ACoK: Chapters 20, 21, 22, and 23! AND THAT'S IT!!!!!

[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!

Aww, now we're done with all the chapters. But it's only just begun!

Comments

[kaijuu-chan.livejournal.com]

I'm not the kind of person who is even close to aware of the passage of chapters as I read, so I'm just going to post this here, at the end.

Was there anyone else who was NOT particularly surprised by any of the twists in the story this time around? I mean, Thief made me giggle and re-read with an entirely new POV, Queen baffled and amazed me, and King BLEW my mind! But Conspiracy was just kind of... a great read. I LOVED reading it, but I wasn't often amazed or intrigued like I had expected to be. I was also kind of thrown off my the switching narration style. I didn't really feel that it heightened the read in any way either, since when it was third party non-onmiscient voice, it was almost all Sophos's POV in any case. (That being said, the fact that the first section was essentially all being said to Helen WAS one of the twists that caught me by surprise and made me giggle!)

[agh-4.livejournal.com]

Hm, you’re right. I was definitely surprised by Gen’s gun gift (I thought really hard about what it could possibly be before we were told -- what could make him cry like that? But I couldn’t think of anything.)
But yes, there was no Thiefy or QoAy TVIST that made you go “WHAT JUST HAPPENED?!?” and sputter incoherently. The things that were twists were more surprises that clarified things or added new meaning (like the fact that they were in each others’ dreams.)
On the subject: HOW AWESOME IS MOIRA, ANYWAY? Pretty awesome. Really, very, very awesome.
Oh, and I actually wasn’t surprised when it became clear that he was talking to Eddis. When I realized that he was talking to someone, I tried to figure it out, and I decided it was her. Which meant I had a “yessssssssss!” moment at the line where he says something like “to be honest, I would have been more comfortable if you were there, but I didn’t see you.”

[katewaits.livejournal.com]

I was surprised by the 10,000 Medes, just like Sophos was. But I think I've gotten better at finding the hints. Like I knew the Attolians were going to be there to fight the Mede.

I was surprised by the gun and I felt that he cried because Sophos who is Sounis is no murderer. The only man he'd ever killed was in the heat of battle and this was going to have to be premeditated and in cold blood. With Gen's blessing I think he pretty much saw that was the only way.

Another thing that surprised me was Sophos walking away from Nomenus in the cell without ordering at least a blanket for the guy. In fact, that whole scene haunted me for another chapter at least.

Okay, I'm getting really disorganized here and I'm trying not to.

Helen and Sophos. That was a lot more complicated than I thought it would be. Her feelings of guilt over sending him away with a partial army, knowing they could have sent him with more were really effective. And when he chased her down the hall to apologize I thought it was ever so romantic. *sighs*

I was left with a major sense of unease at the end of this one. WHAT'S WRONG WITH GEN!!!!????!!! Is he really sick or is he just acting it? I know he explained it away as these physicians smothering him, but why did he ask to see Galen in the first place?

I'll stop now, although I'm sure more things will pop up.

[zumie-ashlen.livejournal.com]

I assumed he wanted him to look at the healing injury from King, but now I am extremely worried that he might be ill! D:

[zumie-ashlen.livejournal.com]

Well, I think I summed up most of my thoughts in a little review (http://zumie-ashlen.livejournal.com/55231.html#cutid1) on my lj, so I'll just direct anyone who's interested in reading it there.

Basically I loved the book, but I definitely think it was an in-between book--it's setting up for the fifth book in the series. It also focused less on a major twist because it was a really intense character study, and Sophos isn't a really shady/twisty guy. He's honest and out there, and I think that's why most of the book was too.

But MAN that climax scene was AWESOME and Sophos is totally cool and manly. *swoon* Sneer at me more, Sophos.

[rosaleeluann.livejournal.com]

I do agree with saying this book is more about Sophos as a character and that is a very good reason why the twists (which ARE there) aren't as huge/surprising as the others. Sophos is honest. He's not good at lying and hiding things.

[(Anonymous)]

Late post just quickly because I finished the booky and its late.

