[QuickTidal]

Abyss, on 26 April 2023 - 02:51 PM, said:

They did not, and dramatis personae lists DO NOT work well in earbook (Malazan being an exception).

LOL, I would forget the first bunch of names by the time the narrator got to the last bunch of names, nevermind as I read the book!

[Tiste Simeon]

QuickTidal, on 26 April 2023 - 02:54 PM, said:

Abyss, on 26 April 2023 - 02:51 PM, said:

They did not, and dramatis personae lists DO NOT work well in earbook (Malazan being an exception).

LOL, I would forget the first bunch of names by the time the narrator got to the last bunch of names, nevermind as I read the book!

That's exactly what has happened here. I'm reading that list (many thanks for posting!) and I'm like "huh I have no recollection of ever hearing any of these names!"

Thanks to you and Pat for the endless questions. I can say I am really enjoying this book now and you both have helped with that.

[pat5150]

The Broken Crown is Michelle West's Gardens of the Moon. If you can get through it and enjoy it, the rest should blow you away!

Unlike GotM, I feel that The Broken Crown gets easier and easier to understand the more you read. But yeah, the first half is slow-moving and can be confusing at times. There's no getting around that. . .

[amphibian]

Finished City of Night (turns out I was reading that one after finishing Hidden City). Pretty good. I think people looking for tons of action are going to have a tougher time with all the character work. This is closer to Robin Hobb style work and the stakes smaller, yet intimate.

I will definitely continue. Taking a wee detour due to work/family obligations right now.

[pat5150]

amphibian, on 26 April 2023 - 08:37 PM, said:

Finished City of Night (turns out I was reading that one after finishing Hidden City). Pretty good. I think people looking for tons of action are going to have a tougher time with all the character work. This is closer to Robin Hobb style work and the stakes smaller, yet intimate.

I will definitely continue. Taking a wee detour due to work/family obligations right now.

Truth to tell, anyone looking for tons of action would also have a tough time with The Sun Sword. Stakes are much higher and the worldbuilding is amazing, but characterization remains the most important aspect of Michelle West's works that I've read thus far.

Glad to see that you've enjoyed the first two House War books. I always doubted that it would be good entry point in West's universe, but I'm glad to be proven wrong.

[pat5150]

@QT:

Got a question for you. No poiler, just yes or no since you've read more than me. Are there any hints or allusions of other countries/continents in West's world? It feels a bit weird that this eon-spanning conflict is always fought on a land as big as two European countries. . .

[pat5150]

It's been a few days since I finished Sea of Sorrows and it's crazy how that book has stayed with me. I'm reading Mark Lawrence's latest, but all I want is to finish it so I can jump into The Riven Shield.

If anyone would like to read my review, you can find it here. One of the few 10/10 in the history of the Hotlist.

[Tiste Simeon]

I'd like to read the review but am scared of spoilers. Will I be ok?

[pat5150]

Tiste Simeon, on 02 May 2023 - 04:13 PM, said:

I'd like to read the review but am scared of spoilers. Will I be ok?

Given that you're still on the first volume, reading a review of the fourth one would spoil certain storylines because you're not up to date yet.

So maybe wait?

[Tiste Simeon]

Yeah I figured that might be the case. Ah well.

[Tiste Simeon]

So I'm on Chapter 15.

Spoiler

Kiriel has finally appeared! She's the baby born at the beginning right? She appears to have run away from somewhere - the demon city? And has been found by Yvane. They've popped down to Kalakar to a lady who is a general (I think?) and who Yvane asks to look after Kiriel, to keep her away from the demons...

Prior to this, betrayal! Sendari and General Alesso have killed all Leonne (except the one guy who's a political hostage in the Empire) and will try to establish Alesso as the new Tyr'Agar, but they've used the demons for help and the demons have some kind of grudge against the North!

One of the servants has told Teresa what's really going on (establishing worship of the demon King) and she is not happy though what she can do I don't know.

One of the other generals escaped and is going towards the North to try and protect the one remaining Leonne because he's the only one now who can wield the Sun Sword (though I thought the guy who had it was a Sol, not Leonne?)

Anyway the pace is finally picking up, though I've enjoyed the ride so far.

