[Tiste Simeon]

I started it today. Only about half an hour in and initially I was like "oh no a kid" but actually he's pretty cool. I like the older dude too, whoever he is.

I'm glad to be back in this world and encouraged by reading that it's mostly in the Empire in this book.

This post has been edited by Tiste Simeon: 31 December 2023 - 05:50 AM

[pat5150]

As I mentioned in the other thread, the relationship between Aidan and Ser Anton was one of my favorite things of The Uncrowned King.

And as fun and interesting as it was spending a full book in the Empire for the King's Challenge, I did miss the Dominion. Or Diora and Teresa, to be more specific.

But as good as this one is, as QT mentioned way back when I was reading it, The Shining Court is next level. And Sea of Sorrows, the fourth volume is even better!

[Tiste Simeon]

Ok so I really liked the Aidan intro - took me by surprise again when I'd already been listening for like an hour before they got to Chapter 1! Seeing Valendan was great I didn't realise he was such a good fighter...

It seems there's been a murder and there is political intrigue and unrest within the ranks of the Terafin because... Reasons? Anyway there's lots of Jewel already which is great.

And then we're back with the Ospreys huzzah! Already enjoying this book well.

[Tiste Simeon]

Hey who's Avendar again? I know he's some kind of attendant of Jewel and has some kind of magic and everyone seems a bit twitchy about him. Is that all we've been told so far?

[pat5150]

Tiste Simeon, on 25 May 2023 - 07:48 AM, said:

Hey who's Avendar again? I know he's some kind of attendant of Jewel and has some kind of magic and everyone seems a bit twitchy about him. Is that all we've been told so far?

Yes, that's all you know about Avandar thus far. But there is much, much more to him than that. Revelations are unveiled more in volumes 3 and 4.

[Tiste Simeon]

pat5150, on 25 May 2023 - 01:46 PM, said:

Tiste Simeon, on 25 May 2023 - 07:48 AM, said:

Hey who's Avendar again? I know he's some kind of attendant of Jewel and has some kind of magic and everyone seems a bit twitchy about him. Is that all we've been told so far?

Yes, that's all you know about Avandar thus far. But there is much, much more to him than that. Revelations are unveiled more in volumes 3 and 4.

I figured it might be that but the way everyone is reacting to him I couldn't remember if there was more to him that was slipping my mind temporarily. I like him, and I'm enjoying the politics in house Terafin. The scene with Jewel, Avandar and Ryman (?) was great.

[Abyss]

Tiste Simeon, on 25 May 2023 - 01:49 PM, said:

pat5150, on 25 May 2023 - 01:46 PM, said:

Tiste Simeon, on 25 May 2023 - 07:48 AM, said:

Hey who's Avendar again? I know he's some kind of attendant of Jewel and has some kind of magic and everyone seems a bit twitchy about him. Is that all we've been told so far?

Yes, that's all you know about Avandar thus far. But there is much, much more to him than that. Revelations are unveiled more in volumes 3 and 4.

I figured it might be that but the way everyone is reacting to him I couldn't remember if there was more to him that was slipping my mind temporarily. I like him, and I'm enjoying the politics in house Terafin. The scene with Jewel, Avandar and Ryman (?) was great.

Agreed, and now i'm wondering what we're missing from HOUSE WAR, notwithstanding this was published first.

[QuickTidal]

pat5150, on 25 May 2023 - 01:46 PM, said:

Tiste Simeon, on 25 May 2023 - 07:48 AM, said:

Hey who's Avendar again? I know he's some kind of attendant of Jewel and has some kind of magic and everyone seems a bit twitchy about him. Is that all we've been told so far?

Yes, that's all you know about Avandar thus far. But there is much, much more to him than that. Revelations are unveiled more in volumes 3 and 4.

Another bonus to the House War books, you not only get Avandar, you get his precursor (the loaner Jewel gets before him) and more of what exactly a domicis is....

But yeah, you do get way more backstory on Avandar in Sun Sword even just in the 3 I've read.

[pat5150]

There can't be that much about Avandar in the first 3 House War books. Indeed, Jewel's discovery of his true identity is what will shape their relationship going forward. To say that Avandar's badass is like saying that Harvard is a good school. It doesn't even begin to describe him and Jewel will have a hard time coming to terms with what his being her domicis means. So I doubt that reading the House War books first would help in that regard.

As far as what domicis are, personally I would have liked to know more about them. What little we learn, we do from the perspective of Morretz, The Terafin's own domicis. I figure that West likely wanted to include more details about them, but her editor shot down this idea because those were extraneous details. Good to know that we learn more about them in the other series.

