Rock, Paper, Scissors

by Naja Marie Aidt, K.E. Semmel (Translation)

Naja Marie Aidt's long-awaited first novel is a breathtaking page-turner and complex portrait of a man whose life slowly devolves into one of violence and jealousy.

Rock, Paper, Scissors opens shortly after the death of Thomas and Jenny's criminal father. While trying to fix a toaster that he left behind, Thomas discovers a secret, setting into motion a series of events leading to the dissolution of his life, and plunging him into a dark, shadowy underworld of violence and betrayal.

A gripping story written with a poet's sensibility and attention to language, Rock, Paper, Scissors showcases all of Aidt's gifts and will greatly expand the readership for one of Denmark's most decorated and beloved writers.

Genres: Fiction, Denmark, Danish, Novels, Contemporary, Scandinavian Literature, Mystery

345 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2012

About the author

Naja Marie Aidt is a Danish poet and writer. She was born in Greenland, and spent some of her childhood there. She published her first book of poetry in 1991, and in 2008 she was awarded the Nordic Council's Literature Prize.

Reviews

[Antonomasia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Okay literary domestic/psychological thriller about an average middle-aged small business owner named Thomas - neither especially nice, nor spectacularly awful - whose life and behaviour become disturbed after the death of his estranged criminal father. I never grew to like the book as it dragged on, but my initial opinion was influenced by expectations of the publisher: if this had been from a mainstream house or a crime fiction imprint - where it would, IMO, seem far more at home - I'd have given it more kudos for being well-written for the type of thing it is. With Open Letter, that's just baseline. Besides, reading William McIlvanney in the last few months has raised my bar for the quality of writing possible in genre crime, and made most 'literary thrillers' look mediocre by comparison.

Is there anyone who really likes all the domestic scenes in crime fiction? Presumably, but can't remember them saying so: maybe those are the people who go for domestic thrillers instead. Anyway, compared with your average Nordic procedural novel featuring a detective who has kids, this (which is all about Thomas's extended family - police officers only have a couple of walk-on roles) contains about 500% more home and family scenes, and about 500% less action.
I find the domestic thriller more interesting as a cultural phenomenon than as something to read, one which says something about our times, in the way that 50s monster movies can be read as illustrating the anxieties of the early Cold War. These novels emerged not long after the recession did, as changing economic conditions eroded the old certainty and security of middle class life, symbolised by the home and family subject to threat in the novel - the trope of infiltration by a possibly dangerous person into the heart of these ostensibly ordinary families' lives, into the place people expect to be a safe refuge from the world. (And where pop fiction trends are concerned, there's a contrast with the bright, shiny optimism of boom-time chicklit in which single girls got their hot man, glamorous job and friends; many domestic thrillers have protagonists from the same generation - the record scratches and turns to horror-movie music; it wasn't a happy ending after all...) The most immediate experience of insecurity for most people has been economic: pay freezes, price inflation on essentials like food, downsizing of workforce and/or home, welfare cuts, but news about terrorism and responses to it, climate change, antibiotic resistance etc makes life feel increasingly precarious in ways it never used to for many Western people born in the second half of the twentieth century. Domestic thrillers often feature a threat from a character's past resurfacing - as this one does: the return of an instability we once thought we'd put behind us; or things people had only worried about in the background now materialise as real threats.

I read translated books, in part, for a sense of place and culture, and Rock, Paper, Scissors has none of interest, set in a nowhere-and-everywhere that could be in many parts of northwestern Europe, North America or Australia/New Zealand . Main characters mostly have names that could be English, plus a few Irish, a couple of Nordic, and among supporting characters a large selection of multicultural names. (And come on, you can't give someone the same name as a Disney character and then do nothing with that.) Little bits of legal stuff sound neither British nor American, a few assumptions and background values imply Scandinavia, but those mountains definitely aren't Danish.
Something else well-regarded, and which I also find mostly boring & uninspired is Tim Parks' commentary on literature - but his piece on The Dull New Global Novel for once made an excellent point. With Rock, Paper, Scissors, it's as if Aidt set out to write an extreme example of one: the intent is presumably knowing / satirical, but the end result is still, to me, deeply tedious. The setting and detail were so very bland that, although I'm no great fan of books-about-books, my interest picked up during characters' heated discussion of the pros and cons of memoir-as-fiction, and conversations about a couple of poets I like. Not what I look for in a novel, but still better than all the mundane small talk and rows.

