This is grueling, gruesome, chilling in its terrible cruelty. You’ve done this far too well. I’m hoping there will be some relief; but goodness, it looks black.
I fell behind in my reading! Augh! Nico needs both caution and speed. How’s he going to manage those? He’s also got to sneak into a dungeon, find Diarmad, disarm the Order, recharge his friends, then counterattack. Seems like much too tall an order... what tricks might he have up his sleeve?
Thank you for this story; for Max coming home, for Louis and Don having courage to make him family; for giving Max home, love, life and roots. I loved seeing Max with someone he’s sweet on; delighted in Christmas; and you made me want to fulfill a wish and go see Newfoundland for myself. Thank for all these wonderful characters and changes you chronicled.
I love how you’ve made homecoming real not only for Max, but for Louis and Don, too. What you’ve done is give every reader a taste of what home is supposed to be. It’s wonderful. I especially liked Max’s reaction to finding a third horse at home, waiting for him; also the scene at the wedding where Louis says that Max is family, period.
You’ve written a beautiful story.
Once again, you give a real sense of place to us as we follow CJ and Owen around Fire Island and New York. I could feel the crowds and see the kaleidoscopic color. You also give us ways of understanding the different experiences of so many different men over the years since Stonewall. I’m grateful for this chapter.
I wish you luck, and I wish you peace. I hope for more rays of sunlight, more moments of ease. Your decision to give thanks is a great one; I’ve read many times that this is a great practice.
Whatever else may be true about Joel, he isn’t the devil’s child, and deserves the love of his mother. While the uncle is right to worry, it’s the worry one has for someone he cares about. This was very well written. Thank you.