Fantasy Buddy Reads discussion

Halloween

Is anyone reading this with me?

Yes! Old dependable is here!

Sigh...of course, but late. Okay, so we're moving this weekend. Everything is in boxes, and I'm trying to get back on track and catch up with you as soon from next Monday on. Carry on, and I'll just type my updates into the old threads until I reach this one.

Yeay Sandra!! I'll start it on Friday then. :)

And don't worry about being late Olivia - I'm here to chat about it with you anytime. :)

Welcome back Olivia!

I'm starting this tonight. :)

So


And from the very first line I was like Whoa!!!!
Because


(view spoiler)[Arithon has been imprisoned for close to 250 years!!! And the one who helped him escape was his daughter!! The daughter that he didn't even know he had!!! And she was taken from Glendien when she was 3 years old! And the Prime made Arithon battle the wraiths while keeping him in a cell for centuries and allowed Lysaer to be given praise for defending the world from the wraiths! And now she's making those zealots hunt him again!!!

Only exclamation marks over here because... I just didn't see this coming. And it was like a bucketful of ice cold water thrown on my head in the middle of a 50 degrees hot summer day in the desert.

And I feel so so very sorry for Arithon, for his daughter and for Elaira. And right now I really want to wring that demon hag's neck!! So much of evil and of sorrow that I wanna cry!

The scene when the brothers met Arithon on the road and they discovered the state he was in, the fact that he had been starved and was looking like a simpleton just about broke my heart. As did the fact that Teylia gave her life to save her father and died in his place.

I hope Arithon will find a little kindness with Efflin, Tarens and Kerelie. And I am burning to know what exactly happened. Who betrayed Arithon and why? How did it come to this?! (hide spoiler)]

This is spellbinding and un-put-down-able from the very first line! I'm hooked!

OMG!! I'm laughing so hard right now because of that crazed hen at the beginning of chapter 2. 🤣😂🤣
That whole chase the chicken scene was hilarious!!!

Chapter 2
Janny's books are the only ones that make me laugh one minute and then cry the next. Over and over again. They are an emotional rollercoaster from beginning to end.

After that good laughter I had with the crazed hen again so much of sadness.
(view spoiler)[The way Arithon made food for them and went to fetch the herbs just to have them discuss him that way... I get it that they were affraid to be found harbouring a minion of the dark but still, they didn't have to rub it in his face for crying out loud!
And did I get it right? Lysaer had split from the church? But the church seems to be in power now. And all those atrocities commited against the clans! Good grief! It makes my hair stand on end just when thinking about it.

And now the Prime is waking the curse in Lysaer? Is that curse still there even after the wraiths have all been laid to rest?
I swear that female is the perfect villain! She gives me the creeps! (hide spoiler)]

Laura (view spoiler)[ I was disoriented in the beginning! 250 years is a long time. Then I mourned all the people who were dead and gone, clan members, etc. (view spoiler)[ (hide spoiler)] (hide spoiler)]

Yes. (view spoiler)[the time difference was a bit confusing. The way it started shocked me. I couldn't really wrap my head around the events at first, but the description of Arithon held in that cell and the rest of the story grabbed me and had me hooked from the very first line.
That is why the time difference didn't bother me that much. Because the present story was so... spellbinding. (hide spoiler)]

I also love the little details and gestures the characters make. The way they look at each other or touch each other feels so real. And I find myself feeling so much for them because of those small things.

Chapter 3 was brutal!

I know it's not (view spoiler)[thousands of people dying or a huge war, but that little drama unfolding for the small family made me feel just as gutted regardless.

The description of the feelings and emotions, as well as all those little small details that pepper the chatacters' actions - they all make everything seem so incredibly real.

What those soldiers did in service of the Light and under the orders of the priest, the way they trashed everything and tormented those poor people - it made me want to hurl insult after insult at them. (hide spoiler)]

I wonder (view spoiler)[as the priest entered inside the woman's mind and checked her memories, he seems to be a bit more than clan born with a gift. I wonder if he is part of a sect of necromamcers. I wonder if that whole church of Light isn't actually controlled by necromancers.

