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See ya'll around the 16th! It's about time I go back into Sullivan's fun world.

Yes! I have been wanting to read the series, but had no buddies to do it with! Yay!!!

I’m in! Excited your both in for this series.

Yay! =)

Yay, I'm so glad y'all could join! I've been waiting for this series to finish so I could binge it all at once. Always better with company. :)

I'll be by once I finish Network Effect. It should be a fast read, so I'll try to start on time.

I read the first book when it came out, but I barely remember it and didn't read anything after, waiting for the whole thing to come out too:-)

I did the same Choko. So excited to finally be getting back to it.

Starting today. =)

Hm, so I think I'll do mixed media on this one. Some audio & book. I like Reynold's narrations but I'm tuning in & out. It's funny how I've developed voice style moods to go with the genre, writing style, etc. lol

I will start tomorrow for sure!!!

To be honest, I had to mix read/listen to the first chapter in order to get the details right because it wasn't holding my attention.

I've gotten past it now and the story is flowing better or I'm in the right listening mode. One of those! =D

Ch2 Suri - Hope she's a core part of the story! What a fun character.

Starts off a lIttle slow but wraps you up in short order. I love Sullivan’s characters and makes me wonder why I didn’t start this series sooner. About 1/3rd in and the story is humming now. Also, TGR is the amazing on Audio.

Somewhere Audio Ch7: I'm a fan of Suri. =)

=)

Anyone else thinking fondly of Hadrian & Royce? Raithe & Malcolm remind me of them.

Reread for me. About a 3rd in. Suri is great. I forgot how big each of the Dahl’s were since I only remember key people being mentioned.

I wasn't a fan of how the story opened up. It wasn't as smooth as I would expect from MJS but I knew I'll end up liking the characters. I just needed to get far enough to get to know them.

It's interesting to see changes in his writing and how parts haven't changed at all. Like, overall, the world & characters appear to be simple but do have rich details that make them easy to imagine and visualize.

The way he develops the characters are the same but the manner he unveils the story has changed a bit. It's cool to note.

Roan: I feel like I missed something about her? (view spoiler)[Did something happen to traumatize her or is she autistic spectrum? I like how she's a creative & original "fixer/maker" but I don't remember reading/hearing that she's been hurt? (hide spoiler)]

I thought this was Age of Empyre for a second... the last book that just came out...

Soo wrote: "I wasn't a fan of how the story opened up. It wasn't as smooth as I would expect from MJS but I knew I'll end up liking the characters. I just needed to get far enough to get to know them.

It's i..."

(view spoiler)[Roan (Rhune, Rhen): Ex-slave of Iver the Carver... that's just from an online glossary... been awhile since I read the early books... I knew she wasn't treated too well, but didn't remember the specifics... I think she was belittled alot... (hide spoiler)]

lol But we'll get there! There was a sample of the next book on the audio and that has me wanting to dive in sooner vs later. I'll wait a week to stick with the Team Challenge rules. Heh

Re Roan: Ok

(view spoiler)[There is talk about her being mistreated but no details about it. Later, based on how she is easy to startle and doesn't like to be touched, I figure there was abuse. (hide spoiler)]

Soo wrote: "Re Roan: Ok

[spoilers removed]"

Guess I should have dug a little deeper...

Iver: (view spoiler)[Iver (Rhune, Rhen): A woodcarver and abusive slave owner; the former master of Roan and her mother, Reanna. (hide spoiler)]

Same online glossary...

It's been a long time since I've read the Riyria books. I may have to go back to see how Legends & Riyria link. =)

Not soon though. Maybe next year. lol

Soo wrote: "It's been a long time since I've read the Riyria books. I may have to go back to see how Legends & Riyria link. =)

Not soon though. Maybe next year. lol"

The biggest ones: (view spoiler)[Mondulay (terribly misspelled), the elven prince, is the one who became the leader of the Church of Nephron, to try and retake control of the elven people after 3000 years (and lost to Royce)...

And the gods play a role in the story (much is about showing how the truth has blurred over time... the biggest role, tho, is the god on a journey of redemption, helping people... we saw him in the later Riyria books, when he got a feather at the end... his story and his enemy's story are the one thing MJS will have left to tell, after the next series (The Rise & the Fall), which is set between these 2 series and will show the fall of the Nephron Empire & more of Esrahadden, another character from the Riyria books)... (hide spoiler)]

I am a bit over half way through. It was a bit of a rough start, but the story really takes off eventually. Lately, it seems all the Fantasy books I read are about a strong peoples who demoralize and belittle those weaker than them, putting them down by equating them to less than animals, and using this type of propaganda until it becomes a kind of a truth... I have seen it in reality, and it is one thing I really hate that we as humans do to one another... It really hits all my buttons...

