Fantasy Buddy Reads discussion

The Heart of Myrial - Maggie Furey

February 19, 2020.
Requested by Elizabeth.

I'll be here if I manage to squeeze it in between other books

I may be a day or two late starting.

Omg I remember loving this one!

that's a good sign Niki!

Just finished my last book so I'll be starting this shortly!

Just crossed the halfway point and I don't know why but it's really not grabbing me. If the second half doesn't pick up I don't think I'll be reading the rest of the trilogy.

I'm starting this today.

Shaitarn, your comments worry me. I am starting tonight and plan to be done over the weekend. My last book was mediocre and I hoped for a good vintage to wash the residue down.

I'm holding out hope because of Niki, we agree on a lot of books so...

I also saw that the series improves with each book.

Don't let my comments put you off; by all usual standards I should be thoroughly entertained, so I think this is a case of 'it's not the book, it's me'. Sometimes I'm just not in the mood for certain books that at other times I would adore.

Well, I started and what do I see? Dragons. Meh.

Halfway through chapter 2. So many types of creatures to try to keep straight...

Chapter 2 menagerie was a welcome change after the dragons. I have to say that the worldbuilding is very inventive regarding the artificially set up wildlife park that comes apart as we begin the journey.

My late-night ruminations indicate that (view spoiler)[these Ancients are some technologically advanced being and that the whole world is technology dependent as would the Myrial God-machine suggest.

I also like the fact that we know the antagonist and what he's done while our hapless protagonists have no clue.

Also, am I mistaken or is there a promise of frenemies trope? *excitement* I love this trope! It had better be good. (hide spoiler)]

OK, here is what I do not understand:

This world has been built in order to keep these various species separate from each other lest they go on a killing spree. The curtain walls were supposed to keep them aparat. And yet, the Shadowleague is formed comprising of the representatives of the different species. How did they do it? Did they establish it before the walls started crumbling (if so, how were the barriers overcome?) or after it happened and thus they are a relatively new, grassroots ogranisation so to speak?

I might have been reading too fast because I am at a loss. Can somebody please enlighten me?

Mayim wrote: "OK, here is what I do not understand:

This world has been built in order to keep these various species separate from each other lest they go on a killing spree. The curtain walls were supposed to..."

I think Shadowleague members have magical powers or devices given to them by the Ancients to cross the barriers? It could be poor world building as I can't remember if it was ever specified. I think we're meant to assume that the Loremasters are'special' and can do things normal mortals can't.

Finished, and I'm not sure what I thought of it. I think it picked up in the second half of the book and held my attention.

I think the beginning was so rainy and dreary, it put me off a bit. It took a long time to get started and there were perhaps too many characters in the story. I've read books with a multiple cast of characters before, but they generally appeared in longer novels and were given more personality and a chance to shine.

I'll probably read the other books (I already have them on my shelves), I just hope they have a lesser cast of characters and take place in a drier country!

I am in chapter 13.

I was similarly surprised by this extensive cast when each chapter started with a new POV. While I do not care about most of them, I had to say that these are cleverly plotted and planned in how they all interconnect in things big and small. This has a very genuine touch to it because life is weaved like that.

Then, around chapter 10 I was relieved (if this is a correct word) (view spoiler)[that she started killing some of the protagonists off, although I was also sad to see the travellers murdered by this stupid Hierarch. And, in turn, relieved to discover that the Hierarch got his payment post haste.

The antagonist said that it was the Ancients who created the shadowleague and now it does not make sense at all. How could they create it and still nothing is known about them?! (hide spoiler)]

The only thing I truly hate is the imbecile apprentice. WHY is the YA neeed here? I want more of the frenemies vibes, not the whole coming of age nonsense. As it is, I am nearly halfway through and the two mutually hating each other shadowleaguers have not even met when I hoped for sparks flying already in chapter 1...

Here's the thing: (view spoiler)[I assume the next books are going to take place elsewhere in this world, so I wonder whether those characters stories are cut off here and now, or if this trilogy is going to get more and more bloated if the second and third book introduce us to other characters in other lands while retaining these ones...

