Fantasy Book Club Series discussion
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Last Argument of Kings
The First Law Series
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Last Argument of Kings II-The Kingmaker thru The Number of the Dead
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Maggie, The Malazan Queen of Chaos
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Sep 19, 2012 05:49AM
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Aha, now i'm at the same speed as anyone else.I loved the second half of part 1. Best part of the entire series so far.
(I have to put in a fake third line here, otherwise my friends' feed will show the next line as a big spoiler...)
First of all, Jezal king?! I did not see that one coming. But at least he made one smart decision immediately, which was to promote West instead of Kroy or Pouder. Just imagine the disasters we would have been in if either one of those would be in charge.
I liked West's manipulation of those two as well. Looks like they'll finally walk the line!
Abercrombie was being a tease in the description of that fight though, I really started to think that the Union would come too late.
Jezal and his wife was also amusing to read. I really felt bad for him when he thought things might not get all that crappy; they retire to the bedroom and BAM the icequeen returns. Poor lad!
I'm really interested to see whether Jezal will keep being a puppet-on-a-string (as Lee put it so nicely in the previous thread) concerning both the council and his wife, or whether he will start to stand his ground more often like he did with the West-promotion.
Talk about manipulation eh? So Bayez must have planned a lot of this way way back.The Tanner stunk of Bayez's work since he capitulated immediately in front of Jezal, much to the disgust of the rebels. Obviously he wanted him with him during the journey to start grooming him, but I wonder how he planned on getting rid of the Prince before West did his work for him? Probably the same way as the other one.
I am loving the 'bedroom is a battlefield' storyline to Hanne, poor old Jezal. He has come a long way though, in small steps, that is what I love about the character build with this, it is not rushed. But, I do think that he will start to cut some of those strings. I can see him starting to do his own thing in front of people to negate some of Bayez's influence, but he is a long way from breaking away. If ever.
So now the Ghurkish are coming, which will make our Ferro happy. I expect we will see a lot more of the Khalul, Bayez, Yulwei story play out, with the eaters as well, which have some considerable power if you remember.
What about nine fingers eh? Scary dude somewhat. Taking out Tul?? wow didn't see that coming. As much as you start to like Logan, Nine fingers is one scary bugger and there is not much to like.
Looking forward to the next book.
Lee wrote: "What about nine fingers eh? Scary dude somewhat. Taking out Tul??"That was a shock. He's like The Incredible Hulk.
Anybody listen to these on Audio book with Steven Pacey Narrating? I had a listen to a few samples on Audible and I'm wishing I went the audio book version now. I think I'm going to get the audio version of "Best Served Cold."
I am not up to the fight with the feared. Isn't that in the next book?The other thing about bloody nine going about his killing spree was that I think he kills one of crummicks sons. Rememberer just after Tull, he splits a young boy in two that was carrying a huge sword. Not sure if that is going to have any ramifications or not.
Lee wrote: "I am not up to the fight with the feared. Isn't that in the next book?."Oops - I interpreted the thread title to be Part 2 and didn't pay attention to the chapter heading. I've edited out the spoiler
I am ahead to now, I have to check back on the kindle to where I can talk about.Jazel just did some Prodigy with one of his beloved wifes ladies in waiting. Work that one out.
Yes, the bloody Nine taking out Tul was a shocker. I actually went back a few pages and read it again to make sure i read that part correctly.It does somehow explain why Logen already appeared guilty and ashamed of Bloody Nine in the previous books though. It feels a bit like with demented people (to make an odd comparison): they don't realize what they are doing if their in the 'other' state, but it all comes back to them when they return to normal.
I'm not sure i fully understand the Logen/Bloody Nine mechanism yet though. Is it just a case of blind rage, schizofrenia or is there more to it and are there ghosts involved?
I actually think i'm going to need to re-read all 3 books in a year from now or so if i want to understand them completely.
I am now 70odd% in and the story is getting amazing, the pacing has doubled and there is so much going on, so much convergence, so so so so .............. Maggie! start a new thread I need to talk!!!
Lee wrote: "I am now 70odd% in and the story is getting amazing, the pacing has doubled and there is so much going on, so much convergence, so so so so .............. Maggie! start a new thread I need to talk!!!"I'm finished so I concur - new thread please! This book seriously ends all messed up, in a good way. Who end up where and with who is totally not what I was expecting.
Feel free to vent at my review if you're finished http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/....
Until we get a new thread anyway. Its relatively spoiler free if you have read this far.
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Jezal becoming king really wasn't a surprise at all, it's been super obvious ever since Bayaz's incessant lectures to Jezal in the last book. However I was pretty impressed by all of Bayaz's sneaky manipulations to make it happen. Also West is way more awesome at being a Marshal than I expected! His manipulation of Poulder and Kroy was delightful.
I think Logen doesn't yet remember killing Crummock's son, that is going to suck when it comes to light.
This book is fantastic so far. I'm really glad Abercrombie spent most of Book 1 (and a fair chunk of Book 2) setting up all this. He's set up some great thematic repetitions - "too many knives" (Logen vs. Glokta), the bringer of death as teacher (the Bloody Nine and Ferro), and of course "still alive." I'm missing a bunch of them that I'm sure I'll remember more keenly with a reread.West's unexpected promotion was definitely a fist pump moment. Definitely ramped up the tension with the Northmen's very-nearly-last stand.
Jezal's wedding night (as well as Logen's first, um, encounter with Ferro) was one of those delicious genre convention subversions - neatly propelled away from the "hero gets the girl and proves just as heroic in the bedroom as on the battlefield" trope we see a lot in the genre. The most memorable offender for me is in Fires of Heaven where it implied that the prudish virgin boy hero is able to make his first experience last hours, which always struck me as plain silly. It's the little things that seem to delight me, sometimes.
Eric wrote: "I'm missing a bunch of them that I'm sure I'll remember more keenly with a reread."Don't be too hard on yourself, you have to be realistic about these things.
Say one thing for Abercrombie, say he's rereadable.
David Sven wrote: "Don't be too hard on yourself, you have to be realistic about these things.Say one thing for Aber..."
Just so! :-D
