Fantasy Buddy Reads discussion

This is a Book Club style thread for the Cycle of Arawn, Cycle of Galand, and related books, starting June 1 2022.


Cycle of Arawn Month of June
・1: The White Tree
・2: The Great Rift
・3: The Black Star
・Omnibus: The Cycle of Arawn: The Complete Trilogy

Cycle of Galand Part 1: Month of July
・1: The Red Sea
・2: The Silver Thief
・3: The Wound of the World

Cycle of Galand Part 2: Month of August
・4: The Light of Life
・5: The Spear of Stars
・6: What Lies Beyond

Cycle of Galand Part 3: Month of September
・7: The Twelve Plagues
・8: The 13th God
・9: title and release date TBD?

Cycle of the Scour Month of October
・1: The Sealed Citadel
・2: The Black Book
・3: The Last Tomb
・4: Untitled and TBD

ooo thank you for posting.

XD Looking forward to it!

I will be here for sure!:)

I am in

Audible has Galand 6-8 on sale right now!
https://www.audible.com/series/The-Cy...

I didn't realize we said we were starting on June 1st...

This is just me popping in to say "I haven't forgotten about this, in the past 6 months"

LOL Glad you did... I wonder if JL is still around? Haven't seen her for a while, and this was her BR inspiration...

I'm still interested too, though there's a million books in June and I'm still behind in May...

Last time I saw JL was in the In Death thread, but that was probably in March...

I definitely don't want to abandon this... I picked up the first omnibus on Audible, and I'm always on the lookout for new UF to love, and they were big fans...

I'll probably get to it in the next week... got an extra day off to try and get some extra reading in... my monthly long weekends give me a chance to try and stay ahead of the never-ending pile of Buddy Reads, especially since they tend to be front-loaded each month, as well...

Yeah... I'll be popping in here once I catch up with my audio BRs... gotta finish Wandering Inn first! But once I do, I'll be here... also, more likely to jump in sooner since you'll've already started. ^^

How will this work, just read at your own pace or is there a structure like weekly, every other week, etc? I'd like to give this a go if that is okay.

I think mostly at your own pace... This is why some of us love the Bookclub format:)

Ann-Marie wrote: "How will this work, just read at your own pace or is there a structure like weekly, every other week, etc? I'd like to give this a go if that is okay."

I'm not entirely sure... the stories sound more part of one large narrative than standalone...

This Cycle of Arawn is the early years...

Then the Cycle of Galand is the main quest years later...

And I'm not entirely sure what the Cycle of the Scour is... I think it's a sequel storyline, and still being released?

If I'm right on this, I'd like to read the Cycle of Arawn sooner than later, since I have the omnibus, then we can decide on how/when to schedule the Cycle of Galand... is 65hrs of audio too much to expect others to do in the next month or so?...

Doublechecked and Scour is a prequel series about different character that we'll probably know by then, maybe?...

Anyway... maybe a schedule like Foundryside will work, every 2 weeks or so?... each book seems to be 17-24hrs long or so... except the scour books, which are 11-12hrs...

That works for me:)

What if we set months instead of weeks? Like, everyone aim to read Cycle of Arawn in June, first half of Galand in July and so on? Like this:

June: Cycle of Arawn
July: Cycle of Galand, Part 1 (1-4)
August: Cycle of Galand, Part 2 (5-8)
Sept: Cycle of Scour

Could also stretch in out more too.

I'm definitely up to try :D

I should be able to work with that!

I will try as well. Malazan has consumed me tho

Edited top post to reflect new dates. :)

Audible is having a sitewide sale right now, and these are only on Audible--most of the books are around $5 or less.

I bought up everything I was missing... which was a bunch...

Gonna start the first book now / today... there seem to be a fair amount of rave reviews for the story, but regardless of quality, the audio should be great, since it's all read by THE Tim Gerard Reynold... TGR has a great narration voice... he read all the Riyria world books by Michael J. Sullivan, and Threadbare world by Andrew Sieple...

Few chapters into White Tree (and by that I guess I mean I'm halfway into chapter 2, lol, the chapters are long, trending towards 1hr each)...

