RETIRED: The Bridge of D'Arnath Series by Carol Berg - buddy read (#4 Daughter of Ancients), June 2023)

[Laura]

@Tammie, Choco, Nirkatze & Carol

- when should we start book 2?

And is anyone willing to read the Collegia Magica series with me too?

[Laura]

@Carol - I was wondering.
How much of this book and series as a whole did you plot and plan, and how much of it was the 'characters doing whatever the heck they wanted'? :)

[Carol]

My characters are under my control at all times. :-) What I do is start with a character in a situation and I explore the character...what would woman of Seri's intellect [make sure I have shown this] and state of mind [what would it be at this point in her life? and why? Have I laid the ground work for that?] do if confronted with this situation? How would she react? That is, it has to be character first. I may have an idea for the plot, but I have to figure out how to get there with the characters I am creating. And then, eventually - maybe many times - I have to go over the words and make sure that what is coming through shows the character I am imagining. I knew fairly early on (view spoiler)[ that Karon lived on in D'Natheil. I wanted the readers to be able to look back and see the signs of it without guessing too early - though some always will. (hide spoiler)].

so I don't know the whole plot in advance, that's for sure. I know the immediate parts, but the writing of each scene poses questions and generates ideas for where the plot will go in the next chapter...and maybe a bt of what needs to happen down the line.

[Tammie]

I'm good with starting the next book whenever. I would also like to try the other series with you.

[Laura]

Should we start book 2 now?

[Choko]

Laura, I am in for everything, whenever you guys decide! I am really going to try and pace myself this time, so I don't end up waiting for everyone to finish reading again:))) My fault that:)

[Nirkatze]

I'm game for book 2! And for Collegia Magica! Been wanting to reread.... everything...

[Laura]

Awesome! I'm starting book two then and will keep a faster pace too with this one.

[Carol]

Looking forward to this. Guardians is one of my favorite of all my books. A number of things took me by surprise as I wrote. It is also the manuscript that caused my agent to call me our of the blue one Friday afternoon and say, "Carol Berg, you are a really cruel person."

It made me smile, as she is fairly unflappable.

[Nirkatze]

Carol wrote: "Looking forward to this. Guardians is one of my favorite of all my books. A number of things took me by surprise as I wrote. It is also the manuscript that caused my agent to call me our of the blu..."

LOL! I love how your agent calling you cruel made you smile... also very curious to see if we can spot any of the areas that took you by surprise as you wrote... will definitely be asking questions.

[Laura]

Up to chapter 6

Seri's sister in law is (view spoiler)[ horrible. Despicable to be more exact.

My heart breaks for Seri because how hard must it be for her to see her brother's living son while hers is dead by her brother's hand!
And I just KNOW that is Seri's son because the woman's 2 other children died after birth and the child Seri was shown was cleaned up. And I'm so eager to find out how she will realise it. But most importantly how the boy's reaction will be. (hide spoiler)]
Every time I need to put the book down because of some chore that needs to be done I throw it longing glances and try to hurry up so I can get back to reading.

I loved book 1 but this book here... it's addictive!

About the boy (view spoiler)[ I am very intrigued about his reaction to Seri and everything that's sorcery related. Just as I am intrigued about why he wouldn't allow the healer to examine him.

No child should be so alone. And this fact in itself is again heartbreaking.

I loved the way Seri slowly got him to warm up to her. And I am looking forward to seeing how she will gain his trust later.

The fact that the boy is very gentle and courteous with servants, but pulls fits with his mother as well as everyone else, has me itching to know why. What is behind that particular behaviour?
My bet would be on Darzid because of the figurine the boy threw on the floor with the sword bent in such a way that he could only hurt himself. But that figurine should have symbolised the king, right?
The mystery is deliciously irresistible.

And may I just say that I am so happy Paulo is back!!! (hide spoiler)]

Regarding Karon

I am seriously impressed by the way his character is developing. (view spoiler)[The way he turns into this new persons that's neither the good healer nor the horrible prince, the way he searches for his way.
That's some masterful character development there. What will he become in the end? The perfect balance in between both those opposite natures? Or will one of them weigh more? (hide spoiler)]

[Laura]

Carol wrote: "Looking forward to this. Guardians is one of my favorite of all my books. A number of things took me by surprise as I wrote. It is also the manuscript that caused my agent to call me our of the blu..."

I LOVE this!! :)

[Carol]

Laura wrote: "Up to chapter 6

Seri's sister in law is horrible. Despicable to be more exact.

