The Core (Demon Cycle #5)

[Sarah]

Re your upto chapter 32 spoiler Margo (view spoiler)[I believe Milny was having an affair with one of the Counts but I can't remember the full details. I know one of the Counts was being given a herb to stop him conceiving which is linked too. Anyway, Leesha spirited her away for safe keeping as the child if known about would have been under threat. And so it meant a lot when Ariane saw her. There is an heir after all. (hide spoiler)]

[Margo]

Thanks Sarah. I thought that might be what was going on but I get confused with so many characters.

[Jannene]

Chapters 20-23
(view spoiler)[I liked the chapters with Ragen and Ellisa. I always liked Ragen.

Ashia’s empathy toward Briar is heartwarming. I hope she doesn’t turn on him. (hide spoiler)]

[Jannene]

Sarah wrote: "I've read some more. I'm in chapter 16 Hasn't Renna changed?! She has definitely grown up and is less annoying."

Also, no declarations of love so far so I'm guessing you'll be pleased Jannene!

Yes!! I do love that part. Although we did hear that once but it was just once. :)

I agree with what you mentioned about Renna.

[Peggy]

I also finished ch 32. So much is happening everywhere! It's really hard to put down.

[Sarah]

Isn't it Peggy! I read a huge chunk yesterday. It's a long book but a quick read i feel.

[Peggy]

I was also surprised by how far along I suddenly am.

Love the title of ch 33! (view spoiler)[ I'm sure it refers to the hatchlings at the end, but it's so fitting for Elona too. Man, she was mean! I don't get why Erny loves her so much. It actually lowers my respect for him. There's nothing that indicates she's ever nice to him.

And how weird must it be to deliver your mother's baby?! And that Selen is Olive's aunt, even though she's 3 months younger. I like what the dice foretell about her. (hide spoiler)]

[Sarah]

Yes i agree Peggy about your ch 33 spoiler (view spoiler)[great chqpter title. Yes she knows how to get under people's skin. Leesha has got a lot better at handling her though. And i think elona respects her more for it. I don't get the attraction for elona either. I can't imagine having a sex or size of penis conversation with your own father like Leesha and erny did. Made me smile and cringe at the same time. (hide spoiler)]

[Cherie]

I just finished ch 25 and 26. I'm stopping to switch books. (view spoiler)[ Dang, this guy has a great imagination! I had no idea what they were going to encounter once they entered the underground, but it certainly has been full of surprises. I had a question in chapter 25. -Just after they fought the mind demon guarding the vent. Why did Renna say"Good thing there ent any demons down where we're going."? Does she mean no "regular" demons, what the Consort calls drones? The other place I bookmarked was when the consort was feeling embarrassed about being captured by - mammals. LOL!
I feel like I'm holding my breath, worrying when the Consort is going to get loose, the whole time I'm reading. (hide spoiler)]

I've been home sick from work the last couple of days. Not reading so much as listening to audiobooks while I doze. Was up and out a little today, but I don't have my laptop to read the spoilers. I will catch up on Monday.

[Peggy]

Cherie, I can't look it up right now, but wasn't she being sarcastic?

[Sarah]

I think she was being sarcastic too. It made me chuckle.

[Margo]

Yeah, I think sarcasm. I still can't get over how un-annoying Renna is in this book!

I hage to agree with you about Bretts imagination. It is impressive!

[Sarah]

I like that the characters have their faults. It makes them more characterful and realistic. Also that we see a progresdion of these characters, maturing, compromising, softening, strengthening, gaining confidence and courage. Again, more realistic.

Brett's imagination - the world, demons, wards and characters he creates, is why this is my favourite fantasy series.

[Sarah]

I'm in chapter 38 (view spoiler)[I'm not sure what happened where now. So much is happening. I couldn't believe it when I found out the Leesha etc had been duped by Pawl. I had some suspicions about him but then I changed my mind when he arrived in the Hollow with Ariane. But Leesha did a switcheroo, leading the demons on to get closer to them and then for the others to turn up, break down the ward net and kill them all. That was awesome team work and forethought. Risky though. I really enjoyed these chapters.

I'm liking Inevera embracing the chin now too. She has brought the Laktonians in as an additional tribe of the Krasians. She mentions that Sharak Sun is over and everyone is united now in Sharak Ka. Which is good. United against a common enemy. I'm also pleased that it's out who Inevera's mother is and that she is being treated with the respect she deserves and not a khaffit.

