Hello!

[hart-chase.livejournal.com]

I'm not technically a new member but I've certainly been away a long time. I lurked from almost from the beginning (2006? or earlier?) and got up the courage to get an account (crazyviolin) and join about a year later. And I subsequently forgot the password to it. So I made a new account and rejoined but still lurked most of the time. When I tried to log in today, I realised I'd forgotten that password too so here's account number three!

When the new book came out in March I was so caught up in school work and exams that I didn't buy it but realised I needed to stop mainly lurking in Sounis in case I spoiled the book for myself. To cut a long story short, I had A Conspiracy of Kings for Christmas and finished it a couple of days ago. I thoroughly enjoyed- it felt like I'd returned to old friends! I've come straight back to Sounis, having missed the post-book discussion and hoping all you lovely people don't mind me quickly musing on my thoughts/first impressions of it. I'm sure there's nothing new in them and you've already been over all the points more times that you can count but here's my two cents (I hope the cut works!):

I think I actually cried after reading KoA. I was so upset at how distance Gen seemed and I was really annoyed at that stupid soldier getting in the way all the time. And then I missed Costis in CoK- what's he doing? Where's he gone? Gen was still distant but that just made all the moments when he wasn't so much more wonderful. I railed at him for wanting to take over Sounis- I never realised he was quite so ambitious.

Sophos- adorable as ever. It did make me nostalgic when the Magus and he travelled to Attolia together, which I imagine was the idea. I was heartbroken when the Magus kept calling Sophos 'My King' and when Sophos was Sounis, probably because I missed the boy from The Thief. I ached during all the diplomacy meetings in Attolia, possibly for the same reason.

I didn't understand quite what Ion Nomenus had done to be locked up, probably through reading too fast.

Elisa= Epidaurus in Greece? Ah, I was so proud of Sophos there!

I hated the incident with Attolia and Sophos' proposed marriage at the end, though I did then see why Gen agreed. At the moment of reading, it just seemed so harsh, ambitious, cruel almost. The whole situation actually reminded me of the UK, when the king/prince of Scotland/Wales had to pay homage to the king of England.

I didn't cry at the end of CoK, though I was close to tears when Sophos and Eddis were arguing outside the library. It was so beautifully done- the whole book, not just that scene. I adored the POV changes. And I know when I reread it I'll pick up so much that I missed the first time round- I'm already looking forward to it!

Comments

[brandy-painter.livejournal.com]

Welcome back! :)

I agree with you about the parts with Gen being more wonderful because they were so few.

I don't think Gen is driven so much by ambition as he is the knowledge that if all three countries are to survive they have to be united. Not loosely united either. They have to be a solidly united force and you can't get that with three equal monarchs, each who are wary of the other usurping his/her power. He is still allowing all three nations rightful monarchs to rule their own domestic affairs. Even in Attolia, Irene is the ruler. Gen, as the Annux, is the authority and voice of the alliance in dealing with the other stuff. It wasn't going to work any other way.

And I think you meant Eddis and Sophos's proposed marriage. I don't think Gen would ever agree to an Attolia/Sophos marriage. :) It does come across as harsh on Gen's part but remember he was expecting Helen to have talked to Sophos first. It was really Sophos who put himself in that awkward situation by charging ahead with (understandable)excitement.

[hart-chase.livejournal.com]

Lol, I see what you mean about the marriage part! Thanks, I didn't really think how that read (bigamy!?) and just picked two of the characters involved in the scene.

Thanks for clarifying what I saw as Gen's ambition too- it did seem odd :)

[checkers65477.livejournal.com]

Yay, welcome back! And I don't think Gen really wanted Sounis out of any ambition, he will do anything, though, to save Eddis from the volcanic eruption and save Attolia from being taken over by the Medes. So...ambitious, yes, but not through any longing for power for himself.

But wait, he DOES want power. But he does not want to usurp Attolia's power, or Sophos' power. Poor boy is caught in the middle. And that's why he's so distant with Sophos.

Until Sophos knocks him on his ass. :)

[checkers65477.livejournal.com]

Oh! And I'm curious about your new username. Is it a shout-out to the white hart in King Arthur legend? Or something else?

(edited for idiocy)

[elle-winters.livejournal.com]

welcome!!

And I agree with Chex on this one, poor guy! ;-)

[stubefied-by-gd.livejournal.com]

Ion Nomenus was a traitor to his king for his baron. There may have been other things I don't recall, but a big thing was when he brought the "friend" to see Sophos in Elisa, ostensibly to give Sophos news of what was going on around the port, but actually to feed him mis-information, leaving him caught off guard by the ten thousand Medes awaiting him. And, what made it worse, he had pretended to be a friend. He was like the opposite of Basrus.