Wrath - F&tF #4 [June 13, 2022]

[Niki Hawkes, I made it past GOTM... barely]

This is a Buddy Read for Wrath by John Gwynne starting June 13, 2022.

[Choko]

Spot!

[Julian]

I already got a small head start and spoiler alert....







It's good.

[Choko]

Hahaha! I have faith and thank you for the confirmation, Julian:)))

[Siobhan]

I'm definitely going to be behind 🙃

[Julian]

Ok so I just reached chapter 56 now and there has been soooo much! I'm going to work my way backwards so spoilers up to chapter 55.

(view spoiler)[Chapter 55 was one of the most eventful by far. Roisin and Lorcan's idiocy finally resulted in both of them getting killed in the dumbest way possible. Lorcan for believing everything his mom says and somehow believing Morcant. Roisin for thinking she had won and was going to somehow end up receiving Domhain as regency. In a way they both got what they deserved, one for thinking this was all still a game, the other for always scheming. At least Lorcan managed to throw away the necklace and Crow saved it just in time. It was a mistake bringing Lorcan to such a vital mission....

I don't know what to think of Trigg still. For the most part I dislike her but I also get where she is coming from since she was always discriminated for being a half breed. She did however result in hundreds of deaths and I still get the feeling that she could be playing both sides. My guess is she will eventually get killed for switching allegiances so often....

I'm glad that Corban and Coralen are finally a pair. We have had +2000 pages of tension building up between the two and like Kulla said, it's about time lol.

I'm curious to find out what Veradis will do when he finally confronts Nathair and his old shield men. If there is anyone that can defeat the shield wall it will be him since he is the one whom has perfected it and knows it best. As of where I'm at currently in the book Nathair was sent away from Drassil and for the first time is alone. I am wondering if he Veradis and Nathair will meet in a skirmish before Corban and crew make it back to Corban's warband. If they do meet I can see it going one of three ways, either Veradis manages to get some of his draig's tooth soldiers to defect, Veradis defeats the shield wall with his own new strategies, or (and I doubt it at least for now) Nathair finally decides to fight back against Calidus and both stars join forces as one.

Speaking of Corban's main crew, I'm glad that no one has died and even more glad that Storm has recovered. Storm's near death moment was the hardest thing for me to read in the entire series so far. I think that Corban's never going to be the same fighter that he once was however due to his knee getting crushed (unless he somehow manages to drink from the cup). I'm curious as to what the remaining Jotun will do after what happened. They should have joined him but instead they are in such disarray. I can see them becoming an extinct clan soon because of this.....

The Old Wolf is still a beast. I have a hard time not placing him as the top human warrior in the entire banished lands.

Lastly one semi small complaint that I have with John Gwynne's story is that we have characters getting captured wayyyyy too often. Maquin and Cywen coming to mind as doing this the most. While the story is good, I wish that he didn't repeat the same plot twice. In this case I'm referring to Cywen once again being left behind after a massive battle and becoming essentially captured by Nathair's crew. The setting is different but the general idea is still the same. I wish that instead we had gone a different route for Cywen this time (even if it resulted in her death)... (hide spoiler)]

[Julian]

chapter 57

(view spoiler)[LOL I think I just jinxed myself with what I posted several minutes ago about my one gripe being characters constantly getting captured. Now Fidele gets captured again by Lykos.... I just found it ironic due to the timing (hide spoiler)]

[Julian]

Chapter 61

(view spoiler)[Veradis gets things done. I love how he just marched up, got the gates open, killed a lot of vin thalun, rescued 180 people, got the gates opened again, and then they escaped Drassil. (hide spoiler)]

[Siobhan]

Wow you're flying! XD

[Nirkatze]

Looking forward to starting next week!

[Julian]

I finished this late last night. I'm both really happy with how the story went and also sad that it is over.

(view spoiler)[So many people died in the end. It reminded me of pretty much the last battle in the wheel of time...

Out of all those whom died however the one who stood out to me the most by far was Maquin. He was more than ready to die by the end after what happened to Fidele. When he was crossing the bridge of swords and ran happily towards Fidele and Kastell I was genuinely happy for Maquin. He deserved peace and happiness more than just about anyone else after all he went through.

On the other hand I was glad to see Rhin and Rafe both see an end. The two (as well as Jael) were probably my most hated characters in the series. Rafe i kind of understood where he was just trying to find his way in life but after his crying mercy trick the first time I was truly done with him. That and also him essentially killing Halion...

Rhin had her death coming too for so long. She was the cause for most of the events that led to the God War starting.

I was surprised that both Meical and Asroth ended up encapsulated by whatever magical elements the treasures had in them. It was not what I was expecting but I'll take it. Originally I had a thought that somehow Elyon was trapped inside of the 7 treasures and that by destroying them he would be freed to return to the banished lands. Things obviously did not go that route but they do leave things open for Asroth to someday return...

