Fantasy Buddy Reads discussion

This is a Buddy Read for Stormed Fortressby Janny Wurts starting on May 15, 2024.


Happy Reading!

Arc V concludes with a bang, with events that have been brewing since the conclusion of Warhost of Vastmark coming to a head. Again, it may seem like buzzwords, but this volume, as with Peril's Gate and Traitor's Knot, change everything and what lies ahead is uncertain and sure to be unexpected!

Thank you Yanique. :)

chibipoe wrote: "Arc V concludes with a bang, with events that have been brewing since the conclusion of Warhost of Vastmark coming to a head. Again, it may seem like buzzwords, but this volume, as with Peril's Gat..."

I love this book!!

You're all making me feel super excited :D

It really is an amazing book. :)

Sorry it took me so long to get here! I actually started over a week ago, but got frustrated with my physical copy and picked up another book while cleaning up my ebook for my reader. I am so glad that Wurts has started including a 'Story So Far' section at the beginning--though I actually remember the events pretty well for this series (not true for the other 50 series I'm reading right now, lol) seeing what the author thinks is important is enlightening, and I also haven't really taken a hard look at the timeline.

Chapter 1 (view spoiler)[I love how I often have questions about some aspect that is lightly introduced--and then the series comes back around to them later. I saw a review where it said this series goes deeper rather than broader, and I really agree... I remember the desert tribes being introduced waaaay back when and being like "okay, that's a tangent, what's up with that?" and now we're coming back around to them, with Mother Dark and prophetic sight... They're called the Biedar? And somehow, their oral tradition paved way for the Necromantic cults? I'm still a little confused on that. Also, good to know that the Kev... Krav... the necromancers Arithon took out are only one of three cults...

Loved seeing Sulfin E & Arithon come face to face. Arithon's reaction "caithdien to my half brother???!!!" was pretty amusing. It's satisfying too, to see SE has no retort to Arithon's statements. Though the interaction made me think of Talith... the last person in Lysaer's confidence who even spoke to Arithon came away "tainted" in Lysaer's eyes... SE had better not let slip he faced Arithon and walked away...

Jeynsa Jeynsa Jeynsa... Still honestly thinks that Arithon was party to the necromancy instead of stopped it? Such hot-headed youth, that think they know everything when hearing but scraps.

And with her heading to Alestron... and Arithon's vow to protect her... oh this is not going to be good... he's going to end up trapped between his word and an angry child's wiles.

Oh no, Asandir's horse! So sad... though I remember Sethvir introduced Asandir to Isfarenn's successor...? Not entirely sure how exactly this tidbit fits into everything though. (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 2 (view spoiler)[ Fionn & Jeynsa really hit it off. They actually are starting that I Hate Arithon Club, and actively sending out invitations...

I do like how Jeynsa explained the Law of Major Balance and the Compact to Fionn. Nice way to slip that in for the readers.

Heh, it was funny how folk thought it was Luhaine come to visit again when actually it was K. Very opposite diplomatic styles. He should have gone straight to the Dame. I hope Mearn's lady at least sees sense. (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 3 (view spoiler)[Oh crap, Jeynsa's actually staying in Alestron on purpose! But of course she is. Really playing the spoiled brat. Grrrrr. They're risking undoing all of Arithon's hard work and turning a nascent religion into a worldwide lasting phenomenon all for their pride.... not to mention the body count that is inevitable if those two are both engaged in active conflict... Look what Lysaer did just when ONE of them is lightly snared by the curse! Idiots! And that's not even getting in to the fact that this is the absolute worst way to approach Arithon--similar to the Fellowship blood binding him to life. And that at least had real purpose. Though I'm glad that people are actually talking about the fact that having Lysaer and Arithon so close is Not A Good Idea. Immensely stupid idea, and all for pride. That at least is satisfying.

And both Dakar and Elaira headed there too, to try to stave off disaster... well, this'll be a cluster. And the Koriani getting involved. And Davien being the other witness to Dakar's prophecy.

I'm not entirely sure I follow all of the loopholes being invoked here. First, with the Law of Major Balance and the Compact, the Fellowship literally can't do anything to help out on Alestron land without Bransian's permission? Next, the Fellowship has sealed off the forests to everyone--not even refugees. Why? Does it have to do with how spread thin they are? Then there's tying Arithon by his oath--and Jeynsa not being sworn in as Shadow yet? So... she isn't bound to obey his orders--or maybe more subtle: she isn't bound to act in his best interests, or the best interests of the land?--but he's bound to save her?

