enne📚 commented on Mimicking of Known Successes by Malka Older (Mossa and Pleiti)
Content warning major plot spoilers
My only complaint, and this is a major plot spoiler so I'm leaving it here separately, is that the reveal of the head of the conspiracy comes out of left field. The Rector's name is only brought up by message while Mossa and Pleiti are on their way to their final confrontation, and although Mossa asked for this information it felt dropped rather than earned.
I think the mystery component would have been much stronger if the Rector had felt like an existing character with more foreshadowing. There are two mentions of the Rector previously (neither by name). One is an offhand Pleiti thought where she thinks about making an appointment with them for Mossa, and another is a thought by Pleiti reading a message board and thinking about the Rector in terms of pushing the dean to influence policies (but how? which? why?). However, this isn't enough of a plant (for me, at least) to establish them as a character rather than just backdrop worldbuilding.
I think it was clear that somebody at the university was involved (for several reasons) and maybe I should have realized that the "Re-" clue referred to the Rector (since it can't apply to anybody else). But, I want the head of the conspiracy on page, or at least their motivations and character understood ahead of time! I want it to be personal as well as structural! Ultimately, this makes the final reveal fall a little flat for me.
