CincyKris

I read this as it was being published, which was agonizingly fun for a mystery filled with cliffies, clues, and red herrings. The guessing along with my fellow readers was engaging, but this would have been a definite binge read if I found it now. Too good to put down!

As much as I would like "Chad" to be Gav, I'm guessing it will be a team member. I don't think Matt is ready to come out -- I do think he's a big old closet-case though. I also think he will be a trouble maker. Love all the oldies. Looking forward to Halloween. I hope someone shows up as a werewolf!

It's too bad all stupidity doesn't result in temporary pain, there might be less stupidity! On second thought, sometimes people are just stupid.

The first thing that sprang to mind was Master Blaster from Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome!

Complicated characters make for the best stories! Your cowboy tales are the best kind of escapist therapy.

Welcome back! I'm looking forward to the new story.

So the wisps have been more helpful than we feared. The vision of Valrinda in chains is a good lesson in not assuming that what you see is what you get. I'm also troubled by the abandoned carts and wandering animals. That is never a good sign!

Not so sure you’re reading the same story we are! But, to each his own.

Are we sure Gracie is not a shifter????

I like Max as a friend! And as a big wooden spoon to stir the pancake batter. Perry really is the best. Halloween sounded about normal for a big family, all candy is not created equal!

Just imagine if Gracie was besties with a couple of twin beans from Denver!

I think Matthew Crawley better stay in his lane! Perry has been waiting 3 full years and counting for Kyan (and himself) to be ready for a relationship! But, this might be the necessary instigation for the big change.

This wonderful story will satisfy any craving you might have for mystery, romance, and adventure! It was fun to read it as published, but if I had found it after complete, this would have been binged. It's too good to put down!

Here is my current understanding of this world. The Ancients arrived on this world from Earth. They were technologically advanced. They were not magickal. The other nonhuman people of the forest also arrived from other worlds. This world ignited magical abilities in people, which eventually led to the wars in which the Ancient's tech and buildings were destroyed everywhere except the lower forest. Magick spread slowly amongst the survivors, we don't know how many magickal or non magical people survived the destruction. The evil mages found the Ancient's cities in the lower forest and are taking advantage of them. We don't know their goals, just that they are up to no good. I'm wondering if the crazy animals populating the forest were native to this world? What causes the lack of magical abilities in the beings of the lower forest? Obviously the cities were intended to be operated by mages. So many questions in this adventure mystery!

Fast-paced and action-packed, amazing that regardless of the technology or time period, this battle scene was consistent with one happening in a 20th century war or a sci-fi war! Great detail, you keep us involved and tense.

I was crying along with all the sad-i-pillars! At least it's my day off, last week I read your story at lunch with other people around. Damn allergies!

Also, maybe some ice cream!

Finally, I'm all caught up! Before, the group posited that the ancients were wiped out by rival mages. Why then would their doors open only to those with magical abilities? Wouldn't the opposite be true? Unless their systems were reprogrammed to only open for mages of a certain ability. Perhaps by mages that want the ancient's tech only for themselves. If this guess is true, they need to be very careful of whomever accomplished this feat.

I'm still on the "we are the ancients" bandwagon! Miles and kilometers would suggest the good old US of A. Americans are stubborn about keeping our British based measurement systems. I wouldn't imagine Europe would list miles on a map. Could the "Arkport pinnacle" be one of the automated launch sites? Perhaps to a space station in orbit? Pure conjecture on my part, but the "ark" suggests a journey to a different, safer location.

I'm playing catchup here and this may have been discussed already, or in future chapters, but my gut was telling me last chapter and in this one, that we are the ancients. This is earth many centuries in the future.

Thank heavens that Wyn is as stubborn as his dads! He saved the day!

He's really getting into it now, if he still thinks he's dreaming, then he is at least immersing himself into the dream! It's a good thing he has Val, he would be figuratively and literally lost without him.

Apparently I'm the only one who feels that Kavan threw a temper tantrum worthy of a petulant 13 year old girl. I will agree that Konstantin should have handled his side of the conversation better, Kavan jumped to conclusions, made up his mind, then refused all attempts by Konstantin at an explanation. I was hoping his time away would help get his head out of his ass, but refusing to speak with Gideon, regardless of Gideon's mistakes, shows that Kavan is still guided entirely by emotion. He has a lot of growing up to do if he wants to survive in this world!

As powerful as Shay became in this chapter, it wasn't enough to kill the monster. But he learned a lot in the exchange. If our heroes could just figure out how to prevent them from healing and regenerating, the enemy, both the Herald and the fleet around Earth, can be hurt, even killed. Will the Stone of Dagen help them with this? If not, what purpose will this mineral-based life form serve? We need the A-team to see and talk to the Stone, especially Yugan, what will he see? But how do they get there without the Herald following?

Thank you so much for the satisfying ending! Michael had it in him, he just needed some prompting. He'll do well in college, I hope his summer of exploration will match his self exploration.