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

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

DQ Day 6

Chapters 24-epilogue

23. Nisreen and Nahri have a very heated discussion after Nahri accidentilly killed a Geziri cleric. Nisreen believes that Nahri needs to be more thoughtful of her people and what she represents and wants to push her to become a bigger symbol to their tribe. Do you believe Nahri is too selfish or too close to "collaboration" with the Qahtanis and should have kept greater distance and shown more loyalty to her people?

I got tired of her a lot more on the reread than the first time and while it makes sense, she is immature and self-centered, I expected more character growth. This is a very YA book with way too much mooning over crushes.

24. Ali clearly showed some magical connection with water, even before the Marid possessed him, that might come from his mother's side of the family. What are your thoughts on this hidden ability?

I don’t remember if I predicted it the first time but I didn’t care enough one way or the other the second time.

25. What are your thoughts on the King's actions, e.g. exiling Ali. He seems to not want to order him killed, even though he knows the exile will bring about his death either way. Why could he not forgive Ali too and spin a tale in his favour like he did for Nahri?
Plot, the book needed plot for the rest of the series. Splitting them up and exiling one prevented the ruining of any love triangle that would have happened if Ali died.


26. What an epilogue! Jamshid has a hidden identity, what do you think this means?

I saw a spoiler on this from a later book that was very very unhappy so I am going to pass on guessing here.

27. What a cliffhanger! Nisreen says Manizeh can do anything (even bringing Dara back), clearly meaning she's still alive. Do you think she is somewhere out there or was she maybe even referring to Nahri herself?
Yes, I think she is alive. It has been implied form the book that her mother had to be full blooded due to her power. Also, because it is a trilogy and killing Dara in book one makes no sense for love triangles and plot reasons.

Bonus: Will you continue reading this series or do you think you'll stop with this trilogy now?
I’m done. I was more interested in the 2nd after reading it once. I have no interest now and to be fair, I read much less YA fantasy these days. I may try her new series but hesitant.

Any book by Emily Tesh would also work for TEN

New one:

Solve for X - Read a book with mathematical symbols on the cover

We are almost 1/2 the way through the month and have not been using books over 400 pages for Chipmunk tasks, unless it is specifically read for the task, such as my Angel book.

We already have:
600+: 4/10
500: 8/20
400: 14/30
300: 20/30
200: 6/20
100: 3/10

The larger page number ones are doing well and we read a lot in the 300 page range. The smaller ones are easy to read at the end of the month if needed so I think our current pattern of using the larger page numbers for tower and smaller to Chipmunk is working well.

I'd prefer the list to be a surprise for those who like surprises but if you would like Aoife to share and she is willing then please do it by message.

Two new ones:

Top 10 Books 2014 - Read book from the GR "Best of 2014" list (see https://www.goodReads.com/list/best_b...)

Film 10s - Ten Little Indians - Read a book that shares a title word (singular indian is OK)

For anyone, if you want to read a task that we don't have yet, you can just write hold next to the task, as we have done with quite a few other tasks we know or have guessed are coming soon.

Brittany wrote: "I am going through to see which one i want to read NOW, so let me know :)"

Two people are working on that one so it is whoever finishes first. However, if you like those lists. I think we are getting ten years of them so could bank books. We have already read:
2016
2017
2018
2019
2020
2021
2022

I am pretty confident that we will need 2013, 2014, and 2015 soon.

Aoife wrote: "Judith wrote: "New Task:

X Books - Read a book where the author name contains 10 characters (exc spaces)"

is this the full name or just one of their names?"

All of the name as listed on Goodreads so first, last and middle if a middle is included

For instance, Alexis Hall works (6 + 4)

Judith wrote: "Bobbi wrote: "Would this include books we *want* to defenestrate? I have a couple of those 😅"

In all seriousness though, I'd accept that. Actually with the rating Lexi gave a book yesterday we mig..."

There was much hate

Also from yesterday which I forgot to post:

Top 10 Books 2016 - Read book from the GR "Best of 2016" list (see https://www.goodReads.com/list/best_b...)

