You'll love this one...!! A book club & more discussion

A while ago we were talking about buddy reading The Daylight War some time in March or April. I totally forgot, but Jannene reminded me :)

I know Margo is interested, Jannene too, anyone else? We buddy read the previous book with quite a few people I think.


I'd prefer April over March. March is super busy at work and I have already some books planned and only limited time to read them in. Also, I'm still reading Oathbringer and would like to finish that first.

I’d also prefer April over March since it is basketball season for me!!

Great Jannene! Let's see if that works for Margo too, if she's joining.

I'm in! Not too fussed about the timing. April works fine - anytime in the month.

Yay Margo!

What do you both think of starting April 7?

April 7 works for me.

Putting it in my diary!

April is good for me, Peggy.

I'm glad you'll join us too Cherie!

I'm looking forward to reading this one.

I wouldn’t mind doing another buddy read for The Skull Throne after finishing this one. (Maybe months later.) Then finishing with The Core before the end of the year.

So am I! I really enjoyed the last one - apart from wanting to box Arlens ears at the end of the story 😤

Jannene wrote: "I wouldn’t mind doing another buddy read for The Skull Throne after finishing this one. (Maybe months later.) Then finishing with The Core before the end of the year."

I'd like that! I have too many unfinished series hanging over me.

I like that idea too!

Everyone ready to start this next weekend?

The weather predictions are great (21-23C) for this weekend. I'm already looking forward to spend the afternoons reading in the sun!

The toppler is on 7th! How about we start on 9th?

I was wondering if you gals would like to move it. I am good with moving it.

Maybe Peggy is going to read it for the toppler! Extra points for chunksters lol

Imagine reading the whole book in a day!

Actually I'm not participating in the toppler, but moving it to the 9th is fine.

Yes, that would take some doing! I hope that doesn't impact too much on you weekend plans ☺

Not at all, the good thing about books is that there are always other ones to read :)

I don't mind moving it to the 9th. I am not doing the toppler either, but it gives me a little more time to finish other books that I have started too.

I've started it today after all. I finished my other book yesterday which was a bit sooner than I expected, and I don't know what else to read in the weekend. I'll probably fall behind soon anyway, as I have a paperback which is a bit too heavy to take with me on the train every day.

I have a hard cover which is heavy. I may start today as well. I will be finishing my current book today. I am not doing anything the toppler either.

That's great Peggy. I might start tomorrow night. You can tantalize us all with yours spoilers ;-)

Are you reading outside as planned? It is 12 C here and cloudy so I'm sitting beside my electric heater thinking about lighting a fire!

Jannene wrote: "I have a hard cover which is heavy. I may start today as well. I will be finishing my current book today. I am not doing anything the toppler either."

I'll be listening on audio as always.

Margo wrote: "That's great Peggy. I might start tomorrow night. You can tantalize us all with yours spoilers ;-)

Are you reading outside as planned? It is 12 C here and cloudy so I'm sitting beside my electric ..."

I am! It's 22C and sunny here :)

Prologue:
(view spoiler)[ I liked reading a bit more about Inevera's background. I'm sure she hasn't had an easy time studying to become damating with everybody hating her. I wonder if we'll read more about her time there and how she became the not-so-nice lady she is today. (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 1:
(view spoiler)[ Yay, we start with Arlen and Renna right away! It has picked up right were we left off, so it's all coming back to me now. I don't know if I like Renna being so stubborn (doing everything Arlen asks her not to do) or whether I just want to slap her so she grows up a bit. (hide spoiler)]

Peggy wrote: "Margo wrote: "That's great Peggy. I might start tomorrow night. You can tantalize us all with yours spoilers ;-)

Are you reading outside as planned? It is 12 C here and cloudy so I'm sitting besid..."

I agree with your comment about (view spoiler)[Inevera. I cannot stand her pathetic father. Her brother makes me smile. (hide spoiler)] I guess it has been a while since I have read the previous books. I knew the two main characters but totally could not remember Inevera. I am sure it will come back to me. This is why I really want to read the rest of the series this year.

