Fantasy Buddy Reads discussion

This is a Buddy Read for Archcrafter by Sarah Lin starting on April 20, 2024.


Happy Reading!

Thank you!

Projected Schedule:
1. Soulhome (Feb 20) [link]
2. Rainhorn (Mar 20) [link]
3. Archcrafter (Apr 20)

Freshly requested, waiting for links.
4. Chasmfall (May 29) [Link]
5. Bondsfungi (Jun 29) [Link]

On hold for now (not requested yet):
6. Bloodcrete (TBD)
7. Wakespire (TBD)

Audio: There is an omnibus on audible of 1-3. Audio only goes up to #5 (as of April 5 2024).
ebook: All are on KU.

Haven't had a chance to start this one yet, but if we do continue past here can we reschedule a week or so so we aren't starting right behind the Inquisition books?

Any rescheduling is fine with me... I'm behind on some stuff right now, with work pummeling me and a bit of a reading slump and watching extra TV...

Looks like Bondsfungi came out on audio a few weeks ago, so we can add 4-5 to the BR schedule... I'll have to wait to listen to 6-7+ until they release...

Want to go for end of the month then, for 4-5? 29th?
I'm about a week behind on BRs right now as well.

Works with me!

Sounds good to me, and it'll probably be a week or so before I find time to start this one as well. I have started Ravenor though.

I'm jumping around in my reads...

I started Archcrafter... or, more specifically, the little bridge story with the journal entries from a merchant/teacher... really hints at the underworld machinations in play, and power struggles...

BR plans for May/June work for me...

Finished Archcrafter... didn't have much to say... felt pretty straightforward, at least given previous experience with cultivation stories...

I really liked this one, and feel like the series has gotten better and better with each book... I can see why some people online advise reading the omnibus as a single book, instead of just reading Soulhome & being disappointed...

Through Chapter 9--Senka is up to antics... (view spoiler)[her completely chaotic and childish personality seems exactly calculated to both get on Theo's nerves... and is a really good lesson for him. Teach him patience, to think more...

That heir to a big house was an asshole. Very curious to see how that comes together.

Reminding me a bunch of Cradle right now--especially that one where they go into the valley? But since the next book is called Chasmfall, I'm guessing the team doesn't actually get to the Chasm this book.... (hide spoiler)]

Nirkatze wrote: "Through Chapter 9--..."

The heir (view spoiler)[gave me vague Eithan vibes... not really the same, but maybe putting on a facade, in a similar way?... (hide spoiler)]

Yeah... finished today. Lots of Cradle vibes, but in a good way--Theo's continued analysis of materials for soulhome reminds me of Lindon's greed for advancement materials... Then the tournaments made me think of Uncrowned... gave me happy feels for that arc in Wight's books. I liked how (view spoiler)[Fiyu started opening up a bit more, and I like how she thinks of Theo & Nauda as "Friend Theo" and "Friend Nauda."

Though it's a bit hard hearing "Fiyu" and "Theo" all the time, lol. They sound way too similar.

Forgetting the name of the little child-like creature that keeps following them. Something with an S... She's definitely a curiosity. Sometimes she makes me facepalm, sometimes I'm laughing at her antics. Her buying Theo's coat was sweet, and his friends' reactions was funny. (hide spoiler)]

Requests made for #4 & 5! First post has also been updated to show continuing dates.

There was almost a year gap between recording #3 & #4, but only 5 months between #4 & #5... I'm hopeful that maybe that'll turn out to be the truth for the rest of the series...

Does anyone know if this series is complete or ongoing? I feel like I did some research on that at the beginning, but can't remember.

NM, answered my own question when I went to fix older thread links--series is unfinished, Sarah Lin is working on #8 on her patreon currently... Though I just peeked, and it looks like she just finished #8 in March, titled Deathseed...

I was writing my review and started going down a rabbit hole comparing Cradle and Weirkey... made me think about how different Lindon & Theo are--(view spoiler)[Like, I bet that if Lindon was in this world, Theo's original soulhome plan based on light would've worked perfectly for him... Lindon doesn't believe in defeat--he refuses to give up. While Theo is starting his story after having been thoroughly defeated... being killed and seen his life go up in flames... he's cagey and curmudgeonly, slow to trust and quick to walk away. He's been scarred by time while Lindon is still young and in the flush of success and power.

Also, they both end up with sort of gravity-esque powers... hunger/emptiness is very gravity. (hide spoiler)]

Yea... (view spoiler)[that black hole ability is very Void...

I felt the connections from the beginning... and then every cultivation story has a tournament, even Beware of Chicken... (hide spoiler)]

Yeah, I was thinking about that too... that cultivation/progression are all going to have similar beats--but something about this entry just reminded me a lot more strongly...

80% in... You guys are right, this one is the best of the books so far. I am very interested in the three main houses in this place. The Rose house is working with them, the House of Coin is kind of like the Vegas Mob, and the Foreigners house, this is the one that has something against Theo...

I still love Senka and still think they should treat her better!!!

The trip in the underground, with no light, was interesting in that maybe Nauda now realizes how hard it must be for Fiyu to cope with the light in their territory...

The competition with the insults was hilarious )))))

Finished! So, the comparison of the young scion of that rich family with Eithan from Cradle is well deserved... (view spoiler)[ So he is looking for worthy disciples, but is putting them through hell on the way and they have no idea... I am really looking forward to the next book now:))) (hide spoiler)]

I hope they come out with all the books on audio...

They're slowly coming... self-pub author... matter of budgeting and scheduling the narrator... it's like $5000 out of pocket to make an audiobook with a good narrator... so they have to be staggered, even if the content all exists... need to make some money back from sales...

I understand... I wish it was easier...

Yea... #5 just came out a few weeks ago, so I expect number 6 end of year, maybe early next year?... I think there was a gap of 6-12 months between each release... then they made the omnibus of 1-3 as a cheaper option...

Not sure if they'll do that again, but could mean #6 around Christmas, omnibus sometime next year, then 7-8 late next year and hopefully #9 the year after?... #9 hasn't been written yet... then we're stuck waiting...

I'm hoping to start tomorrow. I've been insanely busy at work and just have not had the time. The other person on my shift quit last Wednesday and I'm tired.

Elizabeth wrote: "I'm hoping to start tomorrow. I've been insanely busy at work and just have not had the time. The other person on my shift quit last Wednesday and I'm tired."

Oh yikes! I hope that gets evened out soon!

Gotta love work...

I describe my workplace as a well-oiled dumpster fire, half the time (as opposed to a well-oiled machine)...

Timelord Iain wrote: "Gotta love work...

I describe my workplace as a well-oiled dumpster fire, half the time (as opposed to a well-oiled machine)..."

Your comment makes me laugh but I feel like I should be crying...