Yeah, the second thing that Nora's mother says is a little disconcerting. (And really makes no sense even after reading the sequel.) I was referring more to her answer to Nora's first question--totally makes sense when everything is laid out.

It isn't so much that I "stuck with series" as curiosity. (I also have major series-loyalitis to things.) Patch is less of a jerk, but that's because he isn't trying to kill Nora. The sequel was less rage inducing...may be worth checking out of the library.