Of course I could be completely wrong, but if we have an unusually diverse world and we only see this one country, I will not be happy! (hide spoiler)]

I'm at chapter 12 and think it's starting to pick up more. (view spoiler)[ I had felt bad for the Hierarch when first meeting him, but once you see what he's really like.... I'm interested to see what'll happen now that the dragon is inside him. (hide spoiler)]

Elizabeth wrote: "I'm at chapter 12 and think it's starting to pick up more. [spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[Yes, I lost any sympathy for him pretty quick. (hide spoiler)]

Despite not particularly liking this book are either of you interested in buddy reading the others? I intend to read them just to finish the trilogy.

Out of town for the weekend and left the book at home. I won't be reading anymore until sometime Sunday.

You know me well, I intend to finish this thing. I am not one to balk out :)

Are you interested in us making it a buddy read then, Mayim? We can either complain together (won't be the first time) or both be pleasantly surprised (I'm not holding my breath for that, though).

Oh, I'd love to buddy hate this series with you! so much fun! and also, contrary to what you might expect, I never abandon the hope that the author can be hijacked by the aliens improve

Can I join you ladies? This series has been on my TBR for a long time after Nikki recommended it. I'll just finish this book fast so I can join you for 2 on the 19th if you'll have me.

the more the merrier, though we are a bit disappointed so far

Mayim wrote: "the more the merrier, though we are a bit disappointed so far"

Damn. I'll check your reviews first then.

You know you're always welcome to read with us, Laura!

I was finally able to finish the first one. I wasn't impressed. The last couple chapters picked up some, but I won't be continuing. I have too many other books I want to read.

Oh bummer! It’s a shame it didn’t land well. I read this when I was 16 before I really got into more than classic fantasy, so I’m sure that played a factor in how much I liked it. I’ve wondered if it would stand up to scrutiny these days. It sounds like not. :/

LOL, don't worry. We all have these books. I am actually secretly very glad that GR was invented only after I had ceased to be an adolescent.

I'm sure we've all had the 'wow, younger me had really bad taste!' re-read! :D

This weekend when I went on my book buying adventure I saw a series I loved in highschool. One of my friends bought books 1-2 when I told her it was one of my favorites then. I hope younger me had okay taste with that series at least.

I saw there is another Furey scheduled for March. I’ll definitely pass that one. I need to finish this first and check whether there is hope for her.

It's funny, I really loved Furey's first series, The Artifacts of Power, when it was originally released (I think I mentally marked it as (view spoiler)[ 'traditional but fun' (hide spoiler)]). I bought this series on the strength of it, so I'm curious as to whether I still feel the same way about the first series. The re-read will reveal all, I guess!

Right, I'm starting book 2.

I'll be right behind! Be brave and keep me posted! :D

3 chapters in (view spoiler)[ and the book is insisting on picking up directly where the first left off, so we're still in boring, rainy Callisiora with all the boring people we met last time. *sags*

I wish a couple of weeks had elapsed and the story had moved to the headquarters of the league and shed most of the cast, but no. If we are going to be stuck in this one place with all these characters for the whole trilogy I am going to be most displeased! If you've come up with an original setting, dear author, use it, and and get us through the curtain walls already!

I think it's telling that although we read this recently I couldn't remember who most of the cast were and was thinking 'now who was he/she again?' almost every time a new person popped up. (hide spoiler)]

This book seems to have an odd hydra-like quality - for every point I like, two points I don't like sprout up.

Chapters 4 - 5: (view spoiler)[Okay, so I'm interested in Aliana the thief, being chased by the vampire-creatures, and would like to read more about her.

Thank goodness that Veldan and co have finally crossed the curtain-wall, but for whatever reason I'm finding them a little irritating and boring this time around and I think Zavahl needs throttling - to hell with the wisdom of the ancient dragons, just kill him already!

I can't stand Tormon and his little group, particularly the irritating Shall. I don't even understand why they're still in the story at this point; can't we just move on and forget about them? (hide spoiler)]

You’re flying. I was hijacked by mr de Vries to watch a movie with him tonight.

My husband's away down south at the moment (his mum's in hospital) so I have time!

