Rebekah’s Comments (group member since Jun 22, 2013)

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

I'll check the list

I signed up for DQ on A Darker Shade of Magic but I usually don't win the lottery. I have already read The Nightingale (highly recommend!) and I am only on Cinder in the other series.

Team Lir
Discussion questions volunteer

Uprooted - 435 pp - 4 stars - 12/22/15

BOM Link: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

Characters: Agnieszka, Dragon, Kasia
GRs Rating: 4.20
Genre: adult, fantasy, fantasy-dragons, fantasy-fairy-tales, fantasy-high-fantasy, fantasy-magic, fiction, romance,
Cover: castle, brunette girl, blonde girl, falcon, castle, potion, dragon, book, yellow rose, tree, roots, vines, man's eye, yellow
Date Published: 5/19/15
Misc Info: folk story, legend, fairy tale, wizard, friend

Discussion Questions Dec-20
Chapters 14-17 Pages 187-239

18. They don't seem to have much of a plan going into the wood. I was surprised that they even managed to find the Queen, much less that quickly. What are your thoughts on their preparations and planning?

Prince Marek seems like a rich brat who is used to getting his way. He is a man of action, so he just goes in.

19. Kasia seems to be turning into quite the hero. Do you think this was who she always was or did the wood change her to be like this?

She is a tree now or something! I think she was a strong person or she would have never survived the Wood.

20. What are your thoughts on the rescue of the Queen? Was it worth losing 28 men? Do you think she will recover?

We don't know anything about her but yes, I think so. It is time someone stood up to the Wood.

21. They made it to the city and the townspeople seem to rejoice but the King does not. Why do you think he doesn't seem pleased with things? It made me think that he might have had something to do with the Queens situation.

He seems aware of larger issues and that they might be at war with the Wood now or other kingdoms.

22. Do you think Agnieszka will be recognized? What do you think her animal name will get to be? They all seem to be predator animals but she's a healer so maybe it will be different.

That's a great question! I feel like she is a tree or a plant but Kasia is already a tree. She will be something smart and strong. A cat of some sort?

23. We're halfway through now. Any predictions for the rest of the book?

Only by the kingdom joining together and combining ALL of their powers, will they defeat the Wood.

Dec 19 / Discussion Questions
Chapters 9 - 13

12) The Summoning is a truth spell. Were you surprised to find out that both Agnieszka and Kasia had secret hatred and jealousy towards each other? That doesn't seem to be normal feelings between two best friends...

Probably all relationships when stripped completely bare have some degree of animosity present. Plus, this seems like a pretty sexist society, so it wouldn't be that abnormal for women to feel as if they are competitors with each other.

13) Agnieszka and the Dragon work another spell together, but this time things get pretty romantic, even ending in a kiss! Do you think it's their magic alone that's making them attracted to one another? Will they end up together in the end?

I said earlier, I hope they do not. But sharing magic seems more intimate than anything else humans can do.

14) Is it a good idea to go into the Wood to find Queen Hanna? What do you think 20 years of being corrupted in the Wood has done to the Queen (if she's even alive)? Would you be willing to play the hero and go into the Wood to find her?

I think they need to go get her. The Wood seemed freaked out that Agnes would have sacrificed herself to save her friend. It seems nobody is willing to go forward and get back anyone from the wood, because they are so scared or don't want to sacrifice anything from themselves.

15) I don't know if anyone else has noticed this, but it seems as if every time Agnieszka is thinking, the Dragon always answers her. Do you think he is able to read her mind/thoughts?

I did not think so! I think it just the author's attempt to show how much closer they have grown.

16) The Dragon doesn't seem to be as cruel and violent as everyone believes him to be... so where do you think the nickname "The Dragon" came from?

Because he makes the fire-heart potion.

17) If you could put a face to the Dragon, what would he look like? This is what I imagine...

I'm imagining some Dracula like character lol!

December 18 Chapter 5-8
Pages 62-123

1) Agnieszka finds herself back home to help when one of the villagers is infected by The Wood. How do you think the town felt that she came to their aid instead of The Dragon? There is barely any mention of a reaction from the town. If you were living there how would you have reacted?

