Shadowmage Spoiler Thread Discussion
Dish the deets in the comments below. What did you like? What did you find frustrating? Who do you want to see more of? Who did you hate? Who do you want to see who we haven't seen yet? Were there too many llamas? Not enough?
Oh, and here is a (hopefully) clearer map of Southern Alshar, although I don't know how the resolution is going to work.
Oh, and here is a (hopefully) clearer map of Southern Alshar, although I don't know how the resolution is going to work.
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ReplyDeleteGood story. I felt like this book about the the apprentices was much better than the last one. I love the world building. This book lets us experience the world in a less grand and strategic light.
DeleteI am gonna guess a plotline. Rad will name Anguin heir and then shenanigans commence
Looking forward to more about the spellmongers fortress.
Cant wait till the next Min novel.
You cant change the heir simply like that, but i got a strong feeling that Gilmora will return to Alshar. Rad really seems to like Anguin and would be VERY thankful for the rescue of his daugther.
DeleteWeaves in nicely with the previous 2 books
ReplyDeleteKiera the Tief, yeah totally not a reference to another ceratin series
also interesting to see the anguin rard interaction
She's not the only one. Lord Hance. Lord Whiskers. A few other minor homages to my favorite fantasy novels.
DeleteI was gonna ask if Kiera was a reference, and then I saw Lord Whiskers and knew it was. I am happy to see another fan of that series.
DeleteI don't believe that rard will name anguine his heir he is too selfish and let us not forget his wife.
ReplyDeleteI have a vital question to ask. Let's say for the sake of the discussion that all the royal family dies. What happens with the throne ?? Does the most powerful Lord ascend to the throne in the absence of a heir to the king ? Of so that theory opens the path to Minalan's ascension as Archmage.
technically it would have to go to the closest relative cough cough
Deletewhich mean one of the other 2 dukes in theory but which practically would mean a full blown civil war since feudal society with an unstable kingdom
At the end ofnthe day. Rard us a good king. He is just manipulated by his wife. As he indicates in the book he doesnt think much of tavard . Tavard will cause a cival war ij my opinion. My guess is that Anguin was told he will a great king at the end of journey mage.
DeleteOkay! Let us look at the problem from a different standpoint. The royal family will surely fall, it is something hinted at every turn. The only powerful noble at that particular time would be Minalan the respected Spellmonger. Were Anguin to claim the crown a civil war will blow out as pointed. He has virtually no power. The other dukes will not support a mere boy that plays the duke. The castali will also not support him as happened with the alshari, so rebellion. Minalan though has economical as well as magical power to assume complete control over the kingdom. Furthermore, let us not forget the prophecy of Briga's nun as well as Ishi's sayings about Min becoming the Archmage. That means that he would attain temporal and magical power over all the five duchies as he said in the very first book of the series.
DeleteI would like to learn your thoughts.
These are all very compelling points.
DeleteAt the moment, the Line of Succession is Rard, Tavard, Tavard's son . . . and then it kinda trails off, because there is no established rule of succession for a royal house beyond that. This may come up at a later date.
You can count on it.
But there's also precedent under Narasi law (a loose collection, at best) that recognizes the right of conquest. This, too, shall come up again.
But you can expect the entire issue of the succession to be overtaken by events. That's all I'll say about it for now.
Does Narisi culture follow the usual rules of Primogeniture? If it does it would go to the next Male heir of the House of Bimin - Anguin would not have a place in the succession - his relation to the Royal house is through the Queen being his Aunt not through Rard.
DeleteThat probably some unknown Count or Baron. Was Rard an only child? Does he have Male cousins on his fathers side. They would all have precedence before Anguin according to Primogeniture.
What if Tavard's family is wiped out and Anguin marries Rardine?? Would not both King and Queen push for them to take over the kingdom?? Especially if Anguin can defend and expand what he has control of to date...and Rardine gets her ladies in waiting busy with eliminating those males that are closer to inheriting from Rard....HHhmmmm
DeleteAnguin clearly has a larger role to play in the future and I wonder what Rardine's time as a captive has done for her outlook on what it means to be a royal and rule. They are by far the two smartest of the next generation of rulers...
