Nothing But Reading Challenges discussion

This thread is open to discuss The Black Prism by Brent Weeks.



Synopsis
Guile is the Prism, the most powerful man in the world. He is high priest and emperor, a man whose power, wit, and charm are all that preserves a tenuous peace. Yet Prisms never last, and Guile knows exactly how long he has left to live.

When Guile discovers he has a son, born in a far kingdom after the war that put him in power, he must decide how much he's willing to pay to protect a secret that could tear his world apart

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Looking forward to starting this this weekend! (Team Tonks)

I might be a little late starting because I need to listen to something else for bookshelf bingo.

I'll probably start off pretty slow, because I'm in the middle of about 9 million books right now.

I started reading this today, so I’ll be sure to post my comments in spoiler tags until you guys catch up.

Just after reading chapter 1 I am intrigued and eager to explore this world. (view spoiler)[ The magic system with the colors will be interesting to learn about. It’s reminding me of Brandon Sanderson’s magic systems. (hide spoiler)]

I just read the first chapter too. It made be super intrigued, but it felt so prologue-y. Prologues have got to be one of my top pet peeves in SFF

Rose wrote: "I just read the first chapter too. It made be super intrigued, but it felt so prologue-y. Prologues have got to be one of my top pet peeves in SFF"

I agree about the prologues! Just start the story already, authors! :P

Plus if I'm buying into that story, it's super jarring to go into another one!

I'm on chapter 9 now and super happy that wasn't actually a prologue. I like the shift from one perspective to another every chapter. What to you think about the characters so far?

(view spoiler)[I don't have may thoughts about Kip yet, since he's basically running around screaming his head off and blowing things up (understandably). I think it's actually kind of funny how angsty and snarky Guile is. And I'm hugely curious as to if Danzen is evil enough to be locked in a basement dungeon. (hide spoiler)]

I just finished chapter 9, and I like the changing POVs as well. I find myself equally interested in both storylines, so that’s helpful. Right now I kind of like all the characters even though I assume some will be shown to be the villain later.

(view spoiler)[I like the White as a wise leader. I like Gavin too as a skilled Prism and smart warrior, but he and the White seem at odds, so I can’t tell yet whose side I should be on. I even like the prisoner a bit as far as his determination and persistence to get out of that cell. I wonder if he really was evil or if that’s just what Gavin said to get support for his side. And I also like Karris as she seems like a strong warrior, and her banter with Gavin before they set sail made her seem more approachable and likable.

I’m guessing that Kip will be our hero. So far I like him and feel like we’ll learn about drafting as he learns how to use his skill. Master Danavis sees like a wise, mysterious stranger, so he is my favorite character so far. (hide spoiler)]

My prediction on where this story is headed: (view spoiler)[ Master Danavis will show Kip a little about drafting before sending him on to find Liv at the Chromeria, and the two of them will team up to defeat whichever of these characters ends up being the bad guy. (hide spoiler)]

I didn't have a chance to start but I'm hoping to either today or tomorrow.

I failed at reading yesterday. I'm hoping to read a large chunk tonight, though.

I started it yesterday and am on Chapter 6. I remember why I ended up dropping last time. I had trouble wrapping my head around the whole color casting thing.

I felt like the beginning of the book was dropping me in the middle of a story that I should already know about.

I agree, the color thing is confusing at first. I feel like I understand it a little better after reading about the Prism and his abilities. I would like to see more drafting in action, though, to really see how they use different colors.

I'm just picturing people with streams of color coming out their fingers.

I'm about 30 percent in. at around chapter 20 there is an info dump that actually makes the colors make more sense.

As far as the story goes I have the strangest feeling though that


spoiler: (view spoiler)[the brothers switched places? (hide spoiler)]

Major Spoiler (Chapter 35)

(view spoiler)[Called it! (hide spoiler)]

I’m on chapter 31, and my prediction on how the story would unfold was totally wrong! I liked seeing some color fighting in action. I know this is #1 in a series, but I don’t yet see why the story would need to continue into another book with this one already being almost 700 pages!

As I'm reading it I am wondering if I care enough about a second book. I really like Kip's scenes, but I don't know if I'm committed to the plot. I feel like 40% of the way through the first book, it should make me care more.

Rose, I know what you mean. I’m in chapter 46 and I’m still not sure who the main character is (Kip? Gavin? Liv?) or what the quest is in this story.

I’m reading chapter 68. (view spoiler)[ I liked learning more about Kerris’s past, but other than that the story seems to be dragging along slowly. Not enough action propelling the story forward! (hide spoiler)]

I finished! I'm still not sure who the main character was.....

