[September] Kushiel's Dart

[imyril]

Confirming the details for our autumn read-along of Kushiel's Dart. We'll start discussions the first week of September, with a weekly breakdown as follows:

Week One | Beginning - Chapter Sixteen hosted here at There’s Always Room For One More on Thursday 3rd September
Week Two | Chapter Seventeen – Thirty-one hosted by Susan at Dab of Darkness
Week Three | Chapter Thirty-two – Forty-seven hosted by Zezee with Books
Week Four | Chapter Forty-eight – Sixty-one hosted by Mayri at BookForager
Week Five | Chapter Sixty-two – Seventy-nine hosted by Peat Long
Week Six | Chapter Eighty through the end hosted by Lisa at Dear Geek Place

Where possible, questions to be posted by Sunday of the preceding week - so week one questions will be posted on Sunday 30th August. Discussion posts may be posted any day of the week.

[Susan]

You know I adore this book. It's been 5 years since we last discussed it. Count me in. I can host a week with discussion questions if you want to put me on the schedule.

[imyril]

Hooray!

[Lisa]

Susan wrote: "You know I adore this book. It's been 5 years since we last discussed it. Count me in. I can host a week with discussion questions if you want to put me on the schedule."

Five years?!

I'm in for the readalong, possibly also for some hosting duty. Will confirm that nearer the time. :D

[Jasmin]

I was hoping this would come up again soon! I’m so excited!

[Peat]

In. Tentatively interested in hosting a week too.

[Maryam]

I'm in as well, I love this series!

[imyril]

Okay folks - polling your enthusiasm :) My edition of Kushiel's Dart is 900 pages - which makes for 150 pages/week on a 6 week schedule. GR tells me the current paperback is over 1000 pages, which makes the target nearly double the 'typical' Wyrd and Wonder read-along goal.

Specifically:

Week One | Beginning through end Chapter Sixteen
Week Two | Chapter Seventeen - Thirty-one
Week Three| Chapter Thirty-two - Forty-seven
Week Four | Chapter Forty-eight - Sixty-one
Week Five | Chapter Sixty-two - Seventy-nine
Week Six | Chapter Eighty through the end

How does everyone feel about that?

I'm happy to adapt the schedule to a slower pace if that's the consensus - I don't want to wear anyone out :)

On a 6 week schedule I propose we start reading w/c August 31st. If the consensus is to read a bit slower, then I suggest we start reading a couple of weeks earlier (for the entirely selfish reason that I want to be finished before November 1st, when my SciFiMonth hosting duties will take over my spare time).

Thoughts?

[Susan]

The pacing is fine with me. I can also host a week or two, if you like. And the discussion start date of Aug 31 works for me too.

[natrosette]

That schedule sounds good to me! I still have to order myself a copy of the book, but surely it'll get here before August.

[Lisa]

It’ll be a reread for me so that schedule looks fine to me.

[imyril]

Pinging Read As Thou Wilt back up the radar as we close in on our start date for the Kushiel read-along - we're confirmed for a 6-week reading schedule with discussions starting the first week of September.

I propose to post questions here on August 31st and kick off week one with a discussion post on Thursday 3rd September.

If you're happy to host a week please yell in the next couple of weeks to confirm which week you'd like!

Happy for discussion posts to go up on different days, if we can all agree (unless life gets in the way; life happens) to aim for Sunday or Monday night to post questions here :)

Sound ok?

[Susan]

Hooray! I'm happy to take a week or two. Put me where you need me as I have no events planned that I need to physically take part in, so I'm around.

[Lisa]

Sounds good to me! And I should be able to take a week or two of hosting as well, if you want - preferably around the middle/near the end?

[imyril]

Okay - we've got a plan, folks! It's one week each, with a whole gang of us jumping in across various channels:

Week One | hosted by me at There’s Always Room For One More
Week Two | hosted by Susan at Dab of Darkness
Week Three | hosted by Zezee with Books
Week Four | hosted by Mayri at BookForager
Week Five | hosted by Peat Long
Week Six | hosted by Lisa at Dear Geek Place

Official post to follow on the blog in a couple of days :D

(if the allocation doesn't suit, yell - we're all pretty flexible!)

[Susan]

Yay! Looks good to me.

[Lisa]

Awesome. :D

[imyril]

Unlike Phèdre, I had nothing to force me to wait - so having dived into Kushiel's Dart this week, I have some discussion prompts for you! Tackle as many or as few as you fancy, as always.

(view spoiler)[
You know it's an epic fantasy when it starts with not only a map but a list of Dramatis Personae. How do you feel about this approach to beginning a new story? Do you read the character list or use it for reference along the way?

What are your first impressions of Elua and his Companions, and of D’Angeline culture? Are you comfortable with the way in which Jacqueline Carey has reimagined the world?

Phèdre's story begins in the Court of Night-Blooming Flowers. What are your thoughts on the Court, its adepts, the service of Naamah and the earning of marques? What House would you patronise - or belong to?

