Fantasy Book Club Series discussion

Wowzie

I finally finished this last night, and what a ride!

I keep thinking about poor Aliz-we never saw her again, and her husband in the hospital tent it does not bade well

Reverse fortune however for Finree and her husband!

I always enjoy how Abercrombie does that-Kroy goes one direction and Polder the other, and the next thing you know Kroy is a major character here and everyone has forgotten Polder. Except for Kroy telling Mitterick he needs an opposite.

I think that was my favorite line!

I think back to the duel at the palace in The First Blade when Bayaz got involved in the fight and helped Luther beat Gorst.
Well, can't image that we can see much help for Calder as I assume that Bayaz needs to be able to view the fight. Ishmi said that she couldn't help Dow with the fight, she would lose the ability to protect him. That raises a couple of interesting questions;

How is she protecting him?
Why can she not protect him in a shield circle?

Abercrombie has set this part of the story up for a surprise, that wouldn't be a surprise. Dow is warned that she can't protect him, Craw told him there is no need to fight, Calder is expected to lose. So we can expect a surprise. Although knowing Abercrombie, Dow will just stab him and that will be that. Just like Whirrun's unexpected death.

I am looking forward to the fight, I think that Shivers advice of "see an opportunity take it", may be how Calder could win.

'knives', muttered Calder, 'and threats, bribes and war?'
Bayaz' eyes shone with the lamplight. 'Yes'?'
'What kind of a fucking wizard are you?'.
'The kind you obey.'

Lee wrote: "Abercrombie has set this part of the story up for a surprise, that wouldn't be a surprise. "

Yes, a surprise. But it was coming. I was expecting Shivers to shrug off his "dog" reputation at some stage.

Here is my review if you are interested :)

Lee wrote: "Here is my review if you are interested :)"

Not sure what's happening but goodreads keeps timing out when I go to like your review. Everyone else works fine. Did you upset management?

Conspiracy to make my reviews unpopular.

ah! uch! uck!
bayaz is so absolutely and utterly despicable!

finished and the above is my first reaction.

Finished. Loved it. Review http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/....

Oooh that Bayaz is so smug.

Finished last night. The conversation between Calder and Bayaz reminded me of something said way back in The Blade Itself - something to the effect that it was a very bad idea to bet against a wizard, especially the First of the Magi. He is positively terrifying.

Yes Eric, Bayaz is ugly as hell. I'm happy that he isn't involved in most parts of the novel.

When I read the dialogue between Craw and Black Crow, I knew something would change:
"I was apprentice to a potter." Dow snorted. "A thousand bloody years ago. [...] The clay... used to make my hands... so soft. Imagine that." And he looked up and smiled.
That was unexpected and stands out as an interesting character development. No need to call him "White Dow", though.

Something that made this novel so great for me was that I didn't side with one single protagonist or group: The viewpoints change from commanders to simple soldiers to camp followers and you care for many of them, knowing that not all will survive or be happy ever after.

Here is my review if anyone cares.