Nightmares and Dreamscapes discussion

This is the Buddy Read for Tiamat's Wrath by James S.A. Corey, Book 8 in the Expanse Series.

Goodreads Choice AwardNominee for Best Science Fiction (2019)
Thirteen hundred gates have opened to solar systems around the galaxy. But as humanity builds its interstellar empire in the alien ruins, the mysteries and threats grow deeper.

In the dead systems where gates lead to stranger things than alien planets, Elvi Okoye begins a desperate search to discover the nature of a genocide that happened before the first human beings existed, and to find weapons to fight a war against forces at the edge of the imaginable. But the price of that knowledge may be higher than she can pay.

At the heart of the empire, Teresa Duarte prepares to take on the burden of her father's godlike ambition. The sociopathic scientist Paolo Cortázar and the Mephistophelian prisoner James Holden are only two of the dangers in a palace thick with intrigue, but Teresa has a mind of her own and secrets even her father the emperor doesn't guess.

And throughout the wide human empire, the scattered crew of the Rocinante fights a brave rear-guard action against Duarte's authoritarian regime. Memory of the old order falls away, and a future under Laconia's eternal rule -- and with it, a battle that humanity can only lose - seems more and more certain. Because against the terrors that lie between worlds, courage and ambition will not be enough...

Enjoy! As always, use spoiler tags when necessary!

I’m here for it!!

I’m here too!

Omg, the first sentence of the prologue (view spoiler)[ and I'm crying already...😢 (hide spoiler)]

Terry wrote: "Omg, the first sentence of the prologue [spoilers removed]"

I'm looking on starting this one around Monday, June 5th. I'm going to try and finish up one of my current reads first.

Looking forward to this one if the first sentence is already spoil worthy! LOL

Ginger wrote: "Terry wrote: "Omg, the first sentence of the prologue [spoilers removed]"

I'm looking on starting this one around Monday, June 5th. I'm going to try and finish up one of my current reads first.

L..."

Good plan!

Terry wrote: "Omg, the first sentence of the prologue [spoilers removed]"

That was a shocker! It felt like (view spoiler)[a punch in the gut. Damn, I know it was going to happen with her in a wheelchair, whir hair and old AF but I never wanted her to die. :( (hide spoiler)]

I got started on this today and got to the beginning of Chapter 5. I’m really liking this so far!

I have a theory and don’t read this until you’ve finished Chapter 4.
Do you think (view spoiler)[Teresa’s secret friend is actually Amos? He did go to Laconia on a secret mission and Timothy was his real name before he changed it.
Can’t wait to find out!! 😃👍 (hide spoiler)]

Ginger wrote: "I got started on this today and got to the beginning of Chapter 5. I’m really liking this so far!

I have a theory and don’t read this until you’ve finished Chapter 4.
Do you think..."

Just got to this point. So, that thought had not even bounced anywhere near my mind yet! (view spoiler)[ That wasn’t very much info to have made that guess on, but wow, I’ll be impressed if you’re right! That very well could be him. I think Charlie Parker may be wearing off on you! 😁 (hide spoiler)]

Terry wrote: "Just got to this point. So, that thought had not even bounced anywhere near my mind yet! (view spoiler)....."

If that crazy theory ends up being right, you are correct. (view spoiler)[Charlie Parker is definitely rubbing off on me. hahaha!! (hide spoiler)]

Terry wrote: "Omg, the first sentence of the prologue [spoilers removed]"

I just started, and didn’t even get through the prologue yet, but I was coming here to say the same. (view spoiler)[ I hoped with her stubbornness she’d live to 200 years old haha. What a first sentence. One of my favorite characters ever 😢 (hide spoiler)]

Kristen wrote: "Terry wrote: "Omg, the first sentence of the prologue [spoilers removed]"

I just started, and didn’t even get through the prologue yet, but I was coming here to say the same. [spoilers removed]"

Ginger was right, it was (view spoiler)[ a gut punch! Not so much a surprise I guess, but I was hoping she’d be around till the end too. (hide spoiler)]

starting this one tomorrow - very excited! :)

Denis (deez_bookish_adventures) wrote: "starting this one tomorrow - very excited! :)"

Excellent, Denis.

Denis (deez_bookish_adventures) wrote: "starting this one tomorrow - very excited! :)"

Awesome and glad you can fit it in!

I am gonna squeeze it in now, I shouldn't have any trouble finishing it off this month. Fingers crossed. :)
Edited - sorry, my first response sounded really dirty.

Denis (deez_bookish_adventures) wrote: "I am gonna squeeze it in now, I shouldn't have any trouble finishing it off this month. Fingers crossed. :)
Edited - sorry, my first response sounded really dirty."

