Fantasy Buddy Reads discussion

Aurian - Maggie Furey

March 19, 2020.
Requested by Elizabeth.

I'll be starting this one after finishing the second in her other series, probably tomorrow.

I wanted to join this too but I'm still reading a couple of others at the moment..

Going to say I'm only about 20 pages in and already having trouble picking this book up. I'm going to read a few chapters at least, but I'm thinking that this author just isn't for me.

That's a shame Elizabeth! I read this whole series when I was 14 and remember loving it, so we'll see if that's still the same as an adult!

I'm only 5 or so chapters in, but I'm quitting this one. As I said, I was having trouble picking it up, and when I did pick it up it was a struggle to read even 10 pages. After this last book I read by the author I just don't see this as worth continuing. I won't be reading this author again.

Fair enough Elizabeth! It's not fun forcing yourself to read something you don't find interesting.

Hope you guys have better luck than me!

I.m just about to start this. I enjoyed it when I read it years ago so I'm hoping I still do!

Shaitarn wrote: "I.m just about to start this. I enjoyed it when I read it years ago so I'm hoping I still do!"

Same! I'm fancying a change from fantasy so gonna read another book first then start this after.

Elizabeth wrote: "Hope you guys have better luck than me!"

Thanks!

I started this yesterday and have polished off 23 chapters, so yes, I'm enjoying it! Despite the size of this novel, it doesn't feel like an epic fantasy (which I count as Tolkien, Jordan, etc.).

Aurian herself is certainly a 'girl with all the gifts' - multi-talented mage and swordmistress. And yet she doesn't annoy me as such characters usually do; I don't know if that's because she's not angsting or a saintly teen who cares about everyone else, but whichever, it makes a pleasant change from the other Mary-Sue's I've been spending far too much time with lately.

The story seems predictable in the way that something by Terry Brooks or David Gemmell would be, but I am still enjoying it - a sort of book comfort food.

Damn you blasted through most of it Shaitarn!

I'm up to chapter 6 and if I remember rightly, that's where it starts to get a bit more interesting as she's grown up now. I'm finding the writing quite old-fashioned and it's been an ok read so far but I think it's mostly nostalgia driving me rather than any need to know what happens. I sort of remember a vague outline of the story..

Aurian herself is certainly a 'girl with all the gifts'

Definitely- yeah she managed to bring forth rain so easily despite not being trained in weather magic... ok then lol.

It does contain ALL the tropes as well lol, so as you said very predictable. Though I've not read any Brooks or Gemmell so can't compare. It's "alright" for me at the moment but I hope I start enjoying it more once it gets more into the story.

Up to Chapter 11.

Poor Anvar! I remember loving him and he was treated horribly by nearly everyone.

This is slow going for me, I'm not enjoying it as much as I did when I was younger :( I'm waiting for Aurian to realise Miathan is evil so the story can move along more and get more interesting...

Sort of regretting buying the whole series now, I'm not sure I'm gonna be interested enough to continue with the rest!

Chapter 11 (view spoiler)[ So Aurian and Forral finally get together- I remember that not sitting right with me, and it still doesn't. I just find it really "icky", he was practically a father to her and then they become lovers.. grosses me out lol.

And Miathan being a lusty old letch is creeping me out too! (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 11:(view spoiler)[ Yeah, I know what you mean. I personally can appreciate the charms of an older gentleman, and I suppose we're supposed to think it's okay because it was Aurian who wanted the relationship, but it did bother me. If she'd first met him when she was older, or she'd been older when they got together (perhaps after she'd had her first lover?) I might have been more accepting, but it still feels a bit creepy, at best.

Miathan is a classic evil villain lusting after the innocent heroine. I imagine him cackling and twirling his mustachios in his spare moments. (hide spoiler)]

Unfortunately, I just can't do this Shaitarn. I got up to Aurian and Anvar fleeing on the ship and I literally can't take it anymore, it' so boring. Safe to say my tastes have outgrown these books. I'm abandoning it so I can read something more scintillating whilst being stuck in quarantine lol.

Well you made it farther than I did.

Elizabeth wrote: "Well you made it farther than I did."

Lol, at least that's something I suppose!

Beena wrote: "Unfortunately, I just can't do this Shaitarn. I got up to Aurian and Anvar fleeing on the ship and I literally can't take it anymore, it' so boring. Safe to say my tastes have outgrown these books...."

I don't blame you - it read much better when I was younger!

I don't blame you - it read much better when I was younger!

Yeah, I loved it when I was younger! I think it served as an introduction to fantasy and we've just moved on a LOT since then.