Fantasy Buddy Reads discussion

Discussion for the next book in the Rise of Empire omnibus: The Emerald Storm.

If anyone would like to join Jarek and me, comment and add to the discussion! :)

What day do you want to start, Jarek?

Ok so the first chapter starts kinda slow but then bang!! Never saw that coming...I cant believe it but for the 4th time Sullivan caught me right from the start:)

Jarek wrote: "Ok so the first chapter starts kinda slow but then bang!! Never saw that coming...I cant believe it but for the 4th time Sullivan caught me right from the start:)"

I read chapters 1-22.... O_o

Omg like a boss!:D and?:)

Jarek wrote: "Omg like a boss!:D and?:)"

Quite different from the first one and I don't like some of the added characters (minor characters who are with Hadrian and Royce), but other than that, it is just as awesome as the others. :)

Awesome. I guess I have to start catching up then:) unfortunately I don't have that much reading time this week:(

Jarek wrote: "Awesome. I guess I have to start catching up then:) unfortunately I don't have that much reading time this week:("

That's alright - I had a lot of time today, but take your time :)

I'm done!! Not quite as good as the first omnibus, but still fantastic! 5*

Well maybe its just because its the middle act of the whole story. I hear that winterride is the absolute best in the series

Jarek wrote: "Well maybe its just because its the middle act of the whole story. I hear that winterride is the absolute best in the series"

I also heard the last one is the best.

That little contest on the ship in chapter 4 was so cool. Just adds more to Royce being my all time favorite character and a a bad ass:)

Jarek wrote: "That little contest on the ship in chapter 4 was so cool. Just adds more to Royce being my all time favorite character and a a bad ass:)"

Royce is my favourite too and the competition was awesome!

I think Iam really liking the change of setting in this book. Its a breath of fresh air being on the ship:)

Jarek wrote: "I think Iam really liking the change of setting in this book. Its a breath of fresh air being on the ship:)"

I agree. While it's not my favourite of the series, it is different than the previous settings making it, well, a breath of fresh air. I really couldn't put it better myself. :)

Finishing up chapter 8. Things are getting interesting on the Emerald Storm. It was funny to see Royce so out of it on a rocking ship:) (view spoiler)[The situation with elves under the deck is really disturbing. If I were Royce I'd do an all out jailbreak and take over the ship. I have to say that the Modina part of the story so far is not that captivating to me. Maybe its because Iam so into the ship plot (hide spoiler)]

Jarek wrote: "Finishing up chapter 8. Things are getting interesting on the Emerald Storm. It was funny to see Royce so out of it on a rocking ship:) [spoilers removed]"

I liked the Modina story line, but it was a bit of a slower start compared to the ship story.

Well maybe i didnt get to the part where take off yet

Hilfred!!!! Yes!:D

Jarek wrote: "Hilfred!!!! Yes!:D"

Haha - I love Hilfred too :)

Chapter 16:

(view spoiler)[Goddamn, that vision! The scale of things is definitely picking up. So two flames around Royce, one will die - gonna guess that's Hadrian and Gwen? I have a tragic feeling Gwen will be the one to pass, although I so want a happy ending for her and Royce. Also, it sounds like we are heading to Percepliquis at some point - I'm going to guess the road going 'deep into the earth and despair' is pointing towards that.

I've enjoyed this book a lot so far. I was particularly glad that the sea-faring section didn't last too long - for whatever reason, I just never find this setting interesting in books I read, I'm not entirely sure why.

Hilfrid's return was great too, I knew it was coming once his name had been mentioned earlier in the book. I didn't see the romance with Arista actually happening though - poor Hadrian, it'll be an awkward one when they reunite. I actually feel that Hadrian falling for Arista has been handled pretty well, especially as I was sceptical when it was first hinted at.

Overall though, all good so far! I think this may be my favourite book in the series so far! (hide spoiler)]

I really liked the sea part. Maybe because I haven't read anything in that setting in some time. Hilfred is an awesome guy I really liked him. For me the modina part was a bit slow but not so much as to not give this book another 5*. It's a really great build up to something big and again makes you wanna jump to the next one at once:) let us know Sean when you're done so we can jump right in to wintertide:)

Jarek wrote: "It's a really great build up to something big and again makes you wanna jump to the next one at once"

That's exactly what I love about this - it's clearly building to something big!

I'll be finished with this by tomorrow, so feel free to get started on it then. I have a lot of time off in the coming weeks, so will be getting plenty of reading done :)

Great:)

Sean wrote: "Chapter 16:"

(view spoiler)[ I also have the sneaking suspicion that Gwen will be the one to die. He can't survive without Hadrian, no matter how much he loves Gwen. (hide spoiler)]

Ending:

(view spoiler)[The last 80 pages were something alright! I thought the Drumindor section felt a little rushed, but that's my only minor complaint.

Hadrian and Royce hanging in their cell talking about Gwen and Arista was a really charming scene. And with Arista, I guess the whole Hilfrid love-plot complication is out of the way. Unless Gaunt can work his charm on her as they share a prison ;)

This was definitely the strongest book so far, and I like that the ending has clearly set us up for a dramatic finale. What I'm particularly impressed with is that Sullivan's writing excels when he is dealing with the larger, overarching plot. A worry I had early on with the series was that he was great at writing short, fast-paced books, but that when it came to tying things together holes would start to appear. Thankfully this is not the case - I can't wait to jump straight into Wintertide now! (hide spoiler)]