[QuickTidal]

Macros, on 27 November 2024 - 07:50 PM, said:

Finally getting to the book that wouldn't burn

Is it the Limited Locked Tomb Edition signed by Mark?

Just asking.

[QuickTidal]

Finished OF BLOOD AND FIRE by. Ryan Cahill. Had an absolute blast. Lots of somewhat tropey stuff that mimics existing media (WOT, DEMON WARS, ect.) but often goes in directions Iw as not expecting. Cahill very much likes to let you settle into a tropey scene and then yank the rug last minute and go off in a new direction. Which made it feel fresh, while also feeling familiar. Is it the best? No, but as a first book in a series I had so much fun, and I've heard the sequels are leaps and bounds better in terms of story and where everything goes. I have two of the next books, so I will definitely be reading them.

Also finished Patrick O'Brian's REVERSE OF THE MEDAL (Aubrey & Maturin Book 11), which puts me at JUST over halfway done this series. Still as good as ever. I'm not SUPER into the back half of this book with stock market swindles and shit happening on land....but Aubrey and his cohorts on land DOES always lend itself to really funny stuff because they are all so lost on land (barring Maturin obvs), and the ending sets up a DOOZY for Book 12.

Now onto INTO THE NARROWDARK by Tad Williams (Book 3 of The Last King of Osten Ard), as I have the 4th book on my Xmas list, so I figured I'm close enough to that books' release to finally start this one.

[Macros]

QuickTidal, on 28 November 2024 - 01:24 PM, said:

Macros, on 27 November 2024 - 07:50 PM, said:

Finally getting to the book that wouldn't burn

Is it the Limited Locked Tomb Edition signed by Mark?

Just asking.

No, but he said he's going to post me that

[QuickTidal]

Macros, on 28 November 2024 - 06:28 PM, said:

QuickTidal, on 28 November 2024 - 01:24 PM, said:

Macros, on 27 November 2024 - 07:50 PM, said:

Finally getting to the book that wouldn't burn

Is it the Limited Locked Tomb Edition signed by Mark?

Just asking.

No, but he said he's going to post me that

[JPK]

Tiste Simeon, on 27 November 2024 - 05:54 PM, said:

TheRetiredBridgeburner, on 27 November 2024 - 05:44 PM, said:

JPK, on 27 November 2024 - 05:01 PM, said:

I'll post some thoughts on EXCALIBUR later today after I've had a bit more time to process just how awesome that book was.

Yes yes yes yes yes yes yes....

As long as "Lancelot is the worst and I wish him nothing but pain and suffering" is in there somewhere.

Ok, slightly late here but better than never.

I'll start by saying that I loved this trilogy and I'm disappointed I let it sit in the (audio) trp for so long. Cornwell writes this time period so well and his battles, while appropriately gruesome, are typically a pleasure to read and Mynydd Baddon was no exception.

A bit more spoilery territory:

Spoiler

First things first: Lancelot is the worst and I wish him nothing but pain and suffering. That aside, his death was glorious. Finding him covered in filth and on the run after he had abandoned yet another battlefield, to be unceremoniously hung like a commoner. Just beautiful. Even if it wasn't the "woman's death" he deserved.

Next up is Guinevere. While I no longer wanted her death by the end of the events of Mynnyd Baddon, she was by no means redeemed for me. Saving Derfel's forces and assisting in the battle by no means makes up for her role in what was unquestionably open treason and betrayal in the previous book. I'll admit that that her scene when she helps the young queen leave the gold behind was really good though.

Merlin and Nimue make this book for me though. Nimue stepping into what is eventually Morgan's traditional role worked really well and her motives for really well with her overall characterization throughout the series of being willing to sacrifice anything for the goal of bringing back The Gods. The lengths she goes to when deciding to curse
Ceinwyn. I do wish that had been slightly different though as pretty much everything up to that point questioned whether magic was real or the cunning of the druids. With that point, I feel like it shifted to a certainty that magic was real, though perhaps rare.

Merlin was by far my favorite part of this book. From his rambling old lunatic act to the edges of his cunning, he stole every scene he appeared in. I have no words for how amazing his death scene was and everything involving him and Gawain was simultaneously amazing and horrifying. The images of Gawain's corpse riding during Mynnyd Baddon are right up there with Lancelot's wedding in the previous book. I really love how horrific the Druidic Rituals were in this series.

My only real criticism of the trilogy is that too often Derfel just felt like I was reading Uhtred again.

I'll stop now because I could keep going for ages but I'm on moving and don't want to accidently refresh and lose everything I've gotten down.

Thank you again for the recommendations on this one. It's among the best I've read this year.