Age of Ash - Daniel Abraham [March 1, 2022]

[Nirkatze]

Thanks Silvana! I still have about 100pages to go--I took a break in the middle and read two different books. :) Getting back into it now.

[Nirkatze]

End of Part 2 (view spoiler)[I was sad to see Andomaka succumb to Ausai. I was hoping for more here, and I wasn't expecting Ausai to go for the transfer so quickly.

What a waste. Why even bother transferring into the boy if they were just going to discard him? I mean, I get that they had no way of communicating with the spirit, and he was the one who put the pieces together and came up with the plan to bring the line back to straight... but still what a waste.

I mean, I've been pretty solidly on Sammish's side, but I'm even more so now.

Though I am curious what...possible benefit...the spirit of Kithamar gives the city. It's been slightly suggested that the severity of the winter, the lack of food, etc, is due to the break in the line. But we haven't been given any hard reason yet--save that this spirit/god has found a way to perpetuate its self-aggrandizement. (hide spoiler)]

[Silvana]

(view spoiler)[I agree with you about Timu. He's almost just like a plot device to get Saffa into the city. On the last point, that was also my question but I would not be surprised if it actually had no real benefit LOL (hide spoiler)]

[Nirkatze]

Silvana wrote: "[spoilers removed]"

Yeah! I was totally expecting (view spoiler)[that they would explore Timmu more to see if Kithamar can be extracted without killing the host. But nope. They jumped right into Andomaka. And even though there was a little tease on her possession--a bit about "she did not die...but it was worse" or something like that, I don't think there's anyone (except maaaaaybe Tegarro) who cares enough to try to do anything to get her back. (hide spoiler)]

And I also just went back and clicked through all the spoiler tags (since I'm almost near the end) and realized other folks had asked the same question I did about why (view spoiler)[throw away Timmu (hide spoiler)], and it's so nice to scream at authors with other people beside you.

Pronouns for Kithamar. It plays a game. (view spoiler)[The Kithamar POVs are creepy. The use of "it", combined with its shifty memories--"when it was Timmu" "when it was Ausai" etc is super creepy. Creeepy. I am getting horror vibes. (hide spoiler)]

[Nirkatze]

Alys & Kithamar, thoughts a little in to Part 2. (view spoiler)[Another parallel: Alys is driven by her grief for her brother--her desire to keep him alive.

Kithamar, on the other hand, has not been allowed to die. No one grieves it. Others give up their lives so it may continue.

It takes life from people who are forced to give. She had a precious life taken from her... if she had the option, to give up her life, for her brother, would she take that option? Would her brother want her to? If he did, he would not be worthy of it. (hide spoiler)]

On magic: (view spoiler)[Very subtle so far. LotR style. We know there is an object that has some potential importance. We know that blood has some power. We know that there are godlike beings. Potentially curses of plague. That's about it for magic. (hide spoiler)]

[Silvana]

I did like (view spoiler)[the minimal amount of magic here. Wasn't the Dagger and Coin series also low in magic? I love that series a lot, highly recommended if you want to read more Dan's fantasy works. (hide spoiler)]

And yes, Nirkatze, that's the beauty of buddy reads. Extra motivation plus other people who actually know what you're reading and commenting on; it's not like I could just discuss this with my friends irl.

[Rob]

Yes, I think Abraham likes the more subtle magic and letting characters drive the plot instead. Even his first series (been a decade since I've read it or so), which was heavier on magic than this or Dagger and Coin was subtle.

[Nirkatze]

Finished! Final thoughts:

There's a lot of cyclical aspects and mirrors throughout the story. Characters who lose family, and a character that drags its family onwards without acknowledging their loss. Grief of different kinds, loss of family, loss of love, loss of a lifestyle, loss of home. Literarily speaking, I found the structure very satisfying.

I am still very curious how the other stories will come about. The author has stated that he is telling a story of one year, in one city, but in three parts. So, what are the other two parts? (view spoiler)[We know they are the two other people who were introduced at the end of the prologue, and we probably passed them in the street.

This book was Longhill's story. The story of people surviving together in the bottom of the city. The story of street folks who survive by their wits and hard work, entwined with Andomaka.

I'm guessing that the other two books will focus on characters and life in a different section of the city, tied to a different member of the a Sal family and the magical conspiracy at the city's heart. We never saw Bryn a Sal save for a drunken moment at a dinner. We barely saw Elaine. And a Sal's advisor Halev has potential for a story as well.

We must meet the shadowy faction that plotted to snap Kithamar's thread. This book focused on the knife--but we also know that replacement knives can be made. I wonder if we will see any of Kithamar's thoughts in the books to come?

I also imagine that the later books must take events at least a little further than this one--to see what happens to Andomaka/Kithamar in the end.

Personally, I'm rooting for Kithamar to be kicked out for good. But I don't know what that will do to the city. (hide spoiler)]

[Nirkatze]

Silvana wrote: "I did like [spoilers removed]

And yes, Nirkatze, that's the beauty of buddy reads. Extra motivation plus other people who actually know what you're reading and commenting on; it's not like I could..."

Exactly! My RL is just as devoid of book conversation partners.

I've read the Long Price (though I actually never read the conclusion), but not Dagger & Coin yet. I'll have to pitch a BR for it some year. :)

[Nirkatze]

re: minimal magic

I can't actually think of other books I read (I'm also kinda tired though) that have such a subtle magic. Guy Gavriel Kay probably.

