Fantasy Buddy Reads discussion

June 15th.

Innnnn...as long as the first two go down well!

This is going to be epic.

I should be on track to start this on Friday/Saturday. Where’s everyone else at? Still working on Ships?

I should be able to join this by the 20th!

Starting this early!

Post Ch 1

(view spoiler)[ So the wraiths used the beacon that Sethvir created for Kharadmon’s return to come to Athera. So why would the Fellowship, with all their knowledge and sacrifice, place Kharadmon’s life above those lives of the rest of Athera? It’s mentioned even in this chapter, that any of the Sorceror’s would lay down their life to keep the continent safe, so why would they make a beacon to Kharadmon that could be used to journey from the South Gate to Athera to threaten everyone? (hide spoiler)]

Kind of blown away by the first section of III. Vastmark.
(view spoiler)[Mentioned that there’s a reason why only Arithon needed to swear a blood oath to stay alive as long as possi le; Lysaer has an undying need to kill Arithon.

I thought the whole scene with Jilieth was beautiful! (hide spoiler)]

I am done with Ships and quite looking forward to Vastmark but I need to do Stonewielder first. Hopefully, this month is going to be easy on my reading and I will catch up witch you.

I didn't get any notifications for this thread till now. :(
Sorry I'm late but I'll be here.

@Mayim - How did you like Ships?

@Jess - I'll ask Janny to answer that for you since I don't know how to without spoiling. Glad you like this so far. It will get more and more intense as you read. Every ARC is the same. Breakneck pace in the end.

It has been a very reflective read, Laura. To this point that my review does not make sense unless someone has already read the book.

I didn't even see your review lovely. I missed it, just like so many other things. (*sigh Will go check now. Life has had me bouncing like an energiser bunny lately and I may just missplace my head if it weren't connected to my neck.

I’m in a he same boat. Just fresh out of hospital and recuperating very slowly. Sending hugs your way.

thank you lovely! :)
Please accept a few big strong hugs from my side too! Hope all will go well for you! (*sending gently a sweet flying kiss your way* - be well!!)

Stonewielder is a great excuse!!! Look forward to your feelings on that one. I thought is was good, but not better than RoCG.

Laura, I definitely dont want spoilers. It’s ok if there are no good answers. Im willing to wait for them!

Hi Jess,

Janny answered your question with no spoiler. Those spoiler tags are for previous books so it's safe to read. Hope it helps.

"The answer to this one is pretty straightforward, but probably requires a clear recall of the mentions and events leading up to the crisis moment.

I will give a chronological rundown of what led to the problem under spoiler tags:

(view spoiler)[Kharadmon was dispatched to the splinter worlds cut off past South Gate to gain in depth knowledge of the Mistwraith and its origins. Whatever Traithe may have known (or the Paravians) having been lost: first with Traithe's impairment at the closing of South Gate, and second, with the Paravians' disappearance. This became necessary both to gain more knowledge into the wraiths and how they may have affected Arithon and Lysaer, and also, due to the 'discovery' by Asandir and Sethvir in Etarra in Vol I that the entities in the mist had once been/were human in origin. In detail, we were shown that the Seven had no further avenues (on Athera) to pursue.

Kharadmon had to make the journey 'interstellar' due to not having a working gate....once he left on that errand, he was not heard from....despite repeated attempts by Sethvir (mentioned) he never 'checked back in,'

The Fellowship had no clue 'why.'...so they created the 'strongest' homing beacon they could to 'recall' Kharadmon to his responsibilities on Athera.

Having no clue whatsoever, that at the time, Kharadmon's 'silence' was due to the fact he was under active attack, and 'lying low' dodging pursuit while STILL trying to pursue his directive/find out what he could, even gather record of Name for the various wraiths imprisnoned in Rockfell - if any such 'record' existed.

The homing beacon 'forced his hand' - by creating a beacon/marking the origin and path to Athera - where the other wraiths are imprisoned in Rockfell.

Kharadmon was then forced out of cover - he HAD TO return - to warn his Fellowship of the nature of the wraiths (that they could exist separate from the imprisoning mist) - and that they could threaten/attempted possession to 'gain' knowledge from the Fellowship Sorcerers.

The homing beacon was tied to the lifespans of TREES and so: wasn't going to dissolve any time soon.

Kharadmon therefore left/was flushed from cover - and blazed home FAST to warn his colleagues they would be under immanent attack.

