Sons of the Shadows [Dec 3, 2017]

[Diana Stormblessed]

Ok, disregard my last theory. I listened a little further on the bus this morning and I now think (view spoiler)[ the baby brother is Kirin (sp?, sorry listening on audiobook so not sure about the spellings). Still eww. Still wondering who Raven Boy is. Only other guess would be the son of Red's friend. Can't remember his name right now. But not sure how that would change his ability to inherit? (hide spoiler)]

[Diana Stormblessed]

Iain wrote: "So far, other than what I said before, this story is pretty similar to the first one... Youngest child... healer... goes off to heal someone and starts telling a bunch of stories to pass the time...."

I agree with you that the stories are very similiar, especially in the beginning.

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

@Diana: I'm around 33%, so I started clicking spoilers...

35%: (view spoiler)[ I probably shouldn't have clicked this one, but it wasn't much of a spoiler... the Smith has been taking a turn for the worse since the voyage started... (hide spoiler)]

40%: (view spoiler)[I assume you are talking about Bran here... I think the uncle is the Druid that Niamh was hooking up with that everybody was freaking out about... even the Druid left horrified after getting an explanation... (hide spoiler)]

[Diana Stormblessed]

Iain wrote: "@Diana: I'm around 33%, so I started clicking spoilers...

35%: [spoilers removed]

40%: [spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[ You're right about the druid. I was jumping to conclusions but about 15 minutes (audio) past the point where I posted I'm now about 99% sure you're right. Still want to know who Bran is though. Any guesses? He has a mini temper tantrum and gives clues so let me know when you get there. I'm still at about 45% right now as I haven't had a chance to listen too much this morning so we we're probably around the same point. (hide spoiler)]

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

@Diana: There aren't too many people it can be, if it's going to link back to the first book... the only options I can think of are (view spoiler)[ the Uncle (which we've accounted for)... and the baby Sorcha helped birth for her friend (who's husband was crushed by a boulder protecting Sorcha for Hugh)... am I missing any others? (hide spoiler)]

[Diana Stormblessed]

Iain wrote: "@Diana: There aren't too many people it can be, if it's going to link back to the first book... the only options I can think of are [spoilers removed]"

That's what I put in my spoiler above, but then his animosity doesn't make sense to me. I'm sure they'll explain it all but I'd rather it be someone we haven't met in the first book. Otherwise it becomes too predictable with no mystery.

[Diana Stormblessed]

Is anyone else reading this book? This thread needs more comments lol

[Laura]

I've been reading it guys but the book was just too good to stop and post spoilers. :D I'm done with it by now and I loved it. I'm giving it a high 5 rating.

I was wondering about the same things at that time and @ Iain - I couldn't think of any others either.

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

@Diana: Most of my Buddy Reads have been a bit disjointed the past few weeks... Oathbringer is so long it screwed with so many people's schedules... and those it didn't seem to be behind because of different books...

Compared to the first book, this one has been going pretty fast for me... listened to the first 35% or so in one long stretch... will listen to more soon...

[Diana Stormblessed]

Iain wrote: "@Diana: Most of my Buddy Reads have been a bit disjointed the past few weeks... Oathbringer is so long it screwed with so many people's schedules... and those it didn't seem to be behind because of..."

I get it. I'm not really pushing you. Just poking a little so I have someone to discuss with :-)

[Sha]

All my comments are in one post.in retrospect, it was a bad idea.

[Diana Stormblessed]

64% Well that was disappointing. (view spoiler)[ Really? All breech births ARE difficult. All babies DO look the same. There's no way you're just going to GUESS a baby just because you delivered him. I'm sure Sorcha went on to deliver many more babies. I really doubt she remembers every detail of each of their faces. I really wished Bran was someone else. More interesting. This was just too predictable and kind of disappointing. (hide spoiler)]

[Sha]

Diana Stormblessed wrote: "64% Well that was disappointing. [spoilers removed]"

Yes. I was also disappointed (view spoiler)[by the instant baby recognition thingy. Newborns are all wrinkles and red skin they can't be identified by face! (hide spoiler)]

[Diana Stormblessed]

Guys, at the time of this book Sorcha is like early/mid 30s. (view spoiler)[I cannot picture being a grandmother by 35, or dying! Dying at 34/35! So tragic. (hide spoiler)]

[Diana Stormblessed]

Sha wrote: "Diana Stormblessed wrote: "64% Well that was disappointing. [spoilers removed]"

Yes. I was also disappointed [spoilers removed]"

I'm about 80% in. I will be opening your spoiler link tomorrow :-) I can't wait to hear other thoughts.

[Laura]

Sha wrote: "Nothing like a six hour journey to help finish a book in one sitting.

Mariller's prose is as wonderful as ever, but I have to admit I liked this book a little less than the first.

General Notes..."

