Princeps' Fury Sample Chapter Discussion Thread!

[hjcallipygian]

Damn there's no emoticon for what I'm feeling right now. All I can say is: totally awesome gimme more!

I assume there's no need for spoiler tags cause no one who hasn't read the chapter should be here.

Raucous rocks! Hopefully Bernard (and thus Amara) get send up there to help deal with things. I would love to see more of Raucous and the Icemen and their "Icecrafting" or whatever it is. And man does Tavi need a power up if he's going to contest with a High Lord. If Raucous is any measure Aquitaine must be a veritable legion by himself.

Hmm so Demos and the Marat are going to the Bloodlands as well. I guess that means the First Aleran is going. I thought so but it's nice to have finally proof. The golden chains were a nice touch I have to say.

And the Vord. I wonder who is to deal with them.
Isana isn't able to and she's going to Alera Imperia anyways.
Fidelias is going with Tavi and if the amazon preview isn't completely wrong they won't be back in time to do something about the Vord in Kalare in this book.
Amara, Bernard and however many Marat they can recruit are far more likely to get send to help out at the Shieldwall, which is rather close to Riva and Calderon, than to travel several thousands of miles to battle the Vord in Kalare.
A new POV perhaps? One with Miles, who should still be in Kalare, and Ehren?

You pretty much summed up my thoughts as well. Everyone's so busy on so many different fronts, how in the world are they going to handle this additional Vord threat? Especially when we know that the Vord has been able to have major reign over on the Canim lands as well...

I'm beginning to wonder if this isn't going to be more of a two-part finale with this book being the Empire Strikes Back side of it?

[tisa75_1]

Jesus Christ...Can Jim think of anything else for Tavi to have to deal with?  Could anything else have possibly have gone wrong? I can't even imagine how bad of a position Alera will be in when Tavi returns two years later.  And the poem Jim chose to open up with gave me a chill when I think about what that means for Alera.

[hjcallipygian]

Jesus Christ...Can Jim think of anything else for Tavi to have to deal with?

I am VERY sure the answer to that question is, "Yes. Yes, he can." =)

[kokolores]

Jesus Christ...Can Jim think of anything else for Tavi to have to deal with?  Could anything else have possibly have gone wrong? I can't even imagine how bad of a position Alera will be in when Tavi returns two years later.  And the poem Jim chose to open up with gave me a chill when I think about what that means for Alera.

It won't be two years until Tavi is back. There's been only a couple of months, half a year at the most, since CaF so the two year cycle is broken. A month to get there a few months for things to go horribly wrong a few weeks to resolve them and a month back, should their fleet be still intact and that is if Tavi doesn't fly back on his own. There is afterall the rather likely possibility that his furycrafting improves while in the Bloodlands.

[Priscellie]

HJ is correct.

With Jim, the answer is always yes.

[Ash]

Can I hear It again?? Man, wow!!

Raucaus Is awesome!!

[octavian]

Why does Mr. Butcher have to be so good?  My mind is having an orgasm right now.  Only 2 months until we actually get to read it.  Raucous is a B.A.  I can't wait to see if he can continue to show off that kind of power.  Tavi his usual genius self.  I hope Ehren plays a more prominent role.  Darn...still two months.

[ballplayer72]

That was awesome. simply magnificent.   i can't feel my legs, and i don't care as long as i get more sample chapters.   

[TgirlValentine]

exquisite torture. 

[twschmidt]

First thoughts on the first chapter:

Lord Antillus certainly lives up to his reputation as a warrior.  He also seems like a pretty decent human being, and leader.  I'm still on the fence though, considering his refusal to let Max or Crassus manifest a fury. It seems a little controlling perhaps.  Every one has their flaws though, and wants the best for their children, so if he believed that they would be stronger with out a manifested animal fury, then i can understand this.  He would treat it like stopping a kid from sucking his thumb, or always needing a light on in the room. 

I do have a suspicion that he will not last the duration of the book.  Both from the fact that he was just introduced, and the conditions in which it happened.  Not only would this set up another war with the icemen, but would also create possible tension as the title would be up for contention between the two sons. 

As for Tavi.  I'm not sure what i think of his solution.  It boils down to basic bribery, and as leader you eventually have to have people obey you because you say they should, not because you pay them off.  it also seems to be a moot point, as Gaius has already signed the proclamation ending slavery, the Dianic league wants slavery ended,  and a war had just been fought against the slave-holding states, essentially guaranteeing the abolitionist vote of those who fought against them.   I understand the sentiment of wanting to bring Kalare back into the empire as an economically viable state, but bribery isn't the way to go about it.

The presence of the Vord completely blindsided me.  i was not expecting that at all.  I'm curious to see how the empire responds.  I suspect that Bernard will be brought in as consultant, perhaps with Dorogo too.

well, those are my thoughts.