I didn't like Sonea coming up only in the epilogue and the entire book ending on Dannyl and Tayend. She could have written the ending better...even with Akkarin dying, she could have written it better... But i still take the book for what it is, and it's definitly a wonderful work :) I also thought, like Akala, that there was a great deal of possible meaning behind Akkarin dying, for himself and for Sonea. For Sonea, it was like all her life the city and the Guild had just taken and taken and taken from her and she fought to save it anyway, losing what is most precious to her in the process. The meaning for Akkarin...well, there's a lot to consider there, too. There was him dying for love, but also how he suffered for love before, and so many other factors to take into account when looking at Akkarin's death. There is, in my opinion, definitly something there as far as meaning is concerned. And as the series ends as a "tragedy," another thing to think about is hamartia, the fatal flaws of the characters that lead to the downfall. Lots to think about :) Which means...lots to discuss!!! :D

Absolutely agree LC. Like it.

Ooh, I could wikipedia it but what does hamartia stand for? (If it is a word that desribes as you write "the fatal flaws of the characters" then it certainly is an interesting subject. They all have flaws. That is what I like about them.

Oh another thing about Akkarin I think is he died because he'd lost everything else in the world, and I doubt living for Sonea would have been worth the pain and knowledge that he'd lost everything else (his position as High Lord and trust with the guild, Lorlen, his former love...)

Oh I don't know if I agree with that, I think Akkarin would have a lot of recovering to do but I don't think it was his intention to die, and I think his and Sonea's love was strong enough for him to have a reason to keep going after the battle.

I don't agree with you there Mirlya. I agree with Sonea that, although Akkarin had lost a lot, he was on the road to some sort of reconciliation and recovery, certainly if he had defeated the Ichani. And I think that Sonea's love would have been enough to see him through some of the trials he would have had before him.

I guess. I've just got this image of Akkarin striding through the door where Sonea's waiting for him after he goes after Lorlen alone... I think there's mention of a cloak? Man. I love that picture...

What ?? What chapter are you referring to? (Sounds good but I just can't recall it)

Soon before they poison an Ichani, I think.

Yes that sounds right. Thank you LittleRaven.

You mean the bit just after she talks to Regin and he aplogizes.

off topic, but the regin apology was so weird. i didn't trust him at all. i was totally waiting for him to just send out an alert about them being there or some silly betrayal like that.

ya. war matures you though.