I'm nervous about Jardir etc in the core. I left off with a cave in with Arlen dissipating to go find Jardir who was trapped on the other side. Will Arlen return from the core? Is Jardir ok? How will they reunite with Shanvah, Shanjat and Renna? The fight with their captive demon was expected but nonetheless terrifying. He proper did a number on Shanvah so I'm pleased Renna was able to heal her. I'm curious about Shanjat. Seems he remembers some of what was going on in the demon's mind and may be able to guide their way from now on. I also feel there potentially could be some improvements with him. I guess time will tell.
(hide spoiler)]

[Peggy]

Sarah, ch 38: (view spoiler)[ did pawl really dupe them? I understood it was the mind/mimic demons at work, so Pawl can't be blamed. I was confused about how the painted children got into the city, as it already was really hard to get Leesha and the three others in.

I'm sad Sikvah has died. I wonder if Asukaji had something to do with it. It hasn't been explained, what happened to her. (hide spoiler)]

I also read the first page of chapter 39. (view spoiler)[ this is too much for me. And I don't see why this level of detailed torture is necessary to add as all of the series before this has not been like this at all. Just stating Hasik now tortures Dawn would have been fine, we all remember her nose. (hide spoiler)]

[Sarah]

Ah, just read your chapter 38 spoiler as i'm on the same chapter but i forgot i hadn't finished it yet. Oh well. Yes I did meant what you said (view spoiler)[ is was the mind controlling pawl and he had no idea about it. I should have put pawl/mind to make my comment clearer (hide spoiler)]

[Peggy]

Oh sorry! I didn't realize you hadn't finished yet. (view spoiler)[ During the chapter where Araine arrived in the Hollow I shortly wondered whether she was a mimic, but I never suspected Pawl. (hide spoiler)]

[Sarah]

Not your fault. I should have remembered i hadn't. Lol.

[Sarah]

Re your chapter 38 spoiler Peggy (view spoiler)[Not sure about asukaji killing sikvah. I think she probably got injured by a demon. Asukaji is just pissed he wasn't chosen to lead the army. That a pregnant woman was instead. He's still bitter and not seeing the bigger picture right now. That said, it could easily have been him. Seems like sikvah is being kept alive in order to save the baby. So there is hope if jardir can return from the core. (hide spoiler)]

[Peggy]

Lots of action in chapter 39! (view spoiler)[ Those Krasian relationships keep surprising me. I had totally forgotten Sikvah was Hasik's daughter. I'm so glad Hasik is dead! Am I correct that he was on the demon's side? I wonder how they managed to arrange that..

I have about 80 pages to go and it seems impossible that that's enough to finish up the story. Are we sure there's no 6th book? (hide spoiler)]

[Sarah]

Re your fhapter 39 spoiler Peggy (view spoiler)[looks like the mind was controlling hasik, just like pawl. Hasik was bad anyway so it wasn't so noticeable. I wonder when the mind got him. Was he instructed to make a eunoch army and hole up in the monastry as demon fodder?

And yeah this is the last book. Well of this series but we'll revisit the world with the new one. (hide spoiler)]

[Cherie]

Sarah wrote: "I like that the characters have their faults. It makes them more characterful and realistic. Also that we see a progresdion of these characters, maturing, compromising, softening, strengthening, ga..."

I agree, Sarah.

Thanks for the sarcastic point. I could not figure it out. She seems not to have any sense of humor, so I overlooked the comment as that. I am learning to appreciate her sense of tenacity though and her relationship with Sanjat's daughter.

[Cherie]

Yes, so much went on in chapter 38 and 39!
Peggy, I wondered the same thing about Hasik (view spoiler)[when the mind demon got him under his control? I am glad he is dead too! Wasn't your heart in your mouth when Ashia was fighting him? I was so surprised that Abban could duke it out with the mind too. (hide spoiler)]

I read Chapter 40 during lunch today. I cannot believe it is almost over either.

[Jannene]

Chapters 24-31

Well, I think I got caught up and didn’t report. Both my parents and in-laws stopped off and I must have thought that I reported.
(view spoiler)[I almost forgot about Leesha being raped and who had done it. I can’t believe he made a reappearance. I also forgot about Kerrin until they rehashed that. I felt like the story started coming full circle with some of these characters that we lost along the way.

Inerva is pretty strong. She seemed to really push her point. I am worried for Ashia. I am hoping her and Briar do get together. He seems very interested in her child.

The crawling through the worms and eating them because they are delicious was ICK!! Apparently the magic is making Renna show quicker. It was interesting. Renna eating that brain was over the top. Right when you think she has matured she does something incredibly stupid!

