Fantasy Buddy Reads discussion

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Starting two days early :)

(view spoiler)[Stories of anyone's death were overblown :) (hide spoiler)]

Just started. I'm only at the beginning of chapter two.

(view spoiler)[ Yeah, I figured Jardir and Arlen wouldn't die! They're both still too important for the story. I wonder if it'll happen in another book though. (hide spoiler)]

I'll start tomorrow :)

Sir Anni wrote: "I'll start tomorrow :)"

yay!

Awesome! :)

Have you guys read Messenger’s Legacy? It's listed as 3.5 and I saw reviews that it helps understanding events in book 4, so maybe we should squeeze it in?

No, I haven't read that one yet, Sir Anni. I've been wondering about those extra short stories he wrote and when the best time to read them is. It looks like most people recommend you read that book before The Skull Throne.

I might not be able to get my hands on a copy for a few weeks, but if you and Rob want to read it now, I have no problem with that at all!

Naaah, all for one, one for all :D If you want to read it, I don't mind waiting. We could be truly rebellious and read it between book 4 and 5

Thanks, Sir Anni! :)

I did manage to get my hands on a copy! Do you and Rob want to take a short pause and read it? I think it might help us appreciate this story a bit more, and I think it's pretty short. But if you and Rob would rather wait, we can read it after and fill in the blanks that way. I'd be fine with either. :)

Me too, I guess it's Rob's turn to decide then.

I haven't made much progress on book 4 so far, I only 2 chapters in and (view spoiler)[ looks like we're right and Jardir isn't dead (hide spoiler)]

I'm not that far either. I just started chapter five. I'm liking it so far!

(view spoiler)[And if that wasn't the most awkward and horrific wedding night in the world, I don't know what is! (hide spoiler)]

I'm to chapter Chapter 6 myself. .So far so good. I think I'll go back and read 3.5 after this book (yes, so rebellious! ) rather than stop now.

Okay, rebellious it is! I'll probably read it after as well.

Just starting chapter 8.

(view spoiler)[ It's good to see Jardir and Arlen together again. I think the fight scenes are so awesome in this book. I'm really enjoying the world that Brett created. It feels very real to me, and it's so detailed. I'm curious to see how this plan of Arlen's goes! (hide spoiler)]

Shannon wrote: "I'm not that far either. I just started chapter five. I'm liking it so far!

[spoilers removed]"

Indeed! I can't believe she stayed so calm...

I finished chapter 10 and I'm really curious, how the author plan to end this book. I asume, by the title of book 5, that the final fight will happen there, so I'm really curious what will happen here. I do hope that we'll learn more of the corelings and their "society"!

(view spoiler)[ I'm not sure what to make of Jadir and Arlen's reunion... It went a bit too smoothly for my taste. I can't see why Arlen trusted Jardir immediately, we might have seen him changing in book 2 and 3, but all Arlen saw was that he tried to kill him and than attacked the green lands... Not someone I would like to trust with my life. (hide spoiler)]

I'm into Chapter 15 and just shy of about half-way.

I think my favorite character to read about right now is Roger and his family. (view spoiler)[Going to be very curious to get all your thoughts on the evolution of his family Don't want to spoil what that means. (hide spoiler)]

Arlen/Jardir(view spoiler)[They'll be some bumps in the road coming, but they seem to at least as far as I'm at have agreed to let some new misgivings slide for the time being. Which I'm glad about it. I'm all about moving the plot forward as opposed to pettiness. (hide spoiler)]

(view spoiler)[And you know at some point all this warding and tapping into the Nie is going to be turned on its head at some point. I find I am enjoying the series enough, but don't see myself ever doing a reread like I do with Malazan, Ice and Fire, and Abercrombie, Sanderson, etc., (hide spoiler)]

I'm curious about that too, Sir. Anni. I hope we get to see a lot more with the corelings and what it's like for them down below! They seem very insect-like, but also super intelligent. They're pretty interesting!

I'm curious about your spoilers, Rob! Hopefully I'll catch up to where you are soon.

I'm almost done with chapter 12. (view spoiler)[ How many wives is Roger going to have?! I wonder if there's something to Leesha's headaches. She always seems to have them, and what the heck is she going to do about the baby? (hide spoiler)]

Ooo! I didn't realize this was one of the BR's. Jumping in & starting today-ish. =)

Awesome, Soo! :)

Rob wrote: "I'm into Chapter 15 and just shy of about half-way.

