[Nevyn]

Morgoth, on 02 March 2016 - 01:39 PM, said:

So, do we know what sort of timespan this book is supposed to cover. Or, where do you guys expect the next book to take place?

I was thinking that the next book will take place in Malaz, and that the third will be more focused on the conquering of the continent. Or is it supposed to be more of a prologue to all of that, with the conquerin of the island being the final crescendo?

Reply in tags since not everyone here has read it yet

Spoiler

Well, if they stick to a trilogy, I would think that book 2 would be taking over Malaz and recruiting old guard, and book 3 would be the early campaigns. You'd think that Li Heng would feature prominently again (the fall of Li Heng) given the character investment made in Dancer's Lament, so they could finish with that, then they can resolve Smokey and Mara getting recruited into the guard, and Ho getting betrayed by his aspects, etc.

[Werthead]

Any cool new maps in the book?

[Morgoth]

Werthead, on 06 March 2016 - 03:22 PM, said:

Any cool new maps in the book?

There's a map of the Quon Talli continent, and one of Li Heng

[Werthead]

I'm assuming the Quon Tali one is the same as in RotCG and TBH?

[Aptorian]

It's impossible to discern individual names on the map from my kindle but comparing my paperback of RCG with DLs map, they look the same. No new islands, regions or anything like that.

[Quick~]

Just finished. Best ICE book I've read to date. Benefits hugely from the tighter focus. Pacing was excellent and story was well balanced. Most importantly for me it didn't tarnish my impressions of Kel and Dancer. Was a bit worried that delving into their backstory might make them lose some of their mystique but if anything this made me appreciate them more. Thumbs up ICE

[Kanese S's]

Apt, on 07 March 2016 - 07:35 PM, said:

It's impossible to discern individual names on the map from my kindle but comparing my paperback of RCG with DLs map, they look the same. No new islands, regions or anything like that.

Any borders?

[Abyss]

Kanese S, on 08 March 2016 - 09:00 AM, said:

Apt, on 07 March 2016 - 07:35 PM, said:

It's impossible to discern individual names on the map from my kindle but comparing my paperback of RCG with DLs map, they look the same. No new islands, regions or anything like that.

Any borders?

Nope. Quon Tali w Malaz Island and Kartool in the usual spots, and a general map of Li Heng. Nothing new I can see and my app lets me zoom right in.

[FlynntMillit]

hey all, for any who have finished DL do you think reading it after RotCG would work on a first read through of the series? Or should I wait until later?

[champ]

If it is your first read through of the full series then for me I would leave it till the end, that way you will benefit more from knowing some of the characters and what their actions lead to.

Reading the full series ending in either tCG or Assail you see their end game - so far but roll on future books - but reading DL you get to see where they started from and it's pretty cool reading and learning about it that way.

[Aptorian]

If it was a reread I would read Dancer's Lament before Night of Knives.

[FlynntMillit]

champ, on 12 May 2016 - 08:00 PM, said:

If it is your first read through of the full series then for me I would leave it till the end, that way you will benefit more from knowing some of the characters and what their actions lead to.

Reading the full series ending in either tCG or Assail you see their end game - so far but roll on future books - but reading DL you get to see where they started from and it's pretty cool reading and learning about it that way.

So there's more characters that I haven't been introduced to yet. Considering the setting and characters in RotCG I was thinking it may fit well as kind of a flashback.

[worry]

It is in some ways a prequel to RotCG, but those above are talking about the book's impact, not merely raw data like character lists or events mentioned. There's a reason the stories are being told in this order, and the books benefit from the knowledge you collect as you go.

[Kruppe of Darujhistan]

Granted, I'm only in the middle of chapter 2, but so far I think this book is as bad as I think both NoK and RotCG are. Reading this book is a grind!
After reading NoKs and RotCG and absolutely hating them, I vowed to forego ICE altogether, but then I kept seeing posts like, "Read on, doubter! ICE gets better with each book!" I decided to skip what I suspected would be a painful slog and just skipped to ICE's latest, expecting to at least not be appalled.

No such luck. DL is marginally better so far, but still, his writing is clumsy and the story itself, for lack of a better word, is hokey.

Now, I will admit up front that while I really enjoy reading about the characters of Shadowthrone, Cotillion, and even Laseen, I have always been indifferent toward Kellenved, Dancer, and Surly. I've not been at all curious, as have so many others, about the hows and whys of their respective rise to power.

However, despite my indifference to those three (and the Crimson Guard, and the Claw, and the Talon, and every other miscellaneous and sundry Assassin's Guild), I am not so averse to it all when it's well written and gripping, which DL is decidedly not.

So far, the only character I find even remotely interesting is Iko. But i cringe reading scenes with Silk, who is nothing at all like the Silk in RotCG, apart from his devotion to the protectress in DL, and his devotion to her memory in RotCG.

I really, really, really, really do hope this book gets better, but i suspect at the end I am going to renew my vow to foresake ICE forever BAH!

Spoiler

EDIT: Gothos. He is Gothos only because I am told he is Gothos. He is a Jaghut only because I am told he is a Jaghut and generically described as such. By his words he is neither recognizable as a Jaghut in general or as Gothos in particular. He is just as much a dud as were Skinner and K'azz in RotCG. UGH!

[worry]

What the hell good is a vow that you break and "renew" whenever you see fit?

You are:

Liar.

Deceiver.

Oathbreaker.

Wormtongue.

Murderer.*


*Speculation

[Kruppe of Darujhistan]

Four out of five. Not bad!

[Tattersail_]

Best Ice book. Loved it.