So its wonderful that the 4 years wait ended like in 7-8 hours of reading...what happened to 400pages? Blinks* anyways, ya I think well did we need to have a big twist again, caused we all anticipating such turn of events after 3 books, I felt there no use trying to hide things because we expecting it now, I guess. At least it felt we had more dialogue. I felt things were explained more clearly, don't have to play the guessing game we.

So for my interest, how much different is it from the ARC?

Post more tomorrow, or today really.

Kulai

[elle-winters.livejournal.com]

From what I've heard of ARC's there's usually only a few typots to fix here and there. I haven't read the final version but I know there are some difference in the actual tavern scene from what I read in Jade's review..I can't wait to get my copy and compare, though!

[harlyn.livejournal.com]

Wow, that went fast. I still need to do homework tonight, but it was totally worth it. CoK was everything I'd hoped it would be, even if it didn't include a serious twist. Overall, I found it more surprising and unpredictable than KoA. I do hope there's more of Eugenides in the next book, but this was just marvelous.
I'm really interested in the interference of the gods, and Gen's line that Sophos "couldn't offend them with a pointed stick". Because he's so honest? So true to character, and lacking in mean spirit? (I quite like Sophos now, though I'll need to do a compare/contrast with Costis later, b/c their voice is somewhat similar even if their personalities are not. And the way S. hero-worships Gen to some degree is adorable.) If Gen offended the gods, I imagine it would be by refusing a "gift". I don't recall if the library's layout was mentioned in previous books, but it absolutely startled me.
And where did Costis go???

[coyul.livejournal.com]

Costis is doing a super sekrit mission for Attolis, I bet.

Lol Teddy is the only cool thing in that book

[coyul.livejournal.com]

I'll have to re-read to be able to come up with anything more constructive than reciting funny lines and squeeing. And responding to things that suddenly make me remember something I'd say if I weren't just loving it so much. XD I am so glad the book was as wonderful as I'd hoped. :D (I'm looking at you Deathly Hallows).

[alineadrklrdsis.livejournal.com]

I need to re-read the entire book, very, very slowly and at a decent hour. The reason for this is that I find myself disliking Gen. *gasp!* Perhaps it's because I'm still naive enough to not be able to understand the difference between kings and normal men but I still don't get why Sounis & Attolia couldn't have made a treaty without all those pesky oaths. Not only that but why on earth was he such a jerk in the beginning? Did he really think that acting like an annux required that?

Was anyone else not at all surprised at the gun? Same with the 10,000 Medes, although I think that one's just exhaustion speaking.

I sincerely hope that I'll be able to string together more coherent thoughts on it when I've re-read at a decent pace and it's not five o'clock in the morning.

[spellcoats.livejournal.com]

Perhaps it's because I'm still naive enough to not be able to understand the difference between kings and normal men but I still don't get why Sounis & Attolia couldn't have made a treaty without all those pesky oaths.

Well, Sounis has a notorious history of double-dealing. And also, in the political arena--especially in the sort of political arena involving countries that are long-standing adversaries--something must be given up if something else is to be obtained.

[sgwordy.livejournal.com]

I've been reading through lots of comments and reviews now that I've finished so I'm apologizing now as I can't remember exactly who said all the things I might respond to.

I saw it mentioned that Gen "giving the reins" to Attolia was really annoying but I LOVED that. It never sat right with me in KoA that everyone insisted it was an all or nothing thing with Gen as a king. However, I also agree with someone else that maybe that bit of information is misinformation. I hope not. :)

I also saw somewhere that the more minimalist writing style was missed and I wholeheartedly agree with that. I felt like my hand was being held through this entire book. I agree that Sophos is a reliable narrator and so, character-wise, he will be more obvious but there were a lot of situations where I felt the writing was more explanatory than needed.

Once again, MWT proves she is the POV master.

"We eat the chicken now!" might be one of the best lines EVER! I also adored the line about Attolia beating her rebels with ten men and a penknife. What a fantastic way for Sophos to illustrate his thoughts on her and how he feels about himself. And it was hilarious!

I felt like this was very much a series book. Does anyone think it would stand alone well?

