1. Given the encounters that we've seen between syndics and Ar'alani/Ba'kif, one of the things I'm wondering is if Ba'kif doesn't agree with the Ascendancy policy of non-intervention and only attacking in response to an attack. If so, I'm not sure whether it'd be because that policy limits options, or because it prevents an aggressive expansion of the Ascendancy, but I've been pondering it. For Ar'alani, I think it's more personal - I think she respects Thrawn's abilities and insights.
2. I'm hoping we'll get more from Thalia's point of view as the story goes on. She and Thrawn haven't really had an opportunity to talk much, and I'm hoping that they'll turn out to be friends. It feels a bit like Thalia's been motivated by the fact that Thrawn actually treated her as if she wasn't simply a resource, but I also think that Thalias is looking for some kind of purpose. I don't know if Thrawn is someone who can have friends, or someone who looks at other people as tools, or something else completely, but I'm interested to see what happens.
3. I think we learned that Yiv is clever, but also rather used to believing he's the smartest person in the room. I think Thrawn was deliberately poking Yiv, and I'm not sure if he managed to succeed with sowing doubt in Yiv's mind, but their encounter was fun to read, and I want to see more.
4. If Thrawn's as smart as he comes across as being, then I think he has to know that at least some of the navigators or equivalent have to be working with Yiv, or at least, working for him; whether he suspects Qilori personally or not, I don't know, but I'd not be in any way surprised if it turns out that Thrawn has studied Qilori's species and knows the 19 different tells that show one is lying/nervous/agitated.
5. I'm enjoying this novel a lot so far. I'm a bit worried that Thrawn will turn out to be too faultless and incapable of making a mistake for me, but the investigations, politics and empire-building going on are all great fun to read.
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2. I'm hoping we'll get more from Thalia's point of view as the story goes on. She and Thrawn haven't really had an opportunity to talk much, and I'm hoping that they'll turn out to be friends. It feels a bit like Thalia's been motivated by the fact that Thrawn actually treated her as if she wasn't simply a resource, but I also think that Thalias is looking for some kind of purpose. I don't know if Thrawn is someone who can have friends, or someone who looks at other people as tools, or something else completely, but I'm interested to see what happens.
3. I think we learned that Yiv is clever, but also rather used to believing he's the smartest person in the room. I think Thrawn was deliberately poking Yiv, and I'm not sure if he managed to succeed with sowing doubt in Yiv's mind, but their encounter was fun to read, and I want to see more.
4. If Thrawn's as smart as he comes across as being, then I think he has to know that at least some of the navigators or equivalent have to be working with Yiv, or at least, working for him; whether he suspects Qilori personally or not, I don't know, but I'd not be in any way surprised if it turns out that Thrawn has studied Qilori's species and knows the 19 different tells that show one is lying/nervous/agitated.
5. I'm enjoying this novel a lot so far. I'm a bit worried that Thrawn will turn out to be too faultless and incapable of making a mistake for me, but the investigations, politics and empire-building going on are all great fun to read.