It took me so much longer to finish this than I thought it would have, but with the real life stuff going on it was not on the top of my priority list. Now that I am done, however, I am ready to give some thoughts.
First, I really enjoyed the changes made to Peprin/Parlin. I agree that the name change was a good idea, because he was really only somewhat recognizable as the character from before. And it worked, I was more bothered by his murder this time than I was before. I was more sympathetic to him as a character, in general, as well.
Secondly, Vivenna....I really appreciated the extra time that went into her character and chapters. I haven't read this through fully since the first draft you released to us one chapter a week, so the changes were more, well just more, I think, for me than they would have been if I had read later installments as well. I thought her development was much more fully thought out, and more real.
Siri and Seb...what can I say? I loved them going into it, and I love them still. I like that you changed his writing style, and made it grow with time, and I still love watching their relationship develop over time, it is very sweet.
Lightsong and Scoot, I think I liked them the most, as I did before. Their relationship and interaction is always enjoyable.
The other gods and goddesses, I thought were still not quite there, with the exception of Blushweaver. She was always more fleshed out than the others, and with good reason as she is more central to the plot. I just felt like the rest were a bit, superfluous, for lack of a better word. Allmother was alright, but for the part she plays I thought she might get a bit more air time, but I know that length can sometimes be an issue. I guess I should clarify. I don't really think having more of the gods and goddesses is vital, but I think it would bring a better understanding in some cases. All we really have to go off of are Blushweaver and Lightsong, with a smattering of Mercystar, who is the anti-thesis, in my opinion, of what a goddess should be. I see her as weak, and I don't know if that is fair or not.
Vasher and Denth. I group them together because really, where else would they go? I like the changes I see there, and I like the explanation we get at the end about them. I think it leaves just enough, but ties up well enough in case it is a while between books. I know you don't usually keep us waiting, but sometimes it can happen. But, I digress. I thought that Vasher was just dangerous enough in the beginning, and Denth was just charming and harmless seeming enough. Right up until he wasn't supposed to be anymore, and then the realizations that Vivenna makes, I kind of felt like I was making with her. Silly, because I had read the book already, but it was good.
All in all, I really thought that this version, minus the typos and sometime editing errors, was really good. Since I am not a writer, I can't tell you exactly what I think would flow better, but I thought some of the beginning chapters still felt a bit off. Not bad, just not as good as the later ones. I don't really know how to explain it. I know that really can't be much of a help, but it is the best I can do at this hour. I do apologize for the incoherence of that statement.
