is ratified by the Council; and the executions are watched with satisfaction by those most hurt by their actions. (Reilly is actually invited to torture and taunt his father to ensure that he experiences catharsis.) In werewolf culture, such deaths aren't cruel and unusual, they are justice. This chapter, more than any other, conveys to me just how alien the werewolf culture can be. I love that @kbois juxtaposes Nichols' hatred of Reilly with Caleb's love for Vann. Additionally, through the sex scene between Sebastian and Reilly, she contrasts life and love with the executions themselves. Thus, while the chapter is mostly about justice and retribution, we are also reminded that tenderness, love, and joy are never far away.

Cale, god of calamity, is the lord of dark souls and has jurisdiction over the "dark fort" (which sounds like a cross between a prison and a land of exile), yet a dark soul is crossing to earth without his knowledge or permission. Rather, the inter-court has provided the permission in a manner meant to leave Cale in the dark (pun intended). The question has to be why the court would try to bypass him and leave him ignorant of its proceedings. The only reason that makes sense is that the court is doing something it knows would be unacceptable to Cale, which means that Tani is the likely target. (Ah, the machinations of gods!) Wow! Tani's father (Cale's brother) is a god of light and the most powerful god in the Ekho realm! Yet, even he is unsure of what's going on. (He certainly should know what the inter-court is doing: Does that mean that the dark entity's travel spell is a "forgery?" Is the inter-court involved at all?) Also, it turns out that the fox clan's borders are closed to most of Ekho: Could these machinations actually have come from the fox clan itself? (Is Anit interfering with her child's affairs?) As far as Sunu is concerned, "A feeling has crept over me, the same way it has over the Sentinel. A hidden intent affecting both Anit and Tani": His intuition is that someone, or perhaps some clan, is trying to manipulate both mother and son, so he doesn't see Anit as behind this "intent" at all. Of course, what affects Anit and Tani will affect Sunu as well, but I'm still not sure if these manipulations are benign or an attack on the Ekho power structure itself. (Have we already met the "culprit" or is he/she still off center stage?) Interesting how Sunu assumes that Tani will forgive the gods of Ekho for his thousand years of exile (even Cale has yet to forgive the Septum) and expects Tani to live with him, "his wishes aside…." Somehow, I doubt this will happen. (Sunu really doesn't know his son, does he?) Pain and ecstacy, as Dante finally binds a portion of his soul to Tani. What better Valentine's Day greeting could @lilansui have written? I also wish everyone a Happy Valentine's Day! (I just won't say it quite as eloquently. ❤)

Lushly written, beautifully told.... The golden handcuffs, usually invisible, are a shocking discovery. They may anchor Ryuzo to our world but apparently inhibit his power as well. Fascinating that Cale is the jailer and that he can remove and replace the handcuffs at will (and has done so before. He knows that the prisoner has given his parole and will not try to escape). Dante's warlock powers, the presence of the kara-ot: Someone from the Ekho realm is clearly interfering with Dante's life in a way that has never happened before. The question is whether that interference is benign or has only incidentally, and coincidently, helped bring Dante and Ryuzo closer together. As an aside, I love Nora and the way she chastises Dante for his lack of manners. (She's such a mom! )

Actually, a short story to show the difficulties in retrieving a pup, and to show how the pup has been treated, is a great idea! The needs of the pup immediately after retrieval could also be showcased. (The biggest problem with such a story is that it's certain to make me cry.)

As to the humans involved in "buying" a hybrid pup sex slave, I think that shifter justice should apply. However, the situation is more complex than just executing the purchasers: If the "consumers" get wind of mass killings, they might use the pups as hostages to stave off capture. Worse, they might kill the pups--cut their losses--and attempt to disappear. One possible tactic that Sebastian could employ is to use the Dark Web (or other means, if available) to communicate with these bastards--to offer a lesser punishment (if not amnesty) to anyone who comes forward and voluntarily surrenders his or her pup. Of course, some of the deviants might use such an offer as a warning to escape, but a SWAT team-like rescue for every individual pup may not be feasible and/or could result in the deaths of many of the victims themselves. Another approach--trying to free the pups by stealth--could take too much in the way of time and resources, not to mention prolonging the pups' torture, and still end in the need for a raid. Perhaps the Sentinels have arisen again as the best team available for freeing the hapless pups. Regardless, their rescue will be a messy, heartbreaking process and, even under the best of circumstances, may take months to years.

