Fantasy Buddy Reads discussion

Buddy read starts 1st April.

Spot!

*shakes fist*... Simon Vance strikes again... I guess he's the voice of Imriel...

He does the Temeraire books... and Chronicles of the Unhewn Throne... and in googling him just now, I found out he does a Dune Graphic Audio, and all the Guy Gavriel Kay books... he's got 663 listings on Audible, so I'll probably run into him again in the future, and not just if I get to those extras I listed that people say I should read...

I just decided to start early, since this is so long, by the way... all ouy of March reads since I need to make time to Kindle Read the Bauchelain and Korbal Broach novellas in between my snail's pace reading of Curse of the Mistwraith...

It's OK 😊! We will catch up! I love Simon Vence. He is one of my favorite readers and is considered by his colleagues to be the best in the business.

I don't know who that narrator is but I love the Guy Gavriel Kay books I've read so far.

I'm really going to try to get to this BR. It's butting right up against Nemesis Games though so I'm not sure how I'll manage it. :-/

We take a wide open time frame approach, so no worries!

I'm STILL trying to finish Kushiel's Avatar. But Sunday night I have a 13 hour drive back to NJ from Chicago, so I'm hoping to finish that one and start on this one during that time. Yay long drives for audiobook time!

Exactly! This is how I get to listen to them and now I don't feel like falling asleep as much 😀

Choko wrote: "Exactly! This is how I get to listen to them and now I don't feel like falling asleep as much 😀"

We're driving through the night and a good audiobook is the only thing that keeps me awake :-)

On chapter 5 I think: Not too many years were skipped between the first triolgy and this one, I don't think (view spoiler)[Imriel is still pretty young... wasn't quite expecting that since I remember the blurbs indicating that this trilogy mostly takes place with Imriel in a school in another city... probably the one Lord Delauny went to years ago...

I found the part where Momma Shahrizai ran off, Phedre's like "I gotta find her!" and everyone said "NO!!! Enough is enough" to be quite hilarious... (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 20 now: Really liking this one... (view spoiler)[interesting how Imriel's experiences in Kushiel's Avatar have made him Earth-normal in a lot of ways regarding sex... he has a lot of hangups I don't think other children in-world would have...

I was worried at first these repressed urges were going to lead to a catastrophic event, but his initiation to the Night Court eased that somewhat, altho I think a dark place is inevitable...

I really liked the scene where he teased Joscelin about his looks and the effect they have on impressionable ladies of the court... (hide spoiler)]

Looks like it's been 4 years since Kushiel's Avatar... maybe 3 at the start of the book and 1 has passed already in-book...

Chapter 39: This series has always had a theme of forbidden desires, with Kushiel's Dart, and Phedre/Melisande... but this one (view spoiler)[takes it a step further with all the incestuous taboo thoughts...

Imriel/Phedre, Imriel/surrogate-Melisande (Claudia)... them Shahrizai siblings during the hair-braiding scenes... Imriel/Alice then Imriel/Sedonie... at least they're cousins or 2nd cousins... that's par for the course with royalty...

Speaking of Imriel/Sedonie... I didn't see that coming at the start, but it really developed into a parallel of the Phedre/Joscelin with the oath... altho their early relationship reminds me of Waxillium/someone in Mistborn Era 2...

Seems like every time Imriel turns around someone is trying to do him harm... at least some people see the goodness in him... since he's fighting these Dark Desires, as well... (hide spoiler)]

I sure am plowing through this... there are only 70 chapters...

I reached chapter 56 before stopping this afternoon, but I'm reskimming chapters 40-56 since I missed some details while distracted gaming... (view spoiler)[ mostly once Imriel left Tiberium and got mixed up in the Caerdicca battles (hide spoiler)]

Glad I re-read/skimmed chapters 40-56... I was really murky on some details from these chapters: (view spoiler)[

1) Why everybody left Tiberium
2) The real and imagined connections between Lucian, Gallo, and Canis (wrong)
3) Who/What Helena was lying about
4) Why the Bad Guy wanted Imriel's hand...

I really lost details yesterday... or the ability to connect them... much better the second time around... altho this Luca plotline is pretty random side-plot... (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 64: (view spoiler)[ I'd forgotten how long of a falling action these books have... still 2 hours left at this point... (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 65-67: (view spoiler)[As soon as the return to Tiberium started, I knew there was going to be this really sad scene... the ending after the door closed was the "worst"... this is the type of stuff that makes me think of my mom when I'm in the right/wrong mindset... (hide spoiler)]

The scope of this seems quite different than the initial trilogy... I dunno why I waited so long to read it... I really liked it... didn't feel like a rehash, really... there's references to the initial books, but nothing excessive...

