ASHES OF HONOR open thread!

[seanan_mcguire]

To celebrate the release of Ashes of Honor, here. Have an open thread to discuss the book. Judging by the comments I'm seeing, you've had time.

THERE WILL BE SPOILERS.

Seriously. If anyone comments here at all, THERE WILL BE SPOILERS. So please don't read and then yell at me because you encountered spoilers. You were warned. (I will not reply to every comment; I call partial comment amnesty. But I may well join some of the discussion, or answer questions or whatnot.) I will be DELETING all comments containing spoilers which have been left on other posts. No one gets to spoil people here without a label.

You can also start a discussion at my website forums, with less need to be concerned that I will see everything you say! In case you wanted, you know, discussion free of authorial influence, since I always wind up getting involved in these things.

Have fun, and try not to bleed on the carpet.

Comments

[apocalypticbob.livejournal.com]

Haven't read yet, but my thought on picking it up in the store yesterday was, "Oooh! A good meaty book!" There was some serious heft to it... Is it the longest Toby book so far? So eager to finish my errands for the day so I can dive in to it!

[liadan-m.livejournal.com]

So worth it. Thank you. Working my through it more slowly this time - Why is it Dreamer's Glass? Shadowed Hills makes sense even in my middle-america brain, but I get the sense it should be obvious...

[ebartley.livejournal.com]

Much fun to watch some plots and running gags that have been ongoing for books (Tybalt and Toby, Luidaeg's apartment, the shell of Toby and Luna's relationship.) Also much fun to watch other pieces get dropped (Quentin is so lowborn he's squire to a changeling? I don't think so....)

The book leaves me with more questions, of course, to which I don't expect answers but are fun to contemplate -

About that goblin fruit?

So, when does the fae world at large catch on that Toby can change your blood?

And *did* Toby lose something when changing Chelsea?

What dreadful things are going to happen because Sylvester doesn't have a teleporter?

[swevene.livejournal.com]

I am so happy with this book, I'm just so full of glee over basically everything.

Except that I nearly had a heart attack when Raj pointed a gun at Tybalt. And was very concerned that Riordan would make Quentin into her loveslave or something. It was worrying.

Other than that, I think my favourite moment was when Tybalt thanked Toby because I remember your post on courting customs and how the only people who thank each other often are courting couples and it made me keysmash for... a significant length of time.

Also I loved when Etienne used the iron handcuffs as a weapon. TOTAL BADASS.

[hoppytoad79.livejournal.com]

It's about bloody time! This Catfight shipper is a happy girl. *G* Another novel knocked straight out of the park, but I know better than to expect anything less. If life were fair, Seanan would be bigger than Stephenie Meyer and E.L. James--combined.

[effervescent.livejournal.com]

:D :D

I loved seeing more of the character of Etienne, that he got more depth. And I ship Quentin and Raj. :D (Hoping the next book goes more in to Quentin's story? Yes? :D) I loved seeing more of the places that were locked away, too... fascinating. I love that sort of thing. This felt like it was much more of a character driven book - exploring Toby's relationships to the people around her and her changing view of herself, which was nice to see. It was nice to have the world continue to develop and build around her, and the depth being added to even people she started off disliking.

The only thing that bugged me was the wish we hadn't skipped forward in time so immediately - I'd have liked to see maybe even just a chapter dedicated to the year that had past and Toby's journey through it - but that was my only nitpick, really. Mainly because I'd known for about four books that Tybalt/Toby was going to happen, and having the year missing meant it felt a bit too soon.

I love the world. Is it next September yet?

[calculus-girl.livejournal.com]

Love, love, love, love it! Ashes of Honor is easily my favourite in the series. Now for the Canadian folk band song... my best guess would be Great Big Sea's Lukey. We also need to learn more about Quentin. I'm very happy with the Toby-Tybalt relationship-like thing too.

[knittingwoman.livejournal.com]

I just downloaded the sample from i books:) now I have to decide where I am going to buy the full version e-book. I had forgotten it was coming out so early in september, what a pleasant surprise.

[smoooom.livejournal.com]

I haven't finished yet. School and all that, but I intend on finishing tonight, so far though, I'm really pleased, LOVE the Tybalt twist, but not surprised some thing was going on for a long time.

[jillheather.livejournal.com]

"Just this once, everybody lives!"

I loved Li Qin and the more Tybalt part so much that I am okay with waiting another book to find out more about the selkie/roane story and to see Quentin's parents. Well, sort of okay. Ish.

[kalimeg.livejournal.com]

I downloaded it as soon as I came home from WorldCon, but I have to say that since the day you recommended Feed to me I have read every other one of your books. Wonderful Stuff. And although I love Kij I have to admit I voted for Countdown. ;)

[dimestore-romeo.livejournal.com]

I ordered my copy today - it probably won't get here until next week! On the plus side, I can get a chunk of my thesis out of the way without being ridiculously distracted by awesome, but!

