A Conspiracy of Kings Live Show

[@NovelteaCorner]

If I wasn't asleep, I would have joined you. 💖 But still here for your discussion, because yay!

[@heabooktubes]

@@NovelteaCorner I know. 😭 I obviously did the readalong at this time for specific time zone reasons. But since you’ve been reading it, not being able to have you be in the lives has been my biggest bummer, honestly. 🥲

[@cynthiaybarra7317]

@@heabooktubes I would say, just switch up the times, it's your show!...but...the live for the next book is on the day we take inventory at work and I have to work 6pm-2:30am PST and I don't want to miss another live chat, but I'd love to be able to get Steph's input on these books, too.

[@cynthiaybarra7317]

The magus is his advisor, but genuinely cares for Sophos, the man, and wants what is best for him, their country, and the peninsula as a whole. He isn't a sycophant, he speaks his mind, and he sees the big picture. And I love that the magus still calls Gen a little monster!😂

[@heabooktubes]

@@cynthiaybarra7317 he’s one of those characters we like for his own sake as well as his relationships to the characters we get the pov of.

[@cynthiaybarra7317]

When Sophos is relating his experience to Eddis, I had completely forgotten he was doing that until he finishes and they start talking. I love when that happens, you just get caught up in the events and forget the plot device.

[@heabooktubes]

@@cynthiaybarra7317 exactly lol it’s almost like “oh, yeah, we were definitely talking to someone this whole time”. Lol

[@cynthiaybarra7317]

Oh, and I liked how both Helen and Gen were just "pay your fine" to Sophos' guilt over breaking the truce.

[@heabooktubes]

@@cynthiaybarra7317 exactly

[@cynthiaybarra7317]

Hello from the replay!

[@heabooktubes]

@@cynthiaybarra7317 🥰🥰🥰

[@cynthiaybarra7317]

I also loved that Sophos retained his curiosity and his earnestness throughout, and it goes to what Gen says to Eddis... “We do what we must, but we are not defined by our circumstances. Sounis will not change.” “Did you warn him not to offend the gods?” “There was no need,” said Attolis, smiling. “He couldn’t offend the gods with a pointed stick.” Which in itself was a call back to a conversation Gen and Sophos had about Ambiades...quote... Sounis had been thinking of Ambiades. “He would have been a better man under different circumstances.” Gen looked at him. “True enough,” he said. “But does a good man let his circumstances determine his character?” Sounis couldn’t argue with that....end quote.

[@heabooktubes]

@@cynthiaybarra7317 ugh yes it’s yet another facet of a man becoming king and he’ll be a great king precisely because he’s the type of man who really doesn’t want to be the king. Sophos is like a golden retriever in so many ways.

[@cynthiaybarra7317]

@heabooktubes I think he's more a German Shepherd. He's a protector. He did what he could to protect his mother and sister. He protected his fellow slave first from the assault by the soldier, then from the resulting beating the next day. He protected and rescued his father and their men from the inhospitable baron's murder attempt. He tried to protect the barons from themselves but they chose differently, then he sacrificed 1 to get his point across. After that he protected Berrone (the baron's daughter) by giving her a good settlement and a trusted guardian who wouldn't abuse his guardianship.

[@heabooktubes]

@ I guess I just view those dogs as personality types very differently lol. But I completely agree he has a backbone and is very protective. Which I appreciate.

[@cynthiaybarra7317]

I also liked Basrus' reappearance. I think it further showed Sophos' ability to earn mens' respect just by being himself. (I felt this with his fellow "workers" and foreman while he was working the fields and how they helped him later with the rescue of his father.)

[@heabooktubes]

@@cynthiaybarra7317 the biggest difference from the beginning of the book!

[@cynthiaybarra7317]

Not my favorite, either. Still very enjoyable, just less conniving going on than the first 3 Gen-centric books of the series, which is what was bringing me joy in this series.

[@heabooktubes]

@@cynthiaybarra7317 well we get that back!