Thread:Sakaros/@comment-29301-20180903145046/@comment-104549-20191102222121

I always appreciate the feedback, and let me tell you, if it seemed endless reading it...

Yeah, I tried to build up the more peripheral characters as much as possible without slowing the whole thing down even more, which was quite a balancing act. I added the scene with Gaebrean, Amaani, and Kobold not so much to expand Gaebrean's character as to give the reader a bit more backstory on Kobold. I could've done a prologue-prologue about Lord Wisté choosing Kobold as his Padawan, but I figured it would've tipped my hand that Kobold would ultimately turn traitor.

There are a couple things I'd like your thoughts on, since you ask:
 * 1) The prologue with Slejux. I remembered your comment about me killing Seldec offscreen, and I thought Slejux deserved better.
 * 2) The Bee Seven chapter. I've never written from a droid's perspective before, and it was an interesting challenge.
 * 3) Did you feel the dynamics among Tirien, Narasi, Zaella, and Jirdo all worked with the gradual lure of the dark side in the strike team?

I wavered briefly on off-screening Faro's kill squad, but I ultimately erred on the side of conserving drama; that would've been a massive fight in itself, which I felt would've detracted from the battle against Gasald. Speaking of which, I admit I did get part of the inspiration for the doppelganger trick from Assassin's Creed II, not just because, as you observed, it fit Gasald's style, but also to showcase that she wasn't idly bragging—she really is very powerful even without Ragathna Brokkodd being at her beck and call.

It's funny that you note Alecto being Tirien's nemesis, because I keep being tempted to work in a conversation between Tirien and Mali, with Mali comparing Tirien's archnemesis (Alecto) to his own (Aresh), and Tirien being miffed that Mali's is a Dark Lord of the Sith.

Definitely a game-changer—from the Battle of Eriadu and the destruction of the Crescentia on, things are very different for everyone involved. I look forward to exploring the ripple effect in coming works. That said, I'm resisting the temptation to write a whole side Republic Black Ops series about Captain Oraska and his team; this series is enough of a monster as it is. I swear the next one will be shorter. Hopefully under novel-length, if I can swing it; three in a row was kind of exhausting.

I have a four-day weekend coming up this weekend, and Torchbearer will be at the top of my to-do list! Congratulations on finishing it!