This post has been edited by pat5150: 25 May 2023 - 02:56 PM

[QuickTidal]

pat5150, on 25 May 2023 - 02:55 PM, said:

There can't be that much about Avandar in the first 3 House War books. You get his predecessor in the second book, and Avandar's introduction is in the 3rd one and he features heavily throughout. It's very much about him and Jewel finding their balance.

pat5150, on 25 May 2023 - 02:55 PM, said:

So I doubt that reading the House War books first would help in that regard.

You only say that because you haven't read them yet. It's all a rich tapestry.

pat5150, on 25 May 2023 - 02:55 PM, said:

As far as what domicis are, personally I would have liked to know more about them. What little we learn, we do from the perspective of Morretz, The Terafin's own domicis.

You learn more about them, and yeah it's through Morretz.

[Abyss]

*sigh*.... anyone have a cast list for UNCROWNED KING, would be much appreciated.

[QuickTidal]

Abyss, on 25 May 2023 - 06:06 PM, said:

*sigh*.... anyone have a cast list for UNCROWNED KING, would be much appreciated.

I'm fairly sure the one I posted in the other thread is from UNCROWNED I think?

If you can't find it, go to this link and click the "look inside" thing and you can see it there:

https://www.amazon.c...ormat=1&depth=1

This post has been edited by QuickTidal: 25 May 2023 - 06:30 PM

[pat5150]

Abyss, on 25 May 2023 - 06:06 PM, said:

*sigh*.... anyone have a cast list for UNCROWNED KING, would be much appreciated.

Original thread, page 3, April 26th post by QT. The Dramatis Personae is behind spoiler tags.

[Tiste Simeon]

Ok that was quite the revelation in Chapter 5:

Spoiler

Anton is there to kill Valendan (I'm not sure the story Alesso told him is true but he believes it!)

And Kirriel states there are numerous kin in town to try and kill him too? Poor kid.

[QuickTidal]

Tiste Simeon, on 30 May 2023 - 12:58 PM, said:

Ok that was quite the revelation in Chapter 5:

Spoiler

Anton is there to kill Valendan (I'm not sure the story Alesso told him is true but he believes it!)

And Kirriel states there are numerous kin in town to try and kill him too? Poor kid.

Spoiler

Anton is great. He's that old weathered reluctant warrior, unmatched in his heyday and pretty well regarded and unmatched now....he doesn't WANT to participate in the games, he doesn't want to defend his title (even though that's what he's using as a ruse), and he sure as hell doesn't want to kill Valedan...he's got many reasons for what he's doing and all of them are complex. I like that he's not just some attack dog for Alesso...his reasons are entirely his own and his honour is pretty well set in stone.

[pat5150]

For my money, Ser Anton is probably the most intereesting character of the entire series. Keep on reading and you'll see why!

[Abyss]

Tiste Simeon, on 30 May 2023 - 12:58 PM, said:

Ok that was quite the revelation in Chapter 5:

Spoiler

Anton is there to kill Valendan (I'm not sure the story Alesso told him is true but he believes it!)

And Kirriel states there are numerous kin in town to try and kill him too? Poor kid.

I like the first bit. It's well teased out and makes an already interesting character moreso.

The second... so far they kind of suck at this. Also

Spoiler

i'm not convinced this isn't all some plot to bring Kiriel back into the Kin because from what we've seen getting her back would be a bigger win than taking Val out.

[Abyss]

pat5150, on 30 May 2023 - 01:47 PM, said:

For my money, Ser Anton is probably the most intereesting character of the entire series. Keep on reading and you'll see why!

No argument here, i enjoy what i've read of him.

[Abyss]

QuickTidal, on 30 May 2023 - 01:40 PM, said:

Spoiler

Anton is great. He's that old weathered reluctant warrior, unmatched in his heyday and pretty well regarded and unmatched now....he doesn't WANT to participate in the games, he doesn't want to defend his title (even though that's what he's using as a ruse), and he sure as hell doesn't want to kill Valedan...he's got many reasons for what he's doing and all of them are complex. I like that he's not just some attack dog for Alesso...his reasons are entirely his own and his honour is pretty well set in stone.

Re Anton,

Spoiler

I do like the lack of clarity around his motivation. Strictly speaking he has every reason to want to kill Val to end the Leonne line for what was done to his family.

And it's a clever play by Alesso after the Kin blew it multiple times to send an entirely honorable, incredibly skilled man w no political connnection just a very very personal grudge and no need to survive, as an 'assassin'.

[pat5150]

Abyss, on 30 May 2023 - 02:03 PM, said:

Spoiler

i'm not convinced this isn't all some plot to bring Kiriel back into the Kin because from what we've seen getting her back would be a bigger win than taking Val out.

About that:

Spoiler

Keep in mind that other than Isladar, whose schemes no one really understands, all the kin would rather see Kiriel dead. So getting her back doesn't appear to be on anyone's agenda.