MAJOR SPOILER WARNING. I thought I could use the spoiler marks (>! !<), but apparently I can’t?

I loved the book. I loved the characters. I loved the plot. I loved the ending, sappy as it was. This was just the kind of book I needed right now.

But I have a rather…burning question.

I was so sure that Arthur was going to turn out to be a demon, or maybe even Satan himself. When it was revealed that he was a phoenix, I actually laughed out loud.

And I can’t help wondering…was this intentional? Did the author lead the reader to suspect that Arthur was something more hellish? Was he teasing the reader, playing off our own preconceived notions? I mean, there were little hints sprinkled throughout the book. The fact that Arthur held a special fondness for Lucy. The hints of burning and fire. Arthur warning Norman about what he was capable of, and Zoe begging him not to “in front of the children.”

So yeah, those of you who read it–were you expecting something similar? And when you found out the truth, did you suspect that TJ Klune intentionally led you to that expectation?

  • wrongkindofpigeon@alien.topBEnglish
    1·
    10 months ago

    I’m with you! I initially expected Arthur to be something more devious but the more I read on, I nixed that guess. I think Klune did that intentionally to make Arthur a mystery. I’m excited to find out how the story unfolds in the sequel, Somewhere Beyond the Sea!

  • wrongkindofpigeon@alien.topBEnglish
    1·
    10 months ago

    I’m with you! I initially expected Arthur to be something more devious but the more I read on, I nixed that guess. I think Klune did that intentionally to make Arthur a mystery. I’m excited to find out how the story unfolds in the sequel, Somewhere Beyond the Sea!

  • itsbeenaharddaysday@alien.topBEnglish
    1·
    10 months ago

    I had similar expectations and was similarly surprised when the reveal happened. I don’t know if it was intentional on his part, though it certainly could have been. It’s just that when you have the literal antichrist, you really can’t top that.

    This book was a nice reprieve for me. I had been reading a lot of heavier stuff, and it was nice to read a chill and wholesome story for a while.

  • itsbeenaharddaysday@alien.topBEnglish
    1·
    10 months ago

    I had similar expectations and was similarly surprised when the reveal happened. I don’t know if it was intentional on his part, though it certainly could have been. It’s just that when you have the literal antichrist, you really can’t top that.

    This book was a nice reprieve for me. I had been reading a lot of heavier stuff, and it was nice to read a chill and wholesome story for a while.

  • CHRISKVAS@alien.topBEnglish
    1·
    10 months ago

    This book is great on surface level. But it really breaks down in a number of ways if you try turn a critical eye towards it.

  • unofficiallydevin@alien.topBEnglish
    1·
    10 months ago

    I think you’re right about Klune’s intentions! It subverts your expectations and ends up being very sweet. In fact, I found the whole book so sugary that I had to read some Joe Abercrombie afterwards for a detox lol.

  • mitkah16@alien.topBEnglish
    1·
    10 months ago

    What an interesting take. I honestly didn’t read into that. In the beginning I didn’t trust him and thought him to be a deceiving human that would take advantage of the kids eventually but then I just thought he was just a good guy. Never really gave him a monster personality, thinking that a human would be more horrible than anything.