Fantasy Buddy Reads discussion

This is a Buddy Read for The Oracle's Queen by Lynn Flewelling starting on June 3, 2024.


Happy Reading!

Thank you!!

Suggested Schedule:
1. Luck in the Shadows (Jan 3) [link]
2. Stalking Darkness (Feb 3) [link]
3. Traitor's Moon (March 3) [link]

Take a break for the Tamir Triad:
1. The Bone Doll's Twin (April 3) [link]
2. Hidden Warrior (May 3) [link]
3. The Oracle's Queen (June 3)

Return for the rest of the series:
4. Shadows Return (Aug 3) [link]
5. The White Road (Sept 3)
6. Casket of Souls (Oct 3)
7. Shards of Time (Nov 3)

For Tamir Triad
audio: no library/subscription available
ebooks: no library/subscription available

Started today! Once y'all get here, y'all should think about if you want to continue on to the rest of the Nightrunner books at this point--and what schedule we want for them if so.

Through Chapter 4 and enjoying it more than I did on first read ages ago... (view spoiler)[New character, Mahdi... one of Lhel's people...

Kai and Tamir having to face the new status quo... Tamir not understanding why it has to change anything... but their station difference is a barrier for Kai & Tamir that it wasn't for Kai & Tobin... and contrasted with how easily their other friends are taking the news.

I really appreciated the conversation Tamir has with Therin--both helping her understand Kai's POV, and also about the past with Therin and Tamir's father...

And there was a random line, about how Kai looking at Tamir felt somewhat ashamed for his dalliances with serving girls... that he never thought about what it could mean for them, while he thinks of how it can't be okay for Tamir. (hide spoiler)]

Through Chapter 19 (view spoiler)[I feel so bad for Nalia... Niryn is so.... so... evil!! There needs to be a really really bad end for him... would love to see Nalia kill him. Probably not going to happen though...

I like the kid Tamir took in as a page... I don't remember where she picked him up though...

Build up is pretty slow again in this one... after the battles in the last, feels like we're back to book one... fairly true-to-form for the author. (hide spoiler)]

Through Chapter 30 (view spoiler)[Man, Korin's really gone down the toilet... I can't believe he was going to execute his companions, even under Niryn's influence... I'm not sure who the person who released them was though. It wasn't Mati... Mati met up with them later, right?

Enjoying Kai & Tamir tiptoeing around each other. (hide spoiler)]

Through Chapter 44 (view spoiler)[Hah!! She DID get him! And its his own spells that saved her, doomed him... Niryn deserved it! Shame that his spells are still in place... and she can't speak in her own defense.... (hide spoiler)]

Finished! It's weird, I remember when I read this for the first time feeling so disappointed... and I can't for the life of me remember--or figure out--why. What was I hoping for or expecting that was better than what was delivered? Maybe I was just dreading the end... Tamir's story is history now. (view spoiler)[Or maybe I wanted more of a confrontation between Korin & Tamir, or an actual love scene between Tamir and Kai... I don't know. I was very satisfied with the conclusion of their story, I enjoyed the new characters introduced, and I liked the focus on internal conflict on various fronts that occasionally spilled into external battle.

I liked Mati and the tidbit of his culture he brought with him... I kind of imagine his oolu as a digeridoo or something similar, but smaller, maybe... though it took me a while to not see it as an ulu knife every time I heard the word. I liked the focus on the companions, and the stark contrast between Korin demanding loyalty and Tamir accepting people as they are. I really enjoyed the self-exploration Tamir had to face, both emotionally and physically--the way Flewelling described her coming to terms with her new body verges on body-horror... Anyway, I was quite happy with the ending! (hide spoiler)]

Super excited to finish this trilogy. Its been a real highlight of the year for me. :) about 25% through ill edit if I can actually catch a chapter number... [ETA: chapter 14](view spoiler)[ I know the Hill Witches have a very different culture and it seems important for those of the magic to spread their genes around? But why did she have to describe the old man still having a good penis lmao

Im usually dreading new POVs but the ones we have so far have interesting perspectives and seem necessary to the story... The new Hill Witch (Mahdi?) Traveling to take up what Lhael started... Lutha's POV watching his friend and leige descend into the same madness as his father... And that poor new wife of Korrin's used by Nieran... ugh that guy better get a good comeuppance. His backstory was interesting, but i was like nuh uh no way im not gonna be feeling any sympathy for this prick 😂
Also i hope these names are close enough i have no idea about any of the spelling lol (hide spoiler)]

Nirkatze wrote: "Started today! Once y'all get here, y'all should think about if you want to continue on to the rest of the Nightrunner books at this point--and what schedule we want for them if so.

Through Chapte..."

Good points about Kai and Tamir (view spoiler)[ i cant blame either one for how theyre hurting and confused.. the truth was kept from both of them and gender is a huge part of someones identity.. i hope we get these two to a good place more towards the middle of the book than the end.. I cant imagine them not coming to a better place... BUT UGH that authors note about her characters not being safe. We cant lose Kai! (I think Tamir might be the only safe one given we know she ruled (I think (lol i didnt realize i had nested parantheses, but now i decided to make it more crazy))) (hide spoiler)]

Through 19 (view spoiler)[ definitely worrying the herald Tamir sent isnt gonna come back alive from Neiran's clutches..

Also anxious about a confrontation with Ia and Arkoniel (hide spoiler)]

Nirkatze wrote: "Through Chapter 19 I ."

