Here are my (complex, disorganized, and in some cases emotionally compromised) thoughts:
Erondites may be the main villain in a Sauron-esque sense (the evil puppet master, pulling strings and sending out his minions in pursuit of his own consolidation of power, while remaining himself out of sight)...
But I would say the main conflict in KoA arises from Eugenides fighting with himself. (And by extension, his servants, his wife, his gods, etc.)
Re-reading the end of QoA reminded me just how cleverly MWT set this up beforehand. Similarly, we see some foundations laid in KoA for Sophos' journey in ACoK. I look forward to slapping my forehead repeatedly once it's revealed how Thick as Thieves fits into the larger scheme of things. :)
"Gen's faith in the god of thieves is a fascinating picture of what it would mean to really have faith in a god who was there."
Gen's relationship with his god is the most memorable, original, insightful, well-crafted (in other words, best) depiction of faith I've encountered in a fantasy novel. (With the possible exception of Puddleglum in The Silver Chair, but that may fall into different, perhaps more purely allegorical, category.)
Interesting comparison of the fencing duels in KoA and Prince Caspian. I hadn't thought of that before. The pacing and description of climactic conflicts is so tricky, and both are examples of excellence (particularly in creating an empathetic weariness in the reader as Gen takes on opponent after opponent.)
I've shouted my admiration of Costis from the rooftops of this fandom, so I'll limit myself to only mentioning how ADORBZ I find it that, of all the things he had to go through and endure over the course of this story, it's the fact that people think he's dishonest that drives him to drinking and brawling and generally indulging in a brief but sufficient emo phase. No wonder Aris teases him about that rather blinding honor badge he's constantly buffing.
Okay, another Costis-related thought: Anyone else notice how Costis notices Ileia? No doubt, as one of the queen's attendants, she's too high-born for the likes of a lowly lieutenant-at-large... but they seem to get along. Yeah, I'm reading into this. (Now kiss.)
ONE MORE. When pre-downfall Sejanus gets all testy with Costis and asks, "And whose orders are those?" Can we just appreciate the boldness and snark and subtle implication of Costis's reply:
"My captain's, Lord Sejanus. From whom else would I take my orders?" (Huh, HUH?!)
Thus I suggest the chapter title: In Which Costis Becomes A Player
Or how about...
In Which Relius Seeks an Unlikely Pen-Pal (The Magus)
In Which Philologos Figures Something Out
In Which Gen Kills Attolia's Enemies (With Kindness)
Ahh, Sauron - that's a good comparison (though obviously not in power levels :) ).
I am half agony, half hope about how Thick as Thieves pays off things...
Agree about Gen's faith (I totally forgot Puddleglum! :) Shame on me!)
Costis's stoicism is such an endearing trait, I think. I just melt when Gen calls him mini-Teleus. Your comment about honor makes me think of Zuko from Last Airbender, too.
I would be SO ON BOARD with a Costis/aristocratic lady romance.
I like the Player idea for Costis, both in Costis's Thug life sense, and the chess metaphor sense!
"...Gen's relationship with his god is the most memorable, original, insightful, well-crafted (in other words, best) depiction of faith I've encountered in a fantasy novel..." Sorry to be so late getting to this discussion section -- I did read the chapters on time, but then work got hectic -- so starting to read everyone else's comments I just had to stop and most heartily agree with this! Gen and the gods are one of the bits which make me want to jump up and down, like in QoA when Irene says "Rare the man whose gods answer him," and say myself: "Yes! Yes! Yes! A wonderful picture of it! But the reality of a God who is really there is even more wonderful!"
Erondites may be the main villain in a Sauron-esque sense (the evil puppet master, pulling strings and sending out his minions in pursuit of his own consolidation of power, while remaining himself out of sight)...
But I would say the main conflict in KoA arises from Eugenides fighting with himself. (And by extension, his servants, his wife, his gods, etc.)
Re-reading the end of QoA reminded me just how cleverly MWT set this up beforehand. Similarly, we see some foundations laid in KoA for Sophos' journey in ACoK. I look forward to slapping my forehead repeatedly once it's revealed how Thick as Thieves fits into the larger scheme of things. :)
"Gen's faith in the god of thieves is a fascinating picture of what it would mean to really have faith in a god who was there."
Gen's relationship with his god is the most memorable, original, insightful, well-crafted (in other words, best) depiction of faith I've encountered in a fantasy novel. (With the possible exception of Puddleglum in The Silver Chair, but that may fall into different, perhaps more purely allegorical, category.)
Interesting comparison of the fencing duels in KoA and Prince Caspian. I hadn't thought of that before. The pacing and description of climactic conflicts is so tricky, and both are examples of excellence (particularly in creating an empathetic weariness in the reader as Gen takes on opponent after opponent.)
I've shouted my admiration of Costis from the rooftops of this fandom, so I'll limit myself to only mentioning how ADORBZ I find it that, of all the things he had to go through and endure over the course of this story, it's the fact that people think he's dishonest that drives him to drinking and brawling and generally indulging in a brief but sufficient emo phase. No wonder Aris teases him about that rather blinding honor badge he's constantly buffing.
Okay, another Costis-related thought: Anyone else notice how Costis notices Ileia? No doubt, as one of the queen's attendants, she's too high-born for the likes of a lowly lieutenant-at-large... but they seem to get along. Yeah, I'm reading into this. (Now kiss.)
ONE MORE. When pre-downfall Sejanus gets all testy with Costis and asks, "And whose orders are those?" Can we just appreciate the boldness and snark and subtle implication of Costis's reply:
"My captain's, Lord Sejanus. From whom else would I take my orders?" (Huh, HUH?!)
Thus I suggest the chapter title: In Which Costis Becomes A Player
Or how about...
In Which Relius Seeks an Unlikely Pen-Pal (The Magus)
In Which Philologos Figures Something Out
In Which Gen Kills Attolia's Enemies (With Kindness)
Alternatively...
Attolis: (╯°□°)╯︵ ┻━┻
The House of Erondites: (╯°□°)╯︵ ┻━┻
The Medes Did It: (°□°)╯︵ ┻━┻
You Were Supposed To Be In Bed: (╯°□°)╯︵ ┻━┻
(You get the idea.)
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I am half agony, half hope about how Thick as Thieves pays off things...
Agree about Gen's faith (I totally forgot Puddleglum! :) Shame on me!)
Costis's stoicism is such an endearing trait, I think. I just melt when Gen calls him mini-Teleus. Your comment about honor makes me think of Zuko from Last Airbender, too.
I would be SO ON BOARD with a Costis/aristocratic lady romance.
I like the Player idea for Costis, both in Costis's Thug life sense, and the chess metaphor sense!
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I have an idea for a fanfic shipping those two!
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Sorry to be so late getting to this discussion section -- I did read the chapters on time, but then work got hectic -- so starting to read everyone else's comments I just had to stop and most heartily agree with this!
Gen and the gods are one of the bits which make me want to jump up and down, like in QoA when Irene says "Rare the man whose gods answer him," and say myself: "Yes! Yes! Yes! A wonderful picture of it! But the reality of a God who is really there is even more wonderful!"
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