My heart breaks for Seri because how hard must it be for her to see her brother's living son while hers is dead by ..."

So happy you are enjoying it. It was such fun exploring these characters - trying to figure out how the strange circumstances set up by the first book would affect their lives.

I think that memory is one of the most fascinating aspects of human beings and I find myself exploring it in several of my books. Whether grappling with how we deal with the past we have lived - or grappling with the loss of memory through trauma - or having it forcibly altered...or returned.

And Paulo...of course. He just keeps showing up when I have need of him.

[Laura]

I have a question Carol - is there any particular reason you explore memory in your books, apart from it being fascinating? And did you do any research as far as memory recovery is concerned?

[Laura]

And Carol, since you mentioned that this was one of your favourite books, I was curious which were the others?

And do you have a favourite Character in the Bridge of D'Arnath series?

[Carol]

Laura wrote: "I have a question Carol - is there any particular reason you explore memory in your books, apart from it being fascinating? And did you do any research as far as memory recovery is concerned?"

I honestly don't know why. Maybe it is just that so much of what we are is bound up in our memories, and that imagining the skill to manipulate them opens up SO many possibilities. I haven't done much scientific research into memory, just reading over the years - and observing what memories stick through the years and which ones fade. And then wondering, "what if...." And then, of course, the question of what happens to memory (as well as everything else) if two souls happen to occupy the same body...

That's all part of the wonderfulness of writing fantasy. Thinking about things like that and working out how to make the results seem real... That is plausible results from implausible premises.

[Carol]

Laura wrote: "And Carol, since you mentioned that this was one of your favourite books, I was curious which were the others?

And do you have a favourite Character in the Bridge of D'Arnath series?"

Ooh. Probably shouldn't have mentioned favorites. That actually can change by the day. At this precise moment, the books where I feel the writing and the story and the characters came together in the most satisfying fashion would be Transformation. Breath and Bone, The Soul Mirror, Daughter of Ancients. But on another day, I would say Guardians, for the terrible adventure and the delights of exploring three points of view--or Flesh and Spirit, for falling in love with one of my most beloved characters--or The Spirit Lens, for melding two of my most favorite reading genres (mystery and fantasy) with three of my most favorite characters in a world I absolutely love...or The Daemon Prism for heartbreak and redemption... You see the problem. I truly feel bad for authors who tell me they can't stand to read their own books (yes, there are some!) I know that the writing in many of my books is less than perfect - but the stories and the characters are all dear to me. That's why I love this opportunity to read along with you guys.

As for favorite characters in the Bridge series, I might have to put Paulo at the top, just because he was so unexpected and dear. And then there is Jen (who doesn't show up until Daughter) - again unexpected. But then, you know, I could make a case for all of them. I can't have characters live in my head for years and years if I don't like them.

[Nirkatze]

Guardians of the Keep

Through Chapter 2--so nice to be back in the world again! (view spoiler)[I love seeing Seri fence words again, first with her spoiled sister-in-law and then with Gerick... I can't help thinking that a teenage child is the challenge match of many a wise wit... I love seeing Seri planting word traps to entice him and draw him out...

But so disappointing, to her, to see him react that way! But more out of fear than disgust. Now she has to start over again...

Loving the story of the Guardians, and the descriptions of the keep, from the toy soldiers to the ritual of tax collection... (hide spoiler)]

[Tammie]

I'm in chapter 9. You're right Laura, this one is addictive. It's currently having to compete with The Will of the Many, which is also addictive. I'm having such a hard time choosing which one to pick up and read, haha. (view spoiler)[The sister-in-law was terrible at first, but I was surprised at how quickly she warmed up to Seri, even if it was for her own personal gain.

I also enjoyed the way Seri got the boy to warm up to her. Those were such good parts to read! I knew he had to be Seri's son! My guess is that he is distancing himself from certain people because he doesn't want them to know he's gifted with sorcery, and he's possibly afraid of what he can do and what would happen if they found out. I was heartbroken over the nanny. She was essentially like a mother to him. It's obvious that the king and his wife didn't spend a lot of time with him. Now I'm anxious for them to find him! Darzid must have taken him and killed the nanny.

