Hey,
For those of you who have finished the book or looking for a review of the book before they purchase it, here is a thread for posters to post their reviews and discuss them.
Here's my review of Dragon Age: Last Flight.
Overall, I very much liked it even if I didn't much care for the ending and felt it was topped by things like The Stolen Throne, Asunder, and The Masked Empire.
It's still quite a bit above your usual fantasy fare, let alone tie-in-fiction.
Kudos to the author.
I loved it, Liane Merciel did a fantastic job in the universe and the two stories wove together quite nicely. The book has some excellent writing.
This is definitely a DA novel that fits in well with the others, and it adds some really interesting things to the world and to our understanding of the Wardens. There are some vague hints about a possible plotline for the Wardens in Inquisition.
I did think Valya's story could have had some more fleshing out towards the end though, since the conclusion of that section felt a bit abrupt compared to the other narrative thread.
Overall I definitely recommend it, I might track down Merciel's other books now.
Yeah, not a big fan of the ending. The whole "everything turns out all right" seems very much at odds with the rest of the story. To be honest, I think the author could've left out the entire Valya sections of the book and purely focused on the 4th blight without the framing narrative.
That said, I did enjoy it, and it's certainly worth reading if you're a DA fan, and maybe even if you're not. I've read far far worse.... 
Yeah, not a big fan of the ending. The whole "everything turns out all right" seems very much at odds with the rest of the story. To be honest, I think the author could've left out the entire Valya sections of the book and purely focused on the 4th blight without the framing narrative.
That said, I did enjoy it, and it's certainly worth reading if you're a DA fan, and maybe even if you're not. I've read far far worse....
I liked the framing narrative but wanted some more Mage-Templar stuff.
I really liked the Templar guy with a mage father.
His father COMMITTED SUICIDE rather than go to the Circle.
The Templars really need to start thinking about how outsiders view the Circles.
I liked the framing narrative but wanted some more Mage-Templar stuff.
I really liked the Templar guy with a mage father.
His father COMMITTED SUICIDE rather than go to the Circle.
The Templars really need to start thinking about how outsiders view the Circles.
It wasn't so much that I disliked the framing part - the characters were certainly interesting - but it felt unnecessary for this book. I'd much rather have two completely separate books. One about the 4th blight, the other about the characters in the present time. Instead we got two thirds of one story and one third of another.
But to be honest, I'm rarely a big fan of framing narratives for pretty much that reason - if the framing setting is interesting enough to write about, write a full story about it.
Perhaps, I don't disagree. I admit I wasn't too interested in the Fourth Blight but was hoping for insights into Dragon Age: Inquisition so I may be biased. I do think the framing narrative distracted from developing the 4th Blight characters, though.
So you're right.
Perhaps, I don't disagree. I admit I wasn't too interested in the Fourth Blight but was hoping for insights into Dragon Age: Inquisition so I may be biased. I do think the framing narrative distracted from developing the 4th Blight characters, though.
So you're right.
There are some interesting allusions to strange things happening with the Wardens in the present.
I also liked the small insight we got into how some of the Templars are reacting to what's been happening.
I mean if it hadn't had a "Ray of hope in dark times" ending, I would have had to have a drink or something after finishing it.
Haha, people thought it ended too happy?? The historical narrative was unrelentingly brutal and even in the frame narrative, there was such a dark tone...plus the one death at the end was so
I also don't think the revelation at the end is as rosy as people think. What's going to happen with it is still to be determined...who knows how it will play out.
I really liked this book.
The scary thing? I think the Grey Wardens would have done the exact same thing if they'd known what would have happened.
After all, it won the war.
Which is perhaps why Blackwall doesn't like being one anymore.
Here's the "official" thread on it, BTW.
My initial review focused a generalities rather than lore so I'll throw some lore now.
+ One thing I really liked about this book is we get a sense of how apocalyptic a Blight normally is and how lucky Fereldan was to escape one lasting longer than a year. OTOH, I'm wondering if the damage to Fereldan is worse off than we gave it credit for. A good quarter of the country is covered in the Darkspawn by the end of things and then there's the Mini-Blight consisting of the Broodmother's rampage. It might be that Fereldan isn't going to be anywhere near recovered in Dragon Age: Inquisition.
+ I also like the depiction of the Grey Wardens in this book as both Garahel and Isseya are willing to die or give up their lives to stop the Blight with no complaining. Not only is Garahel the guy who takes the final shot against the Archdemon (which we know) but Isseya knows Blood Magic is something which will accelerate her Calling but sees no problem with it. They're committed to destroying the Blight and don't have any illusions being a Warden isn't about sacrifice.
+ I was surprised to see the reference to the Broodmothers in the book as I thought they were a new thing that Wardens had found out about. However, I've since been corrected on this and want to thank the posters who did so.
+ I also like how even during a Blight the Wardens have to beg, borrow, and steal their allies. One has to prostitute himself (a male, which again is something you don't see very often in these sorts of books) while later gathering an army of Apostates, Casteless, and Freed Slaves. That was a nice touch as was that Orlais and Tevinter don't give the Wardens a damn thing. Think on that, also. The Orlesians, who invaded the Dales because they didn't help, DIDN'T HELP DURING THE FOURTH BLIGHT.
What a bunch of ****s.
