pedanther

on the gripping hand - ha, I see and recognise that reference (and have been known to use it)

I also stalled out on Carriger's series, but maybe a couple of chapters into book 2? I kind of loved it, and was kind of bored, simultaneously. I think that the romance elements didn't work for me, and they were such an important part of the plot. I don't remember the plot device you have mentioned, but it also been years (I think I read it when it was an incomplete series)

If you have a link for the random selection methods, I would appreciate it. I have multiple very long wishlists, and an incomplete book catalogue I could hopefully use.