Fantasy Buddy Reads discussion

This is a Buddy Read for Crossroads of Twilight by Robert Jordan starting April 6, 2019.

In! Looking forward to an empty room; me and Sir Anni!

I will lurk and maybe even share a comment or two, but I won't be actually reading this one again. I love the series as a whole but really hate Crossroads of Twilight.

I am ready to go, but happy to have had a chance to read some other stuff in between...I am tired of the writing style...

I wanted to reread all of them with y’all 😫 Maybe I will lurk or something.

Oh gahd, this is coming up too fast!! I wont hve time to start on time. Plus, I think this one is supposedly pretty mediocore again after the enjoyable Winter’s Heart.

Yeah Jess, this one was the worst book in the series in my opinion, and by a pretty wide margin. It's 900 pages with zero plot advancement. Have fun :)

On a positive note, this is the last mediocre book in the series. The prequel is pretty good, and so is the final entry that Jordan wrote before his death. And of course the Sanderson novels are all AH-MAZE-ZING

Im in on this read if I can figure out how to join. I am Still very new to goodreads and haven’t figured out how to actually join a buddy read yet.
Wish me luck,
Brian

Brian wrote: "Im in on this read if I can figure out how to join. I am Still very new to goodreads and haven’t figured out how to actually join a buddy read yet.
Wish me luck,
Brian"

Welcome, Brian! You just jump right in to talk about the book as you go along. You will need to put up the spoiler link and if you don’t know how we can show you 😊

Brian wrote: "Im in on this read if I can figure out how to join. I am Still very new to goodreads and haven’t figured out how to actually join a buddy read yet.
Wish me luck,
Brian"

Mel is right. All you have to do is read and comment here on this forum!

If you have a spoiler, all you have to do is put < spoiler > except that you must delete the spaces I put. Put that before the sentence that contains the spoiler!
It only shows up when someone clicks it!

Jess wrote: "Brian wrote: "Im in on this read if I can figure out how to join. I am Still very new to goodreads and haven’t figured out how to actually join a buddy read yet.
Wish me luck,
Brian"

Mel is right..."

What Jess said, Brian. You can also look at the top right of where you’re typing. You see where it’s says (some html is ok). Click that and a pull down menu will show you a bunch. Like spoiler < spoiler > at the beginning of a sentence abd at the end you would type spoiler > without the spaces. It will show like this (view spoiler)[you can practice here on this thread so we can help (hide spoiler)]

You just make sure the symbols are right up next to the word. I left you a message so click on my spoiler link 😊

Starting...

Why does the Prologue ALWAYS have to be so long?! Isn’t it better to show then tell?

Jess wrote: "Starting...

Why does the Prologue ALWAYS have to be so long?! Isn’t it better to show then tell?"

😂🤣. I can’t.

Isn’t it curious how Jordan chooses some of these names for Sisters that sound Japanese?? Yukiri and Samitsu...

Thanks for the help everyone. You clarified everything.

I didn't realize we got to discuss in this same thread. Thanks again and I look forward to reading this book with everyone.

Also, I agree about Robert Jordan's Long Prologs. He's an amazing writer but I usually skip those Prologs.

Brian wrote: "Thanks for the help everyone. You clarified everything.

I didn't realize we got to discuss in this same thread. Thanks again and I look forward to reading this book with everyone.

Also, I agree..."

You’re welcome and enjoy 😊😉

I havent disliked this so far, folks. Only Ch4, but Mat’s back and in fine form, now Im reading about a new character?!?! Someone from the Seanchan. Will see how this goes...

My goal is to read 50 pages a day and so far so good. Having small goals has gotten me here so far. Less than a year left friends!

Awesome, Jess!! 😃

Ch 9

(view spoiler)[ I can’t help but think Faile and gang INSANE to still think they can escape the Aiel camp! Lacile and Arrela were found 3 days after their escape. Faile and gang have gathered tons of supples for their escape. What would that escape look like? Three, now four, women pushing a cart of supplies ahead of them through the snow??

They need an intervention. Doubtful Perrin could provide that. (hide spoiler)]

I have started, but barely. I have been a bit slumpy lately, so I will see how I get on. Having you guys here chatting about it definitely helps :)

Lola wrote: "I have started, but barely. I have been a bit slumpy lately, so I will see how I get on. Having you guys here chatting about it definitely helps :)"

Yay Lola! I wasnt pumped to start this book, but giving myself small reading goals has helped me get almost halfway through already!

