Let your reader settle in

Readers are adept at understanding characters and settings.

What takes them a little longer is to form an opinion about who they should trust.

It can’t be forced and requires the appropriate time and space. We can help it along with cues, like setting and imagery, or hold the tension until the reader figures it out.

But once they do, they’ll lock in, so don’t abuse it. Stay with that point of view and let them live in that experience for a while.

After that, once your reader gets comfortable, start shaking things up and take them for a ride.