Did anyone else have trouble with that fight Sophos and Eddis had? Why did she get so angry and run off? I agree that S didn't exactly handle the situation well but unless they've been discussing this stuff by letter it seemed an over-reaction on her part. It was a very honest mistake for him to make and she's much more experienced than him. I would have thought she would have handled the misstep much better. I thought she acted childishly and that felt very out of character.

[aged-crone.livejournal.com]

True, she is more experienced. And she's willing to swear fealty to Gen. And Sophos informs her that he won't let her. *Let* her. Attolia in the same situation would have had him flayed!

[aged-crone.livejournal.com]

I want to see Sophos' sisters interacting with Eugenides. Or at the very least visiting the court of Attolia. Can you see them tormenting, say, oh, whom could we choose - Costis?

[sgwordy.livejournal.com]

haha! Ina could have a field day with Costis!

[elvenjaneite.livejournal.com]

I had an actual thought! There's a thing in CofK about matched sets. Sophos tells the robbers they had a matched set of garnets, Gen and Irene sleep with a matched set of knives under their pillows (!!!!), Helen and Sophos have a matched set of broken noses. Sophos has a matched set of Attolian guns. Even the rulers themselves could be considered a matched set. I don't know why it's there, but it is.

Another actual thought. I've noticed a number of people feeling like the book was a little odd as a sequel to KoA. I agree--it's very different in plot, tone, and even writing style. I also agree that there were a few points where I felt a little hand-held (notably when Sophos feels it's necessary to point out that he and Gen had planned his strategy beforehand). BUT, if you're keeping in mind that the series total (as far as we know) will be six books, what happens when you consider it as the first book of a trilogy? Granted a weird trilogy because this ISN'T a standalone at all, but still a trilogy. Again, I'm not sure exactly what to do with this thought and I really need to re-read already. I can't though--my sister stole the book as soon as I was done. Read like the wind, sister!

[sgwordy.livejournal.com]

Interesting point that maybe this is a transition in the series. I didn't mind the complete switch of tone, etc (but then I've always been a big fan of the POV switches) but what kept coming to my mind was whether or not this was a bit of a re-set for the "target" audience. Things were getting pretty complicated and advanced in KoA so maybe some suggestions were made to keep the YA thing in mind? I've always thought that YA books have tons of flexibility due to the varied interests, reading levels, and ages that consume YA literature but who knows...

[diadactic.livejournal.com]

Two thoughts- why didn't Helen abdicate to marry Sophos? Then she wouldn't need Eddis to be subject to Attolia.
The other thought is that I don't really like the claim that the book is a narrative written for Helen, as was The Thief. It doesn't help them fit it with the KOA and QOA books, and it also means that both of them have to be great storyteller/writers. No.

[philia-fan.livejournal.com]

Give up her country? But the whole point of her needing to marry Sophos is to save Eddis. It would be insane to turn the country over to whichever cousin is her heir, knowing the Sacred Mountain is going to destroy the country. I think Eddis sees the best hope for her people in uniting with Sounis and swearing loyalty to Attolia.

[(Anonymous)]

First of all let me say that I adored this book to death. As always there were parts that made me laugh hysterically, parts that made me want to cry, and parts where it seemed a large hand had stretched from within the pages of the book and clenched my heart and stomach in a fist at the same time (I know that's kind of a gross analogy but its the best I can think to describe my reactions at certain points.)
My least favorite parts:
not too many but I agree that Sophos, as much as I love him, isn't quite the compelling narrator that Gen is (or Costis, for that matter. There were less twists in this one, which could be good or bad depending on how you look at it.
I suppose one of MWT's main problems is that she creates so many characters that we all adore, and then there's no way she can include them all in every book. It would just be too crowded and messy. Still... I adore Relius, Teleus, Costis, the MOW, and Ornon, and they were all conspicuously absent.
That said, I loved the book: especially when we got to hear how Gen realized he was in love with Attolia. And, of course, those slimy Medes.

I also have a question that I desperately need answered: What did it mean when Eddis (I think it was her) made the comment that the Medes won that round when it came to Relius? Were they the ones who got him in trouble with Attolia? I feel really lame for not figuring this out earlier!!
~toastisyummy

[philia-fan.livejournal.com]

Re question: yes, they were. Relius's girlfriend betrayed secrets to the Medes, so they undercut his standing with Attolia and basically made him useless as master of spies. Though, really, if Relius had gotten lax enough to tell his girlfriend state secrets, he was probably burned out anyway.

