Fantasy Buddy Reads discussion

This is a Buddy Read for The Wars of Light and Shadow (6) – Peril’s Gate: Third Book of The Alliance of Light by Janny Wurts starting on March 15, 2024.


Happy Reading!

If you've made it this far reading the series, I dare say you are hooked already by prior volumes, but if you are still on the fence or entertaining doubts, an in-depth read(and this one is pivotal for everything that comes after, so no skimping or skimming by, you'll miss SO much by barreling through), this will utterly crush all your doubts and leave you crushed as well while awaiting to see what comes next!

Thank you Yanique. :p

chibipoe wrote: "If you've made it this far reading the series, I dare say you are hooked already by prior volumes, but if you are still on the fence or entertaining doubts, an in-depth read(and this one is pivotal..."

Quite a few readers dropped off the series BR by this volume but the best part is just coming so I'm keeping my fingers crossed this time will be different.

Laura wrote: "chibipoe wrote: "If you've made it this far reading the series, I dare say you are hooked already by prior volumes, but if you are still on the fence or entertaining doubts, an in-depth read(and th..."

I dropped out here but it was due to life not due to not loving the series! This time hopefully I can stick around :)

Laura wrote: "chibipoe wrote: "If you've made it this far reading the series, I dare say you are hooked already by prior volumes, but if you are still on the fence or entertaining doubts, an in-depth read(and th..."

Oh noes! We shall hope!

Ok! Tomorrow, here we go! @nirkatze. Peril's Gate, and after the end of Grand Conspiracy, this book picks up hot just a bit later. (Grand Conspiracy does not end on a cliffhanger, as Arithon and company evade the snares in Jaelot but yet more difficulties await as the troubles unleashed in the final climax of GC continue to plague all and imperil the world.

Ah ha! For some reason I didn't have updates turned on here, shame on me!

Took me a while to read through Chapter 1, but ooh, it's already getting my blood boiling! (view spoiler)[Fionn Areth is making me think of early Dakar--and I'm looking forward to him (hopefully) having a similar enlightening turn-around on loyalties...

I would be worried for Arithon but plot armor. I've seen him on the cover of the next book, and in the blurbs of the ones following. LOL Which makes it easier to be nervous for him, honestly, since I know he's going to survive. At what cost, neh?

Lirenda! I rather want to punch her in the face. Though her whole situation as the disgraced First Senior and her realization that Moriel Prime very purposefully got her out of the way for some reason... makes me hope that she will figure out what happened, and that it will turn her ire away from Arithon and towards where it rightfully belongs--directed right back at Moriel. Makes me think of that adage--one problem is a problem. Two problems might be a solution. If only Moriel and Lirenda could be aimed at each other! They'd deserve it!

Sethvir's visions... falling on the young prince Kevar... now that's a character I can worry about survival for... especially when the mention of Lysaer shows how twisted he's become already... Kevar and his line carry the gift of light... part of me feel that that could be a solution to any further Mistwraith-battle needs, to just... bypass Lysaer. But another part of me feels like that lacks narrative tension and might only be teased but never fulfilled, that the end will require Lysaer and Arithon to team up again despite the curse...

That ending for the chapter... it never rains but it pours. (hide spoiler)]

Have to say though, seeing everyone else's comments from last July... I'm a bit sad no one else made it this far... still have fingers crossed for Laura, and with that new audio release, there is more hope in the future!

Nirkatze wrote: "Ah ha! For some reason I didn't have updates turned on here, shame on me!

Took me a while to read through Chapter 1, but ooh, it's already getting my blood boiling! Fionn Areth is making me think ..."

:D

(view spoiler)[Fionn's got a rough path ahead of him, for sure! Where will it lead? Who knows! (hide spoiler)]

Re: Arithon? (view spoiler)[ Oh there's a lot ahead in terms of trials for Arithon. (hide spoiler)]

Kevor: (view spoiler)[ Correction, Kevor has the gift of Justice, but not the Light powers. The Light/Shadow abilities are not inheritable, just the bloodline traits(Compassion, Justice, Temperance, Farsight, etc. (hide spoiler)]

Lirenda: (view spoiler)[ Ultimately is the architect of her own downfall. (hide spoiler)]

Yeah, I hope others will, but next month, book 1 in Audio! Here's hoping!

