Fantasy Buddy Reads discussion

Lynn Flewelling - Luck in the Shadows. July 15th.

Spot

Tempting but I don't know if I could afford starting a new series.

In

Perhaps.

Do you already have a schedule for this series? I read the first two books this month and liked them a lot so I might join later, depending on how fast I/you read the series.

No schedule Bea. Will see how we like this one first. But your words encouraging. Hope we like this as much as you did.

Ah, ok.
I hope you'll like it! So far I found the books to be entertaing, easy reads. If you're looking for groundbreaking fantasy, this series is definitely not it but it had its charm so far (at least for me).

In

I’m in.

Spot :)

I'm going to be a bit late (I'm currently at my parents), but I'll be joining once I get home!

I wanted to do this but I don't think it's prudent to open yet another series, especially that I started a new long one this month...

has anyone started this yet? I am in chapter 6. I find it funny how in the fantasy world sometimes a 16 year old conquer the world while few others start their apprenticeship. :)

Interesting premise so far. hope there will be dragons.

(view spoiler)[but i am still wondering if following Seregil was a good move. (hide spoiler)]

I was waiting for someone to say they're starting. :)
I'll also start this evening.

Laura wrote: "I was waiting for someone to say they're starting. :)
I'll also start this evening."

😲

I just started and won’t get far tonight. Like the direction it is going in though. I always enjoy a master/apprentice story.

In Rhiminee and felt like the story had a great flow to it and then got mired in infodumps.

6-15 (view spoiler)[ I was wondering if the story has any magic or not but soon got to see dark magic at work and wizards.

Curious about that wooden tablet and how magic was woven through it. Did Seregil know that the tablet was magical? Also if he is adept at resisting magic (as Nysander said) why did it work on him? Also, Seregil started sensing presence of dark magic way before it actually attacked him, what kind of powers he has? Does Alex too has some magic in him or anything special that made Seregil to took him as his apprentice?

I am liking the story so far. That dream where Seregil saw his father was quite interesting. What happened in his past that his father hates him so much? (hide spoiler)]

6-15(view spoiler)[I’m looking forward to finding out more about the magic. It is all pretty vague so far. I think Alec will probably end up having some sort of magical powers as that seems to be how things always go.

I think Seregil’s father walked in on him in bed with a man. Guessing his father kicked him out for being gay. Not positive though. Seems like Seregil liked to associate with people his father thought were beneath them. (hide spoiler)]

My audiobook doesn’t have any chapters so will probably just end up replying to others so I don’t spoil anything.

(view spoiler)[so Seregil doesn't have any magic of his own but he can sense it in others? Nobody said much about magic in 14 chapters and 15 was full of spells, wizards and their apprentices. Too much to keep track of everything.

I think you're right as author has not mentioned if homosexuality is acceptable or not.. and he is called Lord Seregil in Rihiminee. Since he has been so secretive about his past, will be interesting to see if he's called Lord for his family or he earned that title on his own. In my opinion it's the latter. (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 16 in my ebook is dinner with Nysander. So you can give spoilers before that. :)

16-25 (view spoiler)[ a thorough description of Rhiminee and i was a bit bored there.

Seregil as Otter and Alec as Stag, well that was fun.

these 10 chapters answered little but gave me more questions. :/

why is Nysander tight lipped about the magic?
who killed/sacrificed that village Micum described?
what's the secret of Alec that Seregil and Nysander? Does Seregil knew of this secret when he freed him from the prison and offered him to be his apprentice?
who and why arrest Seregil?

Seregil is a fae!! didn't expect that. now few things about him make sense. Micum's family was a great chapter. Seregil loving Micum was a surprise and the daughter being aware of this was even more surprising. had this been not categorized as M/M i would have thought Becca and Alec to be a perfect couple. (hide spoiler)]

2 chapters in. Lots of worldbuilding so far. Our young friend is clearly going to have his world view expanded drastically

I'm starting only now and it seems I have a lot to catch up on. (*sigh*)

I'm reading this on my online library and these last few days 'online' was barely possible because of horrible floods accompanied by no electricity and damaged wires - in other words, no WiFi.
The rains are a lot less today and everything is fully functional again. Fingers crossed it stays that way.
So I'm starting my book now.