I’m not sure what else happened that I missed. I really hope that Ragen and Ellisa stay safe and live through this book. (hide spoiler)]

[Peggy]

@Sarah: of course! (view spoiler)[ I was confused because Hasik kneeled and then there was also a Non-hasik, so I thought the kneeling one was the real one. Which he was, but I didn't think of the fact that he might be possessed by the mind demon. That explains why he didn't respond to Abban's insults. (hide spoiler)]

@Cherie: (view spoiler)[ Yes, abban winning a battle of wills from alagai ka! Who would have thought? And he has valuable information now. (hide spoiler)]

[Margo]

Jannene wrote: "Chapters 24-31

Well, I think I got caught up and didn’t report. Both my parents and in-laws stopped off and I must have thought that I reported.
I almost forgot about Leesha being raped and who ha..."

Oh Jannene, your reports always make me laugh :-D (view spoiler)[ I also hope that Ragen and Ellisa survive the book. They are good characters but I am not enjoying that story line as much. There are too many people to keep track of and I can't remember who everyone is :-\ I like the changes in Keerin - he is a reformed man! (hide spoiler)]

I am somewhere in chapter 32.

[Peggy]

Margo, that's one of the (small) issues I have with this book. (view spoiler)[ There's so much going on and it switches between several story lines. Normally I don't mind at all, I even like it, but with this book it is also confusing me because in each story line there are so many characters and so many events, and sometimes complicated politics, that when I read about Ragen and Elissa for example, and next a few chapters on Inevera, Hasik & Abban, Arlen & Jardir, Leesha etc., that I have partly lost the information from the Ragen and Elissa story when we get back to it. I keep thinking 'wait, what happened again?'. And then there's sometimes also the references to earlier books or the novellas to make it even more confusing. (hide spoiler)]

[Sarah]

I seem to be fine with all the characters and the pov changes with each (or every few) chapters but then I'm quite used to it, especially after reading a song of ice and fire series. Again, i think it's more realistic of life. If you think of all the people you interact with in a day and who those people each interact with, there are a lot of people involved, even if some only play a minor role. For example, take the story of going to the post office to post a letter. You have you writing the letter, maybe chatting to someone about the letter too, maybe a side story about the reason you're sending it which might include characters, then you have the journey to the post office and those you encounter, the staff at the post office, and then you have the result of the letter and a focus on that. Even something so simple, when you break it down in to it's components is complex and includes a lot of characters and flitting between present what is happening and back story/other characters to understand fully what is going on.

[Margo]

I hear what you're saying Sarah (well, see what you re saying to be more accurate LOL). Don't get me wrong, I am loving the book as a whole BUT in live you have viual information. In this case it is only names. Maybe in my case the audio only is an added complication. This is a fast moving section of the book and all these different character names are a blur in my ear!

This is something I have not thought about much. It must be difficult for any author to write an action scene that involves multiple characters. Maybe this is why I instinctively switch of for action scenes? I can't remember if I had the same issue with print books but I do know that most action scenes in films in films bore me - apart from the one in the second Matrix film with all agent Smiths. I could watch that over and over 😉

[Peggy]

And I also think besides visual information, in real life you're living it which makes it much easier. I know all my family members and friends so I can easily keep track of dozens of people. If I would hear dozens of names and relationships of a stranger, it's much more difficult.

[Sarah]

Oh of course, when you're invested in your life of course it's easier to keep track of things. I guess i was just trying to say that numerous characters, setings and back story miiror reality whereas just focus on 2/3/4/5 characters may not be.

As for fight scenes, i think these vary in book and film. Some are good and others aren't. Some drag and others don't etc.

[Peggy]

I was so excited about finishing on the train home but one of my students sat next to me and I had to talk!

Finished ch 42: (view spoiler)[ So much action! Both Shanvah and Shanjat killed... I can't believe we're still in the middle of it with only 18 pages to go. I expected at least 50 pages about the happy ending with a demon free world... (hide spoiler)]

[Peggy]

I finished!

(view spoiler)[ I'm sad Arlen died, but I also found it beautiful and fitting.

I'm glad the others signed a pact and everyone is on good terms. I also liked how the relationship between Renna and Jardir developed.

Lots of babies to carry on the story in the next books! (hide spoiler)]

[Cherie]

Peggy wrote: "Margo, that's one of the (small) issues I have with this book. [spoilers removed]"

It is like reading the Game of Thrones books, Peggy. I kept saying the same thing, "wait, what happened again?" If he ever finishes the series, I might have to start over again. After a while, the characters and events stay with you though. I think it would definitely be harder to listen to them than read them,

The Deborah Harkness books are the same way. Oh, and Time's Convert is available today. I had pre-ordered it.

[Margo]

Chapter 32 and 33 (view spoiler)[ very confusing and fast paced. We have Snow demons now! Poor Elisa is left unable to walk. I bet Jardir could fix that!

