Fantasy Book Club Series discussion

Have you finished reading Age of Empyre by Michael J. Sullivan, the final book in the Legends of the First Empire series? What did you think of this book, and of the series as a whole?

Spoilers OK here!

9/10
A mostly satisfying conclusion to the series, but I felt oddly disconnected from the story throughout most of the book. I think as the story went into the afterlife and we had to learn about those realms while still keeping up with what was happening with Nyphron and Persephone, with Imaly, Makareta, and Mawyndulë, with Suri, and with the band of intrepid unlikely heroes traipsing through the afterlife—it just created distance between the characters and me as the reader. Did anyone else feel this way? I just didn’t seem to be as emotionally invested in this book or the previous one compare to how I felt during the first three or four books.

3.5 stars. The last book in the series was stronger plot-wise than the last couple, and serves as a satisfying conclusion, with most of the important mysteries wrapped up relatively well. The theme of forgiveness was hammered in so much as to be a detriment to the plot and characters; it was much too preachy.

I agree to an extent, Kathi, though for me the distance was created by the theme of forgiveness. Roan being forced to forgive the man who abused her and crippled her emotionally in order to overcome the abyss - **** that.

A few questions:

In Chapter 15, Imaly seems surprised by Mawyndule’s suggestion that he can blow the horn to become reinstated as the fane. Why would she be surprised by this? It seems obvious to me.

In Chapter 18, Tressa reveals that she used Konniger to kill Reglan and attempted to kill Persephone. Yet Persephone treated her kindly: “She made up a story about how Konniger died a hero, fighting the bear.” Why would she do this? I know a huge theme of this book is forgiveness, but surely not right after a murder…

In Chapter 20, Muriel tells Brin that Brin is the key, saying “None of this was ever about Suri, or a horn, or even Trilos. It’s about you.” Is she just referring to the Book of Brin, or is it something else?

Near the end of the book Minna is resurrected and revealed to be a god or something. Anyone know who she is or how her body was resurrected? Do we still assume Suri’s dragon is alive/active?

Ryan wrote: "In Chapter 18, Tressa reveals that she used Konniger to kill Reglan and attempted to kill Persephone. Yet Persephone treated her kindly: “She made up a story about how Konniger died a hero, fighting the bear.” Why would she do this? I know a huge theme of this book is forgiveness, but surely not right after a murder…"

At the time of Reglan’s death, I think Persephone was trying to maintain the cohesiveness of her clan, looking at the bigger picture in terms of what would help or hurt what she perceived as “her” people. Blaming Konniger at that point would have been horribly divisive a month the people. By the time Tressa “confessed”, I think Persephone was past her grief and still looking at the bigger picture. I think it was less about forgiveness and more about leadership and being practical/pragmatic.

Ryan wrote: "A Near the end of the book Minna is resurrected and revealed to be a god or something. Anyone know who she is or how her body was resurrected? Do we still assume Suri’s dragon is alive/active?"

By Suri’s dragon, do you mean the one that was Raithe or the one Suri created from Minna? The one she created from Minna is gone, but apparently Minna was able to “reincarnate” as herself. I don’t think she’s a god but she is a uniquely special, highly sentient creature of some kind.

Makes sense about Persephone's response.

I was referring to the one created from Minna. How did it become "gone"?

Ryan wrote: "Makes sense about Persephone's response.

I was referring to the one created from Minna. How did it become "gone"?"

Didn’t Suri then kill it with the same sword used to create it?

As far as I can remember that dragon is still in Neith, though it doesn't have a purpose anymore because the demon that was there was killed with the arrow with its name on it. Or perhaps it "died" when the city collapsed? You think it was deliberately killed? Why would Suri do that? I don't remember clearly.

Ryan wrote: "As far as I can remember that dragon is still in Neith, though it doesn't have a purpose anymore because the demon that was there was killed with the arrow with its name on it. Or perhaps it "died"..."

From the Riyria Fandom page:
Gronbach double crosses Persephone and won’t provide the promised weapons. She then informs him that while his ancient homeland is free of Balgargarath, she now controls a dragon that has replaced it. Persephone agrees to remove it as well, but only if he makes good on his promise. He concedes, and she tells him that a sword needs to be created to rid the dragon. She insists that it’s essential that Roan and Brin oversee the process for this unique weapon (which is Persephone’s way of discovering the secrets of iron metalworking). Suri kills the Gilarabrywn version of Minna, and once more Gronbach reneges on his promise. When he tries to retrieve Minna’s sword from Suri, she levels Neith, making it forever out of reach of the dwarfs. Gronbach provides passage to rid his land of Suri, and they return with just a single sword but the knowledge of how to make more.

Ah, right! I remember it now. Thanks for that info.

Still, the question remains: how was Minna resurrected? Presumably the wolf-body was irrevocably dead by the time she came to Elan. It must have something to do with her apparent godhood.

Ryan wrote: "Ah, right! I remember it now. Thanks for that info.

Still, the question remains: how was Minna resurrected? Presumably the wolf-body was irrevocably dead by the time she came to Elan. It must have..."

Yeah, I still don’t quite get what happened with Minna being “reborn”.