What did Cynthia facing constant danger do for the book?

Ferdinand_Otieno · Post by **Ferdinand_Otieno** » 11 Jun 2019, 03:43

Jo689 wrote: ↑10 Jun 2019, 15:01 Cynthia is definitely smart, but her lacking common sense throughout the book indicated the reason why she was facing constant danger. I mean, think clearly and rationalize thoroughly before doing something!

Don't you think it had something to do with her characterization? Someone who is the head of security for the senator and combats cyber-terrorism is unable to recognize a situation where she might be in danger, or a threat that may develop?

Ferdinand_Otieno · Post by **Ferdinand_Otieno** » 11 Jun 2019, 23:43

Ferdinand_otieno wrote: ↑11 Jun 2019, 03:43
Jo689 wrote: ↑10 Jun 2019, 15:01 Cynthia is definitely smart, but her lacking common sense throughout the book indicated the reason why she was facing constant danger. I mean, think clearly and rationalize thoroughly before doing something!
Don't you think it had something to do with her characterization? Someone who is the head of security for the senator and combats cyber-terrorism is unable to recognize a situation where she might be in danger, or a threat that may develop?

Her characterization was so at odds that I would have adviced the cliché of introducing an evil twin sister (telenovela style).

Janalyn101 · Post by **Janalyn101** » 12 Jun 2019, 08:29

I felt like Cynthia being the head of her brothers security team did not correlate with the decision she made. Such as going to a strangers home in the middle of a terrorist threat in Washington DC. Not to mention she is the security person for the senator yet he knew nothing about the drone that went into the White House the yard. All these things got to be a bit much. I enjoyed the book but was perturbed by allg I felt like Cynthia being the head of her brothers security team did not correlate with the decision she made. Such as going to a strangers home in the middle of a terrorist threat in Washington DC. Not to mention she is the security person for the senator yet who knew nothing about the drone that went into the White House his yard. All these things got to be a bit much. I enjoyed the book but was perturbed by all that. Least of all, the fact that she was persuaded by adamant charms really upset me and the fact that she could be persuaded by a good looking man to me seemed a bit ridiculous!

Ferdinand_Otieno · Post by **Ferdinand_Otieno** » 12 Jun 2019, 23:26

Janalyn101 wrote: ↑12 Jun 2019, 08:29 I felt like Cynthia being the head of her brothers security team did not correlate with the decision she made. Such as going to a strangers home in the middle of a terrorist threat in Washington DC. Not to mention she is the security person for the senator yet he knew nothing about the drone that went into the White House the yard. All these things got to be a bit much. I enjoyed the book but was perturbed by allg I felt like Cynthia being the head of her brothers security team did not correlate with the decision she made. Such as going to a strangers home in the middle of a terrorist threat in Washington DC. Not to mention she is the security person for the senator yet who knew nothing about the drone that went into the White House his yard. All these things got to be a bit much. I enjoyed the book but was perturbed by all that. Least of all, the fact that she was persuaded by adamant charms really upset me and the fact that she could be persuaded by a good looking man to me seemed a bit ridiculous!

True, like good looking overode all counterintelligence knowledge she was assumed to possess.

Ferdinand_Otieno · Post by **Ferdinand_Otieno** » 13 Jun 2019, 19:51

Janalyn101 wrote: ↑12 Jun 2019, 08:29 I felt like Cynthia being the head of her brothers security team did not correlate with the decision she made. Such as going to a strangers home in the middle of a terrorist threat in Washington DC. Not to mention she is the security person for the senator yet he knew nothing about the drone that went into the White House the yard. All these things got to be a bit much. I enjoyed the book but was perturbed by allg I felt like Cynthia being the head of her brothers security team did not correlate with the decision she made. Such as going to a strangers home in the middle of a terrorist threat in Washington DC. Not to mention she is the security person for the senator yet who knew nothing about the drone that went into the White House his yard. All these things got to be a bit much. I enjoyed the book but was perturbed by all that. Least of all, the fact that she was persuaded by adamant charms really upset me and the fact that she could be persuaded by a good looking man to me seemed a bit ridiculous!

Thanks for stopping to comment on the topic.

