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Did certain parts of the book make you uncomfortable?

I was uncomfortable when the keeper gave will's wolf a salty water. I also didn't like the drowning of the puppies.

gali wrote: ↑31 Aug 2019, 23:06 Did certain parts of the book make you uncomfortable?

I was uncomfortable when the keeper gave will's wolf a salty water. I also didn't like the drowning of the puppies.

I agree those were the worst parts, but I was also uncomfortable with Emmy being taken to Shadowpain. That seemed unnecessarily cruel because of how young she was. And her PTSD seems to be unhandled, like she has not had counseling. Those were also uncomfortable for me.

KDJ wrote: ↑01 Sep 2019, 09:57

gali wrote: ↑31 Aug 2019, 23:06 Did certain parts of the book make you uncomfortable?

I was uncomfortable when the keeper gave will's wolf a salty water. I also didn't like the drowning of the puppies.

I agree those were the worst parts, but I was also uncomfortable with Emmy being taken to Shadowpain. That seemed unnecessarily cruel because of how young she was. And her PTSD seems to be unhandled, like she has not had counseling. Those were also uncomfortable for me.

Yes! Emmy ending up in Shadowpain was horrible and definitely a bit alarming to read and the unnecessary harm to the animals. It made me glad I had my puppy beside me!

I think what bothered me most about the harming of the wolf cubs, and the Game Keeper in general, was that there did not seem to be a point to his character. He was nothing but cruel, and his presence in the book did not add to the plot at all. He wasn't even made out to be a red herring. His continued job at the orphanage makes me not like the character of Dew Pellucid much either, because why would she tolerate that kind of sadistic behavior?

esp1975 wrote: ↑01 Sep 2019, 16:14 I think what bothered me most about the harming of the wolf cubs, and the Game Keeper in general, was that there did not seem to be a point to his character. He was nothing but cruel, and his presence in the book did not add to the plot at all. He wasn't even made out to be a red herring. His continued job at the orphanage makes me not like the character of Dew Pellucid much either, because why would she tolerate that kind of sadistic behavior?

So the book's been noted for the similarities to the Harry Potter series right? This actually reminds me of an uncomfortable problem with this subgenre where the people in charge often keep employing rather cruel persons who are allowed near kids. The Game Keeper is rather reminiscent of Argus Filch in that way and it really bothers me how much he was willing to hurt Will's wolf.

KDJ wrote: ↑01 Sep 2019, 09:57

gali wrote: ↑31 Aug 2019, 23:06 Did certain parts of the book make you uncomfortable?

I was uncomfortable when the keeper gave will's wolf a salty water. I also didn't like the drowning of the puppies.

I agree those were the worst parts, but I was also uncomfortable with Emmy being taken to Shadowpain. That seemed unnecessarily cruel because of how young she was. And her PTSD seems to be unhandled, like she has not had counseling. Those were also uncomfortable for me.

Yeah. Emmy's pain was definitely something that felt unnecessarily cruel.

The drowning of the puppies was so cruel! That was a part that really bothered me!

esp1975 wrote: ↑01 Sep 2019, 16:14 I think what bothered me most about the harming of the wolf cubs, and the Game Keeper in general, was that there did not seem to be a point to his character. He was nothing but cruel, and his presence in the book did not add to the plot at all. He wasn't even made out to be a red herring. His continued job at the orphanage makes me not like the character of Dew Pellucid much either, because why would she tolerate that kind of sadistic behavior?

I agree he really did not play a major part except to be angry and harmful to the animals. I feel there were a lot of jnderdeveloped charachters

I didn't understand why the Game Keeper was a part of the book at all. He didn't help develop the plot and was horrible to the animals and children. His killing the wolf pups really bothered me and seemed completely unnecessary, other than to make the reader dislike him.

Washboard wrote: ↑03 Sep 2019, 00:56 I didn't understand why the Game Keeper was a part of the book at all. He didn't help develop the plot and was horrible to the animals and children. His killing the wolf pups really bothered me and seemed completely unnecessary, other than to make the reader dislike him.

Perhaps, Pellucid added the Game Keeper in the story to shed light on people who take care of animals - veterinarians or directors of animal shelters - aren't always kind to or truly care about animals. You bring up a good point; the scene with the pups seemed out of place. I wish that scene or the salt-water scene had not been added because it not only made me uncomfortable but sad too. They reminded me of real life.

Chrystal Oaks wrote: ↑04 Sep 2019, 21:55

Washboard wrote: ↑03 Sep 2019, 00:56 I didn't understand why the Game Keeper was a part of the book at all. He didn't help develop the plot and was horrible to the animals and children. His killing the wolf pups really bothered me and seemed completely unnecessary, other than to make the reader dislike him.

Perhaps, Pellucid added the Game Keeper in the story to shed light on people who take care of animals - veterinarians or directors of animal shelters - aren't always kind to or truly care about animals.

You may be right about that. It just seemed so out of place.

I agree! Those parts were terribly difficult for me to read, but it definitely made me even more invested in the characters' fight to overcome the villains in the book.

I thought several scenes in the book were pretty dark for child readers—for example, the vicious fight with the Fate Sealers where we see an old man (Drinkwater) get repeatedly stabbed, or the scenes where Will can see drowned bodies floating beneath the surface of the frozen lake. And definitely the puppy-drowning scene was really disturbing. These scenes weren’t overly grotesque, but I can see how they could be really upsetting to younger readers.

I didn't really think much of the harm to the pets. I do care about animals but it isn't a sensitive topic for me. Overall I thought the book was appropriate for all audiences.

Washboard wrote: ↑03 Sep 2019, 00:56 I didn't understand why the Game Keeper was a part of the book at all. He didn't help develop the plot and was horrible to the animals and children. His killing the wolf pups really bothered me and seemed completely unnecessary, other than to make the reader dislike him.

I think the point of drowning the pups was because it was a mongrel pup and its echo (half echo half sound). This showed how half-breeds were viewed and disposed of in Echoland.