Fantasy Buddy Reads discussion

The Shadow of What Was Lost

I might join in on this one.

In for this one. Read it a while ago and it as very good.

I think I’ll join for this one

Are these the ones I requested, or different... I see BRs for October 24th and November 22nd, but I requested the October/November 10th...

Did I miss more discussion after I made the request?

There's also now 2 Islington folders... Licanius - Islington & just Islington

EDIT: I think the start date was confused with NOS4A2 above it on the sheet...

The 'Licanius - Islington' is the old one. I think that I've requested these months ago, but then everything got postponed due to the last book. 'Islington' is the new one.

Saar The Book owl wrote: "The 'Licanius - Islington' is the old one. I think that I've requested these months ago, but then everything got postponed due to the last book. 'Islington' is the new one."

Yea... I tried to get the postponed threads turned into this BR, but new threads were the result... oh well... a place to discuss is a place to discuss...

Normally I'll have my copy this week and can start then.

Alright, I'm starting my re-read! I remember a few plot points, but the details (and names) are all jumbled in my mind...

Who'll be reading it for the first time?

Virginie wrote: "Alright, I'm starting my re-read! I remember a few plot points, but the details (and names) are all jumbled in my mind...

Who'll be reading it for the first time?"

Me...

@Virginie I'm also reading for the first time, got up to chapter 9. It's been a very quick read so far.

Ch 9 spoilers: (view spoiler)[ok this is where it finally hooked me, the Shadow community and the Watcher killing Jin. until now it has felt a bet generic. (hide spoiler)]

compared to other series: (view spoiler)[I don't really see the Wheel of Time similarity, besides the absolute basics (high fantasy, ancient evil, older teenage protagonists). (hide spoiler)]

Up to chapter 12: (view spoiler)[The storyline I'm the most interested in is Asha's. Wirr & Dav's feels a bit more 'generic', like James said.

It's good to have more context about the Gifted, the Tenets they are bound to, and their place in the society. I had forgotten most of it. (hide spoiler)]

Can't really talk more about this, I'm afraid of inadvertently spoiling you guys :p
Even just commenting on a character's behaviour, not realizing I only noticed it on hindsight :/

Other series: (view spoiler)[Haven't read the Wheel of Time so I can't really comment on the similarities... It does feel like 'classic' fantasy, with young protagonists on a quest, a looming evil slowly awakening after being driven back behind a barrier for 2000 years, etc. (hide spoiler)]

It will be a re - read, but I don't remember much. For some reason I keep mixing it with 'Gardens of the moon'.
Starting tomorrow, I think.

Meh. Meant to join this read when it was originally proposed earlier this year. Caught between other books at the moment. May yet jump in. (Would be first time for me)

Just starting - re-read for me, looking forward to it!

We'll be happy to have you here, Rob, if you can :)

I'm up at chapter 4 and it's a bit annoying that I've read this before. It has been a while, though, but my mind keeps saying: 'Oh yes, and then that happened and then this.' I'm thinking: 'Just be quiet!' Hahaha...

For so far:
(view spoiler)[I thought that Davian will make the connection that he could maybe be an Augur. They can Read people without using Essence, so can he, but he doesn't seem to make that connection. Also, Tenvar is the one who is coming for Davian, but he hasn't made the connection yet. It's a bit bizar that the Trials did move so far in advance. Maybe it has to do with the strange events that are happening? So, what I get for now, is that the Gifted have Essence (some magic), but that they are banned to use it out of the Tol. They are bound by a Treaty and a Shackle. That was why Leehim became a Shadow, I think, because he used Essence when he was forbidden to do it. (hide spoiler)]

Virginie wrote: "Up to chapter 12: The storyline I'm the most interested in is Asha's. Wirr & Dav's feels a bit more 'generic', like James said.

It's good to have more context about the Gifted, the Tenets they are..."

I only can say that Wirr's storyline will become much more interesting further in, also Davian's.

Just started, like 30 seconds ago... gotta say, Michael Kramer sounds great at 3x speed... his slow narration voice seems tailor made for it...

Prologue: This prologue just gave me chills, paired with Kramer's narration... for a second, I couldn't tell if I was listening to this book/series by Islington, or a new Sanderson/Cosmere novel... the sounds, the tone, the themes...

Chapter 9 already... flying by so fast... and so much mysterious stuff is happening... can't wait to see where all this is going...

The prologue will be an important piece in this book. There is one scene that is my most favorite part, but I won't tell it yet. It's much further in the story.

Around 40%... I'm loving this, altho I've relistened to 1 or 2 of the more hectic chapters when I think I miss something... I find it hard to compare this to Wheel of Time, considering how slow WoT is, and the laughable fact that it was originally pitched as a trilogy and spanned 14 books...

