The Procrastinators Book Club discussion

Welcome to the Kingdom of Ash Buddy Read Discussion thread! This thread officially opens on April and anyone can join at any time. Please keep in mind that spoilers are allowed in this thread but only up to the group's current reading place. Do not spoil the book if you've read further than the group. Any extra days can be used to catch up!

Each day we will be reading by chapters or page numbers. Page numbers are an approximation based on the hardcover or paperback that is the default on Goodreads. The suggested Buddy Read discussion schedule is as follows:

Week of 07/01
July 01: Chapters 1-4
July 02: Chapters 5-8
July 03: Chapters 9-12
July 04: Chapters 13-16
July 05: Chapters 17-20
July 06: Chapters 21-24

Week of 07/07
July 07: Chapters 25-28
July 08: Chapters 29-32
July 09: Chapters 33-36
July 10: Chapters 37-40
July 11: Chapters 41-44
July 12: Chapters 45-48
July 13: Chapters 49-52

Week of 07/14
July 14: Chapters 53-56
July 15: Chapters 57-60
July 16: Chapters 61-64
July 17: Chapters 65-68
July 18: Chapters 69-72
July 19: Chapters 73-76
July 20: Chapters 77-80

Week of 07/21
July 21: Chapters 81-84
July 22: Chapters 85-88
July 23: Chapters 89-92
July 24: Chapters 93-96
July 25: Chapters 97-100
July 26: Chapters 101-104
July 27: Chapters 105-108

Week of 07/28
July 28: Chapters 109-112
July 29: Chapters 113-116
July 30: Chapters 117-end

PARTICIPANTS
~ Brianna
~ Sophie
~ Mina

It has been a few months since I read the last installment in this series so a bit fuzzy on everything that happened/is going on. Thankfully it's coming back pretty easily so not too hard to pick up what's happening. So far we have seen almost everyone I think except for Chaol?

Chapters 1-8

I didn’t realise how much I missed this world. Like you Brianna, I read the previous instalment a few months ago and I’ve read A LOT of books since then.

I’m confused as to why Aedion and Lysandra are on the outs?
Did Yrene and Chaol get married in the previous book or???

God I feel so awful for Aelin, I really don’t know how she’s going to come back from this, it’s so mentally damaging. I’m still unsure on how I feel about Lorcan and his intentions. Yrene being pregnant (suspected) is really going to throw an unnecessary spanner in the works. Why does SJM lovvvvvvveeee throwing kids in?

@Sophie
Aedion feels betrayed that Lysandra didn't tell him about the plan she and Aelin made, that Lys shifts into Aelin.

I haven't really been reading after the last book, well books, so if I don't remember something it's because I have a bad memory.
So far I don't have anything to comment.

through end of chapter 12

I am worried about this book. Like 100 pages in and not much has happened. How much will be dragged out in this beast of a book? I forgot that Aelin didn't know about Maeve and what she truly is. I wonder how long it will take her to figure it out.

There probably needs to be a few more inconsistencies for Aelin to put the pieces together. She already saw Maeve not bleeding red, but for now she's writing it off as her mind playing tricks.

I think the previous books too had that, too many pages to.. do I don't know what.

Read chapter 16
(view spoiler)[Well, it would seem that the action is starting. I mean, I don't really have anything to say about Manon and the 13 finding the Crocans, and the battle.. her decision was risky, it brought a few deaths, I get why, but so far it doesn't look like it bought the Crocans.

Why is Darrow commanding Aedion? That's something I don't remember. (hide spoiler)]

ch20 (view spoiler)[ Meave's idea to slowly, in a nice way, make Aelin tell where the keys is genius. I thought if she did it over a longer time she could've twisted Aelin's believes who is who, and what's the end goal. (hide spoiler)]

through end of chapter 20: Things are definitely picking up but still a bit confused on some details.
1. I thought Chaol's father was a bad guy and in cahoots with Valg. Apparently just a bad guy. Although I wouldn't be surprised at him having some sort of redeeming moment but right before death.
2. I love Yrene for standing up to Chaol's dad like that - good for her.
3. Maeve is sneaky sneaky! I am curious to know why Maeve is against the Valg - I thought she was on their side? Maybe still trying to get away from them (based on the story she told Aelin)?
4. Things are going to go sideways still with the Crochans. I worry about Dorian and why he killed the spider. I think he's up to no good and it'll be interesting to see what chaos he causes as a result.