I'm also loving the way Karon's character is developing. (hide spoiler)]

[Nirkatze]

#2 Guardians of the Keep Chapter 3 (view spoiler)[I love seeing Seri up her game! Forcing all her considerable intelligence on the task of enticing a moody pre-teen. I love the things she comes up with, and seeing Gerick so so slowly unfolding... really heightens the curiosity about the strange dichotomy in his behavior... (hide spoiler)]

Question for you, Carol--was Seri's actions toward Gerick inspired by any specific personal experiences with willful children? It reminds me so much of working with my own students every day, and how I constantly have to remind myself that bad behavior doesn't necessarily reflect on me, but rather on something the student is dealing with themselves...

[Nirkatze]

Tammie wrote: "I'm in chapter 9. You're right Laura, this one is addictive. It's currently having to compete with The Will of the Many, which is also addictive. I'm having such a hard time choosing which one to p..."

LOL I know the feeling! I'm solving the problem by only reading up to the chapters I see other people are up to, then switching to my other book...

[Carol]

Nirkatze wrote: "#2 Guardians of the Keep Chapter 3 [spoilers removed]

Question for you, Carol--was Seri's actions toward Gerick inspired by any specific personal experiences with willful children? It reminds me s..."

Nope. She really didn't have any experience with children, except her own and her brother's childhood as a somewhat headstrong pair. Otherwise, I think she used her own intelligence, empathy, observational skills, and logic to figure out how to approach him.

[Tammie]

I ended up reading a lot of this last night and today and now I'm up to chapter 32. It's really hard to put this book down once I get going. (view spoiler)[Things haven't gone the way I thought they would. I wasn't expecting Karon to kill himself! But I suspect he isn't really dead, even though that's what they are saying.

I'm so heartbroken that their son is being indoctrinated by the enemy. I was hoping there would be a reunion back before he was taken by Darzid, and that he and Seri would get to know each other. But as soon as he was taken I knew that wouldn't happen yet.

This secret plot that the Preceptorate has cooked up is intriguing me.

I'm really worried for Seri now that she's pretending to be a slave. (hide spoiler)]

[Carol]

Tammie wrote: "I ended up reading a lot of this last night and today and now I'm up to chapter 32. It's really hard to put this book down once I get going. Things haven't gone the way I thought they would. I wasn..."

It woud be very boring if all went the way one expected. You, at least, know why my agent called me a cruel woman. It was particularly in reference to (view spoiler)[the indoctrination you mentioned. And yes, it is wicked. Darzid recognized that Gerick believed he was evil and saw an opportunity... (hide spoiler)]

But I am really very nice.

[Tammie]

Carol wrote: "Tammie wrote: "I ended up reading a lot of this last night and today and now I'm up to chapter 32. It's really hard to put this book down once I get going. Things haven't gone the way I thought the..."

You are right! It would be very boring. It's not a bad thing at all that there are unexpected twists.

[Tammie]

Up to chapter 38 (view spoiler)[What a predicament they're all in! Also, I'm loving Paulo in these chapters! It has to be frustrating for Seri to be so close to her son, yet still not be able to interact with him. I am wondering if she is the one leaving the items in his room though, and if she is the one that bandaged his arm in the middle of the night. (hide spoiler)]

[Carol]

Tammie wrote: "Up to chapter 38 [spoilers removed]"

Paulo steps up, doesn't he? I never, ever planned it. If ever a character composed his own words, it is Paulo. One of those magical writing moments.

[Laura]

I am sorry I went MIA in the last few days. My son hasn't been well and I've been in a terrible Social Media slump. But I have been reading and reached up to chapter 21 and I should be here as usual again with chapter by chapter notes. :)

[Laura]

@Tammie - I'll need to step up on it to catch up with you. And even though I suspected that the boy was keeping away from everyone (view spoiler)[ out of fear, I was not sure why he would hate Seri so much. (hide spoiler)] It was heart breaking to realise why later on.

[Laura]

Up to chapter 21

The chapters in Gerick's POV were a real eyeopener and had me literally going: Oh man!! If only...!!'' Several times over.

If only (view spoiler)[the nanny hadn't been so afraid of Seri and told her the truth! If only Seri had pieced the clues together sooner! But then, in her place, I would have burst out crying way sooner I think. Comigor was such a hard place for her to live in with everyone throwing her dirty looks, judging and openly accusing. Seri had a lot of patience and determination!

