Challenge Corner discussion

THEY KILLED THE KING. THEY PINNED IT ON TWO MEN. THEY CHOSE POORLY.

There's no ancient evil to defeat or orphan destined for greatness, just unlikely heroes and classic adventure. Royce Melborn, a skilled thief, and his mercenary partner, Hadrian Blackwater, are two enterprising rogues who end up running for their lives when they're framed for the murder of the king. Trapped in a conspiracy that goes beyond the overthrow of a tiny kingdom, their only hope is unraveling an ancient mystery before it's too late.

Read the first ten pages and loved them! Will be reading more today. :)

Read the first two chapters. (view spoiler)[I want to know more about these guys. I can't decide who is more interesting: Royce with his broody, mysterious past, or Hadrian with his desire to be honorable. Can't wait to find out more! Pretty sure this job isn't going to be a great one... (hide spoiler)]

C.P. wrote: "Read the first ten pages and loved them! Will be reading more today. :)"

The first chapter is really good and the first scenes are spectacular! :)

Chapters 1-2 (view spoiler)[I feel a little sorry for Hadrian, who wants to be honorable and he really try hard to be! (hide spoiler)]

Sibil wrote: "C.P. wrote: "Read the first ten pages and loved them! Will be reading more today. :)"

The first chapter is really good and the first scenes are spectacular! :)

Chapters 1-2 [spoilers removed]"

Yeah, I wonder how he got to this point?

C.P. wrote: "Sibil wrote: "C.P. wrote: "Read the first ten pages and loved them! Will be reading more today. :)"

The first chapter is really good and the first scenes are spectacular! :)

Chapters 1-2 [spoiler..."

Me too! I hope that we'll discover more while reading on!
And I find intriguing Gwen, too. But we have seen her just for a couple of scenes, so I hope to see more of her around, too! :)

Me too! On both counts. Gwen seems interesting.

I'll write about chapters 3 and 4 because I do not know if I can read more of this book today (but I hope so, because I'm liking it a lot! I was a little bit scared because I just finished one of Sanderson's book and it didn't seem such a good idea to start another fantasy after reading him, but I'm enjoying the reading nonetheless! :) )

chapters 3-4 (view spoiler)[Alric seems quite the pampered prince but in the 4th chapter he grows a spine, sort of, and I hope to see more development from him. Royce and Hadrian are a great couple, and I love when they spoke, they make me smile. But Myron is the best, for now. I think I would grow tired of him in the long run, but he's fantastic. His fascination with horses is so sweet, and I feel sorry for him, and for the political plotting he was thrown in, but I am happy that he's out of the abbey! (hide spoiler)]

Oh, what Sanderson did you just read? I've been mostly wanting to read fantasy lately, which makes me happy. :)

C.P. wrote: "Oh, what Sanderson did you just read? I've been mostly wanting to read fantasy lately, which makes me happy. :)"

I've just finished to reread the second book of Mistborn trilogy :) I never read the third one, so before read it I wanted to reread the first two :)
And once I finished with the first Mistborn trilogy I'd really love to go on and read the Words of Radiance because I'm dying from curiosity!!!!

Oooh, I love the Mistborn books! Hope you enjoy the last book. :)

I am rereading Way of Kings right now and will probably be rereading Words of Radiance in August or September if you want to buddy read it. :)

C.P. wrote: "Oooh, I love the Mistborn books! Hope you enjoy the last book. :)

I am rereading Way of Kings right now and will probably be rereading Words of Radiance in August or September if you want to buddy..."

Thanks! :)

That would be great, I'll let you know if I can make it! :)

Sibil wrote: "I'll write about chapters 3 and 4 because I do not know if I can read more of this book today (but I hope so, because I'm liking it a lot! I was a little bit scared because I just finished one of S..."

You basically summed up my thoughts for chapters 3 and 4! (view spoiler)[And the dwarf prison sounds interesting. I wonder what they'll find once they go in. (hide spoiler)]

C.P. wrote: "Sibil wrote: "I'll write about chapters 3 and 4 because I do not know if I can read more of this book today (but I hope so, because I'm liking it a lot! I was a little bit scared because I just fin..."

The prison is really something great. It's creepy and it's original.

Chapters 5-6 (view spoiler)[ The magic prison is a really good idea, it's quite original. And the wizard is another great character. I have to admit that reading his line gave me a kind of headache, but I like him a lot, and I hope to see more of him, too. He just disappear and I really hope to see him more, in this or in the next books!
I am a little afraid for Arista, because it seems that the things aren't great for her! And I think she has some potential, too, even if her parts are not so great as the others (I like them, but simply she's not Hadrian and Royce, or Myron! (hide spoiler)]

Sibil wrote: "C.P. wrote: "Sibil wrote: "I'll write about chapters 3 and 4 because I do not know if I can read more of this book today (but I hope so, because I'm liking it a lot! I was a little bit scared becau..."