I didn't especially care about the characters, I didn't actively not care either. I found it hard to believe that Thomas didn't decide to hide the money for many years, or use it very gradually, but if he'd done that, there wouldn't have been much of a story. Positive reviews tend to highlight the book's philosophical aspects - what makes a person themselves etc - but nothing was apparent that I hadn't seen covered in books & films I found more engaging. And as I never really warmed to it, I started picking faults that in a different novel might have been endearing quirks, such as odd word choices in the translation. (An adorable accent in someone you like; in someone you don't, moments of secret impatience that their English isn't better.) A B-film? Why a coffee automat, not a coffee machine, in this Anglicised environment?
Possibly I'm missing something by not having read the author's short-story collection Baboon - widely praised on translated lit blogs, and longlisted for the 2015 Best Translated Book Award - but this book is blah. Here, the only major sign of the dark weirdness supposed to be a hallmark of the story collection was an unusual decision taken by one character near the end of the book. Though I will say that - unlike Sofi Oksanen, who I was reading a couple of days ago - Aidt writes convincing male lead characters.

I became increasingly fed up with Rock, Paper, Scissors as it dragged on; only near the end was it involving for more than a couple of pages at a time, so at least it was worthwhile finishing the thing. If I rated only on my feelings about a book, this would get two stars [and maybe a half for the last 10-15% ] - but I don't think there's enough wrong with it to justify less than three. It's a novel which probably has something to offer fans of domestic thrillers who wish the writing in bestsellers was better - provided they are okay with reading a male protagonist who has moments of marital violence [tw], with a slow-burn plot, a bit of literary strangeness and loose ends.

[Chad Post · Rating 5 out of 5]

Naja Marie Aidt is the most incredible writer of terrible situations. Baboon, her collection of stories that Two Lines brought out last summer, illustrates this, with it's tough to read stories of familial conflict, of broken people doing broken ass things.

But Rock, Paper, Scissors takes this to a whole new level. The narrative runs through the consciousness of Thomas, part-owner of a stationary store, and more or less chronicles the logical, systematic way in which his life gets more and more fucked up.

I don't want to reveal much about the plot points of this novel (for once, I feel like the various revelations are worth experiencing with a minimum of foreknowledge), but everything centers around the death of Thomas's father, which takes place just before the opening of the book.

What's fascinating, and what makes all of Naja's prose pieces work so well, is that no one in this book is "likable." (At least none of the main characters. The store assistants--who play bit parts and have a Russian literature reading group--are totally fine. As are most of the younger characters . . . ) I'm not one of those readers who wants to "identify" with characters in books, but I really love how everyone in this novel makes sense as a character, even as they do unkind things or have unsettling reactions to events that befall them.

The discomfort and dislike that the reader feels being around these characters really drives this book, and I think that's going to draw in a lot of readers when we finally release this in August.

Overall, I can't put into words how much I love Naja's writing and Kyle's translation and how absolutely involved I got in proofing this. It's a page-turner, but so much more, and so well-crafted, gripping, and amazing. I suspect this is going to be on a lot of best of lists at the end of this year.

[Book Riot Community]

Aidt, a well-known Danish poet, makes her novel debut with an intense, gritty crime drama. Thomas, a stationary store owner, discovers a dark secret in a toaster (like you do) about his criminal father after his father's death. What Thomas learns will send him spiraling down a path of violence and destruction. If dark, disturbing, and amazingly well-written books are your thing, this is one you won't want to miss!


Tune in to our weekly podcast dedicated to all things new books, All The Books: http://bookriot.com/category/all-the-...

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an ARC from the publisher through Edelweiss.

At the core of the book is the complex character of Thomas who has never really dealt with or gotten over his terrible childhood. Thomas mother walked out on their family when he was a young boy and left Thomas and his sister, Jenny, to be raised by a physically and emotionally abuse father. When Thomas’ father, with whom he has not had contact in years, dies in prison, all of his unpleasant childhood feelings and memories come crashing in on his life. .

