Fantasy Buddy Reads discussion

Starting July 26th.

I'm in.

I'm also in. Hoping I can read the second one as fast as I did the first one so I'll be in time for this read. It just depends on all my other reads.

Started reading this last night. Loving it so far. Jane though... That's all I'm going to say about her!


I really should upload my review of the second book sometime today, I've just been too busy though.

Just a reminder this starts tomorrow.

Still waiting on these to arrive, but I'll get caught up as soon as I can - hopefully at least to get started with everyone for the fourth book, when that comes out.

Scott wrote: "Just a reminder this starts tomorrow."

Wow - already July 26th tomorrow. Will start the book tomorrow!

Just a general thought I had reading the first 50 pages. I wonder if the Princess or Bobby will end up being able to use their healing power on others at some point? I could see it happening or not.

(view spoiler)[
The battle scenes and after effect were pretty gory and effective.

I wonder if the spike was the author's view against capital punishment.
(hide spoiler)]

Dan wrote: "Jane though..."

That one was just a matter of time.

Through chapter 4

(view spoiler)[
Excited to have Feor back in the story along with the thousand names. I think another main character will get a demon in this book. Torn between Marcus and Jane. Jane would be even more of a wild card and make Winter's demon hungry! LOL.

Marcus falling for the princess and finding out she has a demon like Jenn would be another option.
(hide spoiler)]

Oh, eh, it started today? Crap, I can never keep the dates straight. I was out of town for a few days and I took this book with me and I ended up finishing it yesterday... Oops :(

Good news though; it's the best book of the series so far, it's better than the first one. I wrote a small non-spoiler review if you wanna know more, but that's all you really need to know!

Scott wrote: "Just a general thought I had reading the first 50 pages. I wonder if the Princess or Bobby will end up being able to use their healing power on others at some point? I could see it happening or not..."

(view spoiler)[ I believe the spike was just the author finding an alternative for the French guillotine. In fact, this whole book, and the second one, borrows heavily from the real history of the French revolution, specially what happened right after it, which is a period known as the Reign of Terror in France. Seriously, google it if you wanna see just how much he borrows from it!

The big difference in his books of course is that the royal family wasn't killed, whereas in France they were. (hide spoiler)]

Dan wrote: "."

(view spoiler)[
You're probably right about the spike. I'm a history buff and have seen those similarities. However the references to a more humane way of killing drew my capital punishment comments. The spike reminded me more lethal injection than the guillotine.
(hide spoiler)]

I'm convinced Marcus is just to make men feel better about being clueless about women. "Hey I'm not as dense are Marcus!"

Haha, that's so true! He's got a great mind for battle but most things outside of war are hopelessly out of his reach and women are definitely on the top of that list.

He does try to address this fault in himself, with mixed .

Dan wrote: "Scott wrote: "Just a general thought I had reading the first 50 pages. I wonder if the Princess or Bobby will end up being able to use their healing power on others at some point? I could see it ha..."

Yeah, the French Revolution influence is very clear, especially in the second book.

Jane needs to get killed off ASAP. I'm starting chapter 4.

Haha, Jane yeah... I know the feeling!

As I'm reading more and more, (spoiler for the spike thing, you guys are good to read it, just marked it in case) (view spoiler)[ I do agree that the spike is Wexler's version of the guillotine. I was missing that aspect in the second one as the situation in Vordan is a fantasy replica of the French Revolution. Although some would complain that it is not original, I like it - it's written totally differently than you would read an account of the French Revolution and it provides an interesting backdrop that people already know will be chaotic, dangerous and bloody. Sets a really good tone for the state of the city. (hide spoiler)]

I have a great idea: can we spike Jane?

Jenna wrote: "I have a great idea: can we spike Jane?"

Hahahahaha, I fully support this proposal! She becomes completely unbearable in this book!

Unbearable in a good way though - I actually think she's an interesting character to have around, even if I find myself groaning every time I see her name...

