Fantasy Buddy Reads discussion

Week One: 02. - 08. April: Chapter 1 - 14
01: Chapter 1 + 2
02: Chapter 3 + 4
03: Chapter 5 + 6
04: Chapter 7 + 8
05: Chapter 9 + 10
07: Chapter 11 + 12
08: Chapter 13 + 14

Week Two: 09. - 15. April: Chapter 15 - 27
09: Chapter 15 + 16
10: Chapter 17
11: Chapter 18
12: Chapter 19 + 20
13: Chapter 21 + 22
14: Chapter 23 - 25
15: Chapter 26 + 27

Week Three: 16. - 22. April: Chapter 28 - 41
16: Chapter 28 + 29
17: Chapter 30
18: Chapter 31 - 33
19: Chapter 34 + 35
20: Chapter 36 + 37
21: Chapter 38 + 39
22: Chapter 40 + 41

Week Four: 23. - 29. April: Chapter 42 - 49
23: Chapter 42
24: Chapter 43
25: Chapter 44
26: Chapter 45
27: Chapter 46 + 47
28: Chapter 48 + 49

In! :)

I'm in but I'll probably start a week late and end a week early due to checking this out from the library on a 14 day ebook loan.

I'm in too!

Anni, on the schedule, are chapters 1+2 supposed to start on the 2nd? And then onwards from there?

Yeah, sorry I'm too stupid to count :D 01 means 02 and so on... But I missed the fifth day so everything is fine after day 6...

Anni wrote: "Yeah, sorry I'm too stupid to count :D 01 means 02 and so on... But I missed the fifth day so everything is fine after day 6..."

Hahaha at least you corrected yourself after a few days then! XD

Well I'm definately in but I won't be starting till about the 9th and how well i stick the schedule after I've caught up ... well we'll see 🤷‍♀️. Really looking forward to getting to this though!

I'm in!

So on the 2nd April, we’re really doing Ch 1-4? Im trying to understand our chart!

No, the first number is the day, and chapters after it are tje chapter for this day.
The problem is, I messed it up a bit... 01 means 02, 02 means 03, 03 means 04, 04 means 05 and 05 is missimg, so everything is fine after that. Sorry!

Today (02) we are reading chapter 1 and 2 :)

Yay it's the 2nd April in snowy old England! 🌨 I will report back! :D

It's snowing in England? We've typical april wether, sunny and rainy alternating, but it's around 15°C degree middays.

I'm starting the first two chapters now :)

Yes it's snowing. Again. This had better be the last if it, I'm so sick!

I will be starting shortly, just going to fit a short story from Dangerous Women in before I start. :)

Finished chapter 2 and well this started like book 1 ended, a bit confusing :D

I liked the prologue with the diary entry, Jorg doesn't seem to be the only one with dark thoughts :D

I think the first two chapters raise a lot of questions, can't wait to see the answers! (view spoiler)[ What happened in the last 4 years? Why is this Duke going to attack Jorg? I rather expected Jorg's father to lead an attack. Who is the ghost boy following Jorg? Could it be his stepbrother? And how did he archieve an alliance and the princess hand from the coast lords (hide spoiler)]

I'm right there with you, Anni! Confused! Glad it's not just me. Definitely lots of questions raised.

(view spoiler)[I was going to ask who the ghost boy is. I wasn't sure if that was something I was supposed to remember from book 1. I can't even remember exactly who he killed and didn't already!

I liked the prologue too. I'm wondering where Jorg found her writing and why. I still don't get why he loves her so much when he barely knows her. 'Katherine who I have wanted every moment of the last four years'.
And Katherine, she wishes she'd stabbed Jorg and seems to hate him, but she saved him. What a strange relationship this will be if it ever happens...

Oh and his new wife to be is about 12... Great! Haha. (hide spoiler)]

Siobhan wrote: "I'm right there with you, Anni! Confused! Glad it's not just me. Definitely lots of questions raised."

