A Time of Dread [Feb 20, 2020]

[Jenna, I'd be free if not for Temper & Edgewalker]

A Time of Dread - John Gwynne

February 20, 2020.
Requested by Rob L.

[Rob]

In - thanks Jenna :)

[Jenna, I'd be free if not for Temper & Edgewalker]

Rob wrote: "In - thanks Jenna :)"

You're welcome :) enjoy!

[Veronica]

In! Whoo boy, I'm going to need to mentally prepare myself if the first series is any indication. My emotions were all over the map.

[Rob]

Veronica wrote: "In! Whoo boy, I'm going to need to mentally prepare myself if the first series is any indication. My emotions were all over the map."

Totally agree :)

[Lau]

I'm joining this one if I can find the book :)

[Veronica]

Lau Maia wrote: "I'm joining this one if I can find the book :)"

I hope you're able to get a copy. We'd love to have you join in!

[Rob]

Excellent. I have it in Kindle and audible format, looking forward to starting!

[Veronica]

Starting today, just one chapter in. The Ben Elim don't mess around. (view spoiler)[Either Bleda will quietly seethe in anger and plot revenge on them or it'll be a case of Stockholm Syndrome. I'm thinking it'll be the revenge route because it's kind of hard to get over the image of your siblings' severed heads. (hide spoiler)]

[Rob]

I started listening late yesterday, got further today, though it's going to be mostly on audio as I'm also doing another buddy-read simultaneously. A few chapters in and so far I think (view spoiler)[They're gathering quite a few characters to rebel/revenge against the Ben Elim early on, though that could change with some tough love. (hide spoiler)]

[Veronica]

I can see the Kadoshim taking advantage (view spoiler)[of all that unhappiness with the current order (hide spoiler)]. Ugh, I can see it's going to be another frustrating read...watching characters drinking the kool-aid and being led around by the nose. Not a spoiler, just my prediction.

[Rob]

Veronica wrote: "I can see the Kadoshim taking advantage [spoilers removed]. Ugh, I can see it's going to be another frustrating read...watching characters drinking the kool-aid and being led around by the nose. No..."

Yes, I completely hear what you're saying and am praying its not a quasi rehash of what we've already read with new names. Hopefully, he's learned to be less predictable :)

[Jenna, I'd be free if not for Temper & Edgewalker]

I am going to start tomorrow!

[Katie]

I just started this one too! I got through the first three chapters so far. Looks like we have a lot of interesting characters~

Speaking of, might I ask you all about the fantasy character races in this book? It seems like the Ben Elim are angels of sorts, yes? With real wings??? And I know in some of the other chapters people were being referred to as giants...and I don't know if that was in the literal sense or just a tall sense. lol. I feel like the descriptors were very loose so far, so just interested to see what you all have to say. I just wanna make sure I get this fantasy world right XD

I also think you're right with your theories Veronica :D

[Frank]

Katie wrote: "I just started this one too! I got through the first three chapters so far. Looks like we have a lot of interesting characters~

Speaking of, might I ask you all about the fantasy character races ..."

Katie

There is a previous four book series (The Faithful and the Fallen) , set over 100 years before, which gives you the setup of all good deal of background of these races, as they are first brought into that story.
I only had read the first book, Malice, of that series, and am having a bit of a time trying to get it all into prospective myself.
I didn't want to miss this BR, so am plodding ahead, and will also go back and read The Faithful, soon.

[Katie]

Frank wrote: "Katie wrote: "I just started this one too! I got through the first three chapters so far. Looks like we have a lot of interesting characters~

Speaking of, might I ask you all about the fantasy ch..."

Oh shoot! I didn't know that Frank, thanks for letting me know ^^; That makes complete sense if the author already expects you to know the world. lol. whoops.

I wonder if this trilogy can be read on its own then??

[Frank]

Katie, I'm sure this trilogy can be read on its own, however there may be some background lost.

To all participating above, what are your thoughts?

[Rob]

I've seen others enjoy this series without having read the previous, but I have to imagine it'd be more pleasurable having that background first.