[sandtree.livejournal.com]

MY THOUGHTS, YOU WILL HAVE THEM:

Actually, I can't make any proclamations about the book in general, because I think I need to give it a while and re-read it. For example... King of Attolia was FOR SURE my favourite... until I re-read the whole series a couple weeks ago... and suddenly it seemed like Queen of Attolia might have taken over. So I don't know.

Basically... Attolia and Eugenides are the most awesome couple ever, y/y? When Eddis says that not everyone has to throw inkpots... it just made me think about how much I love Irene and Gen. XD

I've never really cared about Sophos that much, but, you know... he wasn't that bad. I've never liked the country of Sounis, either, though. I think the problem is that everyone's pretty keen on Eddis. It's just a nice place with cool people. And in KoA, we kind of got this really intimate look into the goings on of Attolia, so even though Attolia is just as corrupt as Sounis... it's more familiar, and therefore more likable? Maybe?

MAJOR PROPS for lots of Magus screen time. But I missed Teleus and Relius, I love those guys. And WHERE ON EARTH was Costis, kicking his heels somewhere? Costiiiiissss. :(

I still ship Eddis and the Magus. I don't care. The dream will not die!

Okay, like... I get the logic behind Sophos suddenly shooting a bunch of people (okay, two people, but whatever), but I still didn't really like it! I mean, I liked it... but I didn't. But I understand it.

And how hilarious was the end? "lol I can't believe you shot that dude." "lololol you told me to!" "LOLZ!"

I don't get why everyone is Eddis is going to be so mad at Eugenides for Eddis giving her country to him. I mean... why? Why can't she just tell them why she's doing it?

That's all I can think of... for now.

[drashizu.livejournal.com]

I think they're going to be mad at Eugenides for twisting events in his favor such that Eddis doesn't have any choice but to subordinate Eddis to him, too, by combining with Sounis. She could have married Sounis and united their countries *without* making them both vassals of Attolia if Eugenides hadn't decided to do it all his own way. That's what I think it is, anyway.

[nutmeg3.livejournal.com]

As someone else said, I don't think about chapters as I read, and I never truly know what I think until I'm done anyway, so I'm just commenting here at the end.

Like others, I liked this book but I didn't love it, I think because I like Sophos but I don't love him. He's a nice guy, but he's not complicated enough to truly woo me, I guess. So combining his inability to hide anything or to lie with the fact that I've learned not to take MWT's words at face value, I didn't have the same kinds of "Aha!" moments with this book that I did with the others. I was a bit surprised by the waiting army at the end, but not hugely, because I knew Sophos knew something was going to save his bacon, basically. From the moment he quite genuinely grieved for the soldiers he'd led to their deaths, I knew more was going on and it was all according to plan, and I never lost that sense.

The fact that Gen's gift was a gun was also slightly surprising, but I knew it had to be a weapon of some sort, so the only question was whether it would be a literal weapon (gun, knife, primitive grenade - which I mistyped as "genade," no doubt because it's something Gen would come up with if he needed to) or a more metaphorical one, ie: a map or piece of intel that could be used to ensure victory.

And for me, the difference in those surprises and those in earlier books is that these were basically plot points, while those were more revelatory of character. For example, I felt I learned about Gen by what he hid, and how and why he hid it, but Sophos is still Sophos and no different to me once the surprise was revealed than he was before.

Most of all, there just wasn't enough Gen here, followed by not eough Attolia or Eddis. I was initially a bit put off by all the Costis point of view in King, but it was in service of Gen, so I ended up enjoying it. But much as I wanted to know where Sophos had been all this time, I'm not sure I needed it at such length (because some things didn't feel entirely convincing to me - like his happy servitude to some degree) and at the cost of what still feels like the real story to me. Because I can't help seeing the real story as Gen's story, which left this book feeling like a bridge to me, and what I really want to do is get to the other side and see what comes next. (And make sure that Gen's OK and hopefully just up to his old tricks and misdirections, what with the dueling physicians and herbed wine. Because Gen cannot die. No, no, no.)

