[May] The Goblin Emperor

[Lisa]

The schedule for the next Wyrd and Wonder readalong is out! Here it is for anyone who'd like to keep track/post their blog links here:

Week 1: Wednesday 6th May, Chapters 1 through 9
Week 2: Wednesday 13th May, Chapters 10 through 17 (end of part 2)
Week 3: Wednesday 20th May, Chapters 18 through 26 (part 3)
Week 4: Wednesday 27th May, Chapters 27 to End (part 4 & 5)

I'll be posting my answers on the blog every Saturday, with questions also going up on Twitter a bit later the same day. As usual, we're being flexible, though! I'll be tackling the hosting duties solo this time around, so bear with me!

[imyril]

I have Plans to join you as a reread and post-along because I love this books and want to savour it (last read I inhaled it in 24 hours along with Three Parts Dead, and both books deserve SO MUCH MORE attention). Concentration span permitting. Worst case, I'm joining you in the comments :)

[Lisa]

Week 1 questions under the spoiler tag! :D

(view spoiler)[
The first thing that struck me about this book is the formality in the way the characters speak. What do you think of this style? Do you enjoy it?

The reader, much like Maia in his newfound role, is given very little time to get comfortable before being thrown in at the deep end. How do you feel about this approach to the story? Does it help you to empathise with the newly ascended Emperor?

Too many cooks spoil the political broth, or so it seems. Are there any characters in particular who stand out to you as being the most potentially troublesome? And on the other hand, who catches your attention as being unusually (potentially) helpful?

So the late emperor was killed deliberately, and now Chavar effectively has control of the investigation. I have to know: do you suspect him at all of being involved in the incident?

What are your other thoughts/feelings/first impressions?
(hide spoiler)]

[Zezee]

Oh my gosh! I didn't expect to get quickly hooked on the story. I flew through those first nine chaps.
Totally suspect Chavar, btw.

[Lisa]

My first post is up! https://wp.me/p9ZtJO-kp

[Lynn]

My post is up now:
https://lynns-books.com/2020/05/09/th...

[Zezee]

Here's my post too :)
https://zezeewithbooks.wordpress.com/...

[natrosette]

Here's mine!
https://natrosette.wordpress.com/2020...

[Peat]

I'm in

https://peatlong.blogspot.com/2020/05...

[Peyton]

And mine!
https://wordwilderness.wixsite.com/bo...

[imyril]

And me: https://onemore.org/2020/05/10/read-a...

[Lisa]

Hooray!

[Lisa]

Yesterday was A Day, but week 2's questions are in, finally!

(view spoiler)[
So many verbal encounters. So much political muck! Let's start with Princess Sheveän, who seemed so very outraged at the idea of the late emperor's body being 'desecrated'. Do you buy that as her reasoning? Or do you think she was making a scene for another reason?

Cala and Vedero both have some hard but pragmatic advice for Maia here: Cala's concern is for the emperor being seen to be weak for treating his nohecharei as equals when their job is to protect him; and Vedero's situation is different but her concern is basically the same as Cala's. She seems alarmed at the idea that Maia might go against society and tradition by refusing to bargain for a marriage for her. How do you feel about these scenes, and the conversations between them? Are they being too harsh and/or cynical, or is Maia simply being too naive?

Setheris attempts to come at Maia from his more abusive position, clearly intending to railroad his cousin into giving him a position at court he feels is worthy of him. Yet Maia sticks to his intention of sending Setheris somewhere he will not have so much easy access to the new emperor. Do you think, with that, that Setheris's days of troubling Maia are over?

A discovery is made that the sabotage of the Wisdom of Choharo may have been caused by the Cetho Workers League - a "dissident group". Do you think this will lead to a resolution of the investigation, or did the plot just thicken?

Maia's grandfather is coming to court for Winternight, though this seems to please Maia far more than it pleases Chavar ... What do you make of Chavar's open disagreeableness during the dinner at the ambassador's home? Is it plain arrogance (albeit the racist kind), or do you think his disapproval of goblin folk runs deeper than that?

Feel free to answer as many or as few of these questions as you like; I feel like a lot went on this week! And as always, there's room for any other thoughts and impressions you have from this week's chapters.
(hide spoiler)]

[Annemieke / A Dance with Books]

https://adancewithbooks.wordpress.com...

My answers from the past 2 weeks :)

[Lynn]

My post for week 2 is now up : https://lynns-books.com/2020/05/16/th...

[natrosette]

Here's my week 2 post: https://natrosette.wordpress.com/2020...

[Zezee]

Here's mine! https://zezeewithbooks.wordpress.com/...

I still don't trust anyone in this book lol

[Peyton]

Just finished my week 2 discussion post:
https://wordwilderness.wixsite.com/bo...

[Lisa]

Here's mine for week 2! Better late than never, heh! https://deargeekplace.com/everythings...

