Eggbert34

Good points.....the crazy theories I mentioned above would mostly only be possible if the church was "hoarding" shadowblazes. There is no saying they aren't trapped in that room. They could let the ones out one at a time based on the child that goes in. This seems ridiculously unlikely...especially for a YA book but I'm bored and I'm sure we won't find out anytime soon haha. Note - I do know it's a 1 to 1 thing but there is no saying there aren't vastly more Shadowblazes than rithmatists.

This is a pretty cool topic. I had assumed or thought maybe it was the coin. I listened to on audio so I can't reference quickly but didn't it make a point to call out that he had the coin? A couple points: 1) If Melody thought he really could become a rithmatist then if people can ensure their children become rithmatists, the children must not know how. Bribes to church? Donations? It has to be something outside of their control. Elsewise she wouldn't have been so hopeful. 2) I don't think it is the church leader dude who decides. Why would he act unsurprised when Joel came out as a non-rithmatist? It was clear that no other children saw the Shadowblaze who were non-rith so if it was his choice, then if anything, he would have been really surprised Joel didn't become one. 3) I think Joel will become one at some point and I don't think it will be in the inception room. I don't think that it's necessary for them to latch in the room. 4) Do we think the church possibly keeps the Shadowblaze trapped in the room? Was the rain damage a front for re-building a rithmatic boundary or adding more? Just a random thought but i was curious when he said it flew under the alter into a black space Just some random thoughts....I'm mad i'm already done but i just couldnt stop reading it

I listened to this on audio as I love Kramer's narrating. That said, I got done in less than a week and it was outstanding! It was almost Elantris meets Harry Potter which was fine by me. When I say that, I don't mean to compare it to HP at all but for the school setting. I was pretty bummed when Joel didn't become a rithmatist but like many others have said, you know he will. For 1, the shadow thing was there to "latch" onto him but i believe it was scared of the electronic coin? Didn't he have that with him? I am not really sure about that theory but clearly it wanted to make him a rithmatist or else it wouldnt have been there. Either way it was kind of cool how it all ended and I definitely did not see all the twists and turns coming in play.