travlbug

"[Kage] felt an overwhelming need to be as close to Elijah as possible." Are we sure that "fated mates" occur only with animal shifters? (If Kage were ultimately moved to give up his present profession for Elijah, would the "family business" let him, or would it try assassinating Elijah instead? [I can imagine a point in the story where Kage has to turn on his "family" to keep Elijah safe!]) I love the possible tie-in between Huntington and the missing pups. It wouldn't hurt to query the Montana pack to see if Huntington is on its radar! I'm not sure why Kage wants to search the house before searching the Bel Air (other than to give him more time with Elijah! ), but even when the laptop is found, I'll bet its hard drive is clean. (The paydirt thumb drive will be hidden either in the battery compartment or elsewhere in the case! [I'm trying to think like Kbois, but I'm just getting thirsty for peanut butter liquer! ]) Double cheese pizza? Add anchovie and mushroom,, and we're in business!

"I'm all yours." Does Giaco mean that he is finally at Dani's disposal (i.e., available), or does he mean what Dani hopes he means? 😏 When Dani agrees to a "date" at the beach, Giaco doesn't hug or kiss him: he wrestles him, though wrestling can also require intimate contact. I have to wonder at the ambiguity of these actions–to wonder if Giaco has yet to understand himself. “What are we really doing here, Giaco?” Daniele asked. I'm not sure if I'm horrified by Dani's lack of subtlety or proud for his speaking his mind. However, Giaco can't give him an answer when he doesn't know himself. Yes, he'd save Dani "in a heartbeat" like Dani did for him, but Dani wants to know "what IS that feeling" motivating him–obligation, friendship, or love. Even when Giaco finally says "I love you," he follows up by saying, "I’m not exactly sure which way." As frustrated as he must feel, Dani must accept the ambiguity if he wishes to accept his friend. Once again, Dani has an epiphany rare for someone his age–that love doesn't have to destroy friendships: "I was just thinking… can’t we all go back to being friends? Everything that’s happened this summer… it just seems to have split us all up." Fortunately, Emelia agrees: "I miss the way things were, too." Hopefully, the whole group will see reason, though Marco (who needs friends most) will likely be the hardest to convince. To Daniele’s horror, [Claudia] swooped down on him, tormenting him with a slow kiss on the cheek. (See, Dani, it's not the kiss but the kisser who counts! 😂😂😂) Another clue about Sami?: Gianni notes that Marina's house "...feels like a home," with Angelo following up by saying, "And that’s what we think we need…especially now we….” 😊 OK, guys, we'll pretend we didn't hear you! 😉 Marco, I’m sorry for what happened, and I miss you. Please be my friend again. Love, Dani. Another way that Dani and Marco are alike is that Dani will strive for what he wants, and he won't give up on Marco easily. He understands that what Marco needs most is friends (though I don't think that Dani will forget their kiss 😊), but the big question is how to break through Marco's walls. 🤔 (Of course, he'll have to find him first.... )

A 1955 Chevy Bel Air as part of his father's estate and not even delivered yet! I agree with many of my fellow readers that the missing laptop is hidden in the car! (BTW, I love that car, and we still see quite a few of them on the roads in Orange County [CA], where we have more than a few classic car clubs!) I wonder if Elijah's father bid for the car himself or if it would be helpful to search the auction records. (Just because the car is in the father's name and mentioned in the will doesn't mean that it was acquired personally. In fact, if the car were a gift, or forced into his possession, the parents may not even have known that it contains the missing laptop!) As he was leaving, he got the feeling again of being watched. He assumed the source, but couldn’t pinpoint it. …He was extremely lucky to have caught the shadow shifter the first time. He highly doubted he would ever do it again. Kbois cleverly provides an answer as to why Elijah is able to see Kage in shadow mode the first time but not when he's actively looking. (Of course, never say never! [What Elijah really wants, when it comes to Kage, is airport body scanner vision. ]) At the moment, Elijah knew he would need to find the elusive shadow shifter again. How to do it was the problem. Elijah has just made the internal commitment to investigate his parents' murders. If he's smart, he'll enlist the aid of his werewolf friends (and I'm rooting for him to be smart. Besides, I like werewolves! ). Kage has refused mayonnaise and offered information about Elijah's parents–two brilliant moves guaranteed to enlist Elijah's cooperation. (He may be a killer, but at least he has taste. ) "You didn’t order the hit. Huntington probably did." Why would Huntington blackmail Elijah's parents into hiding the laptop and then kill them for following his instructions and without knowing where they hid it? 🤔 Kage's reasoning seems faulty, though his observation about the blackmail is frighteningly plausible. "I kill. I steal. I torture. I leave behind broken families, widows, orphans. I told you once, I do a lot of bad things. I meant it." "That doesn’t make you a bad person,” Elijah whispered…. Really? OK, Elijah, your moral compass is clearly pointing to a different pole. Hmmm. What would be the danger of discussing Sebastian with Kage? If anything, Elijah's connections may actually protect him, and informing Kage may actually be wise.

