Farilane: Book 2 of the Rise and Fall Trilogy discussion

A place to discuss Robin's afterword.

I guess I'm first!

Robin, I totally agree with your first words in your afterword. I cried my eyes out 😭

I'm sure many people did. If I can break a few hearts before lunch, I sleep better at night ;-)

This was my first re-read since the beta, and I listened to it on audible so it was extra impactful hearing Robin's voice discuss the ending. It made a positive difference in how I felt about the book (which I loved 90% of) even though I didn't like the ending, that she explained why it was written and her feelings on it and that others felt the same way. I also learned the significance of the feathers before the re-read so that changed things a bit also.

Ted wrote: "This was my first re-read since the beta, and I listened to it on audible so it was extra impactful hearing Robin's voice discuss the ending."

Hey, thanks for being a beta tester! I know it's a lot of work. Robin has a pretty sophisticated system for that program, but it has worked well. It's funny because "the feathers" are actually talked about in THIS book, but, yeah, for people who have read some of the other books (in particular Age of Empyre or Heir of Novron) they'll understand the depth of their importance and so people who have read those books get be impacted more.

I was wondering about Robin’s comment that the true significance of the blizzard (the one where Muriel bestows not just one but tons of feathers to Kile/Malcolm/Turin) becomes clear in the Revelations series. While I’ve read the Revelations, it’s been a long time—what exactly did Robin mean, does anyone know?

Hey Hal, I can help you out -- for those who haven't read Heir of Novron - spoilers ahead!

(view spoiler)[Throughout the Riyria Revelations, there is mention of a god named Kile, who it is said to have raped his daughter (which isn't true, by the way). Anyway if he can prove to her that he's changed (that he isn't the selfish and manipulative jerk that she believes him to be) he must walk the world of Elan as a man. Each time she approves of his actions, she will give him a white feather. And if he fills an entire bag with these feathers, she will forgive him.

Okay, that's all fine and good, but Revelations is mainly a story of redemption relating to Royce - who has a lot to atone for. We learn that when he is imprisoned in the salt mines he is given a dagger (Alverstone) by a fellow prisoner there. At the very end of the book, we discover that Nimbus (the assistant to Modina) is the same person who gave Royce the dagger, which proves that Nimbus and Kile are one and the same. As the two part ways, a single feather falls from the sky and Nimbus takes it and walks away. This is his daughter (Muriel) saying - Good job, Dad. I approve of the work you did.

So, in Farilane when Malcolm - who is also the same person as Nimbus and Kile, sacrificed the love of his life in order to try to "fix what he broke" - she approved and bestowed a feather. But he wouldn't pick it up - because the last thing he wants is to be rewarded for killing who he loved the most - so he ignores the feather. So Muriel bestows another, and still he ignores it. She then sends a blizzard of feathers as if to say, "Cmon old man, stop being stubborn and take your reward - I recognize how hard this was for you - especially since ....Spoiler for Legends of the First Empire (view spoiler)[ keeping her from their true love is the actual "wrong" that was done to her (hide spoiler)]. So it makes the whole scene just that much more impactful. As the whole Father trying to win over the daughter is spread not only in Farilane but in Riyria and Legends as well. (hide spoiler)]

Does that help?

Hey Michael, first of all I LOVED the book. Farilane may be my favorite character in all of your books :) I also cried nonstop through the last hour of reading :'(

I'm still a little confused about the horn and the rationale behind Farilane's death. I understand if you can't answer some/any of these questions:

1) I understand the point about the horn not being able to determine the heir. But since they weren't going to blow the horn anyway, this isn't an immediate issue, right? If Farilane lives but has no children, then Nordyan's bloodline becomes the unique set of heirs (view spoiler)[which crucially results in Royce being the heir (hide spoiler)]. Even if Nordyan has to take the throne, it seems like the issue could have been resolved by Farilane moving to some remote area and never having children?

2) Why did she have to die before that exact day? It seems like the earliest that this would be relevant at all is when Nyrian dies?

3) Will we get justification in a future book for why Nordyan has to take the throne? I understand that Nordyan taking the throne (view spoiler)[results in the timeline leading to Royce becoming fane (hide spoiler)]. But it seems like Farilane taking the throne (view spoiler)[could result in an equally viable timeline. One would imagine that with 1000+ years preparation, she could figure out a way to beat the Fhrey handily at the Uli Vermar (hide spoiler)].

Appreciate any clarity you can provide!

Ben wrote: "Hey Michael, first of all I LOVED the book. Farilane may be my favorite character in all of your books :) I also cried nonstop through the last hour of reading :'(

I'm still a little confused abou..."

I second Ben's questions, and would be curious to see what Michael's answers would be. :)

Also, I have my own question:
So, at this point we all know Kile/Malcolm/Turin is immortal (view spoiler)[(that was established in "'The Legends..." (hide spoiler)]
But how does exactly that work with his human body?
I mean - in this book wee see him seemingly getting gravely injured in the torso, and seconds later the wound is not there, as if he wasn't hit at all. But does it mean he was never injured in the first place, and can't be injured? Or does any wound fix itself immediately? And most importantly - what happens, if he is beheaded, or if he gets crushed under a huge rock, or under tons of rocks (like a collapsed building, etc.)... or if he gets eaten by a dragon? You know what I mean - what happens, if his body is destroyed beyond repair?