The Waking Fire [Sept 1, 2018]

[Margret, Caladan Brood Face]

Sept 1, 2018

[Solseit]

I think I will re-read. I am going to dive into the third book in a couple of days but I will definitely want to re-read the whole series. I just cannot wait!

[Saar The Book owl]

Yes, I've got my copy!

[Terry]

I'm hoping to join for this.

[Bill]

I’m in. I have a copy on hold at the library so depending on when that comes in.

[Siobhan]

I might be a little late, but I'm in!

[Zuné]

I stared this a few weeks ago, but haven't really gotten anywhere, so I'm in!!

[Bill]

My library hold came in last night. I just read the first chapter and am hooked already.

[Solseit]

I will probably start tomorrow!!

[Terry]

I hope to start in a couple of days too.

[Laura]

Such a great crowd over here! I'm also in. :)

[Terry]

Laura wrote: "Such a great crowd over here! I'm also in. :)"

Terrific Laura!

So, how many others have read Anthony Ryan’s other series? I read the first two, but I haven’t read the third one yet. I really liked them, but have heard not so good reviews of the third. I’m looking forward to this series a lot though! I ended up buying the UK versions of this series because I couldn’t resist the awesome covers, lol.

[Anni]

Terry wrote: "Laura wrote: "Such a great crowd over here! I'm also in. :)"

Terrific Laura!

So, how many others have read Anthony Ryan’s other series? I read the first two, but I haven’t read the third one yet...."

I finished The waking Fire last month and ended up really liking it :) I also read Blood Song and Tower Lord but not the third book, because imo the second book wasn't as good as the first book and I heared the third was even worse...

I think Blood Song and The waking Fire are really different books, but I liked both and I hope you will too ;)

[Bill]

I read his other series and really liked it. The first book was the best and is one of my favorite books ever but I thought the rest of the series was still very good.

This series is extremely different right from the start.

[Terry]

Thanks, Sir Anni and Bill. I will eventually read that third book, and hope I enjoy.

I've read the prologue and first chapter of Waking Fire now, and I'm hooked. I've been careful not to read descriptions of this series or the back of the book, so it's all fresh. Very interesting (view spoiler)[ magic system with the dragon's blood. (hide spoiler)]

[Laura]

I'm starting this today also.
I loved Blood Song and found book 2 not as good in comparison. Book 3 was a complete dissapointment however and I could have done without it.
But then that's just my oppinion and I suppose it depends on what each and everyone of us is looking for in their books. That one just wasn't right for me.

[Zuné]

I loved Blood Song so much & it's clear that The Waking Fire is completely different in every way, but I'm really struggling to get into this book. I'm on chapter 5 & I'm trying my best to like it because I really want to, but it's just not happening. Am I insane??

[Bill]

Of course not. I felt hooked immediately after the prologue but then struggled with the few chapters I have read after that. For me at least it seems like he is introducing too much. I’m having a hard time grasping the bigger picture of the world.

[Saar The Book owl]

I'm not far into it, but I understand what Bill is saying. The author introduces too much, but doens't explain much, like why are people using dragon's blood? How did it come to that?

And is there also a bit of steampunk in it or something that looks like it?

[Choko]

I agree with you guys. Just up to Ch 4, but am still getting my bearings into the world. So far the easiest has been remembering the colors of the Drake's blood and what they effect. It reminds me of both Mistborn and Lightbringer series in that regard. It is harder to put all the players in the big picture...

[Choko]

Definitely some steampunk nuances 😊

[Terry]

I certainly see the Mistborn similarity, too (haven't read Lightbringer yet). It is a fascinating system so far though. As for the steampunk, I've not read any in that genre, so I'm curious to see how that develops.

[Bill]

I don’t know about steampunk. On the one hand there are steam powered boats but on the other hand I haven’t noticed any idiots with googles. That to me is a staple of steampunk.

[Choko]

Haha! Bill, there are all kinds of mechanical engineering drawings, blood propelled engines, weird mechanical devises, it is all of the genre. The idiots with gaggles are optional, in this case, and I am only up to Ch 6, Jeremaya and her father are the obvious ones 😀😀😀

[Bill]

Lol yup. Just what my sleep deprived mind thought was funny at the moment.

Jeremiah (view spoiler)[I like that this guy is basically Q from James Bond outfitting the spies with awesome gadgets to get them through their missions. (hide spoiler)]

[Choko]

This is exactly how I see him too😀. Up to Ch 11... I guess we get to travel a bit now, Adventure style...

[Terry]

Choko wrote: "This is exactly how I see him too😀. Up to Ch 11... I guess we get to travel a bit now, Adventure style..."

Haha, that was my first thought on Jeremiah also.

[Choko]

Up to Ch 20... Not sure if I like all those people getting killed... But I understand. Just getting to meet up with the Spoiled... Let's see who and how will survive...

[Choko]

Is it me, or does the nerative seem a bit choppy? There isn't any flow to speak of. I understand that it is a chosen style of storytelling, but I wish the author would let us get sweped by the story...

[Bill]

Just finished. I’m not sure why but this one never really fully grabbed me. Gave it 3 Stars.

