Song of the Mysteries by Janny Wurts: Live Reaction (Part III)
Part III of my live-tweeted readalong/reaction Twitter thread to the release of Song of the Mysteries by Janny Wurts.
As of 2025, I permanently moved over to Bluesky and effective from 17 January 2026, I have deleted all of my Twitter posts due to the changed terms of service.
Some of my most popular threads, such as this one, I have preserved on my website (with minor edits, for accessibility and ease of reading) for posterity.
I will be forever proud of the fact that Janny Wurts herself enjoyed my posting so much that she had this reaction:
If you missed it, you can find Part I and Part II here.
—Delilah.
We are BACK for my Song of the Mysteries first read through!
Table of contents says this is a 14 page section and I am ready for action.
Page 311 / 37%: …oh my god, Arithon is the biggest troll in the known universe.
I’m with Dakar here, I don’t know what to believe. Both possibilities are equally plausible.
For those keeping count, this is reason number 32 why I love Janny Wurts’s books so much.
Page 312 / 37%: Janny Wurts has sailed and it shows in the way she writes all of the seafaring scenes in her books.
Funnily enough, this makes me think about Le Guin and Earthsea.
Apparently people who had sailed told her they were moved by the authenticity of Ged on his sea voyage and were shocked to learn she had never sailed in her life.
Le Guin’s response: yeah, I just used my imagination.
IIRC this was from her book on writing, Steering the Craft.
Imo the style she employed in Earthsea helped a lot too.
Anyway, I’m loving all of these nautical details, even if I couldn’t actually tell you what most of it means.
Making me feel like I should read some more Aubrey-Maturin after this.
![Screenshot of Twitter conversation between Janny Wurts and Delilah Waan:
Janny Wurts: Snort: Patrick O'Brien didn't sail either. Armchair research.
Delilah Waan: [shocked emoji] he didn't?!?!?!!?
I am shooketh. All that nautical speak had me fooled!
Janny Wurts: He did his research; he did not sail.
It is more obvious/as a reader/if you have... but the interplay between Maturin and Aubrey was priceless exactly because of the mystique attached to nautical expertise. The books are still wonderful reads.](https://www.delilahwaan.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/songotm_react_0056-1024x796.png)
Page 317 / 38%: well this should be interesting.
Good luck, Esfand.
POV: Esfand
Page 318 / 38%: this is all true and yet I do not like how this is being put forward.
Page 323 / 39%: oh nicely done, Esfand!
Good speech.
Page 324 / 39%: I turn the page & 6 months pass.
Omniscient third is so hard to do right. I’ve never written in it; close third limited/deep third is what I prefer. Even second person comes easier to me. But then I’ll read a passage like this & wonder if I should try it for fun
Page 325 / 39%: oh no, this is not good. Please tell me what I think is gonna happen is not gonna happen??
Page 327 / 39%: …I do not think that “rock formation” is what you think it is, Ceynnia.
Page 329 / 40%:
It’s ridiculous that I want to say “things are heating up” when they’ve been heating up from the get go.
This is slow burn mounting tension like nothing else.
And I have to leave it here for tonight 😭 I’ll be back for more tomorrow!
It’s Song of the Mysteries first read time!
Things are getting serious. I have a sneaking suspicion I know exactly what’s in store based on this ch title. My only thought rn is “uh oh uh oh uh oh” like being spammed on ICQ
(Too dated a reference? Some of you get it…right?)
![Kindle screenshot. Text reads: Late Spring – Summer 5929
[chapter icon]
IX. Violations](https://www.delilahwaan.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/songotm_react_0057-1024x895.jpg)
Like looking through the titles for this chapter set is making me real nervous
Page 331 / 40%: of course the official party line is that it didn’t happen and maybe if they never mention it no one will know it ever happened
Page 332 / 40%: lol Dakar, all these years and you can still say this with a straight face? You do realise who you’re talking to, right?
Page 333 / 40%: Arithon, hon, I’m pretty sure the answer is this.
Page 334 / 40%: 🤣🤣🤣
Dakar, right now:
Page 334 / 40%: favourite line of the night so far:
What an image to paint in 17 words ❤️❤️❤️
Page 336 / 40%: oooof. This feels a little too real. Call me a cynic but I’d feel comfortable asserting this accurately describes about 95% of our society today.
Page 337 / 40%: re: drum chat, this makes me think of Modesitt Jr’s Spellsong Cycle (also very good books with a world where music is magic where an opera singer gets isekai’d and becomes the most powerful person in existence) where you could do some serious damage with drummers
And now my brain is thinking of the “pon pon pata pon” video game, and that little jingle (yes I’m gonna call it a jingle) is gonna be running through my head for the rest of the night
Page 338 / 41%: Dace!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Page 339 / 41%: …Arithon, are you cheating?
🤨
🤔
Page 340 / 41%: guys guys guys guys guys—Dakar said no to BEER.
It’s so adorable that he’s trying so hard at this.
And yet, immediately like 3 paras down, he screws up trademark Dakar style.