Arkadeb wrote: "2 chapters in. Lots of worldbuilding so far. Our young friend is clearly going to have his world view expanded drastically"

and it will expand more and more.

Laura wrote: "I'm starting only now and it seems I have a lot to catch up on. (*sigh*)

I'm reading this on my online library and these last few days 'online' was barely possible because of horrible floods accom..."

please don't say rain. i will cry.

Why?

because no rain here. :'( it's hot and humid and a looooooong wait for rain.:/

Hope when it reaches you it won't be quite as bad as the one here. :)

it never rains too much here. it's always mediocre or less. :)

Chapter 15 done

Ok so this book surprised me a bit

(view spoiler)[ for some time it was very stereotypical fantasy, then the author did something different - weird, bad things started happening to the mentor/teacher rather than the student and the student had to rescue him and haul him to safety. I honestly was not expecting that and it made the book very interesting.

Like if Frodo had dragged Aragorn to Rivendell to be healed by Elrond.

Another thing that struck me - the good guys in the book are really nice. Very benevolent and jovial. In this age of grimdark foulmouthed cynical brutes, this is quite refreshing (hide spoiler)]

Up to chapter 17
I agree with Bill on Alec and the magic as well as the reason for being (view spoiler)[spurned by the father. That was my take on it also.
I liked it that the author managed to surprise me. When I expected the ship captain to be bad and sell Alec and his friend to the slavers, he turned out to be a good guy.
I like the wizard and the city and am curious where it is all going. (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 20 done

(view spoiler)[ I must say a lot of the magic here is very smooth. I was not expecting a full body transformation to be so easy. (hide spoiler)]

Otter and Stag, that fun.

finished. and it was fantastic! just the right mix of everything.

@Arkadeb: didn't thought it that way until you point it out. i thought all the fantasy that i have read and yup, this is the first where something like this has happened.

about the book (view spoiler)[I liked the world and the characters. Magic was not a huge part of the story but whenever it was used, it was done beautifully like how it helped changing the shapes, and dreams.

Seregil and Alec's relationship as the master and apprentice developed slow and steady. the real reason why Seregil decided to take up Alec as his apprentice is still hidden but it is plain enough that Alec is gifted.

I liked Alec a little more than Seregil. For a 16 year old, he's quite dependable, trusting and eager to learn. he could have easily left an almost dead Seregil but he took him to Rhiminee. specially when Seregil didn't tell him enough about himself. what if Rhiminee was not a good place... loved the secondary characters Nysander and Micum.

I loved the mystery part though "why" part easy to get.

but looking at the bigger picture, the secret behind the tablet, the Guardian, the Vanguard, and the Shaft, I am more curious about it. and that last dream was scary and creepy. (hide spoiler)]

Finished it also and I agree with you Manju - it was fantastic.
Alec is my favourite also, followed by Micum and Nysander. Only after them comes Seregil.

I also loved the magic and I suspect Alec may be (view spoiler)[Anurfaie himself just like Seregil.
I wonder if Alec is the Shaft as Nysander is the guardian. Or perhaps he is smth else.
That dream/vision in the end was absolutely horrible with all those hacked limbs and gouged out eyes and... (*shuddering*) (hide spoiler)]

When do we read the sequel? Cause I'm in for the series. I want to know what (view spoiler)[the purpose of the disc is and who that dark creature in the visions is. (hide spoiler)]

Arkadeb wrote: "Chapter 20 done

[spoilers removed]"

Me neither

Manju wrote: "16-25

these 10 chapters answered little but gave me more questions. :/

why..."