Inevera is the first wife of Jardir. From the first 2 books I have the impression that she is (view spoiler)[very manipulative and has orchestrated Jardir's rise in order to achieve her own goals. Not sure what those are though. (hide spoiler)]

I know what you mean! I tend to forget details quickly too. Some things come back when reading, and I'm always glad when the author summarizes past events a bit.

22 C! That's summer 😀

I have just finished the prologue (view spoiler)[ I had also forgotten who Inevere was. As soon as I read Peggys spoiler it all came back to me. If I had known who she was I would not felt quite as for her! It was a nice bit of insight into her character (hide spoiler)]

I am going to start chapter 1 now although I should be finishing up my bookclub read for tomorrow night - it's a reread anyway so I don't need to feel guilty 😉

Chapter 1-3
(view spoiler)[I’m not totally sold on Renna and Arlen. I am on the Leesha wagon. I always wanted Arlen and Leesha to get together. Renna seems to needy. She is growing on me though with her dedication to Arlen. I like that she picked Twister as her “promise” gift and named it Promise.

I feel for the bandits that tried to take them. They have a big camp that they are trying to feed. I bet Arlen is going to do something to help them.

I don’t think that I would eat demon though even if it gave me magic. It seems a bit too much. (hide spoiler)]

Jannene, re chpt 1 to 3 (view spoiler)[ I really dislike Renna! She struck me as sly when she was introduced in book 1 and I can't shake of that first impression. She strikes me as a visious little terrier who is loyal to her master but will bite anyone else within reach. I hope Leesha can put her in her place when they finally meet.
I was surprised when Arlen proposed but I figured I was because he thought thought he owed it to her.
Arlen is the same as ever - wants to to give his life to save the world!
It seems that eating demon flesh is changing Renna much more quickly than it did Arlen. I think it could be dangerous for everyone except Arlen if she continues. (hide spoiler)]

As with the previous books, I find that that can't stop listening once I start. I am just finished chapter 6. I get so engrossed that I don't even notice the narrator reading the chapter number! I will have to make an effort to comment more often but I think that is a sure sign that I'm really enjoying the book :-D

I'm glad I'm not the only one who thinks this way about Renna. (view spoiler)[ I'm disliking her more and more as the book progresses. I also find her childish, needy and too clingy and jealous. Still loving Arlen though! He could do much better than her, it does feel that he felt obliged. I'm also on team Leesha! (hide spoiler)]

I'm at work now and have the book at home, not sure where I am, so I won't comment on anything I've read until I've checked the chapter I'm in. I think I ended somewhere around page 200. I finished the second chapter on Inevera's past.

Okay, just one comment then. I've had a couple of times now that I read something in the book, and couldn't remember if we learned about that already in the previous book or that it's very new information (view spoiler)[ like the maze being opened for demons every night, and the fighting actually being unnecessary. I think I knew, or at least gates were mentioned, but I'm not sure if I made the link that the fighting is just for fun. Or that the Dama'ting have the exact same knowledge as Arlen, for example with the healing wards. (hide spoiler)]

Peggy Re gates (view spoiler)[ I thought they opened to gates to allow the warriors to practice killing demons. Even that doesn't make much sense considering the amount of humans that die fighting. They breed to spawn more worriers and it seems demons do the same. What is the point of it all? Oh yes, fun!! (hide spoiler)]

Finished chapter 8.

(view spoiler)[ I find those damaji rituals a bit weird! The eunuchs and how they're used, the pillow dancing classes, and especially how they lose their virginity when they get married to Everam. I wonder if these are secret fantasies of the author ;-)


Is inevera an exception because she got married to Jardir? All Dama'ting seem to use eunuchs for pleasure and normal men to secretly have babies from. But they generally don't marry or live outside their palace. (hide spoiler)]

I also finished chapter 8 (view spoiler)[ I had exactly the same thought on the marrage ceremony Peggy - total male fantasy! The same for most of the carry on in the classes. I have to say the role of the eunochs is not what I was expecting! I didn't think they had the equipment to do what is described - I have been sadly misinformed 😆

I am completely confused about the pregnancys. And they kept secret? Some of the novices were openly referred to as daughters of older Dama'ting. I don't understand this aspect.

