2022 Challenge: Ginn Hale's Cadeleonian Series

[Jordan]

Hi Everyone,

If you're interested, this is the space for our 2022 challenge read where we will discuss all the books in Ginn Hale's Cadeleonian Series in addition to our regular BOM reads and rereads of Josh's works.

Here is a list of all the titles in this six-book series: https://www.goodreads.com/series/1764...

(The final book in the series, Master of Restless Shadows: Book Two, comes out March 1, 2022.)

SCHEDULE OF READS HERE:
March - August 2022: one book per month

[Ije the Devourer of Books]

Thanks so much Jordan. When do we start?

[Jordan]

Ije the Devourer of Books wrote: "Thanks so much Jordan. When do we start?"

See my questions in the other thread! https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

[Jordan]

Updated the schedule. I'd really like to have a good discussion with Josh's Winter Kill, so let's start this one in March and read one book per month through August.

[Josh]

Okay, this is a challenge I'm joining in on!

[Jordan]

Josh wrote: "Okay, this is a challenge I'm joining in on!"

YYYEEEESSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!

[Ije the Devourer of Books]

Yes - this will be fun. Thanks Jordan.

[Jordan]

Hi Everyone,

This month kicks off our Cadeleonian Challenge read! We are starting with Lord of the White Hell, Book 1 by Ginn Hale.

Please feel free to start discussing the book whenever you would like, but be aware of spoilers in this thread!

Happy reading!

[Antonella]

I'll start to reread everything, and in the meantime I'll wait for the paperback of Master of Restless Shadows Book Two which just appeared as e-book.

[Jordan]

Antonella wrote: "I'll start to reread everything, and in the meantime I'll wait for the paperback of Master of Restless Shadows Book Two which just appeared as e-book."

YES! I had meant to tell everyone that the eBook just released today.

[Ije the Devourer of Books]

I have started reading it. Just a few pages at the moment but I can tell this is going to be a good book.

[Jordan]

Ije the Devourer of Books wrote: "I have started reading it. Just a few pages at the moment but I can tell this is going to be a good book."

Oh, yay! I'm so glad you're enjoying it so far!

[Karen]

I was surprised to realize that I haven't read any of the books in this series. I'm guessing it's because I bought the Rifter series and the first two Cadeleonian books in paperback... and then found myself reading less and less paper. (It's a light and eyesight thing, as well as the convenience of my tablet.)

So I started Lord of the White Hell, Book 1 on March 1st and a few pages in realized it wasn't just a matter of forgetting parts of the story — it was having never read the story.

Anyway once again I'm kind of knocked out by Gina Hale's gift for world building... even though her worlds tend to make me feel anxious. :)

[Jordan]

Karen wrote: "I was surprised to realize that I haven't read any of the books in this series. I'm guessing it's because I bought the Rifter series and the first two Cadeleonian books in paperback... and then fou..."

Oh wow!

[Jordan]

Ginn’s newsletter came out today and I thought I’d share her words:

March 7, 2022

Hello to everyone—and a special welcome to readers of the Taiwanese translation of Wicked Gentlemen as well as the French volumes of The Rifter Series!

I hope you are all safe and well.

As for me, I’m excited to announce that the last volume of the Cadeleonians Series has been released. Master of Restless Shadows Book Two brings the over-arching story of the Hellions, their friends and families to a close.

So much has happened since I first sat down, imagining how young Kiram Kir-Zaki would shake up Javier Tornesal’s world in Lord of the White Hell. At that time I wasn’t certain if any readers would join me for Elezar’s and Skellan’s continuation of the adventures in Champion of the Scarlet Wolf, much less stay with the story to find out what became of Ariz, Fedeles and Atreau or get to meet Narsi in the final volumes.

Twelve years on, I got to sneak in the Rifter “easter egg” that had kept me from talking too much about a certain Bahiim character, as well as complete the story-lines I could only hint at in the very first volumes.

I’m deeply thankful to all of you who not only followed the stories but reached out to me with letters, art, and encouragement. It’s been wonderful to share this series with you all. All of you continue to inspire me to come up with more and new adventures, so perhaps we’re not saying “goodbye” to the world of Cadeleon so much as “until we meet again.”

All my best,

Ginn

[Antonella]

Jordan wrote: "Ginn’s newsletter came out today and I thought I’d share her words..."

Thank you for telling us.

I commented with Ginn that she should advertise the newsletter and that I was embarrassed that I had missed it, and she told me that this s her first one: I'm relieved ;-).

[Jordan]

Yeah, I think I signed up for it years ago, but this is the first I’ve gotten something from her, which is not surprising when you know her a little bit. Lol.

[Antonella]

So, I reread for the 3rd time Lord of the White Hell, Book 1, and then I couldn't stop ;-). Now I'm starting Champion of the Scarlet Wolf, Book Two ;-).

