Fantasy Buddy Reads discussion

Emily wrote: "I'm about 30% in... thanks for the warning about the ending Nirkatze! I'll know to brace a little lol

I'm kind of amused at how photographers are considered scandalous [spoilers removed]"

I laughed out loud at the introduction to the storyline, but it made more sense as it progressed... (view spoiler)[there was a whole business of "French postcards" in the early 1900s, when photography and motion pictures were new... sounds very similar... and that slimy guy is a piece of work... every industry has shady elements... especially this kind of industry... (hide spoiler)]

I started this last night, but only made it through 1/3 or so, because I had to keep pausing and rewinding, when I wasn't paying close enough attention to the story...

Just to let you know I have started and finished and one sitting. I love this world and Thara. And really, waiting for the next one will kill me.

Timelord Iain wrote: "Emily wrote: "I'm about 30% in... thanks for the warning about the ending Nirkatze! I'll know to brace a little lol

I'm kind of amused at how photographers are considered scandalous [spoilers remo..."

Ooh, cool historical comment Iain!

@Mayim--gah! Me too! That's the curse of reading a new release... who knows how long until the next one? At least a year.

I definitely didn't want the story to end... clearly at least one more book, altho this series could go on forever...

I assume the next one will be called (view spoiler)[Stairs of (whatever that relic for the church of the lost is called), and involve Celahar recovering from his psychic injury (hide spoiler)]

I was forewarned, by comments here, but still sad when the last page proved to be the end...

I loved the new characters, and everything said here... Celahar's plight of self-worth gave me Monk & Robot vibes... both series have similar philosophical/contemplative vibes, but Celahar's world isn't nearly as utopian... as someone said, it's decidedly similar to a historical mystery setting... altho Amalo seems decidedly lacking in police or Bow Street runners (I think that's a British Precursor to the police / Scotland Yard, with connections to the Crown?)... anyway...

Katherine Addison's website and the internet is lacking in info for the next book, but I'm hopeful that the speed of this book's release and the previous books are a sign of things to come...

I am reading the new book right now and love the fact that it starts right where the previous one ended... I really like Calabar!

I also very much enjoyed this one and didn't want it to end.. I see what your saying with the comparison to Monk and Robot, Iain..

I probably should have "rewinded" in a couple places because I kept forgetting who was talking because the names were just unfamiliar and a lot of them sound the same...

Hopefully we get info about the next one soon!!

You guys are not kidding about the ending! Now we need the next book to come out as soon as possible! Loved the storytelling and the underlying gentleness of the main characters, but also not stinging on characters who are horrible beings as well... Overall, really well written and enjoyable, despite the mystery of the girls being quite obvious from the start. Thank you guys for reading this series:)))

I started the new book as well yesterday.Addison has a story to tell and doesn't waste time, right into a new mystery. I'm about 16% in and am only first realizing- wait are there no chapters?

To where I'm at: (view spoiler)[So similar format to the first book. Our main character is his usual right to work, step by step self, unraveling tidbits as he follows through on each next task. We have the main mystery and then some subplots that slip in which may or may not be related. I'm never going to be able to type anyone's name! So we have our person who may or may not have been murdered. We have a foundling who committed suicide while pregnant. Then we have a new apprentice plus a possible subplot with a foundling school where the person may not be related to the murder/maybe not murder but may have up to something even more sinister. Ok I think that's everything that's
going on. I don't think they dropped the suicide in there for no reason. That will connect some dots later. (hide spoiler)]

Rob wrote: "I started the new book as well yesterday.Addison has a story to tell and doesn't waste time, right into a new mystery. I'm about 16% in and am only first realizing- wait are there no chapters?

To ..."

I mostly know Celahar's name because of the book blurbs...

Sounds like you got all the ingredients in the plot recipe... just gotta let them simmer :D

Timelord Iain wrote: "Rob wrote: "I started the new book as well yesterday.Addison has a story to tell and doesn't waste time, right into a new mystery. I'm about 16% in and am only first realizing- wait are there no ch..."

Addison describes meals well as part of the plot details, so I'll just consider it a slow-cooked braise. mmmm.

Exactly! It is a slow development, but it is still beautifully told...

And as an aside, my favorite braising recipe for you to make this fall/winter.

https://clumsycook.wordpress.com/2009...

Makes my mouth water just reading it again. Great cookbook as well fwiw.

I'm sure it tastes better than the picture looks without reading :D

That last result on the plate kinda looks like a (view spoiler)[wet turd (hide spoiler)]...

It's all about taste and texture. Melt in your mouth goodness. Beef chuck itself is nothing to look at :)

Progressing so slowly. the first 15% of the book (view spoiler)[was just Thara's daily life, waking up, getting dressed, go working, eat lunch/dinner, coming back home, feed the cats and repeat. at least in the 20% things are moving lol. I think the most exciting part was the note from the school girl. (hide spoiler)]

Finally finished. I was a bit sad at the end. (view spoiler)[I think it ended quite abruptly, idk. There was some kind of resignation at the end too. I wish Thara to be less maudlin, sometimes, and though I am glad he opened up more to his friends (who seem to genuinely care for him) he could do even more. I like the new apprentice, it gives more perspectives to what a Speaker for the Dead does, I do hope we get to meet her again in the next book. (hide spoiler)]

And before I forget, just wanna say this has got to be the most bureaucratic fantasy series I've ever read, not sure if anyone else feels that way too. Addison really lays it out all in details.

Hahahaha! Bureaucratic is a great description for the series, but somehow it doesn't bother me... I like the complexity of the cultural norms of the social interactions, because they are so meticulous. I respect all the thought the author has given to it...

Yes, it is kudos to the writer for making me able to enjoy all those details. Good writing :p

When the third book is coming, anyone knows? The series has become some kind of comfort read to me.

Hopefully next year... this series seems to be the author focus, at the moment, and the books are releasing a lot faster than the gap between Goblin Emperor and Witness for the Dead...

Timelord Iain wrote: "Hopefully next year... this series seems to be the author focus, at the moment, and the books are releasing a lot faster than the gap between Goblin Emperor and Witness for the Dead..."

I am so happy! It is just fun you know, having good fantasy series to wait for...

After such a long wait for a follow-up to Goblin Emperor, it doesn't surprise me now that we got the second book of this series so quickly and that I'm hopeful about a third. It feels like she writes them in a stream of consciousness where her editor has to cut her off. It must come from the whole non-chapter thing. I'm still very content to spend more time in this world.

Cheers to that.

@Rob--thanks for the recipe link! I'll have to try it out..

@Emily--I totally see what you mean about the Monk & Robot vibes--I really love all the slice of life bits of both.

@Silvana--maudlin is a great word for Celehar. I too was rather upset with him for how easily he gave up hope with the end conflict. I wonder if he suffers from depression? A lot of these books are him slowly recovering from the events that lost him his first prelacy... which is another way they're similar to the Monk & Robot books, come to think about it. A person going about their life, trying to find a way to be, while dealing with their baggage...

100% I'd say Celehar has a bit of the depression.. it's affecting his sleep, and he's prevents himself from finding happiness... He could have totally started a relationship with the Opera writer/director (can someone give me a name, I can't remember AT ALL lol), but I think he didn't want to let himself have a Good Thing quite yet..

Emily wrote: "100% I'd say Celehar has a bit of the depression.. it's affecting his sleep, and he's prevents himself from finding happiness... He could have totally started a relationship with the Opera writer/d..."

Oooh, good note on the sleep thing. I'd forgotten that. Good evidence, that.