Thank you for hosting this discussion, Johanna! I had a lot of fun chatting with you and . . . myself? . . . and the Nemesis too once he was unmasked. This series somehow keeps getting vaster and profounder with every book!
This was a riveting discussion! You guys covered so much territory and brought up a lot of great points. These discussions really help to bring the books alive and keep the interest high in a way that I've never experienced before. Having this community of people we've all come to know put such thought provoking time and interest into a really great work of literature is really a highlight of life, and one I'll treasure forever. Thank you all!
Thanks for hosting Johanna! Great discussion, these videos always enrich the love I already had for this series. The Peril's Gate video literally cannot happen soon enough! I'm so looking forward to it.
I agree with the point A.P. made at the end, that both the big and the small moments are so intense. Janny Wurts is able to lift even the mundanest of moments into the sublime. I'm always mesmerized by her sheer ability to write and this is a good example of why prose matters, because I don't think the depth and complexity of the themes would materialize at all in lesser hands.
Amazing discussion Johanna!!! And we can never have enough Philip Chase, even if it's AP! LMAO!! Loved that! Yes, I hope you all will continue to find that each book in the series is (miraculously) an improvement on the last book. That takes rare skill as an author, and Janny Wurts definitely has that skill. GRAND CONSPIRACY is an amazing book. I have to say, PERIL'S GATE is almost universally noted in the top 2 books in the series, if not number one (because few people have yet to read SONGS), so I feel you are all in for a treat!! Lots of greatness remains to uncover in this series!!! Enjoy, and thanks for the amazing insights by you 3 brilliant people!
Interesting. Peril’s Gate is easily my least favorite of the series. It almost made me cry mercy. I’m through book eight now and like the last two much better.
@@duffypratt great to hear you are enjoying the series! Of course everyone has their favs and that is amazing ! Interested to hear what your favs are now (and later after you have completed the series, if they remain the same )! Hope you enjoy the rest of WOLAS!
Thank you so much, PL! I agree that it takes a tremendous amount of skill to keep building the story in such a way, and it never loses its focus. This has me very excited for what’s ahead!
Another fantastic conversation! I'd really been looking forward to this. I agree with all of you having a unique perspective that really does add even more layers to thr series!
I'm only about halfway through the replay, but I enjoy this group's discussions so much, especially enjoyed the deep dive on the trees, really insightful stuff
Finished reading this book a couple hours ago and came straight to this video. Great hearing your thoughts as usual. The scene where Asandir confesses to the fisherman about what the Fellowship might be compelled to do if mankind ever breaks the balance/compact sent chills down my spine. Lysear's claims of the Fellowship being humanity's enemy might just turn prophetic 😬. On a much lighter note, Arithon using his s'Ffalenn gift of rizz on Lirenda could've ended up looking like something out of a crappy telenovela if Janny wurts wasn't such a good writer 😂.
Thank you so much for watching and sharing those thoughts! I wonder if the Fellowship will be humanity's enemy. They outwardly admitted humanity was not their top priority. I loved the ending and agree that it could've been potentially cringey with a less skilled writer!
@@Johanna_reads I read a 2 star review on Goodreads that described that final scene as "Arithon using his slutty bard powers to reawaken lirenda's dormant horniness" 😂 Looking forward to hearing your thoughts on the next book.
Great discussion! I want to hate Lysaer but I keep remembering how he was developing a relationship with Arithon and the clans before the curse. He was on a path to become a great leader for the people. So sad.
I agree with you. His deplorable behavior seems all curse-related twisted with some of his ingrained attributes, but he still seemed to have a good nature to start with. Thanks for watching, Jennifer!
AP: the drakes, the grimwards, the wraiths, Davien… we have been given breadcrumbs and I’m excited to see more Me: yes. Yes you will be. It’s all so good 🙂 I love watching these discussions and knowing what you all still have ahead of you
Arithon is not just a pawn for Moriel, he is a threat. In an earlier volume there was the future told that he would be the cause of her death and being the first prime to die without a trained successor. From that point, she accelerated her vendetta against Arithon - wanting to get him under her control.
@@jasonlipscombe9392 Not yet. I just started the book (10% into it), and Philip won’t be starting until later in August. He’ll be hosting the discussion on his channel. What did you think of it?
