Cycle of the Scour #1-3 (October 2023)

[Ann-Marie]

Timelord Iain wrote: "Seems like everything time jumps these days… anything more than 6-18 months is a time jump in my opinion… depends on the series… Dresden has a big case every 6-12-18 months in-series timeline…

Oct..."

I haven't finished Dresden and when I do go back to finish I'll be re-reading the entire series but I don't recall major character development in the time jumps. Like The Founders series there was significant character development/events that happened and we as readers missed out. (Okay, ME as a reader because I am the only person that was bothered it seems lol) If a time jump is done well I have no issues is what I am saying.

[Nirkatze]

Was just thinking of the Founders for time jumps... I think the only reason I was ok with it is because I was forewarned by everyone else, being a latecomer to the BR....

I'd love to do a Dresden reread... probably whenever the next one comes out, or the one after that... I want to try audio this time...

Not sure when I'll get to #2, but maybe sometime next week...

[Ann-Marie]

Nirkatze wrote: "I'd love to do a Dresden reread... probably whenever the next one comes out, or the one after that... I want to try audio this time..."

I never did the audio because I swear there was a random book in the middle of the series with a different narrator but either I epic failed or James Marsters re-recorded but now I would absolutely give the series a listen at some point in the future. I loved the series then one was a BIG stinker for me, I liked the next and then got another stinker then there was a huge delay between releases and I noped out of the series but I would like to revisit for sure!

/end ramble

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

The Dresden audio is great... narrated by James Marsters... Spike from Buffy...

I've grown used to time jumps being more common in science fiction / fantasy...

But yea, I don't count Dresden or October Daye, really... those are just contemporary UF trying to stay present day over time, basically...

A Shadow in Summer and the Long Price Quartet was one of my first experiences with the phenomenon... that series spans decades, to tell a story across a lifetime...

I also read a book once, but I can't remember the name of it, for the life of me, that keeps jumping ahead 7 years, from age 7 to 70ish...

And of course, Sun Eater has spanned nearly 400 years now, in 5 books...

Like you guys said, the main distinction here is that big things happen in the gaps, and you're left to piece them together to get a clear picture of how things are different, now...

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

Nirkatze wrote: "Was just thinking of the Founders for time jumps... I think the only reason I was ok with it is because I was forewarned by everyone else, being a latecomer to the BR....

I'd love to do a Dresden ..."

To keep them spread out, we need to read one every 10 days this month, and every 7 days the next 2 months... that's my goal...

I kinda paused in chapter 4, tho, and jumped over to Peace Talks BR...

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

Ann-Marie wrote: "Nirkatze wrote: "I'd love to do a Dresden reread... probably whenever the next one comes out, or the one after that... I want to try audio this time..."

I never did the audio because I swear there..."

#13 was originally recorded with a different narrator, because James Marsters was committed to filming a foreign movie, and the publishers weren't willing to delay the audio for several months, I guess... but fan outcry led to it being re-recorded later on, and replaced on distribution sites...

[Ann-Marie]

Timelord Iain wrote: "Ann-Marie wrote: "Nirkatze wrote: "I'd love to do a Dresden reread... probably whenever the next one comes out, or the one after that... I want to try audio this time..."

I never did the audio bec..."

Thanks for letting me know I am not delusional lol

[Nirkatze]

I feel kinda bad for the substitute narrator... not his fault he's not James Marsters... but I can also see myself as one of that crowd demanding a re-release...

Y'know, I think I didn't finish The Long Price Quartet largely because of the time jump... I couldn't identify with the characters once they got old, lol. I've always meant to go back and give it another try. I did that with Outlander too, when the MCs went from being in their 20s to 50s between books.

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

Got back to Cycle of Arawn #2: Great Rift, after pausing it at work days ago, and doing a bunch of other Buddy Reads instead... been binging it all day...

Lots of stuff has happened, and Tim Gerard Reynolds is an easy narrator to listen to...

(view spoiler)[ boat fights, recruited natives, quests for independence, lies & treachery, salvaging some new magic ideas from the looms (bluetooth earpieces), return to the Council, back into the fray, more negotiating with the natives, instigating war, planning for war, fighting war (hide spoiler)]

Overall, I think Dante & Blays matured a bunch in between the books, and are much more in control of their fates/lives now, than in the first book... which I like...

The general narrative path of the story is giving me Chronicles of Amber flashbacks, for some reason...

