Lexi’s Comments (group member since Jul 27, 2016)

Lexi’s comments from the Nothing But Reading Challenges group.

DQs: Day 2, Chap 6 – 11

6. As Sonia noted, we jump six years. Do the characters, especially Carlota, feel six years older? Do you like books that have time jumps or would you have preferred to see Montgomery get used to working in his new jobs? (Sonia already asked about the fallout but feel free to add that here).

7. Do you like the method of telling the same scene from both points of view? Is there one point of view you prefer?

8. And we have the start of a love triangle. What do you think of the two young men and Carlota’s reaction to them?

9. So far these feels very much like a historical fiction book with relationships being forwarded over the science and hybrids. Do you agree, and were you expecting that?

Bonus: If you were part critter, and didn’t have the health concerns, what species would you prefer?

I got us a Fur-bearing trout, which might possibly be overdressed for this time of year

DQs - Day 7
Chapters 47 - end

32. So not only did some of the Vanguards come to help rescue Rose, but they even patched up Clay. What did you make of the unguent that Tiamax gave Clay? And would you submit yourself to the same thing if you were in a similar position?

The vanguard rescue and fixing of the hand seemed all too easy. I didn’t mind all the bads in the final scene but the ship just seemed a little too convenient.

33. What did you make of the “fight” with Akatung? Was the dragon everything you expected given how much hype it got earlier in the book?
It was clever and clear they could not kill it the old fashioned way. There had been enough noise about the gates before that this did not bother me.

34. What did you think of Gabe’s speech at Kalador? Was it a lot of pretty words? Or did it evoke something more? And were you surprised by the reaction the attendees of the War Fair by the end?
I thought it was a really good speech and Gabe had mob mentalilty on his side. Large groups of people plus alcohol do not make good decisions so I am not surprised that everyone went.

35. After having such a presence all book as this near impossible to kill villain that had planned everything down the most minute detail, did you feel that Lastleaf’s end was what he deserved?

I think he killed himself at the end to raise his mother back from the dead. This sets up future books potentially. Really drawn out battle scenes get boring so this was a good balance.

36. And finally what were your final feelings on the book? Were you satisfied with the ending? Was Kit’s small excerpt about how the Siege of Castia ended enough or did it leave you wishing to read more about the various bands that participated in the battle?
I liked the ending and the whole book grew on me enough to give it 4 stars and want to read the next one. I needed more female characters but that seems to be fixed in the next one. All the bands we really delt with were all male and the women, including Larkspur when she shifts sides, seem to be defined by their relationships to the men.

No worries and glad I could answer that question. The shelf is so Judith, Jax or I can easily check what you put on the spreadsheet.

Please pick a place for the mini challenge. The captain (Judith) and co-captains (Jax and I) may move it around if needed so please mark the color cover and letters even if you don't use it there.

Feel free to ask any questions if the spreadsheet is unclear.

Welcome back, Logan

You need to either post them on the tracking spreadsheet (here:https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/...) or if that is difficult, you can post them in the thread here when you are done. Nothing is pulled automatically. Everyone is adding their own books.

DQ Day 4
Chapters 22-30

16. The Maxithon, now that was an adventure. Was this what you were expecting was going to happen? What did you make of the fight?

I figured the Chimera was coming back. Kind of like Chekov’s gun but with a mythological critter. It was fun and not too drawn out. I am trying to figure out if having one member much younger than everyone else undermines the old guy vibe since he did most of the fighting.

17. We meet yet another one of the old bands - what did you make of Vanguard? They seem a little friendlier at least than Raff's band. Did you expect them to say no? Or would you have thought they'd team up with Saga?

I thought they were a good balance of helping while not being unreasonable since they had their own families and commitments. They helped quite a bit and got the band out of a tight spot. They also have a living bard which seems to be a running joke (ha, just read next question).

18. Saga seems to have had a rather large amount of unfortunate bards. I can't help but wonder what they're going to lead Kit into, or do you think that maybe Kit will truly be the first ever bard of the band who will actually survive the adventure? Kit is supposedly unkillable after all, so maybe they're going to be lucky? What are your predictions on Kit's life expectancy as bard of Saga?

I agree on how they keep hiring bards. You would think the info would have got around. I think you can still destroy a zombie so 50% odds of making it to the end of the book.

19. Are you enjoying the writing style of the book? What about the story in general?

I'm enjoying the writing except that it keeps being vaguely sexist which just keeps showing up when I am otherwise settling in to the story. (Such as implying it was worse to get robbed twice by women).

20. The Heartwyld beckons! We are going to get a closer glimpse at this mysterious forest. What are your expectations?

More critters, maybe some cannibals. Getting lost and other adventures.

21. Oh my word, someone went overboard! Over the forest! With the daeva no less. Makes me wonder if the band will be intact for much longer. Or could the daeva potentially not have killed Matrick, or intend to take him back to Lilith so she can kill her beloved husband herself? There was this one moment where it looked as though the daeva may let them be, seeing that they're on their way to rescue someone's daughter, so a noble feat in a world that seems to have kicked Larkspur all her life. Maybe? Yes? No? Am I alone in thinking something like this?