At that, Ishi’s demeanor changed again. “Oh, really?” she asked. “If you knew who Anguin’s future bride was, you would not be so sanguine!” she challenged.
Mancour, Terry. Court Wizard: Book Eight Of The Spellmonger Series (Kindle Locations 19219-19221). UNKNOWN. Kindle Edition.
Radine is Anguins cousin and royal dynastys always tried to keep that kind of power building at bay (to prevent revolts ect.)
DeleteHoly cow. More llama please with a side order of a spitting camel. The night cats were a great addition to the story. I'm sure a female the if is in the works for atopol. Great character. Honorable Luin a sidebar.please. is Old Antemei a relative of the cats? Or a different house altogether? Maybe the wrong deity to address.
ReplyDeleteI still would like to see more Alurra. The boys were not impressed with Pens apprentice and I believe that ought to be turned around. I'm sure she could make them think twice about assuming she is not useful.
I say this because I personally blind in one eye. It was removed when I was young. I am fortunate because I have the other. It made me want to suceed. So I'm the 1st college graduate in my family, have a master's and am well respected in my field, even tho I'm an old, one eyed overweight overworked school teacher in an urban school district. I love what I do. My vice is reading. I love.the fantasy genre aND I have enjoyed each spellmonger book. You.are getting better and better with each book. I went back and read the tanith books. They were okay but did not pull me into the story like the spellmonger books have. A few short novels to hold is over. I'm thinking a short maybe with Gareth find a girl. He is a vital part of the story and should have some reward emotionally for his loyalty and work. Assuming he is not one of Grenadines spies in Sevendore.
Thanks! Gareth is not a spy, and he's loyal to Min. That doesn't mean he's happy.
DeleteAntimei is not related to the Saldaines. She hails from Inmar, in the northeastern Great Vale.
Alurra will become more important, especially when I get to her YA Cadet novel. I got inspired for the character after talking to a completely blind professional hiker at a Scouting event, and combined it with my daughter's love of everything that sheds and poops. She's an interesting character, and I will be developing her more.
I was really happy for Rondal and would like to think that all of them get a little piece of happiness.
DeleteIshis blessing for Gareth!
I love Alurra, and share her love of fury and feathered things. Can't wait to here more of her story. I'm readimg my way through the books and am half way through courtmage and love Alurra already. I can't wait to get to Dara's books as well.
DeleteTheory. Lord whiskers is a god. Called it first.
ReplyDeleteI think he is a Beast Master. He was watching through his winged pets eyes...
Deletewell, then those pets must be one of the few native animals that are affected by humani brown magic. Otherwise that couldn't happen according to Terry since most native animals have a natural resistance to human brown magic.
DeletePerhaps a smaller relation of the Wyvern. Perhaps a smaller animal has less resistance...or maybe he found them young and befriended them, and they choose to allow him to "bond" with them. But they definitly seem to have some intelligence above most animals.
DeleteAnd he is clearly in contorl of them yet mentions that they can be difficult at times. I wonder if the boys describe them to Olmeg if we will find out what they are.
But I do not think he is a God. The Atopol mentions that they think he was given a punishment assignment, and what would be the basis for his manifestation??
maybe transgenetic enchantment?
DeleteAny God you know that has 2 winged creatures on his shoulders. Kulane? Did anyone involke a god?
ReplyDeletewell if it was real world mythology i would say it would point to Odin but.....
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ReplyDeleteNow Im going to reread carefully. I can't remember if Delman died in another story so I was going back to check other books.
ReplyDeleteHe died in Warmage, I believe. Twice.
DeleteHe is a Cylon.
DeleteI would have envision brother hotfoot.since theives.fall under his reign to show up. Maybe the storm lord. We might be barking up the wrong tree. Lord whiskers just be an agent of isis.
ReplyDeleteTerry. Anything you want to.say on this matter.
I'd rather think the pawn broker was a deity.
He could also be an Imperial God as easily as an Narisi - Although its probably more likely that if he is a god he's either an obscure Alshari god or a lesser Narisi god - we don't really have a complete list of Narisi gods. We learned about a bunch more it Court Mage.
Deletethe gods normally cant turn up that often... thats the reason they come to the spellmonger!
Delete@TerryMancour have you done SCA combat?
