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Spoiler-y details!
Seriously, do not click this tag unless you've read the book to the end. Huge mega spoilers!
Spoiler
Good gods, what a book. I think what most impresses me about Sullivan is the fact that he writes his entire series all at once before releasing book 1. He did this with Riyria, and he did it with First Empire, and it shows in the intricacies of the plot and characters that seamlessly interweave. I think writing it all out allows him to make sure everything ties up and tags in and works. As such, I think we get a WAY more cohesive overall story as a result.
So the book.
Jeez, where to start?
I've always thought Raithe has had the hardest plot line in the books. He's one of the last of his tribe, he's a leader but he doesn't want power, he loves a woman who loves him back but can't admit it because she would doom her people if she followed him to green pastures, and he's lost pretty much everything that means something to him over 3 books. His sacrifice, which I did not see coming until it confronted me at the end of the book, was so emotional. It was sad to watch him say goodbye to Tesh, it was was to watch him say goodbye to everyone in the Smithy, and it was sad to watch Suri have to sacrifice YET ANOTHER friend...but the bit that gutted me was when Rathe-As-Dragon ripped the roof off the Kype to save his friends...and he looks at Persephone and growls out "even now"....fuck me. That broke me.
Tesh. Oh man, how did I NOT see Tesh as the famed Teshlor who's marital prowess is an artform of fighting that survives 3000 years to the Riyria series? His plot line was great, and I didn't see the "betrayal" of Sebek coming. I honestly didn't think that Tesh realized that Sebek was trying to kill him. Also, I need to know what this means for Nyphron since he is ALSO responsible for Tesh's families death....though Sebek swung the blade, Nyphron orchestrated the war. Future books may tell.
Speaking of Nyphron, his plot line with Persephone is REALLY interesting. You can tell she finds him gallant, and attractive, but his whole "We should be married, but I won't be faithful and I don't REALLY understand love so I don't really love you persay..." is such an different and compelling way to come at a relationship that by Riyria's time we see so differently (for those who forget, the ancient city of Percepliquis is named for her by Nyphron because of how devoted lis love was for her). I wonder if that means that it will always be that way and history just records it differently to make Nyphron look like a better person than he was...OR over the next three books do we see Nyphron learning how to love Seph and that is where we get the capital named after her. Gonna be an interesting ride nonetheless.
Malcom. It's funny, throughout books 1 and 2 I NEVER suspected that Malcom was who I think he is. And now I think that he's the same person who shows up in Riyria unexpectedly...if he's who I think he is...Did his penance to Muriel begin THIS long ago? Amazing. Even if that's not who he is, Malcom is clearly someone important, and likely immortal.
Not much in Estramnaddon in this book, not even anything to do with the door...I can't wait to learn what's behind there. The bits that we do get show that even the more banal Fhrey in the annals of power, like Imaly, are clearly corrupt.
Some GREAT stuff with Avempartha here, and like most other things in these prequel books it makes me want to re-read the original series for the chapters when they are at Avempartha 3000 years hence. I'm sure there are hints there.
Everyone gets lots of screen time here, but Moya and Tekchin are there ones that I think I'm most invested in as a couple. They are CLEARLY the ancestors of the Pickerings. Moya is a warrior (as are Pickering women), and she's reportedly gorgeous (as Pickering women are also known for)...and Tekchin is the martial-sword skill that the Pickering's revere and use...and they are a wonderful couple...unlike Persephone and Nyphron (as it stands now anyways)...an elf and human love that feels pure, and genuine. And Moya is a BAD-ASS.
Gifford. Oh Gifford. If ANYONE could give Myron from Riyria a run for his money as most enjoyable secondary character with a huge heart....it would be Gifford. Not just for his friendship/love story with the (also broken) Roan...but for his hail mary run past the Fhrey armies to try to get to the next village to light the signal fires to alert the Gula-Runes to come help at the Rhist. When he talks himself and the horse into bravery and then leans down to the horse and whispers "Wun" from his mangled mouth...my gods I nearly cheered out loud. Then his discovering that he has the Art and the entire decimated village he made it to basically explodes with fire and become a massive signal fire? OH gods...SO GOOD.
Anyways, this book clearly wraps up a bunch of storylines, and leaves some others open, and I'm sure opens up some new ones...but man, simply a stunning read start to finish.
Sullivan is one of my favourite authors and every book he writes proves that out again.