Now that they were friends, their old enmity was quickly forgotten. Marco and Dani would make a great role models for adults! …The smaller boy thrived on Daniele’s attention and, in a reversal of his earlier combative stance to praise, he seemed to have become hungry for compliments. Uh oh, if Dani's not careful, Marco may develop an emotional dependence…. Oops, too late! For a casual get-together at home, Marco is "wearing his nicest shirt" for Dani, and he brushes his hair. He also gifts Dani with a piece of artwork. Unfortunately, Dani seems clueless as to the meaning of these gestures, though perhaps his emotional radar doesn't work as well when he is the subject. (I love that, while Marco wears his nicest shirt, Dani wears no shirt at all when introducing Marco to his own home ; and it takes Marco touching his hair before he figures out what's going on! ) Marco's innate goodness is again on display when he's found to have adopted a sparrow. (Unlike Federico, Fellini did not work for breadcrumbs. ) Most doting parents have scores of children's pictures decorating their home. However, Marco's home does not: "...A framed photograph…stood on the television table. It was one of the only decorative items in the room. …It showed Marco standing outside the house with a couple whom Daniele took to be his parents." There's not a single solo picture of Marco in the room. Perhaps it's because the parents don't own a camera. However, possibly even more telling, there is none of his artwork either. While Marco's parents are not technically neglectful, they do not appear particularly supportive. (Marco's deft hand in preparing lunch also speaks of a boy who takes care of himself.) No wonder Marco looks for validation/affection where he can find it. Sadly, Marco isn't out at home, and I love the contrast between the boys' experiences in this regard: Daniele shrugged. “[My parents] seemed to know before I did,” he said…. “And they were okay with it?” Marco asked hopefully. Daniele nodded. “They were fine.” So how well do Marco's parents really know their son? Do they suspect (or know) that he's gay and simply don't care, or do they pay him so little attention that they don't have a clue? Laura raised a hand and offered Daniele a smile. He waved back, but it was Giacomo who really had his attention. The dark-eyed boy was glancing from Daniele to Marco, and he looked a little hurt. The difference between an adult and child: The adult would say to Laura, "Let's join them," while the child walks away feeling wounded. "In the darkness, Daniele felt the smaller boy’s hand sneak into his own." I have come to have great respect for Marco's character: He knows what he wants and goes after it. (He'll even fight for it.) That said, his sterile home life has led to emotional dependence, and he rebounds from Giaco to Dani. His big mistake is acting on his wishes without talking to Dani first. He has no sense of proportion, and he exposes his soul in an "all or nothing" manner; and he interprets Dani's attempt at a gentle letdown in the same vein, seeing it as a crushing rejection accompanied by "pain and humiliation." Of course, Dani will want to mend their friendship; but with their relationship so fractured, even Dani may not be able to fix it.

Too crowded!

Awww! I vote for bunny cliffies! (So cute!)

"Trapped beneath him, the shapeshifter couldn’t transform as long as they were in physical contact with each other." Since when is this a rule? (I know, since Kbois just said so…. ) A shadow transformer! I presume that this ability also masks Kage's smell, or it would be worthless against animals. Also, it can't be an absolute transformation, or Elijah wouldn't have noticed him in the first place. Ah, Elijah's parents have indeed been keeping secrets, and the kahuna secret is on a mysterious, missing laptop. We also know that Kage is an assassin. Now, Kage does not kill Elijah's parents, but would he have done so if he had arrived before the true killers? 🤔 Also, why is the laptop suddenly so popular? Is the secret time sensitive? Further, how does Huntington's laptop even find its way to the parents' home? (I.e., are the parents set up as patsies, are they middle men for a secret organization, or are they actually super spies who save the world around their day jobs? 🤷‍♂️) Question Elijah, then kill him? The fae boss apparently has no qualms about killing the innocent, but as fae, he's probably amoral as opposed to being evil. Lucky for Elijah that Kage has a newly discovered fetish for naked strawberry-blond twinks! 😉 Elijah's link to Sebastian has got to be a headache for Kage: He's no longer dealing with an isolated orphan but, instead, a man with connections to the highest level of the animal shifter world. I'm sure the boss would not be pleased to find the might of that world allied against him and his organization, and it suddenly makes more sense for Kage to work with Elijah if he wants to access the animal shifters' backing. (Come to think of it, I don't think that Kage really needs an excuse to spend more time with Elijah–he just has to figure out a way to do it unclothed! ) Of course, the chapter ends on a cliffie: Kage lays in wait "to get Elijah by himself," so we seem to be waiting for a kidnapping! (Or perhaps, Kage can convince Elijah to hop into the car, though I think he'd find that option to be much less fun! )