Ch 15

(view spoiler)[ I’m trying to understand why Sylvase wouldn’t be allowed to talk to anyone from her House (House Caeren, Nasin’s)? Elenoa says there are “likely one or two were more in the nature of guards, or at least spies making sure she did not try to communicate with anyone in her House”. Clearly, Sylvase is a prisoner, being the High Seat’s granddaughter and heir. But why block any communication??

It’s unimportant to the plot of Elenia and Arymillia but I wish I could understand that. (hide spoiler)]

I've been reading this book since June of 2018. :( I sped through the previous books in record time. This one has been very challenging. I'm happy I found this buddy read to help motivate me. I'll try to actually read this book instead of the other, more compelling books I've gotten distracted by in the past year. (view spoiler)[ I've already finished the Mat section (my favorite) and am horribly stuck on the Elayne section (blah). I can't handle the politics parts. Too many names and houses. And Elayne is not my favorite. (hide spoiler)]

I have a week off work next week. Goal = finish this book

Heather wrote: "I've been reading this book since June of 2018. :( I sped through the previous books in record time. This one has been very challenging. I'm happy I found this buddy read to help motivate me. I'll ..."

Elayne’s stuff isnt my favorite either. I see her as such a weak character. She doest stick up for herself well, and oh (view spoiler)[ getting pregnant by Rand?! And loving her “sisters” Min and Avienda though they also love Rand?! Idk about all that.

(hide spoiler)] I applaud you for setting a goal to finish this! I think I’d be having MAJOR issues completing this if I wasnt dedicated to reading at least 50 pages every day!

What is an Aes Sedai “Sitter”? It is used so much and I cant recall why!

Jess wrote: "What is an Aes Sedai “Sitter”? It is used so much and I cant recall why!"

I think they are the people who vote on things in the Tower. Like, the members of the group that make rules with the Amyrlin Seat. I might be wrong though.

Jess wrote: "Heather wrote: "I've been reading this book since June of 2018. :( I sped through the previous books in record time. This one has been very challenging. I'm happy I found this buddy read to help mo..."

(view spoiler)[Yeah, I have a hard time with the whole getting pregnant even though your boyfriend is knowingly engaged in other relationships thing. I just have to kind of turn off my better judgement for those parts. Haha. I liked Elayne a lot in the earlier books. She's just lost something in her character as the stories have progressed. (hide spoiler)]

Heather wrote: "Jess wrote: "Heather wrote: "I've been reading this book since June of 2018. :( I sped through the previous books in record time. This one has been very challenging. I'm happy I found this buddy re..."

Ive not enjoyed Elayne or Egwene for a few books now. Ever since the circus w/ Elayne and ever since Egwene as Amyrlin Seat set to war. Plus, Egwene still wants to let Elaida walk away from all this! That’s insane to me. Some character flaw and weakness in these two somewhere makes readers balk at their viewpoints.

Heather wrote: "Jess wrote: "What is an Aes Sedai “Sitter”? It is used so much and I cant recall why!"

I think they are the people who vote on things in the Tower. Like, the members of the group that make rules w..."

No that's about right. It's like a council member or a parliament member in a way. But for Aes Sedai :)

I am about 100 pages in now. But there's Mat and that always makes me happy ;)

Lola wrote: "Heather wrote: "Jess wrote: "What is an Aes Sedai “Sitter”? It is used so much and I cant recall why!"

I think they are the people who vote on things in the Tower. Like, the members of the group t..."

Ah. I just wish they werent called “Sitters” because it is so close to Sisters! But Jordan tends to use names as well that are SUPER similar too!

Ch 20

(view spoiler)[ dun dun DUUUN! Wow this just turned into a Murder Mystery Party!

Who wants to bet against my suspect (view spoiler)[HALIMA compelling an Asha’man?!?! (hide spoiler)] (hide spoiler)]

I have a fun question: if you were Aes Sedai, what Ajah would you belong to??

This quiz helps you find out!

https://www.gotoquiz.com/which_ajah_d...

In Ch 21, Alviarin laments that the invention of the “lift”, that once existed according to Mesaana, wasn’t available for all the stairs she has to climb.

