The Core (Demon Cycle #5)

[Sarah]

The Core is the last book in the Demon Cycle series. A number of us will be reading it in September.

Feel free to join in!

[Sarah]

Any preference on dates?

[Peggy]

Yay!

I don't mind when we start. Early September would be better for me as I'm away for 4 days later (21-24) and can't take the book with me. But no worries if we read it later, I'll just have to put it on hold for a few days.

[Jannene]

I prefer early September as well since we have Labor Day off, more time to read, hopefully. I have my father in law and husband’s birthdays on the 1st and 5th. :)

[Cherie]

It does no matter to me, so I will go with the majority. :o)

[Sarah]

Early September is also good for me.

[Margo]

Doesn't make a lot of difference, just let know ;-)

[Cherie]

I bought the book today, so I am ready to start. Let me know!

[Jannene]

It is almost September!!!

[Peggy]

It is! I almost forgot!

When shall we start? Would the 3rd work for everyone?

[Margo]

3rd is good for me Peggy.

I am so looking forward to this book but I'm also a little sad to be finishing the series :-( I have really enjoyed reading the series with you guys. It was a great idea (Peggys I think?) to read the entire series within a year. I have a habit of starting a series and never completing it. Mind you, there are so few fantasy series that are complete!

[Peggy]

It definitely helps that this series was finished before we started. I tend to forget a lot of details when I leave too much time between books, so I also really enjoyed reading them with a few months in between.

[Cherie]

The 3rd is good for me. I just finished a ZZ challenge book and I am now going to finish my last Freida Klein series book that I have been waiting to get to.

[Sarah]

That's good for me. I'll put my other book on hold for this one. I'll have to take a photo and upload it of my signed hardback. :-)

[Jannene]

It is good with me. I’m on vacation the first week of September. So, this will work perfectly.

[Peggy]

I read the prologue and the first chapter. I feel sucked in right away!

(view spoiler)[ So we know what a swarm is now. Doesn't sound too good! Great thing they warded the demon, although I don't know how they could convince/force him to lead them to the core.

Can you believe I had forgotten Rojer had died until they pulled out his coffin? I was shocked all over again!

And the baby being both girl and boy.. that's an interesting development.. (hide spoiler)]

[Esther]

Peggy wrote: "
(view spoiler)[
Great thing they warded the demon, although I don't know how they could convince/force him to lead them to the core.

I figure that if it got him closer to the core, where he wanted to be, that was an incentive. And probably thinks that he have a chance to turn things around.

One thing I like in this one is that we have the demon POV.
(hide spoiler)]

[Sarah]

I've read the same as you Peggy. (view spoiler)[I had remembered Rojer but forgot about Thamos but for some reason I feel he isn't dead.

The demon POV is good although slightly more confusing, or at least at the moment. I'm sure it will feel more familiar with more chapters read from his POV.

Definitely an interesting development on the sex of the baby. So will the Krasians come sooner or later? Will he be viewed as a demon? Will they choose a sex for the baby? Will they pass it off as Thamos'?

(hide spoiler)]

An exciting start. Well, I'm excited to get started with the book. But it also pulls you in straight away.

[Cherie]

I read to the first break in Chapter 3.

Whew! Prologue (view spoiler)[the author didn't miss a beat from where he ended the last book, did he? I'm not sure that I understood it all but I'm not going to worry about it. (hide spoiler)]

Ch 1 and 2(view spoiler)[I can't imagine having to walk through a receiving line while I was in labor, but Leesha did it! I'm still absorbing the birth and the baby. (hide spoiler)]

[Margo]

I will start today. I don't suppose this will impact on my enjoyment of the story but my audio book cover pictures the most unscary demon I could imagine:

[Peggy]

Haha, I have the same cover (paperback) Margo. I'm going to use it for the black cover task in the ZZ challenge, so I'm happy I have this one.

[Sarah]

My hardback version has that image on the dustjacket but underneath is the beautiful lady that I assume is Leesha (dressed in blue).

[Sarah]

I am pleased to get to see what the demon looks like. The books have done well to describe what each of the demons look like. I have vivid images in my head but it's also god to see what the author intended for at least this demon that we get to know in this final book.

[Cherie]

Cool cover, Margo. My ebook has the lady in blue for the cover.

Re Rojer (view spoiler)[I did not remember either until Leesha indicated the coffin. (hide spoiler)]

[Sarah]

I'm fully immersed now. I'm somewhere in chapter 6 (view spoiler)[these painted children are a handful. I am fearful that something will happen. Or Briar will be able to bring them around. I guess we'll find out. I really don't like the tender that has joined them. He seems to be stirring things up. (hide spoiler)] I'll come back and comment more tomorrow. Today has been a long day. I'm loving it though.

[Peggy]

I finished chapter 5. I don't like (view spoiler)[ the children at all. I think they're more than a handful Sarah, they seem really dangerous. It's like a cult, encouraging each other to go further and further, eating demon flesh and having an orgy as a result. Brett's sex writing still/again/already makes me uncomfortable. I have cringed at several scenes already.