(view spoiler)[the whole book I was wondering how the hell Hilemore fit into the story and that only vaguely gets answered in the last chapter.

The world never came into focus for me. I feel like we get glimpses through each of the povs but it wasn’t enough for it to give the whole scope of the world and how things fit together. I’m hoping we get more in the empire home continents in the sequels.

I liked the characters but didn’t love any of them. The dual betrayals of Bondersil and Silverpin were predictable and I think it would have had more of an impact for me if it had been just one of them.

My favorite element was probably the battles. I particularly enjoyed Lizzane’s heroics although it did feel like everytime she was in a pinch Jermayah came through with a new invention.

All together I think I liked it more than my comments here would reflect. I liked the story overall and each POV kept me interested just hoping for more fleshing out of details in the sequels. (hide spoiler)]

[Laura]

I've set this on hold to finish Cloud Roads and from your comments here it doesn't seem to look to great. 3 stars from Bill and Choko mentioning about choppy narative. (*sigh*)
Perhaps I should set it aside for later. I just got my reading mojo back after a reading slump and wouldn't want "meh" reads to drive me back straight into it again.

[Terry]

To offer a different perspective, I'm only about a quarter of the way into it, but I'm actually enjoying it. I'm fascinated and intrigued enough to be engaged. Like others have said, lots of info to digest to begin with, but I feel like it is interesting backstory that is building.

[Bill]

Choko wrote: "Is it me, or does the nerative seem a bit choppy? There isn't any flow to speak of. I understand that it is a chosen style of storytelling, but I wish the author would let us get sweped by the stor..."

Definitely choppy. I think the focus of the 3 povs were on completely different goals and that made it not merge together well.

[Siobhan]

Bill wrote: "I don’t know about steampunk. On the one hand there are steam powered boats but on the other hand I haven’t noticed any idiots with googles. That to me is a staple of steampunk."

Hahaha! That's how you know!

[Siobhan]

Sorry I'm late. I started today, up to chapter 5 (I think). So far I really like the writing style, and I'm very intrigued by the world and the magic system using the "product". I agree there has been quite a lot thrown at us with the 3 POVs so far, and I'm not really sure who everyone is yet, but I'm thinking I'll be OK after a few more chapters! XD

[Choko]

I finished, and although I expected more, I am still interested in continuing with the series. I hate that the one character I really liked is not going to be in the next book... Ooo well, the author decides those things and I have to go with it😶

[Bill]

Which character?

[Choko]

End of book spoiler (view spoiler)[ Silverpin! And he made her a pawn for the bad Drake... That kind of sucked for me...😐 (hide spoiler)]

[Bill]

(view spoiler)[that’s who I thought you were going to say. She reminded me of a more evil Ka-Poel from the Powder Mage series. (hide spoiler)]

[Choko]

Exactly! Me too and she is my favorite there too😊

[Siobhan]

Is anybody still reading? I'm up to chapter 11.

(view spoiler)[So far I like Clay's chapters best. His POV is most interesting to me by far, but I'm looking forward to more crossover between characters.
I like his cousin, Loriabeth, she seems like fun! (hide spoiler)]

[Terry]

I’m still reading. I think I’m on ch12 now. I agree

[Anni]

I'm not reading, but I'm still here to cheer you on 😂

[Siobhan]

Sir Anni wrote: "I'm not reading, but I'm still here to cheer you on 😂"

Haha thanks hun XD

[Terry]

Siobhan wrote: "Is anybody still reading? I'm up to chapter 11.

So far I like Clay's chapters best. His POV is most interesting to me by far, but I'm looking forward to more crossover between characters.
I like ..."

I meant to say that I agree with what you said. (view spoiler)[ I think Clay's POV is more fun, too. I really like the whole group of people that Clay is with in his group. They're pretty tough. And I love the dragons in this. (hide spoiler)]

[Choko]

The 🐉 are kind of scary and vulnerable at the same time. I actually feel really bad for them, since obviously humanity thinks of them as nothing but fule and money, but not living creatures...

[Terry]

Choko wrote: "The 🐉 are kind of scary and vulnerable at the same time. I actually feel really bad for them, since obviously humanity thinks of them as nothing but fule and money, but not living creatures..."

Too true. Definitely not surprising that humanity would take advantage of them where they could, especially considering (view spoiler)[ the amazing affects of their blood for some people. (hide spoiler)] They sound so majestic in the wild, though.

[Choko]

I know! I have always been obsessed with Dragons! And I am kind of rooting for them at this point of the story. Not the White one, but the others 😊

[Terry]

Choko wrote: "I know! I have always been obsessed with Dragons! And I am kind of rooting for them at this point of the story. Not the White one, but the others 😊"

Yes, I'm on team dragon as well! 🔥

[Siobhan]

Yes I hate the way dragons are treated! :( that's probably my least favourite part of the book so far. But there's always hope that could change right? Thought I doubt it(view spoiler)[ with how much they love the dragon blood/ product. It's like a drug! (hide spoiler)]

Terry you're right about Clay's group of people definitely. :)