Something nice: when I read in English I put a pencil sign near the words I don't understand to look them up later. I noticed that now I know almost all the words I had signed in 2010, when I first read the two Lord of the White Hell books. The exception are especially technical words like «byrnie».

[SamSpayedPI]

Antonella wrote: "I noticed that now I know almost all the words I had signed in 2010, when I first read the two Lord of the White Hell books. The exception are especially technical words like «byrnie»."

That made me chuckle. I'm a native English (well, American English) speaker; I'm rereading Lord of the White Hell right now, and I just looked up "cuirass" and "byrnie" not five minutes ago!

[Jordan]

I love that!

I also don’t know either of those words... yet.

I just finished another audiobook and will be starting the audiobook for Lord of the White Hell book one either later today or tomorrow. I’m super excited to get back into this series!

[Antonella]

That's interesting, SamSpayed and Jordan!

So in this case I fared almost better than the native speakers: I didn't have to look up ''cuirass'' because it is almost the same as Italian, corazza ;-).

[Karen]

Jordan wrote: "I love that!

I also don’t know either of those words... yet.

I just finished another audiobook and will be starting the audiobook for Lord of the White Hell book one either later today or tomorro..."

I was tempted to buy the audiobook, but in the sample the narrator didn't do it for me. Albeit, I didn't get in far enough to hear his voicing of the characters, which I noted some of the reviewers liked. He seems to place emphasis on an odd choice of words in some sentences. Also there are hints of some U.S. American regional accent that I can't identify, but that seems odd to me in context of this story. So Jordan, please give us your perspective on the audio and maybe I'll give it another try. :)

[SamSpayedPI]

Karen wrote: "I was tempted to buy the audiobook, but in the sample the narrator didn't do it for me. "

I know what you mean; I'm currently listening to The Gentle Art of Fortune Hunting and not loving the narrator. His accent seems appropriate, at least to my untutored American ears, but he's just far too old to be voicing men in their 20s; he's got to be in his 50s at the very least. Fortunately, I didn't pay anything for it or use up a credit; it's a library audiobook.

[Jordan]

Karen wrote: "Jordan wrote: "I love that!

I also don’t know either of those words... yet.

I just finished another audiobook and will be starting the audiobook for Lord of the White Hell book one either later t..."

I will! I bought them a long time ago when they first came out and don't remember if I listened to the samples or not! I hope they're good. lol. This is the month I have four different book groups on my plate when I normally only have two, so listening to the audiobook will be a major help timewise.

[Jordan]

SamSpayedPI wrote: "Karen wrote: "I was tempted to buy the audiobook, but in the sample the narrator didn't do it for me. "

I know what you mean; I'm currently listening to [book:The Gentle Art of Fortune Hunting|562..."

OUCH. That's not good.

[SamSpayedPI]

Antonella wrote: "So, I reread for the 3rd time Lord of the White Hell, Book 1, and then I couldn't stop ;-). Now I'm starting Champion of the Scarlet Wolf, Book Two ;-)."

Damn. I forgot it ended on such a cliffhanger (well, a relationship cliffhanger, if not an action one). I'm going to have to start book two right away too.

[Jordan]

I’m now half an hour into the audiobook. If the sample came from the first few minutes, yeah, major “oof” there. No breaks between sentences and a very deep voice not fitting for young men. But, as soon as the dialogue starts, it gets better. He uses his regular deep voice for narration but changes his voice for each character and they sound much more like what I’d imagine they should. He also pauses with the sentences. I’m imagining he’ll keep improving as he keeps going.

[Jordan]

I had forgotten about the back washing scene! I’d be horrified if I were asked to scrub my roommates back my first day in a new school!

Also, as I’m currently in the market for a new bookcase, and have them on the brain, I wonder why dorm rooms don’t also have bookcases for students. I know, I know, money probably, but they should!

[Jordan]

I find it "interesting", perhaps in a sarcastic kind of way that Cadeleonian folks are very homophobic it seems, and yet if your upperclassman in an all boys school wants to be aggressive with you, there's nothing you can do but accept it? I get it. Boys will be boys and they're still in school so "it's probably just a phase" and no one needs to worry. Or well, there's no girls here, so they have to get this aggression or need for sex out somehow? Sigh. lol. Very telling.

[Jordan]

I totally had a thought I wanted to share last night.... but darned if I can remember it now.

About to go walking with the audiobook so maybe I’ll remember it then. Cross your fingers!

[Ije the Devourer of Books]

I have fallen behind but will hopefully catch up. I had an interview which was such a stressful process. Thankfully it is over now and I got the job, so back to reading.

[Antonella]

Ije the Devourer of Books wrote: "I have fallen behind but will hopefully catch up. I had an interview which was such a stressful process. Thankfully it is over now and I got the job, so back to reading."

Oh, great! Does this mean that you change job in the same organisation?