Guy, Alcuin and Phèdre are all devoted to the mysterious Anafiel Delaunay. Do you think he deserves their love? For first time readers, what are your theories about his past - and what do you think he is trying to achieve?

What do you make of Phèdre's choice of signale?

...plus of course any other thoughts you'd like to share.

Last but not least, the big week one check-in: now that you have seen a Showing and witnessed Phèdre's first assignation, are you still in?

(hide spoiler)]

Posts on or after Thursday 3rd September. Re-readers, please avoid spoilers for future weeks/books as we have a lot of first-time readers with us :)

[imyril]

IT BEGINS! :D

My week one post: https://onemore.org/2020/09/03/kushie...

[Lisa]

Here’s my first post! https://deargeekplace.com/read-as-tho...

[natrosette]

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

[Fran]

Here's mine: https://franlaniado.wordpress.com/202...

[Susan]

Here's my week 1: https://dabofdarkness.com/2020/09/04/...

[Peat]

Here's me https://peatlong.blogspot.com/2020/09...

[Susan]

Here are the discussion questions for Section 2 (chapters 17-31) for this coming week.

(view spoiler)[

Q1) We get a few more hints of magic or the supernatural in this section. Phedre sees Kushiel's visage after Alcuin is injured; Hyacinthe's mom & he himself both have things revealed via the dromonde; that moment of deep peace at Elua's statue. What do you think of magic in this world?

Q2) More politics! For those new to the series, what do you make of Baudoin and his mother, the Lioness of Azzalle? For those rereading, are you noticing details you missed before?

Q3) What do you think of Alciun's final assignation? Guy's death? Would Alcuin have been happier, but perhaps less useful, as something other than Naamah's servant?

Q4) Phedre has a new bodyguard - a Casseline Brother, Joscelin Verreuil. What do you think his life was like before this posting? Are you surprised that Anafiel didn't dismiss him after the confrontation with Childric d'Essoms?

Q5) We finally meet Barquiel L'Envers. How dangerous do you think this man is? What do you make of his history with Anafiel?

Q6) How did you feel about Phedre granting Childric another assignation? Was she right that she owed him a debt?

Q7) Alcuin has completed his marque and displays it to Anafiel. How do you feel about the shift in their relationship? Phedre's response to it?

And, of course, include anything else that piqued your interest from this section.

(hide spoiler)]

[proxyfish]

Oops almost forgot! Here's my Week One post: https://booksbyproxy.wordpress.com/20...

[Maryam]

Here's my week 1 post: https://thecurioussffreader.wordpress...

[Lisa]

Here's my week 2 post! https://deargeekplace.com/read-as-tho...

[Fran]

Here's my week two post: https://franlaniado.wordpress.com/202...

[Peat]

I'm up https://peatlong.blogspot.com/2020/09...

[imyril]

And me: https://onemore.org/2020/09/10/kushie...

[proxyfish]

Here's my belated Week Two post: https://booksbyproxy.wordpress.com/20...

[Susan]

Here's my week 2 - sorry for being late - medical crap - https://dabofdarkness.com/2020/09/10/...

[natrosette]

Finally got around to writing up my thoughts: https://natrosette.wordpress.com/2020...

[Zezee]

Here's my Week 2 https://zezeewithbooks.wordpress.com/...

[Zezee]

Ok y’all. Here are the questions for week 3 (chaps 32-47). Somehow, I went from freaking out about being unable to think of questions to having too many, lol. So answer some or all, whatever you wanna do. 😊
(view spoiler)[

Phédre slipped during her assignment with Melisande and mentioned that Delaunay is “waiting for word from Quintilius Rousse.” She believed this slip contributed to Delaunay’s murder, but Melisande assured Phédre that she’d already known that information.
• Do you think Delaunay was right to keep Phédre unaware of his identity, motivations, and true intentions to prevent such slips on her assignments?

Delaunay, Alcuin, and the entire household are murdered.
• What are your thoughts on the manner in which this happens (Melisande using Phédre; it occurring shortly after Phédre’s assignment with Melisande; unidentified soldiers committing this crime; entire household killed)? Do you think Phédre and Joscelin were lucky to escape, or is Phédre as unlucky as she believes her name to be?
• Do you think it’s significant that this murder takes place when Phédre has gained enough to complete her marque — that her guardian dies at the moment when she’s able to gain freedom from Naamah’s service, if she wants it?
• Do you think Phédre will be able to have her marque completed? Do you have any predictions of how her unfinished marque might affect her in the future?

• Is it just me, or are you also curious about this strong, compulsive attraction Phédre has to Melisande to the point where she can’t even think straight sometimes? What are your thoughts on this? Do you think Melisande is as drawn to Phédre, or is she simply fascinated by Phédre being an anguissette and what Phédre’s limits are?