Ilona has gives birth. Leesha has a sister! She also has a mother with a mind like a sewer! Poor Ernie (is that Leeshas dads name?) why does he put up with her. She is scary!!! (hide spoiler)]

[Sarah]

@Margo (view spoiler)[snow demons were introduced in the same novella as Derek and Stacy. (hide spoiler)]

[Sarah]

I have finished. What an awesome end to the series. I'll comment properly tomorrow.

[Jannene]

You all left me in the dust.

[Cherie]

I'm not done yet. I am not sure I want it to end yet. I really am curious about the Derek and Stacy story now.

Re Elissa (view spoiler)[So, the demons could have tunneled into the cities at any time in the past, it seems like. They did not do it before because it was too easy to pick off the humans in the open country side? Now, it was a matter of capturing the population for a larder? IDK... (hide spoiler)]

Ch 40 (view spoiler)[ What have/had the humans that Jardir and Arlen found in the cavern been eating all of the time that they were underground? (hide spoiler)]

[Jannene]

I started Chapter 38. I can honestly say thank you Warded Children. I don’t think that gives anything away.

[Margo]

Jannene wrote: "I started Chapter 38. I can honestly say thank you Warded Children. I don’t think that gives anything away."

(view spoiler)[yes, but did that actually happen? Remember what the mime demon said - you will leave here thinking you have beaten us - or something similar! It leaves everything open to doubt (hide spoiler)] I am roughly where you are Jannene.

[Peggy]

Cherie wrote: "I'm not done yet. I am not sure I want it to end yet. I really am curious about the Derek and Stacy story now.

Re Elissa [spoilers removed]Ch 40 [spoilers removed]"

Elissa: (view spoiler)[ I'm not sure.. wasn't there also something with wards that were not maintained properly? (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 40: Good question! For a second I thought about the (view spoiler)[ holy water and cous cous, but they don't know any wards so that can't be it. (hide spoiler)]

[Sarah]

@Cherie (view spoiler)[Normal demons aren't very clever and picked people off one by one in the countryside. But when the minds and mimics got involved they started to direct the demons in a more strategic way, hence penetrating the city defences by tunnelling underground etc. (hide spoiler)]

[Sarah]

Oh and (view spoiler)[They had been eating each other, well at least new recruits that the demons brought down. That's why they started attacking Arlen and Jardir at first until they started to think them gods (hide spoiler)]

[Sarah]

And what Peggy said (view spoiler)[Euchor didn't fully understand the threat the demons had on the city. He put minimal effort in to warding the caves and sewers but never maintained them. (hide spoiler)]

[Sarah]

I really enjoyed the ending of the book (view spoiler)[I was sad at the losses but felt them necessary too. I had suspected that Arlen would die for quite some time. It was a beautiful way to go. I too enjoyed the developing relationship between Renna and Jardir and his vow to protect her. I was also pleased that Jardir and Arlen made peace, becoming friends once more. Also that their roles reversed somewhat over the whole god thing.

Everything wrapped up nicely I thought. Still some demons but now with no queen or minds, they can pick them off one by one. Life gets easier. And now all people have signed a pact, hopefully they can all start getting along and be stronger for it.

The kids are adorable. That Daren can dissipate already is hilarious. Loved all the names chosen for the children.
(hide spoiler)]

[Peggy]

@Sarah: I'm very curious about the new series (view spoiler)[ where those kids (and especially Olive and Darin I believe) are the MC's. What will they be like in 15 years? And what will the book be about? Are the demons coming back?

By the way, for all names it was explained or just clear how they got them, but I missed that for Darin. Or I have forgotten already. Do you know? (hide spoiler)]

[Sarah]

Yes 'm excited too about the next series (view spoiler)[from what I've seen, Brett is taking things in a different direction so I think it unlikely that there will be another demon war. Sure there might still be some around. Also says suitable for younger readers. Might be a bit more tame?! I hope it isn't YA. That said, with a MC who is intersex, it may not be.

Darin is the only one I didn't catch. Other than it vaguely follows Arlen. Maybe we'll find out in the next series. Also, we don't know why Leesha called her daughter Olive. Yes Elona said "she's got stones" and Arlen too but we never hear why Leesha names her so. It might be nothing other than liking the name though. (hide spoiler)]

[Peggy]

You're right about (view spoiler)[ Olive. It just makes sense somehow but it was never explained. (hide spoiler)]

[Cherie]

I have been trying to read all day, but work is very busy.

I am in the middle of Chapter 42. (view spoiler)[ I just figured out what it means when he says magic-dead spears, after Jardir just got one in his thigh. duhhh! (hide spoiler)]