Apart from that, I really like Suri, Mina and Persephone... I like the "G-d killer", but he is a bit too quick to take offense. Malcolm is a fun character to read about, and I am not sure how I feel about the Frey... Suri and her connection to the invisible world is beautiful and hilarious at the same time. I hope she sticks around and adopts this village...

The Door is very interesting as a concept, I wonder what is really behind it and who opened it? I don't like (view spoiler)[ that the dude that sits and watches it doesn't seem to be very well disposed to anyone without the Art! And that dream the lady had after she got bashed on the head, that she is opening the door and he says - so you are the one I am looking for, ... I guess nothing good is going to come from that... (hide spoiler)]

My fav is Suri & Minna. I love their connections & the way Suri is described as a wildling child. She makes me think of the fey girl-child (Goddess) character that was in Belgaraid.

I like Persephone. I kinda wish Raithe had a different name. Too many R names in this run of the series. Rhune/Rune/etc.

Otherwise, Raithe & Malcolm remind me of Hadrian & Royce.

Persephone & dead husband: (view spoiler)[I was surprised by the backstory about Suri being the Tale Keeper's child. I mean. I don't have clear ideas of what everyone looks like exactly and vague ideas of ages but I had this idea that the Record Keeper lady was rather old?

Guessing that Persephone's lord/husband was older than her?

Anyway, the backstory about Suri being his bastard child and left to be stranded in the winter was pretty harsh. AND excellent little twist to tie up various strings. (hide spoiler)]

Magic: It's a bit too hand-wavy for me. Doesn't seem to have too much cost & affect for what the mages can do.

Enjoying the way the cultures seem to be based on Viking/Norse/Dane kind of style of homes/groups.

Choko - Uh, what (view spoiler)[chapter is the dream & head bashing in? I feel like I missed this???? (hide spoiler)]

Persephone & dead husband (view spoiler)[Persephone said he was much older than her and that he was in his mid-sixties when he died. I would guess Maeve was about the same. I think from the harshness of their world that being in your sixties is considered very old. (hide spoiler)]

Suri parentage(view spoiler)[if they could send Maeve away to have the baby I don’t know why they couldn’t just say she had it with some guy she met during her travels. If that’s frowned upon than they could have had her wait a bit more and say she married him but he died or something. Guess they just wanted the baby out of the way. (hide spoiler)]

Yeah, I would guess Mave is in her mid 50's at this point. Over 40-45 was considered old, so (view spoiler)[ if she had Suri in her forties 14 years ago, she is the most 60 years old... And I am sure the one they consider ancient is in her 70's at the most. We were commenting in another thread that me being 47, despite not feeling old, I would have been one of those really old folks in our books(✷‿✷)(✷‿✷)(✷‿✷)

When Arian went into the village to get Nephron and his gang, the way she got defeated was by Malcolm bashing her on the back of the head. While she was recovering from the injury, she had that dream...

The dude who watches the door makes me very nervous. He seems to be very, very old and very powerful... I wonder if he is a g-d or something... (hide spoiler)]

Starting today. On Chapter 4

It opens perhaps a bit slowly, but I'm not in any rush, willing to let things unfold at their own pace.

I liked this bit on its own, but Malcolm comment later makes it even better.

“My father always said fires were only dangerous if they got bored,�� Raithe pressed on. “Left alone, they get frustrated and resort to evil. Best way to keep a fire happy is by letting it lick food and hear stories.��

“Don’t you have any happy stories?�� Malcolm grimaced. “You’re depressing the fire spirit.��

Haha! I love the little stories and sayings! This is really nice!

Ch18 is where Arion has the dream & the man in it is Trilos. Which there is like zero info and I just ruined myself for the series by checking the wiki. Dur

Well, I just didn't know that chapter, but yeah, Trilos is the dude that watches the door... (view spoiler)[ and he is the one who had the conversation with Grandale, or whoever that delusional magician who thinks he is a god is, in which the magician thinks that Trilos is the one who introduced The Art to the Fein... That leads me to believe he is some sort of god or god-like creature... (hide spoiler)] ... I am sorry you spoiled yourself... :-(

It's no biggie. lol

It IS an important fact to keep in mind. That's sneaky of Sullivan to just write in half a paragraph to describe an important part. lol

Chapter 5: Before the Door
Ooh, getting such Trickster vibes from Trilos. The apple was a nice touch.

Chapter 8: Asking the Oak
Suri and her fae spirit is just delightful. Casually playing a game of Cat's Cradle was again, a nice touch.