+ A lot of people have been complaining Blood Magic was depicted as much more dangerous here but I'm not sure it was. We saw that Uldred and company were all turned into abominations by their use of it during Broken Circle. It wasn't a bunch of "willing" transformations either. Likewise, you can blame the whole incident with Connor not on his being a mage but having access to a Blood Magician's books. Then there's Avernus and his "rip in reality." In short, Blood Magic has ALWAYS been the ticking time bomb power.
The idea it's just some harmless science is the big problem.
+ Blood Magic being a sucker trap is much easier to believe, though, when you note that most Blood Mages don't UNDERSTAND Blood Magic as it was acquired via Matrix download or from books written by people who acquired it via Matrix download.
I see that book have a lot retcons from what i read about it.
I see that book have a lot retcons from what i read about it.
I didn't think it had that many.
It's a first hand account of the Blight after all versus what we've heard about it second hand.
That was a nice touch as was that Orlais and Tevinter don't give the Wardens a damn thing. Think on that, also. The Orlesians, who invaded the Dales because they didn't help, DIDN'T HELP DURING THE FOURTH BLIGHT.
What a bunch of ****s.
I thought they were invaded after the Dalish nearly cut their way to the capital of Orlais.
I really enjoyed the novel. Isseya was so well portrayed, and I felt like her story far outshadowed Valya's. This woman effectively destroyed herself with the Taint and blood magic, so that the Fourth Blight could be averted. She truly defined the virtue of sacrifice. Her brother was also a very good character. Both of them truly outshine the Wardens of the modern era.
I thought they were invaded after the Dalish nearly cut their way to the capital of Orlais.
Yeah, there's that too. Still, the Blight issue strikes me as the more important one by far and pretty much the reasons humans came to despise the Dalish in the first place.
Wars happen all the time.
Less so Blights.
I really enjoyed the novel. Isseya was so well portrayed, and I felt like her story far outshadowed Valya's. This woman effectively destroyed herself with the Taint and blood magic, so that the Fourth Blight could be averted. She truly defined the virtue of sacrifice. Her brother was also a very good character. Both of them truly outshine the Wardens of the modern era.
The thing is, is Isseya meant to be any different from any other Warden during a Blight? We meet that Warden who is best friends, loves, and cherishes his Griffon but who sends it into the meat-grinder as well as himself to make sure more Darkspawn are killed. Are we supposed to take Isseya is exceptional from her sacrifice or the Wardens As A WholeTM are a group which is willing to give everything?
I actually enjoyed the contemporary story more than the one on the 4th Blight. The history was great and all, and the final fight with the Archdemon was very cool, but I loved the details on the Wardens walking off suddenly for no reason, and the Templars who left the Circles. Those things were fascinating to me, given what we now on what is happening in DA:I.
Plus, Dwarven Templar. YAY!
I really enjoyed the novel. Isseya was so well portrayed, and I felt like her story far outshadowed Valya's. This woman effectively destroyed herself with the Taint and blood magic, so that the Fourth Blight could be averted. She truly defined the virtue of sacrifice. Her brother was also a very good character. Both of them truly outshine the Wardens of the modern era.
Yeah. Especially when you compare it to Alistair who deserts if you recruit Loghain cause he can't kill him.
I didn't think it had that many.
It's a first hand account of the Blight after all versus what we've heard about it second hand.
Well from what i read peoples point a lot inconsistencies about magic especially blood magic (well from what i saw you pointed that as well) also qunari matter and more.
Well from what i read peoples point a lot inconsistencies about magic especially blood magic (well from what i saw you pointed that as well) also qunari matter and more.
The author gave a good explanation of the Qunari matter.
But I get the impression Blood Magic is something a lot of people have very strong feelings about how it worked but this book is the first to really clarify. I'm inclined this book goes with what I saw in Origins and DA2 though.
That it's dangerous and the people who use it are usually stupid.
Yeah. Especially when you compare it to Alistair who deserts if you recruit Loghain cause he can't kill him.
Spoiler
*shoves fist in mouth so as not to scream at the Alistair hater*
The thing is, is Isseya meant to be any different from any other Warden during a Blight? We meet that Warden who is best friends, loves, and cherishes his Griffon but who sends it into the meat-grinder as well as himself to make sure more Darkspawn are killed. Are we supposed to take Isseya is exceptional from her sacrifice or the Wardens As A WholeTM are a group which is willing to give everything?
In my mind, at least, Isseya is exceptional due to what she had to undergo personally. Granted, this assumption comes from only knowing the intimate details of what occurred during the Fourth and Fifth Blights, so we don't know what had to be done to beat Archdemons 1-3 besides the death of a Warden. In the grand scheme of things, she truly represents the Warden ideal, which is that of sacrifice. She, and to some extent, her brother, represent that which all Wardens should aspire to be like.
The author gave a good explanation of the Qunari matter.
But I get the impression Blood Magic is something a lot of people have very strong feelings about how it worked but this book is the first to really clarify. I'm inclined this book goes with what I saw in Origins and DA2 though.
That it's dangerous and the people who use it are usually stupid.
Can you tell me how that was explained?
To be honest we had a lot opportunities to see how blood magic works before and from what i read about blood magic differs from what we saw and heard about it.
If i messed up something feel free to correct me as my informations are mostly from froum and wiki.
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