Fiona’s Comments (group member since Apr 01, 2023)

Fiona’s comments from the Bookish Challenges group.

📸Captain Elias Monroe


Captain Elias Monroe has captained Euphoria of the Seas for over a decade. Calm under pressure and always in control, he’s respected by his crew and trusted by the guests.
But no one really knows him beyond his polished professionalism.
He’s rarely seen off duty, and when he is, he’s usually alone—staring at the sea like it’s holding a secret.
Maybe it is.

📚Tasks:
1. Read a book featuring a leader or authority figure
2. Read a book where the setting plays an important role
3. Read a book with a blue or white cover

📸Lana Murphy


If you’ve had a drink on this cruise, Lana Murphy probably made it. She’s quick with a joke, quicker with a pour, and always ready to listen.
Guests love her—but they forget that bartenders hear everything.
And Lana? She remembers it all.
Just don’t ask what she did before she worked on the ship… she never answers.

📚Tasks:
1. Read a book where a side character knows more than they let on
2. Read a book set (at least partially) in a bar, restaurant, or hotel
3. Read a book where alcohol or partying plays a role in the plot

✅

✅

✅

Congrats, you completed the Anniversary challenge!

Gold Rush


Tasks:
1: Read a book with something gold on the cover.
2: Read a book with the word "rush" in the title.
3: Read a book by an author with the initials GR or RG.

Book/Author: Elevation by Stephen King
Date read: June 9
Task: 7. Read a book you've previously started but you couldn't finish
How it fits: started 2 or so years ago, couldn't finish. gave it another try now

For Library:
Book/Author: Matilda by Roald Dahl
Date read: June 10
Task: Read a book with a bookish character 📚
How it fits: Matilda reads a lot of books

I'm done and rated it 4 stars.

(view spoiler)[This one really hit me hard, in the best and worst ways. I got so attached to the two main women, and their story was just... wow. Heartbreaking, but also so full of strength and hope. There were moments I had to pause just to take it all in. The writing was beautiful without being too much, and it made everything feel so real. I gave it 4 stars because it was incredible, just super heavy at times. Definitely one of those books that sticks with you. I’d totally recommend it if you’re in the mood for something emotional and powerful. (hide spoiler)]

Book/Author: This Is How You Lose the Time War by Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone
Date read: June 9
Task: 3. Read a book written by two authors
How it fits: written by two authors

⬛ Black Blocks – Dark & Twisted (Horror & Gothic Reads)
1. A horror or gothic novel
Book/Author: Victorian Psycho by Virginia Feito
Date read: June 8
How it fits: MPG Horror and MPG Gothic
Position: 3 (after the orange blocks are gone)

I will read for one more book in this round

DAY 2
📸Priya Kapoor


No one really noticed Priya Kapoor at first. She didn’t check in with the others and kept her distance during the welcome dinner. When someone asked where she was from, she just smiled and said, “Nowhere important.”
She claims she won a ticket in an online giveaway—but her name isn’t on any official list. And sometimes, it feels like she’s watching everyone just a little too closely...

📚Tasks:
1. Read a book with a mysterious female character
2. Read a book where someone is keeping a secret
3. Read a book with a one-word title

🏡 A Cozy Cottage

1. Read a book with "home" or "cottage" in the title 🏡
2. Read a book with a warm and inviting cover ☕
3. Read a book featuring family relationships 👨‍👩‍👧

Investigation - Maxwell Carter

Daniel: (Studying him) “Mr. Carter, I’ve been told you and James had a heated argument the night he was killed. Care to explain?”

Maxwell: (Smirking slightly) “Business disagreements, Mr. Hunt. They happen all the time. James and I were passionate about what we built together. Arguments were just part of the process.”

Daniel: (Coolly) “Passionate? According to the staff, your voices were loud enough to carry down the hall. That sounds a bit more intense than a standard business debate.”

Maxwell: (Shrugs) “What can I say? James was stubborn. He had a way of pushing my buttons, but it never went beyond words.”

Daniel: (Leaning back slightly, his eyes narrowing) “And what exactly were you arguing about?”

Maxwell: (Pauses, choosing his words carefully) “He was making decisions I didn’t agree with. Risky moves, let’s just say. I told him he needed to slow down, reassess. He didn’t take it well.”

Daniel: “Risky moves? Like cutting you out of a deal, perhaps?”

Maxwell: (Laughs, though there’s a tightness to it) “You’ve got quite the imagination, Mr. Hunt. James and I may have had our differences, but he valued me. He wasn’t about to push me out.”

Daniel: (Pointedly) “You sound confident about that. But business partnerships can be complicated. You didn’t feel he was holding you back, maybe looking to end things?”

Maxwell: (His tone sharpens slightly) “James and I had a dynamic that worked, even if it wasn’t always smooth sailing. If you’re implying I had something to gain from his death, you’re wasting your time.”

Daniel: (Slowly) “Perhaps. But I can’t ignore the fact that tensions were high, and James had confided in others about trust issues with you.”

Maxwell: (Feigning surprise) “Oh, James confided in everyone, didn’t he? Always quick to cast doubt, but never willing to confront the real problems. Let me guess—Sarah mentioned something, didn’t she? Or maybe Clara, stirring the pot as usual?”

Daniel: (Unfazed) “Let’s stick to you and James. After your argument, where did you go?”

Maxwell: (Leaning back, his composure returning) “To my room. I needed space to cool off, and James needed to sulk. We were supposed to talk it out the next morning, but… well, here we are.”

Daniel: (Watching him carefully) “Convenient that you didn’t see him again. Do you often leave things unresolved like that?”

Maxwell: (Smirks) “Not usually, but with James? It was better to let him stew. He’d come around eventually—he always did.”

Daniel: “And now he won’t.”

Maxwell: (Leaning forward, his tone suddenly firm) “Look, Mr. Hunt, I had nothing to do with James’s death. Argue with him? Sure. But murder? That’s not who I am. If you want the truth, maybe you should dig deeper into this family. James had more enemies under this roof than business rivals outside of it.”

Daniel: (Nods slowly, his gaze lingering) “I’ll be doing just that, Mr. Carter. Don’t stray too far.”

Maxwell: (Standing, smoothing his suit) “I have no intention of leaving, Mr. Hunt. After all, I have nothing to hide.”


Read a book that meets the general guidelines.

Book 10

Eragon by Christopher Paolini


Tasks:
1. Read a book with a mythical creature in the story.
2. Read a book published in 2002.
3. Read a book with a blue cover (50% or more).

OR: Read Eragon for 2 bonus points!

Evermore



Note: I will not include songs that are on the track list twice (with the addition of “Pop Version” etc.)

Track list:
Willow
Champagne Problems
Gold Rush
‘Tis The Damn Season
Tolerate It
No Body, No Crime
Happiness
Dorothea
Coney Island
Ivy
Cowboy Like Me
Long Story Short
Marjorie
Closure
Evermore
Right Where You Left Me
It’s Time To Go

That's 2 points for the task and another point for finishing the era!