[Ije the Devourer of Books]

Antonella wrote: "Ije the Devourer of Books wrote: "I have fallen behind but will hopefully catch up. I had an interview which was such a stressful process. Thankfully it is over now and I got the job, so back to re..."

Different organisation but still involving the church. I can’t announce it yet because I haven’t been given a contract yet :)

[Jordan]

Ije the Devourer of Books wrote: "Antonella wrote: "Ije the Devourer of Books wrote: "I have fallen behind but will hopefully catch up. I had an interview which was such a stressful process. Thankfully it is over now and I got the ..."

Congrats!

[Jordan]

Yeah, I've not been walking much this week which was when I did most of my audiobook listening. I need to get back to it! I have a long walk planned for tomorrow, so that will get me back into it.

[Ije the Devourer of Books]

Jordan wrote: "Ije the Devourer of Books wrote: "Antonella wrote: "Ije the Devourer of Books wrote: "I have fallen behind but will hopefully catch up. I had an interview which was such a stressful process. Thankf..."

Thank you Jordan.

I do love walking and listening to books. The two go together so well.

[Antonella]

Ije the Devourer of Books wrote: "Different organisation but still involving the church. I can’t announce it yet because I haven’t been given a contract yet :)"

In fact I wanted to add: «Answer only if you can talk about it» ;-).

[Ije the Devourer of Books]

Antonella wrote: "Ije the Devourer of Books wrote: "Different organisation but still involving the church. I can’t announce it yet because I haven’t been given a contract yet :)"

In fact I wanted to add: «Answer on..."

😀

[Jordan]

OMG, the on,y time walking and listening don’t work is when some random guy is hitting on you, asking “what’s your name? Is that your real name? Are you from around here? Are you married? Can I give you my number?” UGH. Thankfully, while I live a walkable distance from that area, it’s not a place I usually ever need to go. I was walking a specific route between two branch libraries to test the route for a summer reading project. I got a lot of reading done, but apparently this guy didn’t notice I was plugged in.

Anyway, as I was reading I was beginning to wonder when we would see the machine he’s building and then wondered what he was building. And then I got my answers! Yay!

[Jordan]

I think it's interesting that Javier is Cadeleonian, which is traditionally homophobic, and yet he seems very comfortable in a gay relationship. Obviously, not in public, but he has no trouble starting something and proclaiming what he wants. Do you suppose that's because he has the privilege of a duke and expects to get what he wants?

[Antonella]

Jordan wrote: "I think it's interesting that Javier is Cadeleonian, which is traditionally homophobic, and yet he seems very comfortable in a gay relationship. Obviously, not in public, but he has no trouble star..."

Maybe because he has the privilege of a duke and expects to get away even if he is found out?

[Jordan]

Antonella wrote: "Jordan wrote: "I think it's interesting that Javier is Cadeleonian, which is traditionally homophobic, and yet he seems very comfortable in a gay relationship. Obviously, not in public, but he has ..."

That's what I'm thinking!

[Jordan]

I’ve got one more hour to go on the audiobook. I don’t like that the narrator doesn’t stop to even tell me what chapter number were in. I usually use that to know when to stop it. I can use the sleep timer, but I don’t like to use that if I don’t have to. This is really annoying.

He’s making the tournaments sound like a chore and I wanted to skip ahead to see who won.

This has a vague plot, which is okay, but usually I like to know where I’m going a bit more than this. I will admit, The Rifter series is by far my favorite thing Ginn Hale has ever done. This is good, but it’s not nearly on the same level, imo.

[Jordan]

I take it back. I just heard him announce a chapter title! Lol.

[Antonella]

Jordan wrote: "He’s making the tournaments sound like a chore and I wanted to skip ahead to see who won."

Wow, I'm glad I didn't buy the audiobook ;-).

[Jordan]

It honestly might be just me and my very tired mood brain right now. It was just the move for move description that was getting to me and I wasn’t sure we needed to know every single move. But, I’ve been very tired lately too, so yeah.

[Jordan]

Finished the audiobook last night. We'll see what happens, but I may switch back to the print book for the next one. The narrator wasn't the best choice, though he did a good job with the individual characters voices.

Also... there's a cliffhanger ending! OMG. I didn't remember that from my first read. I'll need to move on to the next one very soon I think.

[Jordan]

Please feel free to continue discussing the first book, but it's April and the discussion is now open for book two: Lord of the White Hell, Book 2! Start discussing whenever you would like, but do remember there will be spoilers here!

[Jordan]

I've started the second book! And I stuck to the audiobook again, mostly because of time issues.

So far I like it, and maybe like it better than the first book. Though the whole thing with breaking the curse is a bit confusing, I admit.

[Ije the Devourer of Books]

I will have to start again. I have had such a busy, tiring few weeks and my reading has been disrupted but I will catch up!