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RavenSoul ** SPOILERS***
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butterfly



Joined: 08 Sep 2004
Posts: 47
Location: Ireland

PostPosted: Tue Dec 02, 2008 12:45 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I am a bit behind as I have been tag-teamed by two teething children but finally finished.
From the first recognisable Hirad line till the very end I loved it. It brought me back to every previous book and challenged my recall, as well as my emotions. The ultimate rollercoaster. I couldn't read the previous books as they are packed away for a house move but as soon as I can I will reread every single one of them and I know I will get even more joy.
Thank you James for every single fearful feeling, laugh, angry thought, tear and smile. It was all worth it.
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Selik



Joined: 20 Jan 2005
Posts: 1524
Location: South Shields

PostPosted: Tue Dec 02, 2008 2:44 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I will admit to having a favourite Hirad moment... well if i'm honest, two or three, but the one that stuck out was his reaction to seeing Denser. This would then be closely followed by his discovering Sol named his youngest after him Razz
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Max Power



Joined: 06 Dec 2004
Posts: 467
Location: United Kingdom

PostPosted: Tue Dec 02, 2008 7:38 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Finished! First thought is fab! I liked Ilks' line about putting the elf in selfish. Please tell me you groaned when you wrote that, James!!! Laughing
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Lizzy



Joined: 02 May 2005
Posts: 674
Location: the wilds of the West

PostPosted: Tue Dec 02, 2008 8:52 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I liked Sol's initial reaction to Hirad Razz

I loved it all, and need to read them all again now!
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Selik



Joined: 20 Jan 2005
Posts: 1524
Location: South Shields

PostPosted: Wed Dec 03, 2008 3:41 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Very Happy Exactly my response.
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Max Power



Joined: 06 Dec 2004
Posts: 467
Location: United Kingdom

PostPosted: Wed Dec 03, 2008 10:05 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Way ahead of you, Lizzy! I polished off all the earlier Raven books over the summer, partly as I knew I'd have little time come September.
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Wulfgar



Joined: 21 May 2008
Posts: 35
Location: Bournemouth

PostPosted: Mon Dec 08, 2008 9:59 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Finally got my copy and read it over the weekend. Loved it! I sort of felt it had something special for long-time raven fans, a quality that you just couldn't appreciate without getting to know (and saying goodbye) to so many loved (and loved-to-hate) characters along the way since the very beginning.

I was going to ask as well about whether we'd see any more of Jonas but I've been beaten to it. Defintely his father's son Smile
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skandranon



Joined: 25 Feb 2008
Posts: 147
Location: north east England

PostPosted: Tue Dec 09, 2008 10:40 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I agree with wulfgar , it felt like it was specially for fans. I loved it , i loved Sirendor getting a bigger part , and i thought the ending couldnt be more fitting . The only thing that bugs me a little , is Erienne happier when shes with the Raven than when she is with Denser? or am i delving into relationship strife areas that should be left alone . Rolling Eyes

Anyway thankyou very much James , a fitting end to a rollercoaster ride of a fantasy series. Very Happy Very Happy
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James
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Joined: 26 Aug 2004
Posts: 479
Location: United Kingdom

PostPosted: Wed Dec 10, 2008 12:04 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Thanks all... lovely comments. I'm really happy that life-sentence Raven lovers found Ravensoul a fitting end. My biggest fear was that you would think it a book too far. It was a thought that spurred me to greater efforts.

Must confess I enjoyed writing Hirad immensely again. His little asides about Denser and Sol's promotions made me snigger. Anyway...

Max... I trawled the depths of the bad gag bucket for Ilkar's one-liners and found that one stuck to the bottom with old grey chewing gum. I just couldn't resist it.

I think, skan, that Erienne loves having her family around her. And The Raven became that for her. It's where she feels most secure. She loves Denser with a fierce passion but her heart is at home with The Raven.
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Deornoth



Joined: 08 Oct 2007
Posts: 446

PostPosted: Wed Dec 10, 2008 3:43 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I always wondered just how much Denser saw himself as part of the Raven and the end of 'Ravensoul' has left me still wondering...