I think (view spoiler)[those guys who had the disks did the killing but why? I still don't get it either.
Even though I know now that Seregil's tastes run towards Alec I still somehow can't really picture them together. Perhaps because they read so well in the master/apprentice and good friends way.
And I too found Becca - Alec perfect. (hide spoiler)]

@Laura & Manju: Glad you guys were liking it! (I hope it's ok that I comment here without having been buddy-reading it)
Re your questions: It's mostly read and find out :)

I'm almost done with the fourth book now and I still really like this series. If you liked the first one there is a good chance you will also like the sequels. In my opinion the second and third book were even better than the first one!

@Laura re Alec and Seregil: (view spoiler)[In the beginning I was having trouble picturing them together as well. (Not because they are both men of course but because of the master-apprentice relationsship and their differences in age, power and knowledge) Their relationship definitely develops further in the next books though. (hide spoiler)]

Great to have you here Bea - do chat with us also please.
I thought I was the only one having difficulty with (view spoiler)[that relationship. :)
But you said it right. They do so well together as master/apprentice at this level. More would ruin the charm at this particular moment. In future however, if they become closer, it could occur naturally. For now Alec is just so innocent and Seregil not fully open with him. It would seem wrong for them to have MORE without a more equal footing in experience and strength and without complete trust. (hide spoiler)]

@Laura: am in for sequel too. shall we start it on next 15?

Laura wrote: "Finished it also and I agree with you Manju - it was fantastic.
Alec is my favourite also, followed by Micum and Nysander. Only after them comes Seregil.

I also loved the magic and I suspect Alec ..."

About Alec(view spoiler)[I too agree with you. why don't they have pointy ears here to distinguish from others. Hmpf! (hide spoiler)]

Laura wrote: "Manju wrote: "16-25

these 10 chapters answered little but gave me more questions. :/

why..."

I think those guys who had the disks did the killing but why? I still don't get it either.
Even thou..."

the only thing I can think of now is that author is knitting a big story in the background that we will see only after 2-3 more books.

You are most welcome Bea.:D

about Seregil and Alec, I think the only way we know that they will be romantically involved because of that M/M tag (at least that's how it is with me). in this book it was hard to imagine them other than that apprentice-master relationship, they fit together so well in those rolls. I can easily imagine both of them with others in coming books but now I can't do that as i know they will be a couple in next books. :/ For now i only hope that author does a fine job of shaping up that relationship.

that's what happened when you are late to read a book or look how the book is tagged on GR. :/

Finished!

Overall I liked the book, though I think the pacing took a bit off a hit in the middle.

What surprised me about this book was the choice of antagonist.
(view spoiler)[ Two principal potential antagonists had been highlighted pretty early on in the book - the warlike Southern nation who were beginning to try to stake a claim on the Gold Road, and whoever the people where who owned the wooden disk and were after Seregil.

Now of these, the first never get mentioned after the first part and the second group just disappears after the slaughter at the inn except for some weird nightmares. Instead we are introduced to political intrigue and a domestic enemy.

Another thing that struck me was the ease of magic. Seregil and Alec became birds in mid air, when the spell was used from pretty far away. Bodies are changed and exchanged without any serious side effects. This is quite unusual.

I appreciated a few things about the book -

There was no last minute desperate rush to save Seregil from false charges. His release takes place quite easily.

The original plan to trap the enemy does not work or fall into place neatly.

The proportion of women in the armed forces is noticeable which says good things about the gender dynamics in this world.

Regarding the Alec-Seregil thing, I appreciate that its a slow burn and being given time to grow. (hide spoiler)]

@Arkadeb - perhaps the author thought first protect the home, and gives us more of those two antagonists in coming books.

I agree about the middle chapters being slow, specially when they arrive in Rihiminee.

This is first time I have read about this kind of magic. In other books characters have to eat or drink something before going through transformations like these..

I know everybody has finished already but I am starting tonight. your high marks convinced me to squeeze it in.

I still need to finish. I had problems with my loan from Hoopla and had to wait for their support to rectify it. Will continue it again later tonight.

I'm only six chapters in; writing is taking up most of my spare time at the moment!

I am at Lady Gwendolyn. It took me a few pages to figure out who it was.