YA Buddy Readers' Corner ♥ discussion

Fitz has survived his first hazardous mission as king’s assassin, but is left little more than a cripple. Battered and bitter, he vows to abandon his oath to King Shrewd, remaining in the distant mountains. But love and events of terrible urgency draw him back to the court at Buckkeep, and into the deadly intrigues of the royal family.

Renewing their vicious attacks on the coast, the Red-Ship Raiders leave burned-out villages and demented victims in their wake. The kingdom is also under assault from within, as treachery threatens the throne of the ailing king. In this time of great danger, the fate of the kingdom may rest in Fitz’s hands—and his role in its salvation may require the ultimate sacrifice.

I'm reading this in German so if I mess something up with the names, it's because they are translated and I have to guess their English names :D

Chapters 1-8 (including 8):
(view spoiler)[
I'm enjoying this a lot so far! As happy as I am about the relationship development between Molly and Fitz, I have a feeling that things between them are not going to go well for long... I loved how Kettricken handled the hunt. She's a real queen! I hope Verity is going to grow with the challenge as well. Towards the end of the last book I thought that the two of them would make a great couple, but I guess Verity is just to busy saving the kingdom and to inexperienced with women...
Also, I can't believe Regal! I hope we'll get rid of him within this book!
Overall I'm really liking this so far! :)
(hide spoiler)]

Damn it, it already started :D

How are we reading it, chapters per day or just speed through it?

I'm doing this on audio, so I can't really tell how much I'm going to be able to read (and I can't see where new chapters begin) so it'll be hard to keep up with a pace. I guess everyone could just read at their pace :)

Oh cool, I'll read 5 chapter per day.

Actually I'll do 3, can't do it more

Prologue - Chapter 2
(view spoiler)[Damn, Fitz has sure changed. He feels like an old man now even though he's a kid. Also I'm glad Burrich is back on his feet (hide spoiler)]

Fair XD I haven't started this yet, but hopefully soon! 8'D

(I keep planning too many reads and then I can't keep up with it all... oops?)

I just have this one but can't even make time for it. Have hectic days in front of me.

Chapter 3-5
(view spoiler)[Pestilence is fun as ever! I really like her and she's just so witty and charming. I hate that Fitz was so rude towards her just because she cared for him. I mean she brought Molly into the court! And the guy Fitz saw her with turned out to be her cousin. That was a nice twist (hide spoiler)]

Prologue: (view spoiler)[So we’re starting with the aftermath of what happened at the end of the last book? Boy am I glad they did a bit of s recap because it’s been a while since I read the last one XD

Poor Fitz seems to be pretty thoroughly crippled though, with shaking and seizures. I’m with Burrich - I want to know exactly what part of Fitz’s attempted murder caused this... the poison? Brain damage from being underwater? What?
—
He’s not going back? O.o Is that REALLY the case though or is he going to make some triumphant return after healing or something? (hide spoiler)]

So I got that far! 8’D

I’ve mostly been in the mood to read short books lately, and this is one I really have to delve into and read slowly... it may take me a while XD

Yeah you have to absolutely focus on this book or you'll miss a lot

Chapter 6-8
(view spoiler)[
So...Verity had accidentally skilled FItz's wet dreams. Oh boy, that was awkward. I wonder what Regal was planning 'cause he wants to kill the Queen he picked himself. Also, Kettricken is a badass!
(hide spoiler)]

Haris wrote: "Yeah you have to absolutely focus on this book or you'll miss a lot"

Agreed ._. It's not one of the books that I can skim read, I absolutely have to read it closely otherwise I'll be forever lost 8'D

Natalie wrote: "Haris wrote: "Yeah you have to absolutely focus on this book or you'll miss a lot"

Agreed ._. It's not one of the books that I can skim read, I absolutely have to read it closely otherwise I'll be..."

The worst issue is that you can't tell anything until you read it word by word. Sometimes a heavy event is in the same paragraph as an explanation of a building :D

Oh gosh, that's so true XD Makes it a bit hard to keep track of but it's honestly still so good c:

Chapter 3: (view spoiler)[I am so very glad that Molly didn’t die, and that the children she was with (her nieces) didn’t die either. I feel pretty sorry for Fitz though... clearly his reunion with Molly didn’t go anywhere near how he expected it would 8’D (hide spoiler)]

Natalie wrote: "Haris wrote: "Yeah you have to absolutely focus on this book or you'll miss a lot"

Agreed ._. It's not one of the books that I can skim read, I absolutely have to read it closely otherwise I'll be..."