Chapters 21-24
- Glad they found some allies in Doranelle.
- Woop Dorian changed his eyes, he did it.. I don't know what that means, but he succeeded.

I'm on 200 pages of my book, and...it's too many pages for nothing much to be real.

Fell a little bit behind this weekend, but I managed to catch up today :)

Chapters 9-12

I’m feeling a little lost at this point, another thing I forgot, who is Ravi? Honestly next time I read a fantasy series I just need to read them back to back lol. I’m going to need some more action quick time though…..

Chapters 13-16

Thank god the Crochans have shown up and that storyline hasn’t been dragged out any further. I’m enjoying Manon and Dorian’s interactions, it’s golden retriever and a sleuth cheetah.

Chapters 17-20

@Brianna, I agree! I love that Yrene stood up for Chaol, not just because of the way Chaol has been treated by his father, but also it shows major growth in her confidence.

Chaptrrs 25-28

Poor Fenrys, it was really admirable what he did not just for Aelin, but also breaking free from Maeve. Thank god Aelin escaped and we’ve got some action. Her reunion with Rowan was a little underwhelming so hopefully we get a little something more in the later chapters.

through end of chapter 28: So my prediction is now that Aelin is free there are going to be many chapters of her processing/dealing with the trauma she just went through (fair). I also think she will go mess things up with Morath and the 50,000 troops attacking Terrasen. But if that happens in the first 50% then what the heck else is going to happen in this beast of a book? Stuff is going to totally be drawn out.

Chapters 29-44

If I’m understanding correctly, Fenrys and Rowan are bound to Aelin the same way they were bound to Maeve, but Lorcan isn’t? Or is he?

I feel so awful for Aelin, but I’m happy that Rowan took his time with her, that he was gentle with her.

Chaol and Yrene’s reunion with Aelin was wholesome af, particularly with Yrene, the assassins blade stories always come back around. I’m happy that Chaol and Aelin are comfortable on a platonic level.

through the end of chapter 52: Aelin is finally back with one of the original gang! The big (public) reveal about Maeve felt a bit lackluster - did they all have an inkling that she wasn't who she said she was? No-one seemed especially surprised. I *really* hope they make it north to Aedion in time. They are getting completely beat up there and I'm worried.

Sophie wrote: " Chapters 29-44

If I’m understanding correctly, Fenrys and Rowan are bound to Aelin the same way they were bound to Maeve, but Lorcan isn’t? Or is he?

I feel so awful for Aelin, but I’m happy tha..."

@Sophie - yeah Fenrys and Lorcan both did the blood oath, similar to Maeve, but Aelin has said she wouldn't really issue commands the same way. She did the blood oath with Fenrys to save his life and Lorcan to ensure his loyalty.

Just poping in to say that I'm on vacation and I'm not able to listen to it much. I don't remember on what chapter I'm on, but it's close to 40.

mina wrote: "Just poping in to say that I'm on vacation and I'm not able to listen to it much. I don't remember on what chapter I'm on, but it's close to 40."

@mina - completely understandable! I hope the vacation has been enjoyable!

through end of chapter 56: So... things are finally happening and I *really* hope Aelin makes it to Aedion and Lysandra quickly - they need the help. I love that she just completely went with the flow in regards to Chaol and Yrene - they're all being super adult about the shared past and I find it refreshing.

through end of chapter 64: I still stand by my original thought that this book didn't have be so long. I'm glad that Aelin is getting back to herself and starting to help in the war effort. I am glad that Elide and Lorcan worked through their stuff. I am glad that Aedion got help. I just hope there are no significant deaths to come of the core group cause that would suck (and this coming from someone who has read A Song of Ice and Fire where everyone dies).