I complete agree with all your comments. Felt quite the same.

What touched me the most was the (view spoiler)[whole broken made whole again part. Even though the storyline was predictable, that part I really loved. How Liadan brought Bran back and how both Bran and Red needed a mission to keep their sanity after going through trauma.

I also loved the way Liadan defied those forest spirits who would have eventually taken her child and put a changeling instead. I am curious who those old spirits are and what their agenda is. They must lay a big value on Bran as they wanted him to leave. Or perhaps they just wanted the baby out of the forest and safe with the Britons until he grows big.

I really loved the way the band reacted to little Jonny. "You have a baby!!!!" The uncles made him even new dresses and they were perfect babysitters. I love those guys! (hide spoiler)]

[Sha]

Laura wrote: "Sha wrote: "Nothing like a six hour journey to help finish a book in one sitting.

Mariller's prose is as wonderful as ever, but I have to admit I liked this book a little less than the first.

G..."

Yes!

(view spoiler)[I loved everything to do with Red after Sorchas death. That was so sad, and it made so much sense to hand him a lifeline. Life goes on, painful as it is. And people need help to make it go on.

And Sorcha dying. Combat coming back for a last goodbye. It's so stressful when time passes and the happiness of the characters grow into something else. I am so sad!

The painted men were so good. My heart broke at Rat and how he interacted with Johnny. And they made him clothes! Truly the best of uncles. :3 And they told stories to Bran so that he could come back. I am a total sucker for close non romantic relationships.

As far as I can see, the fae care exclusively about what they want, and like to keep everyone and everything else out of the way. Brans role was fulfilled once he and his Raven tattooed self got a seven waters girl pregnant. After that, it would be easier to kick him out and and have him not interfere in a potential prophecy child. In contrast, the old spirits don't seem to give a shit about the grand plan and hey just want their family and the people in it to be happy, and free from fae meddling. I don't think they are planning but rather acting on instinct. Ish. Not that I have valid proof for any of that.

(hide spoiler)]

[Diana Stormblessed]

Minor pet peeve, but how come after they find out the nameless people's real names they still call them by the names they made up? That annoyed me in book 1, too. After they found out Sorcha's real name, Red still kept calling her Jenny. And now Liadan keeps calling the painted man Bran even after she finds out his real name. I know I'm reading too much into it but to me it feels like they're holding on to their fantasies about the people and not acknowledging who they really are.

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

Didn't you notice how Red called Sorcha Jenny (view spoiler)[in THIS book when telling Liadan about baby Bran?... such a weird decision (hide spoiler)]

It also makes things confusing going back and forth between Hugh and Iuldan as they do...

I finished by the way: (view spoiler)[it's weird how these books get to the end and give a vague idea of future events, then just end... then we pick up 20 years later and have to wait for some characters to fill in the blanks of what went according to plan and what didn't... (hide spoiler)]

This was a much faster read than the last one for me... and not just because I sped up the audiobook... without the swans to worry about, I didn't feel the same sense of doom and gloom to it all...

[Diana Stormblessed]

Iain wrote: "Didn't you notice how Red called Sorcha Jenny [spoilers removed]

It also makes things confusing going back and forth between Hugh and Iuldan as they do...

I finished by the way: [spoilers removed..."

Yes! I did! It's so weird and it it were me it would bug the hell out of me. Like being called by an ex girlfriend's name.

And yeah, it took me probably a good 1/4 the book to figure out that Iuldan was Hugh. Seriously, how many names can 1 man have?

I'm at 87%. Almost done and I can open all your spoilers :-)

[Diana Stormblessed]

Sha wrote: "Nothing like a six hour journey to help finish a book in one sitting.

Mariller's prose is as wonderful as ever, but I have to admit I liked this book a little less than the first.

General Notes..."

Ok, finished so going through past spoilers. Your #6. This is what bothers me about these books. Both of them. This one more so. It's SO predictable. And it overplays the sappiest of themes. Overall, I thought the book was great up until it started revealing who everyone was. Then it just became slow and started to drag for me. There was nothing exciting left. Even (view spoiler)[ Having Bran near death was just blah for me, cuz I knew she would save him. This book used every romance cliche possible (including virgin getting pregnant the first time she has sex troupe) and I had 0 expectation that JM would kill off the love interest. (hide spoiler)]

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

I've read a couple hundred romances... contemporary & paranormal... and for awhile they were light, enjoyable reads... but these days I'm not in the mood for them anymore... at least for the time being... so I agree about the (view spoiler)[ predictability of it all...

I've also read the blurb for the next book, and this book seems to have all been misdirection... the 3rd book follows Fainne, daughter of Niamh and Ciaran... (hide spoiler)]

[Laura]

Sha wrote: "Laura wrote: "Sha wrote: "Nothing like a six hour journey to help finish a book in one sitting.

