Today is week 7 of our readalong of Kushiel’s Justice by Jacqueline Carey.  The schedule and participants are below.  All welcome to join in or to simply jump in with the comments.  This week we cover chapters 47-56, and I am hosting. Without further ado, to the questions with the customary warning of spoilers!

1. Imriel seems to be having a lot of adventures by himself for the past few chapters.  What do you make of his adventures and his character as the story progresses.

I like Imriel’s development over this particular book.  The very fact that he is now venturing out on his own is, I feel, quite significant on it’s own.  In terms of where he’s from and his heritage he is taking a huge risk but it doesn’t feel like he’s just going off in a strop.  He has a purpose.  I liked that he’s not afraid to get stuck in.  There are no airs and graces about him even though he’s used to being quite well looked after  and the shipwreck is a perfect example of that.

2. What do you make of Urist’s misfortune do you think he will play a further role in the story?

I felt very sorry for Urist.  I think he’s played a really good role so far and I really hope he comes into play again.  More than that, I’m pleased that JC didn’t feel the need to kill him off! There is definitely something about Urist that is easy to like.

3. Berlik seems to be receiving a lot of help on his travels, he seems very sad and repentant – what do you make now of Imriel’s mission?  Will he succeed or is he changing?  And is this mission worth the price?

I feel that things have changed slightly and I wonder whether Imriel will be able to actually kill Berlik?  I think that Imriel has great justification for his mission but I think that the longer and father the journey goes the more difficult hit becomes.  Also part of me wonders if Berlik would find it more of a punishment to be allowed to live.  Plus, I’m not sure now how it will make Imriel feel to kill Berlik.  It’s going to be interesting.

4.  Joscelin seems to have become known as an ‘angel’ and Imriel as an ‘avenging angel’ – any thoughts?

Like Joscelin is seen as good and Imriel is bad.  That’s really kind of sad.  I don’t think Imriel has actually done anything bad in fact he’s had a lot of bad things happen to him and obviously he is seeking vengeance for the death of his wife and child.  I’m not sure this course is going to make him happy but I suppose we’ll see.

5. The war that is looming – how do you see this affecting what is yet to come for Imriel?

I think it’s going to make things very difficult indeed.  Imriel has already been imprisoned as a spy – which, as an aside, I was totally pulled into that element of the story – goodness knows what will happen next.  I can’t help thinking that the way he behaved in prison and treated his fellow prison mate might help him out in the long run.

6. What did you think of Imriel’s thoughts about the Gods and the fact that we sometimes change them by twisting the truth a little as time progresses?

I was really drawn to Imriel’s thoughts on this, particularly how they related to our discussion on how the nature of things/stories depending on whether they’re written or spoken.  It can’t be good though to change the nature of a God!  Feels like somebody is going to get smote or smite, or whatever the correct term for being smited is!

Here is the schedule:

Week 1: Chpts. 1-7, Mar 20 – Hosted by Dab of Darkness
Week 2: Chpts. 8-14, Mar 27 – Hosted by Emma Wolf
Week 3: Chpts. 15-22, Apr 3 – Hosted by Lynn’s Book Blog
Week 4: Chpts. 23-29, Apr 10 – Hosted by Tethyan Books
Week 5: Chpts. 30-37, Apr 17 – Hosted by Dab of Darkness
Week 6: Chpts. 38-46, Apr 24 – Hosted by Emma Wolf
Week 7: Chpts. 47-56, May 1 – Hosted by Lynn’s Book Blog
Week 8: Chpts. 57-65, May 8 – Hosted by Tethyan Books
Week 9: Chpts. 66-END, May 15 – Hosted by Dab of Darkness

And here is the current list of participators:
Allie at Tethyan Books
Lynn at Lynn’s Book Blog
Emily at Emma Wolf
Susan at Dab of Darkness
Lisa at Over the Effing Rainbow

Today is week 6 of our readalong of Kushiel’s Justice by Jacqueline Carey.  The schedule and participants are below.  All welcome to join in or to simply jump in with the comments.  This week we cover chapters 38-46, and our host is Emma Wolf.  Without further ado, to the questions with the customary warning of spoilers!

1. At some point before she died, Dorelei made Urist promise to bring Imriel back to the City of Elua and Sidonie for fear that, if he didn’t go, he would be driven to bitterness. What do you think of this promise? Do you agree with Dorelei that Imriel would turn bitter?