Just reached Chapter 25, near the end of Great Rift, and (view spoiler)[I can't believe Cally is just dead like that... so sudden... but thrusts the story in a new direction, for sure... (hide spoiler)]

[Ann-Marie]

I ended up starting this yesterday after I finished Red Country and I am enjoying it enough so far, I like the banter between Dante and Blays. My main complaint is how long the chapters are again, why are they like that? It is annoying to try to swap between reading and listening....

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

Ann-Marie wrote: "I ended up starting this yesterday after I finished Red Country and I am enjoying it enough so far, I like the banter between Dante and Blays. My main complaint is how long the chapters are again, ..."

I think that's going to be the norm... I think the chapters are meant to be like mini-adventures?... they tend to chronicle an entire event, for the most part... the book manages to have 25-30 chapters, mostly because it's so long... each chapter is 40-80 minutes, which is 20-40 pages I think...

I like the banter, too... and Tim Gerard Reynolds is good for it, same as the Riyria series...

I just finished... I thought alot was crammed into that ending, to setup the next book, from what I knew was coming reading the blurbs... (view spoiler)[guess there really was a Great Rift... i wonder what those blackened fingers will mean for Dante going forward... was also surprised he was able to fill the Rift back in so easily, honestly...

When it happened, I knew Lira was going to be caught in the crossfire... only real way I saw to cause a rift between Dante & Blays... I don't think it was fair of Blays to not give Dante a chance to explain/respond... Dante really didn't seem to want to sacrifice Lira... but she was probably dead either way... the Rift was the only way to end the battle and win, and Lira seemed to understand that in the end... also, I think Dante had to do something with all that power, once summoned...

Dante becoming High Priest of the Council was kinda hilarious in the end, considering how depressed he was without Blays... (hide spoiler)]

[Choko]

I started Great Rift#2 this morning and am really enjoying the banter! The author has definitely made a step up in both writing and structure of the story. I actually had a smile on my face through the first four chapters:) So it's been 5 years since we last saw them... I don't really feel like we have lost much development off page though... Just the two MCs seem to be more comfortable in their friendship, which is only to be expected.

Up to Ch. 10 (view spoiler)[ I see Blays is going to be falling for Lira. I hope she doesn't come between them somehow. I don't think Dante likes her like that, but you never know. Also, right before the night when Blays and Lira were dancing, I was thinking how add it is for Dante, a young and healthy man, to not have been infatuated with anyone yet on page... In the first book He mentioned some girl back home when he was really young, but nothing since... Not even a guy. That is a bit unusual, hm?

I am In Love with The Norren! Specifically Mourn! I was laughing so hard in the beginning when we met him. The conversations between the three of them were hilarious! And I don't really blame his tribe for lying to Dante in order to get their people free ..

The battles on the river and in the Tower were pretty cool. And, as Iain called it, the magical Bluetooth/looms! I even enjoyed Dante learning to play the Norren game.

They just got back to Cally and his antics with cleaning the chimneys:))) But he is once again sending them off and his last lesson kind of felt as if he is preparing Dante to replace him, as if he is expecting to die... I don't like that... (hide spoiler)]

As I said, loving the banter and the flow so far:)!

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

They're much more mature (at least in regards to being valid people, and not street urchins on the run all the time)...

[Choko]

Yes they are. They are still young, but they are adults and actually think things through... mostly:)

[Ann-Marie]

2 chapters left in Rift, I plan on finishing tonight!

[Ann-Marie]

Finished and man, (view spoiler)[what a downer ending! I didn't expect Cally to just die like that but it made sense how it all played out. The thing with Blays about Lira though? No! There goes the banter at least for some of the next book which could potentially suck! Overall I enjoyed it, definitely liked the latter half more than the first.

I feel like these are unnecessarily long and could have benefited from a good editor but I think these were his first 2 books maybe? I liked them enough to continue though. The next one is only 564 pages..... (hide spoiler)]

[Ann-Marie]

I have 2 books to read for IRL book clubs coming up, one of which is sci-fi which is not my first choice so I am not sure when I will jump into book 3, I want to make sure I get those both read in time.

[Choko]

Great Rift #2 ... Ch. 16... (view spoiler)[ I can't believe Dante drunk-kissed Lira! I am kind of glad it didn't go anywhere...

I really hope they manage to kill that Duke! He seems all rational and normal, until you understand how absolutely cruel he is! If he doesn't die, I want him to be enslaved by someone, so he can see what it feels like!!!

I am glad, when they got back home Cally was there to meet them. I wasn't sure he would be alive. He seems to be succumbing to his age... (hide spoiler)]

[Choko]

Ann-Marie, this time you flew through the book!:))) I am glad you liked it better than the first one. I feel the same...

