ACoK: Chapters 12, 13, 14, and 15!

[agh-4.livejournal.com]

Don't worry! Reading this post will not spoil anything! However,

DO NOT READ THE COMMENTS IF YOU DO NOT WANT TO BE SPOILED LIKE MOLDY BREAD!

It's here, Sounisians! Many of us now have our hand(s) on copies of the lovely new book known as A Conspiracy of Kings.
This system of posts is designed to put a little bit of organization in the chaos. Thus, if you want to discuss what happened in ACoK, leave your squeeings, questions, exclamations, and happy-sparrow-in-the-nest chatter in the comments. There will be a post for every four chapters, so it will be extremely lovely if the comments are placed in their approximate place. Of course, that isn't always possible for overall themes, etc. Don't worry. We won't put you in prison. :)
Also, THIS IS NOT THE ONLY WAY, of course. This chapter by chapter thingy isn't meant to monopolize discussion. It even may disappear after a few days in the deluge of excitement that's currently sweeping toward and around us, threatening to wash away everying more than a day old on the Recent Entries page. Yeah. So. Just remember to use lj cuts for any discussion of the content of ACoK!

Happy discussing! Be blessed in your endeavors! We are Sounisians, hear us roar like bears!

Comments

[katewaits.livejournal.com]

Chapter 12: "The simplest way to end a war is to admit that you have lost it."

I sat there for a full minute saying 'OMG, OMG, OMG'. Poor Sophos. But I loved the way that chapter ended.

"You came in. You took one look at me. And you laughed."

I knew it was Eddis by then and I got all fangirly.

[agh-4.livejournal.com]

Oh, I KNOW!!!

I love when mwt goes all simple sentency at perfect moments. I can even hear the slight accusation in his voice. (The readaloud for ACoK is going to be awesome.)

Bwahaha! But I already had guessed that it was Eddis.

[freenarnian.livejournal.com]

I felt it, too... that line hurt. Poor Sophos. His friend became a king!

The simplest way to end a war is to admit that you have lost it.

[drashizu.livejournal.com]

Possibly my favorite quote in the entire book. I literally hyperventilated briefly when I first read it.

[dannybailey.livejournal.com]

There's probably a lot to say about these chapters, but the one thing that is jumping out at me in my memory is that it seems Gen never really reconciled with his attendants. I thought maybe once Sejanus was gone they might prove themselves to be better behaved. So, even Philologos, who I liked, is still a ass?

Not sure why, but I'm quite sad about this lol.

[rosaleeluann.livejournal.com]

Oh, I believe theres hope yet. I'm not sure I could ever see Gen being way close and buddy-buddy with his attendants, at least not all of them, but I can see the posibility of their relationship improving. IF Gen gives them a chance that is--they already know enough about him to know to give him one. They ARE giving him one, I think. He's just got to take it.

Its making me think about Attolia's relationship with her attendants. I definitely think their relationship improved after she married Gen--am I the only one who senses a subtle but distinct difference between that relationship in QoA and KoA? But even in QoA, though they weren't friends and she would never confide in them, they still supported her. I want to say this is Extremely Different from how Gen is with his attendants, but now that I think about it, there are similarities. A seemingly incompetent ruler shows him/herself to be competent, attendants give respect, a Change is necessary for the ruler to accept/become comfortable with that respect.... or am I just making this up?

[checkers65477.livejournal.com]

I thought it was like his relationship with his cousins. Gen is just prickly and doesn't have a friendly relationship with too many people. He has a long memory, too.

[viviolo.livejournal.com]

"No doubt she had overcome her own rebels with ten men and a penknife."

I had to put down my book for a full minute while I flailed at the pure awesome of this line.

I must admit that ever since Gen said "I'm sorry," in the Prologue, I suspected he was going to have to emotionally sucker-punch Sophos somehow. The payoff didn't disappoint!

[dihong.livejournal.com]

I loved this line, too. As an Irene-fan, it made the book for me. What little we saw of Attolia through Sounis' eyes was deliciously pithy.

[freenarnian.livejournal.com]

I loved that line as well. =D

[aged-crone.livejournal.com]

It would have been lovely if Sophos had actually *said*, sourly, "No doubt you overcame your own rebels with ten men and a penknife." Because I think the reaction would have been worth reading!

[checkers65477.livejournal.com]

One of the best lines in the book! Sophos's humor is so dry--he really is the funniest character in the books, don't you think? Funnier even than Gen.

[crowinator.livejournal.com]

I loved the dry delivery of this line. I can even picture the rueful expression to go along with it.

[spellcoats.livejournal.com]

I have not gotten my copy yet. Someone please tell me pimp!magus is in the final version.

[katewaits.livejournal.com]

Chapter 15 has the conversation where Sophos asks Gen when he knew he was in love with Attolia. I love that he was sitting in a bush spying on her totally misunderstanding Dite's proposal and 'suddenly it wasn't funny anymore.'

It brought back that moment in KoA when he said 'like falling in love with a landslide. Only you would fail to notice.' (from memory)

I love his affection for Irene and that she sometimes comes off as kind of a dork.

[dihong.livejournal.com]

Me too. I also like how this explanation of what Gen saw makes that scene in KoA so much richer-- he must have had that in mind. With MWT's books, I feel like you can always go back and re-read to get more and more out of the story.

Oh Irene... so jaded in some ways, so clueless in others.

