Violet eyes! Like Liz Taylor! I love that small quality you have given Christine!

“I refuse to call a horse Adonis.”

And we learn more about Erik’s past in Persia. Certainly a part of his life that has shaped him quite a bit.

This Emily backstory is heartbreaking, but she's walked through some coals and made it to the other side.
Erik's ability to have this conversation with her really accentuates how greatly he has changed over the years.

Now I want Lemon pie...

Ouch. So much to unpack with this chapter!

The respect between Minnette and Erik is just perfect. Their conversation about forgiveness was very moving, Erik speaking from personal experience.
Of course he shuts down as soon as she gets him to smile.

Christine is so so so angry and hurt. I felt so uncomfortable for Erik. Poor man has so much self loathing as it is, but this really puts the cherry on the cake.
I appreciated these allusions to past conversations between Erik and Christine, we get an understanding of what was discussed without having been there to see it.

Leaving in the middle of the night totally seems like an Erik thing to do

Erik teaching a child to read is probably the most undeniably endearing image ever.

Ah, and here we see in these letters to Mme Giry the thin cracks in Christine's emotional veneer.
This subtly sets us up for some emotional wiggle room where Christine is concerned.
But a baby on the way? Wonder how you'll deal with that very large obstacle.

Get ready for a steady stream of reviews as I make my way through this epic tale:(How have I not read this yet?)

You've set us up with this first chapter which is dripping with utter loneliness. The perspective here from Erik is admirably done.
"Her chains are no longer mine although I still feel them. They are burning me!" -chills

Does Erik have chronic Malaria? Sounds a lot like the symptoms.

"The puppeteer cannot blame the puppets if the play turns to a disaster." Interesting insight here.

I absolutely loved this story and would love to read some more POTO work from you!

I love this story so much! Love all the relationships and wonderful endings! Glad I caught it later, when the epilogue is also there! That much better! Wonderful job! Thank you!

Hooked from start to finish. Great story.

I read this story in two days, I was thinking about it while driving and at work My 3 year old watched 3 hours if tv a day so I could sit and read this. Your writing is enchanting and thebstory so very detailed. Thank you

Oh my heart.

Oohhh so far I am loving this

I knewwwww itttt

Ooh a cliffie. "as if afraid it would escape" is so well written one can almost visualize the hand-carved box and Minnette locking the letter away within it If only Erik knew...what?

Obviously-at least to me-Erik sees something of his own childhood abuses in what James has suffered for his lefthandness (and equally obviously Erik knows his dominant hand is no more James' fault than the color of his eyes.) Is there nothing the man doesn't know?
James' father better stay on the road or wherever because his fate is sealed.

By the way my first thought concerning James' "cry of terror" when Erik discovered him at home on a Sunday was that Erik was unmasked.

Okaaaay just as I thought. Erik has assumed responsibility for the boy, James.
This, however, is turning into one of those stories in which Erik is just a perfectly normal individual, a nice guy as it were.
Honestly I prefer him brilliant but at least slightly deranged. I think that's much more interesting.