ReplyDeleteThe way you talk about "Pointy hats" reminds me of the East. And hardly anyone who hasn't worn armor talks about armor bites, and needing to pee.
DeleteThe way you talk about "Pointy hats" reminds me of the East. And hardly anyone who hasn't worn armor talks about armor bites, and needing to pee.
DeleteGuilty. Fought for the Barony of Windmasters Hill for several years in Atlantia. Was a founding member of the Brothers In Black fighting household (one of whom went on to be a professional jouster/scientist) and got a fine appreciation for proper hydration and voiding in a combat situation. Lord Ian mac Oengus of Cowgate. Several of my former comrades have appeared as characters, including Ormar, Landrick, and the Duke's new half-brother, Gidyon (a professional jouster). Baron Arathaniel is based on Baron Eldrid Tremagne, and Rard is based on Duke Olaf.
DeleteI just came back from a war and am now getting to see the fruits of your labor. I am out in the West, land of the tourney fighters, as a son of a eastern war knight. Little conundrum there....
DeleteI figured King Rard was based off a duke, had the feel of some I knew at a point.
DeleteSO, anyone notice that Necromancer is going to be about a brave Knight (Magi) who sets off on a perilous quest to slay an evil Necromancer, and rescue a Princess from the highest tower of a once beautiful, but now corrupted city? And that said tower is guarded by a dragon? And that he is going to probably request the help of the friendly, and magical wood-folk?
ReplyDeleteNobody is every going to believe that this actually happened.
I reserve the right to use this in Necromancer.
DeleteLorcus would just tell them to:
DeleteJump to the portable way point Tyndal burried on the island.
Send a "spider" with the way stone to the Princes' cell
Jump to the same Way Point Again.
Grab Princes and Jump Home.
Princes rescued in under a day.
Go get your Baronies!!
I don't think it would be that easy. Remember how resistant the Nemavorti were to regular magic. In an area strong with Death Force Magic would the power behind ordinary enchantments be drained and what would be the effect on living organisms.
DeleteThis doesn't even mention that a couple of back country censors would have nowhere near the level of sophistication in their wards that a Undead Alkan Mage King would. I know Alkan don't really use Golem's and such but I'm sure the use of the magic would trip some kind of alarm. Also surely they warded the prison cell so the ways could not be accessed from within the building.
I am sure that the story will be much more interesting than that, that's the fun of reading them. However, the humani are constantly being under estimated and Lorcus is so damn creative he would do a lot more than that.
DeleteI also wonder what the range would be for controlling one of those spiders remotely. The mirrors seem to work from "any" distance. Could they be controled from a secure location such as Sevendor?? Also, I am eagerly awaiting for Min to reverse engineer the Thoughtful Knife and start creating quasi-intelligent battlefield falcons or such that they can target on foes...magical drones if you will.
well, since they use sympathy stones just like the mirrors, it should mean they have the same range. If that is the case, then creating a node to control a group, of the constructs, would be useful.
DeleteI think it will be a combined efforts of the young knights and apprentices. Min is probably evolved because he is going to need something from the place to help alya.
ReplyDeleteI think it will be a combined efforts of the young knights and apprentices. Min is probably evolved because he is going to need something from the place to help alya.
ReplyDeleteIn the world of the spellmonger, how does one casually transport something north of three metric tonnes of gold without magic?
ReplyDeleteWith a huge team of oxen and horses. It ain't cheap. And then there's the guards. That's why owning gold is expensive: you lose some value every time you move it. After WWII all of Western Europe's gold was left in Manhattan, because it wasn't worth the cost, risk, and security (Cold War, remember) to ship it back across the ocean.
DeleteLoved the story. But I am wondering if we are ever gonna hear about the knights magis quest.
ReplyDeleteGreat new book in this series.
ReplyDeleteA couple questions though does Min still have a way to cleanse witchstones?
It was interesting to find out the population of enultrumar how does the rest of the ducky and the other duckies compare by population.
Also speaking of the other duchies we haven't seen much of them yet, will that change?
Well the witchsphere is broken, true, but now he has Onranion. Im sure that he is capable of creating another taint breaker stone like the Aronin. Besides, he has all the Alkan Irionite now.