I got a bit bored during this and the previous chapter and just want to get on with the story. Enough pandering to fantasies lol
(hide spoiler)]

Regarding pregnancies: (view spoiler)[ I don't think they're kept secret from the other dama'ting, but they are kept secret from the man who made them pregnant and any other people. The dama'ting seem to be reside mostly in the palace anyway. I think they know which girl is whose daughter, but every once in a while when the dice indicate it they bring in a man to get pregnant, but the men don't know that this is the aim. I have no idea what they think, I guess they don't question free sex with a pillow dancer. (hide spoiler)]

@Peggy - Got'cha. I missed that.

re sex (view spoiler)[ what man questions free sex with a dancer?! :-D (hide spoiler)]

Haha, exactly!

Although you'd think some people would question where all the new dama'ting come from and draw their conclusions..

Chapter 10 (view spoiler)[ its funny how the same story told from an alternative pov can be so different. I still don't like Inevera but I feel I understand her a bit better now. She genuinely believes she is on a sacred mission.

On two occasions I liked her a little. The first was when lost her control on her wedding night. I wonder if considers Jadire her second husband, her being Everam? The second was when she got irritated by her in-laws - ooh I know how that feels lol

(hide spoiler)]

Margo, (view spoiler)[I cannot stand Renna either. I laughed when I read your spoiler about her being a little terrier because it is so true. I stopped reading when Arlen proposed to her. I was like WTF? Anyway, I hate to say this but I hope something happens to Renna and she dies.

I still am not happy that Leesha went to bed with Jadir. I find it odd too that supposedly she is getting all these powers so quick when it took years for him in the desert to get there.

Arlen is going to end up killing himself if he doesn’t slow down and find his limits. I don’t know how come he thinks he started all of this because he ran away. It seems a bit self centered to think that one man can control all of the world because he decided to leave his town. (hide spoiler)].

General comment for chapters 1-3 (view spoiler)[Apparently fighting demons make you horny! (hide spoiler)]

Cherie wrote: "I don't mind moving it to the 9th. I am not doing the toppler either, but it gives me a little more time to finish other books that I have started too."

Hi Cherie!! How are you doing gal?

@Jannene, Renna (view spoiler)[ I'm so glad you said what what I was thinking - I was hoping that demon attack would take her out! Also, that would have given Arlen something else to beat himself up over so win-win 😜 (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 11 (view spoiler)[ It is good to be back with Leesha although, like Jannene, am disappointed that she slept with Jadir. I am so proud of Rojer! He showed them all that he could think for himself and he got his beautiful choir. Good for him
(hide spoiler)]

Chapter 12 (view spoiler)[ I have always liled Aben and hate how he is treated by his own people. I suppose it is to expected of a nation that prizes strenght above all but to see him mocked by his own sons was heartbreaking! He is a master spy and I can't understand why he isn't valued for that. Surely that is more service to his nation than being, like so many, demon food?
(hide spoiler)]

Jannene wrote: "Cherie wrote: "I don't mind moving it to the 9th. I am not doing the toppler either, but it gives me a little more time to finish other books that I have started too."

Hi Cherie!! How are you doin..."

Cherie, we need your insights!!

Jannene wrote: "Margo, "

(view spoiler)[ I feel the same about Arlen. I like him as a character, but the way he thinks sometimes annoys me, like feeling he's responsible for all the bad things that happen in the world. (hide spoiler)]

Margo wrote: "Chapter 10 ."

(view spoiler)[ Yes, those were the only 2 times she felt a bit human and let her emotions control her.

I liked the background on Inevera and my memory is refreshed about what happened in previous books, although I'm still a bit hazy on the details. Some things I don't even remember, like was Inevera already Damajah in the last book? And did she kill Kevenah in the last book?

I'm glad the next chapter is about Leesha and Rojer! (hide spoiler)]

Just popped in to say that Brett has just signed a deal to release a new trilogy which takes place 15 years after the last book in this series. I'm very excited!

Sounds very interesting Sarah! I don't think I'll be able to hold out for him to finish this series and then binge read like we're doing with this one ;-p

Peggy wrote: "Margo wrote: "Chapter 10 ."

..."

I can't remember those thinks either which probable means they weren't referred to in the book 😕