I'm glad I'm doing this on audio (although the audio is kinda messed up, because they forgot to cut out some pieces when the narrator makes mistakes or even some comments 😂). This makes it so easy to get through it while doing other things (although I shouldn't pride myself on the progress I'm making)

Chapter 9-11
(view spoiler)[
Oh the Cub got finally a proper name. Nighteyes sure seems good :D
Also, the forged ones are closer than suspected. Some more brawls might happen soon.

And I love Patience more and more.
(hide spoiler)]

Could read just a chapter today, was kinda busy and not in the mood for high fantasy (have a small headache)
Chapter 12
(view spoiler)[ Fitz...became a man

Anyhow, I'm kinda happy for Fitz setting up Patience with Kettricken, and also I love all his interactions with Nighteyes>
(hide spoiler)]

Also, who's the coolest one in the book?
(view spoiler)[ (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 4: (view spoiler)[I really love stories where the main character has an animal companion of some sort, so I’m really hoping that Fitz will get to keep the wolf (and that no one kills the poor thing, because I’m going to be PISSED if another one of his animal companions dies or is lost... AGAIN). I’m honestly so excited for a wolf companion XD (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 12-15
(view spoiler)[Wow Fitz saw a little kid murdered in front of him. That must have been disturbing. And I pity king Shrewd, Wallace and Regal treat him like crap as soon as he got sick and defenseless. And at the end of my chapters which I read today Fitz got high. That was kinda fun as well.

Also..Fool had two cousins as his father and one mother...Kinda too weird.

(hide spoiler)]

Anyways, are we doing the series or just #2?

Chapter 16-18
(view spoiler)[Finally Fitz killed some Raiders! Also the mystery of the white ship is kinda making me curious.

I'm starting to dislike to Molly and I sure had a good laugh when Fitz Skilled accidentaly Verity and Kattricken having intercourse (hide spoiler)]

I don't mind doing the series, though it might take me a while to get through this one seeing how slowly my progress has been going so far... Oops? 8'D

If you want I'll do a chapter per day to slow down?

Entirely up to you c: Just hope you don't mind waiting for me to catch up before you start the next book? 8'D

No problem, would be boring to read this on my own anyways

Fair c: it’s always really fun to see what they people think of the thing(s) you’re reading - at least for me ;D

Chapter 7-8: (view spoiler)[I am so incredibly proud of Kettricken. She managed to fight off an attack from several forged ones almost entirely by herself (Fitz came in later after all ;D), essentially apologised to her husband for causing trouble, thus causing him to see where he had been lacking and giving him something to truly think about (while showing just how worthy a queen she was), and then managed to calm a bloodthirsty mob that was getting ready to get revenge on the ‘traitors’ that attacked their queen, and making them all see sense? WOW. I really hope she’s here for the long run because she is one powerful and impressive lady - while also being incredibly genuine and modest.

And then after all the dead forged ones were brought back, she herself led the funeral rites - including washing the faces of those who had died?

—

On a less positive note though, why is it treason for Fitz to say the truth about Regal in private? It’s CLEAR that Regal is trying to be rid of those he views as either competition or a threat! He already tries to kill of Fitz, and now both Kettricken and Lady Thyme/Chade. I clearly don’t get this courtly intrigue stuff because to me it’s not treason when you’re speaking what is plainly the truth :|

—

Positive ending to this bit! Fitz and Molly have made amends - and he’s managed to confess his feelings to her too! :D (hide spoiler)]

Natalie wrote

(view spoiler)[
Kettricken would make a better queen than Patience actually, I can see why Chivalry faced those issues when he married her. Kettricken on the other hand is smart, strong and somewhat scheming on her own. She has the ideal characteristics of a good Queen.

And it would be because of Fitz's bastard position and Regal's position. After all he's the one who's 3rd in the line to be king (just right after Regal). And Regal is Shrewd's favorite so he can have a pass or two.

On top of that Verity is constantly Skilling and missing, so Regal can do most of things unnoticedly.
(hide spoiler)]

Chapter 19
(view spoiler)[ Regal's already ruling just right after Verity is gone. Making all sorts of things just to shame his older brother. What worries me is that hardly anyone can stop him.

Side note: OMG Verity, chill out with that lust. You made poor Fitz feel h*rny for your wife, I don't think that anyone would like that
(hide spoiler)]

Haris wrote: "Natalie wrote: "Chapter 7-8: [spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[Oh definitely. Patience is lovely and all, but she really would make a terrible queen. Kettricken seems like exactly what the country needs; in strength of character, personality and wit.

