Fantasy Buddy Reads discussion

This is a Buddy Read for Transformation by Carol Berg starting January 12, 2021.

This starts today... think I'm going to start now...

Well I must say this is the first time I am reading Carol Berg and so far am enjoying the story. Through the first third.
Seyonne (view spoiler)[ as seen thru his eyes the slave being treated well for 16 years now gets sold, and at this point you feel the utter helplessness, but not desperation, interesting as he goes thru the days. His new master, Prince Aleksander, as spoiled, cruel self absorbed character as you can find. But there develops something, where will this head?? (hide spoiler)]

Frank wrote: "Well I must say this is the first time I am reading Carol Berg and so far am enjoying the story. Through the first third.
Seyonne [spoilers removed]"

SURPRISE BOOK BUDDY... been awhile...

I found the first chapter easy to pause/delay continuing... but the story has definitely been pulling me in, as we get a better picture of the slave and the prince MC... and their Transformation?

Slave MC just talked to another of his people... around 20%?

With every new development, my belief that I have no idea how this story could play out well is proven time and again... and I'm only 40-45% in...

Around 60%: (view spoiler)[was Seyonne betrayed?... it sounds like his people sacrificed him... did they make a deal with the demons BEFORE the battle was over? (hide spoiler)]... so many questions... guess I need to keep reading...

Around 80%: (view spoiler)[I know/feel the title of this series has more to do with Seyonne's transformation from slave back into a Warden... but Seyonne & Alexander's relationship/friendship is great... and the fact that Alexander becomes a relatively likeable character by the end is a testament to Carol Berg's writing, considering how worthlessly royal he's shown to be on that very first page/chapter (hide spoiler)]

Almost tempted to ruin my sleep schedule to finish this tonight... this wouldn't have been an issue if I'd have been as engaged early on... but here we are :)

Hi Iain , it's been a wile, hope you are well.
I must say (view spoiler)[ that Aleksander grew from someone I hated to a much like character, and enjoyed Seyonne's back story, more than met the eye. The transformation is in both characters, perhaps more so with Seyonne as he was transformed back from being a slave.
The ending was interesting first you think that Seyonne, would be kidnapped or killed , but then a quick turnaround, and Aleksander's getting his due. I have not looked into book two yet, but I am curious where we go from here, perhaps new characters get introduced. (hide spoiler)]

Frank wrote: "....."

Not finished yet, but yea, I was oversimplifying... (view spoiler)[Seyonne felt like he was transforming almost from the get-go... I guess Aleksander did too, but where Seyonne was resisting because of his predicament, Aleksander felt more like he was resisting because of his cushy life...

By the middle, tho, Aleksander was a more willing participant... until he wasn't with the magic curse, and literally transformation (which feels very werewolfy)... (hide spoiler)]

Should be done soon...

Already interested in reading book 2-3 in the semi-near future, after this...

Finished... that ending had me worried so many times... (view spoiler)[between the rough battle, the near execution, the near re-slavery, etc... seemed like an even darker 2nd book was being setup (which I hear the second book is equally dark, it's just not because of events setup, unless you count all the loose demon souls)...

The last pages were actually a nice positive ending to the whole book, really... (hide spoiler)]

And now, the 2 of us are done, and Laura hasn't checked in yet for her re-read :D...

I probably want to wait a couple weeks before moving on to book 2...

Agree totally on the end.
Looking forward to the next installment, again pleasantly surprised with Berg.
I think book two is scheduled for next month.

I didn't schedule them... maybe someone else did?... if not, I'll probably add them to the request list 3/6 weeks out...

Requested book 2 for the 2nd of February... and book 3 for the 23rd of February...

I didn't even know you guys started it so I'll just do the reread myself now.

Why didn't the book show even on the Group shelf?

I'm up for books 2 and 3 whenever you two want to go on with the series.

I read this book...2019?...early 2020? Long enough that I probably also need a reread before reading books 2 and 3, which I've always wanted to do.

I don't think I like the new set up around here. It's harder for me to find things. :-(

Timelord Iain wrote: "Requested book 2 for the 2nd of February... and book 3 for the 23rd of February..."
Great I'm in

Veronica wrote: "I read this book...2019?...early 2020? Long enough that I probably also need a reread before reading books 2 and 3, which I've always wanted to do.

I don't think I like the new set up around here...."

Laura wrote: "I didn't even know you guys started it so I'll just do the reread myself now.

Why didn't the book show even on the Group shelf?

I'm up for books 2 and 3 whenever you two want to go on with the s..."

I don't use the bookshelf system, so I didn't even realize... it seems all the mods aren't on board, yet, with Niki's new organization system...

This month is also the first time in 6-9 months that I've added anything to the scheduled BR list...

I still just use my old system to keep track of things...

https://www.goodreads.com/notifications

From there, you can just scroll and load more notifications, as far back as you want... and do a Ctrl-F find to find the book/thread you're looking for...

Probably easier, the fewer groups you have filling your notifications... I mostly have FBR and GG&G, and GG&G only has a couple active threads... and a long time ago I went into all the active personal tracker threads on FBR and disabled notifications, right between the last comment and the comment box...

Veronica wrote: "I read this book...2019?...early 2020? Long enough that I probably also need a reread before reading books 2 and 3, which I've always wanted to do.

I don't think I like the new set up around here...."

I can't find stuff either. I missed this as well as 2 other threads. :(

I've started reading this now. Will you guys stick around to chat with me please?

