Fantasy Buddy Reads discussion

This is a Buddy Read for Flamecaster by Cinda Williams Chima starting on July 28, 2023.


Happy Reading!

Thank you!

Spot!

Hi, how do the buddy reads work please

We usually wait for the date on the thread name and then just start reading and share our thoughts. You are welcome to join any thread you might be interested in:)))

Ijeoma wrote: "Hi, how do the buddy reads work please"

We generally start around the start date... some start a little early or late... generally not more than a week, tho...

Read and comment... indicate chapters or % through book for and use spoiler tags on spoilery stuff... can leave general impression visible outside spoiler tags...

I'll join this one! Has anyone started yet?

I'm running late on most things--I should be here at the end of the month!

Same! You are totally welcome to join us, Alba!!!;)

Started! Zooming through on audio--this one is just as much fun (actually enjoying it a bit more) than the first series.

I'm through Chapter 15ish, I think? Hoopla isn't showing me chapters. 6/13 hours in. (view spoiler)[So sad when Han died--but I remember reading a comment by the author, when she said she was surprised by how many people who were outraged or shocked by Han's death... she sees it as him having had a long happy life with the love of his life and great children, and he dies fighting to save people he loves. But as readers, we don't get to see any of that long happy life--she the author has an advantage we don't, that she probably has that whole long happy life in her head.

I'm a bit miffed at ... darnit, not sure of his name. Aidan? Alden? Han's son. He should have reported at least, before disappearing. He's pulling a Raisa, but in even worse conditions. I do like seeing him at school--for the minute that lasts--and his interactions with Layla are pretty funny.

I was getting Layla mixed up with the girl from the mines for a bit, but I'm still wondering if she doesn't maybe also have one of those mage-marks on her... just maybe not the same one? What's her game? At first I thought she might be spying for the Fells, or even a hidden bodyguard for A, but it seems like she's more of a free agent... not actually working for the bad guys though.

The captain mage dude... I am hoping he might eventually come over to the good guys. And his line about recognizing the mark from somewhere... that's what made me think Layla might have one. But then we got the Delphi girl's POV again, and I knew they weren't the same person... (hide spoiler)]

Finished! This was a lot of fun. I think I like it more than the first series--or at least the opening book thereof. Even though this is YA, it only had a tiny bit of the things that bug me about YA--(view spoiler)[The makeout scene between Jenna (Denna?) and "Adam" was way fast--but I can excuse it due to the magical connection--and made me roll my eyes a few times, but that was the only scene.

I guessed that the captain who brought the dragon might be another of the mage-marked, especially when he he smirked after being asked how the weather was (I know one of the books in the series is "Stormcaster"--so maybe that's him?). When he prevaricated in the conversation about the Empress sending an army, I also guessed that he might not be an envoy from her, but maybe intercepted the message, and it looks like that's so. So, the Empress is hunting him, and other mage-marked people.

The next book in the series is "Shadowcaster" and last is "Deathcaster." I wonder who the others are? I was thinking maybe Leila or Karn--Karn has some connection, for sure... something maybe from his childhood? He was born in the Empress's islands, I think--and he had seen the Mark somewhere before. On who? Probably not himself. Probably not Leila, since she did turn out to be a Fells agent.

I am so glad they saved the dragon!! AND That the King of Arden is finally dead, and his wife finally free. The picture she painted was so terrifying... I can hope that she, with her son, will be able to hold things together and that the war will cease... so the Empress is going to be the new external antagonist. Maybe one of the Marked is in the Fells? (hide spoiler)]

Ok, I was traveling and listening to this one, so I couldn't come in and chat like usual, but I am finished and I really enjoyed it!

(view spoiler)[ Han's death happened so early in the book, it was sudden and sad, but I can see how the author wanted to establish the steaks early on and make clear whose development we are going to follow.

I was, however very upset at what had happened to his oldest daughter. At 20 years old, being ambushed by the crazy king, commiting suicide so not to be captured alive, and then beheaded, her head paraded and then sent back to her parents, was just awful! No wonder everyone in the queendom is upset.

Jenna's story was very interesting. I hated what happened to her little friend Maggie and Riley , her first crush... That king should have been assassinated by his own people way before this! The life he had made for his subjects was gruesome and hard! Whoever managed to survive was resilient and strong! I felt terrible for her dad, sacrificing himself, rather than giving her away.

The son of the general, Destin Karn the mage, is an interesting character too. He obviously hates his father, probably because of some abuse of the mother, but has become the head of Intelligence in Arden and is good at what he does. I think he is infatuated with Jenna and wants to break away from the current circumstances, but has no idea how. Leila was my favorite character so far. She is brash and obviously an agent of our guys, working with the Clans. She said something about her best friend being Shadowdancer. Wasn't that the name of Han's best friend, or was his name Firedancer? And if yes, could Shadowdancer be his son? Either way, she was pretty awesome and I was often bugged by how Ash treated her throughout the book! She was only trying to protect him and have his back, while he was just being a brat! He is lucky to have her in his corner! I wonder if the collars she provided are somehow rigged for sabotage.

The biggest mystery, of course, is what the hell is Jenna. She must be related to the Dragons and their handling somehow. She is immune to fire and gets scales and claws in extreme circumstances, so she might be a whole race that has adapted to working with Dragons. Whatever it is, I am concerned with the zeal the Northern Isles Empress is looking for her with. Obviously, her emissary is working against her and is planning a coup. I guess we will find out more when we get to the next book.

Ash/Adam was not the most likeable character so far. He actually bugged me with his surliness and immaturity quite a bit, but the story itself made up for it. I liked the Queen and I was very glad at how things worked out for her husband. I really want her son to do better, but I highly doubt it.

I agree about the really fast sexy times scene and the pretty much insta-love, but yeah, the magic, the teenage hormones, I guess it can be overlooked.

The Dragon being saved was awesome!!! I was so happy it destroyed a ton of those Vampire Priests! I know they weren't actual vampires, but craving the blood of the mages and drinking them like that to "purify" them, was just disturbing! I want all of them gone!!!

I am intrigued by your suggestion that the fake emissary could potentially be "Stormcaster". Maybe we could forgive him for trying to kill Jenna only from necessity, because he was determined for The Empress not to get her, and maybe he could be a good alternative to replace her, but he needs some explaining to do. (hide spoiler)]

I am really looking forward to reading the next book of the series!!!

Glad you enjoyed it Choko! (view spoiler)[Hana's death before we even get to to the book definitely sets the stakes... I'm kind of glad we didn't get to see it, or meet her, "on screen"--it's too tragic.

I'm totally with you on Jenna having some connection with Dragons... and her story is that her grandmother gave her to a family? I bet she came from the Empress's islands--same as Karn. The magic mark has to have some connection to the islands, and dragons are from there too... I wonder if she can turn into a dragon? And if that is specific to her Flame mark, or if there's similar for Shadow, Storm, and Death? And if the four for the books are the only ones? I don't know if Jenna can be replaced, in the Empress's eyes--I think she needs all four of them...

Did you mean Leila for Karn? I thought he had a crush on her too... I wonder what Karn's path is going to be like now that the main force in his kingdom is dead. Will he be just as trapped because of his father, or will he be able to strike out on his own? I actually wouldn't be surprised if there's an all out civil war in Arden now--not just the conquered kingdoms going for freedom, but also internal powers--like Karn's da--trying to grab the throne.

Yeah, Firedancer was Han's best friend--I bet Shadowdancer is his son, probably by Cat. I bet he'll show up in the next one. (hide spoiler)]