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400 pages, Hardcover
First published May 24, 2011
The sea ahead of them was dotted with women’s heads, green hair spread out about them like seaweed. As one, they opened their mouths to reveal piranha-like teeth. And then, they launched themselves towards the boat, dipping in and out of the water like dolphins.Later, in Chapter 21, p. 137.
Hands close to their sides, the Nereids dived in and out of the water like a school of dolphins. […] Their mouths were all full of ragged needle-pointed teeth. They reminded him of piranhas.The exact same two comparisons, each comparison appearing twice in the span of 20 pages. The second example is as follows: Chapter 43, p. 286.
“Oh, I would imagine we’ll hear the screams from here.” The English Magician tapped the envelope against his leg impatiently.Later, in Chapter 48, p. 317.
Virginia shook her head. “Hard to tell, but trust me, when it arrives, we’ll know. I imagine we’ll hear the screams from here.”Identical phrasing, from two different characters, in the span of 31 pages. And that isn’t all. Every character keeps repeating the same two words to each other. When asked what they would do for their loved one, everyone answers, “Anything, everything.” Never mind that some of these characters are ancient, so much older than humanity (I’ll come back to this very soon) and have mindsets very far from those of humanity. Everyone, apparently, thinks identically.