Linda C’s Comments (group member since Aug 05, 2020)

Linda C’s comments from the Challenge Corner group.

Ruthie wrote: "Linda C wrote: "But, regency romance is like bridgerton right? "

Yes, but Carla Kelly is less sexual than the Bridgerton books.

Ruthie wrote: "Agreed and think I'll rate it a 4 as well. I would have liked more world-building too and a different type of character instead of the usual "outcast" and different plot points as well. I'm wonderi..."

I agree with you on the "outcast" theme being overdone.

Ruthie wrote: "Linda C wrote: "Chapters 8 thru 16 - 50%
I had a feeling Red was that boy who refused to shoot her as a child. I wonder if he will learn about that thru their link or if she will tell him at some p..."

Comment on your comment for Chapters 8-16:
(view spoiler)[ From your comment I was not expecting Red to be alive/experimented on at all! I was a bit annoyed that he's not really dead because sometimes I like when things are unexpected like early deaths but as the book went on, I wasn't upset anymore. - I have the impression you thought Red was Corian who died at the beginning. Not so. (hide spoiler)]

Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
BR: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Pages: 371 https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5...
Bonus: #1 in series

Chapters 27 to the end - 100%
(view spoiler)[ Well, I was giving the Premier more credit than he deserved. He didn't guess they would come, the Speaker betrayed them. I didn't see that coming.
I loved the execution scene and confrontation of the Speaker. The Strikers as one standing up for their own!
The ending leaves us with defiance and determination in the face of unlikely odds. This is not the kind of ending I like. It may be a cliffhanger that I will pursue, but then again I may let it slide and regard the ending as a tale that leaves us with hope. I hate to support cliffhanger authors. (hide spoiler)]
My overall rating for this book would be a 4. I liked much about it but felt the world building was lacking. The Federation wants to take over the whole continent but what of the rest of the planet. What else is there and where is it in the scheme of things? (view spoiler)[It also faults in not describing much of the Maran society outside of the Strikers. The Strikers seemed to be the only good guys protecting the ungrateful sheep.
As many YA stories, adults are useless or the villains. Talin's mother is the exception. The other default to me is the whole predictability of the Maran society falling by the end. No other land is mentioned to retreat to or even described; the Federation is a war machine with unlimited resources and technology; and the Marans lose ground at every confrontation (hide spoiler)]

Chapters 17 thru 26 - 76%
(view spoiler)[ Well I got that a bit wrong! Instead of another battle we have a suicide mission to save the day!
Despite the daring mission, it seemed predictable to me that the Premier was going to set a trap for the team once they had Red. He had to figure someone would come to the rescue and that there was a reason that Red was easily captured, though he may not have known exactly what was intended. He wouldn't be Premier and have conquered so much if he was stupid. He also had to guess that the rescuer would be Red's bonded link since it was open for the taking when Red escaped.
Well, Talin has been captured... we'll see how this plays out. (hide spoiler)]

Chapters 8 thru 16 - 50%
(view spoiler)[I had a feeling Red was that boy who refused to shoot her as a child. I wonder if he will learn about that thru their link or if she will tell him at some point or if it will just remain her memory?

Having just found out about his family being turned into Ghosts and his killing them, I'm curious if this was to torture him into doing their desires or if he found out it was done and it was a mercy killing. Either way, was this the trigger that caused him to escape?

Although the access and positives attached to Red seem that they can be a turn in the tide for Maran, I'm very pessimistic about the country's future and feel sure that this is going to lead to a negative or mostly negative battle climax with significant characters dying or being captured by the Federation. I hope there is a positive enough ending to want to read the next volume. (hide spoiler)]

Chapters 1 thru 7 - 25%
(view spoiler)[ Most everything mentioned in the blurb at the top has happened in this 25%. The structure of the world and the unknowns about the Ancient civilization are basically established. Talin's position as an outsider in the elite fighting force makes her both feared and disrespected. Corian's death makes her position more in jeopardy. Then her rescue of the Federation soldier tarnishes her further. It will be interesting to see how he changes things as we learn more about him. He sounds like he may be someone similar to Talin in the Federation, an outsider with talents that make him valuable. We'll see. (hide spoiler)]

Kim, glad you're enjoying it so far. Both Ruthie and I loved it. Unlike some I've read that did not do well at world building (see my comments and example) this one was easy to imagine and had likeable H/h. Looking forward to your take on the 2nd half of the story.

Here are 4 of the ones I have to read on KU

Where The Pieces Fall

Bewitching the Bounty Hunter

There Are Only Four

Phantom Wolf

The other 4 are by a favorite author (Carla Kelly) who generally writes Regency romances - but these 4 are set on the frontier and feature Mormon characters, a new area for her and I'm not sure I'm going to like, so this is a way to try them out or delete them if I don't like after reading one. Didn't think they would be of interest to you.

I belong to Kindle Unlimited and found COTWK through that, however I am going to be cancelling that after the trial period ends in August, so I purchased COTWK for 4.99 since I wasn't sure I would get to it before the trial ended. I have 8 other titles to read by 8/20 before they disappear.

I also belong to 2 book trading sites and when I hear of something that sounds good I put it on my wish list there and hope someone puts a copy up for trade. That's what I did for Infinity Courts, since it was 10.99 on Kindle. A credit on the trading sites is the cost of mailing the book which is around 3.00, so that makes it possible to keep down the cost of my reading habit.

Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Pages: 316
Bonus: #2 in series

Ruthie wrote: "Will you try the Six of Crows show or the other series by Leigh Bardugo like I mentioned in my earlier comment?"

What network has the Six of Crows?

I read Maas' Throne of Glass and have the rest of the series on my kindle. Very Good

I also have Curse of the Wolf King but haven't read yet. I will have to check into The Infinity Courts

I've got one book to finish and then starting this.

I didn't see your final comments on Song of the Forever Rains. Did you finish that?

Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Pages: 236
Bonus: #3 in a series

Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Pages: 200 https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7...
Bonus: #44 in series

Celia wrote: "Amanda here's our link for :
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/..."

Celia and Amanda,
Would you mind if I joined your BR for this book? I have it on my kindle and this would be a good time for me to read it as well.

Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Pages: 320
Bonus: #4 in series


Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
BR: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Pages: 423
Bonus: #1 in a series

Chapter 27 thru the end - 100% - very much enjoyed and will look for the next volume in the series.

(view spoiler)[ The need for Larkyra to find out how to make a potion by going to the Fade (afterlife) to question her mother was a great option for releaving her guilt over her mother's death. The need for getting the flower ingredient for the elixir by going to Esrom and stealing a frond from monsters was great adventure. But the best part was having the butler/valet misinterpret the use of the elixir and take it upon himself to offer it to the Duke. What at first seemed to botch their plan ended up being the perfect revenge.

I'm very pleased with this book and the set up for the next. Somehow we have to make a pirate villain into a hero, hmm. (hide spoiler)]