[groblek.livejournal.com]

Once again, very well done. It was good to see old friends again, and meet new ones. I do fear for what you may have in store for Toby next, as things seemed to end with everything going rather well for Toby. Though she did get gutted twice - her newfound Mutant healing factor I mean fae rapid healing ability is certainly proving helpful. At this point in the series, I've started having fun trying to spot Things That Will Be Important Later as they appear scattered through the things Toby barely notices. I'll enjoy working out how many I noticed a few books from now. :)

My only regret about the book is that I finished so quickly, which is totally not your fault; I just naturally read very fast and can't slow down. I cam to terms long ago with the fact that I read faster than anyone could possibly write. In this case, that may be for the best, as my mind was so not on my work yesterday. Thank goodness for checklists.

[aliciaaudrey.livejournal.com]

It really says sad things about my sense of humor that Toby's inability to go more than five paces without getting disemboweled and/or gut-shot had me in stitches on my second read through.

I understand this was not meant to be funny. It just is the same way an unfunny joke is funny the fifth time you hear it.

Also the world is full of Tybalt and that always makes me happy.

[danceswithlife]

HOMG...OMG...OMG
More of everything I love--and Tybalt gets to declare himself. Yea!!
I had the same feeling as effervescent--I feel like the books are continuing to move from great action books with good characters to awesome character driven novels with great action.

ETA: Plus another new way for her car to get totaled :-)

[mariadkins.livejournal.com]

my copy shipped this morning!

[raveneona.livejournal.com]

The last book felt like my heart was punched repeatedly so this one was a welcome relief. The ending was perfect. I wasn't expecting a happy ending for the mom at all. I thought memory wipe, death, or just general angst would happen. To be able to live with her former lover and full fey daughter? Surprising but wonderful.

[epiphyllums.livejournal.com]

Thank you! I doubted enough half-way through that I actually read the last chapter and then went back and finished the book. I'm not good with unhappy surprises and I ended One Salt Sea sobbing miserably and wasn't in the mood for a repeat today. Now it is time for me to start the first of many re-reads. Or maybe I'll hit _Dragon Ship_ by Miller and Lee first. It's really tough when two of my favorite authors come out with books on the same day. Decisions....decisions...

[tsgeisel.livejournal.com]

Hail! Cheese and cake! (Whoops - wrong series. Still, cheese and cake sound good.)

Anyway, I'm oddly happiest about finally getting to see one of my wishes for the series happen - a glimpse into the other lands, and even hints at an origin story. If we never hear more about "the Heart of Faerie", I will buy a hat just so I can eat it. I'd also love to see an Atlas of the Faerie Lands, when all this is said and done (if they survive the final book).

The love declarations seemed a little romance novel-esque to me, but if that's the biggest quibble I can come up with, no worries. I'm definitely glad we finally get the two of them together.

I was kind of hoping that Riordan would be hit with the power-robbing salve, and then be stranded. That would have felt poetically right, even though the story developed better this way.

And, lastly from disjointed statement land (which I think is a knowe in the woods just north of UCSC), I *loved* Toby's not knowing that Cal has a folklore program.

Finally (ok, I lied about the lastly) - this was the first book without a teaser chapter. The business side of me wonders if that's because they finally trust people to pick up the next one without it, or if you didn't have one for them.

All that said, great job, great book. Congratulations!

[bakazaru7.livejournal.com]

This was, without a doubt, my favourite book so far. Currently waiting for the audiobook to finish downloading so that it can be what I listen to as I fall asleep at night.

It definitely had some of the best lines so far (and my roommates and I have nicknamed our cat "Raj the Adorable Assassin", as the cat is named for a certain Prince). I loved how in-depth we got to get with Etienne and what he was doing whilst Toby was a fish. My own weird headcanon for him is that he's somehow a francophone, if only because I've never met a non-francophone named Etienne. Also really liked seeing more of Jin, since she seems to be the mouthpiece for what we're all thinking on a regular basis.
I just know that the next book is going to be heartwrenching. This one was too happy for it *not* to be heartwrenching. Can it please to be next year yet?

[momentsplinter.livejournal.com]

I was surprised at how non-depressing the ending was. I was bracing myself for something awful to happen... and nothing did. (Something terrible is going to happen in the next book, isn't it? I can just tell).

[kveberle.livejournal.com]

Got the ebook yesterday and loved it! I can't wait to see how things go with the next book. Random question- I recall a post about ordering the book for Borderlands if we wanted it signed...but I can't find the post now. Does anyone know how you are supposed to order?

[indigoraven.livejournal.com]

It's not often that I fangirl. Really, I don't. Ask my friends. But damnit, Seanan - I think I love you. Reread One Salt Sea as a lead in and refresher, then devoured Ashes of Honor (which I finished this afternoon). Just... I'm not going to spoiler people, though I'm sure others already have... but Tybalt... Yeah, I'm pretty sure I love you. Please, beautiful lady, just keep weaving that glorious magic that you do. And I just can't even wait until the next one comes out...

[ruggedo.livejournal.com]

I just got it Tuesday from Amazon,but wont get to it for a while because I am reading this other series now, from a pretty good author,Mira Grant. Maybe you've heard of her? :P
Cant wait to get to it tho. The big problem will be waiting for the next one.

[bookwyrm172006.livejournal.com]

Ok, this is for your alter-ego, but OMG LOOK WHAT BOOK THE GHOST IS READING!!! :D

http://www.agirlandherfed.com/woodpulp/1.1042.html