Fantasy Buddy Reads discussion

This is a Buddy Read for Age of Swords by Michael J. Sullivan starting on June 5, 2024.


Happy Reading!

Thank you!

Schedule:
1. Age of Myth (May 5) [link]
Shorts: Pile of Bones & Little Wren and the Big Forest
2. Age of Swords (June 5)
3. Age of War (July 5) [link]
4. Age of Legend (Aug 5) [link]
5. Age of Death (Sept 5) [link]
6. Age of Empyre (Oct 5) [link]

Audio: 1-4 are on Hoopla (both regular and Graphic Audio), 5-6 are Audible Exclusives
Ebook: cannot find any library/subscription copies.

Just finished. I liked the first one a bit better but man did this one throw an emotional punch.

I started this the other day and I wasn't feeling it, hoping that it'll click when I revisit this week.

I'll be a couple days yet. Gonna get through some of the books scheduled for earlier this month (why are there so many, this is scheduled for June 5th???)

Blew through this yesterday and whoo--agreeing with @Diana, I think I like #1 a bit better but still really enjoyed this... I'd forgotten most of everything, so the emotional punch hit me square on... (view spoiler)[The wisest wolf!! And she was essentially killed twice... I wish they could have just taken her with them...

I really like seeing Moya & Rune's growth the most--the ongoing technology inventions are fun, though I still find the naming gags a bit annoying. "Give me a row!" Why did you call it a row in the first place? Why not a sharp stick? The logic just doesn't pass with me. Or the conversation on "cask" versus "barrel".... I can see how it added an extra brick on Rune & G's relationship, but why they're coming up with these words have no logic to them.... it bugs me.

Spoiled Elf Boy's POVs are my least favorite--I can see how he's being manipulated, but he's so noxious of a personality that I just don't care. And knowing that he never learns or changes... that he grows up into an old man who is still a spoiled boy at heart... also sucks the joy out of those sections. And knowing that he really doesn't get comeuppance until centuries later... grrrr.

The rereader spoiler bits... it's cool to be able to catch so much more of those...

I really like Persephone & R's non-relationship... and now with Nephron being told he can't be kennig, but he can marry the kennig putting another wrench in any potential future... (hide spoiler)]

I finished this just now (view spoiler)[I can't believe Meena died twice! That was an unwelcome surprise for sure. I think it is an interesting contrast how important female characters were in the book meanwhile most of the men when they returned from the dwarves were making fun and not taking them seriously at first. The Fhrey parts were meh, that kid is annoying. (hide spoiler)]

Ann-Marie wrote: "I finished this just now [spoilers removed]"

I was busy last month... how much did you guys discuss Mawyndulë?

(view spoiler)[and the fact he's Patriarch Nilnev, leader of the Nyphron Church during the Riyria series?... I think it took me 0.5 to 2 books to realize that, when I read the series during the last BR a few years ago... (hide spoiler)]

Timelord Iain wrote: "Ann-Marie wrote: "I finished this just now [spoilers removed]"

I was busy last month... how much did you guys discuss Mawyndulë?

[spoilers removed]"

Is that the guy staring at the door?

The emotional punch rocked me a lot harder on the reread.

Ann-Marie wrote: "Timelord Iain wrote: "Ann-Marie wrote: "I finished this just now [spoilers removed]"

I was busy last month... how much did you guys discuss Mawyndulë?

[spoilers removed]"

Is that the guy staring..."

No it’s the fey ruler’s son. The little twerp.

Diana Stormblessed wrote: "Ann-Marie wrote: "Timelord Iain wrote: "Ann-Marie wrote: "I finished this just now [spoilers removed]"

I was busy last month... how much did you guys discuss Mawyndulë?

[spoilers removed]"

Is th..."

Ugh now I dislike him even more!

Yeah... that's why his parts were so unsatisfying... because his comeuppance doesn't come literally until centuries later...

I absolutely loved this. I need to make father’s day dinner but I will be back to read the spoilers.

WOW.

I pretty much agree with the sentiments. (view spoiler)[ When Meena died, I cried and then when the dragon died…I cried again. What a horrible position to be in.

Please tell me that Persephone doesn’t marry that dude. I get why she doesn’t want to be with the god killer but I also don’t get why she doesn’t want to be with him. I’d be with him.

Also I can’t STAND the Prince turd. I’d love to see him DIAF. (hide spoiler)]

Well, we kind of already know from reading the Riyria Revelations that Persephone (view spoiler)[does marry Nyphron... it's the historical name of first Emperor Novron's wife, and the reason the capitol was named Persepolis... Though I suppose there could always be some historical twist in there, changes of identity or swapping a person out or something... But if not, on the bright side, that makes her Royce's ultimate grandmother... (hide spoiler)]

Um…. RAFO I guess 😅

Crap, I forgot to pick this one back up on Hoopla when I had to pause reading for studying.. I need to finish it or I'll have to borrow it again...
I think I listened to chapters or so and was a bit hard to get into.. Gonna need to find something to do while I listen after my current read!

Through chapter 4... not trusting any of the frey right now.. random aside: (view spoiler)[ when Arian is teaching Suriel about "The Art" Suriel has the revelation moment and compared it to the time she discovered she couldnt swallow without touching her tongue to the roof of her mouth... Anyone else try to swallow without doing that? Whenever I come across a physical impossibility I always try to do it 😂 (hide spoiler)]

In chapter 5... finding it a little jarring/taking me out of the book with all the inventions and first time uses of words... like with coming up with "dwarf"

Tonari no Emily wrote: "In chapter 5... finding it a little jarring/taking me out of the book with all the inventions and first time uses of words... like with coming up with "dwarf""

Yeah, the naming thing is kind of eye rolly. They invent and name things all through the book.

Ugh yeah its driving me kind of crazy.. Brynne just invented a form of writing and i just wanna roll my eyes lol

Tonari no Emily wrote: "Ugh yeah its driving me kind of crazy.. Brynne just invented a form of writing and i just wanna roll my eyes lol"

Yeah, definitely my least-favorite running gag in the series. Though on reread it makes me groan instead of eye-roll, so I suppose that's an improvement...

As for swallowing without touching the roof of mouth... I can do it with my tongue caught between my teeth, which keeps it from moving upwards....