Rose wrote: "I finished! I'm still not sure who the main character was....."

Do you think you'll continue on with the series?

I'm up to chapter 19.

Just got to chapter 79. (view spoiler)[ OMG! Finally someone besides Master Danaris called Gavin out for not being Gavin! I was excited to see what he would say to deal with Bas, but it was just a fake out and a stab in the heart. Darn, a little bit of a letdown. (hide spoiler)]

I finished this book. I enjoyed the world building and my favorite characters were Kip and Kerris. There was a lull in the middle where I got bored, but the ending did intrigue me enough to want to read the next book and see what happens with some of the characters. (view spoiler)[ What will Kerris do now that she knows Gavin’s true identity? Will the prisoner ever escape? What will Gavin do now that he’s dying? And is Kip going to be Gavin’s replacement? (hide spoiler)]. Lots of good unanswered questions. But I see that there are 4 books yet and the series isn’t even finished, so hopefully the plot will be better in the next book because I can’t imagine what could drag this story out for more than two books.


Mary, I’ll still discuss the book with you as you post!

Rose, I find with this kinds of epic fantasies, there is no real main character. The title makes you think it would be Gavin since he's the Prism. But then the star of these types of series is usually the misfit orphan with undiscovered talents, which would be Kip.

I made a large dent it yesterday. I think I am understanding the how the color magic works better now. I wish he had used a different term for the crazy color drafters than wights. On audio it makes it confusing because there is The White and then there's wights and I've had to do some double takes as to who is being talked about.

I'm sticking around too. I'm not sure if I'll continue on with the series. I know there are five books, which I'm not sure I'm up for based on this one. I liked the writing style for the most part, but I feel like the pacing was off, and not very strategic if that makes sense? It felt like it would have been better off being 200 pages shorter.

As for the characters, Kip was my favorite. I think if he were the major focus I'd continue on. Gavin was good in the beginning, but I feel like he had the potential to be a bad ass and it's just kinda gets away from that. I have a feeling a lot of the next books are going to be him getting bested by his father/various schemers.

Mary: Harry Dresden's Love Slave wrote: "Rose, I find with this kinds of epic fantasies, there is no real main character. The title makes you think it would be Gavin since he's the Prism. But then the star of these types of series is usua..."

I don't know. I feel like this book is written more towards heroic than epic fantasy.

True and my experience with both is limited.

My aim is to finish the book this week if I can. I have it on audio. But I got sidetracked doing a personal buddy listen with my boyfriend of the Shining.

Rose, I had the same suspicions and am past where they confirmed that.

At first I thought the "dead man" was a ghost or another prisoner. But I'm thinking now it's the prisoner going mad possibly. Like maybe his personality has split.

I'm also not surprised that Kip is a super-chromatic or whatever. It's pretty standard for the young hero of these types of books to have some hidden talent or power of some kind that makes a surprise appearance.

Speaking of the prisoner, I wonder what Gavin’s plan is/was in keeping him locked up. Like does he plan to ever let him go or just leave him in there to rot? That seems pretty cruel since it is such a harsh cell. I wouldn’t be surprised by him going mad.

I think he couldn't bring himself to kill the prisoner.

(view spoiler)[He couldn't bring himself to kill his brother even though it's highly likely, had the situation been reversed, that his brother would have killed him. I am thinking that Dazen, now posing as Gavin was probably the better of the 2 brothers but because he was dismissed as inferior for being born 2nd, he got caught up with the wrong people when he tried to take over. He seems to be trying to do his best for people not that he's Gavin. But his conscience wouldn't let him kill his own brother or take Karris as his wife. (hide spoiler)]

Gah! I just realized that I still have a lot more of this book left. I thought the audio book time seemed kind of short. Then I went to the website where I bought it and it's showing 40 hrs listening time as opposed to the 20 showing on my IPOD. I just skimmed to the end and it's playing past the 20 hr mark.

But I think I will swing by the library and pick up a print version.

That's odd. I think my audiobooks was 25 hours.

Well I'm past 30 hours now.

I finally finished. It was just Ok for me. But I will read the next one because I apparently already bought the audio book. So I might as well give the series another book to try and hook me.

Mary: Harry Dresden's Love Slave wrote: "I finally finished. It was just Ok for me. But I will read the next one because I apparently already bought the audio book. So I might as well give the series another book to try and hook me."

I’m a few chapters into the next book, and I’m enjoying it so far.

I briefly thought about continuing to the next book, but then got a case of book dread, so I think my minds made up to stop. lol