Character Discussion

[Casea]

Dernhil or not? I loved Dernhil. I really wished he could have lived longer.

[Linda]

I loved Dernhil!!!!!!!!!!!! I was sooooo sad he died :(

[Casea]

So if he had lived - who would Maerad have chosen? That would have been an interesting triangle.

[Linda]

I would have hoped for Dernhil.

[Becky]

I loved Dernhil!! Love the fact that he died for another totally selflessly!

[Casea]

Linda wrote: "I would have hoped for Dernhil."

Dernhil is very romantic in my mind. Quiet and strong in a very Beta Male kind of way.

[Linda]

Yes, and he seemed younger than Cadvan too and I think that would have been good for Maerad but... I can't help but like both of them so I'm not to unhappy about what happened (other than Dernhil's death, he could have just faded into the background)

[Becky]

I don't think he was younger, just a bit more naive, or something along those lines. He lives in the past, whereas Cadvan lives in the present. I think in the long run Maerad was better suited to Cadvan, but mainly because she also lives in the present.
Well, that was a bit deep, sorry :/

[Chris]

Becky wrote: "I don't think he was younger, just a bit more naive, or something along those lines. He lives in the past, whereas Cadvan lives in the present..."

I agree--very pertinent points.

[Seline]

Adrianja wrote: "I think Cadvan was better suited for her. Dernhil didn't so much seem younger to me, but more optimistic about things in a way. He was more quiet but open."

I argee with you. While she could've loved Dernhil as well, Cadvan was just the right man for her.

[Becky]

Nelac is a really good character! He put himself on the line for Cadvan and Maerad and didn't really ask for anything in return.

[Casea]

Adrianja wrote: "So what do you guys think of Nelac? :)

I love Nelac. He is like a grandfather figure to me. He wasn't afraid to stand up for something he believed in even if he died because of it :)"

Yep Nelac is a powerful character and is a joy to read. He is to Cadvan as Cadvan is to Maerad. The first scene where we meet him in the rain is inspiring. When he heals Cadvan. Wow! That scene gives me chills. Wise and Powerful but humble. It was clear he could have been first bard but he took a back seat so that he could heal and teach very much like Dumbledore or Gandolf.

[Chris]

Adrianja wrote: "So what do you guys think of Nelac? :)

I love Nelac. He is like a grandfather figure to me. He wasn't afraid to stand up for something he believed in even if he died because of it :)"

I'm glad that Nelac survived Enkir's persecution. In a way, Croggon has let enough empathic characters survive to allow the faintest possibility that she might in the future revisit Pellinor. After all, this is what Ursula Le Guin did in her initial trilogy about Earthsea, when Tehanu was added to become the 'final' part of The Earthsea Quartet. And she still managed to add even more tales! Granted, The Other Wind and Tales from Earthsea didn't meet with univeral approval from some diehard Earthsea fans, but I loved them as much, particularly as they weren't just 'more of the same' but a maturer, more reflective look at her created world.

[Becky]

If she did write another book, I would like to know more about what happens in the Schools. I know we see what goes on in The Gift and The Crow, but I would like to know even more about them. Also I want to know what happens with Enkir and all the other corrupt Bards and schools.

[Becky]

I think he was too bad, i would have preferred it if he had had some redeeming features. With all her other characters, or at least with her heroes and their entourage, they were slightly grey around the edges, yet all her "baddies" were totally black!

He was a good baddie though!! Although I never really understood his dislike of women, that always confused me.

[Becky]

that, or he's just too bad ass to get on with the 'fairer sex' haha!

[Becky]

Oh yeah he is! He totally hides behind his own power and the power of the Bards of the First Circle! He uses physcological manipulation rather than brute force sometimes.

[Linda]

I think Enkir is creepily sneaky (if that makes sense) but I think he is a great bad guy, you may not know his reasoning but you see enough of him that he is believable.

[Becky]

genetically engineered tomato!!!

[Chris]

Maeve wrote: "(I'm not sure what a tomatoh or a potatoh is)"

I suspect that Brits would think it was tehmaytehs that were genetically modified, not tomahtohs...

[Becky]

we say tom-ar-toes! :D

[Becky]

we say tom-ar-toes! :D

[Chris]

Becky wrote: "we say tom-ar-toes! :D"

As a fellow Brit I say that too, but with less 'r' (or I start to sound West Country). Over the pond it's more likely to be tomay-toe...

[Becky]

well i was born down south so there are lots of rrrr in everything i say :D

[Becky]

haha sorry, couldn't help myself :D

As for Nerili, i didn't much like her, not quite sure why, but i remember thinking she was bit smug about the fact that she and cadvan had a bit of history.....or am i thinking of someone else, im pretty sure its Nirili

[Becky]

it always felt to ike she was doing it deliberately to make Cadvan feel bad and also make Maerad feel awkward

[Becky]

oh i don't remember her :/ thats not good seeming as the Riddle is my favourite

[Becky]

oh right yeah her! sorry took my brain a while...
on a different note, who thought Malgorn should have had a bigger role in the gift while they were in Innail, we hear loads about Silvia but hardly anything about him

[Becky]

I've only read the Crow once, compared to like the 10 times i've read all the others. it's not my favourite and she is one of the reasons. i could never relate to her, and she just kind of annoyed me at times, not really sure why....it's weird

[Becky]

i read The Gift, then The Riddle then skip The Crow and go straight to The Singing, its soo bad! Must make a conscious decision to actually read The Crow this time!

[Becky]

i could maybe see how Saliman and Nelac can be seen as too good, but Cadvan and Maerad especially have dark areas. *SPOILERS* I mean with Cadvan's history with the dark arts and Maerad's killing that person they are both pretty flawed

[Becky]

probably, thats normally how it goes, and it also seems to be Croggon's MO

[Becky]

hm, maybe, i hadn't thought of that....

[Becky]

i LOVE those books!! sorry, just couldn't keep that to myself

[Becky]

they really are good! well worth reading

[Becky]

oh, i dunno....they both have theirs pros.....i love Yelena and Valek, but Opal is cool but probably the best are Ari and Janco who are in both so i really don't know which are my favourite.....probably the Study Trilogy though.....maybe....

[Sofia]

I was so disappointed when Dernhil died because he was so sweet and kind. I think he died too soon, though.