Monthly Group Reads: NOVEMBER 2013 (Group Read 2) Sworn Sword by James Aitcheson

[Terri, Wyrd bið ful aræd]

I don't think I have ever read a female character I disliked so much. :)

[Dawn]

I felt that she was a non-entity really. I didn't get to know her enough to get whether she was.....well anything really. If you took her out of the story, nothing would change.

[Jane]

Terri wrote: "Jane wrote: "

You know, it might be kinda nice(view spoiler) That's probably far-fetched, though. :) ..."

That is a super duper spoiler. Yikes. :]

NOBODY READ JANE'S SPOILER unless you have fini..."


I've corrected it since. Mea culpa and also time change...

[Dawn]

Terri wrote: "Maybe you like whiny, sullky, sullen chicks. :D"

Very funny!

[Alicja]

Terri wrote: "I don't think I have ever read a female character I disliked so much. :)"

She is in the running among some of my most hated... She just leaves me frustrated and annoyed.

[Terri, Wyrd bið ful aræd]

I don't like women like her. lol. :D

[Terri, Wyrd bið ful aræd]

I can vouch though, that while I did give Sworn Sword 4 stars and I did like it, the second one is much improved.

The first one was a debut in nearly every sense. I thought it was a terrific debut and had so much promise.
With this second one (I am only 100 pages in at this stage) everything, including characters, feels more polished.
I can only imagine how many great books this author still has in him. I am loving his writing in The Splintered Kingdom.

[Jane]

Dawn wrote: "Terri wrote: "Maybe you like whiny, sullky, sullen chicks. :D"

Very funny!"

how about snotty, first one I thought of after reading your list of adjectives. :)

[Jane]

Alicja wrote: "I love the action and battles scenes, love them! But I agree with others, the female character, ugh!"

Think the author has a bit to learn about characterization of females! This one's evoked quite a negative response from us here.

[Terri, Wyrd bið ful aræd]

haha. She sure has. :D

[Mark]

Also from me as well. Not impressed with the male ones either.

[Jane]

Terri wrote: "I can vouch though, that while I did give Sworn Sword 4 stars and I did like it, the second one is much improved.

The first one was a debut in nearly every sense. I thought it was a terrific debut..."

If you say it's much improved, I might read it someday but it's not high on my tbr at all.

[[deleted user]]

I'm starting to dislike this female character & I haven't even read the book!

[Terri, Wyrd bið ful aræd]

Crikey. :) I did invite the author to keep tabs on the discussion. I hope we haven't depressed him too much with our mass loathing of his female character.

[Alicja]

Terri wrote: "Crikey. :) I did invite the author to keep tabs on the discussion. I hope we haven't depressed him too much with our mass loathing of his female character."

Then he should know I am enjoying the book otherwise (and that I really, really love his battle descriptions).

[Paula]

Derek wrote: "I'm starting to dislike this female character & I haven't even read the book!"

I havent got to her yet either!

[Paula]

Im at the part where he has met William Malet. Really am enjoying it and looking forward to getting to know Tancred a little better

[Terri, Wyrd bið ful aræd]

Another group read where we are all split on our viewpoints. :)
I would never expect anything else...or want it any other way.

[Jane]

And even if we differ in our opinions, I'm glad we respect each other's viewpoints.

[Terri, Wyrd bið ful aræd]

It sure is good. Helps readers to not feel shy about leaving their opinion, when everyone respects each others differences.

I still don't get how Dawn missed that the female character was a cow...but..well..she has the dreaded lurgy so that may explain it..hee hee...;D (I know, I know, I am courting trouble)

[Jane]

@Dawn--'dreaded lurgy' [ugh] plus time change for you?

do you folks in Canada follow those same time change rules we do here in the States?

[Darcy]

Most of us. The province of Saskatchewan doesn't, and I think Nunavut (one of the territories) doesn't either, but I was never clear on that one.

[Jane]

Thank you. You taught me something this evening.

[Dawn]

This is the good time change though. More sleep, not less!

And I still don't see how she could be that bad considering how few scenes she's in.

[Jane]

I don't know -- she left a lingering presence of a toxic personality, to me. I still shake my head unbelievingly at Tancred's reaction to her.

[Terri, Wyrd bið ful aræd]

Jane wrote: "I don't know -- she left a lingering presence of a toxic personality, to me. I still shake my head unbelievingly at Tancred's reaction to her."

me too. I would not have thought he would be interested in someone like that.

[Terri, Wyrd bið ful aræd]

When Danielle brought up St Ouen, it made me notice when a saint was mentioned in Book two of this series.
St Ignatius.

I looked him up and he could be one of two Saints.

Ignatius of Antioch
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ignatius...

or

Patriarch Ignatius of Constantinople
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patriarc...

There have been a few chapters since he was mentioned in any detail and I cannot recall if any detail may have given away which Saint the author meant.

[Michal]

Terri wrote: "I don't think I have ever read a female character I disliked so much. :)"

I do not agree - at least she doesn't get so much air time! :)

[Michal]

Jane wrote: "I don't know -- she left a lingering presence of a toxic personality, to me. I still shake my head unbelievingly at Tancred's reaction to her."