And to deliver what knowledge he had regarding the fate of Marak and the wraiths still there.

Had Asandir and Sethvir realized the reason for Kharadmon's silence, they'd of course, not have forged the beacon in the first place....while the Seven are extremely powerful - they are not (as demonstrated here) infallible. (hide spoiler)]"

Is anyone still reading this? I am at chapter set 7 and loving it just as much as last time.

Yes! Im beginning chapter 9!
This has been an amazing book in so many ways.
Im still trying to discern the differences from the Fellowship Sorcerors and what they can do and the Koriani. They ultimately both use magic. But it seems like the Order tends to do a lot of scrying into the future....thats where Arithon gets his idea to use the tienelle. But then the Order also uses Stones/crystals to create spells. The spells can be really similar to what the Fellowship do; which depend more on present circumstances and how to change them.
What do you think? Am I looking at it wrong?

I've had a couple of really stressful weeks at work...so I'm a bit behind, but still reading this :)

I understood it a bit different Jess. But now that you are asking, I am myself not so sure either.

Remember on Dascen Elur Arithon was schooled in magic by his Grandfather and the grandfather in his turn has learnt from the mages before him, all the way back to Sethvir. Sethvir had trained the Rauven Mages on Athera, before they left in that self exile on Dascen Elur.

The magic of the Fellowship is way stronger and truer than that of the Koriani Order.
The Order uses crystals to help them with their magic because they cannot themselves do stuff like the Fellowship. They do not have that kind of power.

To put it simple, the Koriani Order has to obey the laws of Athera and The Fellowship are guardians and enforcers of those laws. And the Fellowship has clearly the upper hand on the power. Something that you must have noticed, pisses the Prime Matriarch to no end. That woman is more power hungry than anyone else I ever met. I really hate her guts.

And now I'm gonna ask Janny to help us out because I may also have gotten it wrong. :D

Olivia wrote: "I've had a couple of really stressful weeks at work...so I'm a bit behind, but still reading this :)"

That's ok Olivia. :) We're here.

Ah, ok Id forgotten the link between Descen Elur and Athera! Morriel is NOT a nice lady. Ch 9 spoilers
(view spoiler)[

So now I guess Lyaer has a jesus-complex. Talking about being the “higher truth” of the 5 kingdoms; “in a faith beyond mortal limits”.
As if he needed MORE ego, he’s decided to found a faith of Light. Sigh. This book makes me want to shake Lysaer!! (hide spoiler)]

Finished last night.

The next 3 books have been posted starting here:
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

Hi Jess,

Janny replied to the question regarding Koriathain and Fellowship magic. Here is her reply:

The books are going to unfold this for you in a measured manner, however, here's an overview (not a spoiler for the series thus far, it was 'opened' in Vol I).

The most easily grasped difference is this:
The Fellowship are bound by the Law of the Major Balance. You can look that up in the glossary....it REQUIRES free will consent by all parties involved.

The Koriathain honor no such restriction.

The rest lies in how both 'factions' acquired their powers and what route and what guidlines they've acquired - gathered wisdom if you will - and where they may be BLINDED or have tunnel vision due to their code - ask yourself THIS question (if you can answer/and if not, the books will unfold it): What is their 'moral high ground?" What is their purpose? Whom do they serve? What are they 'invested' in?

Both groups have very very different foundations in this regard: watch for it (you do not know this, yet, it will unfold in arc III and beyond).

That knowledge - and awareness - and discovery of the 'origins' of their powers - will show you the very vivid differences between the two groups.

It will also tell you a secondary reason why Koriathain persist with their 'traditional' history of using Crystals. Watch Sethvir's hand for this, too.

PS also: Fellowship Sorcerers also use crystals on occasion, you will see this in Arc III, and the 'contrast' between their methodology and the Koriathain's will be telling.

If you are truly curious to know the deep, very deep, backdrop history, my short The Sundering Star will illuminate the 'history' behind Koriathain, Fellowship and even (incoming!) Biedar. You can find it in e format at www.paravia.com/catalog, or you can get it in the print anthology Under Cover of Darkness.

Jess wrote: "Finished last night.

The next 3 books have been posted starting here:
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/..."

How did you like it?

Oh that was a great response from Janny.

I thought this book was really an improvement from the first two books. I could hardly put it down! 4.5 stars easy

Will anyone else be reading Fugitive Prince, next in series on Aug 15?

My voice echoes in that chat!