I think my favorite character to read about right now is Roger and his family. [spoilers removed]

Arlen/Jardir[spoilers removed]

[spoilers rem..."

I agree, Rob. (view spoiler)[I'm glad the plot is moving forward with Jardir and Arlen. And Rojer? I wonder how many wives he'll end up with! I do like that there does seem to be a bond between the four of them with their music and the way they can charm the demons, but it is crazy. lol. (hide spoiler)]

Just starting chapter 18 (view spoiler)[ I felt quite bad for Thamos. I'm glad Leesha told him the truth though. Very curious to see how all this ends! (hide spoiler)]

Rob wrote: "I'm into Chapter 15 and just shy of about half-way.

I think my favorite character to read about right now is Roger and his family. [spoilers removed]

Arlen/Jardir[spoilers removed]

[spoilers rem..."

Agreed! I do like the book and I'm still curious how it will end, but it isn't a series I would recommend someone or even re-read. I really wish I would like it more than I do...


Rojer (view spoiler)[ I don't know what to think of that... In general I think everyone's relationship is their own cup of tea and if it makes you and everyone else involved happy, by all means, go for it. But I'm not sure if it was necessary for the book or the story to include Candle into his harem. (hide spoiler)]

Shannon wrote: "
Just starting chapter 18 [spoilers removed]"

So true, he was really growing on me (view spoiler)[ and I felt so bad for him, because he was so enthusiastic at first! But I'm glad Leesha told him and I hope they can fix it (hide spoiler)]

I'm around 76% (Chapter 23) now (view spoiler)[ and I don't feel as if we had made much progress storywise... I hope we'll see more action soon! (hide spoiler)]

Sir Anni wrote: "Shannon wrote: "
Just starting chapter 18 [spoilers removed]"

So true, he was really growing on me [spoilers removed]

I'm around 76% (Chapter 23) now [spoilers removed]"

Yes, Sir Anni! (view spoiler)[ I felt so bad for him, too! I do hope they can work something out. I'm glad she didn't lie to him. That's exactly what her mom would've done! (hide spoiler)]

I'm right behind you on chapter 22. :)

I finished last night.....wondering if we should let everyone else catch up before we dive into the Core?

(view spoiler)[Some serious throw the book moments in this one though to be honest with Thamos it was more of a when not if. Didn't expect the throne room scene or Rojer at all. More later when you al lfinish! (hide spoiler)]

Rob wrote: "I finished last night.....wondering if we should let everyone else catch up before we dive into the Core?

[spoilers removed]"


I'm fine with waiting for the others to catch up. I have plenty to read to keep me busy, and I also want to read that novella about Briar. I'm fine with whatever you and Sir Anni want to do! :)

I certainly have plenty to read and can wait a bit as much as I want to dive in.

I finished as well and I wouldn't mind a break at all. Firstly because I have too many books I want to read right now and secondly because I became a little bored by the story and the way it was told...

Last quater of the book (view spoiler)[ I guess it's because I'm more interested in the storyline focused on the demons and the whole lot about the war between Krasia and the Greenlands felt a bit like a filler. I do care about the characters in general, but not so much about the Krasian people. There was politics and dramas and fights, but somehow I wasn't engaged fully. I don't think it's the author's fault, I guess it just isn't my cup of tea.

I was surprised by Rojers death (by Thamos not so much...) as well. I'm curious what will happen in the next book, but to be honest I'm glad it's the last one and I'm not sure I want to read the follow-up series.


I'm sorry for being the spoil-sport here, I hope you don't mind me not being too enthusiastic about the books. But I'm really glad you like them :) (hide spoiler)]

Sir Anni wrote: "I finished as well and I wouldn't mind a break at all. Firstly because I have too many books I want to read right now and secondly because I became a little bored by the story and the way it was to..."

I don't think they're that great really. Just interesting enough to get closure and in retrospect as you put it (view spoiler)[Much of the book did a poor job of advancing the plot towards the ultimate goal when we know what will involve already and just made the situation more complicated without advancing it and killing off some characters. I find myself churning through the Krasnian political parts pretty quickly too. Yes all this power struggle is going on, but its pretty moot and inconsequential comapred to what is at stake. (hide spoiler)]

Yeah, I think that's my problem as well (view spoiler)[ in the grand scheme of things it seems so pointless. But I guess, and I'm getting a bit philosophical here, that's how the world works 😅 (hide spoiler)]

Sir Anni wrote: "Yeah, I think that's my problem as well [spoilers removed]"

Yes, no matter what you do, the world continues to spin, so you may as well make sure you're having fun.