He is a bit old for such thing, that's true. Although, when I think of some of my exes now, they were really annoying and there is no excuse (this is not just my opinion, my family and friends confirmed :) ). Yet I was obsessing about them at least for some time. So treat her like some of your useless ex boyfriends or something :).

[Terri, Wyrd bið ful aræd]

mixal wrote: "Terri wrote: "I don't think I have ever read a female character I disliked so much. :)"

I do not agree - at least she doesn't get so much air time! :)"

You do not agree that I have never read a female character I disliked so much??? Which character have I read that I disliked more than Beatrice?

Do you know something about me that I don't know? :)

[Terri, Wyrd bið ful aræd]

mixal wrote: " So treat her like some of your useless ex boyfriends or something :). ..."

Oh goodness. But there are so many to pick from...;)

[Michal]

Terri wrote: You do not agree that I have ..."

Sure thing! You think big brother watches only over Europe and doesn't reach down there? Don't mess with my connections :)

Ok, next time I'll say "I do not share your sentiment" ;)

[Michal]

Terri wrote: But there are so many to pick from...;)"

Haha, suddenly feel much more empathy to Tancred, right? :)

[Terri, Wyrd bið ful aræd]

mixal wrote: "Sure thing! You think big brother watches only over Europe and doesn't reach down there? Don't mess with my connections ..."

Then you might already have heard about my long string of loser ex boyfriends.
Luckily I married one of the lessor losers..:D


(don't worry people, my hubby would laugh at that joke about him)

[Paula]

Something really horrible happened to me today! I took my book to work with me and left it in a tesco carrier bag with my apple and it looks like th damn cleaner has thrown it away!!!!!GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR
Waterstones tomorrow

[Dawn]

That is one of the most tragic stories I've ever heard! :)

[Terri, Wyrd bið ful aræd]

ahhhhh..noooo....how could a cleaner miss a book in a bag! He/she probably took it home to read. :)

[Terri, Wyrd bið ful aræd]

Halfway through book two, The Splintered Kingdom.
There was a moment there where it was more military campaign than story, but then story won some ground back.

[Liza]

Terri wrote: "ahhhhh..noooo....how could a cleaner miss a book in a bag! He/she probably took it home to read. :)"
Exactly my thoughts! Cleaner maybe v happy to have found a new book.

[Paula]

Havent got my replacement copy yet - wait for me please!!!!

[Terri, Wyrd bið ful aræd]

I have finished book two. 4 stars!! :) Great start, lost its way (I feel) through the middle with mostly military campaign and waiting around planning to do nothing, then picked up again for a terrific last third.

[Alicja]

Does anyone else find Tancred too serious?

[Terri, Wyrd bið ful aræd]

I kind of do, yeah. But then I have known guys like him. (as I am sure we all have).
hard to get a laugh or a light moment out of them. I think Tancred is one of those guys.

[Alicja]

Terri wrote: "I kind of do, yeah. But then I have known guys like him. (as I am sure we all have).
hard to get a laugh or a light moment out of them. I think Tancred is one of those guys."

Oh yeah, I do. Doesn't mean that I don't keep hoping that he'd lighten up, just for a moment. I like witty and dark humor banter during dire situations.

[Terri, Wyrd bið ful aræd]

Don't expect any witty, dark humour from him in book two. :)

[Alicja]

Terri wrote: "Don't expect any witty, dark humour from him in book two. :)"

Lol, wasn't going to. He really is one of those guys who just won't smile for anything.

[Jane]

Terri wrote: "I kind of do, yeah. But then I have known guys like him. (as I am sure we all have).
hard to get a laugh or a light moment out of them. I think Tancred is one of those guys."

He must be a Capricorn! :)

[Terri, Wyrd bið ful aræd]

In all seriousness..I suppose he is a soldier isn't he. Only a soldier from the 11th century. Suffering, most likely, from combat stress/ptsd.

I am sure the author didn't think that when he was writing it. lol. But Tancred has been through some battles, lost a lot in his young life.
In a modern world we'd expect him to be suffering from combat stress.

[Alicja]

Terri wrote: "In all seriousness..I suppose he is a soldier isn't he. Only a soldier from the 11th century. Suffering, most likely, from combat stress/ptsd.

I am sure the author didn't think that when he was wr..."

Not necessarily, not all combat veterans develop PTSD, there are increased risks but no studies show that everyone must develop them. Also, I think it would be a different mindset when one grows up with violence around them. The more violence is normalized since childhood, the less chance of developing PTSD. But I do think that his personality is devoid of quirks or even any exploration of how he deals with the violence. But I still haven't finished reading so there may be more...

[Terri, Wyrd bið ful aræd]

That's okay. I am familiar with ptsd. :)

I was only commenting on it in relation to Tancred as a soldier due to the way he is. I felt that considering what he had been through (including non battle trauma that I don't want to mention due to spoilers) and his acting depressed and morose all the time, that if he were a real life person, this may indicate ptsd.