[QuickTidal]

Tiste Simeon, on 03 May 2023 - 03:41 PM, said:

So I'm on Chapter 15.

Spoiler

Kiriel has finally appeared! She's the baby born at the beginning right? She appears to have run away from somewhere - the demon city? And has been found by Yvane. They've popped down to Kalakar to a lady who is a general (I think?) and who Yvane asks to look after Kiriel, to keep her away from the demons...

Yay! The Kalakar is a certifiable badass, and the leader of her whole House, which is one of the 12 Noble Houses in the Empire.

Prior to this, betrayal! Sendari and General Alesso have killed all Leonne (except the one guy who's a political hostage in the Empire) and will try to establish Alesso as the new Tyr'Agar, but they've used the demons for help and the demons have some kind of grudge against the North!

Valedan.... Yeah, he's important.

One of the servants has told Teresa what's really going on (establishing worship of the demon King) and she is not happy though what she can do I don't know.

Some really chilling scenes in the Tor through Theresa's POV for sure!

One of the other generals escaped and is going towards the North to try and protect the one remaining Leonne because he's the only one now who can wield the Sun Sword (though I thought the guy who had it was a Sol, not Leonne?)

RAFO

Anyway the pace is finally picking up, though I've enjoyed the ride so far.

Yep, you've passed the main sequence where the pace jumps up now (that would be the killing of the Leonne people and staff and the usurpation of the Tor by Alesso and his conspirators).

This post has been edited by QuickTidal: 03 May 2023 - 03:52 PM

[champ]

Finished The Hidden City over the weekend and really enjoyed it, looking forward to seeing where it goes next...


Though I just subjected myself to spoilers... thought I was reading the synopsis for book 2... nope it was book 4 and that provided some info I certainly didn't want to know! Bloody hell...

[pat5150]

Tiste Simeon, on 03 May 2023 - 03:41 PM, said:

So I'm on Chapter 15.

Spoiler

Kiriel has finally appeared! She's the baby born at the beginning right? She appears to have run away from somewhere - the demon city? And has been found by Yvane. They've popped down to Kalakar to a lady who is a general (I think?) and who Yvane asks to look after Kiriel, to keep her away from the demons...

Prior to this, betrayal! Sendari and General Alesso have killed all Leonne (except the one guy who's a political hostage in the Empire) and will try to establish Alesso as the new Tyr'Agar, but they've used the demons for help and the demons have some kind of grudge against the North!

One of the servants has told Teresa what's really going on (establishing worship of the demon King) and she is not happy though what she can do I don't know.

One of the other generals escaped and is going towards the North to try and protect the one remaining Leonne because he's the only one now who can wield the Sun Sword (though I thought the guy who had it was a Sol, not Leonne?)

Anyway the pace is finally picking up, though I've enjoyed the ride so far.

Spoiler

Kiriel ran away from the Shining Court in the Northern Wastes. Yes, she's the baby from the beginning and is basically half-god. She's this brooding teenager/young adult, but badass enough to basically kill anything, demons included. The Kalakar is in charge of the Ospreys, a military unit similar to the Bridgeburners. Kiriel will join their ranks and it will be a shock for everyone involved.

As QT mentioned, you've gotten through the rougher parts of The Broken Crown and things will begin to move more rapidly from here on out!

[Tiste Simeon]

pat5150, on 03 May 2023 - 05:03 PM, said:

Tiste Simeon, on 03 May 2023 - 03:41 PM, said:

So I'm on Chapter 15.

Spoiler

Kiriel has finally appeared! She's the baby born at the beginning right? She appears to have run away from somewhere - the demon city? And has been found by Yvane. They've popped down to Kalakar to a lady who is a general (I think?) and who Yvane asks to look after Kiriel, to keep her away from the demons...

Prior to this, betrayal! Sendari and General Alesso have killed all Leonne (except the one guy who's a political hostage in the Empire) and will try to establish Alesso as the new Tyr'Agar, but they've used the demons for help and the demons have some kind of grudge against the North!

One of the servants has told Teresa what's really going on (establishing worship of the demon King) and she is not happy though what she can do I don't know.

