I've been enjoying this series, but this one doesn't work for me. It exposes one of your biggest writing weaknesses: you decide that a character needs to act in a particular way for purposes of the story, but then fail to give them an internal motivation. That leaves them coming off as having the depth of cardboard.
The most obvious case is the innkeeper, who simply decides to marry a complete stranger who walks in an insists that he wants to marry her because the oracle said so. There is no hesitation on her part whatsoever, in sharing the bed of this stranger, and giving him power over the main asset which supports her and her children. Even with the reputation the oracle may be receiving, that seems an incredible stretch.
But the scout is about as bad. He knows perfectly well that his task is pathfinding, not fighting, and yet he charges this very confident man who claims to be a general, and thus dooms the invasion effort. Had he returned to the army with the news, they could presumably have come up with a much better plan with little trouble.
Or, have you considered that you are reading this backwards? As you mentioned before I am presenting the oracle in a rather dramatic light. Have you considered that the point of the story was that the oracle knew how each of these people would behave?
It lowers tension, that is certainly true. But I'm not sure that makes it unrealistic.
I've been enjoying this series, but this one doesn't work for me. It exposes one of your biggest writing weaknesses: you decide that a character needs to act in a particular way for purposes of the story, but then fail to give them an internal motivation. That leaves them coming off as having the depth of cardboard.
The most obvious case is the innkeeper, who simply decides to marry a complete stranger who walks in an insists that he wants to marry her because the oracle said so. There is no hesitation on her part whatsoever, in sharing the bed of this stranger, and giving him power over the main asset which supports her and her children. Even with the reputation the oracle may be receiving, that seems an incredible stretch.
But the scout is about as bad. He knows perfectly well that his task is pathfinding, not fighting, and yet he charges this very confident man who claims to be a general, and thus dooms the invasion effort. Had he returned to the army with the news, they could presumably have come up with a much better plan with little trouble.
Or, have you considered that you are reading this backwards? As you mentioned before I am presenting the oracle in a rather dramatic light. Have you considered that the point of the story was that the oracle knew how each of these people would behave?
It lowers tension, that is certainly true. But I'm not sure that makes it unrealistic.
Thanks for reading.
BTW, as always, feel free to rewrite or add!