And as the church does seem to control that entire realm, I wonder why Lysaer, who is supposed to be the avatar of justice, simply stood back and allowed them to take and keep that control. (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 4 - now I can see Dakar's behaviour at the end of last book in a completely different light. So his (view spoiler)[unwillingness to face Arithon that time wasn't due only to the fact that he was feeling bad for lying in regards to the child. The cunning little snake had already made a bargain with the Prime by then and that was the reason for his shame. Did I get that right? He fucked up again. And big time it seems. Though he himself is convinced that was the only way to handle the situation. By betraying Arithon?! (hide spoiler)]
I am not sure I got it right but it sure seemed that way to me. And now he is (view spoiler)[affraid to face Arithon but will he help him? I'd like to think he will. He doesn't seem to understand that Asandir cut him loose just because this way he would not be caught under the oath of non-interference. He's cursing Asandir and resenting the F7. Doesn't he think?! (hide spoiler)]
Hand on heart, Dakar is one of the most frustrating characters I have ever encountered. He may just win first price in my top 3.

I’m not sure about Dakar. I think it’s spelled out in more detail later on.

WHERE IS EVERYONE?

It looks like it's just me and you Sandra. :(

Olivia said she will be late and I don't know about Choko and Daniel.

I didn't get much time to read these days. Today was one of the worse reading time ever - I've had time for only 2 chapters of Red Country. And that is only 30 pages in total!! (*sigh* - and tomorrow will probably be the same)

There problem with this book is that IT'S WAY TO GOOD to set it down even if it's just to post a comment on GR about it.

I finally got time to read today so of course I picked it up again. And after I started reading I kept thinking I should post my comments on it here and then I was telling myself "just after I finish this chapter" or "just after a few more pages because I really need to know what comes next" or "in a minute or two"....

The problem is that if I log onto GR to write a comment about it I have to stop reading. And I DON'T WANT TO STOP READING!!!
Because this is awesome and fabulous and spellbinding and.... you get what I mean!

I am close to the end of chapter 7 and there is so much I want to tell. But bear with me Sandra please because.... I'll just read one more chapter and then be back with the comments.

Chapter 5

The cruel treatment (view spoiler)[dealt Arithon by those soldiers made me sick. I felt like crying for him. And then Tarens... He is saved by Arithon and in return does what? He ties him up to throw him to the enemies. Gah!! Why are all the men ending up as Arithon's companions such idjits at one time or another?! It's frustrating!

Then comes Dakar. He isn't as guilty as I thought after all? The plot to betray Arithon was hatched by Eriegal?! And Dakar's deal with the Koriani was struck just to keep Arithon alive?

When did that happen and why? And did I miss anything in the last book? Perhaps a clue... or more?

Lysaer - at least he is protecting the clans in Tysan. Maybe because his church has become to powerful to be stopped he cannot interfere to curb their cruelty? But even if that were the case, the guy is still guilty as charged for shoving his head into the ground and allowing those fanatics free reign.

Daliana - she reminds him of Talith right? I like her a lot. She's got spunk. And I hope Lysaer will fall for her hard. At least a woman like her may be able to reach him the way Elaira reaches Arithon. Well, not quite that way but still, maybe a little. (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 6

Right now I wanna trash Tarens. (view spoiler)[He resorts to hitting and punching even while Arithon is tied up?! I don't really like him a lot at this moment.

And that old hag - she now wants Ariton alive to use as a weapon and harness the Paravian remannents and Fellowship trace spells?! Good God!! She is mad as a hatter.

And how come those Light fanatics do her bidding? She's also making fetches for them to use. How are they connected? (hide spoiler)]

So many questions and I can barely wait to find out the answer.

Chapter 7

Asandir and the baby (view spoiler)[dragon were awesome! Ok. Not baby but young and still awesome.

Daliana - I feel so sorry for her. And I hope hope hope Dakar and Traithe will be able to stop the execution. This part is keeping me on my toes and at the edge of the seat.
Scratch that. This whole book is keeping me on my toes and at the edge of my seat!