Thomas owns and runs a successful stationary store with his best friend and partner, Maloney. A lot of the book describes Thomas everyday life while he works, goes out for lunch and drinks and spends time with his live-in girlfriend, Patricia. It seems that Thomas has a good life, a steady income, and is surrounded by stable friends and family. Thomas is close to his sister, Jenny, and even though she is emotionally needy and dramatic he still feels the need to always protect her. But when Thomas has to deal with his father’s funeral, he slowly begins to unravel and come apart at the seems.

The sentences and language of the book are oftentimes short, even choppy or staccato which style fits well with the ever-changing moods of Thomas. One minute he is enraged and punching a heap of boxes and the next he is calm and happy. There is a long stretch of time in the book, after his father’s funeral, during which Thomas wants to do nothing but sleep. His rage also has sexual manifestations and this is what ultimately drives his girlfriend Patricia away.

A large section of the book is dedicated to a family trip that Thomas takes with Patricia as they go and visit Thomas’ aunt, cousins, sister and niece. The setting in the rustic countryside and the meals shared together seem to put Thomas at ease and the reader is lured into thinking that Thomas’ rough patch is finally over. But there is one guest at the party, a young man named Luke, who was an old acquaintance of his father’s. Thomas doesn’t quite trust Luke or Luke’s supposed relationship with Thomas’ father. Even when Thomas has some peace like on the weekend vacation, there is always a discomfort or an uneasiness lurking in the background.

One final aspect of the story worth mentioning is Thomas’ encounter with his father’s old business partners. Thomas accidentally finds a large sum of money at his father’s abandoned apartment and he tries to ask his partners about his father’s criminal past. But the partners are reluctant to speak about their business at all and it is never even revealed why his father was in prison. Thomas’ stationary business is vandalized, his home is broken into and his girlfriend is attacked at one point. Thomas assumes that all of these incidents are related to his father’s illegal business but, despite his theories, Thomas never really gets to the bottom of this mystery.

ROCK, PAPER, SCISSORS is a dark, complex look into the psyche of a man who has had a traumatic childhood; it is also a look into what can happen to that man’s life if these issues are never dealt with. I will warn you that the book ends on a bit of a cliff hanger. We can only wonder and hope that Aidt has another episode of Thomas’ story in the works for us.

For more of my reviews please visit: www.thebookbindersdaughter.com

[Bogdan · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very disturbing but interesting novel. It is not an easy read and it leaves the reader with many puzzles and with a bad taste. Characters have flaws and they behave unexpectly. Also the narrator does not reveals too much about what other characters are thinking, except the main one (Thomas). And Thomas is having many skeletons in his closet which lead to a character poised with many issues.

[miss.mesmerized mesmerized · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thomas und Jennys Vater ist gestorben. Eigentlich sind sie erleichtert, das Verhältnis war schlecht, gekümmert hat er sich nie und ein Verbrecher war er dazu, die letzte Zeit seines Lebens saß er im Knast. Doch die erhoffte Erleichterung stellt sich nicht ein. Ein letztes Mal gehen sie in die elterliche Wohnung, Jenny will unbedingt den Toaster mitnehmen, der sie an die guten Zeiten der Kindheit erinnert. Doch das Gerät ist scheinbar kaputt. Als Thomas ihn auseinanderbaut, findet er die Beute des letzten Raubzugs seines Vaters. Er behält das Geld und verschweigt seiner Schwester und seiner Freundin Patricia den Fund. Doch an dem unverhofften Geldsegen klebt Pech und Thomas muss mit ansehen, wie sein geordnetes bürgerliches Leben, in das er sich als dem Sumpf gerettet hat, nach und nach bedroht wird und schließlich zusammenbricht.