5-6(view spoiler)[The prison was so cool! Such an interesting idea and the way they played with time was very well done. I hope the wizard shows up again as well. I wonder what he's up to and if freeing him really was a good thing.

Arista is likable, but, like you said, not quite ad interesting. I don't really want her to die though. I thought it being Percy was a bit obvious, but that's ok. (hide spoiler)]

(view spoiler)[I am wondering the same thing about the wizard. I really hope that they didn't make a damage freeing him!
And I agree about Arista and Percy. But it seems a little more complicated, I mean it's Percy the bad guy and all, but all the speaking about imperialist and royalist are making me think about something bigger than just their kingdom... (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 7 (view spoiler)[The Pickerings seem a good family and I liked them a lot, overall the youngest brothers. So far I like every new character! And Alric is really growing up! From a pampered prince he's becoming quite the king! I'm really happy for his development. (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 7. (view spoiler)[I also like the Pickerings and I do like Alric's development. Myron is great, of course. I love that he was praying for the horses!

What I want to know is about the sword...Pickering said it was missing and found in an unusual place. Did that have something to do with the fake job? Did Braga do something to it? I don't want him to fight Braga, I'm worried it won't end well if he does. (hide spoiler)]

Just finished book one, The Crown Conspiracy. Really enjoyed it. (view spoiler)[I thought some of it was a bit predictable, but that didn't make it any less enjoyable. Royce and Hadrian were pretty great, though I really want more background on both of them. Also, that ending! I want to know more about Gwen, so I hope she shows up more in the coming books.

Alric seemed to grow up a lot throughout this one, which was good. I hope he keeps it up. And I hope we get more Myron in future books! And what about the bishop guy? He's evil and they don't even know it! This could backfire on them later...in terrible ways. I don't want it to! (hide spoiler)]

C.P. wrote: "Chapter 7. I also like the Pickerings and I do like Alric's development. Myron is great, of course. I love that he was praying for the horses!

What I want to know is about the sword...Pickering s..."

(view spoiler)[Myron praing for the horses was fantastic! (hide spoiler)]

C.P. wrote: "Just finished book one, The Crown Conspiracy. Really enjoyed it. I thought some of it was a bit predictable, but that didn't make it any less enjoyable. Royce and Hadrian were pretty great, though ..."

(view spoiler)[I totally agree with you about all! The last chapter has the flavour of a farewell, it was almost sad, in a sort of good way. And the bishop seems a really dangerous character, I really hope that they discover his evilness before it's too late!
Also... Braga said that Alric and Arista are not human, and I do not think he was going insane. So now I wonder about what he was meaning with that! (hide spoiler)]

Sibil wrote: "C.P. wrote: "Just finished book one, The Crown Conspiracy. Really enjoyed it. I thought some of it was a bit predictable, but that didn't make it any less enjoyable. Royce and Hadrian were pretty g..."

(view spoiler)[I almost forgot that! I do wonder what he meant...hmmm. What else would they be? (hide spoiler)]

Has anyone started Avempartha?

I've started Avempartha

I've read the Riyria chronicles before reading this series so some of chapter 1 and "Duster" is feeling like a revision.. Was there a mention of it in Crown conspiracy? I can't remember... It's been a while since I've read that book

I haven't started yet, but will be doing so today. :) There wasn't a mention of Duster in the first one. I haven't read the Chronicles yet.

Oh well the 3 books that have been released so far under chronicles are fantastic... but I read these books about 6 months ago... so I'm having trouble recalling some of the finer details :/

I know what you mean. And I plan to get to those once I finish off the Revelations series. :) I'm a bit obsessed with Michael J Sullivan at the moment.

Haha...I don't blame you... his books are addicting...I was reading them non stop till I reached Crown conspiracy which I didn't like much :/ But Avempartha is really good so far... so let's see how it goes

I really liked Crown Conspiracy, but I'm glad that I read Age of Myth first. I think I appreciated it more after having some of the "history" from that book. And now I want to know how it went from that to this!

And I like Royce and Hadrian. I'm just hoping for a bit more background on them both.

I really want to read Age of myth but I think I'll hold out till a few more books in the series are released. The chronicles are actually the backstory of how Hadrian and Royce met and Riyria came into being. The revelations are more of a... what is currently happening sort of books :)

Yeah, that's what I thought. I know MJS recommends starting with them in order of publication, so that's what I decided to do. :)

Age of Myth and Age of Swords are both excellent. More epic fantasy than this is.

I was quite confused about where to start this series and eventually decided on the chronological order and ended up loving it. I have this problem where I need to know everything that happens from the very beginning :P

I think readers can start either way... and then the tastes of the reader determine whether they end up enjoying the books

I think you can definitely start either way. And it definitely is based on taste. I'm interested to see how reading the prequel will be. There's a fourth book in the Chronicles coming out in December, so I'm hoping to be caught up so I can read that when it comes out.