Wait... Fitz is in line to the throne? I clearly missed THAT! Where is that stated? :o
I'm rather pissed that Regal is the favourite though, considering he's such a douche :P I know that Chivalry is dead, and Verity isn't the most... personable of characters... but Regal is just horrible all-around and I really hope he never gets power (...well... more than what he currently has) (hide spoiler)]

(by the way, might want to edit your post where you quoted me ;D The spoilers weren't removed.)

Oh dang it, sorry. Fixed it

(view spoiler)[It was said way back at the start of the first book.

Anyhow, if all the main sons die and not leave heirs Fitz is the king. Basically he's the last one after the legitimate offspring, if Regal or Verity had a kid, he would be behind them as well.

(hide spoiler)]

Chapter 20-22
(view spoiler)[Wow, so many stuff happened in these three chapters.

Burrich and Patience were in love! That explains a lot, and I'm so sorry for Burrich. First he declined her love because he was sworn to serve his prince, then realizing his loved one was actually his princes wife. Oh god damn I'm sad just from noting it.

Regal continues to be an ass and plotter, he told Shrewd(who was high and easier to influence on) that Kettricken is a traitor and many other plots. God I hate him,

Verity has disappeared (Fitz can still feel him) and Kettricken is with a child so that's gonna complicate the situation even more.
(hide spoiler)]

Haris wrote: "Oh dang it, sorry. Fixed it

[spoilers removed]"

Not your fault c: Sometimes if the spoiler is too long Goodreads doesn't properly cut it out of the post with their usual "[spoilers removed]" thing? It was pointed out to me in the past as something I need to be aware of.

(view spoiler)[Ohhh... Makes sense. Especially since for some reason they don't seem to have any cousins (that were mentioned)? o.O So without cousins they'd have to have some other line of succession... maybe the blood relatives followed by whichever noble has the most power I guess? (hide spoiler)]

You're twice as far through as I am XD I just hit Chapter 10 :P
(This is a GREAT book, but for me not the sort that I can just power through ._.)

Natalie wrote: "Haris wrote: "Oh dang it, sorry. Fixed it

[spoilers removed]"

Not your fault c: Sometimes if the spoiler is too long Goodreads doesn't properly cut it out of the post with their usual "[spoilers ..."

I just realized that this is the first trilogy :D There are two more and then books set in the same world, god this world is huge :D

(view spoiler)[Basically, if all the heirs die(legitimate or none) they go to the family where a princess married into and find the male heir. Unlike in the mountain area where Kettricken comes from where women could be Empresses. (hide spoiler)]

Haris wrote: "Natalie wrote: "Haris wrote: "Oh dang it, sorry. Fixed it

[spoilers removed]"

Not your fault c: Sometimes if the spoiler is too long Goodreads doesn't properly cut it out of the post with their u..."

I knowww! :D It's super exciting! There's something like 16 books (plus some novellas) set in the same world? I really adore when authors do multiple things within a single world ;u; <33 (Tamora Pierce did that with both her Tortal and Emelan universe books!)

(view spoiler)[Huh. Didn't know that. So essentially if everyone (including Fitz) was wiped out, it would go to either Patience's family (depending on whether or not Chivalry's abdicating changes that...) or Kettricken's family.

...so basically a power-hungry person could take over a kingdom by marrying their female child into the family and then just taking out EVERYONE so it passed to them 8'D (hide spoiler)]

There's also Malazan series with +19 books I think and wheel of time with 16 :D I'm planning on reading all of them after January

(view spoiler)[Well actually that's the 3rd step generally in those type of situations. The 2nd in the line after legitimate heirs would be the off-springs of the royal princesses that married off. Then the Queens. Queens could only rule in name of their son but only if the son is underage.

Though it rarely comes to that last step since everyone's greedy :P (hide spoiler)]

Wheel of Time has been on my list to read for a long time honestly... but I've already been doing SO MUCH planning for 2019 it's kinda nuts ._. Need to actually work out what I'm going to read when...

(view spoiler)[Oh yeah. Greed tends to be pretty common with those situations... 8'D

The line of succession is confusing as hell honestly ._. (hide spoiler)]

Natalie wrote: "Wheel of Time has been on my list to read for a long time honestly... but I've already been doing SO MUCH planning for 2019 it's kinda nuts ._. Need to actually work out what I'm going to read when..."