Hahaha!! Well, I'm sorry now that I didn't get to read it. :D

Ginger wrote: "Hahaha!! Well, I'm sorry now that I didn't get to read it. :D..."

I have a bad habit of speaking in innuendo without realizing it. :D

Chapter 14 (view spoiler)[I knew that Timothy was Amos! Goodness, this puts a whole new spin on what his endgame is with Teresa. I think he likes the kid though and she's stuck in a tough position/life to be in. (hide spoiler)]

I got to the beginning of Chapter 24 tonight. This book got wild y'all!

Ginger wrote: "Chapter 14 [spoilers removed]

I got to the beginning of Chapter 24 tonight. This book got wild y'all!"

Ginger Parker it is I guess! (view spoiler)[ Impressive that you figured that out so quickly. So it seems that both Holden and Amos are really hitting Teresa pretty hard. I wonder if either knows the other is there? I’m guessing not. (hide spoiler)]

Just got to ch24 myself. Holy crap, that is a lot going on!

Interesting. I wonder why the chapter after ch24 is an interlude instead of just the next chapter?? It wasn’t any different when I read it?? Curious what that means.

Terry wrote: "Ginger Parker it is I guess! [spoilers removed]

Just got to ch24 myself. Hol..."

That's my guess too. I don't know (view spoiler)[if they know the other is there. It will be interesting to see how this all plays out! (hide spoiler)]

Terry wrote: "Interesting. I wonder why the chapter after ch24 is an interlude instead of just the next chapter?? It wasn’t any different when I read it?? Curious what that means."

I know, right? I thought that was a interesting chapter too. I really enjoyed the chapter though because I realized that (view spoiler)[I've enjoyed the Holden chapters after the first book. He became so much more in this series and his growth has been huge. It was nice to be in his head again! (hide spoiler)]

Ginger wrote: "Chapter 14 [spoilers removed]

I got to the beginning of Chapter 24 tonight. This book got wild y'all!"

I figured out (view spoiler)[ that Timothy was Amos as well! You just knew Amos couldn’t just disappear like that with the way his character has been and I remembered that was his real name. This should be super interesting and Teresa seems like she will be a big factor. (hide spoiler)]

I am up to chapter 20. I’ve been combining Audible with reading on Kindle (which is super convenient by the way - I never realized how easily it syncs to the last place read or listened). Definitely helping me keep up a little better!

Just finished up Chapter 29 - Holy smokes…
(view spoiler)[I just couldn’t accept that Amos was dead. I’ve been in denial and shock and pissed since Chapter 27 when he was killed. And now to find out that the drones put him back together again?! This dude has protomolecule in him now!! (hide spoiler)] 😱😳

Can I also say that someone needs to (view spoiler)[kill Cortazar very, very slowly and with as much pain as possible. (hide spoiler)]

Kristen wrote: "I am up to chapter 20. I’ve been combining ..."

Great job!! I think it helped putting all that together since we read (view spoiler)[The Churn too and going into his history in Baltimore. (hide spoiler)]

I’m glad the audio is working for you!

Kristen wrote: "Ginger wrote: "Chapter 14 [spoilers removed]

I got to the beginning of Chapter 24 tonight. This book got wild y'all!"

I figured out [spoilers removed]

I am up to chapter 20. I’ve been combining ..."

Very cool Kristen. I wasn’t aware you could sync the kindle books with audible books. I’m still one of those who refuses to make the leap to ebooks, so I’m stuck with paperbacks. I have manually split audio and physically reading a couple of times and did enjoy it. Glad it’s working!

Ginger wrote: "Just finished up Chapter 29 - Holy smokes…
[spoilers removed] 😱😳

Can I also say that someone needs to [spoilers removed]"

Amen to your second spoiler!!

On the first one, OMG (view spoiler)[ I was totally caught off guard by ch27. Still shocked. Now, in ch29 we find out he maybe has been repaired by the Strange Dogs?? Again, just crazy. I wondered as we saw those repair drones around when Teresa was out-and-about if something was going to come of them, but wasn’t expecting this. Totally curious where this goes. (hide spoiler)]How do I stop reading and go back to work now…?

Terry wrote: "On the first one, OMG"

Yeah, that's my guess it's the (view spoiler)[strange dogs from that novella. They mention the name repair drone but when I went to google it with the name of this book, the dogs come up in the description.
Woof! They made Amos alive again but who knows what he's going to be when he shows up again. Maybe he'll be a protomolecule John Wick, which I can totally get behind.
LOL!! (hide spoiler)]

Seriously, it's hard to put this one down. I know we're also reading a CP book but I can't stop reading this one.
And just buckle up. More chaos is coming your way.

