Fantasy Buddy Reads discussion

This is the Buddy Read for Farilane by Michael J. Sullivan starting on February 15, 2025.


Happy Reading!

Yay!

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) [link]

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

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: Audible Exclusives
Ebook: cannot find any library/subscription copies.

Started! I was not expecting this to pick up A THOUSAND years after Nolyn. So I'm glad that Sullivan explained his reasoning in the opening... Through Chapter 3 (view spoiler)[I rather like princess Farilane though! Reckless adventuring for SCIENCE and KNOWLEDGE! If you're going to be reckless and ditch your imperial bodyguards, that's the best reason to do so.

And she found the Book of Brin!! Damn. (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 4 (view spoiler)[The scene with the bandits backing down when they find out their opponents are Teschlor Knights was amusing--and reminiscent of the opening scene of the Riyria series...

And then it turning into local rebellion was a nice twist. (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 5!! (view spoiler)[Kyle! Malcom sighting! I'm pretty sure... Kyle is a name he's used before... I don't remember when though.. I'm pretty sure it's Malcom, and not his brother... and the joke on "It's not my first and pretty sure not my last" was a nice wink. (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 6 (view spoiler)[And this Proust (?) character is a good candidate for Mawy. He's setting up the Church of Nevron, spreading anti-elf sentiment, and looking for the Horn. But is he too obvious?

I feel for Farilane... dealing with new precedent which enshrines sexism... (hide spoiler)]

I plan on starting this tomorrow :)

Ann-Marie wrote: "I plan on starting this tomorrow :)"

Yay!!

Through Chapter 14 (view spoiler)[Sephryn's still around! That's one link to Nolyn... and to the real history. She recognizes Kile... lots more markers point to him being Turin... but doesn't recognize the other dude--but then Mawy always disguised himself. No wait, she did recognize him, by voice. Asshole Mawy, killing Sephryn. He's older than her, why is he stronger? Oh wait, he's full Frey and she's only half.

Interesting that one of the themes is sexism here... and the rewriting of history, the loss of magic... but we know magic comes back by Esrahaddon's time. (hide spoiler)]

Started! Through Chapter 1 (view spoiler)[ Love the anthropology adventure we start with! Reminds me of The Mummy or Indiana Jones.. Complete with ancient puzzles :D (hide spoiler)]

Oh man, I gobbled that up, prepare for feels folks... (view spoiler)[I was starting to dread that Farilane would die, after seeing how competent she was... considering that we've never heard of her. If she had gained power, or even been a person of influence during her brother's rule, her name should have been stamped in history. Though I do remember Sullivan saying--I think in the introduction to Nolyn, or afterword for Legends, that we had heard of Farilane... so she's probably mentioned once by Arista at some point...

The reason she had to die was really well seeded... and while I'm still a little fuzzy on the details, the fact that being a twin made the magic of the horn confused was a really good twist. I've been trying to figure out how exactly that worked though--like if the horn wasn't being blown that year, and if Farilane never had children, it shouldn't affect the heir's line. Sullivan tries to explain it in [this thread] a bit--but I think he kinda shot himself in the foot--he says that identical twins have no clear older/younger, but fraternal twins it wouldn't be a problem. Well, duh, Farilane and her brother HAVE to be fraternal, unless he's changing how genetics work in Riyria. Then he backtracks and says the real issue isn't the horn, as much as it is the future that Turin sees--that Farilane ruling, or even being alive, would lead to a brief Golden Age that ends in the destruction of the human race. So, it's a great twist if I don't think too hard about it.

I didn't mind the not-quite-a-romance here, with Turin getting a bit of a tragiromance... that the attraction was one of the mind, and that Farilane was the only one to acknowledge Turin's hardship and pain, instead of blame him... I had all the feels at the end! (hide spoiler)]

Tonari no Emily wrote: "Started! Through Chapter 1 [spoilers removed]"

Yes! I loved that! She all (view spoiler)[Lara Croft-ed Avempartha! (hide spoiler)]

I finished this morning and I think this is my favorite non Royce & Hadrian book. (view spoiler)[THAT ENDING! I had a bad feeling last night when I had just a few chapters left and I normally listen to podcasts in the morning when getting ready for work and I was like better listen to the end of the book before work and I am so glad I did because I was bereft! At first I was like Malcolm can fuck all the way off and then I felt bad for him too. THE FEATHERS! It was so awesome starting the day off crying lol

Anyway at first I was disappointed at the time jump, I wanted to see some of Nolyn's reign but I understand why Sullivan did it. And we did get a chance to see Sephryn albeit brief and tragic because Mandy whats his name can also fuck all the way off! That guy sucks so bad and it sucks even more because we know he is not going away and will for sure be in the next book as well. I loved Farilane's adventures, her interactions with the various people she encountered,ultimately her influence on her society, loved har! (hide spoiler)]

Absolutely loved this book so much! @Nirkatze I read that Myron mentions Farilane in passing in that series.

You guys are making me excited. I started last night but it’s an eye read so it might take me a while. I read chapter 1 and honestly I’m not loving it so far, but I have high hopes for the rest of the book.

Yeah I'm stoked to really get into it. I'm giving the ebook a try because I don't want to use a credit and it was available at the library... But I've got more time off than I thought I would because of the snow so hopefully I can make some progress today lol

Nirkatze is not wrong, prepare yourself for major feels.....

It still hurts, but hurts so good... Loved your final thoughts, Ann-Marie! (view spoiler)[I'm especially sad for Sephryn, because of that law--she is supposedly banned from Frey heaven... but does that keep them from the human one? And we already know that the afterlife is pretty much just where you believe you belong... will Nolyn be waiting for her, much like Brin was going to go back for Tesh?