(view spoiler)[ I'm wondering if he did something to his fathers kingdom, I can't belive he is done with his revenge by killing Renar. His father doesn't seem to mind his former wifes death very much and he even tried to kill Jorg... Jorg has every reason to hate him!
I could imagine that Jorg went to Ancrath sometimes in the past 4 years and killed his fathers new wife and his stepbrother. Maybe he found Katherines diary there and it would also explain the little boys ghost. It was said that the ghost boy looks a little like Jorg and he was a baby as he first appear and now he's a four-year old. Maybe I bark up the wrong tree, but in my head this makes sense :D (hide spoiler)]

Anni wrote: "Siobhan wrote: "I'm right there with you, Anni! Confused! Glad it's not just me. Definitely lots of questions raised."

."

I think it sounds like you're barking up the right tree, Anni! Makes perfect sense to me, thank you for sharing your ideas!

Anni wrote: "Siobhan wrote: "I'm right there with you, Anni! Confused! Glad it's not just me. Definitely lots of questions raised."

I'm wondering if he did something to his fathers kingdom, I can't belive he ..."

Ive also done the reading. (view spoiler)[ Anni, I think you may be right about the ghost boy being his step-brother. But also, remember the two little boys from the Caves? One of them died. So Im wondering if it his shade? (hide spoiler)]

Jess wrote: "Anni wrote: "Siobhan wrote: "I'm right there with you, Anni! Confused! Glad it's not just me. Definitely lots of questions raised."

That's a good theory too! I nearly forget about him...

Anni wrote: "Jess wrote: "Anni wrote: "Siobhan wrote: "I'm right there with you, Anni! Confused! Glad it's not just me. Definitely lots of questions raised."

That's a good theory too! I nearly forget about him..."


Yep. And where’s the boy that lived?? And the girl with ghost eyes?

Which girl? (view spoiler)[ I also wondered about Gog and the other Leucrota... Did the big man die? He was hit by many arrows, wasn't he? (hide spoiler)]

Anni wrote: "Which girl? [spoilers removed]"

Yes, the girl they initially found at the caves with the Leucrota giant whats-his-name

I'm in but will be starting on the 10th. I'm not home and the only books I have with me are Malazan 2 and Elantris.

How could I have forgotten so much from book 1 after only a week or two?!?!?!? I'm a bit lost but I feel parts trickling back into my brain. Done with the first two chapters. Love both the theories described here. Cool ideas! (view spoiler)[Step-brother or Gog the cave-boy... (hide spoiler)]hmmmm...

Laura wrote: "How could I have forgotten so much from book 1 after only a week or two?!?!?!? I'm a bit lost but I feel parts trickling back into my brain. Done with the first two chapters. Love both the theories..."

I feel exactly the same Laura! Wondering if I even read the right book 😂

Chapters 3 & 4.

(view spoiler)[Jorg raped Katherine? When did that happen? Is that just in her mind? Or am I genuinely forgetting everything about the first book? I'm sure that didn't happen...

I like that Jorg sees a connection between himself and Gog. He's definitely changed. Everyone said kill him but he doesn't want to. Sweet xD (hide spoiler)]

Siobhan wrote: "Chapters 3 & 4."

(view spoiler)[ At least that's what the friar told her. But for me her second entry from the 11. Oct sounds like she realised that Jorg was too weak to do so and she compared her bruises with the friars fingers... For me it sounds like the friar found her unconsious and took 'his chance'...

Hmm Jorg's face is burned... Could it had happened in the same fire that burned Katherines diary?
Jorg's wife is tough, that's maybe what Jorg needs, I'm looking forward to see more of her.

And I'm also happy that Jorg saved Gog, I like this little guy! :) (hide spoiler)]

Ha! Good thing I only finished book 1 two days ago :)

Jess wrote: "And the girl with ghost eyes?"

