The Not a Book Club Club discussion

At the start of chapter 9, Taniel talks about being in a near constant powder trance for two weeks. I'll be curious to see if these leads to some negative side effects.

I wonder if all these earthquakes have to do with Kresimir’s promise. Or maybe this very powerful privileged. Definitely not natural.

Rob wrote: "I wonder if all these earthquakes have to do with Kresimir’s promise. Or maybe this very powerful privileged. Definitely not natural."

Oooh, I hadn't thought of that. And who is that strange saint dude?
Now I know why the Royalists are fighting so hard - they have a live heir to the throne.

Strange saint dude? Kresimir?

I now know what the promise is. The privileged who explained it didn't seem very concerned about it until hearing she was going to summon Kresimir.

Looking forward to finding out who that is.

Looks like Rosalia is more than just a privileged.

I don't know who the good guys are supposed to be.

David Sven wrote: "Looks like Rosalia is more than just a privileged.

I don't know who the good guys are supposed to be."

That's a good point. The uncertainty makes it more interesting.

Yes, thats what making this so riveting, looking forward to finding out.

I like Taniel but Tamas just seems like such a bastard. And I wonder what Julene is - I don't think she's an ordinary privileged either

Rozalia is apparently a Predeii, whatever that is. We knew she was more powerful than a privileged, but she appears to be afraid of Ka-poel. Interesting.

I wonder if Julenne is one too. Either way she's powerful, and doesn't like Rozalia.

Mihali, don't call me a cook, I'm a chef is back. I forgot to mention him earlier. Very mysterious.

First earthquakes, now volcanoes. What's next, tsunamis?

Now we add these wardens into the mix, which according to Tamas are the result of human experimentation.

So we see what a Warden can do. Tamas is a hard man. I don't dislike him, but I'm glad I'm not his son either.

The Wardens are pretty scary dudes. So I'm guessing to take them down quick a powder mage might head shot them through the eye? I wonder if Taniel two shot could shoot him through one eye and rebound it out through the other eye.

I felt sorry for the dog :(

Alex wrote: "Why is he called Two-Shot again?
"

I think it's because he can kill two people with one shot

When we first see him earlier in the book he just came back from killing at least two privileged and a few Wardens and he makes a comment to the effect that the Wardens needed more than one bullet, implying he only used one bullet to kill two privileged.

A couple of questions remaining at the end of this section. One - how did Taniel survive his fall at the University? Was he protected by someone or is there some after effect of excessive powder use? Given that Wardens are specifically made to kill powder mages I wonder if gunpowder is involved with their creation on top of the other sorcery? I'm just wondering with Taniel's survival and his nose bleeds if he isn't changing physically?

David Sven wrote: "Alex wrote: "Why is he called Two-Shot again?
"

I think it's because he can kill two people with one shot

When we first see him earlier in the book he just came back from killing at least two pr..."

Actually it will be explained more in detail later in the book.
He is called Taniel 2 shot because he can fire 2 bullets at the same time in one riffle shot and make them hit two different targets ( or the same if needed). He uses the energy generated by the shot to control the trajectory of both bullets at the same time.
Every weapon at the time being one shot weapon, this earns him the nickname Taniel Two shots.

So he could indeed hit a warden in both eyes in one rifle shot but it would not be with 1 bullet David.

@Aildiin - Ooh, that sounds even better. Just watch out for Rob...he has a big spoiler stick :)

David Sven wrote: "@Aildiin - Ooh, that sounds even better. Just watch out for Rob...he has a big spoiler stick :)"

Yeah I'm a jerk about it in fact. David should know, I yell at him more than anyone.

Please keep that sort of stuff out of here. It's fine for David and Alex to speculate, but it's another thing to explain something from a later section.

If you're starting your post with Actually it will be explained more in detail later in the book.

You should stop right there. It's a minor detail really, but just easier if avoided all together.

Thanks.

Alex wrote: "how did Taniel survive his fall at the University? as he protected by someone or is there some after effect of excessive powder use? "

I was wondering that myself. At this point he's on a 4 week bender, but he's totally going to quit when this hunt is over..

David Sven wrote: "@Aildiin - Ooh, that sounds even better. Just watch out for Rob...he has a big spoiler stick :)"

Stop trying to sick Rob onto me ! Everyone knows you are the spoiler king around here !

I like how plotlines keep getting resolved (the promise, Royalists) and then immediately replaced by new ones (council traitor, chef). It gives the book a great pace.

I love how rich this book is. Plenty back story that keeps unfolding as something new happens, everything from personal past events to shades of epic events that keep appearing as random, insignificant signs. Pretty much the only thing this book is lacking so far is humor.

Anyone besides me find it strange that whereas Tamas is obsessed woth his dead wife, pretty much destroying the status quo because of her, Taniel seems to have no such feelings? The closest it comes to getting touched on is when they discuss the Kez embassy that meets Tamas.