Ginger wrote: "Terry wrote: "On the first one, OMG"

Yeah, that's my guess it's the ..."

Haha, (view spoiler)[ protomolecule John Wick is hilarious 😂😆. We even get the two kids in this one from the novella. Again, totally curious where this goes! (hide spoiler)]

Same boat! I’m enjoying CP well enough but this one has me wanting to read nothing but this until I know it all!

I just got to ch34. (view spoiler)[ This book is killing me (and any productiveness I would have had...)! I am devastated about Bobbie, but glad that she is the reason that the Tempest was taken out. Nobody else could have done it. (hide spoiler)]

Terry wrote: "I just got to ch34. [spoilers removed]"

Yeah, it's like (view spoiler)[GRRM wrote this book. LOL!
This book has gutted me since the first sentence when Chrisjen died. You are so right on that spoiler. There was no else who could have done it and the only thing that makes her death easier, is she died doing what she loved. Kicking ass!
I don't think she would want to go any other way. (hide spoiler)]
But seriously...Oh my God. This book.

I got to the beginning of Chapter 42 last night. I hear you on not wanting to do anything besides read this book. I'm absolutely glued to the pages!

Ginger wrote: "Terry wrote: "I just got to ch34. [spoilers removed]"

Yeah, ..."

I don’t remember if they had already said the series was only going to be 9 books at this point when this came out but (view spoiler)[ I think it’s easy to tell that they were starting to wrap it up when major characters start getting offed. I haven’t hurt as much reading a book in a little while. (hide spoiler)]

I ended up making it to ch40. Certainly (view spoiler)[ there is going to be a reunion with Aex, Naomi and Jim at some point coming up, right?? I’m counting on it. (hide spoiler)]

I finished last night. I can't wait to discuss this one with you all and get to book #9. This was a wild ride and I was an emotional wreck. hahaha

If you click on my review at anytime, it is spoiler free. FYI
I really didn't want any of you coming after me and kicking my tail. 🤣

I finished over the weekend also. So good! I’m sad to just have one book left, but excited to finish at the same time. The one real thing in this one that I wish we would have gotten was (view spoiler)[ more info and incite into what happened to Amos. What happens when the aliens rebuild a person like that? What are they really? Are they cyborgs who can die again or more like programmed robots now? What does Amos know (it’s got to be something based on the last thing he said in the book 😬). Sure hope we learn more in the final book or the short stories. (hide spoiler)]

Terry wrote: "I finished over the weekend also. So good! I’m sad to just have one book left, but excited to finish at the same time. The one real thing in this one that I wish we would have gotten was [spoilers ..."

Damn, I don’t know how you guys do it! I’m only up to chapter 30, and I’m not even reading anything else.

I did pick up on the (view spoiler)[ dogs/repair drones. But on Amos?! I can’t handle this. But a protomolecule John Wick does sound interesting 😂. I thought it was difficult a few books ago when they were all in different places but this is killing me! Can’t wait to see what happens. (hide spoiler)]

Terry wrote: "I finished over the weekend also. So good! I’m sad to just have one book left, but excited to finish at the same time. The one real thing in this one that I wish we would have gotten was [spoilers ..."

Yay!! Glad to see you finished and loved this one. It's crazy that we're almost done. I can't believe it either but I'm so glad we did a BR for this series.
I think I would have let my book mood dictate what I wanted to read and I wouldn't have been committed to this if we didn't do a book a month. It would have taken me years to finish it but doing it this way, I don't have to remember where I left off and what happened in the last book. That's a good thing with this series because it's complex and needs to be committed to it.

I love talking to my husband about each book that I finish too. Since he watched the series with me, he also feels super emotionally connected to the Roci crew. LOL

On your spoiler, (view spoiler)[I have no idea what Amos is. It feels like he's a zombie protomolecule and it's just wild. It seems like he's still Amos but he knows stuff now from the last sentence.
But Holden also knows it too and it could be that he also has a touch of the protomolecule in him too. He was the only one that saw Miller if you remember.

I also really loved it when Elvi released the kids. I swear I started crying for Cara and Xan. What Cortazar did to them and how much of a psychopath he was drove me crazy. I have no idea what Duarte is right now but Elvi is the best scientist to figure it out. I loved it when Daurte killed Cortazar. Do you think he knew that he was trying to kill Teresa? I would think so and it's interesting how much Duarte is left. Kind of like the same thing with Amos. (hide spoiler)]

Anyway, I could keep typing all of my thoughts but it would be a book! I'm excited to get to the last book in the series and hope the author(s) explain some of the questions that I have.

Kristen wrote: "Terry wrote: "I finished over the weekend also. So good! I’m sad to just have one book left, but excited to finish at the same time. The one real thing in this one that I wish we would have gotten ..."

