37 Comments
User's avatar
RobertDW's avatar

The good news is that he can be proud of keeping her fae secret to keep her safe.

he did this even when she was in thrall to this monster, this emergent attorney, and brought her wrath down on him. Tyler would betray her, but he would keep her safe, even if it cost him time without his blades.

Expand full comment
taignobias's avatar

"There's no problem so bad that you can't make it worse," I've been told. I'm excited to learn how he's going to demonstrate.

Expand full comment
Okrahead's avatar

Step 1) Vox feeds us the story one chapter at a time.

Step 2) Vox tells us not to try to guess what comes next.

Truly, a cruelty artist at work.

Expand full comment
Vox Day's avatar

Not at all. Guessing is fine. Speculation is part of the game.

What I do NOT want to hear is "you should" or "you have to".

That sort of nonsense makes me want to kick the offender in the side of the head.

Expand full comment
Britt's avatar

That makes me think of the scene in Super Troopers when the chief says "I'll pistol whip the next person who says shenanigans"

Expand full comment
Okrahead's avatar

Got it

Expand full comment
Gathering Goateggs's avatar

"I swear, writing is the only profession where those who don't do it genuinely believe they can do it better than those who are good enough to get paid to do it."

Nah, economists put up with this too. Although you could reasonably argue that most of what we do is akin to crafting fairy stories. Really boring ones with poorly labelled graphs and model equations no one reads, but folk tales nonetheless.

Expand full comment
Uncouth Barbarian's avatar

Yes. But most economists are certifiable retards.

Expand full comment
Thermal Neutron's avatar

"She kicked me in the side of the head."

Kinetic ick factor.

I wonder how the tub cuddling fantasy rationalization works out when there's a restraining order?

Expand full comment
BodrevBodrev's avatar

Oh, I think we're about to find out.

Expand full comment
Okrahead's avatar

Is the narrator the protagonist? Is there going to be an Arkhaven tie in? Will Vox be co-authoring a series with Larry Correia? Tune in next time for the exciting answers! Same Bat-time, same Bat-channel!

Expand full comment
Olga's avatar

I recently saw the trailer for the newest installment of "Final Destination." I'll never watch the movie, can't stomach that much tension.

This story is encroaching into that territory.

Expand full comment
Stg58AnimalMother's avatar

That film series is gratuitous slop. No character arc, they can't "win", it's just how many teenagers can they show being dismembered in the running time.

Expand full comment
Olga's avatar

It may be gratuitous something.. I've never watched any of the movies, so can't agree or disagree.

But your other observation that the characters can't "win", I can deduce right from the trailer.

That's the line that makes FD similar to this story that Vox is writing. I don't yet know who to cheer for, the Monster Hunter or his object of affection. I don't know which of them deserves all the misfortune dealt by the invisible hand of the story teller.

Expand full comment
BBL1986's avatar

"I had been so certain. I had been so sure! And Tyler was just... some guy. Some normal, human guy who liked Elise and didn't deserve getting stabbed in the arm any more than he deserved Elise."

Wow, defiant and delusional to the end!

Expand full comment
night's avatar

"The drunk to my left kept singing "Sweet Caroline" off-key"

This chapter parallels the song somewhat. Although that could just be my imagination.

Expand full comment
Masked Menace's avatar

When I read that line, I heard the song in my mind. I was there. That's good writing.

Expand full comment
Psychicponybear's avatar

The constant detailing of the pepper spray sensations have me choking on my breakfast

Expand full comment
Masked Menace's avatar

He's hitting all the senses.

Expand full comment
Masked Menace's avatar

Riveting.

Expand full comment
No Name's avatar

Was part 2 toned-down? I had to take three breaks while reading part 1 because of secondhand embarrassment. I managed to finish part 2 in one reading.

Expand full comment
AML's avatar

Once again. Two sentences and I'm done. Can't make myself read it.

Expand full comment
The Rogue Roman's avatar

I bet Elise is the main boss villain femme fatale who secretly runs a fae organized crime network responsible for collecting the blood of virgins to keep her army of vampires dependent on her. She drops subtle hints occasionally just to amuse herself, but the truth never remotely occurs to our hero because he’s so obsessed with her imaginary goodness.

Expand full comment
Belte's avatar

The Gamma feels like a misunderstood victim at the end after having stabbed an innocent man. I laughed with the small aside that the booking took “forever.”

Expand full comment
Wander's avatar

Our protagonist is unaware the author is not a gamma, and therefore, the typical gamma wish fulfillment won't be happening.

I'm so excited for this story!

Expand full comment
Masked Menace's avatar

Agreed, I doubt we'll read about a green eyed fiery redhead tearing her clothes off upon meeting the "protagonist."

Expand full comment