/r/Fantasy Discussion Group discussion

I finished, this but jotted down the following thoughts when I was at the halfway point:

I still am enjoying how we have to unravel Cassius’ history and motivations over the course of the book. I mean, I definitely am developing some strong suspicions, but the I really like the way its not just thrown out there.

Cassius’ grand scheme to create a civil war is going smoothly. He is one of those characters that seems to succeed at what they set their sights to. I guess people dont want to read about failures.

Sulla - We still have the mystery of who she owes money to (and how much). Is it all still from the debt she inherited from her parents, or is there something more going on there?


The intermittent sections of a boy with different names. Can we assume these are Cassius? One of them clearly was and I think I would be shocked if they were not all him.

So what are others thinking so far?

Only after reading this novel I realized that magic, in the flashy/video game sense, with loud explosions and frightening summons, was missing from my read list. Off the top of my head:
- Tolkien's Gandalf magic was more about... the authority of the magician (otherwise was just a mere telekinesis battle according to the movies);
- in Harry Potter the abilities were fully revealed in the final battle the rest being just morsels of the delicious wand-stir desert.
- in Malazan magic was used in epic battles up at the end of each of the novels except for battle of Pale that introduced the characters, but still magic was part of the war and the attribute of archmages;
- in Mistborn magic felt more like an adjuvant for being a mindbending ninja;
- The Black Company also used magic in a more official manner, not performed by a simple thug but by accomplished magicians that happened to be thugs/mercenaries yet akin to demigods.

That being said, I love this aspect of the novel. Bomb are being thrown and land salted before a duel. After it, well, accidents may happen to the public.

It feels grimdark allright. The tone is a bit melodramatic but it's fine.

I think this was the point were the book started waning for me. Again like my previous post I wasn't sure how I would feel about this book as it isn't my normal sort and it was at the half way point that I knew it would never win me over. But I was still enjoying it. Mostly I was curious what Cassius game was.