Fantasy Buddy Reads discussion

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Read the book. This was a transition piece and ends on a cliffhanger.

I'm more curious to see what ya'll think about the book. That will perk up my interest. =)

Wow, I am running late for this one, but I will wait for Melissa to catch up and we can read it together ʘ‿ʘ

I needed something light and fluffy before heading into something potentially more serious so I'm joining late too.

I got started this morning. I'm part way through Ch 2. (view spoiler)[So who do you all believe Malcolm really is? I was toying with the idea him being one of the gods or at least a proper immortal (Frey aren't immortals, they just live a very long time). I like that he's not completely omniscient though he knows a lot of things he otherwise shouldn't. I wonder if we'll ever find out or if he'll remain a mystery. (hide spoiler)]

I think you are right, Narilka. He is just way too comfortable with everything to not be something like that...

Agreed! I think that was established in the first three books and maybe we'll find in this set of 3.

Through Ch 9. I'm finding this slow going. (view spoiler)[I'm also a little disappointed at the moment. It was such a big deal that Suri was a human who could do magic and then the big reveal of Gifford in the last book. Now it's like he can barely do magic? Or is it that Suri's just not a great teacher? I get that she's suffering major guilt and depression after Raithe and definitely understand her refusal to help Nyphron due to the personal sacrifice it would require. (Not like Nyphron truly understands. Nyphron only loves Nyphron). I would've thought she'd be more interested in finding more humans able to use the Art since that was Arion's legacy and a great way to honor her memory.

Maybe I'm just impatient :) We had some time jumps to get through. Looks like I've started Part 3 so hopefully this is where things start to pick up. (hide spoiler)]

Several years have passed between the last book and this one.

(view spoiler)[It could be a mix of Suri not being a good teacher and Gifford not trying to learn more.

I mean, several years have passed and it doesn't seem like any of them grew during that time. It's more like we're going into the story directly after. (hide spoiler)]

True. At least (view spoiler)[Roan invented chariots. Because why not LOL (hide spoiler)]

Through Ch 14. (view spoiler)[Well that was dumb. Why did Suri think leashing her magic wasn't going to lead exactly where it did? Of course they were taking out the one thing that actually stands against them in the war. You can tell Persephone didn't consult with Nyphron as I'm sure he'd have though of this possibility and, if not explained why it was a bad idea, hopefully prevented this idiocy.

No, the fane won't kill Suri. He'll want to humiliate and demean her as he gloats about his cleverness against the Rhunes.

My only real question at this point is will this be what triggers Gifford into using his magic out of a need to defend the army. I imagine a magical attack heading their way soon. That's what I would do. The Fhrey don't know about Gifford so appear to have the advantage with Suri out of the picture.

I guess this also lines up the role for Tressa that was foreshadowed in the beginning. My conjecture is the heroes will mount a poorly planned rescue, it will go sideways, and they'll escape through the door no one can open because Malcolm gave Tressa the key. (hide spoiler)]

Unless something major changes in the second half, I see why you gave this one 3 stars.

Ha! I will say nada. You'll see as you go. I have some questions that raised while reading but will wait until it's more time appropriate to ask/rant/etc.

This book is not as emotionally wrecking as the last one but it's not necessarily light in tone. *grumble grumble*

I finished. (view spoiler)[That was rather frustrating. The book is one huge prologue. Once the story gets going, it ends. It also took a Greek mythology turn. I guess that should've been expected with a character named Persephone, even if she wasn't directly involved. I was kinda close in my speculation. I wasn't expecting a trip through Hades, though actually I think that was hinted at in a previous book that the door lead to death. It's still an ill conceived rescue and will use the Door in the wall in Elfland.

I guess we'll see if Suri can hold out to the torture while our intrepid heroes can go on their journey through hell. (hide spoiler)]

Are you in for book 5 Soo?

While I may not like the way the books are planned out, I am in to finish the series. It's two more books and easy listening. Not a lot of brain power needed for the stories because I don't think there's a lot of sense in the plot and it's easy to see where things go.

End point: (view spoiler)[

It should have a been a dramatic moment but by the "end"
- I didn't expect it to be a good ending.
- The dramatic cliffhanger seemed to be a predictable format for what has happened overall.
- It's a good thing the series is completed or I'd be really ticked.

(hide spoiler)]

It's cool to see where Sullivan has gotten the bones to base the story on and how he's trying to be inclusive and inventive. I just don't think it's done well. Too forced. He is a good writer and I expect to have a believable plot to go with the characters.

I agree with your points.

There's something that's bothering me and I'm having a hard time nailing down just what it is. It might be it's that he's following the same basic format in each book. They start off slow, work hard to build up some momentum and then it's all lost when you start the next book. I need to think about it more because I'm not sure that's quite right either. Maybe?