[imyril]

And mine: https://onemore.org/2020/05/17/read-a...

[Lisa]

OK! Time for Week 3 questions. Deep breaths.

(view spoiler)[
These chapters open with a very candid, yet significantly warmer than most, conversation between Maia and Arbelan, and from there things begin to change as Maia learns to act with more confidence. Do you think Arbelan's kinder treatment of him is what sparks this, and if so, how much of an impact do you think it had?

The river bridge scheme proves to be a delightful plot point to push a lot of character interaction forward, as well as opening up the scope of this world. Were you surprised by the developments involving Lord Pashavar?

Like a train gathering steam, a great deal of plot drama happens here. Let's talk about Shevean and Chavar. Were you surprised by their gambit? And how do you feel about the way it all played out (ie. Idra's decision to put his foot down)?

We get another surprising turnaround from Ceredin, Maia's intended empress-to-be, as well. What are your thoughts on her by the end of these chapters, compared to her initial impression?

The story, and perhaps the danger, is not quite over yet ... any thoughts on what might be in store in the final chapters?

As always: any other bits and pieces you'd like to highlight?
(hide spoiler)]

[Peat]

Week 2 answers in here - https://peatlong.blogspot.com/2020/05...

Now to try and catch up for week 3

[Annemieke / A Dance with Books]

https://adancewithbooks.wordpress.com...
Answers for week 3 :)

[Zezee]

Here's mine:
https://zezeewithbooks.wordpress.com/...

Apart from the first section where Maia is trying to find his footing at court, this is my favorite section. I love amount of growth Maia exhibited in this section.

[Peyton]

https://wordwilderness.wixsite.com/bo...

This was the most exciting section for me. Maia is finally finding his place as emperor just in time to face opposition from the court.

[natrosette]

https://natrosette.wordpress.com/2020...

This was my favorite section so far as well.

[Lynn]

My week 3 post. A little later than planned:
https://lynns-books.com/2020/05/23/th...

[imyril]

And here's mine: http://onemore.org/2020/05/24/read-al...

I confess I have not resisted the temptation to read to the finish :)

[Lisa]

Here's mine, finally! https://deargeekplace.com/winds-of-ch...

[Lisa]

My questions for the final week are late, but I hope to have them up either by the end of today or early tomorrow. Sorry for the delay!

[Lisa]

Question time! (I'm keeping the number short and sweet this time...)

(view spoiler)[
Let's start with Maia's grandfather! What do you think of the Avar, and his budding relationship with Maia?

Another plot against Maia is foiled... Were you surprised by the reveal of Tethimar as the one behind the late emperor's murder? And what are your thoughts on this reveal, in light of the way this part of the story played out?

For all of the enmity that's shown to him, our emperor has a much more hopeful nickname by the end... Looking back, are you satisfied with/pleased by the way Maia handled all of these situations in which he had to make or break relationships? Was there anything you were left questioning or that you feel should have gone differently?

And as always, feel free to add any other thoughts/feelings on the book in general, now that it's over! (hide spoiler)]

[Zezee]

I miss Maia already and am already looking forward to rereading this book, lol!
Thanks for hosting this readalong. I really appreciate y'all introducing me to a good read AND getting me to read a book that has been on my shelf for so long.
Here's mine
https://zezeewithbooks.wordpress.com/...

[Lisa]

Here's my post! https://deargeekplace.com/building-a-...

Thank you all so much for taking part - I was a bit nervous about taking on a readalong as host by myself, as I've always had backup in the past. This was a lot of fun! :D

[Peat]

https://peatlong.blogspot.com/2020/06...

Did 3 and 4 as one. Only slightly late!

Thanks to Lisa and everyone else.

[Annemieke / A Dance with Books]

There is a cover coming soon graphic and a title for the sequel now!
> The Witness for the Dead

Sorry had to share my excitement haha.

[Urban]

What do you think of the Avar, and his budding relationship with Maia?
I'm still a little at loss why exactly he made the effort, apart for an abandoned gambit that he wanted to check out Maia as a possible heir. I just wondered if he didn't have any other grandsons with some of his other daughters than one who happens to be the Emperor of a competing race and nation. Although he seemed to have had a change of heart when Maia's mother died, I still think that he just made the trip to see what influence he could wield over an abandoned grandson.
Another plot against Maia is foiled… Were you surprised by the reveal of Tethimar as the one behind the late emperor’s murder? And what are your thoughts on this reveal, in light of the way this part of the story played out?
In the light of later developments, I see Tethimar only as a figurehead or facilitator of the second conspiracy. The only one with a real plan and a vision was the clock smith. Maia apparently thought of him as deranged, but his actions were very well calculated and he made also sure that the conspiracy folded when he had reached his goals, even when this implied self-sacrifice.