True enough. I suppose any form of a compromise is out the window at this stage of the Game. They both have their respective strengths and weaknesses and they will not share power with each other. In the end I think it will be largely up to the Inquisitor who triumphs in the end, his/her support most likely being the deciding outcome.
'In the Game of Thrones you win or you die.'-Cersei Lannister, Game of Thrones.
Btw whats up with Gaspard marrying his cousin being acceptable but Florian and Meghren being lovers being scandalous because they are cousins being unnaceptable? Orlais needs to make up its mind about how it feels about incestuous relationships lol
I didn't read either book but maybe Florian and Meghren were first cousins, while Celene and Gaspard are not?
Celene and Gaspard are considered distant cousins, almost of no relation at this point, and Florian and Meghren are closer cousins, perhaps first cousins, I think. And people may not mind kissin' cousins when the throne of Orlais is at stake, just might let it slide in this instance.
Specter Slayer... Thank you for reminding me. I had forgotten that Asunder took place after. I now have to go back and reread Asunder.
Well this is one of best dragon age books every character felt like a person and every situation was more complicated than it seemed. The new additions to the lore makes me the wait for inquisition feel even more long.
1. New elf information:With the use of gray and gray morality I was not too surprised when Briala's mentor Felassen told her that when ancient elves of Arlathon prior to human contact were just as prone corruption with their nobility and enslaved the less lucky elves. Despite the reveals on how elves were never a pure hearted people I still didn't dislike them as it made them even more like an actual people who have their limits of what hardships they will endure to survive. Sure there are improvements for the elves of Orlais under Celene but having it outlawed for nobles to spit on you or execute for instantly bowing in their presence does not change the fact they are still second class citizens.
2. Celene: At first I could not help but like her. Eventually I throughout the book she showed how similar she was to Catherine the Great. She brought many improvements to her country she was also liked being on the throne and if anything were to occur to stop her from being ruler she would crush it though she would later say she felt bad about it of course 
. By the end of the book she was almost as racist as every other Orlais noble. She only had a soft spot for Briala and despite wanting an elven student to come to study at the university she showed how she valued her human subjects so much more by her rage at the small human village that was razed to how felt when decimating the elven rebellion was a necessary evil. By this book would she 36 or 37 so I was surprised that no mention was made of her needing to have an heir soon. Does she want her legacy to be her university and improvements because even if she were to leave a will to on who will succeed her the nobles would simply ignore it and fight for the throne. Who would voice her best?
3. Orlais: To see truly how decadent the Orlesian nobles with their constant one upmanship made me wonder why there wasn't a rebellion sooner. It truly showed how rotten the game truly is with how any progress was far less important to them than finding incriminating gossip against someone they mildly envied.
4. Michel: He did have some of the funniest dead pan lines but I found him a little dense when it came to being honorable and when to do the smart thing that was for the greater good. I suspected he had an elven parent due to how many times he said something anti elf. I did get annoyed with how little he reacted to the suffering around him. His comrades dying in agony in combat " Its their duty", Elves of Halamshiral "Sucks to be you but going against Celene means death". Death of horse: Bawling. I did feel bad for it but come on he never felt any connection to other people outside of duty to Celene until the very end. Even with his accomplishments he really is in over head if thinks he can kill an unbound on his own
5. Gaspard: Interesting antagonist that showed a consistent code of honor.I found him too affable to despise unlike Adrian who I wish to personally execute. That slanderous play against Celene was an epic burn. I suspect the traditional nobles with rally behind him even with his crippling injuries.
6. Briala: Interesting character on the edge between 2 loyalties. In the Orlesian court she had Celene, a higher rank than most of the humans there but would still be dismissed by some no matter what she accomplished. The city elves thought she could not possibly understand what they were going through. The Dalish elves she encountered just thought she was a lost cause. Her relationship with Celene felt real but the book showed how love cannot always overcome especially when the one you loved was responsible for the death of your loving parents no matter what the reason was. Glad she chose her people above all else despite it going against Celene. Freedom is won by becoming something more.