And I cannot help but wonder, if only the boy would have had someone to really love him as he is and make him feel worthy and loved and safe as he is, sorcery and all, what influence Darzid would have been able to have on him. (hide spoiler)]

Speaking of Darzid, I am still trying to place him on the enemy ladder. What's his purpose, or his place? And I can't help but wonder if he (view spoiler)[knew Exeget or if his treatment towards Gerick is similar to that Exeget gave the heir. For now, from what I could tell, Darzid seems to be using the carrot instead of the stick though. While the prince was told that he was a waste and not worthy, Darzid tries to get Gerick believe that he is worthy and wanted in that place, while slowly poisoning his mind against Seri and everything good and I think this method is way more potent than the stick Exeget used but also double edged. Because the boy is not dumb. (hide spoiler)]

[Laura]

Same - up to chapter 21

I am not sure I got quite right the relationship between the Preceptors and the Heir. (view spoiler)[ The Heir has the power to command them and they must obey, but at the moment they are not convinced Karon is the true heir so he has to submit to them for judgement? If he is proven the rightful Heir, then he will have the Preceptors under his power? (hide spoiler)]

I was sorry to see Dassine (view spoiler)[ die. He was a wonderfully intriguing character. And I do like the new Dulce a lot more than Baglos. But I love the fact that his death stepped up the game and hurled Karon to the wolves. I love a good political spar and am eager to see how it will all unfold. (hide spoiler)]

And I do believe we have the answer to that existential question we set at the end of book 1 about Karon's behaviour. He wanted to (view spoiler)[stay back at the cave to kill those thugs and enact justice. So this time around not fighting for those he loves will probably not even be an option.
Though I do wonder how he will be able to withstand it all after he remembers that Seri is his wife and the child they're looking for his son. He seems already overwhelmed by an immense guilt and sorrow and he doesn't even remember why. I really wouldn't want to be in his place when the puzzle pieces set in his mind and he realises the whole truth. (hide spoiler)]

[Tammie]

Laura wrote: "Up to chapter 21

The chapters in Gerick's POV were a real eyeopener and had me literally going: Oh man!! If only...!!'' Several times over.

If only..."

Yes, there is a lot of non-communication or misunderstanding in this book. It is so sad that things went the way they did because of it.

[Tammie]

Laura wrote: "Same - up to chapter 21

I am not sure I got quite right the relationship between the Preceptors and the Heir. [spoilers removed]

I was sorry to see Dassine [spoilers removed]

And I do believe we..."

I was also sorry about (view spoiler)[Dassine dying. Originally, I was hoping the book would have a lot more of Dassine helping Karon along and Karon and Seri slowly getting close to each other again. I still love the book, even though it went a completely different direction. (hide spoiler)]

[Tammie]

Laura wrote: "I am sorry I went MIA in the last few days. My son hasn't been well and I've been in a terrible Social Media slump. But I have been reading and reached up to chapter 21 and I should be here as usua..."

Sorry that your son hasn't been well Laura. I completely understand the social media slump. Sometimes it's just too much and other things are more important.

[Carol]

Laura wrote: "I am sorry I went MIA in the last few days. "
Don't ever worry about it! This is for fun and relaxation, right? (Sorry your son wasn't well. Hope he is feeling better.)

I will be in and out over the weekend as I will be at MisCon up in MIssoula MT. A very fun fantasy/sf convention.

[Carol]

I am not sure I got quite right the relationship between the Preceptors and the Heir.

Your confusion is the same reason the Prince is so confused, too. That Dassine, whom he trusts, makes him promise to submit to their examination--after training him to be wary of them. The Preceptors are a very important advisory body. For centuries they have had to ensure that their enemies have not wormed their way into the Prince...because the Prince is the ONLY one who can control the Bridge...which has proved to be the ONLY way their world can survive.

[Carol]

So, the big "authorly" revelation about this book is that I never intended to write from the POV of a ten-year-old child. But as the story developed with Seri and Karon forced into such different paths...it became a requirement...and then a delight. So Much Fun to get into this kid's head. (It helped that I had raised three boy children.) You just have to keep in mind that he has been (view spoiler)[ raised in the belief that sorcery is the world's greatest evil. He believed that his father, whom he admired, as well as everyone else in the world would recoil in horror if they learned what he was...and then proceed to kill him. This would be huge for a child of ten. Everything that comes is a result of that belief...and Darzid's exploitation of that belief. Fortunately the nanny did love and care for him, but he saw how she was discounted and simple, so he couldn't really internalize that he was worthy of it. (hide spoiler)]

[Laura]

It's 1 am here and I'm reading. Reached the end of chapter 21 and just HAD to come here to say:

WELL... SHIT!!!

(view spoiler)[Darzid is one of the three lords who was in exile!! No ducking wonder that he was able to twist Thomas' mind that way and influence even Evard. And that was the place he wanted to regain.
That scene with the statues was awesome!!

