18 Comments
Oct 13Liked by Luke Jennings

๐Ÿ’ฏ๐Ÿ”ฅ๐Ÿ™Œ ๐ŸŽขseriously what an instalment indeed ๐Ÿ‘๐Ÿ‘๐Ÿ‘ loved the bible referenceโ€ฆ. You certainly keep us all on our toes ( Iโ€™m totally in love with this story of yours and all the others) The note , Eve putting 2 and 2 together ! The rat ๐Ÿ€ ๐Ÿคฃ Iโ€™m howling seriouslyโ€ฆ Bili is bonkers and absolutely hilarious ๐Ÿ˜† โ€ฆ. Talk about leave a girl hanging lol ๐Ÿ˜‚ love it Thanks Luke the master mind , I am so excited for the next instalment! This is mind blowing ๐Ÿ‘๐Ÿ‘๐Ÿ‘ back to counting down the days & hours which will drive me insane but I love it ๐Ÿ’ฏ๐Ÿ”ฅโค๏ธ

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Oct 13Liked by Luke Jennings

I think Eve went to the shadow world to find V. I wonder now if V went rogue, felt sympathy for Valentin as Eve did and is getting him to safety. Not sure how this pans out with the 12 and if they are on board with what is happening! Looking forward to our gals getting reunited before that rat has babies ๐Ÿ˜‚

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Oct 13Liked by Luke Jennings

This story is so suspenseful! I need to know what's happening with Oxana and Valentin! And now that Eve's unlocked the note's meaning, where has she gone? It's all so mysterious.

I love Bili! She's great! She tends to break down the walls around Balice, ever so slightly.

Bili and Balice will soon be expecting little ones. So many tiny rat toes will be running around from sweet, giant Alice.๐Ÿ€๐Ÿฉท๐Ÿผ

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Baby rats! Bili is awesome!

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.....and she's telling lies to Balice already... unless Bili considers Balice to be a rat as well, Eve certainly knew she was more than "just the rat-catcher." ๐Ÿ€

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founding
Oct 13Liked by Luke Jennings

Luke! What an installment! I cannot stand the suspense! ๐Ÿซจ Where has Eve gone and what did she suddenly realize about Oxana's note? You are the greatest Luke! The master mystery and suspense writer! The rat should attack Balice and kill her. Bili is so weird, wanting the rat for a pet. Oh my! So, what is Oxana up to? Eve is so concerned about Oxana but must trust her. โค๏ธ Now, I can't wait for the next installment! So, I'm trying to patiently await your next gift. Thank you so much! Sincerely, Diane

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Oct 13Liked by Luke Jennings

Oooh I sense a secluded bothy perhaps? ๐Ÿค”

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This one made me laugh. But I'm wondering if Valentin is off somewhere magnificent having been dropped off By Oxana to paint birds, perhaps his last chance before his life changes. This keeps him safe while she herself is off doing goddess only knows what.

Could Bili seriously really like Balice or is she taking the piss? Hard to know.

The end is near. Not looking forward to that but you've certainly given us a good run Luke. Thanks for that.

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I've just discovered your story, and although I fell into the middle, I like what I read. Now I have to go back to the beginning and find out what's going on.

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author

Good plan

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Huhโ€”I missed that Villanelle took Valentin with her when she went poof. So she's up to something....

The question isโ€”has Eve vanished in desperation to find her, or has she figured out what Villanelle (I can't stop thinking of her as "Villanelle", even though Eve thinks of her as "Oxana") was telling her and gone to meet them? What happens from hereโ€”and who's made the decision to go to this extreme?

This kind of reminds me of all those times when Sherlock Holmes, or Nero Wolfe, won't tell Dr. Watson, or Archie Goodwin, what's they're really up to, as a way to misdirect the baddies...and the authorities. Villanelle knows everybody's watching Eve, so if SHE's unaware, then (to paraphrase a comment Archie's made about Wolfe) Villanelle can suddenly appear, balancing a seal on her nose! ๐Ÿ˜

What I now suspect is that Valentin is going to appear where he's supposed to be exactly WHEN he's supposed to be there, and not a second beforeโ€”thus throwing Balice's plans into a cocked hat. It may or may not be with Johnny's knowledge, on the belief that it's better to ask forgiveness than permissionโ€”and the belief that there's a leak somewhere on The Twelve's side....

PS: Never mindโ€”Eve DID figure it out. I'm fighting a cold this weekend, and apparently the cold's winning since I'm missing a LOT of things I should've picked up on first pass....

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I was planning to wait until the final three drops happened and read them all at the same time, but I just couldnโ€™t contain myself.

I had to know.

Still no answers. Oxana and Valentin are still nowhere to be found.

I suspect Valentinโ€™s storyline will end up similar to Anastasia a long time agoโ€” where she disappears and lives the life he wants.

The only thing isโ€ฆ. I hope Oxana makes it alive.

I canโ€™t do another heartbreak of losing a heroine.

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I meant to post on this installment after I read it, but you see, I had been out late the night before and was still awake. And apparently went back and then did research instead. lol Not sure that I cleared up any confusion for myself, but not for lack of trying, as this is what I woke up to in my Notes:

//

Valentinโ€™s fave bird Lapwing - known as a vanelline, a collective of which is a deceit. (!)

Extraordinary in flight; swinging through the air on soft, wide wings.

But in actuality, his life isnโ€™t really his own, he is indebted to his family, isnโ€™t even born to this life, is a kukushka, a cuckoo. An egg in a nest to which he doesnโ€™t belong.

Valentin: youโ€™re not the wrong kind of person, youโ€™re here.

Villanelle bares her teeth: Stop flirting.

Eve: smiles. Everythingโ€™s perfect.

But pregnant rat??

//

I donโ€™t think I got very far in figuring anything outโ€ฆlol But canโ€™t wait to see how this plays out! Even if I hate to see it end. ๐Ÿ‘Šโ™ฅ๏ธ

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Loving this Luke, you keep us at the edge of our seat with each chapter. It just draws me in more and more. Thank You

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Oxana could have easily talked to Eve before disappearing with Valentin. So why didn't she? Is she protecting Eve from information that could land her in danger? Or is Villanelle simply protecting herself? She knows Eve is her Achilles heel, and to complete the final leg of the mission safely, she can't afford any vulnerability or loss of focus.

Speaking of mission, didn't Johnny tell Villanelle to take Valentin that night at the hospital? It's been the Twelve's plan to unseat Tihkomirov, and E and V have been playing a role in that. But now it's come to light that Oxana and Valentin's disappearance is putting a strain on the election plans. It makes me question the alliances since, in earlier books, V and E took protection from Tikhomirov. Love the mystery and the many layers of this story. Can't wait to see how it all ties together.

Oh, and my god, the pregnant rat. Am I reading too much into it?

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This gives me thrills and shivers! Incredible suspense, I'm enjoying this state of the unknown but it is also killing me. Bili is a psycho isnโ€™t sheโ€ฆ

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My favorite sentence here is :I watch the crows and rooks swirling and circling against the racing grey clouds, hanging on the wind, โ€ฆ..

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Oh, Oxana! Where have you gone? Have you run off with Valentin? Have the Twelve got you?

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