I think the town knows a lot more about the wood and the dragon and everything than Agnieszka does. I think they know she is a magic apprentice, so were not surprised. Besides, they were in crisis mode, so they would have taken anyone they could get

2) The Dragon should not have been able to recover from the sickness of The Wood. How do you think Agnieszka was able to save him? How do you think she knows the flow and pace of the spells when she has never seen them before? Why do these spells feel familiar to her?

She has the natural healing magic, she is probably a descendant or something of Jaga.

3) The Dragon and Agnieszka seem to be working closer together. How do you feel about their relationship? Do you enjoy seeing The Dragon struggle to perform the same spells that Agnieszka seems to do easily? What do you think they were both feeling when they performed the rose spell together?

I hope they don't have a romantic relationship, esp if he is really a creepy old man. There is just a weird power differential there I don't like.

4) How do you think Agnieszka is able to free Kasia from The Wood? Do you think Agnieszka was strong enough to defeat the hold The Wood had on Kasia or do you think The Wood let Kasia go on purpose?

Yes, Agnieszka is a powerful witch, she was also willing to die to save Kasia, so that probably has something to do with it.

5) Do you think The Dragon will be able to help Agnieszka to save Kasia? If so, do you think Kasia will have any lasting effects of being trapped in The Wood?

I think she is probably beyond saving.

6) There is reference to this book as being a re-telling of Beauty and the Beast. Now that you are 8 chapters in do you feel this is a good reference for this book? Why or why not.

Well we need to find out if the Dragon is cursed in some way. Agnieszka is being held hostage like Beauty.

Joyce wrote: "Origin is tagged as New Adult"

I think for that goal it has to be on the front page not just in the Top Shelves page. Frustrating!

I didn't find any of our books on that particular "Best Romantic Suspense" list, so have at it!

So is Wild Cards - tagged alt-history

Hoarfrost is tagged as alternative history

Have you checked our goalless books shelf for these yet? I can look for Best Romantic Suspense if you haven't.

1. Did you have any thoughts/feelings before starting the book that have changed now that you've started it?

I was not excited about this book as it was listed as YA & Romance & Retellings. I just finished another book (The Wrath and the Dawn) that was YA & Romance & Retelling that made me want to rip my hair out. But I have had pretty good success with the NBRC BOMs and I am really liking this one so much better!

2. Why do you think the Dragon takes a girl exactly every 10 years?

I am sure there is some mythical/symbolic reason we will find out soon.

3. How are you liking Agnieszka?

I like her a lot! She is hilarious.

4. Were you surprised to learn she had magic?

No, I knew she had "something" or the Dragon wouldn't have picked her!

5. Are you looking forward to reading more?
Yes, this one is great. I was finding the book laugh-out-loud funny at more moments than I was expecting!

Ooh no, I don't have a Germany book coming up soon!

Megan,

I saw you got the discussion questions for Uprooted! Yay! I am your backup if you need me, though! I have the book & am reading it now

Would Cultural - Germany work? I have seen & used that tag before

https://www.goodreads.com/shelf/show/...

https://www.goodreads.com/genres/germany

I had a few nonfiction on my tbr shelf for January, but none of them had Education! boon!

Everything I Never Told You by Celeste Ng - 304 pp - 4 stars - 12/13/15

BOM Link: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

Characters:
Lydia Lee, Marilyn Lee, James Lee, Nath Lee, Hannah Lee, Jack Wolff
Setting: Ohio, United States, 1970s
GRs Rating: 3.76
Genre: adult, adult-fiction, book-club, contemporary, family, fiction, historical-fiction, literary-fiction, mystery, novels
Cover: blue, scraps of paper
Date Published: 6/26/14
Misc Info: mixed-race family, daughter, favorite child, secrets

I am on my phone but the goodreads main version of that book is blue with elves on it

Dee wrote: "i see that the goal is already taken but i would like to know how to do this for future reference."

It is another completely stupid goal. So on the top shelves page, check and see if your book has been shelved by enough people with "3 stars" to be on the top page of shelves. It is absurd and meaningless