Ah, thanks for that spelling correction--it usually takes a while for proper names and spelling to sink in if I don't have it right in front of me. also (view spoiler)[good to know about the gifts--I was thinking/hoping that the Light would run in the line as well, even if it might not pop up frequently...

Also looking forward to those trials, rough paths, and especially Lirenda's downfall... though I'd almost rather see Moriel's... (hide spoiler)]

Nirkatze wrote: "Ah, thanks for that spelling correction--it usually takes a while for proper names and spelling to sink in if I don't have it right in front of me. also good to know about the gifts--I was thinking..."

Keep going! :D (This book is hugely important, so I'm keeping mum so I don't spoil anything by accident. Suffice to say, you'll get lots of fantastic stuff to savor, on all fronts. :D)

LOL I get the trying not to spoil things! And looking forward to them. Knocked out Chapters 2 & 3 today--definitely seeing the set up for lots of shenanigans, (view spoiler)[as each of the Fellowship get embroiled in potentially fatal jobs (and permanently so, not just like K&L ditching their bodies fatal)--and each of those jobs, if failed, has dire portends for all of Athera... and then we switch to Lysaer's folk, and Lirenda... and I just want to do some serious facepalming, or shake the characters, and be like "you're putting everyone in the world in danger you idiots!!" Honestly, I have trouble reading chapters when Lysaer talks now, I just keep seeing red and want to punch him in the face for being such a huge hypocrite. I am still so mad at his whole faction for calling Arithon a criminal when everything he has done has been in self-defense. Every. Single. Thing. With the exception of the gunpowder incident, but that was the one incident that has been forgiven, and also wasn't his fault, either in the doing or how it... hem... blew up.

I'm enjoying the tension though... it is seriously making me wonder if we're not going to lose one of the Seven--except then I remember the Prophecy, and it wouldn't very well do for one of the Seven to get erased before the other two can be found/returned to the fold. But that doesn't mean that they can't be seriously sidelined.

And in all of this, I remember that split-second of a scene in the last book... the exiled sorcerer.... mmm... Davien, was it? Will he step in at the eleventh hour? His time to re-enter the stage must be close...

I liked the little scene with the Mayor's wife... somewhere in Rathain, I think? When Lysaer landed. Shows that not all of the Alliance is as brainwashed as the ones we've seen. Add to that Lysaer's wife's mention of how most folk nowadays have never seen the so-called Spinner of Darkness's evils, and those deeds have been consigned to veteran's bar tales. If only... seems like we're building to another Infamy. I guess when Arithon escapes a siege at the tower that'll be enough... however it comes about... galvanize another generation... (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 4--(view spoiler)[I'm glad Elaira isn't taking the new Prime's word at face value. The oath she swore--initiate Elaira will never be forced to betray Arithon Teir’s’Ffalenn in the interests of the Koriani Order--I can't help but thinking of Aes Sedai wording, and how many ways this could be got around... Elaira doesn't have to be forced to betray him, for her actions and knowledge to be used to take him down... as long as she isn't actively being forced to do anything. And how vast is the definition of "betrayal"? or "forced"? Also tying into the prophecy for Fionn--that Arithon will live, but betrayed... Seems like the very situation the Koriani are trying to create...

And so nice to finally see Elaira take an action that can be construed as "asking" for Fellowship help! I don't mind at all that they were very wide with that definition. I suppose it's enough that her actions show her "free will" in such matters.

The parable of the horses reminds me of @Chibipoe's comment a few books ago on how Lysaer has subjects, and Arithon allies.

Asandir's return, and subsequent conversations keep me curious about how the world works, and how Ath's Brotherhood fit in--nice to see them in a more active role now. I'd actually been wondering why the Seven never took on more apprentices than Dakar, or why they never had more of their number... but it seems like Ath's Brotherhood kind of fills a lot of the slots apprentices might... Still though, there must be others like Arithon, with natural talents who can learn sorcery--we've only seen the Koriani and the Seven, and some hearth-witches, so far...

