Louise’s Comments (group member since Aug 29, 2015)

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

New Year, Same Me (Repeatable)
[Another year has come and gone, and Queen Skye is staring at a toppling stack of her TBR from the past year that she never got to. It’s so tall now that it touches the ceiling and threatens to flood the room with pages. You can help her by reading some of these books and providing a TLDR.

This is a literary awards challenge!
Choose 1 year and read 5 winners and/or nominees from a single established literary award (e.g., Pulitzer, Hugo, Booker Prize, or Goodreads Choice Awards). Share a mini-review of your favorite in the Local Tavern thread.

!!! Only fresh books can be used for this quest!!! (i.e. read after publication of the quest)

Reward: 5 XP and either 1 Book Glue or 1 magical Book Cover – your choice. Can be repeated once every month.

Book Glue - Glues 2 books together to make a bigger book with the combined total of pages. Book Cover - Combines 2 books to create a book that has a combined serial number.

January 2025 Log
(view spoiler)[Lady Louise: Lvl 9, HP : 7/27; Sword: Level 8 AP 14 (10+3+1), Magic Staff: Level 10 , AP 16 (12+3+1) XP: 390

1/4
After enjoying the festivities Lady Louise returns to the kingdom ready for a new year and new challenges. Delving into her satchel she finds her Easter bunny egg and sits down to eat while pondering where she should go next. Gain +3HP

Lady Louise: Lvl 9, HP : 10/27; Sword: Level 8 AP 14 (10+3+1), Magic Staff: Level 10 , AP 16 (12+3+1) XP: 390

1/5
Easter Bunny Egg. Gain +3 HP
Lady Louise: Lvl 9, HP : 13/27; Sword: Level 8 AP 14 (10+3+1), Magic Staff: Level 10 , AP 16 (12+3+1) XP: 390

Obedience training completed. Gain: 1 Beginning Obedience Certificate

Brown Batattack
Lady Louise: Lvl 9, HP : 13/27; Sword: Level 8 AP 14 (10+3+1), Magic Staff: Level 10 , AP 16 (12+3+1) XP: 390
Brown Bat: 3 Attack 15 Health - Reward: 1 Experience, 1 Bat Wing
Lady Louise attacks Bat with Magic staff: Bat is dead
Rocky Heals Lady Louise +1HP
Lady Louise: Lvl 9, HP : 14/27; Sword: Level 8 AP 14 (10+3+1), Magic Staff: Level 10 , AP 16 (12+3+1) XP: 391

14/1 Easter Bunny Egg. Gain +3 HP
Pot of Gold ~ Gain +1 Gold
Lady Louise: Lvl 9, HP : 17/27; Sword: Level 8 AP 14 (10+3+1), Magic Staff: Level 10 , AP 16 (12+3+1) XP: 391
Brown Batattack
Lady Louise: Lvl 9, HP : 17/27; Sword: Level 8 AP 14 (10+3+1), Magic Staff: Level 10 , AP 16 (12+3+1) XP: 391
Brown Bat: 3 Attack 15 Health - Reward: 1 Experience, 1 Bat Wing
Lady Louise attacks Bat with Magic staff: Bat is dead
Rocky Heals Lady Louise +1HP
Lady Louise: Lvl 9, HP : 18/27; Sword: Level 8 AP 14 (10+3+1), Magic Staff: Level 10 , AP 16 (12+3+1) XP: 392

Goblinattack
Lady Louise: Lvl 9, HP : 18/27; Sword: Level 8 AP 14 (10+3+1), Magic Staff: Level 10 , AP 16 (12+3+1) XP: 392
Goblin: 6 Attack 10 Health - Reward: 1 Experience, 1 Goblin Bone

Lady Louise Attacks with sword.Goblin is dead

Rocky Heals Lady Louise +1HP
Lady Louise: Lvl 9, HP : 19/27; Sword: Level 8 AP 14 (10+3+1), Magic Staff: Level 10 , AP 16 (12+3+1) XP: 393

19/1 Easter Bunny Egg. Gain +3 HP
Pot of Gold ~ Gain +1 Gold

Lady Louise: Lvl 9, HP : 20/27; Sword: Level 8 AP 14 (10+3+1), Magic Staff: Level 10 , AP 16 (12+3+1) XP: 393

26/1 Easter Bunny Egg. Gain +3 HP
Pot of Gold ~ Gain +1 Gold

Lady Louise: Lvl 9, HP : 23/27; Sword: Level 8 AP 14 (10+3+1), Magic Staff: Level 10 , AP 16 (12+3+1) XP: 393 (hide spoiler)]

There Be Gold in Them Hills - COMPLETED
(view spoiler)[Leprechauns clearly only travel by rainbow power. They are only one in a long line of rainbow powered creatures. Unicorns, Pegasuses, Fairies and Leprechauns are all part of an exclusive group. Unluckily, knowing this fact is only a small part of the process of returning these little pests to their home. They’re far, far away home.