You finished!!! Already? Wow! I just started...

It's good... I really liked it... couldn't put it down... did much better at reading at home than I have been the last few weeks... I mean... this is 944 page book in 2 days... and I've read a bit of Brother Odd, Arcanum Unbounded, and The Curse of the Mistwraith as well... quite a bit above my 414 pages/day average, I think...

Iain, you have to check the new ScyFy series Krypton! It is awesome 😈😀

Trailers look good for sure

Iain wrote: "On chapter 5 I think: Not too many years were skipped between the first triolgy and this one, I don't think Imriel is still pretty young... wasn't quite expecting that since I remember the blurbs i..."

Hahaha! Yes, I am so glad all of them stopped her!!!
So, I am up t Ch. 8 and like it quite a bit:) I don't like how everyone is being suspicious of him because of his mom... He I s Not His Mother, guys, Stop It!!!!

That's kind of the thing with this book... by the end (you can read the first spoiler by chapter 25 I think... there's another tag inside you shouldn't click)(view spoiler)[I think they went with an Absence Makes the Heart Grow Fonder theme... (view spoiler)[he comes back from his time in Tiberium/Luca without having plotted against the throne... (hide spoiler)] (hide spoiler)]

I really like the Imriel trilogy. I found Phedre's books harder to get through than his, and it's one of my comfort reads. Mercy>Scion>Justice though, although it's been a while since my last re-read and opinions might have changed.

Maybe I should do another re-read. It'll certainly help with page count.

You guys finished already?!!!
I'm starting only tomorrow.

Only me Laura... Sha is thinking about a re-read and Choko is early going, still...

Maybe I won't get so far ahead in the future... I've been jumping between books more the last few days... dunno how long that will last...

oh. ok! you should have joined Choko and me for Blood of the Fold. We sure could have used a male point of view. There was one time for instance when Choko wanted to clobber Richard while I was patting his back and wanted to give his charmed lady friend a towel. :D

I abandoned Sword of Truth... I was just too frustrated with the characters and writing all the time... even IF the ending of book 2 wasn't as clean as I would have liked to quit on... sorry

Hahaha! I know, Richard drove me crazy:)

I am just in the beginning of this one, since I got to watching the NBC version of JC Superstar, and then I got on line to watch all other versions... I am Jewish, but I LOOOOVEEEE this musical... ! So I spend my evening singing:):):) Now I am trying to wake up and start again:) So you will not be behind, Laura:)

I watched the Krypton pilot by the way... I really liked it... and saw parallels to Superman story... biggest weakness is that there's only 2 eps at the moment :D

spending the evening singing is great!!!!
I tend to do that too at times. My favourite musical is Le Miserables - I could sing for that one for hours. 😁

Uh... you're not a real introvert unless using your vocal cords for more than 15-30 straight minutes makes your voice fade away... <.< >.> ...

I was in choir in grade school, but these days I barely talk... altho it's improved a bit this past year out of work necessity...

Iain wrote: "I watched the Krypton pilot by the way... I really liked it... and saw parallels to Superman story... biggest weakness is that there's only 2 eps at the moment :D"

I know! I inhaled them both! I think there will be a new one on Wed... Can't wait:)

Laura wrote: "spending the evening singing is great!!!!
I tend to do that too at times. My favourite musical is Le Miserables - I could sing for that one for hours. 😁"

OMG! I do that too!!! With all kinds of musicals, but this one is my favorite ever!!!

Iain wrote: "Uh... you're not a real introvert unless using your vocal cords for more than 15-30 straight minutes makes your voice fade away... .> ...

I was in choir in grade school, but these days I barely ta..."

My voice dissipated as well... I used to have it, but for some reason with time it just faded away... I hate that sometimes, but what can you do,,,

Ch. 13-14... Is it OK that I do not trust his cousins on his mother's side? Do not trust them at all!!!

I'll still try to get to this but it will be a few more days at best. I fell behind reading Nemesis Games because I got distracted by some tv shows. I binge watched Mary Kills People and then some Canadian show called Burden of Proof. Plus I keep going back to re-watch some scenes from Altered Carbon. And then last night I watched Jesus Christ Superstar Live! and loved it. Kypton is still on my list to check out.

