[Tsundoku]

I'm in Brisbane, so ...

But yes, please keep us posted. What were you doing?

[Abyss]

Chapters 8-16

Spoiler

Had some ear-time over the weekend and moved along. I'm impressed with how this is not a fast paced book yet it moves along very nicely. Also continue to be impressed with the high-stakes/low-stakes appproach the author is using... the city and the planes and the missing princeling and the future of alchemy on the one hand, various characters looking fr their futures on the other. The two big rituals we've seen hav both been fails and i kind of enjoy how particular alchemists are trying to grandstand their ways to glory in the midst of the mess. Ani's fixation on the card game is a fun tangent, Zagiri and Siyon's respective angsts less novel but still engaging, Izamarlion's desire to fly away vs his attraction to Siyon could go a few ways hopefully none of the obvious.

Lovely to see Auntie Garyss again, her connection to the ruler is intriguing and a nice bit of 'the story was going on before you got here' and i like how she nudged Siyon to action.

About a third of the book left and i'm seeing a few ways this could play out and intrigued whether the author will surprise me.

[Abyss]

Ch 16 - to end.... Just Finished

I totally enjoyed this. I enjoyed the setting, i liked the characters, the author did a superb job of maintaining a good pace, breakneck when it needed to be and measured when it didn't, and the finale was a very well handled wrap bring all the various parts and people together.

I particularly liked:

Spoiler

- the magic - echoes of Malazan's warrens but nicely handled and novel, the idea of the Abyss / Ether / Empyrical / Mundane needing balance, and having populations and 'worlds' are all familiar but utterly drew me in because and despite that;
- the reflections in the cards and how that influenced Siyon and Ani both were a nice touch;
- Zagiri could have easily become annoying - she didn't;
- Ani... great character;
- The slow/steady reveal of Turull and Elaika as planars was very nicely done, the reader couldn't help but predict it yet enjoy how Siyon figured it out;
- Siyon as street rat gaining power chased by authorities trying to do the right thing is hardly an original protagonist, but, again, the author handled his story well, made him likeable and fallible and out of his depth but trying so damn hard;
- i loved how she wrote the elements of the city, the Braviis, the alchemists, the Inqs, and tied it all together at the end;
- every character had to sacrifice something to gain something, no one was spared, and each subplot was a very nice work of set up and pay off leading to a finale that tied it all together;
- i may be in love with Lakshmi just a little... she chews scenery and owns every scene she's in.

Earbook narrator absolutely kills it, flawless narration.

I totally enjoyed this PG, great reco, and heading directly into bk 2 THE SHADOW BARON.

[Tiste Simeon]

I've been lagging! I'll need to catch up!

[polishgenius]

lol timing I also just polished off the rest of Spirit Thief today. Thought in that ded-thread, of course...



Anyway, on this one:

Spoiler

I knew you'd like Lakshmi. Exactly your kind of character lol.


I feel like Anahid is... not the heart of the book, exactly, but a balancing force to it. If it was just Zagiri and Siyon it'd all be constant running around and very heightened emotion and she's calmer, she grounds things. Not that there's anything wrong with the pair, I love 'em both, but Anahid gives the book a feeling of more depth.


I rather liked the way the magic system is in part the modern-style Sandersonian very structured type, and yet devolves into barely-understood chaos at any opportunity.


And yeah, like you pointed out a few times it's a great balance of grounded concerns, hi-jinks, and world-threatening stuff.

[Tiste Simeon]

Up to chapter 17:

Spoiler

This is so exciting! The hints and the dribs and drabs of information about the world, it's like we're discovering it as Siyon works out what's actually happening. The scene in the alchemy house where Nihath attempted the thing was so well done, and seeing Geryss again was great. I'm now reading about Siyon essentially getting ready to find the prince guy. This is engaging stuff.

Tiste Simeon, he too wants to delve the Abyss?

[Tiste Simeon]

Abyss, on 13 April 2026 - 02:19 PM, said:

Ch 16 - to end.... Just Finished

I totally enjoyed this. I enjoyed the setting, i liked the characters, the author did a superb job of maintaining a good pace, breakneck when it needed to be and measured when it didn't, and the finale was a very well handled wrap bring all the various parts and people together.