As the group waits for Toto's arrival from the hospital, Daniele works his magic: He notes that Michele looks "ill-at-ease" and queries him about his feelings. (He "found himself drawn to him"--he literally can't help himself.) When Michele expresses his ambivalence, Daniele's response is the perfect balm: "'He loves you,' Daniele assured him," and he follows his statement with a hug. (Sigh.) “Ciao, Michele,” Toto said. “How’ve you been?” For a second, Michele’s mouth trembled with some deep, suppressed emotion, and then he slapped Toto hard across the face. Sometimes words are not enough to express a feeling, though Michele slaps him rather than punches him, an action calculated to cause pain (as Michele has been feeling pain) without causing lasting injury. Of note, when Michele "storms" away, he doesn't go far enough to prevent Toto from following him should he wish to…. 😉 A hug, a slap, a couple holding hands after estrangement, an undemonstrative father placing an arm around his son–I love how James uses body language to convey complex emotion more beautifully and concisely than words ever could. As for Sami's fate, it's Daniele who enquires (shame on everyone else for failing to do so, though I'd like to think they'd have gotten around to it): As per Toto, "Sami…[had] taken more smoke than I had, but the doctors said he was going to be fine. …He was going to be taken to a reception centre…." So physically, he'll recover; but as Gianni states, "It’s cruel to think of him lost in the system like that, with nobody to care for him. Having come close to that myself for a little while…." (I love the parallel that Gianni draws between Sami and himself.) Claudia's subsequent pronouncement is a stunner: "'What if there is a better way?' she mused." She can't be thinking of taking him herself, as she is about to leave for college. That said, we have a sudden ray of hope–however mysterious–as to Sami's disposition. Ah, the old "red rubber ball instead of a tomato" trick! 😂 Glad to see that Daniele can be mischievous as well as angelic (he is a boy, after all), with Giaco acting the devil on his shoulder! Giacomo pounced on him, and Daniele found himself pulled into a tight and unexpected embrace. …"Don’t mess with me like that, Giaco,” [Dani] said quietly. "It’s not fair." "I’m not," Giacomo murmured. "At least… I don’t think I am." More body language! Actually, while the embrace shows that Dani is dear to Giaco, there is nothing more to it–no kissing, no petting–and I doubt it means anything more than what Giaco states--that he's missing his best friend. ("Is this love?" I hope that Dani doesn't get hurt by reading too much into Giaco's actions.) Speaking of devils, hell has just frozen over (and flying pigs can be seen in the distance): After seeing Dani's discomfort around Giaco and Laura, Marco finally accepts Dani's hand in friendship. ("How DO you go from enemies to friends? Where do you begin?": Somehow, I feel that Dani is the perfect person to figure it out. 😊)

I remember the "Red Bull gives you wiings [sic]" commercials! (You can still see a bunch of them on You-Tube!) I love the vignette! The mind picture of Dani flapping his wings is just too funny. (And of course, Dani is the one who gets to fly!) Thank you, James; you've made my day. And now it's time for coffee....