Good gods, what a book. I think what most impresses me about Sullivan is the fact that he writes his entire series all at once before releasing book 1. He did this with Riyria, and he did it with First Empire, and it shows in the intricacies of the plot and characters that seamlessly interweave. I think writing it all out allows him to make sure everything ties up and tags in and works. As such, I think we get a WAY more cohesive overall story as a result.
So the book.
Jeez, where to start?
I've always thought Raithe has had the hardest plot line in the books. He's one of the last of his tribe, he's a leader but he doesn't want power, he loves a woman who loves him back but can't admit it because she would doom her people if she followed him to green pastures, and he's lost pretty much everything that means something to him over 3 books. His sacrifice, which I did not see coming until it confronted me at the end of the book, was so emotional. It was sad to watch him say goodbye to Tesh, it was was to watch him say goodbye to everyone in the Smithy, and it was sad to watch Suri have to sacrifice YET ANOTHER friend...but the bit that gutted me was when Rathe-As-Dragon ripped the roof off the Kype to save his friends...and he looks at Persephone and growls out "even now"....fuck me. That broke me.
Tesh. Oh man, how did I NOT see Tesh as the famed Teshlor who's marital prowess is an artform of fighting that survives 3000 years to the Riyria series? His plot line was great, and I didn't see the "betrayal" of Sebek coming. I honestly didn't think that Tesh realized that Sebek was trying to kill him. Also, I need to know what this means for Nyphron since he is ALSO responsible for Tesh's families death....though Sebek swung the blade, Nyphron orchestrated the war. Future books may tell.
Speaking of Nyphron, his plot line with Persephone is REALLY interesting. You can tell she finds him gallant, and attractive, but his whole "We should be married, but I won't be faithful and I don't REALLY understand love so I don't really love you persay..." is such an different and compelling way to come at a relationship that by Riyria's time we see so differently (for those who forget, the ancient city of Percepliquis is named for her by Nyphron because of how devoted lis love was for her). I wonder if that means that it will always be that way and history just records it differently to make Nyphron look like a better person than he was...OR over the next three books do we see Nyphron learning how to love Seph and that is where we get the capital named after her. Gonna be an interesting ride nonetheless.
Malcom. It's funny, throughout books 1 and 2 I NEVER suspected that Malcom was who I think he is. And now I think that he's the same person who shows up in Riyria unexpectedly...if he's who I think he is...Did his penance to Muriel begin THIS long ago? Amazing. Even if that's not who he is, Malcom is clearly someone important, and likely immortal.
Not much in Estramnaddon in this book, not even anything to do with the door...I can't wait to learn what's behind there. The bits that we do get show that even the more banal Fhrey in the annals of power, like Imaly, are clearly corrupt.
Some GREAT stuff with Avempartha here, and like most other things in these prequel books it makes me want to re-read the original series for the chapters when they are at Avempartha 3000 years hence. I'm sure there are hints there.
Everyone gets lots of screen time here, but Moya and Tekchin are there ones that I think I'm most invested in as a couple. They are CLEARLY the ancestors of the Pickerings. Moya is a warrior (as are Pickering women), and she's reportedly gorgeous (as Pickering women are also known for)...and Tekchin is the martial-sword skill that the Pickering's revere and use...and they are a wonderful couple...unlike Persephone and Nyphron (as it stands now anyways)...an elf and human love that feels pure, and genuine. And Moya is a BAD-ASS.
Gifford. Oh Gifford. If ANYONE could give Myron from Riyria a run for his money as most enjoyable secondary character with a huge heart....it would be Gifford. Not just for his friendship/love story with the (also broken) Roan...but for his hail mary run past the Fhrey armies to try to get to the next village to light the signal fires to alert the Gula-Runes to come help at the Rhist. When he talks himself and the horse into bravery and then leans down to the horse and whispers "Wun" from his mangled mouth...my gods I nearly cheered out loud. Then his discovering that he has the Art and the entire decimated village he made it to basically explodes with fire and become a massive signal fire? OH gods...SO GOOD.
Anyways, this book clearly wraps up a bunch of storylines, and leaves some others open, and I'm sure opens up some new ones...but man, simply a stunning read start to finish.
Sullivan is one of my favourite authors and every book he writes proves that out again.
This post has been edited by QuickTidal: 21 September 2018 - 01:55 PM
