Study Buddies discussion

I have always wondered about whether Zitora finds her sister or not because she doesn't pop up in Spy Glass. And i was just wondering when Touch of Power will be out! I can't wait!

thanks!

Is Touch of Power a new book?

Touch of Power due out Dec 20, 2011 per the listing here on GRs.

YESSS! Zitora is awesome. Oh please Maria, heed our call! :) (and Maria's publishers...)

I'm thinking Zitora needs her own short story to tell the tale of her quest for her sister. Eventually, I'll have enough Study shorts for a collection - that would be fun :)

I thought TOUCH OF POWER was coming out in January, but then again, my publisher has a tendency to send it out a week early - December 20 just makes it in time to be a holiday present! I'll have to check.

Oooooh, a collection of Study shorts! That would be great!

I'm just making my own collection of study books! My book with 'ice study', 'assassin study' and 'power study' will arrive next week! I can't wait!

are you working on more shortstories Maria? maybe a glass short story? about Kade or even better Devlen?

Yes - Renee you're a Devlen fan too? I'm obsessed with that guy. I was rooting for him and Opal from Book 2 on.

Devlen and I have a hate/love relationship! ;)

lol what are the love/hate parts of it? I love talking about this guy, good or bad!

I would love a story about Kade post Spy Glass.

(view spoiler)[I hated The fact that he had sex with her under very, very false pretences!

And the love triangle (Kade-Opal-Devlen) confused me, cause I love Kade too!

And of course when he tortured Opal! I couldn't love him when he did that!

Thats why Maria is such a great writer! She completely surprised me with the switching feelings I had for Devlen (and for Kade as-well, cause the more I loved Devlen the more I disliked Kade!) (hide spoiler)]

Same here! I started getting annoyed with Kade and tired of him. I think I also enjoy the thrill of illicit love in fantasy, so the attraction to Devlen was "bad" and therefore exciting lol.

*spoiler*
I appreciate how she explained his torture and horrible behavior with the addiction, which he became aware of and fought off. Really interesting theme to weave into the book.

Wow this conversation took a left turn :) Not that I mind - I had a book group one time debate Kade vs. Devlen - they argued each other and I had the pleasure of just sitting there and listening!

As for more short stories - there are so many characters and interesting events that I could make quite a collection. I would like to write more and it will depend on my schedule. And sooner or later my kids will be off to college (wah!) and I'll need the money ;>

So clear that schedule and start working on that collection!(Maybe if you stopped eating and/or sleeping? that would give you the time right! lol)

I've a lot of favorite books, writers and fantasy worlds. But Ixia/Sitia are my all time favorite!

But that doesn't mean I'm not looking forward to 'Touch of Power' of course!!!

I'm in that book group!! We are a feisty bunch : )

Devlen's the reason I seriuosly dislike the Glass series. I'll reread the Study series (and have) but I hate the Glass series, mostly due to that one character. Ruined the whole thing for me. Ya'll can argue all you like (since obviously some of you are fans of his) but it won't change my mind. I abhore bad characters that we are suddenly suppose to overcome our hatred to like. Can't do it.

Briansgirl- I felt pretty much the same way while I was reading the Glass Series. Devlan was torturer and we are supposed to just accept that he felt bad about it and became a super swell guy? I ended up being fairly OK with him, but I was really bothered by that aspect.

Not to boss anyone around (thats the mods job) but shouldn't this debate go in another thread? Or at least use the html spoiler tag? I just don't want anyone spoiled for the series.

Jenn wrote: "Devlan"

ஐ Briansgirl "Book Sale Queen"ஐ wrote: "Devlon's the reason I hated the series. "

I think the feeling would be mutual girls, cause I for one hate it when people write my name wrong! LAWL!

And Kimberly you're right about the spoilers. I used *spoiler* every time I typed something that could be a spoiler cause I didn't want to say something that could spoil the series for anyone. But what is a 'html spoiler tag'?

Goodreads uses html tags for everything, right?

(view spoiler)[ this is a spoiler. Info that might frustrate others if they read them before the book. blah blah blah. :) (hide spoiler)]

The tags are < spoiler > alskdjfhg < /spoiler > (No spaces)

Tnx I didn't know that! I tried the [spoiler]...[/spoiler] I know from another site but that didnt work! *runs of to use the html tag!*

Welcome. :) It's pretty new to Goodreads, so not many people know it's there.

