Online fantasy lovers book club discussion

Hi Louise! Again sooo sorry I'm being a slow poke but I've finally caught up to you. My kindle is only showing me percentages but I'm also on 56% (almost 57%) now and Goodreads tells me you are 56.6%!

Sooo, my initial thoughts on this book are as follows:
I like it - it's very vibrant and the world-building is incredible. There's something that is stopping me from loving it. Sometimes it feels a bit hard to read and I don't always find it particularly gripping in all honesty. I feel like every time I start to think the paths are going to come together, they don't and there's another drawn-out detour from the main plot. It reminds me of Games of Thrones in a way, but that had a greater pull for me (as far as I can remember).

My main gripe to be honest is the high wysterns. They're awake and they've attacked, but then things seem to carry on as normal for bloody ages. What's stopping the high wystern just attacking all the time? Maybe I've missed something, but the urgency (or lack of urgency) seems off.

In the last few chapters I feel like I've read loads of these mini stories like the myth/legend told to Tane about the Little Shadow Girl, and then again in the next chapter - the story told to Ead by the random traveller guy she's with for a short period in the Desert. Normally I like mini myths, but here it is just feeling relentless, especially as I'm just craving for the dragon battles to commence! I had a similar feeling when the Priory's animals saved Loth, and then Ead not much later. I felt like I was reading very similar stories/formats of stories one after the other.

Also, the deaths didn't really hit me. I couldn't really remember who Arbella was (so many names at the start) so when she died I was just confused as to why she died (then I realised she was an older lady in waiting, so probably just old age). Same goes for Kit. This book is looooong and drawn out in places - long enough to build good character relationships - but I didn't feel emotional at all (I normally do). I don't think the author has really nailed the connections between characters.

I do think Ead is a cool character and I want to keep reading to see how it finishes. I do wonder if all of the author's good ideas have been smashed into this when perhaps teasing out the best ones would have been better.

What do you think?
Interested to hear!

I found it really hard going to start with. I didn't really like the setting of the court or feel that interested in the court politics, and didn't like that the whole society revolved round the queen's marriage and reproductive success. However. When that traumatically changed, the change was very profound and radical, and I felt, ah right I see where this has been going. But it did take a long time getting there.
And I think this could have neatly been separated in to two books at that point (so I think it is very appropriate that we are doing it in two halves!). I found the other threads more interesting than the court stuff.

Yes so really I think some heavy editing could have made it all round a better read so far.

Outside the court I found most characters quite compelling and I think the queen is going to get interesting from now. She seemed a bit two dimensional but I expect that was appropriate for her situation. Actually most of the court. Like you I found it hard to remember who was who there.

I did feel very sorry when the queen's husband died, he was so nice. But other than that I haven't felt very emotionally attached to many people. Apart from Tane's dragon! I am so worried about her, I have really been made to feel really invested in her.

I like the sad love story of Niklays and Jannart.

I didn't fell the way you did about the wyverns, their appearances have given me a bit of a feeling of impending doom, with them gathering strength. (However now you've said that it might bother me too, it makes sense what you said!)

Yes, world building in this is very good, very skillful. I like the exotic settings that I can really believe in. Powerful story which I can see has benefitted from a thorough set up, to make it seem so real, but really I think most of the book has just been that, a set up. Hopefully. I am looking forward to seeing what is going to happen next. I think it is going to get really good. I hope the dragon gets free soon!

I do really like that the main characters are women and in general women are so powerful.

I agree. I loved Tane and her dragon. I wish the author cut some of the court stuff and spent more time on Tane.

I definitely think the latter part is much easier to read - all the strands come together and the action kicks in more. I finished a couple of days ago but not sure where you're at. Let me know and we can discuss the ending. :)

Gosh you finished that quickly! I haven't finished yet will let you know when I have.

The second half is definitely more action packed than the first, like you said. I thought the action was really well written, very dramatic. I didn't make many notes on the writing, to give examples (too excited to in the second half) but some of the descriptive writing was so good. just short sentences but really vivid and poetic. all the characters really blossomed in the second half, and became very interesting and three dimensional. the change in Dr Roos was very interesting when he decided not to kill Ead, as was his personal journey overall. interesting dilemmas were examined, like Tane struggling with her guilt.

I was a bit surprised to find there isn't yet another book in the series, apart from the prequel.

I wasn't sure why Tane's side was wet with blood at the end? Something to do with the stone?

Yeah, same here. I thought the writing was better because it was more focused - I suppose it needs to be in action sequences ha.

Did you find the ending a little rushed? I also thought the battle scene might have been longer with a couple more twists and turns.

I agree - they seemed to flesh out a lot more. There was the hint of guilt in Tane's story which really made me think something would happen to her dragon, but I'm so glad it didn't.

Yeah I can't say I'm too fussed about reading the prequel. Maybe later - who knows.

I thought it was hinting that the stone/jewel returned to her body? Not 100% sure. If that was the case surely she would have felt a bump - rather than blood.

I found this book difficult to rate to be honest - some parts were a clear 4, even 5 stars, but since it felt sluggish at the start I went with 3 stars. I usually only give absolute favourites 5 stars though, so I'm quite picky that way haha.

yes I agree, different parts really needed different star ratings. There were elements of the last battle part which were very intriguing, just a few things about the people that were coming together for it, that could have done with being explored a bit so it could have been a bit longer in that way, but I did like that the bits got quite short, I think it did build excitement. But the shortness highlighted even more that the first part was too long.

Perhaps Tane was bleeding because she had put the jewel back then? That part should have been a lot clearer.

I only give 5 stars to books where I'm left thinking that possibly that might be the best book I've ever read.