[crowinator.livejournal.com]

I missed Gen too in this book, and your point about the book feeling like a bridge you have to cross over to get to the rest of Gen's story is exactly how I feel. I still see the real story as Gen's story, too.

I liked this book a lot, but it didn't satiate my Gen addiction.

[drashizu.livejournal.com]

I've read this book twice now and I have to say, the second time through is MUCH improved.

First time around I hated the quickness of it, how abruptly everything seems to happen, and the fact that the characters all stood around stiffly using really rigid language with each other during the 3rd-person POV sections. I didn't like that the most surprising thing that happened was the 2nd gun in the box (although I loved that part itself, it wasn't big enough to be THE SURPRISE to me) and I wasn't surprised, just disappointed by the Attolian army showing up, because it felt too convenient.

Second time around was so much better. I realized all the little nuances I'd missed, like the fact that Sophos had a feeling in his gut that *something* was going to help him in Oneia, even if he wasn't sure what. And that Gen and Eddis had discussed sending him off beforehand with too few soldiers, while keeping the real firepower back until the last moment? I had missed that the first time, too, and it helped explain the appearance of the soldiers later, which was satisfying. I understood why Gen said "I'm sorry, I am sorry" to Sophos in the prologue---because he had already had his plan in place to rip Sounis's country away from him, and he was still going to follow it, even if Sophos was now the king instead of his uncle. I liked the funny lines even better because I knew them already, and I caught all the little hints that Gen hates treating Sophos like an almost-enemy early on (i.e. breaking his winecup, followed by Philologos's hilarious, *sigh* "I'll go clean it up...")

Also, did anyone else with an ARC notice? I might be brain-damaged from the awesomeness of rereading, but the final version contains no trace of "the Attolias" as a term for Attolia and Attolis together. SO THANKFUL for that.

[freenarnian.livejournal.com]

I second... er, all of these notions. =) All of MWT's books require AT LEAST two read-throughs before they can be fully appreciated.

[empmai.livejournal.com]

I'll have to re-read again. But I got the impression that Gen did see another way out for Sounis, where sounis would rule without giving so absolute loyalty to Attolis, but that he needed/wanted Sounis to be depended on him (and his army) in the end rather than Sounis ruling singularly as before. If Sounis had go to his father's army rather than to brim.

[(Anonymous)]

So true - I always have to read books over again in order to make a final judgement (unless said book is simply too awful to read again...). No snap judgements!!

Who here really, really liked Nomenus? I thought he was a great character - undoubtedly flawed, and yet... I found I could identify with him way better than I identified with Sophos. I can understand why people do something they know is wrong in order to do right by themselves. Even though that sounds like a horrible idea, its so true, because there's probably nobody on the planet who hasn't done that before...
~toastisyummy

[freenarnian.livejournal.com]

Nomenus is a great character (with a really great name, I have to add). I wonder what part he'll play in future books? Could he possibly become a narrator?

Question

[(Anonymous)]

The wolf story

Sophos compares the wolf to Attolia, who he is afraid of giving his neck to, but I think the wolf really symbolizes Eugenides, who like a wolf can bite Sophos but remains a friend.

Re: Question

[hazelwillow.livejournal.com]

I agree. Gen, like the wolf, is the god's representative/servant. I was hoping, when I was reading, that Sophos would in some way "rescue" or "free" Gen the way the guy in the story (sorry, read it really fast and need to re-read) rescues the Wolf.

Does this make sense? Like others have been saying, I need to re-read.

[crowinator.livejournal.com]

A couple people have mentioned feeling a worried chill upon finishing the book -- about Eugenidies' possible illness, especially. But I was worried for Eddis. She basically tells Sounis in the library that the country of Eddis' time is coming to an end -- that she has to find a way to move her people away from the mountain, into the lowlands and islands. Aren't the lowlands and islands basically the countries of Sounis and Attolia?

I'm wondering how their marriage will work, and how they will merge their countries, and I keep thinking that everyone in Eddis may end up living in Sounis and Attolia without a real country to call their own. Is anyone else worried about that? Where will the country of Eddis be, if not in the mountains?