Naja Marie Aidts Roman beschreibt den Niedergang in aller Eindringlichkeit und facettenreich. Es sind nicht die Handlungen, das Geschehen, die ihren Roman bestimmen, sondern die Menschen mit ihren Wesenszügen und Schwächen. Im Zentrum Thomas. Mit seinem Freund hat er einen Schreibwarenladen. Er hat den sozialen Aufstieg geschafft, es zu etwas gebracht, sich von seinem Vater und der Kriminalität seiner Kindheit distanziert. Der Fund des Geldes weckt jedoch eine Gier in ihm und bringt das zum Vorschein, was er hinter sich lassen wollte. Nicht kalkuliert hatte er, was dieses kleine Verbrechen mit ihm und seiner Umwelt macht. Er wird misstrauisch, vermutet Betrug hinter allen Handlungen seiner Mitmenschen, vertraut nicht mehr. So zerstört er nach und nach alle Beziehungen und gefährdet sich und andere. Vor allem seine Freundin Patricia. Ist die Beziehung zu Beginn des Romans fragil, werden die Risse im Laufe der Geschichte immer deutlicher. Leidet Thomas eher unbewusst, wird sie physisch wie psychisch zum Opfer.

Auch das Verhältnis der Geschwister zueinander ist nicht geprägt durch Verbundenheit ob des gemeinsam erlebten Leidens. Mit leichter Verachtung straft Thomas Jenny immer wieder, diese ist schwach, hat den Aufstieg nicht im selben Maße geschafft wie ihr Bruder und zudem in der Kindererziehung versagt. Doch mehr und mehr kehrt sich dieses Verhältnis um, Jenny findet ihren Weg, wirkt zunehmend selbstsicher und autonomer und kann sogar eine funktionierende Beziehung aufbauen während Thomas dazu immer weniger in der Lage scheint.

„Schere, Stein, Papier“ – ein passender Titel. Immer wieder stehen sich im Roman zwei Figuren gegenüber, die vor eine Entscheidung gestellt werden und deren Kampf ein scheinbar offenes Ende hat. Beide können gewinnen, sie taktieren, versuchen das Gegenüber zu durchschauen, um so die Oberhand zu gewinnen. Jede Handlung beeinflusst unbewusst jedoch die darauf folgende – wie auch jede Erfahrung das weitere Agieren eines Menschen bewusst oder unbewusst beeinflusst. Nichts ist völlig willkürlich im Leben und daher kann man sich auch nicht von dem lossagen, was man gerne ablegen möchte. Am Ende der Handlung muss Thomas sehen, dass er wieder zurückkehrt zu dem, was er verdrängt hatte und schließt so den Kreis.

[Kim Shively · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book gathers steam as it goes along and ends with a crash.

The novel takes a close third-person perspective of Thomas, the estranged son of a recently deceased mafioso. Estrangement is the overarching theme, with Thomas growing more and more paranoid as the story progresses. He also becomes less and less sympathetic, as he is self-defeating and often mean to those around him. I really thought the second part dragged somewhat, but there is a mystery that develops that propels the narrative forward.

The novel is Danish, but few of the names are Danish - they are all Irish, it seems. I don't know what that's about.

[AK · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is so…odd…so bizarre. I like it, but also dislike many things about it. I’m happy I finished it, but slightly feel like I want more. I think I liked it..? Or I’m halfway between disliking it and liking it which is pretty annoying. I can’t tell if I wasted my time reading it or not. Just read it and decide for yourself.

[Hoa (Hannah) · Rating 3 out of 5]

slow burn, then lights on fire. could not empathise with the characters, however Aidt’s character building allowed me to understand why they did what they did? never read anything like it. didn’t Love it, but still glad i read it.

[Mlg · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good mystery about a feuding couple who win a weekend away at a redone church on a Scottish loch in the middle of winter. I was a bit confused at one point, but it all sorted out in the end. Good mystery.

[Barbara · Rating 2 out of 5]

Bin noch nicht so sicher, was ich von dem Buch halte, das irgendwie 200 Seiten zu lang geraten ist. Tendenz geht zu knapp 3 Sternen. (Nachtrag einen Monat später: stark abgerundete 2 Sterne werden meinem bereits stark verblassenden Eindruck gerechter.)

Meine Rezension für den Borromäusverein steht hier:
http://www.borromaeusverein.de/medien...