Page 342 / 41%: no way, Dakar did that voluntarily???
Page 347 / 42%: this journey is absolutely terrifying and I’m experiencing this from the cosy snug comfort of warm blankets.
Page 348 / 42%: ngl I am thrilled to see Verrain. I feel like we haven’t gotten to see much of him compared to the others and I’m very excited
Page 350 / 42%: oh no Arithon. 😨😨😨😨😨
This speech is heartbreaking.💔
Page 351 / 42%: AGH NOOOOOOOO!
Nonononono whhhhhhhhhhhy did I have to run into a cliffy tonight 😭😭😭 I gotta sleep but I don’t wanna sleeep I wanna reeeeeeeaaaaaad
Yes I realise I’m doing the exact same thing my daughter is prob doing rn FINE I WILL BE AN ADULT ABOUT THIS 💤
It’s Song of the Mysteries time! And I’ve got a ringside seat for this:
Hyyyyyyyyype!!!
Page 352 / 42%: I’m sorry for this but my brain went straight to here:
Page 354 / 43%: ooooooof
Page 356 / 43%: oh my god WHAT
WHAT
WHAT
Page 357 / 43%: Verrain, what absolute badassery
Page 358 / 43%: well now I’m on the edge of my seat, trying not to skip forward to the reunion that MUST be coming up next
Next para down: oh ewwwwwww gross yikes, this is a terrible place.
Arithon kind of deserves it though because that was a real bone headed move
Page 359 / 43%: OMFG IT WAS 🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬I can’t type it out because spoilers oh you sneaky sneaky bastard
I don’t think I’ve ever had to eat my words so quickly.
This is reason 624 why I love Janny Wurts’s books.
Page 361 / 43%: or do I?!?!??!??
I have no clue either way and I love it. Usually I can predict what’s gonna happen with 90-95% accuracy so when I can’t it’s an absolute joy. Especially when whatever happens usually turns out to be SO MUCH BETTER.
Page 365 / 44%: I am totally going to use this line the next time somebody tries to talk over me.
Page 371 / 45%: a-hah! Was that the goal here? Seems like it might be!
Page 372 / 45%: this but it’s the F7 and Athera
Page 374 / 45%: omg 😂😂😂😂😂
Just put it on, Dakar, your dignity be damned
And that’s it for tonight and this chapter set!
The next one’s gonna be wild. We’re approaching the midpoint.
It is go time tonight for my Song of the Mysteries first read!
![Kindle screenshot. Text reads: Summer 5929 [chapter header icon]
X. Field of Glory](https://www.delilahwaan.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/songotm_react_0067-1024x867.jpg)
Page 380 / 45%: ‼️
Oh hey yes, hell yes, I am on board for THIS adventure, if it’s what I think it is going to be.
Page 385 / 46%: I am feeling equal parts awe and exquisite relief as well as horror.
What is the price going to be?
Further down: AGH!
Oh my god of course
I feel like all my reactions are just going to be completely incoherent tonight. There’s so much spoiler stuff going on that I can’t say anything without spoiling anything
Page 394 / 47%: ‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️
Here’s me hoping for a miraculous twist that will pry these two free
Further down:
Page 396 / 48%: this, but like three of them and like 1000000000000000x more majestic
Page 397 / 48%: I want to quote the entire page here because the prose is gorgeous but it’s so spoiler that I’ll just quote my favourite bit (which is still spoiler-ific)
Page 399 / 48%: That was it. That was what we’ve been waiting for. Two decades and change after I first started reading these books and now I’ve finally experienced the thing I’ve been waiting for.
Page 402 / 48%: AT LAST AT LAST GO DACE GO GO GO GO GO GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
Page 410 / 49%: OooooooooooOOOoooOooooooOoOoooOoooooOoOOOOOOOOooooo
Page 419 / 50%: ahahahhaha way to go Dace!!!
I’m now really really really really really really hoping we can get an end to the you know what in this chapter without giving away the benefit of the you know what.
Page 420 / 50%: Lysaer 🤦🏻♀️🤦🏻♀️🤦🏻♀️🤦🏻♀️🤦🏻♀️ stop deluding yourself
Two paras down: YEEEEEEEEEEESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES OH MY FUCKING GOD YES RIGHT IN FRONT OF YOUR FACE LYSAER AND YOU BETTER DO THE RIGHT THING NOW
Page 421 / 50%: aaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhh EVEN BETTER!
Page 423 / 51%: Fuck, yes, you tell him D.
Page 424 / 51%: oh okay, okay, okay yes, yes I want to see this! This will be amazing
Page 425 / 51%: hmmmmmmmmmmmmmm
And that’s the chapter set done! I cannot wait to see what’s in store next. I have no idea how Janny Wurts is gonna top this but I have faith she’s gonna because she always has in every book of hers that I’ve ever read.
Same time again tomorrow night!
Delilah Waan loves the distinctive structure Janny Wurts employs for every book in The Wars of Light and Shadow series, a.k.a. the massive midpoint reset.
Follow @delilahwaan.bsky.social for more of her thoughts on books and publishing.