Caleb is a flawed individual whose heart is in the right place, even though his brain gets it wrong. (He does the wrong things for the right reasons and is not in the same class as Alberts and his gang.) Rather than executing Caleb, which would also hurt Vann (rendering him fatherless [he'll need to be told the truth about his parentage at some point]), Sebastian should consider a creative punishment: For example, he could be put in charge of "suicide" troops, if such were needed, to take down some of Alberts' strongholds. Alternatively, he could be placed in charge of any hybrid pups incapable of being cured (and unable to reintegrate with family or pack) to serve as alpha and caretaker of their own unique pack. Simply executing Caleb would be squandering a resource.

An additional concern regarding the pups is that a cure might be found that doesn't work on all of them. (For example, the oldest of the hybrids may have aged past the window of opportunity where the cure could "take.") The very idea makes me cringe. I really want to see a happy ending for the pups, but it's not even clear that they'll all be found and repatriated before the novel concludes. Of course, if the epilogue reads "years later..."

"Well that fucking snorts icicles." It's 86 degrees (30°C) in the California Southland, my air conditioning is running, and I can't relate. In penance, I think I'll go mountain climbing this afternoon in Santiago Oaks Regional Park. Saw Moonfall yesterday (do yourself a favor and see it in IMAX). Cheesy, yes, but what do you expect of a melodrama? The expected cliches were present in all their glory, and it was wonderful! I can't imagine what the hybrid pups are going through: None of them can speak, and a few have lost their hands and, thus, their ability to write. (The frustration level must be enormous.) They can never pass as Human, and they can never run free as wolves. Further, they have to live with the uncertainty of whether their condition is curable. On top of this burden, the pups trafficked in the preceding years have been sexually abused in addition to experiencing other physical violence. I fear that many of the pups who are ultimately liberated will suffer severe depression and even attempt suicide. (You can give antidepressants, but how can you give therapy to someone who can't communicate?) If a means of reversing the hybridization is never found, then some of the kids will have to resort to pointing at letter boards or perhaps using a computer voice synthesizer (a la Stephen Hawking) to communicate. (Sign language could be used for those with hands, but not for those with paws.) Their reintegration with family and pack will be tough, though not impossible, and their lives will always be hard. From my perspective, the perpetrators of this horrific crime should not be killed but, rather, forced to suffer equivalent hardship. They should pray that a cure can be found for the pups so that they can be provided instead with a merciful death.

Tiny quibble: No army ceases surveillance just before a fight. If anything, surveillance is increased. I choose to believe that the bad guys were able to waltz out of the mine unobserved because of wireless reception difficulties while our heroes were in transit. (Darn this new-fangled technology anyway! ) This explanation is a great excuse as to why their reconnaissance was not up to date but doesn't leave Sebastian with egg on his face for letting the bad guys get away. (This is a classic case of reader interpretation. [I sometimes rewrite whole novels in my head to fit my viewpoint! ])

This wolf pup kidnapping/sex slave enterprise has been going on for years, and the mine facility is more a research center/medical facility than a brothel. (Can you imagine everyone wanting to abuse a pup needing to visit the mine?) It's likely that previously processed pups have been sold and trafficked worldwide and that the research facility pups are the tip of the iceberg. Liberating them has proven an excellent start, but finding--and rescuing--all the affected pups will be a daunting, if not impossible, task. I hope that records located in the mine itself will help to locate additional victims.

The front doors are being monitored by cameras feeding into a laptop. How could Alberts, Belland, and Caleb leave without being noticed? Further, have they been alerted to the battle? (Even in the midst of fighting, someone might have found time in the hour-long tussle to notify Nichols or the Council members.) If not, they may be heading back to the Nichols' pack house. If so, then they may use the chance to flee, and Nichols may be marching on the mine with a small army as we speak. Worst-case scenario: The mine may be rigged with explosives to "get rid of the evidence" in a pinch. I think that Sebastian needs to evacuate the mine immediately and take Nichols, and possibly the other bad guys, at the pack stronghold without delay. I love that Caleb is a wild card: Will he help or hinder our heroes as we approach the end game? Or is it really the end game? Regardless of what happens to the Nichols clan, do Alberts and Belland have other contingency plans to make their escape (and even continue with their despicable enterprise)?

Of course, if you wrote about a chef....