Dan wrote: "Jenna wrote: "I have a great idea: can we spike Jane?"

Hahahahaha, I fully support this proposal! She becomes completely unbearable in this book!

Unbearable in a good way though - I actually thin..."

I'm sure that we're supposed to dislike her so it's actually a job well done (too well done) on Wexler's part.

As the moderator of a buddy read group, I'm not very good at buddy reading... I finished the book already.

I hid spoilers: review

Jenna wrote: "As the moderator of a buddy read group, I'm not very good at buddy reading... I finished the book already.

I hid spoilers: review"

Completely understandable. It's hard to put down a book this good!

LOL @ everybody being done. I had a busy day yesterday and only got 30 pages or so in so I'm still a few days off.

Scott wrote: "LOL @ everybody being done. I had a busy day yesterday and only got 30 pages or so in so I'm still a few days off."

I understand! I'm usually slower, but this book was so good! I couldn't put it down.

It started off really good but the middle is really bogging down for me. I want more Feor, Bobby doing superhuman things, the interlude with the penitent damned was great, more Janus, etc. I don't mind political drama sprinkled in but the magic and battles are the things being sprinkled to this point.

Scott wrote: "LOL @ everybody being done. I had a busy day yesterday and only got 30 pages or so in so I'm still a few days off."

Apparently, I'm still out for revenge after scarring memories of Memories of Ice.

Scott wrote: "It started off really good but the middle is really bogging down for me. I want more Feor, Bobby doing superhuman things, the interlude with the penitent damned was great, more Janus, etc. I don't ..."

Just wait for it.

Jenna wrote: "Apparently, I'm still out for revenge after scarring memories of Memories of Ice...."

And apparently I'm Marcus for not realizing what result would transpire from that transgression.

Jenna wrote: "Just wait for it. ,..."

In Jenna I trust.

Scott wrote: "Jenna wrote: "Apparently, I'm still out for revenge after scarring memories of Memories of Ice...."

And apparently I'm Marcus for not realizing what result would transpire from that transgression."

Best new insult for being clueless: Wow, is your name Marcus now?

Scott wrote: "Jenna wrote: "Just wait for it. ,..."

In Jenna I trust."

Maybe I should run for president. ;) I'll bring the spike to the states. Mwhahahaha.

Jenna wrote: "Best new insult for being clueless: Wow, is your name Marcus now? "

I guess it is but in my defense I didn't realize you were Mad Jane until it was too late.

Scott wrote: "Jenna wrote: "Best new insult for being clueless: Wow, is your name Marcus now? "

I guess it is but in my defense I didn't realize you were Mad Jane until it was too late."

I don't know if you want to stoop to comparing me to Mad Jane considering I hate her. Watch out for my spike! Maybe I hate her because we're similar. I'd always imagined myself as a Maurisk or perhaps Janus if our theory that he is evil turns out to be true.

Jenna wrote: "I don't know if you want to stoop to comparing me to Mad Jane."

I needed a tongue and cheek proportionate to Marcus clueless.

Scott wrote: "Jenna wrote: "I don't know if you want to stoop to comparing me to Mad Jane."

I needed a tongue and cheek proportionate to Marcus clueless."

Yeah, I suspected that. Maurisk is pretty bad too..

Nice conversation guys haha

How goes the reading now Scott?

Dan wrote: "Nice conversation guys haha

How goes the reading now Scott?"

I was wondering what you would say when you came online. :)

It's been good. Approximately pages 100-200 nothing seemed to happen. The rest of the book has been good.

(view spoiler)[
The really good part just seemed to go so fast. Such as Winter and Bobby vs the PD. It was over in a few paragraphs. I wanted to scream no elongate that. Same with the Princess and Marcus vs the fire witch.
(hide spoiler)]

Scott wrote: "It's been good. Approximately pages 100-200 nothing seemed to happen. The rest of the book has been good."

