> None of these names are actually bad, per se, but they strike me as so overly-dramatic that they could have fit perfectly on the silly map Sam and I drew.

Indeed, I must confess that when I first looked at the map in EOTW, I wondered to myself who on earth, in their right mind, would give their land/world such depressing and forboding names? However, being merely Average Citizen Reader, and not being overly familiar with the genre, I accepted this as part of the formula or prerequisite ...

Please, keep us advised of your progress with EOTW and (if you choose to pursue it) the remaining novels - would be very interested in your opinion and thoughts ...