[Ann-Marie]

Choko wrote: "Ann-Marie, this time you flew through the book!:))) I am glad you liked it better than the first one. I feel the same..."

I did get through this one quickly! I read more than I listened which is always faster for me, I only listen to audio so much because I can do so while I work lol

[Ann-Marie]

I have 3 days to read the next, I started this the other day and put it aside for the conclusion to The House Witch series. I will likely re-start tomorrow, I should be able to finish it before July 1st lol

[Choko]

I will probably start tomorrow as well:)))

[Nirkatze]

Gah! I'm trying to finish up the separate BRs, but then I too need to come and blast through the last few books...

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

Started… liking it… (view spoiler)[ Dante+Lou is making me think of some of the Penric books…

No idea where the plot is going at the moment, really… (hide spoiler)]

[Ann-Marie]

Through Chapter 8 (view spoiler)[Dante just blew up Blays's plan? That was really dumb lol I like Lew but I miss the Dante/Blays interaction from the prior books. Those lights Dante was investigating will no doubt come into play at some point I think, if not then that was some wasted pages. (hide spoiler)]

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

I made it to a similar point in Black Star... right to about when the Black Star is first mentioned...

I'm sure everything will have purpose... altho, some of it also might just be that Dante is at loose ends without Blays, same as you :D

Blays, on the other hand, is righteously furious right now... there were so many better ways to handle the situation, (view spoiler)[when Dante finally found Blays again... (hide spoiler)]

I'm a bit confused on the timeline... there was a 5 year time jump between White Tree & Great Rift, and a 3 year jump between Great Rift & Black Star... but Blays mentioned 10 years in regards to the war and the king... maybe I'm just not accounting for the time that passed DURING each book...

[Ann-Marie]

The way I read it they are 3 years since the end of the last book but I may have that wrong. Through Chapter 14 (view spoiler)[Dante was a complete ass the way he handled confronting Blays! But now Blays has control of the nether, love that for him! I can't wait for those 2 to run into each other again and Blays use the nether on him lol (hide spoiler)]

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

Mussels: Nature's Phlegm :D

[Ann-Marie]

Timelord Iain wrote: "Mussels: Nature's Phlegm :D"

lol

[Ann-Marie]

Through Chapter 27 (view spoiler)[I am disappointed that Dante & Blays are still estranged. So far I am enjoying Blays's chapters much more than Dante's but his are picking up and I am looking forward to finding out why Lew just got arrested. I am enjoying the action so far and there is some replacement banter so it's not gone entirely but the Dante/Blays dynamic was my favorite part of the first 2, let's get the boys back together! (hide spoiler)]

I plan on finishing today for sure!

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

Ann-Marie wrote: "Through Chapter 27 [spoilers removed]

I plan on finishing today for sure!"

I took a nap, but am back to finishing today, as well... the main upside to what's going on in this book, is what it will mean for the Cycle of Galand, I think, when the dynamic duo are no longer estranged...

I agree about liking Blays' storyline more... I'm in chapter 28...

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

Chapter 29... that was... abrupt...

[Ann-Marie]

The office closed early for some reason and I was like go see the new Indiana Jones movie or nap....Napping won out then I went to dinner with friends but I am now through Chapter 34!!!

(view spoiler)[So the boys are together and they are again separating but I think it is only temporary this time. Well I always thought it would be temporary but you know what I mean. I knew the Pocket people would be mad but they collapsed that staircase like Nope, see ya later.

Poor Lew! That was a sad death for sure, he was one of the characters that had grown on me, Cee as well. I am glad the Norren are still around too. (hide spoiler)]

I switched back to reading, my Kindle says an hour 16 minutes left, easy peasy but I likely won't post my final thoughts tonight :)

[Ann-Marie]

I finished last night (view spoiler)[I really liked that Dante used the stone to save Blays, I mean as soon as he died you knew what was going to happen but I was here for it. Blays's solution to staying with Minn was a good compromise, I am happy they are back together and clearly a larger group now. I thought that last battle was very well-done but the action overall was solid. Kind of dragged at the beginning, especially the Dante chapters, but the second half was really good. I also like that significant characters die in this first series, lends to actual tension because you never know who will make it.

Looking forward to see what trouble they get into next trying to save Dante's father (and him according to the precis for the next book!). (hide spoiler)]

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

Agreed... I had similar feeling about it all... and it looks like another 3 year time jump heading into Cycle of Galand... for some reason I thought it was going to be a bigger jump...

[Nirkatze]

Ann-Marie wrote: "I ended up starting this yesterday after I finished Red Country and I am enjoying it enough so far, I like the banter between Dante and Blays. My main complaint is how long the chapters are again, ..."

