Time to discuss Chapter 3 in The Shapeshifters’ Library: Released by Amber Polo.
Synopsis
We meet Sybilla Dinzelbacher, the wife of Harold Dinzelbacher just prior to her weekly spa treatment. However, just before her massage, she begins to transform into a werewolf. She cancels her appointment and finds her husband at their new restaurant, built where the library once stood.
Meanwhile, Cutter is amazed at the transformation that occurred in the library practically overnight. The new architect, Max Levelin, is enthralled by the plans she supposedly sent him; Cutter has no clue what he’s talking about, but plays along. They survey the recently discovered art gallery together, filled with priceless works of art, mostly featuring dogs.
After the visit, Cutter discusses magic and fantasy stories with Lite, recently revealed to be a psychic.
In the basement of the library, we discover who’s been fixing up the library, as well as who wrote the plans out to send to the architect: the dogs. Well, the shapeshifters. They discuss whether or not this plan is a smart one, but all doubts are cast aside by Chronos, who has an important announcement to make.
Analysis
This chapter laid it on heavy with the exposition. Especially in the scene with the dogs in the basement. Not only did it answer every single question you might have had as to why the academy-cum-library looks so nice, but also where the report came from (as if you couldn’t figure it out on your own), but it also drilled this point home, in case you missed it the first time.
Also, at times, I imagine Cutter became a Mary Sue for Polo, what with favorite movies (such as Cutter having watched The Shaggy Dog five times, this year!). I had a feeling that Cutter’s amazing things to say about fantasy may reflect Polo’s opinion exactly.
Lite make a mention of enjoying anthropomorphic fiction, which I suppose is a healthy thing to enjoy in an anthropomorphic fiction book.
There was an interesting dichotomy between the transformation of werewolves and the transformation of dogs. Wolves seemed to treat it as an ugly burden, while dogs treated it with a sense of dignity.
In addition, there was some foreshadowing with respect to the art collection: the works will be given to the city if the owner does not return. Dun dun dunnnnn.
Three things in this chapter particularly grated my nerves. One was the fact that Levelin’s nephews/assistants always prefixed their statements to him with “Uncle.” Now, I have five uncles, not including ones that are married to my aunts or uncles to my wife, and I have never, not once, called them “Uncle” in place of their name. It’s always been “Uncle X” (where X is their name). This made it seem awkwardly formal.
The second was the part in the basement where we are introduced to all the dogs in their human forms. It felt like I was brisked through a room, introduced to a new person every second and told an interesting but otherwise useless fact about them, and then was expected to remember their names and how they’re related to everybody else. It was a major infodump in a small area of space.
The third was the fact that a restaurant in a small city on the border of Ohio could attract the uppity-ups from all over Ohio. I live in Cleveland and not once have I heard any of the uppity-ups I know talk about driving 4 hours for some chaw. I don’t believe it.
All in all, the book is showing a lack of polish most professionally published books tend to have. Aside from its valleys, it still seems readable and coherent, yet ultimately predictable.
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