Mariller's prose is as wonderful as ever, but I have to admit I liked this book a little less than ..."

I loved that too Sha. But regarding the old spirits (view spoiler)[I think they do want the safety of that child also for some other reason. Perhaps they will be able to come to life also through him. After all, Liadan is the only one who heeded them. Not even Sorcha saw or heard them. She was all mixed up with fairy folk only right? I'm waiting to find out about it in the next book. And I hope the uncles will be there too. :)

And speaking about uncles - I'm a sucker for non-romantic love relationships also. I really loved them - tough guys with a soft heart! Kind of wish I had that kind of babysitters for my little ones also. :) (hide spoiler)]

[Laura]

Iain wrote: "Didn't you notice how Red called Sorcha Jenny [spoilers removed]

I finished by the way: [spoilers removed..."


About the names, I remembered it said in the beginning that Red had never called Sorcha on another name but Jenny. And regarding Bran, I think Liadan kept calling him on that name because (view spoiler)[he was not ready to take up his true name at that moment because of the fucked up past and all that. And it seems sort of right to me.

But then I am a bit of a mushy romantic and neither me nor my husband are calling each other with our names but with pet names that we somehow acquired when we first met. Never our own names. Even now, after 18 years of marriage, we keep using the same pet names except when introducing each other to other people. This quirk seems natural to both of us and everybody around us got used to it by now. (hide spoiler)]

[Laura]

Regarding things that don't fit, I found just one that really grated in the last paragraph.

(view spoiler)["Well done, Daughter, breathed the voices of my ancestors. OK, bravely done." - I mean seriously: the ancient spirits would say OK????! (hide spoiler)]

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

When Liadan wondered on where she heard "red in morning, shephard's warning, read at night, shephard's delight"... I was reminded of how my scottish great-grandparents used to say that...

[Sha]

Laura wrote: "Regarding things that don't fit, I found just one that really grated in the last paragraph.

[spoilers removed]"

:D it's oh, bravely done in my copy. Maybe it's a typo?

Regarding names; I have to say that it doesn't really bother me as much because it works like cutesy nicknames.

I'm all there for extensive involvement by the old ones. Anything which lessens or dampens fae influence is a good thing in my book.

@Diana; I liked try first one better because of the Fairytale themes and the platonic relationships and all, but I got a little less interested in the second half once he romance took over the plot. I agree. These books use some really predictable romance tropes and don't try to subvert them, which means that as well written as it is I can't really get that much into the story.

It also bothered me that (view spoiler)[after a book of "daughter of seven waters stays at sevenwaters" Liadan is all "my home is where you are" to Bran. I get that her mother and uncle died and her home changed, but gah. Idk. It rubbed me the wrong way.

This book also wasn't as intense about sibling relationships as the last one. I just get really angry when I think of how Niamh was treated by her entire family. So angry. Even Liadan had to have an "oh shit I fucked up bad" moment before she started to help her. I get that Niamh is annoying, but if she had received even HALF the understanding Diarmid had received for his (considerably more wtfy) actions that entire mess could have been avoided.
(hide spoiler)]

[Sha]

When do we start Child of the Prophecy?

[Laura]

Typo does make sense Sha. But in a paperback?! It's still a 5 star read for me regardless.

Should we start book 3 on same 3rd of Jan? I was thinking we may continue with the series on the same date till the end if that's ok with everyone.

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

That's my default assumption these days, Laura... January is going to be crazy for me, but I'd like to stick to the same date, as well...

[Sha]

I'm mostly free of reading commitments in January. :D I'm fine with the 3rd.

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

Quit bragging :)

[Mayim]

Anyone still reading? I am terribly late with this one, but I want to continue with the series.

[Laura]

I was thinking we had the books scheduled each month on the 3rd Mayim so I already set them that way on my BR Tracker. I definitely want to continue with the series. Should we leave them that way?

I have less time these days to come on GR but I am reading and I'll try to keep you company if you're starting this one now.

[Mayim]

Laura wrote: "I was thinking we had the books scheduled each month on the 3rd Mayim so I already set them that way on my BR Tracker. I definitely want to continue with the series. Should we leave them that way? ..."

you are a sweetheeart but this is a difficult time so I will read alone to catch up with the group. hopefully, I will be right on time with the next book!

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

I'm always lurking... waiting to comment when I have something to add...

EDIT: sometimes my avatar is mighty appropriate :)

[Choko]

Better late than never 😀... Just started so I can catch up with the cool kids!

[Mayim]

Clearly, I am the odd one out this time. Didn't really enjoy this part of the story.

[Diana Stormblessed]

Mayim wrote: "Clearly, I am the odd one out this time. Didn't really enjoy this part of the story."

I didn't like this one as much as the first, but I still want to see where the 3rd one takes us.