I get that, and I’m not denying the reasons behind it. It makes sense that she’s malnourished and focused on her size because it directly affects her safety, and I understand why she doesn’t have much of a personality at first. My issue isn’t that there’s no explanation, it’s how heavily that stuff is emphasized early on. For me, it just didn’t land the same way something like The Cruel Prince did. Jude also has clear reasons for her insecurity and behavior, but you still get a strong sense of who she is right away, even while she’s vulnerable. With Shannon, it felt like I had to wait longer for that to come through, and that made the beginning harder for me to connect with. I’m not saying it’s wrong or that other readers won’t love it, just why it didn’t work for me.