Ferdinand_Otieno · Post by **Ferdinand_Otieno** » 14 Jun 2019, 09:11

Ferdinand_otieno wrote: ↑12 Jun 2019, 23:26
Janalyn101 wrote: ↑12 Jun 2019, 08:29 I felt like Cynthia being the head of her brothers security team did not correlate with the decision she made. Such as going to a strangers home in the middle of a terrorist threat in Washington DC. Not to mention she is the security person for the senator yet he knew nothing about the drone that went into the White House the yard. All these things got to be a bit much. I enjoyed the book but was perturbed by allg I felt like Cynthia being the head of her brothers security team did not correlate with the decision she made. Such as going to a strangers home in the middle of a terrorist threat in Washington DC. Not to mention she is the security person for the senator yet who knew nothing about the drone that went into the White House his yard. All these things got to be a bit much. I enjoyed the book but was perturbed by all that. Least of all, the fact that she was persuaded by adamant charms really upset me and the fact that she could be persuaded by a good looking man to me seemed a bit ridiculous!
True, like good looking overode all counterintelligence knowledge she was assumed to possess.

I feel like you repeated some sentences but your message was well received, thanks.

Ferdinand_Otieno · Post by **Ferdinand_Otieno** » 15 Jun 2019, 11:09

Ferdinand_otieno wrote: ↑11 Jun 2019, 23:43
Ferdinand_otieno wrote: ↑11 Jun 2019, 03:43
Jo689 wrote: ↑10 Jun 2019, 15:01 Cynthia is definitely smart, but her lacking common sense throughout the book indicated the reason why she was facing constant danger. I mean, think clearly and rationalize thoroughly before doing something!
Don't you think it had something to do with her characterization? Someone who is the head of security for the senator and combats cyber-terrorism is unable to recognize a situation where she might be in danger, or a threat that may develop?
Her characterization was so at odds that I would have adviced the cliché of introducing an evil twin sister (telenovela style).

Where one character is the responsible head to a cyber-terrorism fighting group and the other is the reckless character who cheats on her boyfriend first, enters a strangers house and gives away her vehicles exact location and key to a complete stranger.

Ferdinand_Otieno · Post by **Ferdinand_Otieno** » 16 Jun 2019, 13:56

Ferdinand_otieno wrote: ↑15 Jun 2019, 11:09
Ferdinand_otieno wrote: ↑11 Jun 2019, 23:43
Ferdinand_otieno wrote: ↑11 Jun 2019, 03:43

Don't you think it had something to do with her characterization? Someone who is the head of security for the senator and combats cyber-terrorism is unable to recognize a situation where she might be in danger, or a threat that may develop?
Her characterization was so at odds that I would have adviced the cliché of introducing an evil twin sister (telenovela style).
Where one character is the responsible head to a cyber-terrorism fighting group and the other is the reckless character who cheats on her boyfriend first, enters a strangers house and gives away her vehicles exact location and key to a complete stranger.

The dangers Cynthia faces seem self-constructed and easily solvable for someone with her advertised skillset.

Post by **Kajori Sheryl Paul** » 16 Jun 2019, 15:21

maggi3 wrote: ↑02 Jun 2019, 01:08
sarahmarlowe wrote: ↑01 Jun 2019, 19:31
I didn't like Cynthia as a protagonist from early in the book. I found her dimwitted about her surroundings, getting herself into danger as much as having danger find her. For example, when she meets Sky, she trusts him enough to give him the make, model, and tag number of her unlocked, keys-in-it car? Good grief. And then she is happy that "his friend" has taken care of it? She's not my definition of a strong female character. Or strong any kind of character. I don't think she made the story thrilling, more like frustrating.
I agree. She must be smart to be working for the senator, but she doesn’t have much common sense. Usually, I would say having the protagonist in near constant danger would be thrilling, but I never felt connected enough with Cynthia to feel that way.

I feel the same way. She seemed somewhat wishy washy for a character who is supposed to be working for a senator. I mean she literally trusts a stranger right at the moment of meeting him.

Also normally, a character facing constant danger does make a book engaging.

Nisha Ward · Post by **Nisha Ward** » 16 Jun 2019, 18:39

maggi3 wrote: ↑02 Jun 2019, 01:08
sarahmarlowe wrote: ↑01 Jun 2019, 19:31
I didn't like Cynthia as a protagonist from early in the book. I found her dimwitted about her surroundings, getting herself into danger as much as having danger find her. For example, when she meets Sky, she trusts him enough to give him the make, model, and tag number of her unlocked, keys-in-it car? Good grief. And then she is happy that "his friend" has taken care of it? She's not my definition of a strong female character. Or strong any kind of character. I don't think she made the story thrilling, more like frustrating.
I agree. She must be smart to be working for the senator, but she doesn’t have much common sense. Usually, I would say having the protagonist in near constant danger would be thrilling, but I never felt connected enough with Cynthia to feel that way.