And the boy's reaction at being told Seri is his mother.... DAMN!!! I get why he would feel that way but it's just so horribly sad that his mind seems to be already so poisoned towards two parents he had never even given a chance.

And now they want him to be the means to Karon's destruction. Will he even be able to find it in his heart to give the father he never knew a chance to explain?!
And Seri?! What did Seri ever do to him?!
(hide spoiler)]

Right now I'm hoping the boy will be strong enough to (view spoiler)[ see through the lies of the Lords. Though I doubt he'll even want to do that if he keeps growing that way - with such a horrible disdain towards people he doesn't consider important. (hide spoiler)]

These chapters that allow us to be inside Gerick's mind are FABULOUS!!

[Laura]

Carol - those chapters you never intended to write from the POV of a 10 year old kid are bloody brilliant. And unputdownable too. The rare kind that make me grab the phone and come onto a chat in the wee hours of the night cause I just have to vent.

You know I can't stop reading now!!!!

[Carol]

Laura wrote: "Carol - those chapters you never intended to write from the POV of a 10 year old kid are bloody brilliant. And unputdownable too. The rare kind that make me grab the phone and come onto a chat in t..."

<3 <3 <3

[Johanna]

I am too late in the party? (I am famous for doing that)

I have read Lighthouse duology and planned reading The Sanctuary Duet some time already. Maybe this would get me back on track 😂

[Carol]

Johanna wrote: "I am too late in the party? (I am famous for doing that)

I have read Lighthouse duology and planned reading The Sanctuary Duet some time already. Maybe this would get me back on track 😂"

Welcome, Johanna! I don't think there is a too late. Everyone here is really good about using spoiler tags. So you can thread through the discussion as you progress. I drop in pretty much every day and am happy to answer any questions or talk about any points.

[Nirkatze]

Laura wrote: "I am sorry I went MIA in the last few days. My son hasn't been well and I've been in a terrible Social Media slump. But I have been reading and reached up to chapter 21 and I should be here as usua..."

Best wishes and health to your son!

[Nirkatze]

Johanna wrote: "I am too late in the party? (I am famous for doing that)

I have read Lighthouse duology and planned reading The Sanctuary Duet some time already. Maybe this would get me back on track 😂"

Yay Johanna! Come join us!

[Nirkatze]

Laura wrote: "Carol - those chapters you never intended to write from the POV of a 10 year old kid are bloody brilliant. And unputdownable too. The rare kind that make me grab the phone and come onto a chat in t..."

Triple dittoing this! And I really enjoyed the multiple narrators in the audio version--it was like getting an extra layer deeper into each character's head...

I also find it really interesting--the first time I read these books I was closer in age to Gerick & Paolo, and now I'm closer to Seri, and working with kids every day... I feel like I have a whole different perspective on the story than I did before...

I also just finished the book yesterday... I meant to come in and comment more but I was dealing with end-of-school-year madness... this book was a great comfort through hours and hours of grading and last-minute frantic planning...

[Tammie]

I finished the book late last night and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I have to say that I never knew what would happen and that's a huge positive for me. (view spoiler)[It looked so bleak at times, and I really wasn't sure that they would pull off getting Gerick out of there. I loved the end! (hide spoiler)]

Nirkatze, that would be so cool to read the book from two different age perspectives.

These books are favorites of mine now. I'm going to buy the trade paperbacks for my library.

[Carol]

Tammie wrote: "I finished the book late last night and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I have to say that I never knew what would happen and that's a huge positive for me. [spoilers removed]

Nirkatze, that would be so ..."

So happy to hear that. This was a tricky ending to negotiate. I wanted to bring the book to a hopeful close - and yet the events were so serious, the boy's beliefs so entrenched... (view spoiler)[ How to convince him to at least try.... enter Paulo! Do you see why I love this kid?! (hide spoiler)]

[Laura]

Tammie - I am so glad you loved this book too!😍
I am also hunting for a paperback of the series now, just like you.

[Laura]

@Nirkatze - Re reading a book that way, after so many years, it's the best feeling! :)
Every single time I did that I realised how much my perception of it had changed.

I also didn't get that much time to be here to chat. The last few days have been a bit crazy. But I have been reading and this series has just become one of my all-time favorites.

[Laura]

@Johanna - Do join us please! 😍

We have set everything under spoilers according to the chapter number and we'll be here to chat with you as you read.

This series is absolutely FANTASTIC!!