I particularly liked:

Spoiler

- the magic - echoes of Malazan's warrens but nicely handled and novel, the idea of the Abyss / Ether / Empyrical / Mundane needing balance, and having populations and 'worlds' are all familiar but utterly drew me in because and despite that;
- the reflections in the cards and how that influenced Siyon and Ani both were a nice touch;
- Zagiri could have easily become annoying - she didn't;
- Ani... great character;
- The slow/steady reveal of Turull and Elaika as planars was very nicely done, the reader couldn't help but predict it yet enjoy how Siyon figured it out;
- Siyon as street rat gaining power chased by authorities trying to do the right thing is hardly an original protagonist, but, again, the author handled his story well, made him likeable and fallible and out of his depth but trying so damn hard;
- i loved how she wrote the elements of the city, the Braviis, the alchemists, the Inqs, and tied it all together at the end;
- every character had to sacrifice something to gain something, no one was spared, and each subplot was a very nice work of set up and pay off leading to a finale that tied it all together;
- i may be in love with Lakshmi just a little... she chews scenery and owns every scene she's in.

Earbook narrator absolutely kills it, flawless narration.

I totally enjoyed this PG, great reco, and heading directly into bk 2 THE SHADOW BARON.

I have finished! What an ace book. I basically agree with everything Abyss says here. For me, the build up of tension throughout the book is absolutely masterfully done. I didn't even really realise until looking back but the way the feeling of the place becomes more oppressive as the planes becomes more unstable. It is a wonderful atmosphere shift and it doesn't even go away when

Spoiler

things are seemingly "better" because Siyon brought the prince back from the Abyss.

I will definitely be reading the others but I think I'll get back to the SLA next because I want to get that series out of the way haha

[Abyss]

polishgenius, on 13 April 2026 - 06:13 PM, said:

lol timing I also just polished off the rest of Spirit Thief today. Thought in that ded-thread, of course...



Anyway, on this one:

Spoiler

I knew you'd like Lakshmi. Exactly your kind of character lol.


I feel like Anahid is... not the heart of the book, exactly, but a balancing force to it. If it was just Zagiri and Siyon it'd all be constant running around and very heightened emotion and she's calmer, she grounds things. Not that there's anything wrong with the pair, I love 'em both, but Anahid gives the book a feeling of more depth.


I rather liked the way the magic system is in part the modern-style Sandersonian very structured type, and yet devolves into barely-understood chaos at any opportunity.


And yeah, like you pointed out a few times it's a great balance of grounded concerns, hi-jinks, and world-threatening stuff.

replying...

Spoiler

Lakshmi is just great, you're not wrong, exactly a character i can't help but like.

Your characterization of Anahid is apt, she brings a balance to the book, and a perspective, that works so nicely despiote being the most grounded and 'normal' of the bunch. Her plotline... unhappy marriage, societal expectations, developing gambling addiction ... should not be as interesting as it is, but the way the author works it in and uses it to add perspective on the other arguably more important storylines is very effective.

Your other point is also solid, you have a mass of characters trying so so hard to force a 'hard' magic system, then the MC Siyon just keeps bringing home how very 'soft' it actually is.

[Abyss]

Tiste Simeon, on 16 April 2026 - 11:07 AM, said:

Abyss, on 13 April 2026 - 02:19 PM, said:

Ch 16 - to end.... Just Finished

I totally enjoyed this. I enjoyed the setting, i liked the characters, the author did a superb job of maintaining a good pace, breakneck when it needed to be and measured when it didn't, and the finale was a very well handled wrap bring all the various parts and people together.

I particularly liked:

Spoiler

- the magic - echoes of Malazan's warrens but nicely handled and novel, the idea of the Abyss / Ether / Empyrical / Mundane needing balance, and having populations and 'worlds' are all familiar but utterly drew me in because and despite that;
- the reflections in the cards and how that influenced Siyon and Ani both were a nice touch;
- Zagiri could have easily become annoying - she didn't;
- Ani... great character;
- The slow/steady reveal of Turull and Elaika as planars was very nicely done, the reader couldn't help but predict it yet enjoy how Siyon figured it out;
- Siyon as street rat gaining power chased by authorities trying to do the right thing is hardly an original protagonist, but, again, the author handled his story well, made him likeable and fallible and out of his depth but trying so damn hard;
- i loved how she wrote the elements of the city, the Braviis, the alchemists, the Inqs, and tied it all together at the end;
- every character had to sacrifice something to gain something, no one was spared, and each subplot was a very nice work of set up and pay off leading to a finale that tied it all together;
- i may be in love with Lakshmi just a little... she chews scenery and owns every scene she's in.

