Novel Danger Signs

Danger signals in the wild ward off predators: brightly colored wings on insects, or bold stripes on fish signal "This critter is poisonous!  Don't Touch!"  Oddly enough, I've noticed that much the same applies to fantasy novels. 

For examples, after finishing the fast-paced and refreshingly different "The Family Trade" by Stoss, I started in on The Summer Tree, by Kay. 

The first page confronted me with the first warning sign:  The Map..  The next three pages were even worse: A long list of character names, along with rank, location and status.  Somewhat daunted by the lists of people with funny names, I yet continured onward...to the prequel, in italics yet.  Blah blah blah, battle, blah blah rune stones, blah blah blah great evil waiting to be released, etc.  Having no stomach for this travestry, I continued on, to the scene with our heroes (who had almost no character description) meeting the eccentric scholar, who turns out to be the mystic...

Silvercloak.

Even the hungriest bird can be dissuaded by a brightly colored bug that causes it to gag.  I'm amazed that I lasted ten minutes into that book.