[winnie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Arvesønnen
Thomas er kravlet op af den sociale rangstige.Mor stak af tidligt, og nu er hans kriminelle far død i fængslet, så nu burde han endelig være fri. Men så let er det ikke. Bogen handler om en række rigtigt uheldige valg han træffer efter at have fundet en arv der brænder i lommen i farens efterladenskaber.
Jeg er vild med at bogen i stedet for at forenkle konfliktlinjerne slører og fordobler.
Det er ikke ligefrem behageligt at læse med. For synsvinklen er tøjret i Thomas, der mildest talt har svært ved at regne det hele ud. Men det er møgspændende, så man vrider sig igennem alligevel, og så er sproget virkelig lækkert.
Læs den, og diskuter så slutningen med mig :-)

[Mette · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was hard for me to get through this one. Normally I enjoy the author's short stories and her keen observations and way of describing the characters. In the 382 pages long book it tired me out though. I found the smallest of details obsolete and would have preferred the book to cut to the chase. The plot that drove me to the end disappointed and annoyed me enormously.
I respect that this wasn't a book for me. To mention something good, the way of painting the characters is still great.

[Ken Fredette · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story that goes along with this book is really complex. It gives you the feeling of all the characters emotions even though Thomas is the one telling the story. She works her way into poetry by a game that they play. But it does end in the climax of the story.

[Anne Lydolf · Rating 2 out of 5]

While I love Naja Marie Aidt's shorter stories, a full novel just did not do it for me. There was nothing really captivating in it, and her imperfect characters that would work well in short story form turn bleak and boring in the long run. I sadly struggled a bit to get through this one.

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

A beautiful, nail-biter of a book. It’s rich in suspense and surprisingly touching and, and times, sexyand harsh. For each sensation she delivers its opposite face of the coin. I loved Baboon, Aidt’s short story collection, and found her novel to be just as exquisite.

[Socorro · Rating 2 out of 5]

Repeated use of sexual violence as a plot point and a "mystery" that is built up only to never be resolved.

[b aaron talbot · Rating 5 out of 5]

i really really really liked this book. i picked it up two days ago to read the first couple of pages before running some errands and ended up reading 110 pages in a sitting before i realized it. it is gripping, entertaining, enjoyable, maddening, and fulfilling all at the same time.

the narrative structure is incredible and i assume it is the same in its native language. there are times when aidt does not use paragraph breaks to separate dialogue from what is happening. so you will have these long paragraphs where there are several people talking and action happening when in a traditional text, there would be paragraph breaks after every quote. it really sped up the action and caused me to become so enraptured in what was happening that i felt as dizzy and unnerved as the characters. it happens throughout the book but i never felt it was overused or overdone.

this technique fits with the plot and main character, who is suffering from grief after his father died even though he claims to not be suffering at all. thomas’ father was abusive and a criminal and it make it easy to see how thomas would not feel anything for him. but it is clear that thomas is not at ease with his past or present. and that is my one critique of the book: there are several moments of violence, particularly with a female character that are believable but the necessity is what i question.

but an absolutely riveting book. i do not know if i can explain the ending, but the book itself took several turns i was not expecting so it was consistent up to the end.

[Mette Dyreborg · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thomas’ og Jennys far er død. Thomas er lettet og arrig. Jenny græder. De er vokset op med en alkoholisk, utilregnelig, kriminel og følelseskold far og en mor, der forlod dem. Vi følger Thomas, der kæmper med sin fortid. Han danner par med Patricia, og han ejer en boghandel/papirvarer forretning sammen med vennen Maloney. Thomas’ søster Jenny lever et sørgeligt liv med sin datter Alice. Thomas vil ikke have børn, det vil Patricia, og da hun pga. en voldtægt bliver gravid, vil hun være mor og går fra Thomas. Indtil da har hun levet med Thomas’ indre kampe. Thomas elsker hende og kan ikke klare, hun går, men han har i lang tid været tavs og svær.
Da faderen dør, tager han ud i lejligheden og finder en formue gemt i en brødrister, som Jenny vil have som et minde. Thomas gemmer pengene i kælderen og åbner en ny afdeling af butikken for en del af dem. Det er som om, nogen ved, at han har alle de penge, for der ridses tegn i bordet i den gamle butik og i hans dør. Butikken bliver smadret og Patricia voldtaget. Thomas mistænker den mystiske ven til Alice “Luke,” som viser sig at være Thomas’ halvbror. Der er hele vejen igennem en underlig stemning mellem dem. Især i weekenden hos Helena og Kristin. Thomas ender med at komme op at slås med Luke i den nye butik, selv om Luke nok egentlig kun kommer for at fortælle, at de er halvsøskende. Det bliver ikke opklaret, om Luke står bag alle de mærkelige hændelser, for Thomas dræber ham i selvforsvar der i butikken.

