All of these rescues mean that there are at least three life-and-death situations in the middle of the novel, even before the climax! (The final scene at the end of the novel is its own kind of rescue.) Besides making the reader's heart beat faster, these rescue situations round out the hero's character and make him more likeable. The hero needs to be saved twice, which helps the readers see some vulnerability. It's easier to warm up to someone who is a little flawed.
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