7. Eluvian: This ancient portal system has fast travel system written all over it for inquisition. I really want to see the game follow the book description from the elven perspective as much as it can. Unlike the fade where it mainly looked like a slightly upside down world with an greenish brown hue to it rather than a surreal dream realm. I don't think it will be available until at least an hour into the game and the first use will not be pleasant. I see 2 quests one from Morrigan the other from Briala to get something to make it more comfortable for non elves. I might just use dragon age keep to make a save where Merril kept her eluvian. I know she came from a different clan so I first thought the one clan seen in the book was hers with after the reveal of their obsession of getting the portal crystal from a super dangerous demon along with them all dying because of said demon.
Just finished the book... so many conflicting feels. This is definitely my favorite Dragon Age book so far. Disappointed that Weekes wont be returning for the next one but that's ok.
I look forward to hopefully meet Empress Celene in DA:I and supporting her in anyway I can. I don't know how I feel about Briala at this point anymore. I really liked her through most of the book but her sudden understanding of who killed her parents seemed a bit off... especially her reaction to it as someone who has participated in the game her entire life, big hypocrite (it was obvious that Celene had her reasons, born into the game you have to play the game to survive, pretty much how it is). Celene is a hypocrite too... but in a lesser sense to me... I don't really think being in love with an elf shouldn't mean that you suddenly change an entire countries social structure because that's what that elf wants... risking your life in the first place, even though I think at the end she was totally will to do that before Briala struck.
Also I think Flemeth is the dred wolf and killed Felassan. 
Also if we do meet Empress Celene and my inquisitor doesn't get a chance to flirt with her epicness. Heads will roll Bioware.
You were warned. 
Just finished inhaling that book. I'm super impressed, and even more excited to see Mr. Weekes companion characters once they get the spotlit. I'm bummed we don't seem to have a Chevalier as a companion. Ser Michel would be interesting. This and Asunder are setting some very high expectations for DA:I! It was interesting how Gaspard and Celene such opposites; Gaspard has goals I disagree with for the Empire but is noble to a fault, while Celene has great goals and seems pretty willing to put a knife in someones back. If we have a say in who ends up in charge of Orlais, those are two fantastic choices (and perhaps siding with the rebellion is a special hidden third choice? haha). I'm very interested to see where these characters end up in Inquisition. So far the casts of both books have been super awesome...I've wanted almost everyone as companions (which makes me even more excited to learn more about those who did 'make the cut').
Do we know if Mr. Weekes is doing ok? His acknowledgements section seemed to indicated he had been struggling with health problems?
I just finished the book and loved it to bits (and apparently it took me 8 hours). I'd say that of all the dragon age novels thus far, this one is best written.
What I like the most though is the portrayal of both people and factions in the book. I was a Orlais fan before and that feeling is only reinforced as we see both good and bad sides of their society. The ruthlessness of the Game, the honour of the Chevaliers, the incredible racism of the orlesians and when they surprise you by being the complete opposite.
Gaspard and Celene are both very interesting people and I like that both of them are fairly likeable but flawed. Gaspard is probably the better person of the two, but I like Celene much better.
I love how after being dumped in the Winterpalace Celene finds her composure, realizes that she's in a similar position to the one she was in when she was 16 and steps up her A game and reconquers Halamshiral with nothing but words.
Now that's why she's the empress.
Also... I found it amusing that Gaspard was dumped near Val Chevin, where Celene's strongest supporter resides (according to both Asunder and TME).
I'll miss Felassan though... I liked him. And apparently he was extremely good at the Game too... Slow Arrow indeed. But I have a hunch that he worked for DA:Is villain all along.
I see no reason to read the book, given how they torpedoed yet another lesbian relationship (making it a perfect record of horrible things happening thus far) for no good reason (nice contrast with Rhys/Evangeline, by the way).