So... Persephone is smart. After all, she suggested practical advice in the dahl meeting. Why then, after (view spoiler)[an attempted murder by the chieftan's shield and two others (hide spoiler)] does she not suspect anything? Offering a hot meal to the two travelers back at the dahl, like nothing is wrong?

Heeheehee! I'm beginning to enjoy the dynamic between these two.

Raithe glanced over his shoulder at the pommel, sighed, and then glared at Malcolm. “I blame you for this,�� he said, and walked on.

“Magda’s being a beech.��
*eye roll* Really? You just couldn't resist, could you, Sullivan? :P

Soo wrote: "Ch18 is where Arion has the dream & the man in it is Trilos. Which there is like zero info and I just ruined myself for the series by checking the wiki. Dur"

Aw! Sorry to hear you spoiled yourself, Soo! I hate it when that happens. I was also tempted to find out more, but I'll be sure to avoid looking Trilos up. I honor your sacrifice, preventing others from falling victim to the same fate. *salute*

I'm semi-watching this thread. I read books 1 and 2 late last year so will be joining BRs for the remainder of the series starting with book 3. Everyone's comments are helping me remember story details :)

Crossing my fingers for more on Roan in #2. I like that she's a engineering savant. =)

Narilka wrote: "I'm semi-watching this thread. I read books 1 and 2 late last year so will be joining BRs for the remainder of the series starting with book 3. Everyone's comments are helping me remember story det..."

Looking forward to reading with you later on! It can be fun to peek in on threads for books you've read to see what others' reactions are. Heh, most of my comments are just pulling quotes and passages I liked, but perhaps they'll help refresh your memory. :)

Chapter 10: The Galantians
OMG enter Nyphron! He's like a gleaming golden Achilles, gleefully arrogant, charming, honorable. At least those are my first impressions.

Chapter 12: Gods Among Us
So frustrating, thinking you can reason with stupid.

Wow though, I sort of love Grygor, peeking his head into the kitchen, a total foodie, offering spices. Padera's no-nonsense demeanor. Roan calmly sizing up his hand. I'm imagining her making him basically a giant crochet hook.

Chapter 13: Into the West
You've got to be kidding me. As a child of the desert, I can't possibly imagine living thousands of years having never seen the sky! How have you even lived!? Don't get me wrong, I love wooded glens, and have perhaps an obsessive relationship with moss. (It still feels so exotic to me. I'll take hundreds of pictures of mossy rivers and forests.) B-b-but! The SKY! Adds new meaning to the word "sheltered."

Ugh. The "battle" reveals Lothian in an entirely new light. His flippant arrogance was on display before, but no... he's a sadistic monster.

I have an obsession with moss and all crawly vegetation, particularly over trees and walls... I used to draw and would spend hours just drawing those... I hate that they destroy tuck pointing and kind of smother other plants, because I would totally surround myself with them...

I still don't trust most of the Frey, but I think Aria has potential!

Choko wrote: "I have an obsession with moss and all crawly vegetation, particularly over trees and walls... I used to draw and would spend hours just drawing those... "

Ooh, I bet that was so relaxing, drawing all those vines and moss. It's a kind of therapeutic meditation to just observe, noticing the line and shape and shadow of things.

Exactly!!! OMG, you get it!!! It is the closest I have ever felt to relaxed...

Chapter 15: The Lost One

“I like you, Moya.��
“Most people do.��

Oh Moya no you di'n't!!


Giiiiirl, you so saucy! That flirting was next-level! I could practically see the hair flip and swagger. Boy, does she ever have a mouth on herrrrr��!

“Tell Konniger she’s taking a bath.��
Hahaha! I feel like I'm practically in the roundhouse together with them all. Cozy and confident and singing, and turning away Konniger with a laugh.

“What do you think?�� she asked Minna, who sat dutifully beside her and refused to engage in idle speculation. “You’re such a wise wolf.��

This sounds exactly like me talking to my dogs. *nods sagely to their stoic silence* "You're right, let's not jump to conclusions."

Choko wrote: "Exactly!!! OMG, you get it!!! It is the closest I have ever felt to relaxed..."

If you ever feel comfortable sharing, it'd be lovely to see some of your drawings sometime. I know the finished product doesn't necessarily capture the experience you had drawing it, but sometimes it's nice looking back, remembering how I felt when I drew a particular sketch.

I would like that, thank you, Melissa!!!

