Map spoilers in book club ruined a twist for me last Tuesday

We were reading a fantasy novel for our group and the edition had a map at the front. I glanced at it before chapter 5 and saw a city labeled "The Fallen Capital" which basically told me the kingdom collapses halfway through. Nobody else in the club noticed it until I pointed it out, and then three people got annoyed at me for spoiling it for them. I get that maps help with worldbuilding, but should publishers put them at the back or blur out future locations? Has anyone else had a map or author's note leak a plot point before you got there?

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kevin_west2mo ago

See, I actually think that map gave you a gift whether you wanted it or not. Now you get to watch for all the little breadcrumbs the author left about the kingdom being doomed, and that's a completely different reading experience than the one the rest of the club had. It's like knowing the butler did it but getting to see every nervous glance and shaky alibi along the way. Maps are honest about what they are, they show you the places, and if the city is called the Fallen Capital, that's on the author for naming it that way. I mean, would you rather have a map that lies to you? That would be way worse for worldbuilding.

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