I see what you mean about the pacing, but I have no problem with that in this book :)

Loved reading your comments, Emily!! I totally agree about the new POVs--I usually dread them too, but I loved these! And also about pacing--I really liked the slow buildup... but I think that might have been part of what left me dissatisfied when I was younger...

LOL great nested parenthesis! Responses through Chapter 19 (view spoiler)[Kai has to be safe too because Tamir needs children!!

I was also super worried about the scout... Neiran is such a snake!! Especially what he did to Nadia...

With the companions POV, seeing Korin descending into paranoia... it's so painful...

LOL your comment about Mahdi's penis... it is interesting how... matter-of-fact the Hill People are about sex though. (hide spoiler)]

Do y'all want to continue with the Nightrunner books? I'd really like to finish up the series...

Will get into replies later, but yes i would like to continue! But we should wait for Choko to catch up (which gives me a bit of a breather). If we dont hear anything from Choko later, we can schedule the next book for August?

Tonari no Emily wrote: "Will get into replies later, but yes i would like to continue! But we should wait for Choko to catch up (which gives me a bit of a breather). If we dont hear anything from Choko later, we can sched..."

That sound like a plan! I'll put a note/poke to check in late next month with you & Choko for the rest of the series.

Nirkatze wrote: "Loved reading your comments, Emily!! I totally agree about the new POVs--I usually dread them too, but I loved these! And also about pacing--I really liked the slow buildup... but I think that migh..."

Re Kai (and general book thoughts) (view spoiler)[ I still didn't think he was safe until like the very end of the book LOL
I was convinced Tamir had to go off and marry one of the Aurenfaie that were introduced earlier because aren't the current queens part aurenfaie? I guess that bloodline comes in a bit later...

But man oh man was the ending fraught. I'm happy Korrin escaped Neiran's clutches before the end, but still very sad he seemed to have residual influence on him to the end. I think realistically it couldn't have ended another way than Tamir and Korrin facing off, but damn is it hard when family fights family!
I'm so glad Tamir was finally free of Brother and she trusted the HIll Witch to compeletely separate them.

Which reminds me of the scene when Tamir tries to visit her mother! Boy was that tragic she still couldn't get a satisfying moment with her mother. BUT it led to Kai finally realizing his affection for Tamir :>

I don't think Neiran's comeuppance was the MOST satisfying, but I SO appreciate that it was his magic that saved Korrin's wife (I forgot her name already). I wonder where her child's line led to, if anything? (hide spoiler)]

Hmm good question about (view spoiler)[what happens to Nadia & Korin's line... I think that Tamir & Ki have a lot of kids, so Korin's line never comes into play? As for the Aurenfae--that's a lot closer to the "present day" timeline--I think grandparent or great-grandparent generation? Since it's part of the major political struggles going on currently... But I have no idea how long it has been between these books. That's one problem with medieval style tech fantasy series--it's been hundreds of years and there hasn't been enough tech advancement to make a change in feel of the world... We DO know that Arkoniel was Nysander's teacher though--and both of them were pretty old, maybe 300 or so? when they passed on their teachings... so maybe 5-600 years? (hide spoiler)]

I am up to Ch. 18 and although I am interested in what is going on with Kai and Tamir, Nalia is the one who is breaking my heart!!! (view spoiler)[ Nirkadze, you are spot on - Niryn is evil incarnate and needs to die slowly and painfully!!! What he is doing to this girl is beyond wrong! And I am sure that is the least he has been doing through the years to many more people, but we see Nalia suffer and it's more tangible...

I really wish the prince would be able to get out from under Niryn's influence and just agree to a truce with Tamir... He is not made for this and he would be happier stepping down, in my opinion...

What does Brother want??? I hate all the hints and nothing really said! Spill it out, dude!!! (hide spoiler)]

I am totally in to continue with the series! Whenever you guys decide:)))

Choko wrote: "I am totally in to continue with the series! Whenever you guys decide:)))"

LOL Hah! I just asked in another thread for your opinion on the timing. Should have known to check here first. ^^ If Aug 3 sounds good I'll go ahead and request.

I'm glad you made it to the climax! So much heartbreak for these characters! >.< It has to pay off.

Works for me :)

Request made!

Great! Thanks Nirkadze!

Up to Ch. 30....(view spoiler)[ I hate Niryn so much!!!!!!!!! His abusive power makes me so angry! When is he going to die already!!!!!!!! (hide spoiler)]

re: Niryn--I know!!! He has to die!

This was a great ending to the story! I really enjoyed it! I do wish (view spoiler)[Niryn had suffered! He deserved pain and torture! He completely ruined so many people's lives, and didn't blink an eye... Monster!

I liked how everything else was wrapped up. And most of all, I liked that Tamir was kind-hearted, but still could put her foot down. The ending was perfect! (hide spoiler)]

Very glad we read this one! It was enchanting!

re: Niryn--(view spoiler)[I do agree that he should have suffered more. But on the other hand--I feel that Nadia getting to kill him was also pretty fitting--not only was she the one most abused by Niryn, so killing Niryn was like the first step towards taking a hand in her own destiny--but he so looked down on her, so dismissed her as being any sort of threat, that her killing him... heh, just think how shocked he must have been on that long fall. (hide spoiler)]

I loved that! You are totally right! I am still rooting for the girl!

Yes I thought that was fitting as well! I wish there was a continuation of these prequels!

I know right! I enjoy the Nightrunner books, but I adore the Tamir books.