Poor Briar though! Lol! He had no clue what was happening to him that first night with Stela. I always thought he was 10-12 years old, but I think it's more like 16-19. I worried he would join them but I'm glad he got out again just in time and will not change but remain the Briar we know. (hide spoiler)]

[Margo]

I'm not finding much time for reading at the moment but I did get to listen to the prologue

(view spoiler)[ it was pretty confusing listening to the demons thoughts. It was all "the explorer" this and "the hunter" that. Not only have the struggle with memory that a follow-on book aways creates, I had to work out what title he was for each character aswell! The audio was very fast paced so that was difficult.
It was a cool idea to paint wards directly onto the demon. As he said himself, imprisoned in his own body - for now :O (hide spoiler)]

[Sarah]

Definitely Peggy. Perhaps I was going easy on them (view spoiler)[it does feel very cultish and they're getting caught up in the power they get from killing demons. And follow ing the canon of Arlen and Renna even when most of what they are following is probably just rumour as it didn't come from them itself. That's why I think this tender is trouble. He wasn't that high up in his church so he's decided to make his own branch and create followers. Curious how old he is. Yes they are dangerous.

To be fair, I think most sex scenes in books are cringe worthy. I don't think I've ever read one and thought "ooh, that was a really good sex scene. It was so well written". Lol. I think I expect to feel uncomfortable and so I don't really see them as bad.

I really felt for Briar when he overheard Stella talking about their encounter. I can see why he was lured in to the pack but he was right, he's different to them. I'm pleased he broke free but seems that he will have to go back to get them to meet with Leesha.

I'm loving how all the people are merging together and the cultures are blending. How the skills of each culture are being shared too in order to fight the demons. It feels right some how.

Love that Hollow County is growing and becoming it's own entity. I'm sue Euchor will not like it.

I see Elona is the same. She does make me laugh though. She is so forward with Gared. He's got a good woman though in Rosal it seems. I like here. The conversation between her, Leesha and Wonda about getting Gared to do his paperwork had me in stitches. (hide spoiler)]

[Jannene]

I’m finishing up a couple books and will get to this in a day or two.

[Margo]

Got sucked right into the story last night and am at the end of chapter 4 so it's time to take a look at some spoilers :-D
(view spoiler)[ what a surprise about the sex of Leeshas baby! I didn't see that one coming. I thought it was going to part demon or something, not The Delivered =-O Wondering how the other pregnancies will turn out. (hide spoiler)]

[Margo]

Cherie wrote: "I read to the first break in Chapter 3.

Whew! Prologue [spoilers removed]

Ch 1 and 2[spoilers removed]"

Haha Cherie, good point (view spoiler)[ the receiving line must have been torture! (hide spoiler)]

Re Rojer (view spoiler)[ I had remembered Rojers death because it was such a shock but I forgot Thomas. Is whats her name dead, Jardirs first wife? I can't believe I have forgotten so many names in such a short time! And the ones I haven't forgotten, I can't rememer how to spell! (hide spoiler)]

[Peggy]

Margo, I don't think (view spoiler)[ Inevera (Jardir's first wife) is dead. I do remember a lot of other people died in book 4, but I don't think she was one of them. I could be wrong though! (hide spoiler)]

[Peggy]

Sarah wrote: "Definitely Peggy. Perhaps I was going easy on them it does "

(view spoiler)[ I think you're right about the tender. It feels indeed like because he was never high up in church, he has become involved with the children to become their leader.

I agree about sex scenes, I usually cringe when they become explicit. To be honest, most of the book I read don't have explicit sex scenes, it's usually more implied and not vividly described, so maybe it's because I'm not so used to it. But I find Brett often writes it in a quite explicit and banal (is that a word?) way while it doesn't add to the story, and sometimes it was just plain weird like he was writing out his own fantasies or something.

I also like that the different cultures are all united and starting to see that they have one common enemy. I also like that Ragen has returned to the story. I always liked him a lot and hope he has a more prominent role in this one. (hide spoiler)]

[Sarah]

Peggy(view spoiler)[Yes the sex scenes are more explicit and carnal but then their time seems that way so to me it fits. I remember reading a book which had really explicit language in it but the world and what the people were living with was in your face and harsh too so again it fit. Oh and banal is a word!

I like Ragan too. I think everyone is going to play their part in this one as everything comes together. Arlen always rejected that he was the delivery but that everyone is the deliver. I reckon we'll see that more and more in this book. (hide spoiler)]

[Cherie]

I did not get a chance to read any more in this one last night. I wanted to finish my ZZ challenge book to apply for my badge. Done now, so I can skip between The Core and my monthly challenge book.