Elaira is being tested. I had no clue at all that the begger was sent by the seeress to test her. Maybe I should have known because of the reference to kindness and test but I didn't see it coming AT ALL. And I am intrigued about the power that man and the seeress posses to frighten off the Koriani.

Then for a moment there at the end of the chapter I thought Lysaer will have Dakar's head on a pike.
I love the way Dakar is butting in and trying to do good. (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 8 - Now this is where I burned the dinner yesterday because I couldn't stop reading even while cooking.
I scoffed at another review I read that had the mention of burned food while reading because "Yeah! Like that's gonna happen!". And here I was, ordering pizza because I really did it!
Shit! I burned the dinner cause I couldn't stop reading!

The first part with (view spoiler)[the trial was brilliant! The way the bastards took Daliana out and paraded her in her shift in front of the murderous crowd! The jeers and curses and the crowd shouting for blood! God! That was unbelievable.
I wanted to cry for Daliana and I was so damn angry at those dumb ignorant people who simply wanted to see blood, regardless if the woman was innocent and the trial a sham. It is all so typical for human nature - to get worked up in a frenzy up to the point of tearing a human limb from limb! And it's disgusting!

And then the trial. Traithe and then Dakar trying to intervene with things still looking hopeless up to the very end... Sheesh! That was fabulous and brilliant and awesome and I'm running out of superlatives.

Dakar is again irritating me. He doesn't know which side he'll take if he has to choose one brother. Come on man?! What the heck?! Hasn't Arithon done enough to win you over already?!

And then comes the prophecy. Cosach stalled so that 3 totally unprepared children go to help Arithon?! 3 children! And I was like what?! You have got to be kidding me! (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 9

Why does Arithon (view spoiler)[have to risk everything for that man? Ok forget I asked. I know why. Because he is Arithon.
But he offended the clans and put himself at risk, he overextended and got himself captured. And what pissed me off was that Tarens still didn't know if he should side with him or not. Despite everything Arithon does the stubborn donkey still doubts that the prince means him well.

I loved the part when Jieret met him and transferred his memories and knowledge. That was fabulous. And now I hope said stubborn donkey has learned enough and will put that knowledge Jieret gave him to good use and keep Arithon safe. (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 10

Now there's a pickle. I don't know if I want to (view spoiler)[feel sorry for the blessed Breeches because now he realises what his stupidity and arrogance led to (building that blasted religion and allowing it to turn into a monster)
Or strangle him for simply sitting aside and letting the fanatics have their way instead of keeping a reign on them.

It's not enough that he made Tysan safer for the clans. Those people are hunted and exterminated in all other places and Lysaer didn't help. I even doubt he would help now, except that things are getting way out of control and even his own people (not clan) are starting to be butchered or burned alive.

It's good he's starting to realise what he's done but I want him to grovel more. I want him to feel remorse and to be torn. At least he's fighting now so that's a start. But I wanted to kick the damn idiot for not allowing Daliana and Dakar to help. If arogance and pride wouldn't be there... but sadly the blessed fool seems set to blunder again. (hide spoiler)]

Same Chapter 10

Why didn't I see that coming?! (view spoiler)[That dagger that kept changing hands and protected Lysaer for some time is actually meant for the Prime? Or perhaps for the Great Waystone? A whole load of knowledge is there, in that artefact.
And it's supposed to be wielded by Arithon. So perhaps the waystone? I am eager to find out.

The possibility didn't even cross my mind!

I am also not quite sure I understand Arithon's blood inheritance. From his father's side he has the gift to wield shadow and from his mother's side, through Dari, he got sight and rogue prophecy. Would that be right? And the sight would be mage sight?

Lysaer also inherited the last 2, but no one knows yet to what an extent. Would that be right?