But man... now I want Farilane to show up in whatever the next series Sullivan is writing--the title sounded like it could be Turin's story... he and Farilane are forever parted, as long as he's not allowed in the afterlife... (hide spoiler)]

Nirkatze wrote: "It still hurts, but hurts so good... Loved your final thoughts, Ann-Marie! ..."

About the afterlife (view spoiler)[I am a little fuzzy on those details, I may go to the ryria subreddit, if there is a breakdown anywhere it'll be there. I did think Brin went back to Tesh though and if she didn't then I hope Sullivan never addresses it in a book because that will make me so mad lol The Sephryn thing sucked in the last book, remember she felt her spirit or whatever change so it must be true about killing a frey which is stupid, Nolyn best be waiting for her somehow and if anyone can manage that he can.

Sullivan is writing a Turin story? I am not sure about that, I feel like we have heard enough bits and pieces so far that a dedicated story may be overkill. Meanwhile I am sure Sullivan will manage to make me tear up a bit, the jerk.....But if Farilane is in it then I am in for a Turin story lol (hide spoiler)]

In one of our other threads--Nolyn?--someone commented that Sullivan was working on a new series, maybe his last one to wrap up the World of Elan... we were speculating on what it might cover...

I'm hoping (view spoiler)[that Nolyn & Sephryn will be able to go to the human afterlife and hang out there--since they're both half human--and they can ignore the Frey afterlife. Wasn't Frey just like, leading an eternal war, anyway? Sounds boring. (hide spoiler)]

Nirkatze wrote: "Chapter 5!! [spoilers removed]"

I’m still reading and just got to this part and immediately ran to this thread cuz same! I didn’t even get it at first until that quote and then I was like (view spoiler)[Omg it’s Malcolm! Which makes sense cuz he loves showing up as advisor to nobility (hide spoiler)]

Diana Stormblessed wrote: "Nirkatze wrote: "Chapter 5!! [spoilers removed]"

I’m still reading and just got to this part and immediately ran to this thread cuz same! ..."

Yes!! I was so surprised (view spoiler)[that it was so obvious, considering that he's been harder to spot in the other books. You make a really good point on how he's always found just right of center though. (hide spoiler)]

Through chapter 6 (view spoiler)[ Definitely agree about Proust being Mawy.. It's interesting seeing the development of the church and some mythology that we see in Hadrian and Royce's time.
I really like Farilane and her way with words.. I bet that gets her into trouble a lot of the time though

Also the Emperor is SUCH an ass for receiving her while he's taking a shit. wtf. (hide spoiler)]

Tonari no Emily wrote: "Through chapter 6 ..."

(view spoiler)[The taking a shit part was hilarious though lol.

I’m not sure about Proust being Mawy. It feels too obvious. I feel like Proust is hearing Mawy in his head (like how he knew where Farilane would be because “God” told him). I think Mawy is listening in but I don’t think he’s Proust (hide spoiler)]

Are we calling him Mawy? His name is as stupid as he is and I have been calling him Mandy but I know there is a w in there so Mawy makes sense. I mean we could call him King Asshole and it would fit quite nicely.

That's what um... that chick who he liked in that one rebellious teen group called him. I can't remember the whole thing so I stole it.

Lol it works for me

Diana Stormblessed wrote: "Tonari no Emily wrote: "Through chapter 6 ..."
(view spoiler)[
The taking a shit part was hilarious though lol.
(hide spoiler)]
Lol true, but (view spoiler)[ hes still an asshole xD (hide spoiler)]

Damn it. I’m 50% through (view spoiler)[they just escaped the Prince, The teschlors, and Ruby, and Sheldon is acting like a cocky batard. It’s Mawy isn’t it. I knew Proust was too obvious 😂 (hide spoiler)]. My library copy is due back in 3 days and there’s a hold so I can’t renew it. So I’ll be finishing this one asap.

Ok but to continue with my last post. (I posted it and kept thinking) (view spoiler)[ He’d look like an elf though. And Malcolm would recognize him. So maybe it’s not him physically but controlled by him? I don’t think it’s Malcolm’s brother cuz I think he’d go after Malcolm right away. Sorry I keep calling him Malcolm cuz I can’t currently remember what his real name is. The “man” has too many names. (hide spoiler)]

through chapter 14 (view spoiler)[ Mawy has been revealed. Poor Sephryn. (hide spoiler)] Will start opening spoiler tags when the kids go to bed.

(view spoiler)[ I forgot he could change his appearance 🤦‍♀️ (hide spoiler)]

About Mawy (view spoiler)[I figured out it was him when he started being snippy, like he couldn't help himself from being a little bitch..... (hide spoiler)]

Malcom = Turin but I think of him as Malcom 95% of the time too lol

Ditto on Malcom.
And LOLing at how Ann-Marie figured Mawy out...

Ann-Marie wrote: "About Mawy [spoilers removed]
."

lol ditto on both of these.

I never got to open the spoilers. Will do it tonight.

I just finished (view spoiler)[ 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭 (hide spoiler)]

I know right!!!

SAME!

OMG i see what yall mean about the FEELINGS

Tonari no Emily wrote: "OMG i see what yall mean about the FEELINGS"

I was bereft!

WAAAAA!

Dude! Feelings is an understatement. I was finishing the audio and my husband came into the room to fold his laundry and I burst into tears. You should have seen his face. Ha ha.

I don’t think I’ve ever read anything more romantic in my entire life.

During reading this I had a dream I was looking (view spoiler)[ for Mordilay (I only audioed so I have no idea how it’s spelled) and it was a little girl. And I was trying to alert people to him. It was really scary. His powers are crazy scary. (hide spoiler)]

The only thing I can think of to say in reply I've said already: WAAAAAAA!