[Sarah]

Oh my! Just finished chapter 12. (view spoiler)[Hasik has lost it too. He's know castrating everyone. I see his point. No one can look down on him. Every man is equal. Interesting how he is casting off some of the laws. Expanding his diet. Bringing chin in to the mix. Seems to be treating the slaves ok-ish. At least the women get a better deal anyway without the fear of being raped. Whilst I hate Hasik and how he's treating Abban, I could of admire some of the ways he's softened and being more open.

Poor Abban. How he gets through that I don't know. Hasik has started to heal him inbetween the breaking of bones now and even using his services. Odd little relationship there.

I really like how gender roles are changing too, not just each culture taking on things from the others. So women fighting, men using hora magic. Also did jongleurs only used to be men? I can't remember. But now Kendal has been awarded her license.

The confrontation between leesha and stella was explosive. Locking them up is a good move but I'm sure the other children will come now. So frustrating that they're fighting amongst themselves. Same for the Krasians over the throne.

I've enjoyed catching up with all the groups. In particular Inevera and the spear sisters. Curious how things will pan out with Amanivah and Sikvah returning. And Asome still alive! Love all the new wards that have been put in place around the palace. The wards and the hora magic seem to be building. Everyone is growing more powerful (hide spoiler)]

[Cherie]

I finished reading chapter 3 at lunch time. That was a lot of information! I really admire Arther. (view spoiler)[I think I am going to miss Amanvah. It looks like Rosal is going to be a more major player. I loved how she stood up to Elona! What a mouth that woman has! The sex banter was a little embarrassing, but not over the top, I guess. I have never heard the "climbing the tree" banter. Am I too old? It will be interesting to see how Kendall is going to come out as Rojer's replacement. I am interested to see what Leesha is going to do with The Children. (hide spoiler)]

[Peggy]

I think Brett has made up (view spoiler)[ expressions, about sex but also some other ones. Or do you regularly use the sentence 'to drain someone's seedpods'? *I need a a specific type of emoticon here*

That's what I thought at least, but as English is not my native language I could be wrong. (hide spoiler)]

[Sarah]

You're right Peggy. He's made up slang terms, cuss words, and regular expressions for the different cultures (view spoiler)[sexual acts included (hide spoiler)]

[Cherie]

Peggy wrote: "I think Brett has made up (view spoiler)[expressions, about sex but also some other ones. Or do you regularly use the sentence 'to drain someone's seedpods'? *I need a a specific type of emoticon here*. That's w (hide spoiler)]..."

Oh, I am falling off of my chair laughing, Peggy! (view spoiler)[you are right about that one too. I definitely have never heard it! I guess he could have made them up. That remindes me about the comment from Elona about olives at the end of chapter 2. I really stopped and thought about that, but did not know what to say. (hide spoiler)]

[Margo]

Peggy wrote: "Margo, I don't think [spoilers removed]"

Thanks Peggy, (view spoiler)[ she is probably pregnant - everyone other woman is :-P (hide spoiler)]

Re chapter 3: the banter was really funny but Peggys comment has me in knots with laughter LOLOLOL

[Margo]

Chapter 5 (view spoiler)[ The painted children are nasty! To say they are like animals is demeaning to animals. Good for Briar for standing up to them - looks like he has made a powerful enemy there!
Some nasty sex going on too. At least the has writen his bad sex scenes it involve bad people this time lol (hide spoiler)]

[Sarah]

Following on from my chapter 12 spoiler (view spoiler)[Margo is right. Everyone is pregnant. God knows what Renna and Arlen's one is going to be like when it comes. Providing Renna/it survives the core.

It's good that Jardir and Arlen are going to make some stops to warn people of the swarms. Curious how the reunions are going to go. I hope they are not goodbyes. Starting to worry about who is going to survive this final battle. (hide spoiler)]

[Peggy]

Not related to the book, but I've really enjoyed reading this entire series with (almost) the same group of people, with a few months in between books.

It would be nice to do it again, with another (fantasy) series, if anyone's up for that?

[Sarah]

A big yes! We'll have to find something that takes all our fancy. Maybe we could discuss ideas in the buddy read thread.

[Peggy]

Great!

Yes, I was thinking the same. Or perhaps set up a separate thread, because I think it would take quite a few posts and some time to decide. I can set up something for it tomorrow, assuming more people would like to do this.

[Jannene]

I’m starting (my book cover) today. I finished my two books. ;)

[Jannene]

Peggy wrote: "Great!

Yes, I was thinking the same. Or perhaps set up a separate thread, because I think it would take quite a few posts and some time to decide. I can set up something for it tomorrow, assuming ..."

Sounds interesting. Please don’t pick Game of Thrones. LOL

[Peggy]

Lol, I'd say that's too chunky and too unfinished ;-)

[Cherie]

I just finished chapter 5. That was a long one. Briar is quite the character. I admire him and feel sad for him at the same time. He is stuck between a rock and a hard place. Everyone wants to use him.

I will adds some more thoughts about the chapter tomorrow. I'm really tired and going to bed now.