And then The Biedar and Koriani. The Koriani caught and tortured secrets out of the Biedar. Their whole knowledge - or the most important part of it - is stolen through theft and abuse. So the Biedar want revenge! I would too in their place.
But why is the Prime considering the Biedar the order's greatest enemy? Till now they only recently started to involve and hobble the Prime's plans. They were so quiet and invisible before. Did they fight the Koriani before the brothers reached Athera, did they strike back at the Order so they can be left alone?
So many questions and I'm eager for answers. (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 11

For a while there I really thought Arithon (view spoiler)[had given up. Regardless of what Tarens said, Arithon seemed so lost! I thought he gave up!!
And that mob! Oh God! They would have rioted if deprived of a spectacle - a killing and a burning to be exact! Humans can be so despicable at times! (hide spoiler)]

Again I am not sure I got it right. (view spoiler)[The great drake brought an entire continent back to life and because of that all flux lines are stronger, the veil has been thinned and places like Athili move or become bigger/greater. They change at the same time as that continent is changing. (hide spoiler)]

I loved the way Arithon (view spoiler)[paraded in front of those fanatics giving them orders while wearing the face of the Hatchet! That was bloody brilliant!

and I was horrified by the order that bastard of a diviner gave. Burn all those women and children alive inside the barn?! Cause that's a merciful death?! You have got to be kidding me!!
At least some of those soldiers had the guts to tell it to his face that they didn't come there to kill babes!

I loved it that Arithon managed to save those people but I wanted to box his ears for taking off AGAIN on his own, without any help. Granted, those people also needed someone to help them out but still... (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 12

Did Asandir leave (view spoiler)[his horse behind in Scarpdale because he needed to be someplace else and couldn't take him? Or did he leave him there on purpose? Or perhaps both? (hide spoiler)]

And I can safely say I'd wring that old hag's neck without even blinking! (view spoiler)[She's purposefully killing those initiates just so that she can clean the Waystone?! Because - what the hell!! They're just fodder! And she can get loads more of them after the Light fanatics invade Havish! So no biggie!
I'm so spitting mad at her right now!!! (hide spoiler)]

My dear Morriel...


Another piece that falls into place in the puzzle. (view spoiler)[The great drake restored the horse into something more - immortal now and more powerful. The same way it turned 7 humans into mages who formed the Fellowship. And now I understand. Because I somehow thought that the 7 were if not mages at least gifted before they were touched by the drake magic. But it turns out that drake magic is much more powerful than I thought and it turned mere humans into mages. (hide spoiler)]

Lysaer - I hate it that (view spoiler)[he still doesn't want to take full blame for his past mistakes. He does blame himself for being too proud and cock-sure and having cause a massacre through a LAND SLIDE (not dark magic mind) but he still blames the women in his life for betraying him! Talith only tried to open his eyes to the curse and Lysaer himself pushed her away. What was she supposed to do?! Die of old age in a room in a tower! Would that have made Lysaer happy?! That way she wouldn't have betrayed him right?!
Or perhaps betrayal means just being able to think for yourself and openly tell what's on your mind. Cause that's sure as hell how it sounds to me! (hide spoiler)]

Lysaer: - "Oh! I am so hurt!!! Everybody left me!!! Everybody betrayed me!! I'm in so much pain and no one truly cares for me!!!"

Me: - "You...
Get off of your high horse and see what you did in the first place!!"

Chapter 13

Who let in the skirt?! HaHa!! It figures that the little guy (view spoiler)[needs to be mean and horrid to everyone to compensate for his size. And he doesn't even shy away from insulting Koriani witches. Good for him!

But what did the hag do? Did she just cut Elaira's crystal into pieces to fashion that talisman to point out Arithon's location? Or was that Elaira's entire crystal that the Hatchet received? Or did she fashion another small crystal with the imprint of Elaira's love taken from her crystal?
I didn't get that part. (hide spoiler)]

I hate it that Lysaer (view spoiler)[talks about Arithon still in terms of bastard and filthy practices. And he isn't under the influence of the curse at that time! The guy is a major douche bag!!!
I am the best and the rest all are beneath me. And if you say something to contradict me ... then off with your head! (or a sword through the heart better said cause that's the method he uses right!)
I just don't get how Daliana can love him?! (hide spoiler)]

And I feel so sorry for Gestry! So young and so much responsibility! The fate of so many people on his shoulders. And that too he already knows (view spoiler)[that he will die because of Dakar's prophecy. And he's still doing his best! He's fabulous! (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 14

I was wondering how everything will come together because right now things are still looking pretty bleak.

