Fantasy Buddy Reads discussion

This is a Buddy Read for Age of Empyre by Michael J. Sullivan starting on October 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) [link]
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)

The Rise and Fall
1. Nolyn (Nov 15) [link]
2. Farilane (Jan 15)
3. Esrahaddon (Feb 15)

Riyria Chronicles
1. The Crown Tower
1.5 The Viscount and the Witch
2. The Rose and the Thorn
2.5 The Jester
2.6 Professional Integrity
3. The Death of Dulgath
4. The Disappearance of Winter's Daughter
5. Drumindor

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

Started, through ch13 (view spoiler)[and this whole shitshow is so Malcolm cam make up for being an absolutely terrible person and causing this whole mess? And of course he had Tressa lie about the purpose of their quest/sacrifice because he is terrible. Let me guess, Brin (who is the only one that moved on, which I m still not clear if that is the end for the rest of that group and if so I will be so mad because what a sucky ending to some great characters!) and she has to get the horn and return it to where Nyphron is so he can challenge Mondelay or whatever his name is since he is being an idiot and thinking with his dick and is going to murder his father to become the leader but Nyohrom will kick his ass and take over, avenging his father even though it wasn't the kid that killed him! So stupid! We did get to see Raithe again so small comfort there that he is not entirely trapped in the dragon having too listen to Persephone whine on the daily about the stupid choices she made. (hide spoiler)]

So in conclusion for this part of the book, my burning question is - Where are Royce and Hadrian????? I miss that series so much :( Ugh, I can say for certain I will not be re-reading this series, I'll get through this one and get back to my scary reads and be happy and try not to taint my enjoyment of Royce & Hadrian lol

So my prediction appears to be off a bit but this is still stupid.

Finished and I didn't hate it as much as I thought I would lol (view spoiler)[Very sad Brin ended up dying for real but what is really terrible is that the real version of her book was stolen by that ass Trilos. Also while I think Malcolm was pretty terrible I can't really blame him for being mad his brother and his daughter were a thing, total ick. And then Brin was like I can give you the memory of her back and you two can be in an incestuous relationship and live happily ever after and he said no thanks. Like Malcolm knew she would end up dying for sure and he set the path anyway. I was glad that most of the dead people ended up surviving but I didn't really expect that they would end up dead for real. As for the Nyphron and the horn thing I still think he sucks and I hate him. I so wanted Raithe to eat him but no, he stopped because of that stupid cow Persephone and then Nyphrom ended up killing him! I was so mad! And then Persephone stopped Brin when she was telling her what Raithe was saying about waiting for her, she deserves to not find him and to spend eternity alone or better yet with Nyphrom. I was very happy Suri & Mina made it out and were like you all can eff off, we are out of here, some of you can visit.

I still doubt I will ever re-read this series. The Royce & Hadrian books? Definitely. I am preparing myself for the Rise & Fall series and I already know I will be annoyed with the ending since I know it's likely to end on a downer with Esrahaddon being imprisoned. (hide spoiler)]

Finished. I think I enjoyed this one more the second time around. I still think books 5 and 6 should have just been one book and maybe some of the journey through the underworld could have been cut down a bit. (view spoiler)[I liked that not everyone made it out of the underworld. It made it less HEA and more realistic. I like to think Brin found Tesh and was able to pull him from the abyss. And Persephone found Wraith and they were happy together in the afterlife (sorry to her ex husband that she didn't want to spend her afterlife with him though lol). (hide spoiler)]

Diana Stormblessed wrote: "Finished. I think I enjoyed this one more the second time around. I still think books 5 and 6 should have just been one book and maybe some of the journey through the underworld could have been cut..."

Absolutely agree those could have been 1 book, nothing happened in book 5 to further the story except for 1 thing, it was a waste of time.

Read this last week and agree with y'all--5&6 coulda been a single book--edit some of that death journey down by a lot and it wouldn't even be a chonker. These last two rather blur together my favorite part was (view spoiler)[Mina showing up as Elan's champion! And getting to hang out with Suri again!

I'm still not sure that Nyphron killed Raithe--stabbed him and he got buried, but he could still be the Gilabrywn beneath Percepiclis, right? Wishful thinking? Though wishing for him to be stuck beneath the city for a thousand years just so he can exchange a few words with Royce isn't much of an ending either. Thank goodness Brin & co found him in the afterlife--the best parts of his soul are waiting for Persephone there... I like Diana's ending for Brin & Tesh--I want the same thing for Raithe & Persephone... And maybe if we're lucky Nyphron will end up killing a fellow Frey in the next series and be stuck outside for ever. (hide spoiler)]

Speaking of the next series--when are y'all thinking?

Nirkatze wrote: "Read this last week and agree with y'all--5&6 coulda been a single book--edit some of that death journey down by a lot and it wouldn't even be a chonker. These last two rather blur together my favo..."

I'm def ready to continue so whenever you guys want.

We could pick up with Nolyn in Nov, or push later. I'm good whichever.

I’m good with November.

I'll put in a request for Nolyn Nov 15--I missed the regular 5th date...

Just finished this one. I liked it more than you folks. Perhaps it’s because I haven’t read the other series? I just love these characters. I’d read about them going to the grocery store.

Whoo grats!! Almost up to read the next series with us!

LOL That'd be pretty fun seeing them all go to the grocery store...

Diana Stormblessed wrote: "Finished. I think I enjoyed this one more the second time around. I still think books 5 and 6 should have just been one book and maybe some of the journey through the underworld could have been cut..."

Her ex kinda ended up sucking though tbf

Tonari no Emily wrote: "Diana Stormblessed wrote: "Finished. I think I enjoyed this one more the second time around. I still think books 5 and 6 should have just been one book and maybe some of the journey through the und..."

Oh def but that's the ultimate afterlife burn. "I know we've been together for 20+ years, but I'd rather spend all of eternity with this guy I've known a handful of years and never actually dated instead of with you." That's wonderfully savage lol

Heh, N is enough of an asshole I think he'd feel the same. Or would his ego be hurt? One of the most grrr worthy moments in the series is when he tells P "you can't have any hot sides, but I can and will have as many as I want."

Nirkatze wrote: "Heh, N is enough of an asshole I think he'd feel the same. Or would his ego be hurt? One of the most grrr worthy moments in the series is when he tells P "you can't have any hot sides, but I can an..."

Oh yeah, I don't think N would give a an eff.. He had admiration for P, but never love. But I was referring to P's late husband (and so was Dianne I think lol)

OOoooh, I totally forgot about that dude, lol! I bet P would too hah!

Tonari no Emily wrote: "Nirkatze wrote: "Heh, N is enough of an asshole I think he'd feel the same. Or would his ego be hurt? One of the most grrr worthy moments in the series is when he tells P "you can't have any hot si..."

lol yes. No one would expect P and N to spend the afterlife together 😅