Yes, I think she read him very well.  I think he would have dwelled on it all, probably found himself totally guilty and no doubt after wallowing around in guilt and despair would probably have turned very bitter!  Okay, I’ve laid that on a bit thick but I really do think Dorelei knew Imriel very well and I think she was sending home to somebody who would love him and help him to cope. 

2. Imriel questions whether there was no way to escape the fate of his son foreseen by the Maghuin Dhonn. What do you think?

Well, I’m not sure.  I don’t know whether I totally buy into the ethos that all things are fixed or pre-determined.  I think some of what actually happened in the vision seemed to hinge upon the fact that Imriel had left his son after Dorelei died and perhaps there was bitterness that turned even worse.  So maybe knowing that Imriel could have made a difference by simply raising his son?

3. Urist explains the politics underlying the matter to the other Cruithne by noting that Imriel was good enough for Dorelei and Alba, good enough to father Alban heirs, but not good enough for Terre d’Ange. What do you think of his observation?

 I think he made a very good point – which also brings me back to our comments (was it last week) when it was noted that Ysandre had never visited Alba.  I do wonder about Ysandre sometimes.  There have been moments along the way where I’ve definitely felt a little annoyed with her behaviour.  Plus I didn’t like what she said to Imriel about Dorelei when she found him with Sidonie.  I know that she was angry but it really did sound as though she was almost accusing Imriel of being behind Dorelei’s death somehow.

4. We see new places and new peoples. Imriel wonders about the tanner and his wife and their story and how he will never know it. Of all the minor characters we’ve met so far, are there any you wish you knew more about?

Ohh, this is a difficult one.  I sometimes think it would be good to spend more time with Drustan.  I think I would like to know more about him and how he deals with having such a long distance relationship with Ysandre. It would be good to be inside his head for a while and see if we could discover more about the real Ysandre as a result.   

5. What do you think of what’s become of the Yeshuites? Of Micah ben Ximon? Do you think the written word is more open to multiple interpretation than the spoken one, as Urist hints?

I’m not sure what has become of the Yeshuites to be honest.  Perhaps I’ve missed something so will wait for all the answers on that one. – (I think I misunderstood this question – blame it on being tired!  I think I was reading into and thinking something bad had happened to them and I’d missed it – apologies!)

I guess the written and the spoken word are open to misinterpretation depending on the language used and maybe even the wishes of the person listening or reading.  But, it seems to me that people started recording things in writing in order to keep an accurate record whereas the spoken word, I think, can quite often develop and become adapted as time goes by – like Chinese whispers or a fisherman’s tale!  So, in that respect I think the written word is probably more correct – providing of course it was accurate in the first place.

Here is the schedule:

Week 1: Chpts. 1-7, Mar 20 – Hosted by Dab of Darkness
Week 2: Chpts. 8-14, Mar 27 – Hosted by Emma Wolf
Week 3: Chpts. 15-22, Apr 3 – Hosted by Lynn’s Book Blog
Week 4: Chpts. 23-29, Apr 10 – Hosted by Tethyan Books
Week 5: Chpts. 30-37, Apr 17 – Hosted by Dab of Darkness
Week 6: Chpts. 38-46, Apr 24 – Hosted by Emma Wolf
Week 7: Chpts. 47-56, May 1 – Hosted by Lynn’s Book Blog
Week 8: Chpts. 57-65, May 8 – Hosted by Tethyan Books
Week 9: Chpts. 66-END, May 15 – Hosted by Dab of Darkness

And here is the current list of participators:
Allie at Tethyan Books
Lynn at Lynn’s Book Blog
Emily at Emma Wolf
Susan at Dab of Darkness
Lisa at Over the Effing Rainbow

Today is week 5 of our readalong of Kushiel’s Justice by Jacqueline Carey.  The schedule and participants are below.  All welcome to join in or to simply jump in with the comments.  This week we cover chapters 30-37 and our host is Dab of Darkness.  Without further ado, to the questions with the customary warning of spoilers!

1) What did you think about Imriel’s men leaving him behind on the cattle raid? 