One of the other generals escaped and is going towards the North to try and protect the one remaining Leonne because he's the only one now who can wield the Sun Sword (though I thought the guy who had it was a Sol, not Leonne?)

Anyway the pace is finally picking up, though I've enjoyed the ride so far.

Spoiler

Kiriel ran away from the Shining Court in the Northern Wastes. Yes, she's the baby from the beginning and is basically half-god. She's this brooding teenager/young adult, but badass enough to basically kill anything, demons included. The Kalakar is in charge of the Ospreys, a military unit similar to the Bridgeburners. Kiriel will join their ranks and it will be a shock for everyone involved.

As QT mentioned, you've gotten through the rougher parts of The Broken Crown and things will begin to move more rapidly from here on out!

I'll admit the chapter where Kiriel and Yvane go to Kalakar and the introduction of the Ospreys is my favourite bit so far. I'm not saying I didn't like the in depth world building and the intricacies of the in-world gender politics, but man I'm ready for some dope fantasy stuff to happen!

Spoiler

Just a quick one... Yvane and Khallandaras and possibly some other mages/seers/bards are all aware of stuff that's happening and are acting on the DL to counter it, right? Teresa is also involved on "their side" but is also sort of stuck by way of her gender and position, so she's more undercover as it were, and I suspect Diora is too.

Also, aren't Diora's sister-wives all dead? She doesn't seem that broken up about it...

[pat5150]

Tiste Simeon, on 03 May 2023 - 08:14 PM, said:

I'll admit the chapter where Kiriel and Yvane go to Kalakar and the introduction of the Ospreys is my favourite bit so far. I'm not saying I didn't like the in depth world building and the intricacies of the in-world gender politics, but man I'm ready for some dope fantasy stuff to happen!

Spoiler

Just a quick one... Yvane and Khallandaras and possibly some other mages/seers/bards are all aware of stuff that's happening and are acting on the DL to counter it, right? Teresa is also involved on "their side" but is also sort of stuck by way of her gender and position, so she's more undercover as it were, and I suspect Diora is too.

Also, aren't Diora's sister-wives all dead? She doesn't seem that broken up about it...

Spoiler

Evayne, Kallandras, some of the mages and a number of other players are aware that the Lord of Night is returning to the world. Their awareness of what's going on varies, but they are all fighting/preparing to fight in different ways. The same goes for Teresa, Diora, and a number of other players in the Dominion.

And you say that Diora doesn't seem too broken by her sister-wives' deaths? Oh my poor summer child. . .

[pat5150]

champ, on 03 May 2023 - 04:13 PM, said:

Finished The Hidden City over the weekend and really enjoyed it, looking forward to seeing where it goes next...


Though I just subjected myself to spoilers... thought I was reading the synopsis for book 2... nope it was book 4 and that provided some info I certainly didn't want to know! Bloody hell...

Haven't read that blurb, but since the 4th volume deals with the aftermath of the Sun Sword, I reckon that you've subjected yourself to quite a few revelations you weren't meant to know!

[champ]

pat5150, on 03 May 2023 - 08:27 PM, said:

champ, on 03 May 2023 - 04:13 PM, said:

Finished The Hidden City over the weekend and really enjoyed it, looking forward to seeing where it goes next...


Though I just subjected myself to spoilers... thought I was reading the synopsis for book 2... nope it was book 4 and that provided some info I certainly didn't want to know! Bloody hell...

Haven't read that blurb, but since the 4th volume deals with the aftermath of the Sun Sword, I reckon that you've subjected yourself to quite a few revelations you weren't meant to know!

Recommendation to all, don't be a dumbass like me and read it.


I did pretty much stop after the first sentence but that was probably the worst part I guess, alas the damage was done. Read it and was like nope, nope, nope that's not right... delete from brain!

[pat5150]

115 pages into The Riven Shield and it's really good so far.

My only concern is that this is essentially the first half of what was meant to be the final volume of the Sun Sword, so I'm not sure how well it will stand on its own. . .

[JPK]

I'm approaching the 40% point on The Broken Crown.

On a completely totally unrelated note: I just ordered physical copies of each of the Sun Sword books.

So yeah, I'm in this for the long haul. I'm loving everything about this. Thank you for the recommendations QT and Pat.