Earbook narrator absolutely kills it, flawless narration.

I totally enjoyed this PG, great reco, and heading directly into bk 2 THE SHADOW BARON.

I have finished! What an ace book. I basically agree with everything Abyss says here. For me, the build up of tension throughout the book is absolutely masterfully done. I didn't even really realise until looking back but the way the feeling of the place becomes more oppressive as the planes becomes more unstable. It is a wonderful atmosphere shift and it doesn't even go away when

Spoiler

things are seemingly "better" because Siyon brought the prince back from the Abyss.

I will definitely be reading the others but I think I'll get back to the SLA next because I want to get that series out of the way haha

I agree...

Spoiler

the fake resolution of rescuing Danilani

was a nice touch.

[Abyss]

And so on to bk 2 THE SHADOW BARON,

Start thru Chapter 10...

Spoiler

Anahid's card games are great fun, and damn if i wasn't completely caught up in either possible outcome of her big game against the jr crime lord guy... i wanted the outcome we got but was just as engaged w the other possibility. That said her win was delightful, and i love the plot it's set up and how it's developing. This CANNOT end well, for anyone, and she knows it but will NOT let the Sable House go.

Siyon's new engagement with the city is fascinating. They accept him as Alchemist, are even trying to help, but at the same time drag him into their games and structures. The added factor of dealing w Planar delving is a nice touch.

Even more interesting is the criminal Baron Midnight elements. I think we're going for a thing where a cult of the Mundane has been waiting for the city the Awaken and Mundane power to rise to the levels of Abyssal/Empyrean/Ethereal, but there are so many ways the author can go w this and i'm completely drawn in to finding out. The dragon pawn is a fun element, the way it 'follows' Siyon.

I also enjoyed the way Siyon and Elaika almost but not quite worked together dealing with the delving Angel, and how the author used that to show us Elaika's power, how the Angel was still on another level, and how Siyon's 'help' actually matters. I also adored bringing back the Braavi alchemist from the earlier trial as some sort of Mundane anti-planar ninja

And Lakshmi still steals every scene she's in.

Zagiri's plotline is so far the low-key one this time, tho i did enjoy her receiving the Named Blade.

Still very enjoying this series.

[Cause]

sad I missed this, I dont want to read the spoilers but is it worth a read? Maybe I can catch up for the second book

[Abyss]

Cause, on 16 April 2026 - 06:28 PM, said:

sad I missed this, I dont want to read the spoilers but is it worth a read? Maybe I can catch up for the second book

It's completely worth the read and we're not exactly blasting through here, feel free.

[Tiste Simeon]

Abyss, on 16 April 2026 - 06:54 PM, said:

Cause, on 16 April 2026 - 06:28 PM, said:

sad I missed this, I dont want to read the spoilers but is it worth a read? Maybe I can catch up for the second book

It's completely worth the read and we're not exactly blasting through here, feel free.

Agree 100% I had a great time reading it

[Tiste Simeon]

Tiste Simeon, on 14 April 2026 - 06:06 PM, said:

Tiste Simeon, he too wants to delve the Abyss?

Also I can't believe you didn't react to this, Abyss hah

Not going to start book 2 just yet but will come back later when I'm reading it.

[Abyss]

Tiste Simeon, on 17 April 2026 - 12:15 PM, said:

Tiste Simeon, on 14 April 2026 - 06:06 PM, said:

Tiste Simeon, he too wants to delve the Abyss?

Also I can't believe you didn't react to this, Abyss hah
...

Given how things went for

Spoiler

Danilani and his harpy girlfriend

i assumed you were being literal

Spoiler

and also a cross planar species perv

.