Kevor and Elliane's stories are starting to get interesting... I'm really curious what Cele... that priest dude, what he thinks would happen if Kevor ends up dead and the path can be traced to him? He can't think Lysaer would forgive such trespass... and he seems like a true believer, so why isn't Lysaer's son as holy to him as he is? Simple jealousy? Though, Lysaer never questioned Talith's death, so maybe he isn't really that invested in his son either. Definitely getting the feeling that Lysaer doesn't see people anymore, only pieces. (hide spoiler)]

:D I love your speculations. :D I will be good though, because there's a lot here and to come, but suffice to say, things will just get wilder and wilder from here on.

Got some of that wilder going in here... Through Chapter 5. (view spoiler)[Very curious to see how Arithon gets out of this mix... though it's just a scouting party, not the horde, so that's one bit in his favor... his cathaiden is my first bet, now Traithe is second, Arithon himself with help of the land is third...

I loved the Elaira sequence with Ath's Brotherhood--really enjoying the deeper dig into that organization in general... almost think of all of them as apprentices to the Seven... or at least, foot soldiers in the same cause. Our first live Paravian! And Dakar's sequence, with Fionn--some good self-reflection there, seeing his own ill-advised first-impression hatreds from not-so-long ago reflected in the young goatherder... Fionn's resolution is starting to crack faster though. I'd add Fionn to the list of Arithon-savers, but they're too far away at this point... I'm starting to think that this Grand Alliance arc might end with Fionn sacrificing himself to save Arithon.... and that this book might end with Davien spiriting Arithon out of a siege of the Tower... (hide spoiler)]

I dropped off and I’m sad about it because I love these books but I went through a break-up after 12 years (not what I wanted heh) and found myself couch surfing and with zero headspace for such an intense series. In fact I’ve read roughly 2 books in 5 months :( but I want to finish this series.

Nirkatze wrote: "Got some of that wilder going in here... Through Chapter 5. Very curious to see how Arithon gets out of this mix... though it's just a scouting party, not the horde, so that's one bit in his favor...."

Interesting speculation. :D Is all I will say.

Olivia wrote: "I dropped off and I’m sad about it because I love these books but I went through a break-up after 12 years (not what I wanted heh) and found myself couch surfing and with zero headspace for such an..."

:( Perhaps try with audio beginning next month? We miss you!

Olivia wrote: "I dropped off and I’m sad about it because I love these books but I went through a break-up after 12 years (not what I wanted heh) and found myself couch surfing and with zero headspace for such an..."

Oh yikes! No kidding about not having headspace. I hope things even out (or have already done so) for you sooner rather than later!!

Nirkatze wrote: "Olivia wrote: "I dropped off and I’m sad about it because I love these books but I went through a break-up after 12 years (not what I wanted heh) and found myself couch surfing and with zero headsp..."

Thank you. It's been a tough few years. It's like the universe decided to put me through the wringer and then some.

I'm through Chapter 9 now--I keep meaning to type up thoughts after every chapter but it's been a draining week. I'm actually surprised at how little time has passed and how little has happened--comparatively--in the past few chapters... (view spoiler)[Mostly it's Arithon trying to dodge patrols, running into his caitheden, and then they're all still trying to dodge patrols... while various parties observe and comment or try to counter. So the amount of variety put into this rather simple process has been interesting to see.

Also haven't seen any of Dakar & Fionn in the past four chapters. But we did get to meet Kevor in person, which was cool--and now that he's in the care of Ath's Brotherhood and presumed dead... and his mother finally escaped... I'm hoping for some movement on that front, especially with Jieret throwing Talith's murder in Lysaer & his henchman's face... right before getting his tongue cut out. And they call the clansmen barbarians! While they tout their scalps around as decoration! Gah! That still infuriates me.

