BS: Part 4

[Rob, Mayor of Ghost Town]

Part 4

Please keep all discussion and speculation to the events of the chapters of Part 4.

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.

[Rob, Mayor of Ghost Town]

Just a warning that my next post is likely to spoil the end of this section as that's where I was today and I want to get some thoughts down.

[Jake]

Do it! I'm ready to talk about that ending.

[Rob, Mayor of Ghost Town]

I like some of the revelations about the 7th order and reveal of the "big bad" that's been hinted at. First with one eye and later with the usurper.

I feel like one of his brother's will be involved somehow, though I have no clue which. I hope I'm wrong though as that seems too predictable.

I think the lore and mysteries surrounding the order are the most compelling part for me.

It was nice to see Vaelin and Sharon (or whatever her name is). We know though that he's going to leave her.

I hope she shows back up in the next book though.

[Rob, Mayor of Ghost Town]

Jake wrote: "Do it! I'm ready to talk about that ending."

That was more a warning for David in case he wanders in here at the beginning of this part.

[David Sven]

Thanks for the warnings guys. Coming in here with only one eye open.

Anyway - The king sucked for forcing Vaelin to go to war by threatening his sister. Vaelin's father being involved with the deniers is interesting though.

The king sucks even more for promising the battle lord with Vaelin's life. I'm not sure if that was the deal or if the king gave Al Hestian permission to put Vaelin in the most dangerous and vulnerable positions in the campaign, but maybe hoping Vaelin would live to be a more fearsome tool than ever.

[Rob, Mayor of Ghost Town]

The King is ruthless.

We know very little about Vaelin's father really. I wonder what turns to the deniers. Was it the real reason he resigned as battlelord? Or is the King making it all up to leverage Vaelin?

[Conor]

I thought the king was an awesome character, one of the most compelling antagonists I've read in fantasy for a long time. He was a great study in the ruthlessness needed to rule a nation especially one as threatened as the one in this book.

I also thought Janus' decision to go to war was awesome. Rather than just the typical 'evil emperor want to conquer the world' Ryan developed a complex political situation and presented Janus as just being determined to keep his nation safe. I was really disappointed by Vaelin's apathy towards the whole situation and his refusal to take part in the war even when Janus showed him how it was the only way to prevent their country from falling apart in a bloody civil war. But Vaelin was all like 'meh'. Then Janus has to pull out some dastardly villain schtick with the whole 'I have your family' bit so that Vaelin isn't forced to make a complicated moral and philosophical decision

[David Sven]

Conor wrote: "I thought the king was an awesome character, one of the most compelling antagonists I've read in fantasy for a long time. He was a great study in the ruthlessness needed to rule a nation especially..."

Oh yes. Definitely ruthless and a great character. He reminds me a little of King Alfred in Cornwell's Saxon Stories - only maybe more ruthless.

[David Sven]

I'm guessing that "Carpenter" who burned the masons shop down was possessed by "the one who waits." He seems to be jumping bodies. The block of stone that Vaelin was carving maybe identified who he would be or possess when he finally stops waiting.

Note to self - don't put Vaelin's girlfriend in chains.

[Rob, Mayor of Ghost Town]

Didn't he say he felt the statute was someone familiar? Or that he felt sure it would be someone familiar?

[David Sven]

Rob wrote: "Didn't he say he felt the statute was someone familiar? Or that he felt sure it would be someone familiar?"

Yes. I wonder who.

[Rob, Mayor of Ghost Town]

So you theory then is the possessing someone he knows then?

[David Sven]

Rob wrote: "So you theory then is the possessing someone he knows then?"

Yes - or maybe someone he's going to possess.

[Conor]

David Sven wrote: "I'm guessing that "Carpenter" who burned the masons shop down was possessed by "the one who waits." He seems to be jumping bodies. The block of stone that Vaelin was carving maybe identified who he..."

No one puts baby/ Vaelin's girlfriend in a corner/chains (okay that reference was kind of a stretch)

Also why can none of us remember the name of Vaelin's girlfriend in this thread (Sharon? Shannon?Mary?).

[David Sven]

Conor wrote: "Also why can none of us remember the name of Vaelin's girlfriend in this thread (Sharon? Shannon?Mary?).

Ha Ha! The disadvantage of Audio is not knowing how to spell names :)

[Mpauli]

Conor wrote: "Also why can none of us remember the name of Vaelin's girlfriend in this thread (Sharon? Shannon?Mary?). "

She is called Sherin.

I've finished the book, so I put my final thoughts in part V.