Combine all 6 rainbow color shards together. Shake with an exciting book. Pour out one rainbow.
For returning the little green men to their home receive 1 pot of gold and 6 Leprechaun Coins. A pot of gold will produce 1 gold coin each week on Sunday
Inferno 6/1/25

Gain +1 Pot of Gold + 6 Leprechaun Coins (hide spoiler)]

Imp - 25 Attack 5 Health - You're going to miss this little bugger 3 times before you finally hit him.
This is not your month. First bats, then Paul. You shudder to think what is next. Trying your best to make it home you peer from behind a tree, see the coast is clear then take a run for it. Before you can make it three steps you feel a sharp jab in your shoulder. Ow! And another. Ow! And a third. Ow! Finally, you manage to get your weapon out and take a swipe at whatever it is that keeps poking you.

Rewards: 1 Shield Potion, 6 XP, and Essence of Tricks

Final day DQS:

21. Do you think it made sense for the group to fall apart after the climax, or would you have expected the shared experiences to keep them close (who else are they going to be able to talk about it with?).

I wasn’t surprised that they all went their separate ways. They all carried a lot of guilt and to come terms with that guilt they needed to handle it in their own way

22. So all in all the characters are all quite unlikeable. Is there one that stands out to you as the least likeable of all?
I don’t think I liked any of the characters

23. What are your thoughts on the book as a whole? Will you read more by Tartt?
I enjoyed the book to some extent. My dislike was due more to the writing style rather than the story as a whole. I will probably read more but not yet

24. I'm surprised this book hasn't been turned into a movie yet, especially with the popularity of Dark Academia. Would you watch the movie if they made one? Any preference for any cast members? I’m not a great fan of books to movies, although I probably would read this

DQs Day 2 - Chapters 3 & 4 (pages 104 to 172)

6. What do you think of Julian’s unique position as a wealthy outsider and its influence on his interactions with both the college and the group?

He seems an odd fit

7. The narrator and the group are greatly fascinated by the classics, in particular Greek tragedy. Do you think this influences their perception of the world and their relationships within the group and with other characters?
It must influence them to some degree, to what extent is yet to be seen or understood

8. What do you think of the relationship between Richard and the other members of the group? Do you think it has evolved over these chapters? What, if any, are the elements most likely to strengthen or disrupt this bond?
Richard is the definite outsider of the group. Not sure what it will take for Richard to be truly accepted by the group

9. How does the isolated setting of Hampden College contribute to the atmosphere and the characters' actions?


10. Did your thoughts about Henry’s relationship with Bunny change over the course of these chapters?

I got more of an understanding of their relationship and what they mean to each other.

11. What do the Bacchic rituals symbolize to the group? Are they seeking a transcendent experience, or are they simply indulging in hedonistic pleasures? How do these rituals contribute to the group's downfall?
I definitely think they are indulging in hedoniistic pleasures. Lack of understanding of the consequences of these rituals contribute to their downfall

DQs Day 1
Chapters 1 & 2

1.) Is this your first Donna Tartt book or have you read hot book of whatever year that was, The Goldfinch? If you've read The Goldfinch, has this been sitting on your to-be-read list since?

This is my first novel by this author

2.) This has definite secret-college-campus-society vibes. Do you like this setting for a story? Have you read any from this genre you'd recommend to others?

I read a fair bit of this type of novel and quite enjoy it

3.) Speaking of the setting, does the author provide a good description of the campus and the surrounding landscape to set a believable atmosphere for the novel?

It took a little bit of scene setting to fully realise the scene.

4.) Initial thoughts on characters. It's early in the book, but any you like, don't like, or want to learn more about?
To early to say

5.) Do you think the narrator is reliable? Do you like unreliable narrated books or are you not a fan?
I am struggling with the narrator

Re-Animated Corpse - 500 Attack 500 Health - DEFEATED 14/12
(view spoiler)[ Yeah... this isn't going to go well. You see your buddy Paul... your late buddy Paul... stumbling out of the graveyard and he looks Amped. Deciding to live and fight another day you wisely make the decision to flee.
Rewards: 5 XP, 1 Duplication Potion, 1 Amber Orb

The Witch - Part 1
(view spoiler)[
Fleeing from Paul the Re-animated Corpse, you run into the forest and straight into a witch who is stirring a cauldron and laughing evilly. You start to back up when she notices you.

"Oh honey, don't you worry about nothing now. Come on over here."

With a healthy dose of skepticism, you inch closer to the witch.

"Now, sugar, what has you running all amock this fine night?"

