Dragon Keeper discussion (WARNING: CONTAINS UNMARKED SPOILERS)

[aldaroncastle]

But the fact that this is part of a series was clearly marked. How much clearer that "Part one of the Rain Wilds Chronicles" can you get?

Oh, it's totally marked that it's part one of a series. It's not marked that it's the first half of one book, if you take my meaning.

If it's the first part of a series, you still have some expectation that something will be resolved, and that there will be some kind of climax. If the novel is the first half of one book, then hopefully, you won't be disappointed when you reach the last page and the story just stops.

The only other example of this I can come up with is To Green Angel Tower, by Tad Williams. The book was split into two, because of printing limitations, and the two halves were titled To Green Angel Tower, Part I and To Green Angel Tower, Part II.