"Cold Magic" What did you find interesting about the magic system used in the book?

[Qylie]

You can even talk about how the magic system and science were at odds.

[♥Xeni♥]

Being only like 20% in, I don't have a great grasp of the system yet.

But I do like how Cat can manipulate the energies around her and sort of "hide" between the worlds! It's a really neat trick, and I wish I could do it. xD

[[deleted user]]

I guess I'm just used to the writing of someone like Sanderson, who tends to go into great detail about the magic in his books.

In this one, so far, we know there are a few different categories of magic user(djeli, mages, bards). There's a spirit world which few can enter(like the hunters). There are inhabitants of that world that can cross over to the 'regular' one. And, somehow, the magic is drawn from the spirit world and used in the regular one.

It's a decent variety of magic so far, just not as in-depth as I'd like.

[♥Xeni♥]

I like that Elliot isn't taking pages and pages to explain the system. She explains just enough so that we, the reader, have the information needed in order to understand what's going on!

(read up to like 60% last night. xD)

I was vaguely surprised when I found out that the cold mages take directly from the spirit world.

Also: I am rather amused at how, in this book, it's science vs magic that is the big topic (not science vs. religion like in our world it was). But it's also harsh. I just want to take all the people, shake them, and force them to see, with logic, all their stupid issues. Of course, humans aren't like that, and will blindly follow the path they chose, even if it's the wrong one (well, mostly).

Still, the way that the Magister (Andrei?) just ruthlessly destroyed the airship (waaaay back at the beginning of the novel) really bothered me. Science can do things magic can't do.


Oh! What did you guys think about the Wild Hunt? Too much fairytale strewn into a book that's filled with so much science? (It keeps reminding me of old elves tales, sort of how Mercedes Lackey respun them in her 500 Kingdoms series.)

[Sandy]

I have to admit the attack on a very nascent science seemed brutal to me too, as did the whole "cold mage" feudal setup. Since they got their powers from the spirit world, it seems an evil place also; it really is consistent with the idea of a Wild Hunt which is also sort of brutal. Unless I missed the point and the Wild Hunt is simply a metaphor for fate?

As confusing as that is, I love our heroine with her backbone, values,and fey abilities, and feel sure that somehow things will eventually work out for her. What a great character she is!

[Ami]

Last night my kids wanted something, and I was ready to be done with the whining for the day. I'd been reading this book and I tried to hide by blending in with the wall behind me and concentrating real hard. Didn't work, but it would be handy. I'll have to find myself a cold mage.

[Qylie]

LOL!!! I can totally picture that :-)

[colleen the convivial curmudgeon]

Xeni - I didn't mind the Wild Hunt being part of the story because it is sort of part of both Celtic and Norse religion and lore, and since so much of the story dealt with the spirit world and magic, I didn't feel that it was out of place.

Speaking of, I found the mix of cultures and religions kind of interesting, with Samhain being mentioned - a Celtic feast - and also the Feast of the Unconquered Sun - a Roman day (which is actually on Dec 25th and not the actual Solstice.)

I have a great interest in Druidism and Bardic lore, and also on magic that connects the natural world to the spirit world, so I liked that it was used in the book, but I also agree that it could've been explored in much more depth than it was.