Anyways. Kevor's in the process of fully remaking himself... I've got fingers crossed that when the process is done, he'll be unrecognizable--and that will keep him safe from his father & court's machinations (along with like, being dead). This would be the perfect time to spirit away his bloodline into hiding... but then that'd also probably remove him from the story's chess board, so I'm curious to see how this plays out. The most painful thing would be for him to head back to court and out himself only to find his mother is gone... end up luring her back into their clutches... hoping not...

I was very excited to see Davien finally show up!! And he's been in the Eagle all along... This book's chapter header is a bird--I thought it was Traithe's raven (and I guess it still could be) seeing as it's all black and raveny-shaped, but the Eagle makes more sense, at least so far. As soon as the Ath's adept said "he's known as a meddler" I was like AH! Davien's taken the stage! And with Elaira! It's disconcerting that Moriel can spy on Elaira so closely even without her crystal though... Davien must be aware of it... I hope... What Moriel is doing to Seldie is horrible... I really hope she gets her comeuppance in the end, and Seldie gets released... and maybe her experience will help her grow out of the spoiled brat she was before... But Davien's appearance is making me more and more curious about the events that titled him Betrayer... What could have caused him to side with the Townsfolk, and endorse the head-hunting of clansmen? Prophecy I could forgive, or some abuses of power hidden by history, but if he actually sympathizes with the Townsfolk and Koriani about human primacy I don't think I could forgive him. His behavior so far has not been reassuring--he seems very fickle.

As for Arithon... I don't really have a lot of thoughts on his or Jieret's chapters, just been enjoying seeing things play out. Am I horrible for being rather satisfied seeing Lysaer slaughter his own people? And they'll turn that around on Arithon too. But I'm looking forward to the day Lysaer realizes that everything has been his own damn fault for being a righteous ass. (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 10--well, that was a fun chapter... (view spoiler)[seems like I often raise a question or a thought and then get parts of the reply the next chapter. Some bits of the past during Clan rule, and a very satisfying scene where Morriel (and Lirenda) reaped some of their comeuppance.

But man... almost all of the antagonists share the same traits--they're all hypocrites who blame all of their failings on the victims who happen to evade their grasp. Which makes it so much fun to hate them, and so so satisfying when they fail... that chapter name... um... F... gotta look it up... False Step!--had me in both positive and negative anticipation... who would make that false step? Was so excited when I put the pieces together and realized that the promise Davien elicited from Elaira was a trap! Hah! And FINALLY Lirenda got her comeuppance for her horrible abuse of the Jaelot guardsmen... but at the same time, she figured out that Morriel jumped ship? It never explicitly said when she figured it out though--just that with her voice and every action hobbled by Morriel's takeover of her will, "the secret of Selidie’s unconscionable transgression would stay locked into oblivion within her." When did she figure it out?

Coming back to the Jaelot guardsmen... the way the Koriani act and take and take has been really highlighted by the way the Fellowship and its allies--Ath's Brotherhood, the Clansmen--always ask and enforce free will. It makes what Lirenda did--subverting the guardsmen's fee will, and without even the barest excuse of Koriani obligation, so much more horrible... and then to add on to that, that her crime was not what she did, but that she did it without permission... the whole Order needs to be scrubbed clean from the inside out. Elaira, please, we're counting on you... (hide spoiler)]

Nirkatze wrote: "Chapter 10--well, that was a fun chapter... seems like I often raise a question or a thought and then get parts of the reply the next chapter. Some bits of the past during Clan rule, and a very sat..."

Glad you're enjoying it. :) That one particular scene, well... I know it was serious mode, but when we (view spoiler)[ saw Davien's side and his comment, I was like: Omg, Janny, you didn't. He hit her with the 'stick your fingers in and get burned' as a practical act. Just the whole scene as it played out, she was *so* confident and arrogant that she was gonna trap him and I was like: Mmm, this is either really bad or she's riding too high on her own propaganda and then BAM, Davien goes lolnope and baits her into messing herself up. It was exceedingly well done. (hide spoiler)]

Now though... Arithon's road continues on... where will it go, I wonder? Prepare yourself!