Deletethe ability to get more irionite is always a good idea to have, though the ability to create it ourselves would be better.
DeleteAlso while at the moment he has been giving pieces of Irionite out there's the possibility that he will begin to incorporate more and more into weapons.
DeleteAlso now that he has onranion shouldn't he be spending some time re-shaping the shards of stones taken from the Goblins into pieces that are more useful. Even if you had to take to shards to make one decent 1cm stone wouldn't that be worth it considering the abundance of stones Minalan has. Its likely that he will not want to expand the number of High Magi too much higher anytime soon as the administration would become more difficult and he doesn't really have the all the monitoring and safe guards he will need to keep an eye on that many High Magi as yet
Good Point...he could grow the Spellmonger's 7 to a larger number and get more key people using the Ways. Clearly he would only do so for his inner circle.
DeleteI also like the idea of using a few stones for semi-autonomous "drones" for the battle field. Implace and teach an ancient predator that the Gurvani are their only food source and let them loose. Imagine a Thoughful Knife that could think for itself, but be recalled at need, taught that flying through a Gurvani or Troll is the same as eating....that would quickly reduce the numbers on the battle field. I doubt you would need a very large stone if some of the components were also made from snow stone. Hell, put a pocket in it and let it think that eating is the same as filling that pocket with Gurvani and then they could crap them out in the air over other parts of the enemy. Lorcus would love that. A magical bird that eats Gurvani and the flies over a priest and takes a dump of Gurvani corpses on top of them. :)
this is SOOOO open to be manipulated by the enemy (like Knotcoral in Shadowmage)
DeleteNooooooooo!!! Finished it.... and now the endless wait for necromancer....
ReplyDeleteIt was awesome though. Really like the kitten ;)
DeleteVery good book terry :-) nice that minilan is getting some hope and some more active role again :-)
ReplyDeleteThis book was amazing! I loved it. You know, I've been thinking about the grand scheme of the war effort and I really see only two potential counters to the numerical advantage the bad guys have. The first potential counter is constructs and I really like how every time we see them they get more advanced.
ReplyDeleteThe other potential counter is necromancy. However that was my thought back around book 3 and with the rise of the Demon God I think that advantage went to the bad guys. I really like how Taren is studying necromancy. I hope maybe we'll get to see a face heel turn after it goes too far.
Does anyone think that archmage usnt just a title but a legacy of sorts. I feel like the archmage is a demi god since the powers the archmage must fight agaist are immense.
Deleteummm no. Minalan has talked about the nature of the power of the archmage on numerous occasions. It had different meanings during different eras of the magocracy. but it was never JUST a title denoting arcane might.
DeleteBesides, The alka alon have already told min that he has become the most powerful human mage in history. therefore the archmagi could not be more powerful than he is now
It would be very interesting to see if the Humani belief system could some day elevate Min to deity status...there were several conversations about how the gods were formed from the humani consciounce....could he become a god with enough followers???
Deletetechnically probally sorta of yes tough you need to remember that the Gods are an image of how humanity imaginies them so it wont be quite him
Delete@ Aaron Schwartz. They said he was the most powerful and that he had surpassed the Magi of old in some ways but I don't think the new magical revolution has in any way reached the sophistication of the Magocracy as yet. It will take decades for that amount of meaningful change to happen.
DeleteMinalan might be more powerful in some ways than the Magi of old but its a big sword that he still doesn't wield with any sophistication as yet. I'm sure the potential is there he just needs to put more work in.
Being more powerful than other archmages doesn't mean they are not demi god....gods have different strengths as wel have seen.
DeleteHonestly, I think that Min is probably more powerful in terms of pure magic, because I'm pretty sure that the Magocracy didn't do pure magic. Early humans didn't even have access to magic, and were counted as one of the strongest races in the world, due to their use of high technology, which let them field things like jet fighters, tanks and helicopters, which probably had no real parallel from the other magic focused races. Then humans get a hold of magic and either use it or tech, or probably more likely, a combo of the two, to increase their land, which leads to the underwater races getting pissed off, and deciding to take back the area, plus a bit more... without, apparently, just asking the humans not to do that.