through end of chapter 68: Okay so we are now on Part Two which is insane - why couldn't they have been two separate books? Aelin is finally making her way back to Terrasen and Dorian is officially in Morath (apparently also Maeve - uh oh).

through end of chapter 76: So... is Dorian going rogue? What is Maeve up to? Will Aelin make it in time? Why is the Ferian Gap empty? So many questions. lol

I got Covid so have been reading ahead. I don't have the brain power to start a new book so figured I would work on this beast of a book: through end of chapter 104: (view spoiler)[I was not expecting Aelin losing most of her magic. How will they beat Morath without it? I feel so bad for Manon losing the Thirteen. Interesting about Dorian's father - Nameless. Such a weird thing for Erawan (?) to do and am curious for the reasoning behind that. I'm glad Darrow is finally getting with the program and understanding that Aedion has only kept the good of Terrasen in mind. (hide spoiler)]

I finished chapter 64.

Since I'm reading it over a longer time period, and had a small pause in reading, I don't remember having anything to comment or add. Things are happening, but yeah, too many pages for not that much?

* I'm happy Lorcan and Elide sorted things out :D
* Aelin collecting her magic or whatever for 3 months is crazy. A great move, that shocked Rowan, but also that fact that she had a super smart plan irks me a bit. From the beginning of the series I know that I was annoyed whenever boom she had an amazing idea, a grand plan, and of course no one knew about because she didn't tell anyone, but it saved their asses in the end. I don't know just feels like "ha, I'm SO smart and no one is this cunning like me", and she has what 20ish years? Maybe it irks me that full of her self act when she's that young + we have faes that are hundreds of years old and she's smarter than them.

* I was shocked that Manon's coven sacrificed themselves and died. I really didn't expect it.

* I'm at the part where Aelin is opening the gate, and jeez I'm 150 pages away from the end and it feels like too much. I guess there are more things that need happening. Also, it feels a bit anticlimactic that from the beginning they are looking for the keys to close the doors, send the gods to wherever, aaaaand she just sends them, they screw her over, then she screws them over. I don't know, a tad disappointed.

*It's interesting that she's going through the worlds Maas created, I liked that touch.

Final thoughts

(view spoiler)[ 3.5 stars ✨

Unfortunately this was an anticlimactic ending to what started off as a really enjoyable series for me. About midway through the series, I felt as though the quality of the books depreciated to a noticeable extent and I became way less interested.

There was a lack of intensity, almost like Maas was playing it a little safe. They have all these battles and only Gavriel and The Thirteen die? If she was going to do it that way, why not have Gavriel and Aedion reunite earlier on in the book to make his loss more gut wrenching? Honestly I feel like we could’ve been a little ballsier and killed off Dorian. Don’t get me wrong, I really like Dorian, he is a beloved character in the series and I was in desperate need of more of him and Manon, but why play it safe?

I love a long book, if anything I’m preferential to them, but I think we could’ve cut 200-300 pages easy. Too many things were dragged out and whilst all ends were resolved, they were unsatisfying. For example, we built up Erawan and Maeve’s comeuppance……for it to be that? Yeah no. There were also too many conveniences, e.g. Rowans inherited money from Maeve.

On a more positive note, because I did actually enjoy the book for the most part, the descriptions and imagery was great and I like how intentional Sarah J Maas is with her writing. The side characters really held their own and I became invested in them, and their own stories.

I would probably rank this second to last in my whole ranking of the series, and rank the series as a whole last when it comes to Maas’ works.

It’s been a longgggggg ride.
(hide spoiler)]

Sophie wrote: " Final thoughts ."

@Sophie: YESSSSSS. I completely agree with all these thoughts. Did not need to how long it was and there could have easily been more of an emotional punch. Things wrapped up a bit too cleanly/neatly for everything that was built up.

Finally finished it yesterday and.... it's... I don't know, like you said no punch in the end.

I cried when The Thirteen died, and later when we have those moments when they ask Manon where they are or they just are not behind her like they used to be.. might be my hormones screwing with me but that was the most the book hit me.. otherwise no. For seven enormous books where the stakes were risen so high, the actual end was very anticlimactic.