Xilizhra, I confess the similarities in the portrayal of lesbian relationships tires me also, but my reason for wanting to read the book is simply to soak up the extra DA content. Need there be another?. It's not been released in the UK yet though 
I see no reason to read the book, given how they torpedoed yet another lesbian relationship (making it a perfect record of horrible things happening thus far) for no good reason (nice contrast with Rhys/Evangeline, by the way).
That seems a little unreasonable to me. What, all lesbians need to have life-long, loving relationships? Lesbians can't betray each other, even when they are basically professional backstabbers? I don't know, that seems like putting your personal agenda before the quality of the story.
That seems a little unreasonable to me. What, all lesbians need to have life-long, loving relationships? Lesbians can't betray each other, even when they are basically professional backstabbers? I don't know, that seems like putting your personal agenda before the quality of the story.
That's not the issue. The issue is that every single such relationship in the franchise has ended badly, frequently via betrayal.
I see no reason to read the book, given how they torpedoed yet another lesbian relationship (making it a perfect record of horrible things happening thus far) for no good reason (nice contrast with Rhys/Evangeline, by the way).
That's not the issue. The issue is that every single such relationship in the franchise has ended badly, frequently via betrayal.
Name me one relationship in Dragon Age that ended well.
Name me one relationship in Dragon Age that ended well.
I'll do you one better.
Aveline/Donnic. Eamon/Isolde. Fenris/Isabela if you count that. Wade/Herren. Cammen/Gheyna. True, the majority of these will require the player to not screw them up, but the point is that they can be worked out; absolutely none of the lesbian ones can.
That seems a little unreasonable to me. What, all lesbians need to have life-long, loving relationships? Lesbians can't betray each other, even when they are basically professional backstabbers? I don't know, that seems like putting your personal agenda before the quality of the story.
There's at least one couple out there who does have a long-term healthy relationship. I didn't initially see Xil's point on this, but she's right. Bioware really does need to have at least one healthy, loving lesbian relationship that doesn't end in betrayal, torture, and other unpleasantness. At this point, even amicable breakup is a significant step forward.
I wouldn't say it's a reason not to read the book, but it is something Bioware should change.
Aveline/Donnic. Eamon/Isolde. Fenris/Isabela if you count that. Wade/Herren. Cammen/Gheyna. True, the majority of these will require the player to not screw them up, but the point is that they can be worked out; absolutely none of the lesbian ones can.
It's also worth noting that even if you do count PC relationships, DA2 seems to have Leliana/Warden suddenly end badly (or at least end up with them separated, despite it looking like tru wuv for DA:O). So it's pretty much down to Hawke/Merrill (and/or Isabella).
I wouldn't say it's a reason not to read the book, but it is something Bioware should change.
Another reason I'm not buying it is that the protagonists are all Orlesian asshats and it features yet more gratuitous Dalish slaughter.
A demon they imprisoned killed them... Like why should anyone be sympathetic for that. They easily had it coming one day.Another reason I'm not buying it is that the protagonists are all Orlesian asshats and it features yet more gratuitous Dalish slaughter.
The revelation of elves enslaving each other is interesting. I havema feeling that once humans arrived they were slaves to elves.
It just calls attention to the fact that elves really aren't that much different from humans. They are capable of just as much good or evil, left to their own devices.
That Arlethan may not have functioned that much differently from Orlais (or even Tevinter) doesn't surprise me.
As someone who has actually read the book.. I can easily see Briala and Celene getting back together in a few years once they get their stuff together. They seem to have a dependence and connection with each other I don't see fulling breaking. (Plus they seem to forgive each other too easily)... Also to say that all the lesbian relationships haven't worked out in the games isn't a valid point simply because we don't know the current status of the warden or hawke... Plus from what we have seen it's evident that Leliana still cares for the warden even if there is distance between them. Last time I checked a long distance relationship isn't torpedoing.
Warden vanished, Hawke vanished, Leliana separated from Warden regardless of any excuses. And there's no means to maintain such a relationship in this world without Eluvians.
A demon they imprisoned killed them... Like why should anyone be sympathetic for that. They easily had it coming one day.
That's not the point. The point is the novel treating them--again--as disposable.
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