Yeah, personally stopped planning too much. When I do I somehow stop enjoying the reading and it starts to feel like work

(view spoiler)[
So it goes from left to right
Basically: Chivalry (dead) -> Verity -> Regal -> Fitz
And if they had kids: Verity Kids -> Regal kids -> Fitz
(hide spoiler)]

Definitely fair c: I find that the planning helps give me focus with my reading, and by doing a bunch of yearly challenges (such as the "Popsugar Challenge", or the "Around the Year in 52 Books Challenge") I can have more of a focus to my reading, while also including some that I otherwise might not prioritize.
(Plus, I really like spreadsheets :P)

(view spoiler)[But would Verity's kids come before Regal in the line of succession? o.O After all, the British Royal family is Charles -> William -> William's kids -> Harry -> Harry's kids -> etc.
(hide spoiler)]

:D
I hate excel. I do all my planning on word 'cause I like to make custom table, ik it's weird :D
(view spoiler)[
Yeah, that's basically it. Sorry for making it confusing :D
(hide spoiler)]

Yeah, but if I use excel (or more commonly, Google Sheets ;D) I can have different tabs! And auto colour code! XD

(view spoiler)[That's fine! It was honestly super helpful overall c: (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 11: (view spoiler)[ I know that Fitz is scared for Cub and all... and doesn’t truly trust the Wit (not sure he ever will honestly, especially with his upbringing by Burrich) but why did he send Cub away? D: Bring him back! I want Fitz to have a long-lasting animal companion and I honestly LOVE Cub so much!

And of course immediately after Fitz decides to be a moron and break his bond with Cub he’s set upon by [cannibalistic!] forged ones... o.o;

—

CUB TO THE RESCUE! HECK YES!! And apparently his name is not Cub, but Nighteyes. I like it :|

—

Looks like that might be what book #3 in this series will be ;D it’s called Assassin’s Quest, and there were just a couple of quests mentioned... so maybe book 3 is Fitz attempting to find either the Elderlings, or others with the Skill?

Regardless though, right now I’m more worried about Verity. He’s being sucked in (so to speak) by the Skill and it seems as though he might start to waste away...

And what about the Forged Ones? Why are they all headed to Buckkeep? Is it at the will of whoever it was that made them what they are now? O.o (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 14 (view spoiler)[Well. That scene with Regal and Shrewd and Fitz seems to suggest that Regal is either trying to kill his father, or just get him out of the way long-term - not entirely sure which at this stage. Seems like perhaps the ‘medicine’ might be to dull the senses so that Regal’s allies can use the Skill against King Shrewd? Maybe?

Either way, there is clearly some dastardly plot afoot here! Wonder what will come of it... (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 23-25
(view spoiler)[So much happened again.

Regal is keeping a tight watch on Buckeep, he's starting to rule over everything and without Verity he's free like a bird. He forbid Fitz to go out of the keep, he assaulted Molly with some thugs on the road and he kept feeding ideas onto Shrewd. He even tried to stop sending soldiers while the raiders were attacking. Luckily there's Kettricken.

Kettricken is getting more and more bad-ass. A pregnant girl in a skirt fighting and killing raiders day after day. If that isn't queen materials what is?

Also, I seriously dislike any part where Molly is. It keeps getting annoying at this point.
(hide spoiler)]

Quick question
(view spoiler)[Who was Lady Grace again? (hide spoiler)]

Natalie wrote: "Chapter 11

(view spoiler)[Well it's not only because of Burrich. He's scared of everyone's opinion. And he's worried on what might happen to him if he lets go to the Wit

And also I'm quite deep into the book so I can't comment on the next book or I might spoil something
(hide spoiler)]

Natalie wrote: "Chapter 14

(view spoiler)[Well.. Remember August from book 1 and his attempt to kill Verity at the end of book 1? That was under Galen's influence, and how many besides August did he teach? (hide spoiler)]

Haris wrote: "Chapter 23-25 [spoilers removed]

(view spoiler)[I had to look her up myself XD According to the wikia:

Grace is much younger than her husband Kelvar, and their marriage raises her far above her station. She is very aware of this; combined with her youth, she is rather uncomfortable with noble life at first. She finds comfort in adornments like jewelry and perfume, as well as her dog.

So I think it's that girl who married the really rich lord, and then he started wasting all his money trying to impress her? And she had a really sick dog (until Fitz helped) because she kept feeding him the wrong things, and I think he choked on a bone and would've died without Fitz there, so she ended up essentially being in Fitz's debt or something? (hide spoiler)]

Haris wrote: "Natalie wrote: "Chapter 11

[spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[Well it's true that it's not just Burrich, but I think that Burrich is the one that put that fear [of others finding out] into him, after the way he reacted that first time with the first animal that Fitz bonded to. I think if Burrich hadn't reacted so incredibly negatively towards a young Fitz, he wouldn't have such an innate fear of his own abilities as he does now, y'know? (hide spoiler)]