Also, did anyone else die of happiness a little when Sophos/Sounis says at the end, "I needed my king to send me help. You did." Though I wish I knew, when Gen swallowed in reply, if it was because his heart was in his throat from happiness or if he was apprehensive instead.

[ladyfox.livejournal.com]

I'm thinking it was a bit of both.

[(Anonymous)]

I have to admit that the idea of Eddis the country ceasing to exist worries me almost as much as the idea of Gen's being sick, probably because I can't even wrap my mind around the concept of Gen dying... although it does call to mind the conversation between Attolia and Ornon in KoA when they are talking about Gen's broken health. GEN CANNOT DIE BECAUSE THEN I WILL NEVER BE ABLE TO ENTERTAIN THE IDEA OF HIM AND ATTOLIA HAVING KIDS, and I would be very, very sad.

But seriously! No country of Eddis?? That's almost worse than the Medes coming and taking it over!! In fact, it reminds me of the nasty fate of a certain planet in the newest Star Trek movie...

For what its worth, maybe they would only have to move out of part of Eddis, like the part around the Sacred Mountain, before it goes all Mount Vesuvius on their city.

I just thought of another question: Where's this map that they were supposed to include? I was really looking forward to that...
~toastisyummy

[agh-4.livejournal.com]

Me too. No more Eddis might possibly equal no more goatfoot insults, that that's not ok.

But really, there's a lot of trouble ahead, because there going to have to move everyone to a new country and find farmland and the Sounisians (not us, the country-dwellers) will probably be all prejudiced, and everything will have to be all official...
Ai ya yai.

[empmai.livejournal.com]

My thought's on finishing aCOK

1) pg. 317. #$^%t it's over. Sets coutdown clock for another 4 years (Maybe 3 this time *pleads*)

2) Needs reasurances form a certain author that Costis is not dead. That he was not one of the Attolian Guards Gen sent to protect his friend. Since their was no reason for Sophos to know Costis by name *glares accusingly at Sophos for not making the aquaintenace with a guard he ddn't know existed*

2b) Was annoyed for Gen in this one as he doesn't to want his friends to only be loyal and friends to him and not to his other friends. Lack of Costis again.

3) Why does Eddis have to swear an oath to Gen, as technically Gen has already smore an oath to her. (no just the thief oath, but as part of the Eddis monarchy (his grnadfather was eddis) he would have sworn an oath to her when she was crowned. Are oaths that easy to get out of? Wouldn't it be more of a chain like Eddis and Sophos were talking about in the garden - sophos - gen - helen with Atollia in there too. I didn't like it that Gen had to under-hand it to get Eddis to swear loyaly to him when Eddis was pretty much already in partnership with Attolia.

4) This did feel much more of a "between to novels" book. And so I think we should get a new one sooner that 4 or 6 years.

[empmai.livejournal.com]

Opps meant "between the novels"

[newbia.livejournal.com]

This book disappointed me. *ducks flying tomatoes* Here are the principle reasons:

1) Not enough Gen, Irene, and/or their wonderful snarky relationship. (Though I did laugh when Attolia says, "Don't be ridiculous," and then Sophos realizes that that just means that two knives wouldn't help Gen.) Eddis and Sophos were cute, but all the romance happened off-stage. It was revealed that they were already fully in love with one another...I would have liked to see their relationship evolve from the beginning.

2) The Mede was a lame villain, and a carbon copy of his brother. I expected him to start stroking his oiled mustache and saying, "Muahahaha! You fools, soon my evil plan shall come to fruition!"

3) Not enough Gen, Irene, and/or their wonderful snarky relationship.

4) The tone was very grim and despairing. That was also the tone in the previous books, but it was lightened and balanced by more humor (and Gen, Irene, and/or their wonderfuk snarky relationship). I got tired of reading about how a King is different from a normal person, and so must make sacrifices and put on a stone mask and be miserable for his people.

5) Not enough...well, you know.

But these things I did like:

1) The opening scene, where Gen was "shot" -- I really held my breath during that part.

2) Ina. I hope she shows up more; I can tell that I'll like her.

3) Sophos making an impassioned, idealistic speech...and then pulling out a gun when that didn't work. It was shocking, and also a brilliant way to show how idealism can clash with reality.

