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HFQ Thoughts/reflections SPOILERS

This fascinating series is a combination of historical seafaring, swashbuckling adventure, and high technological science-fiction. Join us in a discussion!
Re: HFQ Thoughts/reflections SPOILERS
Post by PeterZ   » Wed Oct 14, 2015 9:35 pm

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In reaction to evilauthor's post I am having another "morning after at Madame Ahnzhelyk" moment. Just as the conversation that morning Ahbraim first visited suggested to me that Ahnzhelyk belonged to an older and larger organization, the scene where The Fist of God sent him the note telling him they could have killed him but did not suggests that Rayno is in Nynian's deep mole. That entire scene simply is just a bit inconsistent with the other scenes with Raynor. His emotional responses are not quite the same.

Not sure of how or why yet, but he is part of Nynian's Helm Cleaver.
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Re: HFQ Thoughts/reflections SPOILERS
Post by jtg452   » Wed Oct 14, 2015 9:59 pm

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Well, you can't say it didn't move the land war subplot along. Maybe not in the way some of us had hoped, but it did make some of what's coming clearer.

It also introduced some new and interesting characters.

I,surprisingly, find myself actually rather liking the commander of the Harchongese forces as well as his aide de camp and the one leader of its' subformations we have met so far. The Harchongese commander, if he's as mentally flexible as he appears to be, has the potential to be very scary.

I don't consider it a real cliffhanger ending. Oh, it's irritating the way RFC's teasing us by setting the scene and then just cutting it off but it's not a real surprise.

I figured it was coming, the only question would be whether or not it was in this book. There's a bit too much respect there for it to be done any other way.
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Re: HFQ Thoughts/reflections SPOILERS
Post by Expert snuggler   » Thu Oct 15, 2015 1:02 am

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What could he possibly say to Thirsk?

If he says "Your family is safe", Thirsk's public appearances are not going to show the emotional state everyone will expect, and the wrong people might notice.

BTW "Helm Cleaver" is a poorly chosen name. Arbalest doesn't want an investigator who gets a toehold in the organization to hear "Helm Cleaver" and start thinking about Seijin Kohdy. Especially if there's a musty old lead to the SSK in the Inquisition archives that used to seem too unimportant to follow up.

General observation: Merlin is really tipping his hand these days. Posting a broadsheet on the inside of the door of a guarded church? Not much plausible deniability there.
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Re: HFQ Thoughts/reflections SPOILERS
Post by PlaysWithBees   » Thu Oct 15, 2015 3:44 am

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I was a little disappointed that we didn't learn much more about Sejin Khodi and the War against The Fallen. I get why because it wasn't essential to THIS book's plot line, but I would like to know more.

Watching Zhackaahs Clyntahn starting to come unglued has been entertaining.

I suspect the bit with Stephanie, her brother, and Thisk's grandkids may actually be introducing people important in the next series joining Alahnah in the next generation. I believe there is about 20 years until the Return which they will all be in between their late teens to early 30's by then.

Watching Thisk's journey has been interesting and I am looking forward to learning what he decides to do now. There are enough options that it would make a good additional discussion thread.

Durchein's conspiracy is now officially acknowledged and we learned a little about it, specificly that it can't be a direct confrontation.

All in all, a satisfying read with enough things going wrong for the "good guys" to keep them honest.
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Re: HFQ Thoughts/reflections SPOILERS
Post by PlaysWithBees   » Thu Oct 15, 2015 4:06 am

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Oh, one other little thing I found. Anybody else notice that Merlin and Nimue got promoted?

In earlier books Merlin was referred to by Owl as Lieutenant Commander Alban. In this book, they are referred to as Commanders Athrawes and Chwaeriau.

Not sure if it was intentional or accident. Could be a time in rate thing like in Manticore...
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Re: HFQ Thoughts/reflections SPOILERS
Post by Alistair   » Thu Oct 15, 2015 5:18 am

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Random question where was Niume born, in one place in a previous book I thought it was northern Europe like Sweden but here in this book it says the UK? shrug memories playing games on me.

In the last book the last land battle was awesome in the trees with the desperate Dohlar and Desneir regiments vs Charis mounted infantry but this book not so much. though the battle that was snippeted was pretty cool.

Naval battles were great!

I thought the camp scenes were moving as well on the whole not a bad book.

I also like how Hector now has is own command he can now be sent off on lots of dangerous missions with the snarcs to help!

Can't wait to see the new Ironclad battleships in action!
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Re: HFQ Thoughts/reflections SPOILERS
Post by PeterZ   » Thu Oct 15, 2015 8:02 am

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PlaysWithBees wrote:Oh, one other little thing I found. Anybody else notice that Merlin and Nimue got promoted?

In earlier books Merlin was referred to by Owl as Lieutenant Commander Alban. In this book, they are referred to as Commanders Athrawes and Chwaeriau.

Not sure if it was intentional or accident. Could be a time in rate thing like in Manticore...


That was OWL referring to Nimue Alban's TFN rank and using the new names. Prior to Nimue Chwaeriau's creation, he continued to refer to Merlin as Commander Alban. Now he had to differentiate between the two Commander Albans.
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Re: HFQ Thoughts/reflections SPOILERS
Post by Dauntless   » Thu Oct 15, 2015 8:53 am

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PeterZ wrote:
PlaysWithBees wrote:Oh, one other little thing I found. Anybody else notice that Merlin and Nimue got promoted?

In earlier books Merlin was referred to by Owl as Lieutenant Commander Alban. In this book, they are referred to as Commanders Athrawes and Chwaeriau.

Not sure if it was intentional or accident. Could be a time in rate thing like in Manticore...


That was OWL referring to Nimue Alban's TFN rank and using the new names. Prior to Nimue Chwaeriau's creation, he continued to refer to Merlin as Commander Alban. Now he had to differentiate between the two Commander Albans.


playwithbees point was that when this started back in OAR merlin was a LT commander, and OWL usually referred to him/her as a lt commander.
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Re: HFQ Thoughts/reflections SPOILERS
Post by PeterZ   » Thu Oct 15, 2015 9:12 am

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Dauntless wrote:
PeterZ wrote:
That was OWL referring to Nimue Alban's TFN rank and using the new names. Prior to Nimue Chwaeriau's creation, he continued to refer to Merlin as Commander Alban. Now he had to differentiate between the two Commander Albans.


playwithbees point was that when this started back in OAR merlin was a LT commander, and OWL usually referred to him/her as a lt commander.


Ah! Time in grade?
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Re: HFQ Thoughts/reflections SPOILERS
Post by ChaChaCharms   » Thu Oct 15, 2015 9:26 am

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PlaysWithBees wrote:Oh, one other little thing I found. Anybody else notice that Merlin and Nimue got promoted?

In earlier books Merlin was referred to by Owl as Lieutenant Commander Alban. In this book, they are referred to as Commanders Athrawes and Chwaeriau.

Not sure if it was intentional or accident. Could be a time in rate thing like in Manticore...


The reason was because Owl had to differentiate between the 2 Nimues, and since Merlin was officially what, 3-5 years(?) older than Nimue PICA #2, he was given a higher rank, making Merlin the commanding officer of Nimue.
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