Flow of the Book and Development of Characters

Use this forum to discuss the June 2019 Book of the month, "Cynthia and Dan: Cyber War" by Dorothy May Mercer.
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Re: Flow of the Book and Development of Characters

Post by vivalatianne »

I still coudlnt tell yet... This book is part of a series, so maybe there’s more back story in the previous books, but I was also disappointed when I read it. I still didn’t connect with his character, but maybe you will.
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Post by heatherashley7 »

AntonelaMaria wrote: 06 Jun 2019, 11:20 I am at 35 % of the book and I have to ask what character development and what flow of the story. Must be hiding somewhere because I don't see it or is it too early for me to judge it. I don't get the author and the choice she made when writing these characters. They seem like they are not completely and clearly mapped up before writing Also, I can't figure out how old Cynthia is? She reads like a high schooler. Sky is very contradictory I keep waiting for him to reveal that he is some kind of spy.
I am a little late responding but I completely agree! This book felt very "high schooler/middle schooler". If the author had left out the rated R scene, that is the target audience I would have picked for this book.
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Post by Lucas Kalinic »

Generally, I think the novel had a poor character development. The author promised a lot of answers towards the book end yet answered very few questions.
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Post by AntonelaMaria »

heatherashley7 wrote: 24 Jun 2019, 11:57
AntonelaMaria wrote: 06 Jun 2019, 11:20 I am at 35 % of the book and I have to ask what character development and what flow of the story. Must be hiding somewhere because I don't see it or is it too early for me to judge it. I don't get the author and the choice she made when writing these characters. They seem like they are not completely and clearly mapped up before writing Also, I can't figure out how old Cynthia is? She reads like a high schooler. Sky is very contradictory I keep waiting for him to reveal that he is some kind of spy.
I am a little late responding but I completely agree! This book felt very "high schooler/middle schooler". If the author had left out the rated R scene, that is the target audience I would have picked for this book.
After reading it I am 100 % of the opinion that there is none or very little character development. Cynthia, for the most part, seems like two people both equally annoying but her person, while she is around Dan or Sky, seems very immature and stays that way. For a woman who is security for a senator smart and capable her action from the beginning of the book negates everything, the author tries to make of it. Again I come to the conclusion that maybe to some her later action seemed like development but to me felt like a complitley different person.
Glenn seems like the sanest and the most likable character but wasn't given room to impact or take place in the plotline.
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Post by Bluebird03 »

There are several comments regarding needing to read other books in this series to have a better understanding of the characters in this installment. I could not relate well to them- especially Cynthia and Sky. Also, I like when books of a series are able to also stand alone- plot and character-wise.
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Post by Chrystal Oaks »

heatherashley7 wrote: 01 Jun 2019, 10:14 Admittedly I am only on Chapter 6, but is anyone else having a hard time with the flow of the book and the development of characters? So far I feel as if the author is jumping around in the plot. She is not providing enough back story or detail to really make me vested in the outcome. The character of Sky is very disappointing to say the least. One minute he sounds like a proper english gentleman, the next just your average guy looking to sleep with someone. Am I the only one who feels like this?

Hopefully this book will get better! :?
I'm not sure, but I think I read someplace that this book was part of a weekly (monthly?) submission to a magazine. If true, it could be the reason for the chopiness. It's been awhile since I've read a short romance which even then thought them to be unrealistic. I treated this one like I did the others; keeping it light and not taking it too seriously. I also can see everyone's point and agree that there are gaps that need filling in. :tiphat:
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Post by juliusotieno02 »

Let's be honest, the character development was Abit poor, I mean look at sky, we know very little about him. Then came Dan, his character was flawed towards the end of the story.
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Post by Letora »

heatherashley7 wrote: 01 Jun 2019, 10:14 Admittedly I am only on Chapter 6, but is anyone else having a hard time with the flow of the book and the development of characters? So far I feel as if the author is jumping around in the plot. She is not providing enough back story or detail to really make me vested in the outcome. The character of Sky is very disappointing to say the least. One minute he sounds like a proper english gentleman, the next just your average guy looking to sleep with someone. Am I the only one who feels like this?

Hopefully this book will get better! :?
I have to agree that there isn't enough detail. The characters aren' really developing and actually seem pretty immature given their ages. Sky's character is all over the place and obsessive, to say the least.
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Post by HRichards »

It seemed like the author just needed some more practice writing? Like the plot was workable, just the characterization needed a ton more fleshing out and making more...realistic?
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Post by Crazyreader01 »

cpru68 wrote: 03 Jun 2019, 02:01 I was disappointed with the entire story. I kept waiting for it to get better and it never did. I don’t read a lot of fiction, but I went ahead and read this one for the discussion of it. I couldn’t wait until I got to the end. The story and characters seemed fake to me throughout. It just wasn’t for me.
Yes! I kept waiting for the Cyber War aspect to kick in properly and it just never did.
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Post by J_odoyo »

heatherashley7 wrote: 01 Jun 2019, 10:14 Admittedly I am only on Chapter 6, but is anyone else having a hard time with the flow of the book and the development of characters? So far I feel as if the author is jumping around in the plot. She is not providing enough back story or detail to really make me vested in the outcome. The character of Sky is very disappointing to say the least. One minute he sounds like a proper english gentleman, the next just your average guy looking to sleep with someone. Am I the only one who feels like this?

Hopefully this book will get better! :?
I had the same feeling while reading this book and even after finishing, I could not understand a few things. However, upon discovering that it was part of a series, I knew for sure that my questions could have been answered in another instalment.
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Post by Nuel Ukah »

heatherashley7 wrote: 01 Jun 2019, 10:14 Admittedly I am only on Chapter 6, but is anyone else having a hard time with the flow of the book and the development of characters? So far I feel as if the author is jumping around in the plot. She is not providing enough back story or detail to really make me vested in the outcome. The character of Sky is very disappointing to say the least. One minute he sounds like a proper english gentleman, the next just your average guy looking to sleep with someone. Am I the only one who feels like this?

Hopefully this book will get better! :?
Well, you're right. Cynthia is jus a character readers tend to misunderstand. There are people like Cynthia in real life. I didn't focus on Sky. However, I think this book can't be read alone without first reading the previous book. Perhaps that's why we can't understand these characters.
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Post by Renu G »

Bluebird03 wrote: 30 Jun 2019, 19:38 There are several comments regarding needing to read other books in this series to have a better understanding of the characters in this installment. I could not relate well to them- especially Cynthia and Sky. Also, I like when books of a series are able to also stand alone- plot and character-wise.
I agree with your opinion!
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Post by Samisah »

If this book is part of a series, then it might be understandable to skip some info so as to make readers interested in the other series. However some basic and necessary knowledge need to be given to help the reader follow along. Poor job
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Post by cdhundley »

I felt the pacing was too slow, particularly in the beginning. The characters weren't especially empathetic, and a bit flat.
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