Beyond Reality discussion

Here's a general topic for people who have finished reading Daggerspell by Katharine Kerr.
WARNING: SPOILERS LIKELY!

What is the root cause of the enmity between Rhys and Rhodry? I hope we find out. Is it some sense that Rhys has about Rhodry's half-eleven blood? Or something else? And why is a dark dweomermastee concerned with Rhodry and Eldidd? Will Jill ever study and develop her talent or will it take yet another reincarnation?

So many questions remain and yet, overall, this was a satisfying book. Kerr did a wonderful job with the world building, and the small details like the responsibility of the lord/lady of the holding to supply her retainers with clothes. Each setting through the various storylines rang true--the tavern where Jill spent her childhood, the various keeps throughout different times and places, even the traders caravan. And, in the end, we have Jill and Rhodry together, which seems to be the correct match.

I keep returning to Nevyn's vow, "I'll never rest until I put this right." What exactly does he have to put right? Is it "just" getting Brangwen/Lyssa/Jill to train as a dweomermaster? Or does the romance play into it as well? And now we have the fate of Eldidd involved and, I can't help but think, the Elcyion Lacar (elves) as well.

I assume Nevyn has not died through all these centuries, has never died and been reincarnated. He is still the same person who was once called Galrion. His vow to "never rest" seems to mean he will not die until he fulfills his vow.

I figure the hate is the usual younger brother being favored, and in many ways better. He may have wondered about Rhodry's fatherhood, but I don't remember that ever being explicitly stated.
Given the way Nevyn finds his end I'd say what needed to be put right was Brangwen's soul incarnation FINALLY turning to dweomer.

i was disappointed that the fate of Eldidd never seemed to pan out properly. I'm hoping this reread will help clarify it and show that yes it did, although I missed it in my previous read(s).

No Nevyn hasn't died since the mess up with Brangwen and the others.

We'll have to see about the fate of Eldidd in the upcoming books, I think. And Brangwen/Jill hasn't yet turned to dweomer, but is more open to it and maybe it's more possible since she won't be at "court" and involved in those intrigues.

I enjoyed this one, and I'm glad we're doing a series read (thanks, Kathi!!). Agreeable characters, and interesting to see how they grow/change with each incarnation. I agree, lots of unanswered questions ... I'll patiently wait until we start the next one ... (well, to be honest, I'll slot in some of the many other books on my to-be-read shelf, which I suppose isn't being very patient, just otherwise occupied...)

Chris wrote: "(well, to be honest, I'll slot in some of the many other books on my to-be-read shelf, which I suppose isn't being very patient, just otherwise occupied...)"

That's exactly what I am doing.

I finished this today and I can see why I absolutely loved it in high school, having not been as widely read in the genre...I still really enjoyed it and fully intend on continuing with the series, but something about it felt dated to me. Maybe because there were so many fantasy tropes (I couldn't help but laugh each time a new section started with a quote from the Secret Book of whatever, because I couldn't get The Tough Guide to Fantasyland out of my head - it pokes fun at that trend, as well as a lot of other fantasy cliches, and it's a good laugh for anyone looking for a light read to fill some time).

That said, tropes or not, the treatment of reincarnation is an original one and I really enjoyed seeing the same soul appear in different bodies over the years - the idea of each soul needing to make things right in a different lifetime. I suspect we'll learn more about the dark dweomermaster in upcoming books, and that Jill will eventually come to terms with her Wyrd.

I just finished rereading this about nine years after the first time. I really liked it the first time I read it, but I'm having a hard time figuring out why. I didn't like it as much this time.

I was reading it on my Kindle before bed, so maybe I was tired and it was hard to focus. Whatever the case, there were a lot of boring bits. I'll continue on in the reread, and hope the books aren't all worse than I remember.

I thought I commented when I finished. I also read this a long time ago, about 14 years I think. I remember that my friend and I would meet at the park after collecting our children from their schools and if you're her on what had happened. We did it for eight of the books.

The writing is dated and initially I didn't like it but I settled in to the story and was enchanted. I had planned to read straight on but held myself back and now I'm months behind!

Oh, and I don't remember the dark stuff at all. I assume that Nevyn is stuck until everyone lives their lives the way they would've and that Jill is a thingy master. Dwoemer ?