Hmmm... (view spoiler)[Wasn't she beneath the castle as the nuclear bomb exploded? In his feaver dream (or what ever it was) Jorg saw her ghost and she shows him that she was crushed beneath the stones... So normally I would say she's dead, but with these books, I have no idea 😂 And by the way, why is the priest alive? He was with the girl and the other leucrota, shouldn't he be dead too? (hide spoiler)]

Yes thank goodness your memory is fresher than mine!!

(view spoiler)[Maybe his face is burnt because Gog keeps setting fire to things haha.

I'd forgotten the Friar told her that. I think you're right there, she was definitely questioning it and making a connection to the Friar. Not nice :s

I have been googling "Jorg rape Katherine" trying to find out if I'm crazy. Found an interesting blog post from Mark Lawrence explaining the only two mentions of rape in Prince of Thorns, because everyone keeps saying his book is atrocious and disgusting and full of rape, and it isn't. It's mentioned twice and isn't even happening in the present of the story. Stories can be written about bad things. People need to get a grip... (hide spoiler)]

"Siobhan wrote: "Yes thank goodness your memory is fresher than mine!! "

Haha yeah, my aternate theory is a burning bed :D

And when you google something like this you're nearly begging for spoilers!

Anni wrote: ""Siobhan wrote: "Yes thank goodness your memory is fresher than mine!! "

Haha yeah, my aternate theory is a burning bed :D

And when you google something like this you're nearly begging for spoil..."

I made sure to add "Prince of Thorns"! I know it was risky, but luckily I didn't see any spoilers. What's the chances I would understand them even if I did... 😂

Anni wrote: "Jess wrote: "And the girl with ghost eyes?"

Hmmm... [spoilers removed]"

Ok so I guess I remember she was a ghost.

Ch 3&4
(view spoiler)[ I think this Heimrigt is where Jorg was burned. The burn def wasnt part of Prince of Thorns. So we should get to that soon.
(hide spoiler)] It’s both fun and difficult reading 2 chapters a day!

Chapters 3 & 4 (view spoiler)[

I love Lawrence's writing,
The sudden appearance of four foot of razored builder-steel in the house of God resulted in a pleasing gasp.

I'm looking forward to hearing more from Jorg's wife. It's great that she has sass. (hide spoiler)]

Chapters 4 & 5(view spoiler)[
And another quote that made me chuckle:

'I'll take my brothers. They'll appreciate a spell on the road and we managed to traipse to and fro happily enough not so many years ago with nobody giving us much pause.'

So he tells us Father Gomst walked out of Gelleth without so much as a tan to show for it, but that's it. I wonder if we'll get more details or if he just walked out somehow and that's that.

I'm glad he's taken Gog under his wing and is being good to him, even if it's only to have a "weapon" once Gog knows how to harness his fire.

Totally surprised! Stewards?!? Very cool twist about the Stewards vs the direct heirs to the Emperor. The Ancraths definitely have that air of manipulating, traitorous power grabbers. (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 5 & 6: (view spoiler)[ And now we know why the duke (?) of Arrow is pissed off at Jorg :D I really, really like that Jorg lost the battle against him. It's so refreshing, there are far too many books with superhero main characters which can do everything and win every battle 😅 (hide spoiler)]

Laura wrote: "Chapters 4 & 5"

I agree and I also hope we get more explanation for Gomst and everything else going on...

"Chapter 5 & 6

Anni, Totally agree!

Laura, I loved those quotes too.

One I quite liked - (view spoiler)["You've got to hunt your fears, Gog. Beat them. They're your only true enemies."

I love that he's being good to Gog too. :) (hide spoiler)]

Siobhan wrote: ""Chapter 5 & 6

Anni, Totally agree!

Laura, I loved those quotes too.

One I quite liked -

Yes! I liked that quote too!

Chapter 7 & 8:(view spoiler)[

I had the sort of headache that makes decapitation seem like a good option. Any idiot could tell that it wouldn't take much for me to make their neck the practice run.