DQs Day 3 - Chapters 10-14

9. As he walks through the Daeva Quarters, Ali is shot by a toy arrow, let loose by one of the children playing about. Rashid suggests to Ali that he should punish the boy by taking him to be raised in the Citadel, which Ali refuses. What do you think this says about Ali, and about others in the city’s upper echelon?
Removing children from parents is common in history and likely used to show how little the upper echelon care about the common people and supposed to show Ali in some good light.

10. Nahri and Dara have a moment, but are interrupted. Do you like this partnership, romantically or otherwise? Is it doomed, or meant to be?
This is a reread and love triangles in YA really get on my nerves. Part of why I dropped it from 4 to 3 stars on the reread.

11. We learn about the terrible conditions in the shafit orphanage and the difficult lives all the shafit are forced into. Even though he immediately refuses to help, how do you think this will influence him in the future?
This is the first book in a series so it will more than likely get worse before it gets better.

12. As Dara and Nahri cross the last illusion shielding Daevabad, Nahri has an odd reaction and ends up flat on her back on the deck of the ferry, with Dara rudely refusing anyone’s assistance. Do you think this was caused by something related to what Nahri is, or something else?
Yes and this is a reread so can’t say anymore but clearly everyone is reacting to her healing the most.

13. Muntadhir takes Ali to a secret room filled with dead Nahids. Do you think this room will be a turning point for Ali? Do you think Dara will discover this and his relic, and what do you think will follow if he does?
Reread but at this point, I saw the sneaky love triangle showing up with Ali so it was assumed everyone would be interacting soon.

DQs Day 1, Ch 1-5


1. This book begins in 18th century Cairo, with France and Turkey fighting over Egypt. I have never encountered this conflict in fiction before. Have you? Were you familiar with it before you started reading?

I was somewhat familiar from class but not in great detail. There have been other historical fantasy books that have given more detail than this one. I’m not sure I would trust this one to be historically accurate, as that is not this books point.

2. Nahri has several mysterious powers, including healing, the ability to sense illness in others, and the ability to understand and speak every language she hears. Which of her powers would you like for yourself?
Healing would be nice but not if also accompanied by knowing everyone’s illnesses. That is common in fantasy and seems a very hard burden to bear. Languages would be really nice esp as I am supposed to be learning French for work.

3. What do you think of the world building so far? Do you find it confusing, or do you feel like you’re along for the ride?
I have read a lot of books with djinn and this is one of the more confusing ones. This is my second read but it was a lot on my first read to keep everyone straight.


4. So far we’ve met 3 significant players in this book: Nahri, Ali, and Dara. Do you have a favorite character so far, or one who intrigues you the most?
This is the danger of a reread. I am finding everyone more whiny and less interesting on the second go.

Two new ones:

Solve for X - Read a book with author initials in SOLVE FOR X

10 Awards - Read a book that won a RITA
Link: https://www.rwa.org/Online/Awards/RIT...

Hard one:

X Books - Read a book where the author name starts with X

Helpful link: https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/4...

Brittany wrote: "Lexi wrote: "Brittany wrote: "There's an Easter Treasure Hunt in
"

If you just mean an egg hunt, I would not count it unless there was some kind of clu..."

Nice, perfect then

Brittany wrote: "Read a book with a spade / shovel / pick-axe on the cover
Would this work: "

I think that is a crowbar.

Brittany wrote: "There's an Easter Treasure Hunt in
"

If you just mean an egg hunt, I would not count it unless there was some kind of clues or a map?

Rebecca wrote: "Sorry, it's been a slower reading week for me. I'm hoping to finish The City of Brass tomorrow. I can't fully put my finger on it but for some reason I'm just not connecting to it but I WANT those ..."

I'm stuck at 8% on my reread. I will get there probably but right now I can't make myself reread it.

Used a few banked books, great job everyone:

New tasks are:

X marks the spot - Read a book with a spade / shovel / pick-axe on the cover

X marks the spot - Read a book with a treasure hunt in it

If you have a banked book from JUNE, that I missed for one of these, feel free to tell me