Also Asroth was not the antagonist that I was expecting in the end. He was powerful but nowhere near as strong as I'd have imagined. Corban should not have been able to fight Asroth at all. It almost felt as though he was weaker than Calidus due to the writing... I guess after how long he had been spoken of I imagined him as this unkillable god whom only Elyon himself would be capable of defeating. (hide spoiler)]

[Julian]

For as much as I loved the story there were a couple of complaints and plot holes that I didn't understand such as why (view spoiler)[Asroth and his kadoshim wanted to cross over to the land of the living. They were unkillable in their realm... why risk it?? Honestly it sounded like the best thing for them was to continue possessing others rather than risk their own bodies. They were able to take deadly blows without feeling pain in those bodies compared to their own.

Finally, why didn't Calidus just summon more kadoshim when he had multiple treasures and replenish his jehar that had been slain? It seemed as though he could do it at any time but chose not to which ultimately lost him the war. He should have just transformed all the Vin thalum or eagle guards under Nathair to kadoshim and he'd have an unstoppable army.

Also was it just me or did it seem like there was an insane power scaling of the main characters as time went on? Early on the jehar are these unstoppable warriors. Next thing you see is Corban and crew always defeating them. Then it's the jehar turned kadoshim. They are superhuman and feel no pain yet by the end of the book you've got Gar, Corban, Coralen, etc fighting off swarms of them and killing them all. Finally you get the kadoshim in their real forms who are literal devils but a few chapters later you've got Storm easily killing any kadoshim that comes near Coralen when she's injured.There was never a true sense that some faction was stronger than others since they kept one upping it. (hide spoiler)]

[Choko]

Julian, you are a reading beast:))) I am only up to Ch. 8...

Things are looking bleak at this point for our heroes. Just really, JG is letting us know where everyone is now. I was very surprised that (view spoiler)[Cywen is captured again!!! How did this happen? I thought she was with Brenna... This really sucks and I see a repeating pattern there .. At least there is some hope for Storm! Yay!!! (hide spoiler)]

[Choko]

Ch. 9... (view spoiler)[ That family of giants reunion was soooo wonderful!!! I almost teared up... (hide spoiler)]

[Choko]

Up to Ch. 22... (view spoiler)[ Well, Maquin finally took care of business and avenged his boy!!! Good riddance, Jael!!! (hide spoiler)]

[Julian]

@Choko in one of my earlier posts I mentioned the same pattern as well. It is overused in my opinion.

[Siobhan]

I just started! Damn chapter 1 was a good start :D

[Nirkatze]

A few days late but I'm starting today!

I'm also a lot slower in posting this summer...not sure how often I'll be replying. >.<

[Nirkatze]

Siobhan wrote: "I just started! Damn chapter 1 was a good start :D"

No kidding! I'm through Chapter 7 now--and I'm glad everything started up pretty much exactly where we stopped. I needed that refresher! At least I'm keeping all the C's straight in my head... mostly. Still getting Cywen and Coralen mixed up sometimes. Corban. Craf. Camlin...

Through Chapter 7 (view spoiler)[OMG STORM IS ALIVE??? I was not expecting that. YAY!!! The breed-and-die trope has been subverted! And I do find it interesting that Nathair noticed something that looked like a wolf pup, then decided it was a small fluffy dog... I bet that was one of her pups! And we don't know what happened to the kids yet, like Haelan, but I bet they're hiding with the puppies.

Is it better that Nathair is keeping on the wrong path out of fear of losing... rather than because he wants to win? Slight difference... I'm hoping that Veradis can bring him around... or something...

Brina's using blood magic... ominous. I feel the danger that was building in book 3 regarding using the magic book was not fully realized yet. (hide spoiler)]

Choko wrote: "Julian, you are a reading beast:))) I am only up to Ch. 8...

Things are looking bleak at this point for our heroes. Just really, JG is letting us know where everyone is now. I was very surprised t..."

I know right! AGAIN! (view spoiler)[I do remember her getting captured right at the end of the last book though. Was the second-to-last chapter hers? (hide spoiler)]

[Julian]

The Captured and the Recaptured lol

I'm so excited to read what you all think once things really get going! :D

[Siobhan]

I still get Cywen and Coralen mixed up too!!

[Nirkatze]

Julian wrote: "The Captured and the Recaptured lol

I'm so excited to read what you all think once things really get going! :D"

Oh my gods this just keeps happening! it's like bloody ping-pong!

Siobhan wrote: "I still get Cywen and Coralen mixed up too!!"

Yay! I'm not alone! And Krellis and Kastell!

[Nirkatze]

Choko wrote: "Up to Ch. 22... [spoilers removed]"

Yes! When this sequence started, (view spoiler)[jumping from Maquin, to Jael, to Fidele, and around other viewpoints in this sequence--I was thinking: It's the last book, we can finally have these loose ends tie up! And was not disappoint! (hide spoiler)]

I've also been thinking--Choko, I think it was you who last brought this up, maybe in WoT... about how bad guys always end up turning on each other and scheming against each other.

Also makes me think about that old adage--if you have one problem, you have a problem. If you have two problems, you might have a solution...