I felt the same Kristen on your spoiler! Everything in this book was killing me and I just couldn't quit reading.
I had some time this weekend to really read and didn't do much. It was a nice change because my weekends are usually slammed packed.
I can't wait to see what you think about the rest of the book! I know you're going to love this one. :D

Ginger wrote: "Kristen wrote: "Terry wrote: "I finished over the weekend also. So good! I’m sad to just have one book left, but excited to finish at the same time. The one real thing in this one that I wish we wo..."

I basically blew everything else I was supposed to do this past weekend and just read this book. It was so worth it too!

Ginger wrote: "Terry wrote: "I finished over the weekend also. So good! I’m sad to just have one book left, but excited to finish at the same time. The one real thing in this one that I wish we would have gotten ..."

I very much agree about the scheduling of doing one a month. That really made all the difference and I’m proud we stuck to it, too. You’re definitely right about how much better it was keeping everything fresh in my mind too. We should do this again in the future when we start another series. 😊

Totally awesome you share this with your husband! I’ve been trying to get my wife to start on the show with me, but no luck so far.

Yes! I just knew (view spoiler)[ Elvi was going to do that with the kids. Glad I wasn’t wrong about that. I’m curious what role they may play in the next one alongside Elvi? Curious about the same thing with Amos. (hide spoiler)]

I’m in Chapter 37. Oh no, I cannot handle (view spoiler)[ Bobbie dying. I’m still reeling over Amos then this. Poor Alex.. On his own without his Roci crew. Ugh why! (hide spoiler)]

Kristen wrote: "I’m in Chapter 37. Oh no, I cannot handle [spoilers removed]"

I know, Right! (view spoiler)[ at least she went out just like she would have wanted it. (hide spoiler)]

Kristen wrote: "I’m in Chapter 37. Oh no, I cannot handle [spoilers removed]"

Exactly!! I just (view spoiler)[felt like my heart was being ripped out of my chest. lol
Like Terry said in another spoiler, it's really hard to keep all of these characters throughout the whole series especially since they are in constant space fights and wars from the beginning.
But yeah, Bobbie dying was brutal and I'm so glad she went out the way she did, being a badass. (hide spoiler)]

I just finished and caught up on all your spoilers! This one was crazy. I loved it but it was so emotionally draining at the same time!

(view spoiler)[It definitely seems like the repair drones give them some sort of connection to the protomolecule and the builders that makes them know more about it. When Elvi was talking to Cara she says that too, so I imagine it’s something similar with Amos. I feel like Elvi is going to crack this with her investigation of the diamond.

With so many huge things happening in this book, it’s easy for Elvi to get overlooked, but she’s such a huge character now and I really liked her in this one. It’s really cool to see her come back into the picture with a major role. She feels used by Holden but at the same time she seems like she’ll be the key to saving them because he got her involved and she loves this kind of challenge. I also love her and Fayez’s relationship and love that we saw it develop and then again years into the future.

(hide spoiler)]

Definitely looking forward to the final book!

Kristen wrote: "I just finished and caught up on all your spoilers! This one was crazy. I loved it but it was so emotionally draining at the same time!

It definitely seems like the repair drones give them some s..."

Completely feel the same about Elvi. She had such a huge role in this one and I feel like she’ll (view spoiler)[have the same or more in the next book. Someone has to crack this mystery of the protomolecule and what it all means! (hide spoiler)]

I can’t wait to find out what happens in this last book.

Kristen wrote: "I just finished and caught up on all your spoilers! This one was crazy. I loved it but it was so emotionally draining at the same time!

It definitely seems like the repair drones give them some s..."

Glad you made it to the end (I was an emotional mess with this one)! It's fun to have made it through to the last one. I'm definitely excited for it too.

I finished this off yesterday, and I must say this was one hell of a ride! A lot of loss and emotion in this one - I can't imagine what the final book is going to be like. My stomach is churning just thinking about it.

I am starting Leviathan Falls today.

I avoided adding spoilers because the desktop site doesn't seem to run right anymore, always freezes up on me like Amazon dot com.

so since I am forced to write everything on my phone I am just skipping the spoilers, they don't hide on my phone e anyhow.

anyone else having these same issues? I am starting to think its everything owned by Amazon that is all messed up - website wise.

Denis (deez_bookish_adventures) wrote: "I can't imagine what the final book is going to be like. My stomach is churning just thinking about it...."

My stomach is doing the same! 😂🤣
Awesome. I’ll be starting in a few days. I can’t wait for this last book.

When we started this series last November, the end seemed so far off, and yet here we are. In the blink of an eye! Looking forward to seeing how this all wraps up.