I had mixed feelings – part of me thought it was a bit fickle and naughty of them and part of me thinks it was some sort of silly game to prove Imriel’s ability so at the end of the day they left him to it.  It also didn’t really feel as though he was in any ‘real’ danger (in fact it had a ‘staged’ feel to it) – he just got naffed off and spurred into action when his horse was under threat!  I was pleased that he didn’t sulk about it though – I would have!  But, it shows something in Imriel that he was able to take it in good spirit.  Like I said last week, the whole thing did have a very silly feel to it.

2) Alais has done some harmless flirting in this section. What do you make of her request to postpone the wedding to Talorcan a year? Do you think one year will make a difference to either one of them? 

I was quite pleased for Alais in these chapters.  I thought her flirting was really harmless and it was nice to see.  She’s always seemed to be in Sidonie’s shadow but in Alba it’s as though she’s finally having the opportunity to shine.  I’m glad that she wants to take a year and that it was agreed upon.  I actually prefer the option of taking a year to consider getting married rather than getting married and taking a year to see how you like it.  One feels like really considering your options before you make a commitment whilst the other feels like making a commitment without having to give it any thought at all and regardless of the outcome.  Alais is so good – I love her!

3) In this section, we experienced two Alban holidays – the Day of the Dead and the Day of Misrule. What stood out to you the most? If you could only celebrate one, which would you pick? 

I loved both of these and I’m totally with Alais – I would want to live in Alba too!  The day of Misrule was brilliant wasn’t it and really quite good fun – although I suppose there would be the real possibility of it going wrong.  I preferred The Day of the Dead which I’m assuming is similar to our All Hallow’s Day??  It’s so creepy to think of removing the veil between the living and the dead and I was taking it all quite casually until Imriel spotted his father!

4) Throughout this section, there is plenty of talk about denying one’s own nature – Imriel’s talks with Morwen, the chat with the priestess, and even Dorolei and Alais noticing changes in Imriel when his bindings are redone. Getting philosophical, is denying part of your nature good or is it nearly always a bad idea? 

There’s a saying isn’t there about ‘truth will out’ and I suppose to deny your own nature is also to deny your own true self.  Basically it’s like living a lie isn’t it.  Without doubt this gave Imriel a chance to love Dorelei and to give Alba a chance but as soon as his restrictions were removed his true feelings flooded back in and it was this that the Maghuin Donn used against him.  It’s like Carey is giving a message here about being yourself?

5) Could Imriel have done anything differently to prevent the tragedy of losing his wife and unborn child? If you were in his shoes, would you have asked for mercy for the Maghuin Donn? 

I don’t know if Imriel could have done anything different.  This felt like a genuine offer and a chance to be rid of the curse.  As it is, it brings me back to my thinking that the Maghuin Donn are like the fae and very tricksy in their oaths.  I really don’t know the answer about the whole ‘mercy’ thing, truthfully I don’t.  On one hand I’d like to think I would be forgiving and not want to harm innocent people but on the other I would be so angry that I’m not sure I could be that measured.  Part of me wonders if Imriel would have reacted differently if it had been Sidonie and their unborn child – but then it makes me feel bad for thinking that!  I certainly don’t blame Imriel for what has happened and in fact I think he really did try to make things work.  In fact at the moment I’m almost feeling equal parts sad and annoyed with what happened.

Here is the schedule:

Week 1: Chpts. 1-7, Mar 20 – Hosted by Dab of Darkness
Week 2: Chpts. 8-14, Mar 27 – Hosted by Emma Wolf
Week 3: Chpts. 15-22, Apr 3 – Hosted by Lynn’s Book Blog
Week 4: Chpts. 23-29, Apr 10 – Hosted by Tethyan Books
Week 5: Chpts. 30-37, Apr 17 – Hosted by Dab of Darkness
Week 6: Chpts. 38-46, Apr 24 – Hosted by Emma Wolf
Week 7: Chpts. 47-56, May 1 – Hosted by Lynn’s Book Blog
Week 8: Chpts. 57-65, May 8 – Hosted by Tethyan Books
Week 9: Chpts. 66-END, May 15 – Hosted by Dab of Darkness

And here is the current list of participators:
Allie at Tethyan Books
Lynn at Lynn’s Book Blog
Emily at Emma Wolf
Susan at Dab of Darkness
Lisa at Over the Effing Rainbow