The Not a Book Club Club discussion

Part 1:

Please keep all discussion to the events and speculation from Chapter 1 - Chapter 10.

No spoiler tags required. Though it would be highly appreciated if you uncheck Add to my Update Feed to avoid accidentally spoiling this for your good read friends.

Please do not discuss events from later chapters. Referring back to events from a previous section/book is fine.

Off with a bang! So I was afraid I would have no recollection of how TCC ended and no idea what was going on, and it is true to a certain extent but coming back through hints in the book.

- Tamas was left way behind enemy lines with only two companies and was trying to make it back to Adopest
- Ricard and Adamat killed Lord Vetas in the last book, but his benefactor Claremonte rolled in on battle ships in the canal Ricard's union helped build, but instead of invading, he declared he intended to run in the coming elections.
- Taniel was trying to root out the traitor (together with Adamat who was following the paper trail). Supplies kept going missing, including large shipments of powder. The two main suspects were General Ket and General Hilanska. Turned out to be Hilanska, but General Ket and his troops had tried to kill/rape Kapoel.
- Taniel ended up captured by the Kez and strung up along with that super high powered privileged woman whose name escapes me. Somehow he escaped. I don't recall the details of his escape, but now he is on the run.
- I think Mihali helped Taniel escape somehow, and now is presumed dead?
- Not sure how Kressimir ended up after the last book, probably in bad sorts, seems Kapoel is now holding him in check with a doll?
- Nila is now a privileged that doesn't need gloves. She's still annoying, but so far less so than previous books.

Anywhoo thats all I can remember and figure out so far after reading the first 10 chapters.

Yeah, that is cool. The first two books, and what I've read of the third, are each different than the others and not just more of the same. Great observation.

Wow, yeah, what an excellent start. One thing I have noticed with him is that he's really good and dropping the reader right into the story, with some interesting shit going on. The first chapter of the first book with Adamat meeting Tamas about the coup had me immediately hooked.

And, Alex, totally agree about his story telling. Some might say simplistic as derogatory but I would argue the opposite. Those types of stories tend to be the easiest to follow and some of the most effective ways to get a point across.

Like that we're getting a view of Taniel without powder, how he's having to think and act and plan without the use of his best weapon. Also like that we seem to be getting more time with Bo early on, he was always one of the most interesting characters and ending this section with him was great. You could feel the fury

I forgot a lot about the individual secondary characters but they are coming back the more I read.

I also really enjoy getting to see Taniel without powder. He was such a powerhouse in the last book it is nice to see him use his wit to solve some problems.

I like all of the pov so far but hope to get more Tamas as the book progresses.

I thought it was a good start - it helped me remember the characters and the previous plots without doing a "in the last book" summary. I'm hoping to see more of Kapoel. (And maybe less of Nyla, but she hasn't been as bad so far.)

I agree he did a pretty good job at refreshing your memory without big long summaries.

I never found Nyla that annoying, but I am enjoying her storyline more so far. Maybe because she's been the camera for Bo? Now that he's off to find Taniel, I may return towards indifference.

Kapoel continues to be my favorite.

All and all a good start. I havent had much time to read it yet, and I know a few of you are already done, but hooefully I'll get a lot of reading in this weekend.

Alex wrote: "Rob wrote: "Kapoel continues to be my favorite."

Really? I can't stand her."

Yeah well youre the one who recommeded The Mirror Empire, so...

Lol. The Mirror Empire wasn't that bad.

I really like Kapoel too.

I know, I just like giving him a hard time about it. :)

Mirror Empire was pretty bad. And Kapoel while not my favorite is #3 behind Adom and Bo :)

Yeah. Bo and Adom are up there too.

I like them all. I think it would be better for me to state who I don't like - and those are mainly the Kez and the Royals. They all seem a little flat for me.

Great start. Nice to be back in this world.

Enjoyed the first 10 chapters, he seems to be tidying up a few lose threads and bringing everyone to the same area.

Nicely written so far good flow.

Nobody seems to annoying me, characters are maturing which is good.

Just got into this today - took me a few beats to remember where we were but McClellan does a lovely job of bringing the reader up to speed without sacrificing momentum. I'm definitely on tenterhooks - what will happen next!

I like Ka-Poel, but at the same time I find her a very problematic character. Underage (but maybe possibly not?)! Mute! Kinda sexy! Seriously powerful! Savage! Other people have said it better than me elsewhere, but that particular combination tends to grate on me.

She's not underage. I forget her exact age, but she's about Taniel's age. That came out in the last book. He had thought her much younger than she is.

Yeah, I remember him realising that now that you mention it! Foggier on the details than I thought, clearly.

She really reminds me of River from Firefly. I do quite like the secretly (or not so secretly) a bad ass part, because it's so satisfying when they unleash themselves and kick ass.

Rob wrote: "Alex wrote: "Rob wrote: "Kapoel continues to be my favorite."

Really? I can't stand her."

Yeah well youre the one who recommeded The Mirror Empire, so..."

Shots fired :D

And yeah I found this to be a really strong start to book 3 that helped to jog my memory after a long lay-off from this series.

I also agree that Nila is less annoying/ pointless than she was previously but that might be down to the presence of Bo.