Finally back to these books--only in Arawn #2. Really enjoying the banter again--the clansmen are pretty funny too.

[Nirkatze]

Arawn #2 Great Rift Chapter 6 LOL (view spoiler)[No Jo-sin-jo? WAAAAT! LOL I assume that means we won't be getting any more silly "Jo-sin-jo says..." quotes.

I do like how it considers the military implications of instantaneous communication. It's interesting to think of how much of success in war relies on accurate and timely communication and information. One of the best stories that did this is a Sanderson short story... Firstborn, I think? (hide spoiler)]

[Nirkatze]

Still on #2 Great Rift I think circa Chapter 15 or so? I liked the "There is no stick" scene, very Matrix... still laughing at all the Norrins...

I am having the hardest time focusing on this narrator. His voice just tells my brain to turn off and go to sleep... though I do think he has great comic timing and delivery...

[Choko]

Norrins are so awesome!!!

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

Nirkatze wrote: "Still on #2 Great Rift I think circa Chapter 15 or so? I liked the "There is no stick" scene, very Matrix... still laughing at all the Norrins...

I am having the hardest time focusing on this narr..."

Tell that to Stick, the most important character in the Cosmere: https://coppermind.net/wiki/Stick



"I Am Stick"

There's a secret deleted interlude from his POV, that was released on April 1st, 2014: https://www.brandonsanderson.com/word...

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

Nirkatze wrote: "Still on #2 Great Rift I think circa Chapter 15 or so? I liked the "There is no stick" scene, very Matrix... still laughing at all the Norrins...

I am having the hardest time focusing on this narr..."

It's a shame... I really like Tim Gerarld Reynolds... but I can how it's good sleepy-time sounds, too...

I'm gonna rename the thread for July... me & Ann-Marie might be the only ones on schedule, but I'm sure you guys can catch up at some point :D

[Nirkatze]

I'm hoping to finish up this week... but we'll see. ^_^ Just too many good books to read...

I've thought it would be fun to do a children's book of the conversation between Shalan & Stick... kind of a Green Eggs & Ham type of thing.

[Ann-Marie]

I started The Red Sea tonight since I think the Tarot Sequence is unlikely to start tomorrow lol

I have only read the first 2 chapters (view spoiler)[He is not messing around this time, right into the Dante's Father story which I love. Way too early to tell how this will play out but looking forward to it! (hide spoiler)]

I have been half listening/half reading and while I like the narrator I have been preferring the ebook so whenever possible I will pick that format here.

[Ann-Marie]

Choko wrote: "Norrins are so awesome!!!"

I agree totally!!!

[Nirkatze]

Finished Arawn #2 The Great Rift and waaaaaat??? (view spoiler)[Both Cally and Lira dead? Cally I get, All Mentors Must Die--but what was Dante saying about killing Lira because she and Blays were going to get married? It wasn't just an accident? I'm confused...

The bit with Corra was really tough. All the soldiers in the building deserve to be buried neck-deep next to to a flesh-eating ant hill.

I liked how Dante exposed Cally's real murderer... and now he's High Priest. Will that curtail his wandering? (hide spoiler)]

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

Nirkatze wrote: "Finished Arawn #2..."

(view spoiler)[Cally surprised me, but also made sense...

I don't think Dante killed Lira on purpose... there just wasn't a better option at the time... it was continue and watch Lira die, or stop and watch everyone die...

The series is decent at consequences, but I don't think Dante is going to settle down and become a priest overnight... or ever, really... more like he's on-call for dire situations... (hide spoiler)]

[Nirkatze]

That makes me curious to get to the next book, but also a bit hesitant to get to the next series... I'm not a huge fan of prequel series. I always want to know what happens after, rather than before.

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

Nirkatze wrote: "That makes me curious to get to the next book, but also a bit hesitant to get to the next series... I'm not a huge fan of prequel series. I always want to know what happens after, rather than before."

???

This is the prequel series... reading in this order, everything is Chronological... only Scour is a prequel, since it follows Cally, and I think the previous war that pushed to Scour Arawn from the pantheon of recognized gods...

[Ann-Marie]

Yeah I am through Chapter 6 and it is a few years after the last book, Dante & Blays are again traveling (view spoiler)[and being ridiculous, that part with the shells and how they traded for the worthless part of the item was awesome! You probably have 19 knives ont hat side of your body....You do not want to hug me lol (hide spoiler)]

[Ann-Marie]

OMG so I just went to swap to the ebook and it is just chapter 1, the entire book, so swapping between the ebook and audio is going to be a huge PITA.....