DeleteSo now humanity has just lost its home island, and everything on it. This includes the entirety of its tech base and almost all the manufacturing. Now they have no way to repair any tech, so no more jet/helicopters/cars/tanks etc... after a few years to a decade or two. So humanity turns to magic and combines it with their knowledge of science, to serve as a stopgap, either until they can rebuild a new tech base, or find a way to salvage the stuff on Perewyn.
However, for whatever reason, this never happens. Either they don't have enough resources, or their manufacturing capabilities were somehow irreplaceable. So the stick to using magic to mimic what their tech had done. It isn't nearly as good a pure tech, since anything humanity can do with magic, almost every other race can do. So now they don't have the advantage their tech gave them, and are forced to rely on magic, but at the same time they still have the memory and records of what tech can do. This probably leads the archamgi to focus on recovering old capabilities, rather than trying to find new ways to use magic, like Min and the Order are forced to do. They also probably didn't have as much Ironite as Min has access to, which means that they couldn't draw on as much power as he can.
All this, combined with the Alka Alon placing more importance on magic than physical artifacts, means that they see Min as more powerful than the Archmagi, because Min uses pure magic, while the Archmagi diluted their power by focusing on tech.
you are mistaken. The early Magocracy was, as its name suggested, wholly a magical civ. It was far more advanced and knowledgable than the current human civ, but even though the early humans ruled from the sky, we were NEVER EVEN CLOSE to the strongest race in the world.
DeleteListen to the Gods in Enchanter. We were given Perwin because we brought the Alka Alon Pretty Trees. And even the Alka Alon are tiny when compared to the seafolk, who are descended from the celestial mother.
In short, although the Perwyni might have had some memory of where they came from, the only hint of modern tech they ever had were the teka.
I didn't mean humanity was the strongest, or even close. But they were considered a major surface race after they came from the void. After Perwin sank, humanity was weakened drastically, and was no longer a major race.
DeleteAnd early humanity did have access to tech, or at least flying tech, since it was mentioned that humanity ruled the skies until the sinking of Perwin. They were even have noted to have evacuated Perwin by flight in journeymage, when the Karsai origins were revealed. The entire reason that there are random pockets of humans away from the other human zones was because they would fly people to the campgrounds, and one they lost the aircraft after the sinking of Perwin, there was no way to collect the people that far out. Also, in another post, Terry did say, IIRC, that early humanity was a post-industrial society. It's later humanity that lost knowledge of technology, and on arrival from the void, humanity had no ability to use magic at all. The Alka Alon even mention they gave humanity perwin partly because they assumed a non-magic using race wouldn't be able to survive for long, and they really, really wanted those trees.
well a major point is what counts as major.
Deleteif you compare them to the ALon they prob count as one, if you compare them to the real powerhouses who quote "could shift the very course of the stars" they are barely a footnote
Well, to be fair, we don't know about any other segments of humanity. For all we know, Perwin humanity comes from space amish who spurned all but the absolutely necessary tech to go get their own planet and colonize it, and the main body of humans are all-powerful demi-gods who could conquer entire races solo. Equally likely is that they are the last of humanity, escaping from some disaster that wiped out most humans. We know nothing of humanity's past, the reasons they wanted to colonize an already inhabited world, their previous tech level, or even what culture they are descended from (boy scouts imply some level of attachment to america).
DeleteI just want to know where the damn ships wondered off to. And if we're going to get some hybrid magic-technology, and/or some of the original humans, in say cryogenic sleep.
Delete**wandered**
Deletewere did you read the part about the desolate wastelands? And why didnt they also teraform the land of scars? Cause that would be the remaining bit...
DeleteQuestion at least related to this and the other books: which books in the series are told by and about Minalen the spellmonger? I just got to the knighst magi book, and i was starved for more about minalen and the main plot, not stories told by and about the people around him.
ReplyDeleteAll the books besides the 2 who've read and court mage...
DeleteStart with Spellmongeregards, warmage and then magelord :-)
Thanks:) so, only court mage(pentandra) and knights magi (tyndan and rondal) are about Minalen directly?
DeleteThats 7 of the 9 books so far, good enough for me:)
Are those 2 books worth reading or should i just skip then for now? Just decided to skip knights magi and gone straight on to high mage right now:)
Edit: only those two are NOT about Minalen directly i meant..
