EB: Part 3: Chapter 20 - Chapter 29

[Bill]

Please keep all discussion and speculation to the events of Chapter 20-29

No spoiler tags required. Though it would be highly appreciated if you Uncheck Add to my Update Feed to avoid accidentally spoiling this for your friends.

Please do not discuss events from later chapters/books.

[Sky]

Things are starting to come to a head! And another trial and Valyn ends up passed out :)

I was pretty surprised they killed of Ha Lin, but it was nice to see some requeted love for once in these type of books, with Anna kissing the kertang and Valyn and ha lin kissing.

I am enjoying Kaden's training as much if not more than Vaelin's. I loved Tan's quote "If you learn one thing under my tutelage, it will be this: Emptyness exists only when something else has been gouged away". I also found the scene where Kaden was buried up to his nose pretty funny, especially the part where he had an itch for two days that he couldn't scratch. I try to meditate for 20-30 minutes a day, and often get an itch and try to just be with the itch and wait for it to go away. Usually about after 4 minutes I give up and scratch it...they don't go away. I cant imagine sitting with one for two days.

Despite Vaylen's complaints, seems he came out with a good wing selection. I have a feeling (hope?) he and Anikka will become good allies in the future, and I am hoping there is something more to the quiet leach than we've seen so far. I thought he was closer to Laith than it appeared based on his reaction during selection.

[Bill]

Really Valyn again. I am not really liking Valyn all that much at this point. For all of his bluster he hasn't done anything to impress me. I was getting into his character more during Hull's trial with his eyes going black and Ha Lin dying but then he got completely punked on his trial mission. I know that Yurl is the "bad" guy but at least he is a skilled leader and fighter. I kind of hope he isn't responsible for Ha Lin and Amie just because it is too obvious.

I am kind of glad Ha Lin died just for the shock value of it. It seemed like Valyn and Ha would kind of awkwardly go back and forth for the series and I am really glad that didn't happen. Someone said something in the Lightbringer discussions about how it was annoying that there couldn't be a male-female nonsexual relationship between soldiers. I felt the same way here.

I am definitely more into Kaden's training. It seems like he is getting a lot of the same skills as Valyn but without the specific warrior spin on them. He is being taught how to clear his mind and train his reflexes which should allow him to be pretty versitile in surviving. I like hos Staveley is using Akiil to show Kaden's advancement and understanding of the Tan's teaching. I like when they were blindfolded and Akiil was complaining and Kaden told him to just get on with it.

I also assumed he was much closer with Laith and was suprised at his reaction. His wing seems like it has really good potential. Annick and Gwenna both sounded really advanced in their fields for new Kettral.

[Sky]

Yeah, I am also definitely more into Kaden's training. The only thing missing so far is someone to hate...You know, like a evil snotty blond rich kid or something...Where have I seen that before? ;)

[Bill]

Lol. I can't stop picturing Yurl as Malfoy in the last movie.

[Rob, Mayor of Ghost Town]

The only place I've seen the male/female friend thing done well is Malazan, but even there it's very minor characters.

[Bill]

Agreed. I also think Erikson handled same sex relationships the best. They existed as a natural part of the world and he didn't use it as a draw.

[Laurel]

Bill wrote: "Lol. I can't stop picturing Yurl as Malfoy in the last movie."

Yes!!! I'm glad it isn't just me seeing Yurl as Draco Malfoy. I'm really enjoying this book don't get me wrong but Valyn's parts are a little generic for me. Hopefully his team's characters will get fleshed out a bit more. I don't know who it is that killed off Lin and Amie but I don't reckon it will be the obvious Yurl and co, I think he's just being obnoxious. My money is on Annick being innocent of that one too.

Enjoying Kaden's sections the best even though they are a bit slower. I think his trainer is pretty cool, if a bit sadistic and loved the reason behind him being sent to study with the shin.

[Geoff]

I wish there was a bit more focus on Adare (who is at the 'scene of the crime') and Kaden (the heir).

[Suzanne]

I didn't picture Yurl as Malfoy but I will now. I am surprised that the veterans didn't come down pretty hard on Yurl at the funeral and later at the wing assignment meeting for his disrespectful comment. That seemed out of character to me somehow.

[Bill]

That seemed out of character to me as well. I was wondering if it was one of those things where the veterans know he will be put in his place once the missions begin so they don't even bother. There also doesn't seem to be much central leadership.

[Sumant]

I am confused as to whose arc I like more, whether it's Kaiden or Valyn. I am going to settle for both.

The shin seem more like the Chinese kung-fu movie monks to me, who teach their pupils are all the principals hands on with very much less theory.

Also the kettrel I am imagining as special forces for the empire.

[Rob, Mayor of Ghost Town]

I enjoyed both arcs in this book. I liked the contrast in their training.

[Suzanne]

I liked both arcs in this book too.

[Sky]

yeah, i think this section was my favorite of the entire series. Like Rob I am a sucker for training segments :)