[agh-4.livejournal.com]

Poor Dite. If he only had known...

[reader-marie.livejournal.com]

I loved Gen's account of this moment--it's completely typical of Gen that he has this momentous realization while spying on someone else's marriage proposal to someone who's already his enemy (as Sophos notes).

And Irene does, very occasionally, come across as clueless. I guess everybody has to have one weak spot...hers is apparently not recognizing gooey poetry as sincere.

(Note to Gen: don't try poetry.)

[sangoire.livejournal.com]

"We do not, all of us, need to be throwing inkwells."

AHHH THE ROMANCE. I'm sitting here grinning like an idiot.

[sangoire.livejournal.com]

"Attolis's attendant, walking just ahead, turned to speak over his shoulder. "They are not the royal apartments. His Majesty chose the rooms in preference and has arranged for the queen to remain in the royal apartments, as it suits them both." He managed to convey that they had rooms every bit as nice as any in Sounis and also that it wasn't anyone's business but theirs where their king slept."

Oh, I laughed and laughed. I love the casual bitchery of Eugenides' attendants.

I like how unrelentingly competent Attolia is. She is a woman who is sure of herself wherever she goes.

The backtracking on the Eugenides-must-be-King! issue is a little strange and expository. Wasn't that the entire point of King of Attolia? And yet here Gen is lounging around and letting Attolia do the real meat of the ruling. Is it that he's king enough to terrify the barons, and hands them over like a wedding present to her governance?

"Polystrictes, which one of us is a god?" --> LOOL.

Join the club. The grinning idiots club.

[agh-4.livejournal.com]

I LOVE THAT LINE SO MUCH!

Oh, Eddis. You are so in-the-know about everything. Like the *ahem* habits of you beloved cousin and cousin-in-law. (haha cousin in law.)

And I love the whole thing that it's acknowledging the fact that they want to marry each other, but in the long run it's about their countries. Because they ARE their countries.

Because it needs to be said.

[agh-4.livejournal.com]

"Sophos, you sleep with a knife under your pillow? I'm hurt."

"Sorry.

"Gen, it's the middle of the night."

"I know."

OSOJFKJ;LJP92KLKDOSIOS!!!!!
Sorry, I can't quite quote it all from memory, that's the best I can do so far, but MWT, CAN YOU FEEL THE LOVE EMANATING FROM ME WHENEVER I THINK ABOUT THAT SCENE?

Re: Because it needs to be said.

[freenarnian.livejournal.com]

The first time I read "I'm hurt", like a total protective Gen dork fan, I thought Sophos had actually nicked Gen with the knife. =/

Eddis and the Magus discuss Relius

[jennifer19l.livejournal.com]

I've gone back over their discussion of Relius several times, looking for something hidden there. Why did MWT bring him up? Particularly since he doesn't actually appear?

The Magus appears to not want to talk about Relius (repressively) and dismisses him completely.

MWT doesn't seem to want us to forget him, and maybe see that he's virtually ignored by all the important people... is he up to something?

And on the topic of Relius, I have to say how much I LOVE his name. Maybe it's a coincidence, though I hope not: Relius - reliable. Because he was so reliable to Attolia. Well, until he messed up.

Re: Eddis and the Magus discuss Relius

[katewaits.livejournal.com]

I've been thinking about Relius today as well. I agree with you, there's a reason he was brought up. Especially that the Magus said he wasn't useful to Attolia anymore. Well, we know he is, even if all he can do these days is give good, detailed advice.

In fact, the best thing in the world for Attolia is for everyone to think Relius is 'no use' to her. Maybe this ties in to Gen's seeming unwell. Hmmm. And Costis's absence. And elephants!!!! Okay, that's too far, but I agree that Relius was mentioned, and mentioned in that way, for a reason. :D

[agh-4.livejournal.com]

I think that one of my favorite scenes in the entire book is the one where Melheret tries to get Sophos drunk. I don't know why, entirely, but I'll deal with that by spouting quotes. (Sorry if they're wrong -- I'm using the arc)

" 'Drink,' " said the Mede. "Remchik is not for sipping, we say in my home. Its flavor comes in the swallow."
The medes' attitude towards drinking is rather like their attitude towards dealing with other countries. Don't get swallowed! AAh!

" 'He is a thief, his wife, a murderess. I ask again, are these allies for Sounis?'
"Sounis nodded agreeably and watched the room spin."
I love you, Sophos.

I also love mwt's descriptions of goblets. The ones in this scene are "glass, a deep blue in color, decorated on the outsides with bas-relief dancers carved in white." And then there's the one with depictions of a hunt on the inside rim in QoA that makes Gen think "Two hands."
The details! I love em!

[sgwordy.livejournal.com]

I liked this as well as it was one of the first times we really get to see Sophos trying to work something out. He knows what it happening to him but maybe he's not yet quite sure the best way to proceed with the ambassador to help with his [sophos] goals.

[(Anonymous)]

Favorite scene:

Gen throwing the swords around after sparing with the Mede Ambassador...Sophos trying to turn it into a scientific experiment to see if the result with the chucking of the sword would remain constant and ESPECIALLY the MoW and his "The MoW is not amused" face.

-Left-Handed Creativit

[freenarnian.livejournal.com]

This scene puzzled me the most... first of all, what is going on? Is Gen playing the incompetent swordsman again? To what purpose? And where are they going, and what are they doing, when they bypass the dinning hall and go into that room? I had trouble following.