Hock,
I actually very much appreciate the time and energy you put into not just reading the first few chapters, but your reply as well. Some of your points are completely valid. I've worked and reworked the beginning a few times now. The book originally started with Chapter 3. The "flashforward" of Chapter 1 was after being encouraged that I needed a "big" or "action" opening in the first paragraphs. I first tried Chapter 2 as my new opening, but felt talk of mass murder wasn't enough (in the earlier drafts, we don't meet Korxan until much later). Hence the new Chapter 1. I also toyed with a major flashforward from my favorite battle in the book which takes place more than halfway through. Perhaps that would have been better, I don't know. Might be worth another look.
I will definitely be saving your notes and revisiting them on the next rewrite. I'll probably continue my struggle for how best to start the book. It seems very possible I haven't figured that out, yet... :)
thanks so much,
Chris