I think that Dani is punished more by Patricia's bathing him than by her scolding him! Poor Dani! He feels responsible for Toto's injury and Sami's seizure by the authorities: Despite the absolution he receives from others, he cannot absolve himself (the price he pays for being a sensitive soul). "Does it really count as helping to save a life, if I failed to do something earlier that could have prevented the whole business?" He is still too young to have perspective and to discount the fantasy of "what might have been." Interesting that Dani is given orange juice instead of cappuccino when he sits with the Toto support group. (At what age do Italians start drinking coffee? I was an inveterate coffee drinker by age 12! ) Gianni says, "What is it about this place that keeps breeding heroes?" However, Claudia rejoins, "What is it about this place that keeps breeding people who need rescuing?" (It's all in your perspective! [See, Dani, there's that word again….]) Hmmm. Gianni wants children, and Sami needs parents. (Some foreshadowing, maybe?) I love that an impediment to adoption is immediately voiced, with Italian law noted as hostile to gay adoption: Even if Gianni wants to adopt (and Angelo agrees), it may not be possible–at least unless James has a trick or two up his sleeve. Dani deduces Marco's whereabouts to be the Villa Cimbrone gardens. I love this sequence, as it shows that Dani is intelligent and not just another pretty face. Of course, finding Marco is only half the battle, as Dani still wants to obtain his friendship. When Marco hears that Dani has braved fire to rescue Sami, he expresses concern: "Were… are you okay?" he asked. (As one doesn't usually express concern for a hated rival, his query may suggest that his attitude is softening.) Subsequently, he shows grudging respect for Dani as a hero. He is also touched by the idea that Dani comes looking for him (to discuss Sami). With his "armor weakening," he agrees to let Dani walk with him. While he does run away (when Dani presses him too hard), he returns after Dani injures his knee--an action which shows loyalty/obligation (despite his words to the contrary). Now, it's time for Marco to be the hero--on Dani's behalf--and he performs admirably to get Dani back to his home. By this point, the trajectory of the boys' actions is obvious: Marco may not be ready to shake hands with Dani, but they have formed a connection nonetheless.

Remember, Elijah, SUVs always make a nice thank-you gift! And you're returning to California! (My neck of the woods! Maybe I'll finally recognize some of the geographic locations in the story!) His parents, murdered? What would be the motive? We suddenly have a murder mystery on our hands! (Also, as per the comics [with only a few exceptions], you can't be a superhero without a tragic family background. ) Ah, Tyler is the trustworthy, lifelong friend who's in on Elijah's secret. The setup is complete! "Mama dropped off chicken enchiladas. You want some? If you say no, I’m supposed to call her." The ultimate threat! (I love the mention of food in Kbois' stories!) "How the two of them had gotten away with the shit they did when they were younger, he’d never know." Actually, Elijah, the answer is simple: Mrs. Williamson let you! Hmmm. The house is trashed, suggesting a search. (If murder were the key object of the home invasion, then the perps would have been in and out as fast as possible, without the "trashing.") I wonder if the parents were keeping a secret? "When he shifted into an animal, he gained that animal’s ability in regards to its senses." Hey, wait a second! Wasn't it established in Spirit Wolves that Elijah demonstrates the form but not the abilities? Perhaps I'm mistaken, or perhaps his abilities are evolving with time…. I love the introduction to Kage! Of course, if Kage is a bad guy, then why is he hanging around the murder scene? (He may be looking for the same secret which caused the murderers to trash the house.) Also, how many bad guys introduce themselves (super villains excluded) and oogle their prisoners? (Note that Kage restrains Elijah but does not hurt him. He doesn't even appear armed!) All we really know is that Kage is supernatural (he can disguise himself as a void) and that he's hot! And of course, the Queen of Cliffies again demonstrates why she retains the crown!

Who wants to be known as the poor, small, mousy-haired boy? (Even Angelo calls him "the mousy kid.") On top of his forgettable appearance, Marco is a gay boy who feels rejected by his friends (and specifically by his love interest). At this point, his home life is also a mystery: Is he a loved child? Do his parents (parent?) accept that he's gay, or does he have to hide even in his own home? (Talk about having issues!) Yet, his treatment of Sami shows innate kindness, and one can't help but feel that he deserves a better life than what he's presently experiencing. Of course, in addition to offering friendship, Dani tries to "figure out" Marco and his behavior. (If Dani doesn't become a psychologist, a writer, or both, he will have missed his calling!) I love the statement that "Daniele suspected that he and Marco now had more in common than either of them were prepared to admit," as the story exhibits at least a few examples of how they mirror each other ("we’re kinda the same now"). What Marco really needs is a friend who understands him, as opposed to a clueless crush, and Dani happens to fit the bill perfectly. (That said, Dani's problem is how to get past Marco's animosity–to give him that friendship–and his willingness to seek guidance from an older, wiser head is another mark of his maturity.) Angelo frowned. “...Maybe [Marco's] hostility isn’t really about you at all? …At the end of the day, it sounds like he's just a boy who’s been hurt. He’s not sure what he’s worth to anyone, and he’s been on his own for quite a while now. Maybe it feels easier for him to stay that way than to risk trusting a friend again." Angelo's insight–that Marco rejects Dani to protect himself from future hurt–is certainly a valid concern. Hmmm. Trouble in paradise? "Can we just stay here forever, Dani?” [Giaco] sighed. “No school, no girlfriends, no… growing up." (Ha! J.M. Barrie and I have book we'd like you to borrow…. ) Sad to hear that Sami's aunt and uncle are deported, but they protect his presence/location from the authorities, essentially abandoning him in a foreign country. Yet, what could be worse for a seven year-old boy than being deserted/stranded by his family? "We don’t know what they were all running away from, Dani"--a very scary thought! A fire and a daring rescue! Our heroes once again rise to the occasion. But at what cost….