What's also interesting though, is that even though magic is fairly minimal--it is present enough in life that no one denies it. There's no scoffing at "that's impossible" or "magic doesn't exist"--Alys takes the candle's abilities at face value, and she wasn't even surprised at Timmu's transformation. Then again, she was dealing with the world through a muffler of grief, so she wasn't really reacting to much.

It's just interesting to see that kind of combination--a world without much magic, but where no one really cares, and where the magic is not a focus for anyone. No one's trying to learn it or manipulate it, or if they are, they are approaching it they same way they would any other worldly problem.

Then again, there's still books 2 & 3. :)

[Kevin]

Just finished it! I know I'm about a month behind but work and life can get in the way. I really enjoyed it and am glad it was chosen as a book read.

Where to begin... Didn't care for the main characters at first, both Alys and Sammish had to grow on me. In the end I began to feel a connection with them. I was happy with the direction both of their arcs are heading in. Sammish heading south to grow and Alys stepping into what she thinks is the old caretakers role finally at peace with Darros death.

I'm really glad Abrahams didn't end with any of Kithamars thoughts. Really leaves it open ended with the reader getting to fantasize what's going to happen next. The last sentence of him discovering the dagger was missing he is definitely not going to be happy. Excited to see what happens next now that we've reached the prince being killed.

I was little scared at first when I had read that the whole novel was only going to take place in one city, but ended up not really minding. I'm usually drawn to novels more grand in scale ( Dune or WoT) and rather enjoyed the smaller scaled setting. Each district was had its own theme and I rather enjoyed the atmosphere and setting. I really enjoyed the fantasy/magic setting with the industrial city of Kithamar. It reminded me of an older PC game called Arcanum: Of Steamworks and Magick Obscura, Very Nice.

I've seen it mentioned a few times, but I really enjoyed the magic in the book so far. I know it really hasn't been touched on yet. The candles opening portals, the blade rituals to pass on spirits. The confrontation between Safa and Kithamar at the end hinting at a magic battle. The reader knows magic exist in the world it has just played a more subtle role so far. Hopefully it makes a bigger presence in the next book, ( maybe sammish learns some skills!!!) but it was perfectly introduced for now.

I'm really excited for the book 2 to see what happens next. I would expect Alys peace won't last long. Kithamar is going to go on some type of vengeance spree. I hope Sammish learns some new skills in the Bronze Coast. Obviously I would like to see why and how Sammish and Alys meet back up.

[Nirkatze]

Kevin wrote: "Just finished it! I know I'm about a month behind but work and life can get in the way. I really enjoyed it and am glad it was chosen as a book read.

Where to begin... Didn't care for the main ch..."

Alys & Sammish were slow to grow on me as well. I'm glad the way their paths went though, and ultimately (view spoiler)[I was glad the author didn't try to force them together. Their paths parted ways, and that was for the best. (hide spoiler)]

Reading your notes, I realize how much I've already forgotten from the book! Will definitely need a refresher when book two comes out. Though, I wonder how much of the questions you asked will even be answered. All three books are supposed to cover the same expanse of time--rather than one after the other, they are three pieces of the puzzle. This was Alys' piece, the low-city piece, maybe the dagger's piece, maybe the priestess-Kithamar's piece. What are the other pieces going to be?

Abraham has said that the other two characters are the ones mentioned at the end of the prologue. I'm curious to see how they fit into it all.

[Kevin]

Nirkatze wrote: "[I was glad the author didn't try to force them together. Their paths parted ways, and that was for the best"

This part was either going to make or break the book for me. In the end I didn't have any issues with them working together. The each seemed like the type of person to use what resources they had to accomplish what personal goals they had and working together made sense. So they stayed true to character with who we had bonded with. But I would be lying if I didn't say I was hoping there character arcs had come to a head at the end of the novel. It just seemed to cheesy, or an easy out, for them to make up and "defeat the bad guys".

[Nirkatze]

Kevin wrote: "So they stayed true to character with who we had bonded with. But I would be lying if I didn't say I was hoping there character arcs had come to a head at the end of the novel. It just seemed to cheesy, or an easy out, for them to make up and "defeat the bad guys"."

Too true. I can't deny I was rooting for Sammish--but I was also mad at her for not seeing how Alys wasn't worthy of her. But like you said--it wouldn't have been "true to character". Doesn't mean I still wouldn't hope for it. :) I would like to see them happily established--alone or with someone else--later on their paths though. I'm hoping for a cameo in an epilogue.

[Kevin]

Nirkatze wrote: "Kevin wrote: "So they stayed true to character with who we had bonded with. But I would be lying if I didn't say I was hoping there character arcs had come to a head at the end of the novel. It jus..."

I've thought about this and if sammish spent the 2nd book away studying with the bronze lady and then making a triumphant return to get back with alys, I would support that. I did feel bad for sammish with how she seemed to be treated by alys the whole time.

[Nirkatze]

Kevin wrote: "I've thought about this and if sammish spent the 2nd book away studying with the bronze lady and then making a triumphant return to get back with alys, I would support that."

Mmm, I could get on board with that--but I'd want to see major character growth from both of them to where they get to see each other as new people. Not sure we're going to get any more of Sammish and Alys at all in this series though.

[Nirkatze]

Rob wrote: "I'm about a quarter of the way in. So far so good. Through chapter 11. I admit to being a bit confused as to where this is fantasy vs historical fiction. I guess the ghosts and we'll see what else ..."

I think you might have meant this post for She Who Became the Sun Rob. :)

[Rob]

I'm all over the place :)