Around 85% and I’m loving everything about this book... so many of my favorite topics are cropping in, and the pacing and everything has been excellent... even as my questions and theories/speculation rises, there’s nothing frustrating me ...

Having read more, now, I think I see mote similarities with the Riftwar books I’ve read than with Wheel of Time...

Almost done now, and I’m going to have to go back and relisten to the prologue... maybe the chapter with the Altar, too... I can definitely see some WoT comparisons in this epilogue chapter, when you start to get overt snippets of the larger machinations...

Timelord Iain wrote: "Prologue: This prologue just gave me chills, paired with Kramer's narration... for a second, I couldn't tell if I was listening to this book/series by Islington, or a new Sanderson/Cosmere novel......"

This is exactly how I felt my first read through, I also listened to the Kramer audio version.

Okay, starting this one now!

The first section of the book (200 pages or so) I found a real slog and almost DNFed it a few times, but now I'm almost at the halfway mark and it's starting to grow on me. I'll finish it, but I don't think it's going to be a favourite and I don't think that I'll hunt out the sequels (at this moment in time; that may chance before I get to the end).

I don't think this is a bad book; sometimes I read books that are technically 'good' but just don't work for me for some reason.

Shaitarn wrote: "The first section of the book (200 pages or so) I found a real slog and almost DNFed it a few times, but now I'm almost at the halfway mark and it's starting to grow on me. I'll finish it, but I do..."

Darn, sorry to hear this Shaitarn. Personally I loved this book. I hope it picks up for you.

It's slow going for me right now, just past the 100 page mark. Asha's story line is definitely the most interesting at this point.

Emily wrote: "Shaitarn wrote: "The first section of the book (200 pages or so) I found a real slog and almost DNFed it a few times, but now I'm almost at the halfway mark and it's starting to grow on me. I'll fi..."

It's definitely me, not the book. It just took a long while to draw me in. I'm hoping it'll become un-put-down-able in the second half!

Shaitarn wrote: "Emily wrote: "Shaitarn wrote: "The first section of the book (200 pages or so) I found a real slog and almost DNFed it a few times, but now I'm almost at the halfway mark and it's starting to grow ..."

I hope so :) Disappointing books are the worst!

400 pages in now and you know what? I'm really enjoying it! The start was incredibly slow, but I think it's picked up considerably.

I quite like all three of our main characters, especially Asha; no matter all the stuff she has to endure, that girl just keeps pushing on and I admire that. It's also nice to have a female character who's strong because she's smart rather than relying on physical skills. Not that there's anything wrong with that, but it makes a nice change (for me, anyway).

Shaitarn wrote: "400 pages in now and you know what? I'm really enjoying it! The start was incredibly slow, but I think it's picked up considerably.

I quite like all three of our main characters, especially Asha;..."

Glad it picked up for you! I haven't hit the 200 page mark yet but I remember liking Asha as well.

I'm glad you're enjoying it finally, Shaitarn, sometimes it's worth to hang in ;)
Yes, Asha is definately a strong character.

Finished, and after the shaky start I really enjoyed it! I think Asha remained my favourite character, (view spoiler)[but possibly because the plots for Wirr and Davian felt a little more like familiar 'coming of age' type stories. Perhaps that's because women haven't been in the genre as long as male characters. (hide spoiler)] I don't see the WoT comparison, though; this world feels very different to me, but that could be because I still haven't read the whole series yet (next year is my 'reading WoT' year: reading the whole thing from start to finish).

One utterly inconsequential point about the shadows: the detail about how they're created just left me thinking about the face tattoos the Dalish Elves have in Dragon Age: origins . As I said, utterly inconsequential!

Yeah, Asha is my favourite as well. (view spoiler)[ I really like that she's not a hidden member of the royalty like Wirr, nor a 'Chosen One' like Davian. She's just a very smart & brave girl. She even got her gifted abilities taken away, and yet, she's still amazing :) (hide spoiler)]

Virginie wrote: "Yeah, Asha is my favourite as well. [spoilers removed]"

Yes, that exactly why I like her! (view spoiler)[ She doesn't have special abilities or powerful friends to prevent her having to suffer the consequences of her actions, she's just smart and determined. This is the kind of girl I want to read about! (hide spoiler)]

Giving this one priority, so I can start the second one somewhere next week

Ah, forgot to mention I finished it. Found it even better on re-read :)
I'll probably start book #2 in a few days. Can't wait to be able to comment without risking spoiling everyone :p

Yes, indeed, I found the reread also even better and the first time was already great :D