Veronica wrote: "I'll still try to get to this but it will be a few more days at best. I fell behind reading Nemesis Games because I got distracted by some tv shows. I binge watched Mary Kills People and then some ..."

This is exactly what we have been talking about! I watched it all, then went on line to listen to about 20 other versions of my favorite parts and singing with them:) I am completely hoarse right now:)

Choko wrote: "This is exactly what we have been talking about! I watched it all, then went on line to listen to about 20 other versions of my favorite parts and singing with them:) I am completely hoarse right now:) "

Yes, sorry, I posted first and then went back and read through the thread, saw your earlier post. I'd heard of this musical but had never seen even clips of it. I'd set the dvr to record it and planned to watch it eventually but I caught the first few minutes and then was totally absorbed. Too many commercials so I really hope they release it on dvd w/o all the breaks. I think John Legend did a great job but I think I prefer the versions of "Gethsemane" that included the rock wail on the "Whhhyyyyyyy?" part. Steve Balsamo in particular did an excellent rendition though I also really like Ted Neeley's more rock star, raw version. But I immediately purchased all three versions. :-)

Veronica wrote: "I'll still try to get to this but it will be a few more days at best. I fell behind reading Nemesis Games because I got distracted by some tv shows. I binge watched Mary Kills People and then some ..."

Don't worry. I'm not starting till tomorrow either.

I missed Jesus Christ Superstar last night. It's sadly kid bedtime at that time. I really wanted to see it though. I love musicals. I've seen the musical before but not on such a high star caliber. I wonder if they'll have it on demand.

Looked up Mary Kills People... haven't seen Caroline Dhavernas since Wonder Falls...

Well, in my opinion the movie version of 73 was the best vocally for the guys, but for Mary, the concert last night was far better than any! But Judas did great too😀!

Imril is such a confused kid... And his hormones are just torturing him. On top of that he is having to come to terms with Phedre being human and who she is...

Iain wrote: "Looked up Mary Kills People... haven't seen Caroline Dhavernas since Wonder Falls..."

Never watched that. I know her from a one season only Shonda Rimes shows called "Off the Map". Mary Kills People only has six episode seasons so it's not too much of a commitment and there's humor despite the rather somber topic of euthanasia.

Choko wrote: "Well, in my opinion the movie version of 73 was the best vocally for the guys, but for Mary, the concert last night was far better than any! But Judas did great too😀!"

I think the '73 movie is the Ted Neeley version. I've only seen his one clip of that song but I want to track down the movie and watch the whole thing.

Yeah I picked it up about half an hour ago and I'm burning through it and "aww"ing at regular intervals. This is officially a re-read.

Diana Stormblessed wrote: "I missed Jesus Christ Superstar last night. It's sadly kid bedtime at that time. I really wanted to see it though. I love musicals. I've seen the musical before but not on such a high star caliber. I wonder if they'll have it on demand."

I hope so. It's definitely worth checking out.

Veronica wrote: "Choko wrote: "Well, in my opinion the movie version of 73 was the best vocally for the guys, but for Mary, the concert last night was far better than any! But Judas did great too😀!"

I think the '7..."

YOU HAVE TO! It is what sets all the standards, in my opinion:):):)

Eamomn my darling child am I glad to see you. //Glomps

I love Eamomn! He is adorable 😀! And Imriel needed a true friend. I didn't trust any of the rest, except the Queen and her daughters. I think they are just cautious, not bad people...

Iain wrote: "Chapter 20 now: Really liking this one... interesting how Imriel's experiences in Kushiel's Avatar have made him Earth-normal in a lot of ways regarding sex... he has a lot of hangups I don't think..."

Yeah, he sure needed that:) It would have been an "explosion" otherwise:):):)

I worry about him. He is very unstable because of his fears to even talk about his issues... I want him to be good and I know that he is terrified that he might be a bad guy... But he isn't!

Seeing all the updates on this thread is killing me. The holiday set me back and I probably won’t be able to start for another day or two.

I finally started last night. I'm about 15% in so now I can go through the comments and pick out what I can respond to. Yay!

Iain wrote: "Chapter 20 now:..."

I'm only at chapter 12 but right now It's been 15 years since the start of the series and 5 years since Kushiel's Avatar. Imri just turned 15 I believe they said and he was 10 in the last book, and that last book was about 10 years since the first one. Phedre is about 35.