Pick-a-Shelf discussion

Starting Jul-01 & proposed schedule as follows;

Week 1: up to chapter 3 (125p)
Week 2: up to chapter 8 (140p)
Week 3: up to chapter 12 (139p)
Week 4: up to chapter 18 (148p)
Week 5: End (147p)

I'm reading this with Rachel P but if anyone like to jump in, feel free:)

I've already read it and enjoyed it. It's a bit hard at times to keep track of all the characters.

Did you read the whole series, Lusie?

No I stopped after book 2. I gave that book 3 stars, so not too bad but didn't feel like continuing the series

hey, Rachel. I haven't started yet because I wanted to bring this book on our weekend away so I'll start this weekend but pretty sure I'll be able to finish the week's schedule ;)

Tien wrote: "hey, Rachel. I haven't started yet because I wanted to bring this book on our weekend away so I'll start this weekend but pretty sure I'll be able to finish the week's schedule ;)"

Ok. That's fine with me. Honestly, I haven't started yet, either. I'm planning to start tonight before going to bed. I meant to start last night, but I fell asleep before I got a chance. I think that I'll start earlier tonight to make sure that I get a chance. I'm looking forward to it. Have fun on your weekend away!

I've read the first week's allocated pages, Rachel, and am sort of liking it. The hard thing about multiple povs is getting used to it and I think at the end of the first book, you sort of get used to it or at least, I've started to know who's who (or at least for half the time lol)

Tien wrote: "I've read the first week's allocated pages, Rachel, and am sort of liking it. The hard thing about multiple povs is getting used to it and I think at the end of the first book, you sort of get used..."

I got a somewhat late start to the reading for this week, so I haven't finished it yet, but plan to do so today. I am about a third of the way through chapter 2. While I haven't had that much trouble with pov (at least yet), I have started noticing some difficulty keeping track of all the characters. Not only are there a lot of them, but they don't have particularly "normal" names. The names are not Bob, Tom, Julie, and Mary. Instead, they are Paran (who is also sometimes referred to by his last name Ganoes or Lieutenant), Empress or Laseen, Topper, Lorn (frequently referred to as merely adjunct), Tayschrenn, Whiskeyjack, Quick Ben, Tavore, and several others. Then there is also the fact that there are several groups, and it seems that the war is between more than just two sides or at the very least that different groups play very different roles.
Last but not least, and this may get better as the book progresses, but I almost immediately felt as if I was coming in halfway through the second story or that I was reading the second book in a series. I get confused when the book starts talking about the history of the empire, as you often have to infer rather than being told outright what happened. While many of the things I mentioned adds something to the book, it also, at least for me, makes it harder to read too.
However, its really interesting so far and seems like it will be a good book.

I find that is the problem with most epic fantasy novels; the beginning. Just getting used to a new world with all the setting up of the universe, the jargons, and characters! But once you get used to them, it's usually good :)

A friend recommended that we check out Tor.com posts on their read along for the series. They did the whole series from 2010-2017 omg! Anyway, I checked out the first post and it's got spoiler warning all over it so not sure if I want to read them.

Here's the link, if you're interested: https://www.tor.com/2010/07/07/the-ma...

I've just finished book 2 and it was a bit of a struggle with a whole set of new characters in new setting! And I was just getting used to the first set of characters, sighs...

I also have started having trouble with something else. Understanding what the cards mean even after they "explain" them. I know that the meaning isn't necessarily meant to be 100% understood, but to me, it makes 0 sense. It's like the book is written in a different language in those parts. The parts I do understand though are interesting, and I feel that eventually, I may appreciate that it is so difficult to put everything together and understand all of it. This style of writing will likely make it a book that I can read several times, discovering or getting something new out of it each time.

It's like Tarot cards really - I don't understand them either and just sort of read what's told without too much understanding :)

But you're right, it is a style of writing that will probably give you something new each re-read though atm, not sure it's something I want to re-read .

I've just finished week 3 reading, Rachel. Finally a merge of characters from different places though I'm getting confused who's a god and who's not? Is shadowthrone god?

I've finished week 4 reading and at first, I thought ok here comes the action but now I'm getting really impatient! Not sure if I'm keen on following up with the series. So far, it's just ok for me. How are you going, Rachel?

Tien wrote: "...How are you going, Rachel?"

Hi, Tien, I apologize for my lack of communication recently. I've been trying to keep up with the reading, but I've had a lot of trouble doing so. Unfortunately, I haven't had a lot of time to read it as I am still finishing up college schoolwork from last semester, which turned out to be difficult for a variety of reasons. However, I am still trying to read at least some every night before bed. I apologize for not keeping to the original pace. I thought it would be more than doable, but as we have both learned Gardens of the Moon is not an easy book in any sense.

Tien wrote: "...I'm getting confused who's a god and who's not? Is shadowthrone god?"

I am also starting to get confused by the type of being each character is: god, demon, another kind of supernatural being, and/or a "regular" human. It seems that some characters switch somewhat between types of beings. At the very least, I think there are "regular" humans possessed by supernatural beings that sometimes take control and/or supernatural beings that visit "Earth" in human form. I believe the latter is the case with Shadowthrone and that it is similar to how the Greek god visited Earth in myths. Although, I may be entirely off the mark as the book is super confusing to me right now.

Tien wrote: "I've finished week 4 reading and at first, I thought ok here comes the action but now I'm getting really impatient! Not sure if I'm keen on following up with the series. So far, it's just ok for me..."

I don't think that I will continue with the series either. There are so many other books that I would love to read, and I know that I will never be able to get to them all, no matter how hard I try. Therefore, sticking with the series when I feel the first book is only so-so doesn't make a whole lot of sense to me. I'd rather try a book that I feel I will have a higher chance of absolutely loving. Unfortunately, the book is completely different from what I thought it would be, and in my mind, it reads more like a drama in some ways than a Science Fiction Fantasy book. Is this typical of an epic? If so, I'm not sure I want to read another epic either. I usually like at least a bit of action in what I'm reading fiction or, at least, an exciting plot that moves along. Hence the reason my favorite fiction genres are Fantasy, Dystopian, and Historical Fiction (e.g., Dan Brown books).

Anyways, once again, I apologize for the lack of communication lately. I hope that in the last couple of days Gardens of the Moon has gotten at least a bit better. "Talk" to you again soon.

Oh, Rachel, not to worry at all... everything doesn't go they way they should this year so no wonder, you're off the rail a bit. We all are.

I hope you managed to finish up your college schoolwork. Hang in there xo