You explain your predicament with Paul not being quite as sedentary as one might expect a corpse to be. The Witch clasps her hands together and exclaims with delight.

"I've just been working on my southern potions book and I think I have just the right mix of potions for you. First, you can't kill something that's already dead, see that just don't work. So first we have to un-animate your friend there, then you bring him back to life and make him nice and weak then you take that boy there out."

You agree to the plan and you start to work with her on the potions.

Potion of Re-Death requires 1 Essence of Still Death.
Potion of Life requires 1 Heart of a Baby Pumpkin and 1 Essence of Life Force.
Potion of Meekness requires 1 Essence of Mouse
Mix potions using a book where someone goes to a different time or dimension and then returns to their own. (one good mix should mix all 3, you, after all, are a talented potion stirrer.)
When Shadows Fall 11/28

Now that you have all the potions, you turn to face Paul. Remember Re-Death, Life, and Meekness. In that order. Seriously, it matters.

Rewards: Potion of Re-Death, Life, and Meekness thrown in that order will reduce Paul's Attack to 3 (He was a librarian after all), and his health to 35 (barely middle age, a fine age to be a librarian).
(hide spoiler)] (hide spoiler)]

The Power of Purple
(view spoiler)[ Leprechauns are just a wee bit sensitive about their wee size. In fact, you commented on their relative size to the other Novelarians and was immediately served with a summons to Leprechaun court on discrimination charges. These charges are preposterous! You've never discriminated on vertical endowment in your life. But how to prove it...

Prove your love of all things short.
• Read a book with a short title (10 characters or less).
Firebolt 11/7/24

• Read a short book (100-150 pages).
Once Jilted, Twice Shy: A Midwinter's Scandal Novella 143pgs 7/18/24

• Read a book with a short person. (Either mentioned as short, or a dwarf/hobbit/midget).
The Iron Raven Features goblins and gnomes 18/12/24

For proving your acceptance of shortness, receive 5 experience, a purple shard and 7 Leprechaun Coins. (hide spoiler)]

The Blue that Soothes - Comlpleted 12/1/24
(view spoiler)[ The leprechauns have been up for hours! They're way past tired and as soon as one of them starts to snooze, another one bops him on the head. Frankly, you feel like you have thousands of small, crazy children. You need a way to calm them all at once... but what?

Construct a harp to soothe the leprechauns to sleep.
Read a book with 1 word in the title for the shortest string.
Bloodlines 5/24/24

Read a book with 2 words in the title for the next string.
The Spellshop 11/8/24

Read a book with 3 words in the title for the next string.
Picture You Dead 10/22/24

Read a book with 4 words in the title for the next string.
The Rules of Attraction 8/28/24

Read a book with 5 words in the title for the longest string.
Christmas in Silver Bell Falls 11/7/24

For soothing the leprechauns, receive 8 experience, a blue shard and 14 Leprechaun Coins. (hide spoiler)]

December Log
(view spoiler)[Lady Louise: Lvl 8, HP :5/25; Sword: Level 8, Magic Staff: Level 8, XP: 356

After some rest and recuperation Lady Louise is back to once again venture into the unknown as she entered the kingdom she came across Roger who agreed to help her recover but only on a Sunday.


1/12 Easter Bilby heals 3HP
Lady Louise: Lvl 8, HP :8/25; Sword: Level 8, Magic Staff: Level 8, XP: 356

📚Delving into her bottomless book bag Lady Louise completes Green is For Leprechaun:
+ 3XP; Green Shard; 6 Leprechaun Coins
Lady Louise: Lvl 8, HP :8/25; Sword: Level 8, Magic Staff: Level 8, XP: 359

📚 Lady Louise delves even deeper into her bottomless book bag to complete The Blue that Soothes
+ 8XP; Blue Shard; 14 Leprechaun Coins
Lady Louise: Lvl 9, HP :27/27; Sword: Level 8, Magic Staff: Level 8, XP: 367

14/12 📚 To defeat Paul Lady Louise visits the witch for a few potion classes and learns the skill of making
🧪 Potion of Re-death - uses 1 essence of still death
🧪 Potion of Life - uses 1 Heart of a baby pumpkin and 1 essence of life force
🧪 Potion of Meekness - uses 1 essence of mouse

Attack of Re-Animated Corpse:
500 Attack 500 Health
Lady Louise: Lvl 9, HP : 27/27; Sword: Level 8 AP 14 (10+3+1), Magic Staff: Level 9 , AP 15 (11+3+1) XP: 367

Round 1: Lady Louise delves into her potion bag and throws Potion of Re-Death quickly followed by Potion of Life before Paul can recover Lady Louise throws Potion of Meekness
Paul : Attack 3 Health 35
Lady Louise attacks Paul with Magic Staff and strikes him down.

