Deverry--The Deverry Cycle: Introduction

[Candiss]

This is the introduction to the serial read of the Deverry Cycle by Katharine Kerr. The following information has been provided by Kathi, our intrepid series guide. From this point onward, Kathi and other participating members can post whatever threads they like. Thanks again to Kathi for leading the way! ~ Candiss, for the mods

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Welcome to the Deverry series read, and thanks for joining us!

Over the next several months, we will be reading the 15 books by Katharine Kerr that are identified as the the Deverry Cycle, in the order listed here.

Deverry (4 books): Daggerspell, Darkspell, The Bristling Wood, The Dragon Revenant

The Westlands (4 books): A Time of Exile, A Time of Omens, Days of Blood and Fire, Days of Air and Darkness

The Dragon Mage (3 books): The Red Wyvern, The Black Raven, The Fire Dragon

The Silver Wyrm (4 books): The Gold Falcon, The Spirit Stone, The Shadow Isle, The Silver Mage

Our discussion of the first book, Daggerspell will begin on April 1. In addition to the standard topics for "Planning to Read-No Spoilers" and "Finished-Spoil Away", there may be topics posted breaking the book into sections so we can discuss it as we go along. You can also feel free to add your own topics about particular characters, plot points, etc.

Thanks again for joining this discussion!

[Helen]

In the UK we have some different titles:
Deverry: 3- Dawnspell, 4- Dragonspell

Westlands: 3- A Time of War, 4- A Time of Justice

Hope that helps. I'm looking forward to this.

[Shel, Moderator]

Just requested Daggerspell from the library - I'm looking forward to this! I read the first few books when I was in high school and remember loving them, but I don't remember much else (besides one major plot idea).

[Elaine]

I quite enjoyed the first four, then there was a transition book or two and then the story picked up again. I really liked the Geld a Thae (sp) people - they were interesting. The author was doing unusual things with culture and clearly did homework on languages, culture, technology and stuff.

[Kathi, Moderator & Book Lover]

Thanks to Candiss for setting up the Topic and I will be posting the folders for the first book soon.

Thanks, also, to Helen for adding th UK titles. I will be sure to use those along with the US titles when I post the folders for those books. I like the UK titles better.

Like Shel, I had read several of the books long (LONG) age, maybe even the first 8. I'm about 1/3 into the first book and discovering that I remember very little.

[Ken]

I picked up the first two books. I have to finish Malazan. It's an itch that needs scratching. I suspect I will read Dagger between Dust and Crippled.

[Helen]

I read the first eight, many years ago. Don't remember much at all. I agree, Kathi, the UK names are better, more of a set group. Wondering whether to treat me to a kindle set.

[Kathi, Moderator & Book Lover]

Hello to the Deverry Series readers!

I have posted the folders for book 2, Darkspell.

In our previous Malazan discussion, the books were very long and the discussion needed to be broken down so we could comment as we went along.

At least initially, it appears that this series is not attracting the same kind of "ongoing" discussion, but I still want to allow for some "mid-book" discussion, so this month I am dividing Darkspell into two parts (rather than 4).

Please be aware when you add comments which topic you are in so that we don't have spoilers.

Also, please let me know if you like this pace (one book per month). I like it because we can keep moving along and I don't forget everything between books but we still have time to read other things between installments. However, I am open to suggestions.

Also please remember that you are welcome to add your own topics related to the books, if you want a more in-depth conversation about a particular character, the world-building, the dweomer, or anything else.

Thanks!!

[Shel, Moderator]

I like one book per month, even though I don't always manage to keep to the schedule - I usually don't chime in with the intermediate topics because I'm not always on pace with the rest of the group, but I do like reading them once I'm done :)

[Helen]

I'm starting the first one tonight, if I can stay awake.

[Kerry]

I didn't know there was a Deverry read going on. I started one for myself a while back and I think I'm up to book 7. I can't take time to reread the earlier ones (to many other group reads going on) but I'll be hanging out on the threads and will start reading again when the time comes. Yay!