[Pia Rosenkilde · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sten saks papir af Naja Marie Aidt ⭐️⭐️⭐️ ~

Jeg er ikke supergod til lydbøger, men jeg var faktisk engageret og havde ikke problemer med at koncentrere mig. Det gode ved bogen er helt sikkert karakterbeskrivelserne. Man lærer de her personer at kende. Det er en roman, der beskriver en gruppe mennesker i den lavere socioøkonomiske gruppe. Jeg blev lettere irriteret over, at samtlige personer havde et engelsklingende navn, men måske jeg missede noget der? Historien berører emner som brudt kærligheden, hverdag, svære familierelationer, sår på sjælen, svær barndom, alkoholmisbrug, men også håb og kærlighed og ikke mindst paranoia, som også bliver slutningen på romanen. Jeg blev aldrig helt fanget, eller engageret i disse personers liv, men det er en fin roman, der flyder og tager dig på, hvis ikke en rejse, så en helt fin udflugt. #stensakspapir #najamarieaidt

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I bought this book in Copenhagen - recommended by the bookseller - though I now find that the author lives in Brooklyn, where I live. I had never heard of Aidt before; this is her first novel as she has previously published short stories and poetry. A very powerful, disturbing book. Thomas' father (a neglectful, drunken criminal) has died suddenly in jail. Thomas and his sister don't know what crime he is accused of as they have cut off contact with him years ago. Having been abandoned by their mother when very young, their neglectful father was the only parent they knew. We see the effect of Jacque's death on Thomas and his relationships as his world slowly crumples. Very powerful and poetic book.

[Bill Brydon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Every single one of these people will die. Every single person, no matter how old they are. The ones babbling cheerfully, clowning around, having a good time, arguing and talking, or lonely or hunted or sad or happy or relieved—even plain joyful—they will all die. Maybe soon. They’ll lie like wax figures in some morgue. Their insides and their flesh will swell and rot, bacteria will explode inside their bodies and make them stink like dead cows in 95-degree heat. He looks at a dark-skinned, middle-aged woman behind him, at the young blond man at the register, at a grandfather holding his small grandson’s hand. They’ll all be disgusting corpses. "

[Jerome Berglund · Rating 5 out of 5]

** Impressively off-putting, intensely claustrophobic read **

Stunningly literary crime fiction, surreal Scandi noir of the highest order. Gives Thomas Pynchon, Jim Thompson, Patricia Highsmith a run for their money. One of those books that grips you, a reader can't put down until they've seen it through to the conclusion. Also reminiscent of films by Michael Haneke, Lars Von Trier. For courageous readers with strong stomachs, who are not faint of heart.

[Christina Widmann · Rating 5 out of 5]

Anders als der Klappentext vermuten lässt, ist Schere, Stein, Papier die fesselnde Geschichte einer bipolaren (manisch-depressiven) Störung.
Ausführliche Rezension: https://nouw.com/cwidmann/naja-marie-...

[Nathalie Larsen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Really a 3.5, but not a 4 because it was too hard to truly relate to the everyday life being depicted (and the male protagonist) and the ending was deeply unsatisfying (although paranoia and pushing people over the edge seemed the most likely explanation).

[Lauren Cameron · Rating 2 out of 5]

had to stop reading because i no longer enjoyed a book where the main character i followed was a rapist. the writing was beautiful and I understand the author wanted Thomas to be unlikable but I no longer enjoyed it

[Marielily · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very well-written work and interesting characters; unfortunately, one never gets a true resolution or ending, which somewhat diminishes the reading experience. Descriptions of family gatherings also become a bit tedious. At times, the language is beautifully lyrical."

[Jennifer Stoy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow. I originally was so annoyed that this was a man pain book, but it transcended that and became a book about how trauma can't be buried and forgotten and just wowed me. Wow.

[stephanie roberts · Rating 2 out of 5]

sgradevole

[Bill Turner · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good read, kinda liked the way she slowly revealed the characters.