DeleteExactly there is also the youth stories about lady dara and diverse shorts that you should read and love but which isn't about minilan necessarily.. the spellmongers honeymoon is especially crucial in the unfolding of the present story :-) hope this helps a bit happy reading !
DeleteDefinitely read court mage. It is crucial towards the overall plot.
DeleteYou want to read Knights Maji, Court Wizard and ShadowMage. They are a large part to character development and they progress the main plot.
DeleteI agree with Jeremy that the Shadowmage was better than the Knights Magi. although the first book about the apprentice did a good job in establishing the characters. Keep them coming...
ReplyDeleteI love your work. So immersive, so detailed, so great. It's a world I can totally see in my mind.
ReplyDeleteI have a question:
Terry, can I ask what are the established rules for the Hoxter Pocket?
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ReplyDeleteSo, how did Lady Mask get home in the end? Ron and Tyn were incapacitated, and it was too hot for Gareth to pop in. Did she just hide on get a lift off camera? Or perhaps some adventure on her own?
ReplyDeletethe others with her were saved, so somebody made the leap ^^
DeleteRereading:
Delete“Rondal made it. Everyone made it,” Gareth conceded. “Not uninjured, but everyone who went in, came out. You were the one we were worried about. Apparently it was rough, out at the gate.”
So you are indeed correct.
I have been thinking about this for some time:
ReplyDeleteThe waystones lower the magical resistance around them for a few meter (established in the short story after Journeymage) so Kobal has to realize that they dropped one waystone in his frontyard.
The same issue applies to the stones dropped in citys and hidden in artifacts. Maybe important for fights with dragons.
Two problems with that:
Delete1. They would have to know to look for that, and then actively search for it.
2. The stone's effect only spreads out a few meters, which makes it a pretty small target
the spell covering the ground should be far thicker in that spot (remember the experiment with lightballs in Magelord) and the necromancer got a few pebbles from his raid in enchanter ^^
Deleteabout the book: far better than Kights Magi, Tryndal still seems like a prick but he enjoys that so... Great new caracters, the biggest plot hole is that the enshadowed didnt turn Radine in one of the posessed and send her back to destroy the kingdom but I suppose they had whatever reasons
ReplyDeletesilly question but
ReplyDeleteshould the esturi order be actively recruiting?
maybe set up a booth at the magical fair, or somehow actively attempt to increase membership beyond Oh tin and ron like you and you survived a near death experience
mybe the kid from the trials who joined the third
maybe a house guard who works for some lord about to be sent to the iron band, or the lords heir
seems like recruiting is a good way to bring in characters from all over the kingdom without it bein just thrown in
maybe and this one seems out there a member of the knights of nalbius could join, there is as of yet no requirement they be confined to castialar
will we be seeing any trips to farsi? the far islands? the northern steeps?
ReplyDeletethe narsi came from the steeps but what happened to the people who stayed there
can we get ron/ tyndal as lectures at one of the new universitys whih the kingdom allegedly established?
ReplyDeletecastle sylasta (the blue stone castle) seems like a good use to put green flower to since unique magical stone, in custodianship of archne orders, it was his job to build the universities
can we get ron/ tyndal as lectures at one of the new universitys whih the kingdom allegedly established?
ReplyDeletecastle sylasta (the blue stone castle) seems like a good use to put green flower to since unique magical stone, in custodianship of archne orders, it was his job to build the universities
will we be seeing any trips to farsi? the far islands? the northern steeps?
ReplyDeletethe narsi came from the steeps but what happened to the people who stayed there
silly question but
ReplyDeleteshould the esturi order be actively recruiting?
maybe set up a booth at the magical fair, or somehow actively attempt to increase membership beyond Oh tin and ron like you and you survived a near death experience
mybe the kid from the trials who joined the third
maybe a house guard who works for some lord about to be sent to the iron band, or the lords heir
seems like recruiting is a good way to bring in characters from all over the kingdom without it bein just thrown in
maybe and this one seems out there a member of the knights of nalbius could join, there is as of yet no requirement they be confined to castialar
Hmm. I really liked the book, but a part I didn't really like was - IIRC - a change in Gareth's character. Im sure he used to have the temperament to be a warmage, just not the physical aspects needed. He acted with calm-headedness when accosted at the magic fair, though I'll have to re-read his description in the previous few books to be certain. Was the only part of the book I didn't like.