I think I'm liking this series a lot more than you guys. :)

I just started chapter 27. (view spoiler)[ Did Thamos just die? What!! I guess that opens up the possibility of Jardir and Leesha, unless Thamos isn't really dead or can be saved somehow. I guess I'll have to be patient!

Super curious about Briar now. (hide spoiler)]

Shannon wrote: "I think I'm liking this series a lot more than you guys. :)

I just started chapter 27. "

And that's great, don't let me ruin your enjoyment 😅

I'm curious as well, I think his backstory could be really interesting!

I think it's great we all have different opinions about it, Sir Anni. It makes for more interesting conversation about it! :)

I'm just starting chapter 31 and should be finished tomorrow. (view spoiler)[Rojer died!! And Thamos! I'm so bummed out right now. I hate Jardir's son. I can't remember his name right now because I'm listening to the book. There's a lot of neat things about the Krasians, especially with the women warriors and stuff, but, man, they are vicious! It's going to take a lot of work to get any sort of peace between these two groups. Very curious to see what happens at this point. (hide spoiler)]

Finally finished! :)

(view spoiler)[What the heck! So much happened in the last bit. I completely agree with you both that there's so much fighting going on between the Krasians and Greenlanders when they should really be focused on the demons. I mean, come on! I was really surprised by the throne room takeover. I guess I shouldn't have been, but I was. I hope we get way more of the demons and their world in the next one. I have a feeling we might. (hide spoiler)]

I'm reading book #3.5, Messenger's Legacy - does anyone know where it falls chronologically? It said the year at the start but with it being audio I can't remember what year we were up to in the Daylight War.
(view spoiler)[ I think it must be from when Arlen was still a messenger living with Ragen. (hide spoiler)]

Can I just say as well, the voices on the Graphic Audio are awful! I can't take it seriously at all! haha :')

You think so? I thought it happens shortly before/parallel to book 4 and feature (view spoiler)[ a new character, as well as Ragen and his wife, the couple that took care of young Arlen (hide spoiler)]

I will start it tonight :)

55% - (view spoiler)[ Ooh the news of Arlen and Jardir going over the cliff has just reached Ragen! They're so sad :( But of course Arlen disaparated, he'll be fine!
The timline has jumped miles ahead half way through this novella. (hide spoiler)]

Sir Anni wrote: "You think so? I thought it happens shortly before/parallel to book 4 and feature [spoilers removed]"

It starts when (view spoiler)[ Arlen is still working in Cobb's shop and not even a messenger yet! I had to pick this up as I went through haha, didn't know at first just from the new characters. They were talking about Bales family which threw me, but I forgot they have the same family names in every little town. It then jumps forward in time to parallel with the end of book 3. (hide spoiler)]

75% (view spoiler)[ I love Alissa <3 She seems so strong and capable in this story, on the road with Ragen. (hide spoiler)]

I haven't read the short story. Guess I'll give it a whirl before we eventually head to...the Core.

I changed my mind and started it earlier and I'm glad I've got the normal audiobook. That doesn't sound good... Graphic Audios are always a complete win or complete fail for me, no middle ground 😅

Siobhan wrote: "55% -.."

(view spoiler)[ Yeah, I felt really bad for them, it's so great how much they cared for Arlen. Actually they were among my favorite characters from the series and I'm glad we saw them again :) Also I'm happy that they finally had kids on their own. (hide spoiler)]

Siobhan wrote: "75% [spoilers removed]"

She really is such a strong character!

I already finished it and I enjoyed it even more than the full length novels :) More focus on the corelings and the resulting situation, less focus on the relationship and the characters sex life...

I'll get started today! Awesome! :)

Sir Anni wrote: "I changed my mind and started it earlier and I'm glad I've got the normal audiobook. That doesn't sound good... Graphic Audios are always a complete win or complete fail for me, no middle ground 😅
..."

Aw me too! So happy for them :D

Sir Anni wrote: "Siobhan wrote: "75% [spoilers removed]"

She really is such a strong character!

I already finished it and I enjoyed it even more than the full length novels :) More focus on the corelings and the ..."

Glad you enjoyed it! That's a good point about the focus.

I found a collection of novellas on Scribd, so I've been listening to those. Just finished The Great Bazaar and Brayan's Gold. Now I'm about to start Messenger's Legacy! :)