[Abyss]

Abyss, on 16 April 2026 - 04:49 PM, said:

And so on to bk 2 THE SHADOW BARON,

Start thru Chapter 10...
...

CH 11-20

Spoiler

Again and again i'm kind of amazed at how this author can take a well worn fantasy trope and make it sing.... it's perfectly obvious what's happening and why, Siyon balancing the planes and taking up the Alchemist job woke up all the mundane power that had been sleeping for millenia under the city. Midnight and co are priests/worshippers who have been waiting for this since the Mundane was put to sleep and want it to happen but can't force it. The griffin egg hatching was a byproduct. So are Siyon's dreams. The Northerners know or sense that the Mundane waking up will spread alchemy to their lands so they want this to happen and see the building rebellion as a way to make sure the Council can't stop it. ... but it's so nicely set up and that i'm carried right along and wanting to see how it plays out.

Same w Anahid's plot tho maybe not as obvious... i think that Mamma B had Ismerelda killed to set Anahid and by extension the Inqs and the Alchemist against the Ziradini crime family. Fine, fantastic, i WANT to see Anahid become a crime lord, i am completely invested in her doing exactly that.

Less fun... the bureaucratic council scenes are overlong and repetitious, bordering on unnecessary. There's always a point or a hook to the scenes, it's just that they keep playing out the same way and i find it as tiresome as the characters seem to.

Similarly Zahiri's existantial angst. I like her way better running rooftops and waving her named blade around than whining about 'oh why can't things be better'. Also she really needs to just bang Baelion.

Still very enjoying this.

[Tiste Simeon]

Abyss, on 20 April 2026 - 02:40 PM, said:

Tiste Simeon, on 17 April 2026 - 12:15 PM, said:

Tiste Simeon, on 14 April 2026 - 06:06 PM, said:

Tiste Simeon, he too wants to delve the Abyss?

Also I can't believe you didn't react to this, Abyss hah
...

Given how things went for

Spoiler

Danilani and his harpy girlfriend

i assumed you were being literal

Spoiler

and also a cross planar species perv

.

That's pretty accurate on both counts!

[Abyss]

Abyss, on 20 April 2026 - 02:51 PM, said:

Abyss, on 16 April 2026 - 04:49 PM, said:

And so on to bk 2 THE SHADOW BARON,

Start thru Chapter 10...
...

CH 11-20
...

Ch 21-28

Spoiler

HOLY CRAP ANAHID!

[Abyss]

Abyss, on 24 April 2026 - 01:50 PM, said:

Abyss, on 20 April 2026 - 02:51 PM, said:

Abyss, on 16 April 2026 - 04:49 PM, said:

And so on to bk 2 THE SHADOW BARON,

Start thru Chapter 10...
...

CH 11-20
...

Ch 21-28
...

Ch 29-END

Spoiler

k it was always obvious it was going to be a dragon... from the first giant eye dream right theu the stuck in a cave hints, there was never the slightest doubt in my head that was where we were going. I kind of wish the author had gone a bit deeper on the magic angle - as it stands the dragon is found, unchained almost too easily, flies around trashing things, but her relevance to the Mundane is just a big question mark - but given the semi-cliffhangy ending it seems we'll get that in due course. Siyon continued to carry his storyline very nicely... his whole 'ok don't panic just make shit up like you always do and everything will work out HOLY CRAP THIS IS ALL GOING HORRIBLY WRONG THAT'S A DRAGON! ' thing is enjoyable... he's clearly making things worse but he's so earnest about it and justifiably annoyed with the city's power structures.

I enjoyed Anahid's story end, defending herself against the Baron and his nephew while Lakshmi was taking down everyone else. The way she just backhanded her marriage and moved on was a nice touch, as was how easily Naha got over it. I genuinely enjoyed Ana's plotline this time, her enthusiastic slide into becoming a pimp/madam/criminal was very readable.

Zagiri... i still preferred her braavi subplot to her attempts at politicking and the slow boil romance w Balion. And her friendship w Yaeva only sort of worked. She bounced better off Mayar.

So another fun read, am totally in for bk 3, going to take a pause for something else, but not a long one, i want to get into 3 while most of this is still in my brainzez.