The Scar by Sergey and Marina Dyachenko
Really liked this one. Had a moral thing to it. Main character is just a total ass at the beginning, then he is cursed and becomes too overwhelmed by fear to function at all. Then he becomes considerate and self sacrificing and finally the curse is lifted and he whips out a can of whoop ass.
The world wasn't the most creative. Did have a little something of a russian feel I guess but what exactly that was. Maybe placebo effect.

Now reading Steelheart by Brandon Sanderson. Cheesy and shallow but I like it. The banter between a couple of the Reckoners is especially stupid. Very YA. Was thinking my nephew might like it.

Was thinking that generally characters have to do something other than get along perfectly or immediately try to kill one another. There has to be some conflict that simmers.... But often conflicts seem stupid. Burrich being against the Wit. King Shrewd being so distant. The Fool withholding so much. And more than that, it tires me, the idea of creating imaginary conflicts between imaginary characters.

Have to get over it. Now.

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Started doing longer rest periods in my interval runs. If resting 60 seconds is better than 15 seconds, why wouldn't 4 minutes be better than 2? Anyway immediately running much faster. My third run (three days in a row) did 3/4's x 5 at 6.6 min/mile pace on 2/2.2% incline.