We get to meet the Skaldi!
• What were your initial thoughts when Phédre and Joscelin were handed over to them? Were you disappointed that Phédre did not try to fight like Joscelin did or aid him? Were you frustrated by her seeming to surrender or impressed by her quick assessment of the situation or didn’t care and wanted to the story to take a different route?
• What do you think of the Skaldi (lifestyle, culture, government, thinking the d'Angelines are barbarians, etc.) and how Gunter’s people treat Phédre and Joscelin?

Phédre and Joscelin’s relationship is slowly changing. This began before Delaunay’s death when Joscelin shared a bit about his background with Phédre and Alcuin, but the change grew by leaps when Phédre and Joscelin become slaves to the Skaldi.
• Do you have any predictions about where/what these changes will lead to?
• As their enslavement under the Skaldi persists, both Phédre and Joscelin seem to gain a greater understanding of the sacrifices their representative angels made. What do you think about the roles Phédre and Joscelin have to play in comparison to the acts of the angels they worship? (Phédre serves Naamah, who laid with strangers to protect and aid someone she loves; Joscelin serves Cassiel, who remained Elua’s companion despite having to turn on the One God to do so.)
• We’ve now gotten a couple scenes that show Joscelin’s badassery as a sword-dagger-wielding Casseline brother dude. Are you convinced of his abilities as a fighter? He’s also had to loosen his hold on some of his oaths to remain by Phédre’s side. How do you think that will affect him?

We meet Waldemar Selig, the Skaldi who aims to unite all Skaldis and conquer Terre d’Ange.
• What do you think of Selig? Were you impressed?
• How did the way he was introduced in the story affect your impression of him when he does show up (first rumors mentioned every now and then of Skaldi joining forces under one dude; rumors of Skaldi movements indicating they have a leader; Phédre hearing stories of mythical proportions about the Skaldi leader; Phédre hearing his voice and peeking at him between tall Skaldi men; and finally seeing the dude and realizing he’s a tricksy one)? Did it increase your anticipation and curiosity about him?

There are lots of other stuff I didn’t mention, so share your thoughts on them too (all the politics, Hyacinthe, predictions fulfilled, etc.).

(hide spoiler)]

[Maryam]

Here's my week 2! :)
https://thecurioussffreader.wordpress...

[imyril]

My week 3 post: https://onemore.org/2020/09/17/kushie...

[Fran]

Here's my week 3 post https://franlaniado.wordpress.com/202...

[Zezee]

My week 3: https://zezeewithbooks.wordpress.com/...

[bookforager]

Hello everyone!
Here are the questions for WEEK 4 (Ch. 48-61):


(view spoiler)[
Waldemar’s old teacher Lodur calls Phedre “a weapon thrown by a D’Angeline god” and this changes how Phedre sees herself to some extent. How does this change the way you’ve thought about Phedre so far?

Joscelin has broken all but one of his vows during the time he and Phedre have been in Skaldia. How do you feel about everything he has gone through? Everything Phedre has gone through? And the Prefect of the Cassiline Brotherhood’s opinion on these matters?

A whimsical question: Phedre doesn’t seem to be able to lose or give away Melisande’s diamond. What do you think this stone’s eventual fate might be?

And a follow-on to that: all gifts in this story, god-given or otherwise, are double-edged swords. Discuss. 😊

What do you make of Ysandre de la Courcel now that we’ve finally met her? And what of her intention to honour her betrothal to Drustan mab Necthana?

Now that we know the whole of Delaunay’s story, has your opinion of him changed at all?

Finally, Phedre’s marque is finally complete. Do you think she is free? (view spoiler)[ (hide spoiler)] (hide spoiler)]

[Lisa]

My week 3 post is late, but it is finally up! https://deargeekplace.com/read-as-tho...

[Susan]

Here's my week 3. Sorry for the delay. https://dabofdarkness.com/2020/09/20/...

[Peat]

https://peatlong.blogspot.com/2020/09...

Here's week 3 from me

[Maryam]

Here's my (very late) week 3 update: https://thecurioussffreader.wordpress...

[imyril]

Louise wrote: "I'm sorry I'm so ridiculously behind! But I'm catching up now.

Welcome to the read-along!

I'm a bit behind in catching up on posts and comments (in the middle of a 2 week hellpatch at work) so apologies to you all if it's another week before I get to come read and reply to your posts. October should see things ease up, but this next week is going to stay long-days-and-working-weekends full-on.

[Susan]

Here's my week 4: https://dabofdarkness.com/2020/09/25/...

Apologies again for posting late. This read along is proving more challenging than I expected due to my reading disability. I had major surgery in 2017 which left me with a wee bit of brain damage. I had to relearn how to read and there's been lingering reading issues since then. I'm OK for 4-5 paragraphs so what I have been doing is picking a different question to address for each stop. It's not quite what I hoped to be able to do on this read along, but it's better than nothing.

[Fran]

Here's my week 4 post: https://franlaniado.wordpress.com/202...

[Lisa]

Here's my week 4: https://deargeekplace.com/read-as-tho...

[Peat]

Here's my week 4 - https://peatlong.blogspot.com/2020/09...

And welcome Louise and an ouch, that sounds painful to Susan.