(view spoiler)[MC seems super impulsive, and quick to excuse his actions... I'll agree with other reviewers for now, and say it's pretty accurate for a kid... also means the story could go anywhere, I think...

It's already gone all over the place, from a dead dog to a murdered guard and a stolen magical book... now he's being hunted for some reason (blurb indicates a cult of followers to the death god of the magic book he stole)...

He's negotiating for a guard right now, and I guess this is an important character based on the blurb...

I like how the magic book isn't just handing out magic... taking real work and study... kinda reminds me of The Magicians, for some reason... or is there another series where the magic works better if you have to work hard for it? (hide spoiler)]

I'll be able to start later this week if all goes as planned but you know how that goes lol

I'll try to be here by the weekend.... ^^;;;

I'm trying to read White Tree early in the month, giving me plenty of time to read Great Rift & Black Star later in the month...

Up to chapter 5 now... I can see why some people describe this story as YA D&D... these kids just keep getting into trouble and having to find their way back out again...

Just met Cally... (view spoiler)[for a second, I thought he might be an incarnation of Arawn, but it looks like he's a person, and an important one... he's the MC of the newer Cycle of Scour, which takes place before the cycles of Arawn & Galand. (hide spoiler)]

Three chapters in... (view spoiler)[ Dante's first kill was disturbing to me for some reason... I hated that he did it, but I am sure it was the right decision in that situation, or the guard would have killed him.

He was lucky to find that book and I agree with you, Iain, I am glad he still has to work for his knowledge and the magic.

The dynamics between Dante and Blaze are so true to teenagers!:))) I am enjoying them getting to know each other in these very scary circumstances of being hunted. Trying to prove to each other that they are tough, hahaha! (hide spoiler)]

I am enjoying it so far:)

I finished the story earlier today... it flows pretty smoothly throughout... real Magicians vibes, and Marla Mason / Bone Shop vibes...

(view spoiler)[murder seems to be a viable option for them in many situations... the Tim Gerard Reynolds narration gives a strong Riyria bromance vibe... (hide spoiler)]

Story had a couple surprising twists and turns, but otherwise was pretty much exactly as expected/advertised, with the occasional end-of-chapter foreshadowing...

Up to Ch. 9... (view spoiler)[ I liked the freeing of the prisoners, but I am disappointed that Cally didn't stay with the boys. It seems like he could have been a good mentor, despite of him saying he is old and bad at teaching young folks...

I am intrigued about their new companion, Robert. Hope the foreshadowing about betrayals doesn't involve anyone we have already met... (hide spoiler)]

Up to Ch. 14... (view spoiler)[ Now I am not sure if Cally was telling the truth, or just wanted to get rid of the high priestess for his own reasons... I am glad Dante didn't kill her and chose to turn himself and the book in. Hopefully the choice to spare her doesn't come back to haunt him... (hide spoiler)]

I don't know if it's the narrator or the writing, but I am definitely getting some Ryiria vibes:)

Just finished The White Tree - CA#1

I enjoyed it, but I wasn't blown away by it. As you said, a bit middle of the road, but still interesting enough to keep me wanting to know what happens with our characters. I don't see much character development at this point, so I am hoping we get that as the author grows together with the story... I didn't like that Dante was always too quick to talk himself out of anything, good or bad. The only thing he truly persevered with (view spoiler)[was finding and keeping The Book... And it came to him too easily to kill people he either liked, or felt it was wrong to do so... This is how bad guys are born...

I knew Cally had his own agenda, but I was surprised at when and how he showed up.

The only character I really liked was the monk in the mountains. I hope we get more of him in the future:) (hide spoiler)]

Agreed on everything... I kinda bought the whole series... but so far, the best aspect of the series is how easy of a read it is... like you said, hopefully the quality improves... JL is a superfan...

I hope JL makes it back to join us...