"...Daniele reverted to wandering about on his own, seeking distraction in the lives of other people wherever he could find it." Dani may be a writer (a solitary pursuit), but he is, at heart, a "people" person. When Gianni offers himself as a confidant, Dani does not forget that "the young man might have a few troubles that he needed to share, too": "What about you?” Daniele asked. “How are you doing?” (And the confessor turns the tables and becomes the confidant. 😊) Francesca's diaries are a treasure, and Gianni does not hesitate to share them. (Amazing how important a voice from the past can be in defining the present.) Dani the confidant strikes again: You still haven’t spoken to Michele?” Daniele asked. “Not yet,” Toto replied. "…I’ve come close to picking up the phone, but… what exactly would I say to him?” Daniele smiled innocently. “I love you and I’m sorry?” Out of the mouths of babes! Overthinking is what causes Toto's mess in the first place, and it appears to be preventing its resolution. (Come on, Toto, bow to the master! 😆) Interesting that Father Stephan doesn't even show up on Dani's short list (of people to confide in about Sami), but perhaps he feels that no adult would handle the situation properly (at least in his view. His search for the right person to tell reminds me of people who "doctor shop" to get the advice they want to hear! 😅). That Dani confides in Toto without Marco's input/consent could have been a disaster, but Marco's response shows maturity: "Sami’s the one who really matters." Still, he can't help but feel slighted ("Can’t I have one thing that’s just mine?"), though even then, he appears a "bit ashamed of his outburst." And while spurned again, Dani continues to offer Marco his friendship, and I get the feeling he'll continue to do so until Marco is ready to accept it.

A relationship chapter if there ever was one.... First, Daniele sees himself as Sami's protector, though he knows in his heart that he'll have to involve an adult at some point (he's aleady been thinking of doing so). I love that his view of Marco is subtly changing, even with Marco offstage, as he notes that Sami is clean and wearing Marco's old clothing--indicators that Marco is indeed caring for the boy (i.e., that he has a caring heart). At Marina's funeral, Gianni casts their relationship as nurturing: "I’ll be forever grateful to Nonna – and Nonno, may he rest in peace – for giving me a fresh start and a chance to have the happiest life I could ask for." As for Toto's relationship with Michele, Toto is overthinking their future school separation and creating his own problems. (No great mystery after all. As Claudia observes, "The sort of mess only a boy could make...." ) The big question here is how to repair a relationship where two people love each other but are not on speaking terms (and how to make Toto see that he's being an idiot! ). In the meantime, Giacomo is trying to repair his relationship with Dani, which shows that he values it. Of note, Dani is mature enough to know that something has "changed" between them: He now understands that there are borders/limits to their friendship, but he accepts them...at least a little! As for Giacomo and Laura, "Giacomo spread his arms helplessly. This is all new for me, too! ...I don’t know what I’m doing. Spending every day with Laura is really intense, but I don’t know to slow it down without hurting her feelings, and… I haven’t even been able to talk about it with my best friend.'" The relationship is, perhaps, moving too fast for him, and he may need the assistance of his best friend () in understanding it, but he doesn't reject it. He is simply growing up. Dani makes a mistake when he agrees to a date with Emelia: He can't give her what she wants and winds up hurting her. (A gay boy dates a straight girl at his peril. ) His empathy, and personal experience, are such that I'm not sure who's hurt more when Emelia flees crying. (Sigh.) What is so intense as young love? I look forward to how our characters grow and mature as the novel continues.

