*pokes head in, curious at having missed this thread*
I'm only halfway through reading Winter Assault (and likely will be for quite a few months), but I can say how I feel so far:
- Llyn. Someone who goes from being a ugly peasant girl to an elite scout proud of her body, devout in her faith yet falls in love with a young mage. And she's one of the few people who can match Rickkter in battle. I loved her sequence in "Llyn's Tribulations" where, after falling victim to the sword's manipulation, her willpower finally kicks in when facing Malger or Murikeer. Her death was sad and shocking, and I guess that's the point.
- Raven, I guess, is second. I'm not thrilled with the story decisions Lester makes for her, but I like how she becomes a character both decisive, passionate, intelligent, yet guarded and vulnerable from the world. Her role in Metamor really grows over the years, and it's fun to be part of that journey.
- Murikeer. I may as well throw his name in here as well. He has his moments of arrogance like so many other main characters, but he also has a streak of innocence and dorkiness that I just can't help admire. He's young, so he can get away with it.
- Christopher. He seems to be the most "everyman" main character of the Keep. He's not exceptional in what he does, but he is clever enough to get some respect, and he still perseveres through whatever the world puts on him. I'd love to see more of him and his friends from Ellcaran.
- Malger's okay, interesting backstory and abilities. It's hard to tell sometimes when he's arrogant or just self-assured (you notice a pattern here? Arrogance and entitlement are major turn-offs for me), but I enjoy the way he plays off other characters.
There's other characters (in no particular order) who aren't quite favorites, but definitely deserve more scenes:
- Malisa. She's hard to figure out… is she close to her father like in "Reflections", or is she absent from his life? What does she do as Prime Minister? She has a unique personality and role for the Keep, but she's not as prominent as she could be.
- Topo. He's a very unique creature, and he doesn't care. His is just a unique perspective that is always fun to read. Plus, his saving of Malion was an unforgettable act of forgiveness (but was it mercy? Malion also deserves a reappearance).
- Sean and Electra. One big disappointment is that she and Wessex, and he and Jessica, never share a moment together.
- Kwanzaa. Skilled swordmaster, yet she just disappears during the Assault?
- Jione. She also disappears during the Assault.
- Perry. A 19-year-old father of a 4-year-old who can kick ass in battle? Where did he come from?
- Brian Brightleaf. What little I've seen and heard of him interests me; the most powerful mage in the Midlands, and he just stands around in court?
- Smithson. He's just a likeable scholar, no great power or arrogance to him.
- Varnal (and more of Nasoj's human mages in general).