Comments on: Curse of the Spider King

By: Rebecca LuElla Miller

Rebecca LuElla Miller — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 19:30:09 +0000

Ha! Val, I had the same criticism of chapter 1. I also prefer stories in which I’m attached to a character early on. Once I realized the kids were the lost seven, I found myself pulling for them collectively, especially when we learn it’s important for them all to return to Allyra.

Yes, this first book was probably a lot of set up, but I thought it was interesting and suspenseful. I mean, spiders delivered to Kiri Lee’s room? YIKES!

Becky

By: Valerie

Valerie — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 18:29:41 +0000

Thanks for stopping by, Fred and Amy!

I’m definitely ‘pro’ Wayne and Christopher, whether it sounded like it or not, though I did struggle with this book. Hopefully the kids who pick it up will be drawn in faster than I was.

By: Amy Browning

Amy Browning — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 18:10:22 +0000

Hi Valerie! Great posting. I had a ton of fun with CotSK. I even got to interview WTB and CH. If you get a chance, check it out: http://pagesofdiscovery.blogspot.com.

I also enjoyed reading a few other posts. I look forward to returning soon.

And to weigh-in on the issue of the Seven, I think we’re not supposed to understand the kids’ place among each other yet. I believe the first book was just about meeting them and familiarizing ourselves with the heavy history they all carry. I’m betting that the next book, Venom and Song, will focus more on the dynamic between the main characters and provide us each with characters to latch onto.

By: Fred Warren

Fred Warren — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 00:58:53 +0000

The scope of this series is potentially so broad, and when this first volume ended in a cliffhanger, I kept thinking of Fellowship of the Ring, and how we’ve just begun to get a feel for the various members of the Fellowship when it’s broken up and Sam and Frodo continue on to Mordor alone.

In this case, we don’t have that anchor of two strong central characters to hang onto, and I found myself trying to latch on to *someone* to provide that overarching continuity of perspective. It was difficult. Tommy and Kat and Jimmy and the rest are all good characters, with a lot of potential, but there’s no clear leader…yet.

By: CSFF Blog Tour – Curse « A Christian Worldview of Fiction

CSFF Blog Tour – Curse « A Christian Worldview of Fiction — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 18:23:57 +0000

[...] Speculative Fiction? You have until November 30. √ Brandon Barr Justin Boyer √ Amy Browning √ Valerie Comer √ Amy Cruson CSFF Blog Tour √ Stacey Dale D. G. D. Davidson √ √ Shane [...]

By: Valerie

Valerie — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 17:32:08 +0000

Thanks for stopping by, Wayne! I’ve heard of that happening to other authors from time to time, and I have no idea why they thought it was helpful. Give me a character to invest in already!

I think that was my biggest problem with the book. I didn’t know anyone well enough to invest in them.

By: Wayne Thomas Batson

Wayne Thomas Batson — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 13:18:55 +0000

Hi, Valerie, thanks for being a part of the tour. Funny you should mention the prologue slash chapter 1. CH and I didn’t really want it. It was {ahem} a publisher “request.”