I know I seem to be in the minority when it comes to Robert Jordan's female writing, but those little parts make me feel the same way - I grew up in a community that was very traditional and when I would hang out with the "grown women", this type of banter, that might be taken as blatant flirting or teasing of the guys, was so totally awesome and it bonded both the males and females in its almost ritualistic nature. I love it in Jordan and I love it with Sullivan. It is as old as time, and by it being as basic as it is, it levels the field, gives people who can't relate almost at all to each other, something they all understand instinctively. It is almost like folklore, we all can find some connection with it. This is why I love both those authors, without demanding of them to be "greater" than they are... I know I suck at expressing something that is very simple and easy to perceive just from couple of sentences...

I've been too intimidated to dive into Jordan's works, but if he has banter similar to Sullivan, it does make me intrigued. I never really engaged in this kind of banter myself, the groups of men and women on opposing sides, exchanging flirtatious barbs with one another. My childhood friends all integrated with one another, and although we gently tease and banter with one another, it's not separated by gender, with volleys of taunts from each side.

It is true though that friendly teasing seems to make people relax. It removes a level of formality, shows you're comfortable around them.

Edit for girly secret whispers
(view spoiler)[(Hehehe, so btw, when you were hanging out with the "grown women," did you ever do any flirting of your own?) (hide spoiler)]

Yes I did (+_+)(+_+)(+_+)... But I think I was secretly (view spoiler)[ falling for the most mouthy of the ladies more than any of the dudes, hahahaha! I don't know, but those supposed "traditional" women, who took care of the household, cleaned, cooked, raised the kids, and still worked shoulder to shoulder with the guys, they taught me how to be strong and independent! How to be gentle but with a back of steel when it comes to protecting me and mine. Those are the women Jordan writes about a lot, but I think for some reason women especially get offended by them, taking the polar banter as the one side putting the other side down. I don't see it that way, because as I said, a lady who adores her husband would be all boisterously denounce his "short-givings" infront of the two fronts, but all understand it is a "game"... and this is how it is taken. But I understand the other side as well, I just don't see any malicious intent in the writing, just a different culture... (hide spoiler)]

Ah yes, I've also had my share (view spoiler)[of lady crushes, which makes sense especially if your social group is more polarized and they are the people you interact with, and get to know and admire.

I haven't really given enough thought to how I feel about friendly insults. On one hand, joking as an excuse or cover for bullying someone is not okay. But, I think if it's kept mutually friendly and light-hearted, it's a way people can bond. Certain groups and cultures engage in it more, while others don't. I know what you mean by the "game" aspect of it. So it's just important that everyone is aware of and following the same "rules," so to speak. And different social groups have different ideas of what's acceptable. That's why with new acquaintances you might tease them lightly, and see their reaction, to see if they want to "play."

I do agree there is something nice about when you get to know someone well enough, that you can have inside jokes, teasing them about their odd habits and eccentricities. (hide spoiler)]

Exactly! But it is something that can be done usually among people who understands and agree with the rules... Otherwise it can be totally inappropriate... And misconstrued. And there in comes the difficulty of reaching multicultural readership without offending anyone - it is almost impossible! I would even say that the same person at different times of their personal development would enjoy or hate the same work of writing... I hate going over some of my early favorites, because the subliminal messages in them are so strongly against everything I stand for now, it is disturbing! This is why I don't change ratings of old reads - I took it however I did then, now I don't. But I was that reader at the time and something connected with my old me, so I usually choose another publication volume and give it my more current grade(+_+)...

Wow, well, we went on a tangent, but I guess that is what happens when you get to follow mental associations from a good book (+_+)(+_+)(+_+)

Chapter 17: The Boulder
Totally unrelated, but reading the chapter title, I couldn't help but think of Avatar's The Boulder. "The Boulder feels conflicted..."


Whaat!? (view spoiler)["Perhaps he would tell Trilos..." Gryndal is in league with Trilos!? I mean, I wasn't surprised at all that he was planning to overthrow Lothrian, but this raises so many questions! My instincts say though that while he thinks he's being the puppet-master here, he is being used as well. I'm curious for Trilos to make another appearance and hopefully reveal more. (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 18: Healing the Injured
Can I just say how much I love each of these unique women? (view spoiler)[Having Arion, Persephone, and Suri all in one room together just sort of fed my soul. I liked how Arion's role as a tutor just can't help but come out, correcting Suri's language. Despite her years and deep knowledge of the Art, Arion has been sheltered, never having left Erivon. So even though she advocates for respect between different tribes of the Fhrey, she still holds prejudices against the Rhune. Here though you see her observing Suri, open to changing her mind, even wanting to be wrong. Pretty impressive for someone thousands of years old to not be set in their ways. (hide spoiler)]