I'll be re-reading it, Laura, so I'm happy to discuss my second impressions. :-)

I'll be around... sounds like Laura is going to have more time for this, after starting The Lightning-Struck Heart and learning the plot/humor is overly penis-obsessed...

Which is kinda surprising, considering the quality/tone of Wolfsong & The House in the Cerulean Sea...

LOL. Penis-obsessed is the perfect fit but the problem is it's topped with so much stupidity that it makes my brain hurt at times.

When you keep asking yourself how daft a character can be and what's so damn funny about the penis and anus related stuff... it's time to throw in the towel and look for something else as far as I'm concerned.

@Veronica - yeay!! I'll be starting it today as soon as the chores are done.

Laura wrote: "LOL. Penis-obsessed is the perfect fit but the problem is it's topped with so much stupidity that it makes my brain hurt at times.

When you keep asking yourself how daft a character can be and wha..."

You'd think the books would have a Middle-grade/YA tag, the way the humor is aimed... I read the Artemis Fowl series, forever ago, and it has dwarves that tunnel by eating the dirt like a mole or something, and pooping it out as they go... lots of fart jokes...

For Transformation - Chaper 1

(view spoiler)[ what Seyonne goes through really gets to me. The way stuff is laid out so unembellished and straightforward and so ... matter of fact. Damn!

And that part when he says he's been a slave for 16 years and no mere words could raise his hackles. - You just have to wonder how much he went through to reach this stage.

As for Aleksander - despite knowing how he will change by the end of the book - I still want to punch him in the face.

He would mutilate one man and trample the pitiful scraps of another to remedy his own foolish mistake.
He's a monster. (hide spoiler)]

I agree, Laura. Even knowing what's coming Aleksander at this stage is a piece of work. It was certainly a risky thing for Ms Berg to start with such an unlikable character.

Through the end of chapter 13 on this reread. I really like Lady Lydia. I wish she had more of a presence in this book.

I agree... kinda hope to see more of her in the rest of the trilogy...

Done! (view spoiler)[Awww, I'd forgotten about Aleksander's little handwritten addendum to the proclamation giving him all the Ezzarian's lands, in turn gifting it back to Seyonne and his people..."It is yours." (hide spoiler)] Bit of a lump in the throat.

Veronica wrote: "Done! [spoilers removed] Bit of a lump in the throat."

Yea... the ending is a bit of a triple feint... I spent most of it worried about a dark ending setting up a miserable 2nd book... then the ending had the gall to be hopeful...

LOL, yes! On my first reading I also thought that (view spoiler)[Seyonne's capture (hide spoiler)] at the end was the set up for the next book. Glad the author flipped that.

I'm mostly through this book! It's very good!

Yay, Sha! Glad you're enjoying it.

I like Aleksander a lot! Which is weird because I don't usually like characters who are assholes (which he is, bless his heart) but he has personality. And brains! Even when he's being a capricious tyrant.

Seyonne breaks me. A lot of the passages about his trauma is just really beautiful writing. I also think I'd really like Lydia if she had more of a role to play. I'm still sorting through my feelings about (view spoiler)[all of the Ezzarians. Except Catrin, who is my darling child. (hide spoiler)]

There were definitely some subtle moments early in the story, when Aleksander was in his prime assholeriness, (ha!), where you could see that maybe there was more depth to him. Very good writing, IMO.

The growing respect and friendship between the two men was the best part of the story.

Veronica wrote: "There were definitely some subtle moments early in the story, when Aleksander was in his prime assholeriness, (ha!), where you could see that maybe there was more depth to him. Very good writing, IMO."

//vigorous nodding

I really like it when authors manage to convey emotions and suspicions clearly without having to explicitly voice them or dress them up with a lot of flowery language it's great. It makes me feel like I'm reading a more streamlined story.

Sha wrote: "I'm mostly through this book! It's very good!"

Yeay! Glad you're enjoying it too. :)

Sha wrote: "I like Aleksander a lot! Which is weird because I don't usually like characters who are assholes (which he is, bless his heart) but he has personality. And brains! Even when he's being a capricious..."

I agree. I practically burst out laughing and thought him cute. A cute kind of asshole?!
That time when he (view spoiler)[ asked Seyonne if he can trash the performer without his disapproval. After all... no holes in the shoes and still having the baubles. Aleksander made sure he checked first. :D (hide spoiler)]

Veronica wrote: "There were definitely some subtle moments early in the story, when Aleksander was in his prime assholeriness, (ha!), where you could see that maybe there was more depth to him. Very good writing, I..."

That was the best part of the tale for me too. The way Seyonne slowly sort of became Aleksander's conscience. And the way both men started to change and become better because of the other.

What Seyonne went through - OMG. Straight to the heart for me!

I love the way feelings are conveyed so simple and straightforward. Without, as Sha put it, "having to explicitly voice them or dress them up with a lot of flowery language".
It had a great impact on me and I loved it.

Great writing!

Unrelated to the BR, I made this for one of my Instagram posts.



I hadn't really noticed my sticky notes are seen coming out of the book but too late to fix it now. :D

You can request or start the Harrow the Ninth thread when youre ready Laura... leaving timing up to you...

Laura wrote: "Unrelated to the BR, I made this for one of my Instagram posts.



I hadn't really noticed my sticky notes are seen coming out of the book but too late to fix it now. :D"

I like it!

Laura wrote: "Unrelated to the BR, I made this for one of my Instagram posts.



I hadn't really noticed my sticky notes are seen coming out of the book but too late to fix it now. :D"

Very nice!