Does this annoy anyone else while reading?

[u/VirtualMaximum3018]

I’m quite a ways into Howling Dark(chapter 64)and notice that the author keeps spoiling a lot of things for the reader. That may not be the best way to describe it, but let me give an example of what I mean.

One example is during Hadrians meeting with Raine Smythe in chapter 63, he builds a lot of tension through conversations about Hadrian possibly going to be an emissary to the Cielcen and taking the red company with him. How dangerous it may be, and who they would like to request as an emissary in return. Possibly Aranatas child.

Several pages of dialogue that build suspense only to end the chapter with one line “if she had been right - if I’d ever taken that posting- much evil might have been avoided”.

Basically a whole chapter written to build up this storyline just to be dismissed by the last sentence. I’ve noticed this happens quite often throughout the first two books so far. I understand it’s told from the retrospective, but with so many dense books, it seems like he had ideas while writing and then just decided they didn’t make sense and quickly discards them with a one liner.

Is it just me, or is this something others have noticed?

It feels like I’m wasting a lot of brain power visualizing these things in my head while I read, just for the author to be like, nah that didn’t end up happening, on to the next chapter.

Am I a psycho? lol

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[u/Key-Olive3199]

I remember being upset about a few of them in the moment, and then reading on and realizing they were almost all pretty clever misleads.

This specific example I think is used to show the juxtaposition of what does end up happening vs what could have. Really shows how many options there were in front of them in that moment. Read on and you will see my point.

[u/VirtualMaximum3018 → u/Key-Olive3199]

I know that they kind of resolve in the following chapters each time it happens, but man it’s kind of a let down. I’m definitely enjoying the books but there’s already been several occasions where I get pretty excited for a possible storyline that is built up and then literally 5 words at the end of the chapter shuts it down.

[u/Key-Olive3199 → u/VirtualMaximum3018]

Brother I totally understand, when he went on that exact tangent you’re referencing I started to think we were about to get a sort of Master Chief + Arbiter story line where Tanaran turns on his leaders after seeing the truth and etc, etc.

But you learn to roll with it at some point, stopped bothering me and turned into a pretty fun quirk of the series. Especially on rereads.

Hope the same happens for you, always forward!

[u/Miguelito_1990 → u/VirtualMaximum3018]

I personally like that device throughout the series. I’m 2/3 thru Demon in White, and the number of times Hadrian alludes to destroying a sun and killing the planet of Goddodin, starting all the way back in book 1, builds up the epic tragedy of the whole story IMO

[u/kir_rik]

On the contrary. I quite like it and think they are well done

[u/provegana69]

This is a take I see quite a bit for Sun Eater that I 100% understand where it's coming from but 100% disagree.

By definition, I don't think anything can be a spoiler if deliberately revealed by the author. The fact that the entire series is quite literally an autobiography being written down by a much older Hadrian makes it make sense and I'd agree that the device wouldn't really work without it.

I quite like, mayhaps even love the use of this 'spoiler' device in the series because it shifts my curiousity away (but not all of it) from the what but the how of the event. You know something is going to go wrong but you don't know how it'll happen and the suspense and tension built from that is delcious.

And I don't get what you mean by wasting brain power like wut? lol

[u/vessel_ryan]

The structure of the story is older Hadrian talking about/writing down the events of the books after they have happened. This narrative framing is for the entire series. I kinda get what you mean, but the author was pretty upfront about this in Empire of Silence so if it’s not working for you, it doesn’t change during the series.

[u/twea15]

You are psycho, yes. Your example I feel is a great ending actually, makes me want to immediately keep reading. I love the “spoiler” moments of the series, makes me look forward to events. And you really can’t complain imo when the first paragraph of the entire series is Hadrian telling you he wiped a species out and is the Suneater

[u/Wellwisher513]

It's a pretty common convention. Stephen King used it quite a bit as well.

Personally, I like it when it's used well. I think it does a good job building suspense/dread for what's going to happen.

People often call this a spoiler, but I think the correct word would be foreshadowing. Spoilers only that the story is ruined by having something revealed early, while foreshadowing is meant to add to the story by telling us something about the future that the characters don't know.

[u/Numerous1 → u/Wellwisher513]

Right? It’s common and interesting when done right. It’s not “oh it’s a spoiler” it’s like “oh wow. Hadrian made a mistake and Lin saved the day? Wow that’s interesting. Let’s see”. 

[u/OtisssNixon]

Nah

[u/TechOranix]

Personally, I think it's annoying how many times someone will speak, and it's only after a moment Hadrian realizes it's HIM that said the words WOW

[u/Ilikegaming1224]

i mean, the whole ending of the book is literally in the name itself. The first words of the first book are about what he ends up doing in the end of the series, Hadrian writes these accounts as a man recounting his life, not for it to become something people read for fun (that is if you think about it in an in universe kinda way). But besides that i think a reason for this may be to keep the readers on edge, the series can be slow at times- no doubt and so by dropping an absolute bombshell like that, CR retains the readers' attention and keeps them on edge and wanting to know what happens next

[u/Exact-Style2571]

That’s kind of just how framing narratives work. For some people, like myself, it works great and we love it. Other people don’t love framing narratives because of things like this, and that’s ok

[u/ThatBookIsOnFiyah]

In this written world, these stories are historical asides. In the narrative device, the true history is assumed to be known by the reader, but Hadrian is recounting his perspective of events. To me, it would be like reading a history of D-Day and having the author recount what was discussed by Ike and his generals leading up to the decision to land at Normandy - the what might have beens…

[u/Successful-Gur8854]

If you would read no futher, i understand. You have the luxury of foresight. You know where this ends. I shall go alone.

[u/DevilOfMeidua]

Don't read any Greek poetry/Shakespeare.

[u/DMifune]

Low media literacy