[Kathi, Moderator & Book Lover]

Folders are posted for Book 3, The Bristling Wood, aka Dawnspell.

Join in the discussion! Which characters do you like? Who is driving you crazy? What surprised you, or disappointed you?

Thanks!

[Shel, Moderator]

Still waiting for my library loan to come in!

[Kerry]

By the way, can I highly remember Katharine Kerr's Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/Katharine-Ke...) as she often posts interesting and helpful things there.

Her most recent post says she has a publisher (DAW US) for the start of a new Deverry series, set considerably later than where this one (all 15 of them) finishes up.

[Kathi, Moderator & Book Lover]

Thank you, Kerry, for the link.

No worries, Shel, we will be on this book for 4 weeks and you know it's a quicker read than that.

Just a reminder to those participating in the group series read--for now we are doing one book every 4 weeks, so it works out to about a book per month. I am dividing the books in half for purposes of the discussion. I may adjust this as the series progresses if the books get a lot longer or if there is an outpouring of opinion from you, the participants. :)

[Kathi, Moderator & Book Lover]

Update from the Deverry Cycle moderator: Dividing the books into sections, either weekly or every two weeks, doesn't seem to be generating more discussion, so I think we will use the format that the BotM discussions use and just have a "Roll Call & First Impressions" folder and a "Finished Reading" folder for each of the books in the next arc. Then we can reassess if necessary.

Please feel free, as always, to let me know your opinions about that. Also, remember that you can always start a different discussion thread if there is a topic you want to discuss that does not fall into the typical threads.

Thanks!

[Shel, Moderator]

I think that makes sense! Thanks Kathi!

[Kerry]

That works for me.

[Kathi, Moderator & Book Lover]

Starting the 2nd arc of the Deverry Cycle later this week. Folders are up for the first book in this arc, 5th book overall, A Time of Exile.

[Helen]

I'm really behind. End of the year at school so I've been incredibly busy.

[Kathi, Moderator & Book Lover]

Helen wrote: "I'm really behind. End of the year at school so I've been incredibly busy."

No worries--the folders will remain open and the books are pretty quick reads. And we'll be reading the series for quite a while!

[Helen]

Lol. I'm off after Thursday so I'm going to catch up then.

[Kathi, Moderator & Book Lover]

On August 19, we will begin the discussion of the next book in the Deverry Cycle, book 2 in the Westlands arc, A Time of Omens. I'm putting up the folders now but I know I won't start reading this until after the Olympics conclude.

[Shel, Moderator]

Just requested it from the library, thanks for the reminder!

[Kathi, Moderator & Book Lover]

We will be starting the discussion of the next Deverry book, Days of Blood and Fire, aka A Time of War, on Friday, September 16. I will be putting the folders up today because I will be away most of next week.

Join us!!

[Shel, Moderator]

Requested from the library - shouldn't be long!

[Kerry]

Is the plan to start discussion for the next book (A Time of Justice for me) in the middle of October? This is where I'm coming back in to the series, and it means I'll be reading 4 series at a time with groups, not to mention trying to get in some reading of my own as well, so I need to juggle my reading plans.

Once we do start discussing it, will people mind if I ask for a refresher on things I might have forgotten from the earlier books? It was at the beginning of January last year (that's what, 20 months?) that I finished the previous book and I have a terrible memory.

[Kathi, Moderator & Book Lover]

Kerry wrote: "Is the plan to start discussion for the next book (A Time of Justice for me) in the middle of October? This is where I'm coming back in to the series, and it means I'll be reading 4 s..."

Kerry, I'm glad you will be joining us. We will start the discussion for the next book on October 14. I am doing 4 weeks per book. Because of other commitments, I probably won't put the threads up until that day. And yes, our next book is Days of Air and Darkness, AKA A Time of Justice. And please, feel free to ask questions about the earlier books that you read some time ago. I can't guarantee that I will know the answers, since my memory is also a sieve, but I can find out or someone else will surely chime in.

