Frostheart wrote:Hope we didn't scare the new royalty away...
Awwww, you guys rock.
I didn't get scared away, just got busy.
Plus, I wanted to post when I had something more to add about AATE. Unfortunately, I found myself plodding through the book, and I didn't really have anything positive to say. I finished it last night, and overall it left me feeling a little blah.
I still feel that the beginning of the book was great. I enjoyed the beginning of AATE way more than I did any parts of ROTE or FR. But once we found our group in the Lost Deep, I just felt that the pacing became horrible and the entire book from this point forward was a real chore for me.
I remember saying that the THOOLAH in me was crumbling, because I was really sympathizing with Linden at the beginning. But sheesh, I just can't stand her. It's not that Linden the character is detestable. I get her emotions, worries and fears. The mom in me totally gets the mom in her. I just don't need to read her feelings over and over and over again. I GET IT. Give me her thoughts and motivations once or twice, but I don't need to read the same thing worded in a slightly different manner over and over and over again. I was freaking BORED having to hear her thoughts for the millionth time. And honestly, getting some chapters from Covenant's POV has reminded me why I first became a THOOLAH. I HATE reading from Linden's POV. Linden would be a much more enjoyable character if her inner angst wasn't shoved down my throat.
Liand's death. Wow. I think Liand was a good character. I never felt passionate for the character because I feel like he was in the background too much, and wasn't front and center enough. But I was still shocked and disappointed in the way he was killed. I really thought that we would see Liand grow and develop and that he was going to have a big role to play in the final book. His death to me was kind of a throw away moment and wasn't exciting or heart breaking. I was just really disappointed that we lost him so soon and that it wasn't even a big deal death. I realize that his death played a big role in freeing Jeremiah's mind, I just wish it would have been better.
Anele dying, again, it felt to me like no big deal. It was just like, "Here he is, oh look now he's dead. Let's move on." I just thought it was anti-climactic.
Galt dying was very satisfying. I had been hoping he was Stave's son, so that revelation made me happy. Stave has become my absolute favorite character in the entire TCTC series. I love him and will be devastated if/when he dies.
The end of the book was a let down. I hate to sound like a Debbie Downer. It just wasn't a big climactic ending. The only part that made me feel emotional was when Joan reached her arms out to the Ranyhyn. That was a sad moment to me. Other than that, I just didn't feel any tension or stress during the whole Covenant/Joan showdown. I felt like the book was going through the motions. I was wanting a big OMG moment that shocked me or had me feeling like I was unable to breathe.
I don't know. I just feel like all 3 books were lacking something. I don't feel like I am making an emotional connection to the characters like I did in the first and second chrons. I think part of it is that I honestly don't care about Jeremiah. I realize he is a big character and he will play a huge role in the final book. I just haven't connected to him, and even Pahni and Bhapa are just there for me and don't matter to me as much as they should.
I will say that I was very happy for Linden when Jeremiah was fully present and was happy to see her. That was a good scene. When that chapter ended and went straight to Covenant's POV I found myself saying, "NOOO! I finally want to hang out with Linden and see her interact with Jeremiah, and now you are making me leave!" So I am hopeful that having Jeremiah back will make Linden a happier, more bearable character in the next book.
I have seen a lot of people saying that once they go back and re-read ROTE, FR or AATE that they enjoy it more the second time around. So I will give it a try and see if that changes my perspective.
I think my expectations were too high because of my love for the first and second chrons. Perhaps I am not being fair to these 3 books. I don't know.
But, I am definitely looking forward to The Last Dark. I have read many opinions on how TLD will end. I just hope and pray that it is not something stupid like Pam Ewing waking up with Bobby coming out of the shower and you realize everything had been a dream. I am one who wants the Land to be real. I get the whole concept of it being a manifestation of Covenant's emotions, but I will be horribly disappointed if it all end with him waking up in front of the police car and realizing it was all a dream.
If so, null will be along shortly. 
), but this is the first time that one of my posts has been proposed to!? I'm going to have to sit it down and tell it about the birds and the bees or it might end up producing postlets 