The Dragon's Path Group Read discussion

In the first week's discussions we talked some about the characters and how, to a large degree, every main character was likeable, perhaps less so with Dawson. After last week's revelations and the continuation this week, are you having mixed feelings about the main characters?

I can say for certain that I am, and I'm thoroughly enjoying having my reader-emotions played with in this manner. Geder of course blew everyone away last week when at the end of the week's reading (how serendipitous was that for an ending chapter?) he burnt Vanai. I was too shocked to even know what to think. It was so unexpected a move. But that act doesn't simply turn Geder into a specific character. He then turns around and acts somewhat heroically and he continues to be fascinating because of this quest for knowledge that he is on.

Cithrin was a character I must admit that I expected to not have as big of an arc as far as my feelings about her to this point and this week's reading has revealed more about her banking/money smarts but also shows her to be willing to play games of intrigue that I did not expect. I'm not sure how much I believe what feels like a sudden shift in her abilities in this way, but Abraham has set this up to some degree by slowly revealing her areas of expertise. I feel a bit like Marcus did near the end of this week's reading...I don't particularly like the Cithrin as created by Master Kit. But again, she is fascinating.

Dawson continues to be a character I feel compelled to dislike and I don't trust him and yet this week's reading revealed that perhaps, at least in his own mind, he is the most loyal to king and kingdom and might be the most realistic about what is happening. Then again he may just be a pessimist. I'm not warming to the character, but I am enjoying his chapters because I am so curious about what will happen next.

Those are three of what could be many examples of characters who are showing many facets, leading me to feel conflicted about my feelings about them, but in a way that is a credit to Abraham's writing.

That was indeed a brilliant way to end the Week Two reading, Carl.
For me, Marcus is the flattest of the characters, but the one easiest to like. He may be Abraham's proxy in a way, giving us the straight dope while everyone else has an axe to grind. He and Yarem also seem like a nod to the Bridgeburners, the Black Company, and all the other mercenary protagonists in fantasy's long history.

Dawson is all kinds of fun to read. We should like him because of his honor, his feelings for his wife, his loyalty, yada yada, but then we have to confront his narrow, ingrown aristocracy which, Royal Baby flutterings aside, we Westerners with our Constitutions and representative governments are supposed to decry. I love this tension.

I love Marcus, I loved him from the beginning of the novel, but he is the one with the least development and changes among the four main characters. I believe that it has something to do with the archetype he represents in the fantasy fiction. However, he has some intriguing background story, cruel and undeserving. Still, I am a little disappointed in how his arc went, because he was the first one to gain my sympathy from the start.
Geder follows the best path in my opinion. The changes he suffers are all backed by strong characterization and nothing in his attitude is left to chance. Of course, Daniel Abraham plays most of the unexpected surprises through him and that helps his arc develop more. I cannot consider him a negative character, none are, but although I am not sympathetic with him I do find his story the one bringing complete satisfaction to me.
Cithrin has a surprise in storage too and I liked how she become more assured once she entered on her familiar territory, banking and finances. Also the weaknesses she presents make her even more solid.
Dawson is another who doesn't suffer many changes, but his arc, contrary to Marcus', is more dramatic. After all, playing within a conspiracy and on a political conflict can be dramatic. Again, not a negative character per say, but not very likable. Conservative, narrow minded and with an annoying air of superiority.

I have to disagree with Carl a little about Cithrin. I haven't felt a sudden shift in her character, it seems more that she has revealed her competence because she is now operating in a world that she understands very well. I am particularly pleased that she is no longer the poor little orphan girl who has to depend upon everyone else for her safety - she has become their leader and seems to be very good at this banking lark.

Dawson continues to be a very difficult man to sympathize with because of his political attitudes. However, although I don't feel like he is changing very much, we are certainly being led through the arc of his character so that we are seeing much more depth and complexity. I have no doubt that he believes that he is right and loyal - I just think he should be more concerned with keeping the middle class included in government otherwise he will find himself on the wrong side of a revolution.

I feel that Geder has redeemed himself somewhat this week, and who can dismiss a man who is so interested in history and studying? I am very concerned about this secret order that he has uncovered as it seems to be the place that our spider-blood-carrying man from the Prologue came from. I hope their Goddess doesn't get to eat Geder because I find him rather interesting.

I find Marcus the most intriguing of the characters because he is so closed down. We have been shown very little of his character, and yet there is so much hinted at that we need to uncover and rummage through. Also, Yardem is unspeakably cool as a sidekick, and that adds a great deal to Marcus' mystery for me.

I think I like Marcus and Cithrin the most. Marcus obviously feels the clichéd warrior with a past, honourable but a mercenary. Still he does really try :)
Cithrin I think is making a lot of practical decisions that will come back to haunt her. But what else could she do really?

Dawson I dislike, mainly because of his attitude to the servants, other races, and slaves. But at the same time I have to respect him because he is an honourable man trying to do the right thing.

Geder I'm sure has plenty more surprises for us.

Honestly, my opinions of the characters have consistently changed through my reading. I don't know if there are any that I just don't like or if it's simply being disappointed in what they've done thus far. The biggest disappointment for me has been with Cithrin, she took a big risk opening up a branch and so far it's paid off. She has been making wise decisions calculating risks and pay-offs. But, then... she takes a step that may turn her into a person she may not want to be. I think that she is slowly getting more and more over her head. Risks that are not necessarily worth taking, and she has calculated the fall out of it. I love that she has shifted into a position that is in her area of expertise, but there are moments when her immaturity clashes with her goals.

Geder, her is one that I like to read about and wonder just what he was going to do next. I was at once surprised and excited for his response to protect the gates. I am happy that he has taken the journey to pursue knowledge. But then it's details such as his father pointing out that he needs to leave until they can figure out what kind of political games are going on.

Dawson, I am surprised that he did not see what happened as a possibility. For all of his loyalty and his knowledge as to how a king should behave I wonder if he ever considered why King Simeon was king and he was not.

Though Jorey is not a perspective that we get to read from, I am curious about what happens to him.

As far as mixed feelings go, Dawson takes the cake for me. I find that he has many qualities I like, but his antiquated way of thinking has to go.
Clara on the other hand, I'm really enjoying. She hasn't had a huge role to play but I'm hoping that will change. Something about her intrigues me.
Citrin is young and stupid...not unintelligent...but stupid..lol I think she'll learn, perhaps the hard way, but she'll learn.

I don't particularly dislike any of the characters. Although I'm not happy with the course Geder took with the whole burning up the city route. I think one of the surprises for me with this is that I really find myself liking the supplementary characters - Master Kit, Yardem and Jorey! I think that's another feather in the author's cap that he can make his secondary characters intriguing and not flat.

My respect for Marcus Wester continues to grow - he lives by some internal code that other respect or at least respond to.

Geder is now a big question mark for me. I kind of like that fact, from a plot aspect, but no, Geder is no longer someone I am routing for.

Cithrin's character is growing and this makes me very happy.