Yeah when I was reading that part (view spoiler)[ about the fire witch, my main thought was, "Wait, what? They already defeated her?" I had to go back and read because I was shocked it was over so quick. (hide spoiler)]

I'm done. So.........it was a good book, the ending very good. I'm just not sure it was good enough for me to shell out fifteen bucks for book four when it comes out. Fifteen bucks is nothing in the big scheme of things but I always like to feel like there's value. I'll gladly shell out $100 on a great meal but it had better be great. If I buy a chicken parm sub for $5 I'm only expecting a $5 value. If I wait a year and pay ten bucks it's probably a better value. I'll think on it before the 9th. My spoiler will say why I'm still on the fence.

(view spoiler)[
No denying the battle to free the princess and ditto for Sothe and Marcus vs the fire witch were worth the price of admission.

OK so Jane's crazy and probably not good for Winter who we all love but...........she's not wrong about Janus.

Since we this is so French Revolution focused I don't think there can be doubt Janus is a Napoleonic figure and I wonder if we are heading toward a trajectory that follows Napoleon's own fate. That might keep me interested.

(hide spoiler)]

Scott wrote: "I'm done. So.........it was a good book, the ending very good. I'm just not sure it was good enough for me to shell out fifteen bucks for book four when it comes out. Fifteen bucks is nothing in th..."

(view spoiler)[ Yes, I also had that thought about Janus being Napoleon, but we shall see. (hide spoiler)]

I am also thinking I won't buy it right away. I have lots of other books to read so I am fine with putting the fourth one off for awhile.

Jenna wrote: "I am also thinking I won't buy it right away. I have lots of other books to read so I am fine with putting the fourth one off for awhile. ."

Cool I'm glad it's not just me. The 5th book is supposed to come out in 17 so I imagine Guns of Empire will be much cheaper come then. I also think this is one of those series where spacing will actually help. It's not like the characters or plot are terribly difficult.

Scott wrote: "Jenna wrote: "I am also thinking I won't buy it right away. I have lots of other books to read so I am fine with putting the fourth one off for awhile. ."

Cool I'm glad it's not just me. The 5th b..."

So should I remove Guns of Empire from our group shelf for now?

Jenna wrote: "So should I remove Guns of Empire from our group shelf for now? ."

I'm not sure what Dan's plan is or if perhaps other members might join him because they had previously read the first three. I'll ask.

Well, crap, shame you guys didn't get as caught in this one as me. I just loved it and I'm really looking forward to reading Guns in a few weeks. I definitely don't wanna wait until next year... I really need to know more about this world, you know? He definitely go himself a fan here.

(view spoiler)[ I really need to know how far Janus will go, you know? I wanna know just how much he's going to mirror Napoleon, exactly what his true motivations are and, most of all, how far he's willing to go to do whatever it is he needs. (hide spoiler)]

Dan wrote: "Well, crap, shame you guys didn't get as caught in this one as me. I just loved it and I'm really looking forward to reading Guns in a few weeks. I definitely don't wanna wait until next year... I ..."

Dan I started a thread for it just in case. Also another group I'm part of will be reading it.

https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/...

Dan wrote: ""

(view spoiler)[
That's the one hook and I'll eventually read it but like I said it's value for me. I had no issue paying the money for Age of Myth because it's that epic. This series is very good but not epic at least for me.
(hide spoiler)]

Scott wrote: "Dan wrote: ""


That's the one hook and I'll eventually read it but like I said it's value for me. I had no issue paying the money for Age of Myth because it's that epic. This series is very good b..."

How did you know Age of Myth was going to be epic? Isn't it the first book of his new series? I mean, I'm fully expecting it to be amazing, I bought the book myself, but, you know, you speak like you just knew it was epic even before buying it!

Anyhow, I thought Price of Valour was just as good as the best of the material that I've read from Michael J. Sullivan ...

I was obviously basing it on the Riyeria books which are superior to Shadow Campaigns for me. Percepliquis in particular was much better than even the Thousand Names which was the best of the first three for me.