Started #1 The White Tree--into chapter 3 right now. I agree, Choko, that first scene (view spoiler)[when he killed the guard was really disturbing... I can see his logic, but as much as I am prone to yell at characters to "kill that dude! don't just leave an enemy alive to follow you later!!" I don't think I'd ever actually follow my own yelled advice.... plus, a guard isn't the same as a die-hard enemy... he was probably just there for the paycheck, man... >.< Get him really drunk and knock him on the head or something... that should provoke memory loss... (hide spoiler)]

Liking the "YA D&D" descriptor. Enjoying the banter with Dante & Blaze (Bleys?). Also liking the hard study aspect. For other stories where folks have to work hard for magic, or where the harder the work the more powerful the spell, makes me think of Novik's Scholomance series... man, I'd reread that again too...

Haven't read the Magicians but it's been on my radar for a long time...

I don't know why, but I didn't like The Magicians at all! Just something about it grated on me and I finished it very begrudgingly... I understood what the author was going for, it just wasn't my cup of tea...

I've watched the first couple seasons of the TV series (haven't finished though) and enjoyed it... but I've always felt a bit uneasy about trying the books... I wouldn't be surprised if I had a similar reaction. Someday though...

Arawn #1 The White Tree Up to Chapter 6--rather enjoying a lot of the banter. Not getting any full-fledged LOLs from me yet, but getting a lot of appreciative laugh-snorts for specific lines, like:

Dante: Get me this information, and I'll reward you beyond your dreams.
Street Boy: I dunno, I can count to one hundred!

snort-aww-cute.

WHAT IS A DUCK?

Nirkatze wrote: "WHAT IS A DUCK?"

A duck is lighter than a witch...

And I agree about the banter and stuff...

I'm actually NOT a fan of the Magicians books... I finished the first one, and I think I DNF'd the 2nd one, sometime around Venice... or maybe I finished it... know I never read the 3rd one, tho...

It's just an easy magic system to compare things to, sometimes...

I watched at least the first season of the show, one Christmas, while out of town and killing time...

Nirkatze wrote: "WHAT IS A DUCK?"

lol

I am in chapter 11 now and enjoying it. I have been listening for the most part but I am not a fan of how long the chapters are, I like to swap between audio and ebook and I like to swap at chapter breaks and I was disappointed to see 47 mins left int he chapter last night.

I watched the Magicians show and enjoyed it for the most part. It's been years and I remember being mad that someone died but I think the actor wanted to leave so they had no choice but it was not ideal. I haven't read the books, I think I own them though but they are somewhere in Mount TBR, maybe someday.

Mount TBR... I feel that.

I'm in the middle of Chapter 12 now and I've been having a hard time paying attention... but it also doesn't seem to matter. Every time my brain clicks in it seems like I didn't really miss much. Easy to listen!

You are right. It's a very linear storyline...

Finished The White Tree, it was a solid 3 star read for me. I agree that it was an easy listen (I only read 3 or 4 chapters and listened to the rest), not too complicated and I like Dante & Blays. I am interested in where the story takes them but I have a couple of other books to read before I can hop into book 2 but I should definitely be able to finish the series this month.

Finished #1 The White Tree and pretty much agree with everyone. An easy listen, but nothing that sticks out at this point. I like the MCs, I enjoyed the banter, and we'll see where it goes from here. ^^

Sometimes (most of the time, maybe), simple stories are nice... probably why I listen to so many mysteries... easy to follow plotlines with lots of dialogue...

Started #2, Great Rift… multi-year time jump…

Dante’s alot more comfortable with his magic…

Not sure what’s going on with the plot yet, but the kids sure seem antsy for the plot to move forward, now that they have a lead, after searching for an artifact for 2 years…

From reading blurbs, I think the Rift in the title is in Dante & Blays’ friendship…

I will likely start this after I finish Red Country. Also yay for more time jumps.....

Seems like everything time jumps these days… anything more than 6-18 months is a time jump in my opinion… depends on the series… Dresden has a big case every 6-12-18 months in-series timeline…

October Daye is like every 3-6 months, and it’s only accelerated over time as things escalate…

InCryptid jumped from 2015 to 2022 in the newest entry (after lots of hopping through dimensions)