BS: Part 2

[Rob, Mayor of Ghost Town]

Part 2

Please keep all discussion and speculation to the events of the chapters of Part 2.

No spoiler tags required. Though it would be highly appreciated if you Uncheck Add to my Update Feed to avoid accidentally spoiling this for your good read friends.

Please do not discuss events from later chapters/books. Referring back to events from a previous section/book is fine.

[David Sven]

I find myself not having as much time to listen this last week as I normally would which is frustrating.

Anyway - I'm up to where Vaelin foils the attack on the fifth order Aspect. Most excellent. So there's hints that there was a secret or maybe banned seventh order? I wonder what they specialised in - Assassination? Poisons?

Also, he's met his bastard sister and stepmother? So I'm guessing his father started a new life with the other woman and wanted Vaelin back?

I like Frentis. So glad Vaelin vouched for him.

[Rob, Mayor of Ghost Town]

Yeah, that was my thinking. I don't recall mention of 7 orders, but we know there are 6.

And yeah I like Frentis as well.

[David Sven]

The assassins kept saying "Once there were seven" - I'm only guessing that it's referencing seven orders.

[Rob, Mayor of Ghost Town]

I knew what you were referring to. A seventh order would make sense, only since I don't know of anything else with 6.

[David Sven]

Yep - a seventh order specialising in the "Dark." And some secret leader biding his time.
The fight in the underground lair was cool. First time we've seen magic used so overtly I think.

So finished this part. Looks like Vaelin's sold his soul to the king. Also seems to me that the princess is scheming to gain more power for herself. Maybe rule as queen?

So am I reading this right - The king was suggesting that Vaelin kill the lord leading the regiment on a crusade to hunt denyers?

[Rob, Mayor of Ghost Town]

Underground lair? I think I know the part you mean, but I don't want to guess wrong.

And Yeah. The guy is the son of one of his more powerful nobles. His father is trying to use his popularity to gain power I think.

[David Sven]

Lol - my question was answered at the beginning of the next part :)

[Rob, Mayor of Ghost Town]

But aren't you glad to be discussing it? The Tower Lord threads are very lonely. :-(

[David Sven]

I'll get there eventually :)

[Rob, Mayor of Ghost Town]

David Sven wrote: "I'll get there eventually :)"

I'm looking forward to it!

[Conor]

David Sven wrote: "Yep - a seventh order specialising in the "Dark." And some secret leader biding his time.
The fight in the underground lair was cool. First time we've seen magic used so overtly I think.

So finis..."

I always thought Vaelin 'sold his soul' pretty cheaply here. I know he felt guilty but I thought that he would've been a lot more reluctant to become the king's hitman. Also Lyrna (the princess) is awesome.

[Rob, Mayor of Ghost Town]

That's a good point Conner. I felt the same way. A lifetime pledge? Then again, what price can you put on a human life?

But he certainly seems to be setting himself up to have to commit even worse acts.

[David Sven]

Conor wrote: "I always thought Vaelin 'sold his soul' pretty cheaply here. I know he felt guilty but I thought that he would've been a lot more reluctant to become the king's hitman."

It's probably the sort of thing his friends (and readers) can see better than himself.

[Sky]

Conor wrote: "David Sven wrote: "I always thought Vaelin 'sold his soul' pretty cheaply here. I know he felt guilty but I thought that he would've been a lot more reluctant to become the king's hitman."

Agreed - I am still loving the book so far but was disappointed with this particular turn of events. Vaelin is not naive yet after swearing to never kill an innocent, he gives himself to the King to make up for killing one man. I can see him causing slaughter of innocents on a much grander scale for the king - His father burned an entire city after all. This choice seems out of character with all his brooding over the man his father was and who he wants to be.

[Mpauli]

That princess is certainly creepy. She knew lots of things effortlessly, so she must have a well informed network in place.

I also thought that binding himself to the king that easily wasn't really necessary, on the other hand, boy have I done stupid things, when I was drunk and mopey, so maybe I shouldn't judge Vaelin too harsh.

And I like the idea of the seventh order. Who doesn't love a fanatical magic cult in his fantasy.

Now I wonder what role Caenis is going to play. Vaelin already hinted at something in the first part and again in this second part Caenis seems to hide something. At first I thought Caenis might be one of the seventh order himself with all his knowledge, but his surprise/anger at the traitor brother from the third order seemed genuine, so I guess there is something else up with him.

I also like the development with Nortah. It would have been quite easy, and boring, to make him into a Draco Malfoy adversary type, but the reluctant friendship thing is a great solution. I bet in the end Nortah might be closer to Vaelin -and more true- than Caenis.

And therefore my crazy speculation is -can't leave without one- that Caenis will end up killing Nortah somehow, while Nortah is sacrificing himself for Vaelin.

[Rob, Mayor of Ghost Town]

Mpauli wrote: "I also like the development with Nortah. It would have been quite easy, and boring, to make him into a Draco Malfoy adversary type, but the reluctant friendship thing is a great solution. I bet in the end Nortah might be closer to Vaelin -and more true- than Caenis."

Yeah, I found that refreshing too. Sort of a nod to the trope of "school rival" and then: nope.

And LOL at your crazy speculation.

[Suzanne]

Yes I agree - something is going on with Caenis - that glimpse of resentment we saw...hmm....

I like that there was another mention of a wolf howl at a crucial time.

That's a good point about Nortah - it is nice that he isn't an adversary. I really like the supporting cast. Even though we don't see a lot of them, they are pretty well developed!

I'm disappointed about Vaelin's vow to the king. It just seems so dangerous for him to make that, as you guys pointed out especially knowing what the king has done/ordered - he's almost certain to be asked to shed innocent blood at some point.

I'm reading slower than I'd like - I've been babysitting a lot and I read other books when the rugrats are around - ones that take less focus :)

[Rob, Mayor of Ghost Town]

Boo for distracting rugrats!

[Andreas]

Things turned more interesting in this part. I agree that the seventh order brings some spice and I enjoyed the excursion to other orders - I hope to see more of the other orders than just archetypical descriptions.

Speaking of architeypes, I found Nortah's character development refreshing.

The ugly side of this part was the encounter with the king. I fear pages of Vaelin whining when he does the ugly jobs he committed to.