This stopped me in my tracks. Elevators existed in the Age of Legends? With all the medieval-level things that exist here; chamber-pots, for gosh sakes! What do you think?

I am Brown Ajah (86%). Not surprising to me as I had surmised this before in my reading. Next is Blue (61%).

Fun quiz, Jess! I got Brown Ajah (93%) followed by White (77%). Considering I'm a man, it's probably not a shock that Red was my worst fit (14%).

Andrew wrote: "Fun quiz, Jess! I got Brown Ajah (93%) followed by White (77%). Considering I'm a man, it's probably not a shock that Red was my worst fit (14%)."

We probably have a higher propensity for the Brown Ajah in this BR group. The White was actually my least!

Ch 24 (view spoiler)[. Im actually beginning to dig the self-loathig that Rand feels in this chapter. In previous books, the hatred Rand had for himself and his actions was tiresome. But Im beginning to really understand him now. He hates that when he dies, Min/Elayne/Avienda will suffer, so I understand why he wants to try to keep Elayne and Avienda as far from him as possible (though the Bonding kind of defeats that). He also regrets how he has treated Loial and how he WILL send him to do things he regrets.

While we’re mwntioning Loial...I always need more Loial! Too little of him since the first few books! (hide spoiler)]

Ch 27

(view spoiler)[Finally. Perrin’s had enough! Deciding to cut off Shaido hands and feet; put to the question.

Finally Perrin loses his innocence! Rand has for a long time now, but Perrin...hooray for violence! Sometimes this series is way too PG. (hide spoiler)]

I’ve finished!

I really liked this entry actually. Plotlines mostly seemed to move along!

(view spoiler)[ Mat and Perrin both had to make hard choices, though Faile is still stuck where she is and Mat still is stuck w/ Luca’s traveling show. I liked Egwene’s entrapment at the end there, though Im not sure who is killing Sitters. I didn’t have a hard time picking this up to read it, whixh is always good.

This review sucks. But keep at it guys! I am actually totally cool with reading the prequel next! (hide spoiler)]

I loved the Ajah quiz. I have always enjoyed the factions of Aes Sedai, and reading how they interact. I think Jordan did a great job here, and making them unable to Lie, but somehow they never say the truth anyway, it’s great reading.

I took the quiz and got strong results for blue which wasn’t surprising. Thanks for posting this quiz! I don’t know how you find this stuff.

Brian wrote: "I loved the Ajah quiz. I have always enjoyed the factions of Aes Sedai, and reading how they interact. I think Jordan did a great job here, and making them unable to Lie, but somehow they never say..."

I literLly just got to thinking that somebody’s had to have created a poll for the Ajahs, so I googled and bingo! That was just one of a few I saw! Found it to be pretty accurate!

Glad you enjoyed this book as well! There aren’t many of us reading it, but we try to have a little fun. Difficult to keep up for 15 books sometimes!

I'm apparently 92% Blue Ajah. I would have guessed green but I guess not.

So, so far in this group we have:

2 Brown Ajah (50%)
and
2 Blue Ajah (50%)

Pretty darn cool. Anyone else want to weigh in on our Ajah quiz??
https://www.gotoquiz.com/which_ajah_d...

On Chapter 1 finally.....long intro again.

Steph wrote: "On Chapter 1 finally.....long intro again."

Yes...dont you love prologues the size of novellas?!

Jess wrote: "Steph wrote: "On Chapter 1 finally.....long intro again."

Yes...dont you love prologues the size of novellas?!"

LOL, not particularly ....I have felt this series has been a lot of work to get thru...but as a fan of fantasy, felt it was time to read it. But I am hoping the Sanderson books will be different...I am tired of his writing style.

I am still reading! I wanted to finish some other books first, but from tomorrow I am all in! I am about to start chapter 11 :)

I am 81% white ajah by the way :)

I am over 700 pages in now - God, this one is longwinded! Not my favourite in the series, that's for sure! Still, it's not hard to read - just goes on a bit :)

Lola wrote: "I am 81% white ajah by the way :)"

Ah! Interesting!
Now he have
20% White Ajah
40% Blue Ajah
40% Brown Ajah

I tended to like this book even though it felt like a bridge-book at times! Esp Perrin/the Falcon’s story.

Finally finished....slog city. here hoping the next ones are better.