Great discussion. I’m currently through book 8 and will probably finish the series this year. I enjoyed this book but didn’t, and still don’t buy the set-up. For 25 years, Lysaer has been killing magic wielders because they must be in league with Arithon. They are being killed, though innocent, because of Arithon. Yet he does nothing to save them. But another innocent has been given Arithon’s face and he must rescue him? No empathy for all the others being killed in his name, but he risks throwing away everything for this kid? On top of that, the plot depends on him making this decision? And it takes 25 years to unfold? Sorry, I just don’t buy it. The other thing that still bothers me is the whole notion of Lysaer’s heir. Lysaer is going to live for hundreds of years, and he’s basically invulnerable. So what good is an heir whom he will outlive for many lifetimes? And as for Morriel, isn’t convenient that her vision of what is best for mankind also places her as absolute ruler over everyone? She is one of the most narcissistic characters I’ve ever read. To my way of thinking, she is the one true villain in the series (though the noble 7 may come a close second - their nobility in many ways is just a mask for their manipulations.) And one last thing: what Morriel is doing is not a conspiracy. A conspiracy necessarily involves an agreement among the conspirators. Morriel’s plots are entirely her own, and everyone who works for her is hers to command through the crystals. She keeps her plots secret, but she doesn’t conspire.
Edit: I did hear some counterpoints from my fellow conspirators, but I still wonder about Lysaer’s grand power play. Thank you so much for watching and sharing your thoughts!
It's been a while since I've read Grand Conspiracy, but Arithon can't generally save people because due to the Order and the Curse, it just gets turned into disaster (I mean, even just trying to leave the continent "for good" made it so he ended up being complicit in slaughtering 25,000 people including ordering a wholesale massacre. So he has to be very selective. This time, he knows what's going to happen, when it's going to happen, that it's a trap, and that he might be able to stop it. The fact that it's a subject of Rathain who was forced to wear his face probably sends his Compassion into overdrive, but as I've said, it's been a while.
Thank you for hosting this discussion, Johanna! I had a lot of fun chatting with you and . . . myself? . . . and the Nemesis too once he was unmasked. This series somehow keeps getting vaster and profounder with every book!
Thank you for your very LARGE presense in this discussion and thumbnail 😂. I’ve been having a wonderful time discussing this series with you and A.P.!
And believe it or not, the increased vastness and profundity continues to the end!
This was a riveting discussion! You guys covered so much territory and brought up a lot of great points. These discussions really help to bring the books alive and keep the interest high in a way that I've never experienced before. Having this community of people we've all come to know put such thought provoking time and interest into a really great work of literature is really a highlight of life, and one I'll treasure forever. Thank you all!
Thank you so much, Jarrod! I’ve loved hearing your insights in your videos and discussions as well!
Thanks for hosting Johanna! Great discussion, these videos always enrich the love I already had for this series. The Peril's Gate video literally cannot happen soon enough! I'm so looking forward to it.
Thank you so much for watching and commenting! 😊
I agree with the point A.P. made at the end, that both the big and the small moments are so intense. Janny Wurts is able to lift even the mundanest of moments into the sublime. I'm always mesmerized by her sheer ability to write and this is a good example of why prose matters, because I don't think the depth and complexity of the themes would materialize at all in lesser hands.
I couldn’t agree more! The prose adds so much depth and dimension to the epic aspects and themes of this series!
@@Johanna_reads I expect this will be even more satisfying on a re-read 😁 I love multi-layered language!
Amazing discussion Johanna!!! And we can never have enough Philip Chase, even if it's AP! LMAO!! Loved that! Yes, I hope you all will continue to find that each book in the series is (miraculously) an improvement on the last book. That takes rare skill as an author, and Janny Wurts definitely has that skill. GRAND CONSPIRACY is an amazing book. I have to say, PERIL'S GATE is almost universally noted in the top 2 books in the series, if not number one (because few people have yet to read SONGS), so I feel you are all in for a treat!! Lots of greatness remains to uncover in this series!!! Enjoy, and thanks for the amazing insights by you 3 brilliant people!
Interesting. Peril’s Gate is easily my least favorite of the series. It almost made me cry mercy. I’m through book eight now and like the last two much better.
@@duffypratt great to hear you are enjoying the series! Of course everyone has their favs and that is amazing ! Interested to hear what your favs are now (and later after you have completed the series, if they remain the same )! Hope you enjoy the rest of WOLAS!
Thank you so much, PL! I agree that it takes a tremendous amount of skill to keep building the story in such a way, and it never loses its focus. This has me very excited for what’s ahead!
Another fantastic conversation! I'd really been looking forward to this. I agree with all of you having a unique perspective that really does add even more layers to thr series!
Thank you so much! No shortage of things to discuss in this series!
I'm only about halfway through the replay, but I enjoy this group's discussions so much, especially enjoyed the deep dive on the trees, really insightful stuff
"I feel like whenever I read a new book in the series, it's oh this one is my favorite!" So true!
My favorite is still Warhost of Vastmark, but there are many mind-blowing moments in each book!
This is why they're so hard to rank lol
I also want to thank both Joanna and Selidie for being such great hosts!
Great discussion. :D Cannot wait for more from you three!
Yay, thank you!
Ok, may have to add this to my tbr haha. Thanks guys, hope y'all are well!