[agh-4.livejournal.com]

You're right about the Medes being rather alike (Wait, did you mean Melheret specifically?), but now, reflecting on it, I'm thinking that Nahuseresh is actually the nicer of the three we know (excluding The Amazing Kamet of Awesome). At least he "respected" Attolia after she exibited her full capability. Akretenesh just smirked when Sophos shot him because he knew that his country was still bigger and badder. The louse!

But, this aside, I really like reading about them. I have developed a deep love for the scene where Melheret's trying to get Sophos drunk, and also, their emperor's name is GHAZNUVIDAS! What's not to love?

[newbia.livejournal.com]

Okay, I should add something: don't think I hated this book! There were many moments of squeeable awesome. However, I was disappointed, because there could have been more of those moments. Perhaps I'll like it more when I reread it.

[elle-winters.livejournal.com]

I think it's theme for ACoK-it seems to better on the reread. (as all of mwt's books are!)

[amolegere.livejournal.com]

Ok, first of all, I'm new to the community. Been a huge and obsessive fan of the books for YEARS and have been "lurking" (I believe that is the word used) but never got an actual account until now. So HI everyone!!! Glad to finally meet you!

Like everyone else, I'm working on rereading CoK and figuring out what I think about it. But as much as I miss some of the knock-you-off-your-chair-with-their-sheer-awesomeness Gen moments, I am so glad to finally have Sophos back. I almost died of anxiety worrying about him after he disappeared. I think it's adorable how he admires Gen and I can't help but remember the part in the Thief where Gen was thinking that Sophos should make a little temple and have Ambiades stand on the altar. I think Gen has taken Ambiades' place on the altar!

I too am REALLY worried about Gen. I was rereading the Queen just now and I had a heart attack when I got to the part where Eddis was saying that she worried when Gen was quiet because it meant that something was really wrong. Well, isn't he acting rather withdrawn in CoK? What if the doctors are using their "professional disagreement" as kind of a false facade to try not to show how serious things really are? I'm really worried about Gen. I'm going to be freaking out for four years until the next book.

Now I need to finish my reread of the book to find out what I think. I laughed to much to not like it, even without the awesome twists of previous books. I'm going to go over the Gen parts with a magnifying glass to see if I really need to be worried about him or if he's just fooling us all again and planning something splendidly wonderful. Cheers all!

[agh-4.livejournal.com]

Welcome, and yay for Archimedes! And, in the words of myself, it's not lurking, it's ... regarding.

At least Gen likes Sophos back, and makes room for him on the footstool! I like reading about Sophos too, and it's refreshing to see his opinion of things, and his thoughts that are so ... Sophos. ("Lo, the power of poetry, I suppose," I'm lookin at YOU!)

[larcwen.livejournal.com]

Hello, I have also been lurking for a significant amount of time (ever since I read KoA, which was a couple years ago). I just finished CoK this afternoon and really loved it, though I think QoA is probably still my favourite book in the series. I really appreciate the fact that MWT does not repeat herself, that she isn't afraid to give us new points of views (or in this case, follow a completely different character's narrative arc).

Does anyone have a sense of what kind of time period we're dealing with in CoK? Does Sophos go missing during the QoA time-span? I can't quite remember. In any case, I think there's some overlap between this book in KoA... When Sophos and the Magus arrive at the Attolian court at the beginning of the book, how much time has elapsed since the end of KoA? Also, how old is Sophos during this book?

Also, I'm becoming concerned about Gen with the whole doctors fighting over him thing. At first I thought maybe it was misdirection to do with Attolia being pregnant, but that wouldn't be something they'd want to hide. Maybe Gen has something up his sleeve - could he fake his own death or something? (Though, I'm not exactly sure how that could be useful in any way to the situation).

[agh-4.livejournal.com]

Welcome!

Time (no, not the theft of it): He disappears during QoA, yes. ACoK begins at about the same time as KoA, because at the beginning Sophos mentions something about Gen's marriage to Attolia (I think...) I haven't reread it since the ARC, so I don't remember or know how long he's a slave. But long enough for his hair to get long enough for them to "cut out the last of the dyed parts" once he's escaped.