[Reif]

@ Esquire

I fully admit and acknowledge that I have a writing style that tends to favor longer, complex sentences. If something really doesn't make sense let me know and I'll look at whether I need to rewrite. I still need to complete my final editing and rewrite pass on about the last third. The changes are minor, mostly me cleaning up a few typos and other mistakes I missed earlier, along with some clarifications. That may help.

I'm glad that you liked my portrayl of Zoe as a succubus. I think the cliche of TG women becoming absolutely insatiable lust goddesses is overused and poor characterization most of the time. In this I was really trying to give Zoe a "normal" woman's mindset where she appreciates being pretty and special...up to a point where attention of that kind becomes unwelcome and frustrating. I also wanted to show that Zoe at the beginning doesn't know how to be a woman, she has the body but not the knowledge. Just as she has the form of a succubus but not the knowledge or desire to be one.

As for the ending...I don't really consider the end to be a deus ex machina device. The classic deus ex machina resolves everything neatly and cleanly in and of itself and usually comes without much warning...If you pay attention I was hinting that Zoe's was being watched and nudged by the divine side as far back as TSWN (how do you think she had her vision for the solution?). The involvement and Zoe's eventual conversion was building in the story and exists as a natural evolution of the conflict between Zoe and her nemesis. The result atleast in my intent is less deus ex machina and more the natural "levelling of the field" that the sides needed for the end fight to be evenly matched.