It was brilliant. The way those small little threads connected and everyone found themselves in the right place at the right time. I loved it that it seemed so natural. It felt right!

(view spoiler)[The way the horse brought the sword to Arithon when I was expecting the boy to do so; the way Arithon simply drew Alithiel because he just felt something was wrong and was able to escape the Prime's trap; the way he felt Elaira's love from the crystal and doesn't doubt it but knows it was torn from him; the way Dakar managed to burn everything in the hag's possession that was related to Arithon and Lysaer, despite the fact that he was shit scared to try it out. It all seemed so right and I loved it all. (hide spoiler)]

But now I'm wondering what will come next because of that end. I'm hoping the next volume will (view spoiler)[bring Arithon and Elaira together again and I am curious what second plan the hag has hatched to trap Arithon. (hide spoiler)]

I almost forgot to mention - that was really great of Luhaine (view spoiler)[to change places with Davien for the hibernation time of the drake. And I hope Davien can help. (hide spoiler)]

Laura wrote: "Chapter 5

The cruel treatment dealt Arithon by those soldiers made me sick. I felt like crying for him. And then Tarens... He is saved by Arithon and in return does what? He ties him up to throw h..."

The key is in that scene in SF where they bring Arithon back and he has sex with Glendien/Elaira - they swear to the Kingdom of Rathain which opens Arithon to risk from the Koriani. I guess I can say that in this thread without spoiler tags. To my mind that was a mistake under stress but Dakar feels guilty for it, but it was the clansman who betrayed him.

Laura wrote: "Chapter 11

For a while there I really thought Arithon had given up. Regardless of what Tarens said, Arithon seemed so lost! I thought he gave up!!
And that mob! Oh God! They would have rioted if d..."

Laura wrote: "Same Chapter 10

Why didn't I see that coming?! That dagger that kept changing hands and protected Lysaer for some time is actually meant for the Prime? Or perhaps for the Great Waystone? A whole l..."

Arithon is the most persecuted hero I’ve come across in a long time. The only other one I can think of off the top of my head is Frances Crawford of Lymond in The Lymond Chronicles by Dorothy Dunnett. A fabulous series.

Oh and your guess is as good as mine about what the dragon saved and what happened to Athera. It boggles my mind. And if you can remember all your questions through this book and the next more power to you.

I'm gonna have to re-read that part to find out. I missed it. Again!!

Regarding our doubts about Davien's relationship with the drake, Janny just told me it is explained in Black Bargain. So I'm reading that today.

Are you joining me for the last book? I'd like to start it in 2 or 3 days time, as soon as I close off a few of my open BRs. I'm very very late at those and would like to finish them first.

Laura wrote: "Chapter 12

Did Asandir leave [spoilers removed]

And I can safely say I'd wring that old hag's neck without even blinking! She's purposefully killing those initiates just so that she can clean the..."

Morriel is so twisted with hate and envy I don’t think she even thinks of the consequences of what she does. And I think Lysaer suffers more than we are immediately aware of.

I'm sure Lysaer suffers in his own way but I somehow can't find it in me to lend a shoulder to cry on when his attitude towards Arithon and Talith (despite being dead) is still so vengeful and full of hatred.

Logically, I know why the resentment is there. His mother left him but she didn't leave Arithon. According to Lysaer, his mother preferred his bastard brother and left him behind, fact that is bound to twist any child's mind. Hatred and resentment, trust issues in the future, all can be attributed to that betrayal.
Top it with the fact that Lysaer grew up with a power hungry ruthless father who hammered into the child's head that princes should be proud and that they are above everyone else - we get a deadly combination of resentment and pride that won't let the grown man acknowledge his own faults. And I find that despicable in a person.
He needs to change and repent. He needs to stop always attributing blame to others and perhaps then I'm going to feel bad for him.

I wish there was a ‘like’ button! I agree. I just meant that I recall her showing us his remorse more obviously later on.

Oh, and yes! I’ll join you for the last book! This is fun.

Sandra wrote: "Oh, and yes! I’ll join you for the last book! This is fun."

Yeay!!! I'm reading The Gallant now and will start Destiny's Conflict tomorrow. Thread is up and running. :D