I haven't read the Ryiria books. Are they in a different style?

The Riyria books are better in my opinion. Two great main characters, good world building and the plot makes sense. I do think that Sullivan is not the best with creating tension and rise/fall of flow until the high point. That can be a hit and miss.

This book: (view spoiler)[For me, I don't think he was able to create true momentum. I went into the story with very low expectations.

- Plot progress was not going to make sense. It will be forced events/emotions/actions to follow a Story Board Plan.
- I wanted to see what points will be made and which parts of the other details will be used, progressed or added on.
- The problem with creating realistic characters is that I am going to expect realistic emotions/thoughts/responses. That isn't consistent in the books.

The whole book felt like a huge transition piece. I was not on board with Suri being enslaved and tortured.

It makes no sense. Suri is more wild than normal experienced but she's not dumb. There are four other characters that are VERY intelligent and know enough caution/etc to not let this happen.

(hide spoiler)]

I think the problem is that the series started with a good intro that felt mostly organic storytelling. With each book, suspension of belief is strained until it's broken and now it's hard to "believe" in the details/characters to make sense within the story frame.

At this point, I want to see how various details and events will be connected together. I'm hoping that some of the plot holes can be patched up or smoothed over by a well crafted scene or ah ha moment.

(view spoiler)[Suri deliberately leashing her power made no sense at all. It was a dumb move by a character who knew better. Even Persephone should have known better than to ask this without consulting their Fhrey expert. Because everything she's learned about the Fane all says what an upstanding and moral person he is.

Roans continual inventions is almost a parody at this point. I think we saw the chariot, lanterns and the basic idea of book binding this time through.

I'm highly disappointed that he gives Gifford all this power and then doesn't do a damn thing with it because he'd be too powerful. How else do you learn control if you don't practice? (hide spoiler)]

There's still enough time in the remaining books to change direction. I guess we will see soon.

I'm planning to read something else and then come back to Age of Death.

Well......I liked it overall but felt that not a whole lot happened. Was more of a set up for the next book i felt. I really enjoy Sullivan's writing style. He is great at developing characters that I care about better then most authors i read.

I am not a huge fan of cliff hangers in books but I am hoping that I am please with the build up for the next two books. Sullivan is one of my favorite authors so I will definitely be moving on to the next book immediately.

Don't forget to post on our Age of Death thread :) I'll be joining towards the end of the week.

Seconded! Brian, post in that thread. =)

I just started this one. We all thought this about Malcolm, but why tell Tressa first? Interesting...

Well, Tesh sure is single minded in his hatred for the Frey, isn't he... They lost the battle, but he used the chaos of it to (view spoiler)[ to kill Aeries. It must be him, he is just way too pleased with himself. But he totally didn't care about his girlfriend and her feelings... I guess he only cares for his vengeance and that makes me lose respect for him... Kind of sad about that... (hide spoiler)]

I don't think Tesh's hatred is misplaced. Nyphron did plan the attack that slaughtered his family and town to create the war. He watched it happen. It's not like Nyphron is upfront about what he's doing or what his motives are. Not to the masses that he's using for his own goals.

Yeah, I know... But I was thinking about our ladies that are left without their loved ones... Tesh has all the right to strike back, I just wish he would have gone with someone else...

I finished. This one was much shorter than the previous three, but I guess it has to do with him splitting up one big tome into three books. I liked it a lot, but it didn't feel like a complete work on its own. (view spoiler)[ My heart is breaking for how lonely and sad Persephone is... I know she knew what she was getting herself into, but I think she was hoping Nephron would at least be somewhat attentive to her, just as any normal human would be to someone they are intimate with and have a kid together. You would think he would be at least pleased having a son, but I wonder if he resents him being half human...

Tessa... I know she is not a very good person, but Michael made me feel for her. I am really enjoying her redemption arc... And the witch - wow! It is THAT lady! She is a g-d too! If I remember, her father had been very inappropriate with her, and she can't forgive him. But he is trying to win her forgiveness by going into the world and performing good deeds while acting as human... For every completed such deed, he receives a flower from her... I don't exactly remember when she had said she might consider forgiving him though...

The scenes with Suri and her prison guards were hard, because we know what a free and good spirit she is. Watching the little princeling treat his personal assistant the way he did and she still caring about him, that was just sad... I started wandering if she is actually his mother...

The king is a complete monster and not in a good way. I will be happy to see him gone...

It is weird, despite not remembering the Riyria series well, I remember feeling so much sorrow for the Elves and how they were mistreated. But I don't retain all those feelings now that I see how they treat the humans... Although, I am still not cool with any of those types of maltreatment. I just wish people would get to learn about each other and try to get along... (hide spoiler)]

Overall, I liked it, but I am not completely satisfied with it. I will be reading the next book sometime this weekend

I was wondering the same thing about Mawyn's servant.