Also, re: Lirenda. (view spoiler)[ The scene when the Koriani arrive at Highscarp and Elaira meets Selidie, that Lirenda barges in on. Just before that, when Lirenda is left alone, she works out what had likely happened and tries to tell Elaira from a sideways approach, but doesn't outright say 'Morriel possessed Selidie.' (hide spoiler)]

re: Lirenda--I thought that might be the case--(view spoiler)[when Lirenda told Elaira to act as though everything was a test... I just didn't remember an explicit moment when she put things together... and the fact that even in her POVs she's never referred to Selidie as Morriel made it easy to forget...

Actually, that point really bothers me. It's not Selidie. Selidie is being abused and drowned. Every time her character is referred to by that name it turns my stomach. (hide spoiler)]

re: lolnope--OMG I love your description of that moment! Almost as good as reading the event itself. Great reaction/recap.

Through Chapter 12 (view spoiler)[I loved Lysaer getting yet another verbal smackdown... shame he's so full of himself he can't even see that his logic is wrong... it's not "if I'm wrong, I'm damned, if I'm right I'm saving people"--it's If you're wrong, you're committing genocide against innocent people and razing a world that has been Sanctified by the very god you claim to represent. But of course, he's so narcissistic he only sees the consequence to himself. I really hope he doesn't get redeemed in the end. I want him to pay.

It was also nice to finally see some of those consequences of Exile. (hide spoiler)]

More on Lirenda: (view spoiler)[ Specifically chapter 4. She remarks in her thoughts that she knows 'Selidie' couldn't possibly have become Prime the correct way. She brought it up when Cadgia told her that the Succession was accomplished and she was like: Wait, what? She was an idiot! There's no way.

After that, in ch4, she advises Elaira that one bit and when alone, she mentally remarks that she knows it's Morriel, but well, Morriel is like: You have no chance of anyone listening to you. when Lirenda dares to challenge her. Lirenda doesn't outright say it or tell Elaira because that would have gotten them killed and she, as remarks internally, doesn't have the recklessness to play with her life at stake the way Elaira did. (hide spoiler)]

Lysaer: (view spoiler)[ Lysaer is deeply, deeply flawed, yup. (hide spoiler)]

re: Lirenda--ah, roger that. I went back and looked through that section of Chapter 4, and yeah, it's heavily implied but never outright stated, so I wasn't quite sure. (view spoiler)[Probably compacted by the fact that Lirenda never even thinks of Selidie as "Morriel." (hide spoiler)]

Through Chapter 13--(view spoiler)[I keep thinking of the Black Rose Prophecy through these chapters. Nope, Sethvir will be fine. If he's torn asunder, then the BRP can't come true. Ah look, Arithon's taking on his responsibility as King--twice! Even "consummating" the relationship with the earth. Well, that was one of the necessary steps to reuniting the fellowship. Oh, hello Davien! The prophecy did say that Arithon would be the one to bring him back into the fold. Here we go!

I find the relative journeys & characters of Dakar, Arithon, and Fionn Areth interesting. Dakar, when faced with the Lane Flux, was like "nooooooo, I caaaaan't" and Arithon, in much worse condition, faced with the same problem was like "I will, because I must." Arithon, leading by example... And Fionn, being so obstinate and childish... until faced with the actual pain of one of the men who saved his life. Much like Dakar was so childish and obstinate towards Arithon... until he was exposed to his compassion and pain... Dakar is learning from Arithon, and teaching Fionn...

I've been thinking about the comparison between the "Light" and "Dark" powers--Arithon has pretty much only ever used his "dark" to conceal, or as illusion... while Lysaer's power is the one that actually kills. I think Arithon could use dark to kill, as cold, perhaps--but I'm not sure. And it might not be instant, like Light. Ironic, considering how "evil" Dark is supposed to be, that it doesn't kill. Then again, everything about the stupid religion is hypocrisy and irony.

