Questions About The Tethered Mage (Swords and Fire, #1)

by Melissa Caruso (Goodreads Author)

Reader Q&A

To ask other readers questions about The Tethered Mage, please sign up.

Answered Questions (4)

Kate This is not YA. The author has stated multiple times that it is not YA. I find it very arrogant and presumptuous of some readers on here to say that t…moreThis is not YA. The author has stated multiple times that it is not YA. I find it very arrogant and presumptuous of some readers on here to say that this is "definitely" YA "regardless of what the author might say" when the author/editor/publisher is the supreme authority on what genre or age range their book is, and they have all stated that this book is NOT YA.(less)

flag

I like to know how names are pronounced even though I'm reading in my head. How do you pronounce Ciardha? What about Zaira?

George I see "dh", I always assume the voiced "th" of "then" (as opposed to the voiceless one of "thin").

Given the setting in an obvious analog of Renaissanc…moreI see "dh", I always assume the voiced "th" of "then" (as opposed to the voiceless one of "thin").

Given the setting in an obvious analog of Renaissance Venice (including the Council of Nine, cf. Consejo de i Diexe), I'm supposing that "Ci" represents the Italian sequence, as in "Ciao!" (not quite the same as English "chow").

Which gives me CHEEARTH-ah, with a diphthong in the first syllable and the aforementioned voiced TH, not the unvoiced one of "earth".

A bit of searching shows that "Zaira" is probably three syllables in the Italian name derived from the French "Zaïre" (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zaira), tsah-EE-ra (or maybe dzah-), but only two in Spanish, since https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zaira spells it with no written accent, which makes it SYE-ra or THIGH-rah, depending on what variety of Spanish you like.

But I perversely prefer ZYE-rah. My only defense is that not every name is spelled Italian-style, and some (e.g. Savony, Jerith, Terika) are emphatically not.

Notice that, wisely or not, you asked "How do you pronounce ..." The above is the product of an old man who got his linguistics degree decades ago, with an emphasis in English language. Someone else--e.g., the author--may give you subtly or noticeably different answers.(less)

flag

Is there romance in the book?

Erinn Gustafson There are love interests for the two main female characters.

flag

How many books are there?

George Three listed as of today, 20-08-2018. And just because trilogies are common doesn't mean there won't be another--or a second trilogy to follow ...…moreThree listed as of today, 20-08-2018. And just because trilogies are common doesn't mean there won't be another--or a second trilogy to follow ...(less)

flag

Unanswered Questions (2)

This question contains spoilers... (view spoiler)

how violent and sexual does this book series get?

Answer

Flag

About Goodreads Q&A

Ask and answer questions about books!

You can pose questions to the Goodreads community with Reader Q&A, or ask your favorite author a question with Ask the Author.

See Featured Authors Answering Questions

Learn more