Is this how it always goes? You meet someone you like, and you forget all about your friends? Dani has never really socialized with his age group till recently, and I hope that Giaco's time with Laura hasn't skewed his viewpoint. (Interestingly, when Giaco does request that Dani meet him, Laura's presence causes him to self-isolate in Marco-like fashion. [So much for his resolve "to be open and welcoming to the new girl, no matter how much it cost him."] Dani can thus be seen to contribute to the distancing between them.) As emotionally perceptive as Dani usually is, he doesn't get that Emelia seems to like him. At least, Emilia is a good sport about it, and she doesn't hit him over the head with it (she just provides tiny clues here and there…). Poor Michele: Toto wants to "take a break." That said, Michele notes that "...he’s been weirdly moody for a few days. Fine one minute, and then all quiet and withdrawn the next." So what is really happening behind the scenes? Why does Toto suddenly think that Michele would be "better off without him?" (There's a mystery to solve, and Toto sounds like he needs help.) "It occurred to him that he had never tried to plan an attitude like this before. What’s happening to me?" That's easy, Dani: You're now a teenager! Ah! Dani has found Marco at Ettore's old headquarters, but this Marco is a sad sack, "miserably" marking time playing mumblety-peg with Antonio's old pocket knife. He's burned his new clothes, likely out of shame for how he got them, and he's still not ready to make up with Dani. However, there's always someone worse off, and in this case, it's Sami: He's hungry and frightened, and his aunt and uncle have disappeared. While Marco and Dani strike an uneasy agreement to help him, Marco remains resentful; but a relationship has to start somewhere, and bonding over a child in need is a pretty good place to start.

Daniele, jealous? "He couldn’t deny that he felt it, but he was determined to master it." Self-honesty is a sign of his growing maturity, but mentioning shopping to Laura is a sign of true social brilliance. 😂 Poor Gianni: His Nonna leaves her comfort zone to be what he needs, and her passing has to be a terrible blow. That said, she is the fourth major relative to leave him (behind his parents and grandfather), so he is already wise in the ways of the world; and his grief–though heartfelt–is not disabling. (While Patrizia would have preferred that Dani not be involved, he is growing older and can no longer be sheltered. At least, his introduction to death and grief is a gentle and loving one.) What to do about the house? I understand this dilemma well, as my husband and I have talked about it regarding our own home: If I pass first, he feels that it would be too painful to continue living here; whereas if he passes first, I'll want to remain and be surrounded by the wonderful memories of a beautiful life together. Gianni, whatever you decide, I'll support you! 😊 Hmmm. Laura shares a kiss with Giaco, but how does Giaco feel about it? On the one hand, he says, "Wow," but is he describing the kiss or the act of being kissed? On the other hand, he produces an "embarrassed" laugh and responds with a tepid "I guess so" to Laura's description of the kiss as "amazing." I may have been too hasty last chapter when I said that Giaco is smitten by Laura: Perhaps he is "smitten" by the attention but not by true attraction. Time will tell.

The benefit to my lagging behind in reading Dani the Hero is that James has perfectly timed the sequel to my convenience. "Even during the long, hot days of the summer, the deepest truths are sometimes learned in the darkness," hence "lanterns" (the light of truth) in the dark. The light of day can actually obscure the lantern light so that you can really only see it at night, when there's no other light to distract you.... (My inner English major loves metaphors!) I love that Dani and Claudia perform a heroic act as the novel opens, simultaneously engaging us with action and reminding us of the prior book. The plight of the refugees (including the shameless predation they may endure) is front and center, contrasting starkly with the "perfect" day, and Dani's education/loss of innocence continues. So, Giaco, how do you really feel about Dani? At first, he hints that he may return some of Dani's affection: In the bed, he says playfully, "I guess I must love you too," but what straight boy would say that? Further, when Dani says, "...it’s harder when other people aren’t always...what you might want them to be,” Giacomo "[frowns] slightly and [lays] a hand gently on Daniele’s arm. 'Never say never, Dani….'" Yet, the moment Laura arrives, Giaco appears smitten. (Sorry, Dani, Giaco may feel brotherly love towards you--he might even mistake it for more--but the lantern light of Laura's presence reveals the truth....) And what of Marco? Dani continues to think of him, and he and Dani have unfinished business....

Yikes! More tension as Dani pedals towards what may be his doom! (High tea with Ettore might indeed result in "one lump or two…..") Daniele thinks that simply asking the bad guy to do good will actually work; and while endearing, this idea proves that Dani is still a child, with the naivety of a child, but he's about to gain some real-life experience. Dani's failure to convince Ettore is almost inevitable, but his ill-fated venture leads him to Marco, who proves completely unhelpful. On the other hand, Giacomo shines as a friend by bearding the lion on Daniele's behalf (after Daniele has done it for him). The hostage crisis shows how amateurish Ettore et al really are: True to his yellow stripe, Antonio flees, though he doesn't get far (kudos to Enzo); and Ettore folds in the face of the law, where a true Mafioso would likely brazen it out (and leave the hostage less intact…). For all their bravado, the gang proves to be a house of cards. As for Leggero, he may be corrupt, but he has his own standards (which he made clear to Ettore, and Ettore still crosses the line. [Just how stupid is he?]) Poor Marco! The end of the novel finds him more isolated than ever, but he is partially to blame: He apologizes to Giaco (who does not immediately accept the apology), but he fails to apologize to Dani, even though his blabbing puts Dani at risk. If Marco is going to be redeemed, it will have to be in a future work. Dani may start out the novel taking foolish risks to prove his bravery, but by the climax, he's shown that he is truly a hero. (And he's not the only one: As Paolo says, "I didn’t know there were so many heroes in this town.") Of course, being a hero will not get Dani out of a good talking-to! As for the relationship between Dani and Giaco, they are friends above all else; and their carefree horseplay and laughter make for a perfect ending to an engrossing tale. Thank you, James, for yet another entrancing escape to Ravello. Your writing is a treat, and I will certainly be reading the sequel!