Ah, the bliss. We are sequestered at home due to the general coronavirus lockdown and while I thought this means a lot of reading time, I was sadly mistaken.

I reached chapter 3! Are you far ahead? I think I like Blade best so far. But I also have hopes for Seriema (is that her name?). I don’t think I like Veldan too much.

I'm on chapter 25 and hope to finish this tomorrow. I didn't update because I'm still not enjoying this very much and also because some days I just don't feel like communicating, if that makes any sense...

I will leave a comment soon, I promise!

No worries! I’m on chapter 10 and I enjoy it slightly more than the previous but mostly I’m cheering for the coup at the moment.

Some more thoughts about this:

Characters: (view spoiler)[ I still think there are far too many characters in this book; I think I managed to keep them all straight, but won't swear to it. I wish she'd kill some of them off; it would make it an easier read. (hide spoiler)]

Tormon, Seriema, Scall & co. (view spoiler)[ This is probably the thread of the story that I found the least interesting. I honestly feel this whole sub-plot could've been cut out and the book wouldn't have suffered (but no doubt the 'mysterious objects' Scall found are going to come into play in the last book). Interesting that Seriema and Scall both seem to be going through a similar 'coming of age' growth arc, despite the vast differences in their age. I prefer Seriema to Scall - I just find him irritating. (hide spoiler)]

Gilarra, Galveron and Aliana (view spoiler)[ I quite like Galveron and Aliana (I like loyal knights and street thieves), and intermittently don't mind Gilarra - sometimes she annoys me. Probably the fact that Galveron and Aliana are going out and doing things have something to do with it; I liked Aliana's sneaking back with the explosives. (Packrat's camouflage cloak reminded me very strongly of the cloaks the Mistborn wear in Sanderson's series. This book was released 5 years before the Mistborn books. Hmm...) (hide spoiler)]

Veldan & the Shadowleague: (view spoiler)[ Veldan is rather boring and Kaz is rather irritating. I quite like Toulac (I think as I get older I'm warming to irascible old women). I'm glad Cergorn was (at least temporarily) overthrown, but I wonder how much of a good leader Blade/Amaurn is going to be, seeing that he's responsible for the mess in Callisiora. Still, hopefully they'll do some good now. (hide spoiler)]

Overall I liked it more than the first book (damning with faint praise, I know) and hope that the third book will have a stonking payoff. I'm still a little disappointed with how little of the rest of the world we've seen, though; I was hoping we'd more of the other races homes (especially the selkies - I have a soft spot for selkies).

I am ever so sorry it took me so long to respond! This whole quarantine (I'm at home since March 12!) proves to be a very busy time for me and I am galled to discover that I have more difficulties in finding goodreads time than normally.

Character-wise, I was very frustrated that this time the POV changes are so frequent that the narrative alternates also within the chapters. I really think it is high time to go on a killing spree.

Tormon and co. Very boring. (view spoiler)[From the very beginning I supposed they are going somewhere to make some accidental discovery (and also discover one another along the way). None of these interactions were terribly original (although Presvel devolution came out of nowhere, for me), and while I'd love to understand what was this place Scall found and how can these artefacts be used, this is a more pragmatic than existential curiosity so to speak. (hide spoiler)]

The besieged city (view spoiler)[trope is an easy fix. You can hardly go wrong with that one. I found the internal tensions exacerbated by the external threat mildly interesting. Though I didn't like the Grey Ghosts that much. Rather, it was the friction on Gilarra-Galveron line that kept me hooked. I really wonder how she will play this one out! (hide spoiler)]

Shadowleague: (view spoiler)[underwhelming! the coup was interesting when it was in the making. And then it sort of happened. Cergon out, Blade in. Also, look I'm your father. The end. She could have gotten so much out of this! Similarly with the Elion-Veldan animosity. Pufff and it vanished. (somehow, being the key word here). On top of everything, this whole Zavahl sex therapy was a little absurd. (hide spoiler)]

All in all, I also hoped we could see more of the world. The short glimpse into the dargon realm and the infodump within the Timeless Void (or whatever the magic bag is) was too little to appease me. But, like you, I liked this one better (or I toned down my expectations).

Can we read the final one in May? My April is brutal.