Thanks, Caroline! So glad you spotted the mirroring of

• the three-book contract offered by China’s biggest publisher to the Author in exchange for riches and influence and legacy, and

• the three-wishes contract offered by the Djinn to Junggar in exchange for his soul…

will the Author sign?

It’s more than a two-parter—I’ve mapped out a 12 act palindromic structure with

• Prelude,

• 9 chapters, with an Entr’acte in the middle of the chapter 5 hinge, then

• Coda.

I hope you stick around and let me know if I flub the landing!