Emilia notes that that there has been "no sign of...[Giaco's] mother." Uh oh.... Ah, Giaco is indeed forced to work for Ettore in response to the gang threatening the store (a bargain with the devil). This is a classic case of "doing the wrong thing for the right reason." I love the increasing intimacy between Giaco and Dani, and I appreciate that Giano has no problem with Dani liking him "a bit." That said, Giaco is completely oblivious to Marco's "liking" him, and Dani is more subtle than Marco: Could it be that Giaco recognizes Daniele's interest because he returns it "a bit" as well? For whatever reason--possibly just the depth of their friendship--Giaco sees deeper into Dani than might otherwise be expected and accepts him as he is. Nice to know that Toto and Michele, not to mention others, have a plan to "take back Ravello." They confirm that Giaco is not the informant (making the gang's handling of him even more egregious), but they also note that they need a few more days for their plan to come to fruition--days that Giaco may not have before additional reprisals are directed against him. "Keep your heads down" may be inadequate advice, but confronting Ettore is just plain pazzo! (Now I know why Daniele was given his name, as he is about to enter the lion's den! )

Aaarrrgh! The suspense was killing me! (I'm a reader of cozies. 😅) An excellent job at giving me a heart attack. So, Ettore connects the dots and decides that Giaco is a stool pigeon. Of course, logic isn't proof, and it says a lot about Ettore that he would order violence against Giaco on mere suspicion. "Make sure he understands what we do to snitches" but nothing "too creepy": Rather open-ended instructions! I'm guessing that broken bones and face carving are acceptable, but rape would offend Filippo's sensibilities. (After all, even goons have standards. 😏) Dani, your "disguise" shows forethought and quick thinking! (Don't get a swelled head! 😄) However, if Giaco comes home with you, and the gang retaliates against Giaco's Mom or her store, then no one will be present to protect her. Further, taking Giaco home is just a delaying tactic, as he'll have to go home sometime. Essentially, the best solution is telling your parents (or Giaco can do it), but the time for secrets is over.

Anit feels wronged by the Immortal Clan, both betrayed and abandoned, and she feels that her son has been singled out for unjust punishment. (Apparently, Fox clan folk can cavort with humans at will, with no repercussions, while Tani is punished by a thousand years of exile, pain, and constrained powers.) For Eren to question Anit's people--to suspect them as being responsible for the kara ot infestation--is bad enough, but for her to suggest that Anit is not thinking of her son--when his predicament is the fault of the Immortal Clan--is intolerable. I agree with Cale that Anit must have been in a good mood to leave Eren with just a single cut, and she did leave an Inter Court badge for her to use. That said, it's hard to see how the clans could ever reconcile: After all, from Eren's view, "[Anit's] so unreasonable." I love the domesticity which plays out in the rest of the chapter, and the stories of Dante's past are endearing. Even as the Immortal Clan is considering Tani's extraction, he is that much closer to winning Dante's heart (if he hasn't won it already ❤).

What a wonderful birthday celebration, and so beautifully portrayed! Dani is truly a lucky boy! (I may not have received a laptop as a child [they didn't exist], but I recall my parents' pride as they gifted me with an Adler electric typewriter. My father said that it would last my whole lifetime, but computers made it obsolete before I was out of my 20s. I never told him. ) "Antonio said there were two guys lying in wait for [the protection racketeers], like they already knew the attack was going to happen." I agree with @drsawzall: Where does this intelligence come from? The only member of the gang who would likely spill the beans is Giaco himself, and he may find himself in very hot water if Ettore feels the same. (We don't yet know for a fact if Marco has joined the gang, but for him to do so and then instantly sell it out is less likely.) Of course, when all is said and done, the major point of the chapter is to show that Dani has exquisite taste: He orders his pizza with anchovies.