I look forward to see what you think of the prequel and I'm eagerly waiting for the new book

Thanks! I'm going to get started with Avempartha in just a bit and start sharing thoughts. :)

Great!

That first chapter was excellent. I love Royce! He's fantastic. (view spoiler)[Who is this Ambrose man? Obviously he has something to do with elves and Royce, but what exactly? And I'm really curious about Thrace. (hide spoiler)]

Ok, I'm through chapter three of Avempartha and really loving it! (view spoiler)[I'm curious about what will happen when Royce and Hadrian meet Esrahaddon. And what Thrace is keeping from them...she's sweet and all, but I feel like there is something else going on with her.

And Saldur! These Novron church guys are driving me crazy! I don't want them around Arista. And Bernice! Ugh. I like Hilfred, I don't think he thinks she's bad. So curious about all this! (hide spoiler)]

C.P. wrote: "That first chapter was excellent. I love Royce! He's fantastic. [spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[Even I couldn't recall who Ambrose is...I thought maybe he was in book 1 and I have forgotten the character (hide spoiler)]

C.P. wrote: "Ok, I'm through chapter three of Avempartha and really loving it! I'm curious about what will happen when Royce and Hadrian meet Esrahaddon. And what Thrace is keeping from them...she's sweet and a..."

(view spoiler)[Was Eshrahaddon missing two hands even in the first book?

Yes even I like Hilfred.... One of the prequel books describe in detail who he is and comes to the service of the princess, but no mention of him since then so I'm very curious (hide spoiler)]

My firs Sullivan's book was The Crown Conspiracy, and I really liked it the first time I've read it, but this second time I completely loved it! *_*
And now I have to buy all of his other books! If I could I would wait until september because I'm trying to buy less books possible in this period, but I can't promise anything!

C.P. wrote: "That first chapter was excellent. I love Royce! He's fantastic. [spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[I loved this first chapter, too. I think that Sullivan's first chapters are well done (I've read just two, but I think it would be the same with the other books). And now I think I prefer Royce to Hadrian, even if I like both of them a lot!
And now we have more questions than before, and even less answers. It may be a little frustrating! (hide spoiler)]

I'm sorry girls but I would be more slow in reading this one because of my work schedule this week! :(

Story_girl wrote: "C.P. wrote: "That first chapter was excellent. I love Royce! He's fantastic. [spoilers removed]"

[spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[I do not think Ambrose was mentioned in the first book, and the wizard was without the hands in the previous book, too :) (hide spoiler)]

Sibil wrote: "Story_girl wrote: "C.P. wrote: "That first chapter was excellent. I love Royce! He's fantastic. [spoilers removed]"

[spoilers removed]"

[spoilers removed]"

Oh thanks! :)

Chapter 5

(view spoiler)[Hadrian really knows how to use his words to get his way... Almost as well as how he can use his swords! (hide spoiler)]

Story_girl wrote: "Sibil wrote: "Story_girl wrote: "C.P. wrote: "That first chapter was excellent. I love Royce! He's fantastic. [spoilers removed]"

[spoilers removed]"

[spoilers removed]"

Oh thanks! :)"

:)

Will look at all your spoilers in a bit.

C.P. wrote: "Ok, I'm through chapter three of Avempartha and really loving it! I'm curious about what will happen when Royce and Hadrian meet Esrahaddon. And what Thrace is keeping from them...she's sweet and a..."

(view spoiler)[I am really happy to see the wizard again, or better, to hear about him! I hope to see more of him soon.
And I was happy to see again Arista and Alric, too. The parts with Arista in the castle were fun and I didn't think that Arista get it in her!
But I am not happy to see again the bishop. And I do not like Bernice, too. She's quite of creepy!
And I really hope that Arista will not believe to what the Church is saying to her! (hide spoiler)]

(view spoiler)[Though both have ulterior motives I'd rather side with Eshrahaddon rather than the Church (hide spoiler)]

Sibil wrote: "My firs Sullivan's book was The Crown Conspiracy, and I really liked it the first time I've read it, but this second time I completely loved it! *_*
And now I have to buy all of his other books! If..."

(view spoiler)[I love Royce! But I really like Hadrian. :) I'm sure we'll get some answers eventually. And he really does a great job with those first chapters, you're right. (hide spoiler)]

Story_girl wrote: "Sibil wrote: "Story_girl wrote: "C.P. wrote: "That first chapter was excellent. I love Royce! He's fantastic. [spoilers removed]"

[spoilers removed]"

[spoilers removed]"

Oh thanks! :)"

(view spoiler)[No, Ambrose was not mentioned. And it was briefly mentioned (when the wizard wouldn't shake Alric's hand) that he was missing both hands in the previous book. (hide spoiler)]

Story_girl wrote: "[spoilers removed]"

Yes! At this point that's what I'm thinking.