[Katie]

Thanks all! I'm still gonna give it a shot then. I saw a reddit post saying that it might spoil the orig series though. Since there are references and easter eggs to that. But we'll see :D

[Veronica]

I read the first quartet and while I think it certainly does add to the history and background of the land and its people, I think people can read and understand this one without having read it.

@Katie: You're right about the visuals of the Ben Elim...and the Kadoshim just have more bat-like wings than feathery ones. The giants, IIRC, are about 2-2.5 times as tall as regular men.

[Veronica]

I'm up to chapter 14. I'm trying to keep some emotional distance between myself and the characters because one thing reading the Faithful and the Fallen series taught me is that this author has NO QUALMS WHATSOEVER about killing off characters. Lots and lots of characters.

That said, so far I do like Drem the best (of the new characters) because he's the only one who doesn't seem like a hothead. Riv needs to mature a little and get a handle on her temper or I'm never going to care about her. Bleda...has potential but that'll depend on which way he goes.

One other thing that the author did in the original series was that he switched up the POV characters from one book to another. I hope he follows that pattern here because I would like to get into Cullen's head at some point.

[Veronica]

I'm through chapter 30 now.

(view spoiler)[Finally the Kadoshim and their followers have struck a blow and shown their hand. IIRC the original series took awhile to get rolling too. Looks like the Kadoshim have swelled their numbers by breeding with human women. Which...yuck.

Adonai's wings...ouch. I wonder if we'll see him again.

I'm not enjoying Riv's chapters at all. Her berserker rage episodes are annoying and it really bugs me that she doesn't face any real consequences for them. I am starting to wonder if she's not a human-Ben Elim half-breed though.

The Drem and Sig POVs are my favorites to read so far. I just like characters that tend to use their brains more than always relying on their fists or brute force. Bleda's POV is okay so far too. It's just Riv I don't care for or about.

I figured Olin was going to die at some point. He's just the first of many, I'm sure. Him forging the starstone sword turned out to be a bad idea. (hide spoiler)]

[Rob]

Trying to read two things at once, so I'm only into chapter 9 and waiting to see what the outcome of the (view spoiler)[The ore Drem and Olin found is (hide spoiler)]

[Katie]

Veronica wrote: "I read the first quartet and while I think it certainly does add to the history and background of the land and its people, I think people can read and understand this one without having read it.

..."

Thanks Veronica!!! This really helps~

I'm a bit more than 100pgs in and now I finally feel like I have a good grip on the world and people in it. I like how in Bleda's perspective we even have some teaching moments...so me as a reader who didn't get to read the previous series actually gets a clue on these old wars and disputes~

Drem is pretty great, but I don't like his habbit of always correcting others. lol. My favorite probably has to be Drem's father XD

Thoughts around page 115~
(view spoiler)[I just know that one leader is up to something. Or hiding something at least...

That was utterly horrid what they did to the "abomination". Is the mixing of clans/races so taboo?

Drem and his father are my favorite chapters to read so far. I was so impressed when the father fought off those people to defend his son. And now he's teaching swordsmanship? There is more to this trapper than I initially thought...

I think her name was Sig? Well her and her bear are so wonderful <3 So does her whole clan of giants bond with animals? We've got bears, talking birds and hounds too. Also, RIP poor puppo. Sig's chapters definitely have more action at this point as she goes about her mission to destroy those cult people.

Bleda and Riv have little moments together, but not much yet. It's interesting how Riv kept Bleda's bow O.O I wonder if they'll ever really open up. (hide spoiler)]

[Veronica]

Katie wrote: "I'm a bit more than 100pgs in and now I finally feel like I have a good grip on the world and people in it. I like how in Bleda's perspective we even have some teaching moments...so me as a reader who didn't get to read the previous series actually gets a clue on these old wars and disputes~

Drem is pretty great, but I don't like his habbit of always correcting others. lol. My favorite probably has to be Drem's father XD"

I love the relationship between Drem and his father too. So often in fantasy you get tense family relationships, or family who downright hate each other, so it's always nice to get a loving relationship now and then.