After being rejected for so long, Tani is actually finding it difficult to accept that Dante is returning his feelings. That said, Dante is clearly reciprocating them, and he says, "I'll keep you," with entangled fingers and a kiss. So, why is Tani still cuffed? What actually has to happen before Tani is freed? Also, what happens when the terms of the sentence are fulfilled? Do the fetters magically dissolve? Will they still require another Ekho to remove them? (If Tani remains bound despite his success with Dante, he could be vulnerable to attack by the hidden enemies who wish to see him fail.) Anit strikes Tani only after he questions her love for him (and she does love him, even if she doesn't understand him); and Tani yearns for his mother's love, even as he pushes her away. (This chapter is essentially about the complications of love, both romantic and familial, and I trust that Tani will not become a stumbling block to his own happiness.)

After the fight between Dani and Marco, Dani asks for Marco's friendship. Sadly, Marco spurns his offer and runs away. At lunch, Marco self isolates: With Dani present, he chooses to sit apart from his friends (he's never asked to do so). While I'm disappointed that the friends don't directly invite him to join them (or offer to meet him later [for a more detailed explanation of Giaco's recent distancing]), I honestly think that Marco isn't ready to hear what any of them has to say. (Sigh.) I love that Dani has gained an additional friend in Emilia, and the scenes where the friends continue to bond (with or without Emilia) are idyllic and bring me back to my boyhood! "So, you’re in?" Enzo nodded. "If it comes to a confrontation, I’ll back you up." Clearly, Toto et al are planning to take action against the protection racketeers. I'm fearful that such a confrontation will turn violent, but Enzo is a great choice to have on the villagers' side. A "promotion?" What I actually hear Fillipo saying is "more danger." Ettore wants to drag Giaco deeper into the gang's workings, and Giaco's best response would be to leave it while he still can (if he can. We still don't know the whole story behind how he started working for the gang in the first place). With Toto and the other villagers ready to make their move, the degree of danger that Giaco faces is heightened even further.

Ah, Viola is more observant than Dani thinks and reveals that she knows about his free day (and Giaco's visits) in the gardens. (Perhaps adults are more aware than Dani has given them credit for. ) I love the contrast between the idyllic setting and the fight between Marco and Dani (humans can bring their violence with them wherever they go, even into the most beautiful of places). Marco continues to be described as small, and I will digress for a moment to discuss this issue. Is Marco small because he has short parents (is he genetically short)? Is he small because he's younger but skipped a grade or two because of intelligence? Does he have a chronic condition keeping him short (e.g., lung disease, kidney disease [think Gary Coleman], chronic infection, lead poisoning, etc.)? Does he suffer from benign constitutional delay, where growth/puberty is delayed but will eventually occur normally? While I'm curious about his background, and while it might help to understand his character better (or maybe not ), the fact remains that Marco is a small boy, and small boys get bullied: I have to wonder if Giaco helps to protect Marco and if part of Marco's fierce attraction is hero worship, subsequently evolving into a crush–what Dani later calls love. (Yes, I love to speculate about characters even when facts are not in evidence [just because it's fun!].) Marco's feelings are bared by his statement, "Why would he ever look at me next to his beautiful new friend?" Marco's "smallness" is emphasized by his losing the fight to Dani, a non-fighter, who wins by simply pinning Marco under his greater weight. (Just how small is Marco, anyway? ) His appearance doesn't help, with Toto describing him as "that mousy-looking kid." Marco also has a defeatist attitude ("'I should have known I didn’t have a chance,' he spat. 'Story of my life.'"), so I admire him all the more for trying to surmount his circumstances. (Just what has he endured to give him such a negative view of life and at such an early age?) Dani's innate goodness is again emphasized by how he empathizes with Marco in the aftermath of the fight, which (to him) doesn't even "feel like a victory." Salvatore shook his head incredulously. “Aren’t there any heterosexual boys in this town?” Hahahaha! I'm glad that Toto divulges Dani's secret to an adult: Some "secrets" are inappropriately secret, and this is one of them. Even Salvatore has no practical advice to give by the end of lunch, but you know that he'll talk to his fellow villagers to find a consensus. I love the contrast between Dani's hollow victory against Marco and true victory against the mountain. He's growing–doing things he never thought possible (and doing them with Giaco, which increases their bond. In fact, he now feels comfortable enough to reveal his fall at the Torre, and Giaco feels comfortable enough to rough house with Dani, with a continuing increase in their degree of intimacy).