Hah. The way Davien replies (or doesn't) to questions makes me think of Aes Sedai. Davien Sedai. Not lying outright, but letting people make their own conclusions. They figured him out anyway. Why is there this Voldemort-esque hesitance against saying his name? Even K&L were like "Don't say it!" and the Clansmen only say "The Betrayer" as do the Koriani. (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 14 (view spoiler)[Even though I'm glad to be getting so much Elaira this book, I'm a bit bummed that she's pretty much just been sitting in her tower watching the world and wringing her hands. I really want her to wake up to the fact that she could ask the Fellowship to help her with more than they have been--that they could even relieve her of her ties to the Koriani. Then again, they're kind of busy. At least she did learn enough to start asking, like when she asks the adept if there is any other advice he should give her.

And the whole trap for Arithon, on Koriani obligation--they take a lot of liberties with that definition--what if she saves him, and he did not request it? Why would that still tie him? I guess the Koriani don't really care about Free Will though... as shown by Lirenda earlier. And why can't Elaira act out of selfishness--and then only owe it to herself? I guess I'm a bit spoiled by other books I've been reading--this whole situation makes me think of the Luideag in the October Daye books, constrained by a geas that forces her into bargains. She can only "give" someone something if she can convince herself it is an entirely selfish action, otherwise she is forced to extract a price for everything...

Oh, "Peril's Gate"! I love how the title of each book gets revealed. Especially the last few, when they're not so simple or obvious.

Lysaer still pisses me off every time he's on page. He has the most punchable chapters. In. His. Face. I don't care how flawed he is. He is a hypocritical ass and I want him to writhe in the pain of that knowledge someday.

Sulfin Evend--he thinks that he owes Lysaer a "debt evoked by survival" of the Grimward--I hope he someday learns that he is giving his debt to the wrong person, and that he should be supporting the other side... I'm guessing his "debt" isn't as binding as one of the Koriani though...

Glad all the Brotherhood finally know of Morriel's invasion of Selidie... hoping Asandir might be able to do something... after all this flux is tidied... at the very least, they should excommunicate the Koriani... (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 15 (view spoiler)[Am wondering about how the Maze managed to kill the old King.... Or rather--not just his gift of compassion... but what guilts did he have that were suicide-worthy? Was the old Clan rule one of tyranny? Or have aspects of such? Is that why Davien helped their overthrow?

Davien mentions at some point that he was driven by sight of the future. Was it more that he foresaw that the royal lines needed to be exiled, for A&L to be born, to drive off the Mistwraith? And so on.

"Know thou, thyself." OOOOH! Arithon making it through the Maze--I imagine this will be like a cleansing... he'll get his mage-sight back! If he has to face everything he's done, and accept it, the barrier should be gone...

Interesting seeing parts of Arithon's past that we never got to read. Though I'm surprised that the recap skipped his & Lysaer's journey through the Desert, when he had to use Lysaer's hate to drive him...

And all this peek at the past is making me even more curious how his people on the other side of the Portal are doing... with no mage to turn their salted fields, and no king to keep their islands safe.... it's been what? 40 years? And neither Lysaer nor Arithon have given their old home another thought... How long will it be until we see them again?

Glad Elaira at least recognizes just how stupid the Koriani have been, to put the forces of the world into such upheaval, and pit themselves against the Brotherhood... if only anyone in the order were listening to her... Each time more crap happens, I just want to facepalm thinking of Morriel's stupidity and arrogance... truly she and Lysaer are meant for each other... I wish they would pit their arrogance against each other. (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 16--(view spoiler)[Okay, Elaira's "cry mercy" on repeat is starting to annoy me. Perhaps it's just the wording... but it feels almost like she's begging Arithon to give in so she can save him--and thus embroil him in Koriani obligation. Not cool. Even if it's just a phrase of empathy and pain... it's repetition is not doing her character any favors... I'd rather some variety and actual commentary than mindless repetition. It sounds a little too "woe is me" over-dramatic.

Well. Did Arithon and Elaira just get married?

I wonder if Elaira will ever have to take that step, to snap the Koriani trap around her beloved? It's too tasty of a conflict to avoid entire. Perhaps it will be the catalyst that finally pries Elaira away from the Order.

Though I'm not quite sure how this works: "My Prime's trap has now been unmasked by your hand. Therefore, my order cannot charge you with debt."--so they could claim debt if he was helped without asking--but only if he didn't know to ask? But if he knows to ask, and doesn't ask, and is helped--he doesn't owe them? That's backwards of how the Fellowship does it, almost exactly...