James - When Denser finally dies do you reckon he'll join up with the Raven to help them, well... you know (don't want to give anything away, even if this is a spoiler thread)

Oh yes, what Liz said about having to re-read the rest of the series Very Happy
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James
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Joined: 26 Aug 2004
Posts: 479
Location: United Kingdom

PostPosted: Thu Dec 11, 2008 2:57 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I'm sure that's exactly where his soul would end up. he'd be back with Erienne too.

He's always had an interesting relationship with The Raven. if you think about it, he was never really officially asked to join. he paid them for a job and never left. He's an adopted son and oft times a troublesome one. But he means them no harm despite his Xeteskian evil twin leanings and they know that. Most of the time.
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Deornoth



Joined: 08 Oct 2007
Posts: 446

PostPosted: Fri Dec 12, 2008 1:05 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

James wrote:
I'm sure that's exactly where his soul would end up. he'd be back with Erienne too.


It shows how much I was into 'Ravensoul' that this answer made me really happy Very Happy
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TheJovialGnome



Joined: 05 Jan 2005
Posts: 295
Location: Boston

PostPosted: Fri Dec 12, 2008 6:07 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Way behind everyone else but my senile brain can't cope with two books at once so it had to wait a while! Very Happy

I have to confess that it took me a while to get into it but I'm glad I persevered as it had me turning the pages with alacrity towards the end! Very Happy

Quite liked the twist and redemption with Denser (far and away the best character!) and like everyone else, the banter had me giggling to myself! Very Happy

Oh yes, nice to see Sirendor getting a decent piece of the action this time round! Very Happy

Great book, thanks James! Very Happy
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Drizzt



Joined: 07 Mar 2005
Posts: 1081
Location: Easington, UK

PostPosted: Tue Dec 16, 2008 12:15 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I was recently saying to Lizzy that Ravensoul is easily one of the most intense books I've read for many a long year... it could have, quite easily, been made a lot longer with more characters given extra time 'on screen', more development for the Garonin etc etc... yet, by compacting as much into the book as he did, methinks James has amplified everything in there - and it's not like it's a light book, there is plenty in there to get through, but the sheer intensity of everything that's going on and the way it keeps cranking things up time and again just pulled me through the book... my Dad's now on reading it and getting sick of my constant asking where he's up to Razz
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Wulfa_Coldheart



Joined: 27 Aug 2004
Posts: 97
Location: United Kingdom

PostPosted: Tue Dec 16, 2008 10:42 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Well I was mid-book when my copy of Ravensoul arrived and with work and Christmas stuff I’ve been a little behind on my reading. However, I finished Ravensoul last night.

I’ve been reading the Raven books for the last 8 years… it seems a long time ago when I first took a chance on the rather dodgy original covered DawnThief. I’ve enjoyed every Raven book since and so whilst I was looking forward to the return of the Raven I was a little dubious…

Before I give my thoughts on the book, I wanted to ask James something – do you have it in for the people of Balaia? I know you created them, but you’ve put them though a lot over these seven books!

This book was pure Raven. Sure I was a tiny bit disappointed with the way the Raven dead came back, but as a plot device it offered and delivered lots. That said, I did enjoy it a little more when during the soul battle at the end when the Raven re-appeared as themselves. I was also glad that Darrick, as my favourite character, made a come back in the end, two rather unspectacular deaths for the General would have been a little unfair!

Ravensoul had me in a whole range of emotions. I laughed, I got excited, I got angry, but I got all teary eyed at some of the heart-rending stuff I’ve ever read. The Barons final drink together… Sol saying good bye to his family… that scene with Diera holding the Unknown… glad I wasn’t reading that on the train! Even the ending had a bittersweet resonance to it…

I liked most of the mini-character development arcs – Jonas and Denser/Densyr in particular. Shame we won’t ever find out what happens to them, although I too hope that Denser joins with the Raven and Erienne. A Jonas/Sha-Kaan spin-off would be interesting – this water based world they’ve arrived on could make for an interesting high seas style story.

Whilst I would have loved the Raven books to have gone on, I can’t think of a more fitting ending for them. Thank you James.
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