Jorg seems to be on the verge of changing his tune. Thinking his dad may have done the right thing buying off his uncle? And how he talked to the peasant woman in the hut after he woke from falling off his horse. And leaving the clove-spice with the dying girl. Hmmm... See where that goes.

I liked the necromancy being in his hands, hope Lawrence does something with that. (hide spoiler)]

Laura I literally flagged the same quote! Love it! XD

I was thinking the same as you about Jorg in these chapters.

Chs 5&6

(view spoiler)[ Was the line of Stewards vs Emperors not something covered in Prince of Thorns? I feel like that was mentioned, by Jorg’s teacher/mentor. Forgot his name.
(hide spoiler)]
I’m liking this two chapters per day thing!

Ch 7&8
(view spoiler)[ In Ch 8, we see some of Jorg’s humanity. When he can feel the girl Janey’s wasting illness with his hand, he tries to do something for her. And although he can’t, I feel like he leaves a piece of himself with her. Now he sees how peasants can fall through the cracks. The king does not help these people. And jorg hopes he can change that. (hide spoiler)]

I'm liking two chapters a day too. I keep thinking I'm just going to binge read it but it's more fun to discuss it at the same pace as you guys.

Laura wrote: "Chapter 7 & 8: I had the sort of headache that makes decapitation seem like a good option."

I really liked this quote, especially the first part (I quoted it above, because I don't think it's a spoiler). Quotes like this makes me smile while reading, I like Jorg's sarcastic and funny narration style :)

(view spoiler)[ He was even a little too nice here wasn't he? Don't tell me he lost his 'I don't give a fuck"-attitude. He didn't only gave the girl the clove-spice, but also the toy from the past to make her laugh!

Aaaand I am also very, very curious to see how the necromancer part of him will play a role! (hide spoiler)]

Jess wrote: "Chs 5&6"

Sounds logical... But I can't remember that his teacher had told him something like this, not that it means that it didn't happened, I could have forgotten it...Maybe someone else's memory is better :)

Chapters 9 & 10. Well that was harrowing. 😭
(view spoiler)[Jorg's father is a f*cking bastard, to do that to a poor innocent dog and a 6 year old child. I can take a lot, but cruelty to animals I can not take. Bit emotional right now! (hide spoiler)]

Anni wrote: "Laura wrote: "Chapter 7 & 8: I had the sort of headache that makes decapitation seem like a good option."

I really liked this quote, especially the first part (I quoted it above, because I don't t..."

I dont remembee him giving her the clove-spice, but maybe you could deduce that.

Ch 10...😢😢😢. (view spoiler)[ More reasons to cut down Jorg’s father. (hide spoiler)]

But...in regards to 9&10,

(view spoiler)[ The timeline is screwing with me. First we have the Brothers goin back to Ancrath, now he’s waking up in the desert with his memories in a box?

I hope this gets explained soon.

(hide spoiler)]

Jess wrote: "I dont remembee him giving her the clove-spice, but maybe you could deduce that."

7&8 (view spoiler)[ Well it wasn't mentioned, yes, but I thought that's what happend. He woke up with the clover-spice in a bag at his hip and as they leave the village he shows Makin the empty bag... We know that a huge amout like this would kill someone, so I don't think he took it himself. Also he said that the girl had a light/easy death. Especially the last part convinced me, that he gave it to her instead of hiding in from Makin to keep it... (hide spoiler)]

Anni wrote: "Jess wrote: "I dont remembee him giving her the clove-spice, but maybe you could deduce that."

7&8 [spoilers removed]"

That's what I got from that scene too, Anni. Thought it was really sweet. Jorg losing his edge...!

Jess wrote: "But...in regards to 9&10,
.."

It's screwing with me too Jess! I haven't got a clue what's going on.

(view spoiler)[Do you think after he left them to go to Ancrath on his own he did something so horrible that he's blocked it out? (like maybe kill his baby brother as we've mentioned). Don't understand the box thing. Has someone actually removed his memories for him? (hide spoiler)]