ReplyDeleteThe development of kitten's relationship with Rondal was nice, but I only stopped feeling a bit annoyed at the... Forcefulness of her advances towards him once she and Tyndall had the talk at the end. Was a nice way to tie things up.
I also had the feeling that Gareth was cut short - it was once said that he wanted to slay groblins as much as Tyndal.
DeleteAnyone else thinking that the Groblins aint Alkas? I speculate they were summoned from another world to work as slaves. Their history seems murky and their magic awakend only after they rose against the Alka, just like humanitys only generations after the humani came to the planet.
ReplyDeleteHoping someone can help me out. In which book did the full story of the Randal and Tyndal's adveture with the Kasari get fully flushed out. I recall bits and pieces in other books. I am wondering if it was a later add on to an earlier book that I may have missed in reading the early release.
ReplyDeleteIt's not really any particular story .. it's fed to us in various references from "high mage" onwards...
DeleteThis book is sloppy. The plotlines are poorly thought through. Some tactical choices are nonsensical.
ReplyDeleteThe Rat Trap chapter was extremely disappointing. The ... facility was built up a bit and made intriguing, but totally glossed over during the actual design and building and any occupation.
Why does a shadowmage, atopol, reveal his real face to an unknown person during a burglarly? Disguises are easy for them, right?
At the Reunus cotton guild hall, they tell Uzhas inform the Brotherhood who they are and who they are gunning for, but then nothing actually happens. Solsaritsa Abbey is not better informed or guarded or watched.
Pratt arrives not because of communication about Reunus but because he heard about the Orison. It doesn't make sense how he was informed because 1) "the abbey's bell tolled unexpectedly" so townspeople didn't know and 2) Jester has to ask why Pratt has shown up, so Jester didn't inform him.
Pratt is arguing with Jester, somehow notices in his distant peripheral vision a person waving in his general direction, and automatically waves back? Come on...
It is not at all clear why this dumb little spoof is better than killing Pratt straight away. The knights will kill simple thugs in the wrong place, but someone they especially want to slay, and personally, they are willing to let out of their reach because he will be "blamed" for stuff and his life will be a little harder for a little while longer before they actually kill him? So dense...
Tower Arcane
Get a bunch of out-of-season fruit to be used as non-lethal ammunition? I can find amusement in the idea standing by itself, but it doesn't fit into the story at all. Making a big, sudden purchase of an out-of-season product is not secretive, it calls attention. Lorcus has a wand he used in Arrunatus House to just pop off sleeping spells but can't use the same thing to disrupt the riot?
I see zero point in Kitten being anywhere near the riot.
The warmages are supposed to have only one piece of irionite, but when they appear on the balcony, all three have their own pieces?
How do the warmages not spot the magic Lorcus is wielding? Censorate are supposed to be skilled warmages, and all the previous battles used magesight to see magic stuff going happening. Why are they not skilled enough to notice Lorcus or Kitten?
Irionite is supposed to be extremely enticing, like catnip for mages, yet the cats of enultramar seem to have no interest, even having stolen a piece they do not mention its use. But the cats shouldn't have it because Lorcus, Tyndal and Rondal should be doing their sworn duty and taking the piece back to Minalin for keeping or distribution, as he sees fit.
The Lord Whiskers chapter is ridiculous. Some random guy walks in, only gives an alias, and then everyone spills their guts about who they are, what they've done, and why they are doing it. Pardon my wtf?!
So, why is it "Only Lorcus didn't move."?
Gatina girlishly proposes bloody murder and there is no Rondal reaction?
How would the Censors know they were attacked by High Magic? Just because of Lorcus' stupid apple attack? Atopol and Kitten can't do high magic and Tyndal and Rondal weren't really involved during the op.
Now on to more specific, blatant inconsistencies and laziness.
ReplyDelete6469 "Only two of his borrowed men had been injured so far this bloody night,"
6544 "By the time they rode into the third village of the evening at dawn, only one of his men had fallen, and only three had been wounded."