It's nice, realizing that we're in the last book, and so I'm going in to encounters that brought on stress in earlier books (they won't win, it's too early!) and anticipating that FINALLY some folks are gonna get theirs, and some things are gonna go our heroes' way for a change. Very much looking forward to Lykos getting something sharp stuck in bad places. If he doesn't I will riot.

[Julian]

Not all things will go our heroes' way however...........

[Siobhan]

Rachel wrote: "Finally getting a chance to start this one!

Chapter 1 (only on page 2 and I’ve got to put my 2 cents in 😂) - “."

Thank the gods indeed!!! 😂

[Johanna]

Chapter 1
(view spoiler)[I had actually forgot how Veradis escaped but yay!! Maquin. Now I am excited to follow Veradis' POV (hide spoiler)]

[Johanna]

Rachel wrote: "Finally getting a chance to start this one!

Chapter 1 (only on page 2 and I’ve got to put my 2 cents in 😂) -

Hahahaha

[Johanna]

Chapter 9
(view spoiler)[Okay so you all were right and Storm and Rafe are still alive. And Rafe is something else than normal human. I am curious to see what he is nowadays. I hope and even think Storm will be fine. But I really thought she was dead xD Until you wiser started to say something else. And I started to wonder if you were right. And you were!

Maquin and Fidele are now in the same place, yay! And I think they're going back to fight.

There was one awful killing again :/ That one that was compared with squirrel. (hide spoiler)]

[Johanna]

Choko wrote: "Julian, you are a reading beast:))) I am only up to Ch. 8...
..."

(view spoiler)[Yep! I didn't remember she being a prisoner (hide spoiler)]

[Johanna]

Choko wrote: "Ch. 9... [spoilers removed]"

It was!!!

[Johanna]

Nirkatze wrote: "Siobhan wrote: "I just started! Damn chapter 1 was a good start :D"

No kidding! I'm through Chapter 7 now--and I'm glad everything started up pretty much exactly where we stopped. I needed that re..."

(view spoiler)[Hmm. I again thought what was written and I was "oh okay it was just a dog puppy, hahahah. But yeah maybe it wasn't after all xD

And I also hope that Veradis will get Nathair to see things differently.

And good point! I was glad how she got Storm to feel better but I had forgot the danger with using blood magic. There might be something coming (hide spoiler)]

[Johanna]

Chapter 22
(view spoiler)[Jael is dead, YAY! And it was Pots someone saw earlier, not a wolf. But now we know where Haelan is. I am interested to see if/how Cywen can/will escape. I think they are going to get the Johun on their side but we'll see. (hide spoiler)]

[Choko]

Johanna, that was awesome, wasn't it?! Yay:)))

[Nirkatze]

Johanna wrote: "Chapter 22
[spoilers removed]"

Was super happy when that happened too~! (view spoiler)[And I wonder--It could have been a wolf cub the first time, and Pots the second time! (hide spoiler)]

[Nirkatze]

BTW, Are folks interested in continuing on to the sequel series too?

[Choko]

Nirkatze wrote: "BTW, Are folks interested in continuing on to the sequel series too?"

Totally!!!!

[Johanna]

Nirkatze wrote: "BTW, Are folks interested in continuing on to the sequel series too?"

Yep! I think we talked about it in the last thread as well. It seems we have been excited about the thought even before finishing this series, haha

[Nirkatze]

Johanna wrote: "Nirkatze wrote: "BTW, Are folks interested in continuing on to the sequel series too?"

Yep! I think we talked about it in the last thread as well. It seems we have been excited about the thought e..."

Shiny! Once everyone's done we can start thinking dates!

[Johanna]

Chapter 55
(view spoiler)[Wow!! I love Craf so much! They got the necklace!! It really surprised me how quick they decided to kill Rohain and her son. :( It was awful. (hide spoiler)]

[Johanna]

Chapter 57
(view spoiler)[No no and NO! Lykos got Fidele and I am worried what's going to happen to Maquin. He's definitely going after her :/ (hide spoiler)]

[Johanna]

Chapter 61
(view spoiler)[And the battle started. I hope Cywen meets them soon. (hide spoiler)]

[Johanna]

Finished
(view spoiler)[I cried for Gar so much. Maquin had been my favorite but he was ready to die and I didn't like how Gar met his end. It wasn't fair :( I was glad that we finally got Veradis and Cywen at least to go to the same place. (hide spoiler)]

[Choko]

What did you think about the ending? (view spoiler)[ I don't trust the angels either... Why do all creatures want what they don't have? The angels and the demons have life everlasting, but they want to be in flesh , despite it making them vulnerable and mortal, while people want life everlasting... (hide spoiler)]

[Johanna]

Choko wrote: "What did you think about the ending? [spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[All those battles were amazing. This left things open, I might have wanted to get a bit more time with everyone before letting them go. I love Craf xD But I also liked how people clearly had traumas and it wasn't easy to start to continue living after this kind of war. It was a bit unclear for me why they wanted to be in flesh, tbh. But overall really amazing last installment of a great series (hide spoiler)]