Knowing Elaira's there... if the Blood Oath wasn't enough... he'd keep stepping forward to save her.

Oh god, the Cry Mercy's are coming like every paragraph now. It is totally ruining the mood for me. I'm not feeling it. I just want her to shut up. Thank goodness that chapter is over. And yes, that's how I react to crying babies too.

I'm very curious about Kevor's renewal--thinking of other people with horrible injuries--like say, Arithon's hand, or Traithe... would this work for them as well? Though Traithe's injury is for sure more than just flesh...

The tree that blooms--renewed, through Kevor taking on the mantle of Ath's Brotherhood... that's the one in Merior, yes? That Lysaer broke with his rejection of truths?

Crucible is a good name for the last segment. Arithon proves his steel--beaten until breaking, but comes out renewed. Fingers crossed.

Arithon never coerced, or crossed the Law of Major Balance. But Lysaer has....

Oh good! We get a little information about how Karthan is doing. Though the solution feels a bit easy--a tidbit to nudge readers to focus on Athera instead.

Ooh, shiny! Maybe not only magecraft, but also mastery of the geas? That would be a nice prize for the climax of this entry. Though it seems a bit early in the series for it...

Huh. So... is what Arithon did, remaking himself, similar to what happened to Kevor at Ath's Sanctuary? I wonder if he'll wake to find his hand healed...?

Last tidbits of the chapter--ha! Nice to see that Morriel's meddling is brought up short by the Sanctuary! (hide spoiler)]

Just one chapter left to go!

You are barreling through! I am impressed! :D Having breakfast at the moment so will parse some thoughts soon but suffice to say, this volume upends the table, as it were.

One comment though.

(view spoiler)[ Mastery of the Curse doesn't mean he's rid of it. It still is there, he just has a way to counter its hold but no way to remove it within his power. He just... has reclaimed more of himself from its influence and can more effectively fight off when it flares up than the slowly eroding resistance he was putting up before. (hide spoiler)]

Nirkatze wrote: "re: Lirenda--ah, roger that. I went back and looked through that section of Chapter 4, and yeah, it's heavily implied but never outright stated, so I wasn't quite sure. [spoilers removed]

Through ..."

Well, a number of things here but in order:

Black Rose Prophecy (view spoiler)[ Sethvir's in dire straits still. The threat is lessened, but it's still a severe one. What will happen? Read and find out~ (hide spoiler)]

Dakar: (view spoiler)[ steps up a fair bit here and tries to prod Fionn Areth in the right directions, but the problems in front of them are serious, so there's only so much time to cosset a prickly teenage boy, essentially. (hide spoiler)]

Arithon could easily kill pretty gruesomely with his Shadows, for sure.

Davien: (view spoiler)[ Much like the others, he doesn't volunteer information, you have to ask and he appears to have his own agenda. (hide spoiler)]

King Kamri: (view spoiler)[ Died of conscience burdening him. Every action he took in life and its consequences were played out for him, and he was unable to reconcile that and much as we saw the condition Arithon was in at Fugitive Prince's latter half, gave up and rejected the necessities to live. (hide spoiler)]

The Clan rule: (view spoiler)[ Without spoiling... no. This is touched on in the discussion Sulfin Evend and Lysaer have, but suffice to say, there are(reader and in-universe) assumptions being made. The term Kings is heard and it is used for framework purposes, but what the Kings did and the clans backed them, was more complicated. Remember, humans aren't native to Athera and there were living, *sentient* beings present before them. So what sort of arrangements and/or compromises might have been required to make certain they could co-exist? (hide spoiler)]

Elaira: (view spoiler)[ Cry Mercy is an appeal to one in authority that they would show compassion or forgiveness toward one in their power. So it isn't Elaira appealing to Arithon so much as desperately crying out in her thoughts toward one who might be able to act. (hide spoiler)]

Nirkatze wrote: "Chapter 16-..."

Hope you are well! Can't wait to see your final thoughts and proceeding to Traitor's Knot! :D