(view spoiler)[There was never any mixing between Ben Elim and human, or Kadoshim and human for that matter, in the original series. In those books, the Ben Elim and Kadoshim existed in more of a spiritual realm - so presumably no desires or needs of the flesh. I guess now that they've lived as flesh and blood creatures in our physical world for over a 100 years, they've got some itches to scratch.

I'm curious as the nature of the relationships. If they're between Ben Elim and humans who want to make some sort of commitment to each other that's one thing. But if it's more that Ben Elim just want to get their jollies off with impressionable young human females and then move on to the next conquest with no thought to potential physical ramifications to the girls (i.e. pregnancy and then losing their babies), then that's something else). At this point, I'm not even sure Ben Elim experience emotions in the same way that humans do. (hide spoiler)]

[Katie]

Veronica wrote: "Katie wrote: "I'm a bit more than 100pgs in and now I finally feel like I have a good grip on the world and people in it. I like how in Bleda's perspective we even have some teaching moments...so m..."

That's so true Veronica! Usually there's some resentment or hatred with parental relationships, so it's refreshing to see a healthy bond~

(view spoiler)[Oh wow! So they were seen as more of like godlike beings then? hmmm... the taboo makes more sense then

I really hope it's not what you said either. That kind of reminds me of old mythos like Zeus and all. I'm all for the forbidden romance though. Those wanting to be together but never can ~ ala romeo and juliet etc , lol (hide spoiler)]

[Jenna, I'd be free if not for Temper & Edgewalker]

I had a hard time getting into this book at the beginning because there were so many characters. This usually isn't a problem for me, but it was a bit confusing in audio format. I should have expected a large cast after the Faithful and the Fallen series, though.

Now, I'm very much getting into it and have to say Drem and his father are also my favourite. I love all their interactions and how they really come together as a family.

[Jenna, I'd be free if not for Temper & Edgewalker]

Chapter 24
(view spoiler)[ Nooooooo, you can't kill one of the characters I like right after I say I like them! I can't say I'm terribly surprised, but I'm a bit sad. (hide spoiler)]

[Katie]

Jenna wrote: "I had a hard time getting into this book at the beginning because there were so many characters. This usually isn't a problem for me, but it was a bit confusing in audio format. I should have expec..."

That's exactly how I felt at first too Jenna. I'm glad you're liking the book a bit more ^~^

Really? Does the orig series have an insane amount of characters too? O.o I keep flipping to that character guide in the beginning of this one, lol

[Veronica]

Yeah, the original series also had a large cast of characters...but that's because he likes to kill off so many of them!

[Veronica]

Jenna wrote: "Chapter 24
[spoilers removed]"

I know! (view spoiler)[Even though I knew it was coming, it was still a bummer. (hide spoiler)]

[Veronica]

I finished this a couple of days ago and I'm going with three stars for it after mulling it over. I didn't love it as much as the original series. Part of it is because I only really liked two of the POVs...and I really found Riv annoying. Other than Drem and Sig, I didn't really connect with anyone. I just don't know if this is because of the characters and the way they're written or if I've just learned to keep myself at an emotional distance from this author's characters.

Spoilers through the end of the book...

(view spoiler)[Well, damn. Sig. I knew from the FatF series that being a POV character is no protection against getting killed off but, still...damn. I hate Fritha! She needs to die a horrible death.

Riv never got better for me. And of course she's a Ben Elim/human half-breed...who despite seeing her home descend into civil war and her mother (or the person she believes to be her mother) be killed, after herself murdering a fellow White Wing, is more concerned with trying out her new wings than asking any questions about...anything. She's not even mildly freaked out. I'd say that it doesn't ring true but, then again, she doesn't seem to have any higher executive functioning going on.

Bleda could be an interesting character...but not if he hooks his wagon onto Riv's.

Drem remained my favorite throughout the story. I'm sad he lost his father and that he lost Sig just when he'd found her. I look forward to a good bromance between him and Cullen though.

With all the fighting between factions at Drassil, they're sure making it easy for the Kadoshim to waltz in with whatever plan they've got cooking. (hide spoiler)]

[Jenna, I'd be free if not for Temper & Edgewalker]

Veronica wrote: "I finished this a couple of days ago and I'm going with three stars for it after mulling it over. I didn't love it as much as the original series. Part of it is because I only really liked two of t..."