Melhalla is s'Ahelas, right? Last book you told me about how the gifts of the line are spread about the descendants, and as Arithon is the only one of his line, he gets the full empathic brunt, while Lysaer's Justice is spread more thin. Are they two the only s'Ahelas, besides their grandfather, or are there more to the clan left on the other world? (hide spoiler)]

Here we go! :D

Chapter 1 (view spoiler)[ The Biedar are very important and you'd be surprised that they've been around for a while. Trying to spot them is fun!

Grey Kralovir was one of the cults of necromancy operating on Athera. Two more forms of Necromancy persist. You can learn some more about the Biedar if you read The Sundering Star, fyi. More on them to come, however!

Sulfin Evend's meeting with Arithon is fascinating! I really enjoyed as he rose into focus throughout this arc.

Jeynsa is hurt and angry, but still also a youth, beholden to impetuous behavior! Can her shenanigans entangle an initiate master in full command of his talents? We'll see!

The drifters who raise horses around Atainia(where Althain is) did birth a new foal who was Isfarenn's successor. That scene was more of 'Here's where Asandir is'. (hide spoiler)]

Chapter III (view spoiler)[Melhalla was s'Ellestrion, who perished in the crossing after the rebellion. Shand was s'Ahelas. And yeah, the distribution of the royal line's inherent gift isn't evenly spread in terms of its strength. Arithon being the only s'Ffalenn gets the full brunt of Compassion, but with other s'Illessid living, Justice is divided, as it were. For s'Ahelas and Farsight... I believe(I am by no means certain though) that there's just the Archmage, Arithon and Lysaer. If it's evenly dispersed or if one of them has more of an affinity for it than the others? I dunno! Questions for Janny.

Alestron was a clan-held location, but operates under town law as established beneath the Compact. Under the Law of the Major Balance, unless they are asked, the Seven do not interfere. The Compact adds an additional wrinkle as it sets specific restraints on what actions they can take within 'town' limits, with the exception of certain matters. The siege does not fall within those certain matters(necromancy, things that threaten the stability of Athera, etc), and with their reduced numbers and lingering issues from Morriel's lane imbalance, they can entreat the s'Brydion, but don't have the agency to act at present time.

The Free Wilds, however, are areas where they *can* act and preserve, establishing barriers as those are areas mankind isn't given free license to cross(see also the attempted burning of Caithwood in Grand Conspiracy).

Jeynsa has a partially formed blood tie with Arithon, but it was not fully reciprocated. Without being completed, Arithon could revoke it if he so chose, she hasn't taken her oath as Caithdein yet, however, thus a lot of her actions here are posturing, not understanding the scope of the situation, and gambling that his Compassion will drive him to save her due to his bonds with Jieret. (hide spoiler)]

I have been meaning to collect shorts! I need to get a paypal account though, to buy from Wurts's website...

Your comment on Jeynsa gives me hope... good point about who she's going up against... (view spoiler)[and about how it isn't the oath that would keep him, but his love for her family... (hide spoiler)]

Thank you also for the clarifications about the Compact.

My mom came to visit for a few days so I've been reading but not commenting... I have notes to type up though! Getting near the end... So much happening!

Stormed Fortress is such a crazy ride, for sure! Can't wait for more thoughts! Especially with the events of Chapter V. :D

Nirkatze wrote: "I have been meaning to collect shorts! I need to get a paypal account though, to buy from Wurts's website...

Your comment on Jeynsa gives me hope... good point about who she's going up against... ..."

Can't wait to see your final thoughts! :D (and don't forget, when you can, to post reviews for the books as we go. I think there's a few still going.)

Nirkatze wrote: "I have been meaning to collect shorts! I need to get a paypal account though, to buy from Wurts's website...

Your comment on Jeynsa gives me hope... good point about who she's going up against... ..."

Just checking to see if you're ok! :)

Yes, sorry! I've been meaning to come back here for literally a month now... had a tough June and made this into a chore in my mind when it shouldn't have been.

I literally have a separate file I've been working on trying to type up my comments so I can paste them all at once and move on to the next book (and hopefully be better about it)--I started #9 and had to triple check I was on the right book! WTF happened??

Nirkatze wrote: "Yes, sorry! I've been meaning to come back here for literally a month now... had a tough June and made this into a chore in my mind when it shouldn't have been.

I literally have a separate file I'..."

Initiate's Trial sets everything on its head. :D