Thank you! I hope you enjoy the series!
Hi Johanna. If I ever get caught up with other fantasy on my TBR Wurts might be fun. Happy reading!
Thank you for stopping by, Curt! Happy reading to you too!
Finished reading this book a couple hours ago and came straight to this video. Great hearing your thoughts as usual.
The scene where Asandir confesses to the fisherman about what the Fellowship might be compelled to do if mankind ever breaks the balance/compact sent chills down my spine.
Lysear's claims of the Fellowship being humanity's enemy might just turn prophetic 😬.
On a much lighter note, Arithon using his s'Ffalenn gift of rizz on Lirenda could've ended up looking like something out of a crappy telenovela if Janny wurts wasn't such a good writer 😂.
Thank you so much for watching and sharing those thoughts! I wonder if the Fellowship will be humanity's enemy. They outwardly admitted humanity was not their top priority. I loved the ending and agree that it could've been potentially cringey with a less skilled writer!
@@Johanna_reads I read a 2 star review on Goodreads that described that final scene as "Arithon using his slutty bard powers to reawaken lirenda's dormant horniness" 😂
Looking forward to hearing your thoughts on the next book.
@@archlectoryarvi2873 that is hilarious! 🤣
Great discussion! I want to hate Lysaer but I keep remembering how he was developing a relationship with Arithon and the clans before the curse. He was on a path to become a great leader for the people. So sad.
I agree with you. His deplorable behavior seems all curse-related twisted with some of his ingrained attributes, but he still seemed to have a good nature to start with. Thanks for watching, Jennifer!
AP: the drakes, the grimwards, the wraiths, Davien… we have been given breadcrumbs and I’m excited to see more
Me: yes. Yes you will be. It’s all so good 🙂
I love watching these discussions and knowing what you all still have ahead of you
Thank you so much!
Arithon is not just a pawn for Moriel, he is a threat. In an earlier volume there was the future told that he would be the cause of her death and being the first prime to die without a trained successor. From that point, she accelerated her vendetta against Arithon - wanting to get him under her control.
Great stuff. Now I can read Peril's Gate when the Assassin's Fate re-read is done.
Thank you! Enjoy both!
Have you guys done a Peril's Gate review yet? I recently got a new phone and have lost some of my search history.
@@jasonlipscombe9392 Not yet. I just started the book (10% into it), and Philip won’t be starting until later in August. He’ll be hosting the discussion on his channel. What did you think of it?
Awesome discussion! 🙌
Thank you! ☺️
Asandir often uses his own life force to sustain his horse.
Finally you do know why Fionn annoyed me so much 😂
I felt so sorry for him at the beginning, but then I got it as I read on! 😂
Great discussion. I’m currently through book 8 and will probably finish the series this year. I enjoyed this book but didn’t, and still don’t buy the set-up. For 25 years, Lysaer has been killing magic wielders because they must be in league with Arithon. They are being killed, though innocent, because of Arithon. Yet he does nothing to save them. But another innocent has been given Arithon’s face and he must rescue him? No empathy for all the others being killed in his name, but he risks throwing away everything for this kid? On top of that, the plot depends on him making this decision? And it takes 25 years to unfold? Sorry, I just don’t buy it.
The other thing that still bothers me is the whole notion of Lysaer’s heir. Lysaer is going to live for hundreds of years, and he’s basically invulnerable. So what good is an heir whom he will outlive for many lifetimes?
And as for Morriel, isn’t convenient that her vision of what is best for mankind also places her as absolute ruler over everyone? She is one of the most narcissistic characters I’ve ever read. To my way of thinking, she is the one true villain in the series (though the noble 7 may come a close second - their nobility in many ways is just a mask for their manipulations.)
And one last thing: what Morriel is doing is not a conspiracy. A conspiracy necessarily involves an agreement among the conspirators. Morriel’s plots are entirely her own, and everyone who works for her is hers to command through the crystals. She keeps her plots secret, but she doesn’t conspire.
Edit: I did hear some counterpoints from my fellow conspirators, but I still wonder about Lysaer’s grand power play. Thank you so much for watching and sharing your thoughts!
It's been a while since I've read Grand Conspiracy, but Arithon can't generally save people because due to the Order and the Curse, it just gets turned into disaster (I mean, even just trying to leave the continent "for good" made it so he ended up being complicit in slaughtering 25,000 people including ordering a wholesale massacre. So he has to be very selective. This time, he knows what's going to happen, when it's going to happen, that it's a trap, and that he might be able to stop it. The fact that it's a subject of Rathain who was forced to wear his face probably sends his Compassion into overdrive, but as I've said, it's been a while.
@Johanna, Lysaer Has Issues with women, for sure 100%
He really does! Thanks for agreeing about that!
Hello there hey there hey Hello hi there
Hello! :)