I finished last night and I also gave it three stars, also for the same reasons. I just didn't find myself getting attached to any of the characters except for Drem, and to a lesser extent, Sig.

I do think the audio format didn't help anything due to the large cast of characters, but I have a feeling that even if I read it in print, I wouldn't like Riv or her storyline. End of the book: (view spoiler)[I think we're supposed to be excited for her for getting her wings at the end, but honestly, because I didn't like her character, I didn't care at all. (hide spoiler)]

Bleda (view spoiler)[also will be a character to keep an eye on in the next books. I'm not sure I will continue, but if I did, it would be to see where his storyline goes. (hide spoiler)]

[Katie]

Just finished this one myself everyone! I gave it a 3 star rating too. Was going for a 3.5, but then I got kinda bored towards the end there ^^;

I kind of agree with you all in the characters. Some of them just didn't grab my attention enough to care for them and what happened to them. Drem and Olin still are my favorites~

Ending Thoughts~
(view spoiler)[I'm sad that Olin died though. What a terrible thing for our father son duo. But to learn all he did to protect Drem ~ <3 And even finding out that they knew Sig! That was awesome!

Speaking of Drem. One of the most interesting things I liked in those later chapters was when he came across the cult came with the experiments. Such a frightening scene. And you really get a feel for what the group is trying to accomplish >_< I really hope Drem gets that sword back...

Riv didn't annoy me as much as you all, but she didn't interest me either. It seems like those rose colored glasses are being torn off her face as she learns more and more about her people. And her, a hybrid?! I totally missed that ^^; Also, yes, her reaction to fly at the end of the book was kinda weird after she just saw her mother be-headed ^^;
(hide spoiler)]

So I may continue on with this series, but at the same time I wanna check out "The Faithful and the Fallen" too because you guys have said such good things. Plus you mentioned characters like Sig were in that series? So I may correct my reading order before continuing, lol

[Rob]

I'm just under 50% through this, but picking up steam now that its my main focus.

I feel like the first series had much more detailed/connected introductions to all of the main characters and I find myself mainly just wishing he had connected the dots genealogically/geographically to the original series a bit better (reminders for those who didn't recently read or reread the first one).

[Katie]

@Rob, I have no point of reference really, but I would have loved if there were more detailed introductions to the main characters ^~^

[Veronica]

Katie wrote: "Just finished this one myself everyone! I gave it a 3 star rating too. Was going for a 3.5, but then I got kinda bored towards the end there ^^;

I kind of agree with you all in the characters. So..."

I definitely recommend reading the FatF series.

Rob wrote: "I'm just under 50% through this, but picking up steam now that its my main focus.

I feel like the first series had much more detailed/connected introductions to all of the main characters and I f..."

I totally agree that the first series did a better job of introducing the characters.

Jenna wrote: "I do think the audio format didn't help anything due to the large cast of characters, but I have a feeling that even if I read it in print, I wouldn't like Riv or her storyline. End of the book: (view spoiler) "

Yea, I wasn't a fan (view spoiler)[of Riv getting her wings. I'm not a fan of her rage-beserker thing either. (hide spoiler)] That got old for me really fast.

[Rob]

I finished late last night despite daylight savings time and slept through my alarm. yay coffee!

Anyway, ended up liking it more as it went along, getting used to the three main characters. For me it was refreshing compared to also currently reading the Demon Cycle which series which constantly digresses and doesn't advance the plot, but merely makes it more complicated and/or loves flashbacks too much. They're too much of a crutch and would be better served as novellas. But I digress, it appears to be catching. Gwynne is excellent with his pacing, keeping the plot moving forward and introducing plot points and character background as we need to receive it. So I'm looking forward to the next installment.

[Veronica]

Glad you liked it, Rob, and sorry you slept through your alarm. That darn Daylight Savings Time. I honestly don't know why we have to do that.

I agree with you about the Demon Cycle series. I gave up on that one after book three.

[Rob]

Everyone set to start tackling the next one on the 20th?