6723 ... intelligence agents of the coronet, now. Secret agents. If you are caught or captured, you must not reveal your purpose to anyone.
8601 “Well, while we are, at the moment, involved in errantry on behalf of our Order, our mandate actually comes from higher up. We are acting on the direct orders of the lawful liege of Alshar, Duke Anguin II,” Rondal informed him, evenly.
6675 “Tell him – personally, I don’t want to commit this to writing – tell him that I accept his pledge of loyalty and his service, and ask him to work with my designated representatives in preparing the realm for my restoration. At some point. In the distant future.”
6751 “I shall have warrants drawn up attesting to your permission, and detailing the scope and nature of your mission.
6770 I shall compose a letter for you to return to him, when next you travel south.
6947 "she’d been running an errand for Master Hance when his call came . . . and she had stopped her mission the moment she received it." seriously? She's on a mission and the cats are supposed to be serious but she'll fly off to some a cottage to screw when she is FOURTEEN?
I am seriously struggling with this vacuous pulp.
Ouch! But for the most part he/she is right. I thought it was odd that the two were going around telling everyone they were working with Anguin, after having sworn secrecy, also.
ReplyDeleteAnd in Chpt. 16 - Pratt and the Rats - Why the does Tyn reveal himself as Pratt is leaving. It ruins half the reason (OK maybe 1/8 of the reason) they came for, which was to discredit Pratt and leave him wondering what the hell happened. Now he knows. Is Tyn this friggin immature? This is might be how he acted in the Book 1-4 or so, but after going to war college he seemed to have matured.
I get it, you are using Tyn as a foil to Ron within this book, which comes out in the mind to mind talks, but revealing himself like this is so immature, and a tactical blunder. Which you do use against them later, which is valid. It would have been intolerable if it didn't come back and bite them in the butt later. But, Tyn had seemed more mature after war college and the march with the Kasari.
And yes, I thought it was ridiculous that Kit came several days travel, while on a mission, to meet Ron. Well, OK I might have (in fact did do) that when I was 19, but I was only working in a bowling alley). And Ron was still at this point a little tiny bit iffy about the relationship, and he is in the middle of a mission too, so to call her seemed out of character.
And, while a great character addition, Atopol and Kitten seemed to have jumped in whole hog on the missions. Wouldn't they have some things to do at home now that the family is acting as part of the duke-dom. But instead they are in nearly every action/battle. And the few times they are working for dad, tney seem to be able to be back with Ron and Tyn, even though it would have been a couple/several days of travel to get there. Just a little too convenient.
And do they have other brother/sisters/cousins/nephews/nieces/etc. that are also part of the familey"business"? This would be the only explanation that would allow the two to devote nearly all their time to the boys' mission.
Well they's my two cents.
And to "ger", don't be so mean. I see inconsistencies, but to say Mancour is "lazy" is too much. Most of us have been waiting and waiting and "jonesin'" for the next volume. And we got it.
ReplyDeleteNow, I think the beta readers should have done a better job. Maybe you should volunteer?
You know, I just had a thought. This book seemed a little "immature", for lack of better word. The main characters seem, atfirst, a little flat or simple, i.e. Tyndal's immatutity, Kitten's infatuation. This book was much more YA than some of his other boooks that are NOT published specifically as YA. This was a little in between.
Just some more thoughts
And what about Tyn's killing the dragon? Almost ZERO mention. Sir Cei got a new name, castle, lands (or was that the marriage?). The onltime you hear aboutis when Tyn points it out (which is in character). They didn't even change his name to something like Sir Tyndal, The Dragon Choker. Or some such.
ReplyDeleteThat's 6¢ now.
And "ger", buying a bushell or two of apples is not going to ring anyone's bells. That right there is perhaps 75-80-100 apples (if they're small). Plenty of ammo. Buying a few bushells to make cider at home would not be out of the norm. You make it sound as he'd bought several wagon loads, which makes MIGHT be noted.
ReplyDelete8¢
Just started reading this book series. It's the best one I've come across in a good long while.
ReplyDeleteWith the storytelling, we are following Min's journey throughout Castalshar. We need a proper hi-res version where all the lands are clearly labelled. Please! Please! Please release one soon!!! Thanks heaps!!
What is Minalins last name??
ReplyDelete