[Kathi, Moderator & Book Lover]

Folders are up for the next book in the Deverry Cycle series read, The Black Raven. Please feel free to jump in with comments, questions, even your own topics! Remember, all the discussion folders for previous books remain open, so you can comment even if you are not at the same point in the series as the "official" discussion.

[Helen]

Well I failed miserably at these, I found them so old-fashioned and they dropped stars. I tried being generous as I remember living them! If I can find really detailed reviews of the first eight, or summon up the enthusiasm, I'll catch up and post but don't hold your breath!

[Kathi, Moderator & Book Lover]

Helen wrote: "Well I failed miserably at these, I found them so old-fashioned and they dropped stars. I tried being generous as I remember living them! If I can find really detailed reviews of the first eight, o..."

Helen, this link has a summary of each book, not terribly detailed, though. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dever...

At that page, it appears there are links to the individual books, but only the first link works. It does contain a detailed synopsis of Daggerspell.

There is also this site, http://deverry.wikia.com/wiki/Deverry...
I did not take time to explore it, but there may be details about each book there.

I suppose the books, especially the early ones, seem old-fashioned partly because they were written over 20 years ago. I have found they get more complex.

Having said that, life is too short to read books in which you have no interest, so no worries if you choose not to join us.

[Helen]

Thanks Kathi, I'll investigate it. I didn't enjoy the second and its worried me in that I remember the series so fondly and don't want to tarnish it.

[Shel, Moderator]

Helen wrote: "Thanks Kathi, I'll investigate it. I didn't enjoy the second and its worried me in that I remember the series so fondly and don't want to tarnish it."

FWIW, the second one has been my least favorite so far. But I agree with Kathi, don't waste your valuable reading time on books that aren't grabbing your interest! If we all felt the same way about every book, there wouldn't be anything to discuss!

[Helen]

I noticed that ratings hsve crept up. I might have to try another and see.

[Kerry]

The second one is my least favourite as well.

[Helen]

I'm going to have to read three now.

[Kathi, Moderator & Book Lover]

The threads have been posted for the next Deverry book, The Fire Dragon. This is book #11 in the overall Deverry Cycle and the last book in the Dragon Mage arc.

There are 4 remaining books and they constitute the Silver Wyrm arc. We will finish the entire series in May 2017.

Please feel free to join in--the discussion threads for all the books remain open for you to read and comment.

Thanks! Enjoy!

[Spikeabell]

I have been reading and rereading this series for over 20 years! So, yes I have a soft spot for them. But recently I was thinking that Kerr has given us some great female characters that went on to develop far more than their initial archetypal roles.

[Kathi, Moderator & Book Lover]

The threads have been posted for our next Deverry book, The Gold Falcon. This book, #12 in the overall Deverry Cycle, is sometimes referred to as #4 in The Dragon Mage arc and sometimes as #1 in The Silver Wyrm arc. We are treating it as the beginning of the final arc, but it really doesn't matter in the overall scheme of things.

Please feel free to join in!! Thanks!

[Kathi, Moderator & Book Lover]

I will be posting the threads for the discussion of our next book, The Spirit Stone (The Silver Wyrm, #2), later today. The discussion officially begins 3/3/17, but I have a lot on my reading "to do" list and want to get them up--mostly so I can write my comments before I move on to the other books I am reading for March. (One of the benefits of being the discussion leader!)

Please join in!

[Kathi, Moderator & Book Lover]

Friday, 3/31/2017, we will be starting the discussion of the penultimate book in the Deverry Cycle, The Shadow Isle (Silver Wyrm, #3).

Whether you are reading along with me or are somewhere earlier in the series, please feel free to jump into the discussion at any point. All of the threads are open, and I'd love to hear what you have to say.

Thanks to all who have joined in for part or all of the series read. We are closing in on the finale.

[Shel, Moderator]

Just requested from the library!

[Kathi, Moderator & Book Lover]

Friday, 4/28/2017, we will begin our discussion of the final Deverry Book, The Silver Mage.

As always, the discussion folder and all the threads will remain open for current and future readers to peruse and comment.

Thank you to everyone who has journeyed with me through the times and lands of this series.