I think Matrick is still alive and it is too early in the book to kill him off. I also think Larkspur may be unpredictable but in what way, I’m not sure.

DQ Day 2
Chapters 9 - 15

6. We meet the 3rd member of the band, the wizard Moog. What are your impressions of the wizard? Were you as surprised as Clay that he agreed to go right away?
I like him a lot even though he appears easily distractable. It makes sense that he would want to go as he doesn’t seem to have much or be getting anywhere on his cure.

7. That was some entrance to the palace, don't you think? What were your first impressions of Matrick? Were you surprised by the turn of events in chapter 11? Excited or worried when Moog announces that he had a plan?
The chapter was cuckhold king so no, that kind of ruined any surprise on the wife. Really, mind our plucky brigade, the women in this book are all walking stereotypes and no nuance. The queen is by far the worst.

8. After several descriptions sprinkled thoughout the story thus far, we finally meet a druin. What do you think his plan is? Why does he really want the Council to stand down?
He clearly wants to make a show and see what the others will do. He may want to push them into action but ahr to say so far.

9. Were you surprised at how Lillian arranged the funeral? What did you think of Clay's contribution? How successful would you rate Moog's plan?
50% successful – everyone got out alive. I was not surprised by Lillian otherwise it would have been too easy and we would have missed the fun of going over a waterfall. I enjoyed the bad bow shots.

10. Gabriel borrows Moog's crystal ball to check on his daughter. Were you surprised at what he saw? What did you think of the band's reaction?
No, Clay wasn’t surprised either and I know the ball needed to be broken or lost soon anyways. Most plots would be fixed with a crystal ball so it likely needed to go for future plot points.

I have removed the protections from column E and G. Everyone should be able to hide and unhide now. I tried it with my work email and it worked, so please tell me if there are other issues.

Finally joining

DQs Day 1
Ch 1 to CH 8

1.) What do you think of the premise of the book, like an aging rock band getting back together to go on tour but an adventuring band instead? Is the author pulling it off so far?
I may be in too grumpy a mood for epic fantasy. So far, I am not finding the band aspect endearing. It is really male view heavy. We have wife, druggie ex-wife and a daughter needing rescuing so far.

2.) The rocks, may of hit me a bit in the feels. Did it affect your opinion of Gabe at all?
Not entirely, but it showed that he had thought that she might be dead despite putting a good face on it

3.) How do you like the world building, is it being done effectively for you without major info dumping? Is it helping to set the stage for the story?
It is kind of standard fantasy so far with nothing to distinguish it so far. No info dumping has been necessary as there isn’t anything a reader who find that different.

4.) What did you think about the parade? Did anyone else enjoy Clay's reaction to the ladies being whistled at and be disappointed when the lady blew a kiss back instead of skewering the guy (like Clay expected to happen)?
I think it is part of showing how the new bands are all show and the shift in culture. However, it continues in my male heavy view of the book so far.

5.) Do you have a favorite character so far?
I read a tiny bit further and probably the wizard.

Bonus: Taking a poll for a very important question. On the Tassel Farm: Centaur or Moose?
Centaur, as there has been nothing in this book to suggest an ecosystem or climate that would support a population of moose

Mahi,

Could you please add all three of your read books to your tower team shelf? Thank you

Carmen wrote: "I'm currently on Thunderhead and so scared for what's to come, haha!"

I really liked all three books so you never know.

Tricia wrote: "Is there a way to access the hidden rows? I just realized that I may have messed up when entering some of my books. I didn't realize that the Mini Ref spot actually mapped to a specific place in th..."

I've fixed both of yours. Also, I added a formatting where the box will turn red if you type in a code that has already been used by another book. Thank you for noticing.

I spun the urban wheel and we got Rolling Calf. I approve of all cattle even undead ones.

I would agree that the first one is orange. The second seems to be alternating red and orange faces, but always go with the physical copy if you have it, and if both faces look orange to you, I'm good with that. The other two have no one color that crosses 50%.

#7 - ****
Still, no where near the line but I just read my second longest one from 2016-2017. (Longest is Brothers K and that may be more aspirational than realistic). I liked it a lot but it could have been a bit shorter.

I made it to Atlanta with my two cats and managed to listen to a 800+ book on the way, so that may be my longest for TTs.

Sorry for not posting sooner, but polls end in just under 6 hours if you have not voted or want to change your vote: https://www.goodreads.com/poll/list/3...

How much will you all enforce the no YA books here rule? Last month a YA book was allowed for the non-theme BOM, so I was curious for future nominations. If it is tagged both YA and Adult MPG is it allowed?

Michelle wrote: "Dang, I need to start it, then. That's a great endorsement."

Audio is good as well. I tend to read the first time and do rereads on audio.

Michelle wrote: "Good luck on the move, Lexi! I've been meaning to start that series."

It is my favorite series. I have read the first one 5 times and the rest 3-4 times.