To be honest, I don't even understand how she got her job with the senator because she rarely showed any of that supposed intelligence. I mean, just look at her description of Dan's finance troubles. Even if she grew up kind of sheltered, which is sort of implied by the whole country girl who never had to work for anything narration, she should still know about student loan debt from her time at college and the people around her. Or even if not there, then she should know about it since she works in Washington with a senator.

Nisha Ward · Post by **Nisha Ward** » 16 Jun 2019, 18:41

For me, the constant danger made the novel seem even more unrealistic than it already was. How could someone so naive who needed basic sex ed from the guy she cheated with be in her position? How could she be this supposed badass if she doesn't even have situational awareness?

I believe a character being put into danger constantly isn't necessarily a narrative downside, as it can enhance the story (eg. Indiana Jones, Harry Potter, etc.), but how they react to it is definitely what can drag a book down and it definitely did here.

Erin Dydek · Post by **Erin Dydek** » 16 Jun 2019, 20:05

Cynthia did a lot of senseless things throughout the book but I never got the feeling of "impending doom" coming upon her. Sky and Dan both came across as shallow and easily avoided if Cynthia had been willing to burn the letters and refuse to meet them in public. I would have thought her life was more threatened by the terrorists that were targeted in the cyber war, but her name didn't come up on their list. I've read some other crime thrillers where I was terrified for the protagonist and had no idea if they were going to be ok or not, but I never got that sense for Cynthia. I do believe she made some very stupid decisions in her initial interaction with Sky, but he came across as a love-sick playboy to me rather than a scary kidnapper.

Ferdinand_Otieno · Post by **Ferdinand_Otieno** » 16 Jun 2019, 21:30

Kajori50 wrote: ↑16 Jun 2019, 15:21
maggi3 wrote: ↑02 Jun 2019, 01:08
sarahmarlowe wrote: ↑01 Jun 2019, 19:31
I didn't like Cynthia as a protagonist from early in the book. I found her dimwitted about her surroundings, getting herself into danger as much as having danger find her. For example, when she meets Sky, she trusts him enough to give him the make, model, and tag number of her unlocked, keys-in-it car? Good grief. And then she is happy that "his friend" has taken care of it? She's not my definition of a strong female character. Or strong any kind of character. I don't think she made the story thrilling, more like frustrating.
I agree. She must be smart to be working for the senator, but she doesn’t have much common sense. Usually, I would say having the protagonist in near constant danger would be thrilling, but I never felt connected enough with Cynthia to feel that way.
I feel the same way. She seemed somewhat wishy washy for a character who is supposed to be working for a senator. I mean she literally trusts a stranger right at the moment of meeting him.

Also normally, a character facing constant danger does make a book engaging.

I agree, her supposed expertise never really showed.

Nisha Ward · Post by **Nisha Ward** » 17 Jun 2019, 02:05

Everydayadventure15 wrote: ↑16 Jun 2019, 20:05 Cynthia did a lot of senseless things throughout the book but I never got the feeling of "impending doom" coming upon her. Sky and Dan both came across as shallow and easily avoided if Cynthia had been willing to burn the letters and refuse to meet them in public. I would have thought her life was more threatened by the terrorists that were targeted in the cyber war, but her name didn't come up on their list. I've read some other crime thrillers where I was terrified for the protagonist and had no idea if they were going to be ok or not, but I never got that sense for Cynthia. I do believe she made some very stupid decisions in her initial interaction with Sky, but he came across as a love-sick playboy to me rather than a scary kidnapper.

Agreed. The danger didn't really feel dangerous at all so it was like, something would happen and I'd be like, "So...what now?"

Ferdinand_Otieno · Post by **Ferdinand_Otieno** » 17 Jun 2019, 14:53

Everydayadventure15 wrote: ↑16 Jun 2019, 20:05 Cynthia did a lot of senseless things throughout the book but I never got the feeling of "impending doom" coming upon her. Sky and Dan both came across as shallow and easily avoided if Cynthia had been willing to burn the letters and refuse to meet them in public. I would have thought her life was more threatened by the terrorists that were targeted in the cyber war, but her name didn't come up on their list. I've read some other crime thrillers where I was terrified for the protagonist and had no idea if they were going to be ok or not, but I never got that sense for Cynthia. I do believe she made some very stupid decisions in her initial interaction with Sky, but he came across as a love-sick playboy to me rather than a scary kidnapper.

It was more recklessness of her safety than surprised impending doom.