You and I thought ourselves immortal when we were yearning for an opportunity to prove it. We had money, cars, food and other stuff. Nico was starving and near death. It was quite evident that he’d probably figured out that he wasn’t immortal.

Again, I’m not saying that this is detrimental to Farlander in any way, shape or form. It’s just a little curious.

Given the setting is the want to be an adventurer that unusual? What teenage boy doesn’t want risk, doesn’t think themselves immortal, believes in standing for a cause? OK, I’m over-generalising, and there are exceptions. Comparing the settings, is being an adventurer that dissimilar to taking drugs, or racing your car? When we’re older and wiser, we tend to question the risks, take a more guarded approach, but as a teenager, we tend to think ourselves immortal.

Still, great twist.

I did have a fine time with Farlander, and though you’re right to point out the dubious question of motivation on Nico’s part, I had a few other niggles, too. That said, I’ll be reading book two of The Heart of the World along with everyone else, I should think.