Now into the discussion a couple days later, his point has been refined to "Peeta doesn't behave like a real teenage boy.".

None of the characters behave like "real" teenagers, if the touchstone is late-20th- and early-21st-century American teenagers.

Actually, i know one teenage boy that acts like Peeta

Gale is harder I don't know that many teenage boys that are that competent, but then they don't have to be .

I still haven't read the third book.

Yeah, the modern teenager is a product of 20th century American prosperity, which allowed there to be a middle ground between child and adult.

Sometimes extending into middle age ....

See for example: all Judd Apatow movies.

I was surprised when Emmett started his first umpiring job, how competent he was and how seriously he took it.

I think we've also seen with CJ that a lot of kids thrive with responsibility.

Well, I've caught up on Skulduggery Pleasant and I'm a little wrung out. How much did I love Valkyrie's breakup with Caelan? A whole lot.

I'm with you, Steph, I don't like that Tanith has a Remnant in her but I do enjoy Remnant!Tanith and Billy Ray, who is a fun villain in his own right.

When I moved away from home my mom was astounded that I handled things like cleaning, laundry, and cooking (for the most part) just fine. It wasn't that I was incapable of doing any of that stuff before, I just needed to go from a situation where I wasn't the resident with the best work ethic/least tolerance for mess to one where I was.

I'm with you, Steph, I don't like that

I love Billy-Ray Sanguine. I keep picturing him as a younger Brad Pitt. And I cannot get over Remnant!Tanith, GOD DAMN.

So, have you read all the way through Death Bringer?

Yup. So many revelations and so much stuff still to happen! i have been on pins and needles about the reflection for several books, I just know something is building there.

And put in a pre-order for End of the World though I feel VERY silly spending so much more for shipping than for the book.

I definitely want End of the World.

So, about Death Bringer: OMGWTF Fergus!!!!! I seriously about fell out of my chair at that. Easily my favorite part of the entire book.

I remain bemused by the whole Skulduggery is Lord Vile thing. If I don't look at it too hard, it works.

However, I kind of love that the reason Skulduggery came back from the dead was because Tenebrae worked necromancer mojo on Serpine's Red Right Hand dealie.

And I think that Big Shit is definitely in the works with the reflection. I even think that something might happen to make the reflection become Darquesse. Because if the reflection is a reflection of Valkyrie, then why wouldn't it be a reflection of ALL of Valkyrie?

I find the reporter who's planning to expose The World Of Magic just annoying. And I will laugh if he's just kind of disposed of within the first few chapters of the next book. I can see that happening, though. Build up the suspense, and then summarily dispose of the threat.

I almost feel sorry for China. ALMOST.

Finally, I cannot stop laughing at Scapegrace being just a head now. That will never stop being funny to me.