Oh and the [] is bbcCode, which is why it didn't work.

Well I'm pretty new too so that could explain it as well, lol!

Kimberly - thanks for letting us know about that spoiler tag - that's mighty useful!

Jenn - I would have loved, loved to have heard what the group thought about SPY GLASS. Meeting you guys was so much fun - one of my top five weekends ever!

In response to Brainsgirl and Jenn:
(view spoiler)[Sorry to hear you were upset by Opal’s choice. Yes Devlen did horrible things, however, I saw his terrible actions being fueled by the addiction to blood magic. It's like being an alcoholic or drug addict. Many people do horrible things while drunk (like driving a car and killing someone) and they'll rob and mug people for money to buy more drugs. But once they overcome the addiction they can be very different people. I've sat through a number of assemblies in high school and listened to young men and women tell their horror stories and how they overcame the addiction and are now helping others not to make the same mistakes they did. That has stayed with me all these years. And that’s how I wanted to show him. Perhaps I didn’t show that as well as I could. But that was my intent (hide spoiler)]

Hope that helps1

Maria-
That is exactly how I saw Devlen and thought you explained his addiction fueling his actions very well. I don't think I loved him (or even liked him) immediately but slowly as he proved himself to Opal. He is now my favorite character in the Glass series. I would love to see more of him and Opal (plans??).

Thanks for sharing Kathleen - sometimes I find it very hard to translate certain things that are in my head onto paper! It would be so much easier if my readers could just read my mind ;>

I’d like to write more books set in the Sitia/Ixia world and there are a number of characters that interest me like Reema, Teegan, Fisk, Heli and Quinn. I just needed a creative break and hope to return to the world in the future. And while Opal might not be the main protag, she'll be there - just like Yelena and company are in the Glass books :)

I think it needs experience with addicted and/or mentally ill people to understand that the addicted Devlen isn't the same as the Devlen Opal fell for.

I could have forgiven Devlen a bit, but not to the point that Opal has to. To me, to go that far, is unbelievable. (view spoiler)[Unless you've been the victom of sexual abuse, it's hard to understand. I have, and I can never forgive Devlen for not only torturing her, but sleeping with her while pretending to be someone else. You can argue it all you want, but to have her fall in love with him after all of that... not gonna happen or be believable to me. That's why it ruined the book for me. (hide spoiler)]

ஐ Briansgirl "Book Sale Queen"ஐ wrote: "I could have forgiven Devlen a bit, but not to the point that Opal has to. To me, to go that far, is unbelievable. [spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[true I dont know anything about being sexually abused, and I'm sorry you do.
But I for me the Devlen who raped her and the Devlen who she fell in love with where two different people in the same body. This is because he was addicted. (hide spoiler)]

This is just my view on things, and why I after everything loved Devlen.

Welcome! Glad I could help. :)

(view spoiler)[I really love Devlen's character. It was hard for me at first to like him, for the same reasons you've all stated. But his character was so well developed and the way he changed and evolved over time made me love him. It could be from my own experience of seeing a loved one overcome an addiction and seeing how completely different they become. Also seeing that not only are they better people, but also more willing to give.... if that makes sense. They've hit rock bottom and became less selfish in the process. Anyway, that's just my opinion. Goodness knows there are other interpretations of him that are just as right, that's the beauty of literature, it's pretty much all up to the reader. ;) (hide spoiler)]

Interesting discussion! I enjoyed reading everyone's perspective on Devlen.

(view spoiler)[Briansgirl - Sorry to hear about your experences. (hide spoiler)]

Maria V. wrote: "Interesting discussion! I enjoyed reading everyone's perspective on Devlen.

[spoilers removed]"

Thanks Maria, but it does make a difference about not being able to forgive a character who does something simliar. (view spoiler)[I don't care what excuse is given, ie addiction or anything else, I just find it unforgiveable. And to fall in love with said person, unthinkable. (hide spoiler)]

I could totally go for anything in this vein... short or long! :) And *SIGH* I wish I had a fiesty book group. Man do I miss my great one from ages ago!