Rewards: + 5 XP, 1 Duplication Potion, 1 Amber Orb
Lady Louise: Lvl 9, HP :27/27; Sword: Level 8, Magic Staff: Level 8, XP: 372

15/12 Lady Louise has been polishing her magic staff and has increased it’s power to Level 10 Attack: 10 + 2 = 12 ; AP: 16 (12+3+1)
Lady Louise delves into her travelling tote to inspect the gems she has discovered completing the Rare Gems quest.
Reward: +7 XP
Lady Louise: Lvl 10, HP :27/27; Sword: Level 8, Magic Staff: Level 10, XP: 379

20/12 Lady Louise has been partying with the little folk and completed The Power of Purple
Gain: +5xp, Purple Shard, 7 Leprechaun coins

22/12 Lady Louise goes in gather berries in the wood.
Reward: +2 XP
Lady Louise: Lvl 9, HP : 27/27; Sword: Level 8 AP 14 (10+3+1), Magic Staff: Level 10 , AP 16 (12+3+1) XP: 384
Lady Louise peeks from behind a tree and spots an imp.
•Lady Louise: Lvl 9, HP : 27/27; Sword: Level 8 AP 14 (10+3+1), Magic Staff: Level 10 , AP 16 (12+3+1) XP: 384
Imp - 25 Attack 5 Health
Lady Louise attacks with Magic staff and misses
Imp attacks :25 - 1(Rocky the Rock); 24AP
Lady Louise: 27 - 24HP=-23.964 HP 3/27HP
Lady Louise eats Bunny Egg: 3 +3 =6/27HP
Lady Louise goes off to gather bones and seek a different plan to defeat the imp.
Reward: +5
Lady Louise: Lvl 9, HP : 6/27; Sword: Level 8 AP 14 (10+3+1), Magic Staff: Level 10 , AP 16 (12+3+1) XP: 389
Brown Bat attack
Lady Louise: Lvl 9, HP : 6/27; Sword: Level 8 AP 14 (10+3+1), Magic Staff: Level 10 , AP 16 (12+3+1) XP: 389
Brown Bat: 3 Attack 15 Health - Reward: 1 Experience, 1 Bat Wing
Lady Louise attacks Bat with Magic staff: Bat is dead
Rocky Heals Lady Louise +1HP
Lady Louise: Lvl 9, HP : 7/27; Sword: Level 8 AP 14 (10+3+1), Magic Staff: Level 10 , AP 16 (12+3+1) XP: 390 (hide spoiler)]

Thank you Brooke, I’ve not been around much this round RL has really cut into GR and reading time. Going to spend a couple of hours today getting everything updated. Thank you Nistha and Fiona for holding down the fort

Definitely:)

Fiona wrote: "Hi team, we have officially completed our first mini, the garden mini! I copied the tasks so they can be used again but I'm asking you to please not make any changes in the minis before round 3 sta..."

Unfortunately we have not finished the first gardening mini has not been completed.

We still require this :
Find books with words in their title (or subtitle) that meet the following.
contains a H and 2 Os needs to be in a single word cannot be split across the title

@Fiona please see comment in Captains thread

DQs Day 5, Chapters 30-36

19. Although it seemed like all conflicts were resolved at the end of the last section, Radane’s (ex-)fiancé comes back and is looking for her. Were you surprised the story was taking another twist? What do you think about how all of that resolved?

I wasn’t surprised to be honest, it was inevitable that someone would come looking for Radane. The way it was resolved suited the story.

20. Radane ends up returning Kiela’s parents’ cookbook to her and even fixed the torn out page. What would be in your parents’ cookbook?

Not my parents but my grandmother’s who taught me how to bake from a very young age. It would be the recipes that we would make on Sunday mornings.

21. On Sunday I was at my friends’ place and had some of her stepmother’s raspberry and elderflower jam, which was delicious. What’s your favorite type of jam?
I’m not a great lover of jam but if I was to choose it would be strawberry

22. The revolution was successful, Radane is free, Kiela gets to do her spells with the coven, the merhorses foaled, Kiela und Larran are getting married… everything is just peachy on Caltrey! How did you enjoy the book? What is your rating? Are you going to pick up more from Sarah Beth Durst?

I enjoyed the story it was was a little bit of escapism. Not sure if I would pick up another. The novel suited my mood at the time.

Thank you Fiona

DQ Day 2 Chapters 8 - 13

6. There's more information released here about magic use and its impact on the world. What do you think about this?

I like the concept that magic is potentially accessible to all and that changing just a little of the recipe changes the effect of the magic

7. Lucky that Kiela can exploit the absence of fruit to fill a niche shop, eh?! What do you think about her plan to make a living out of jam and secret magic?
I think it’s ingenious, she can heal the island a little at a time and integrate herself into it.

8. Kiela and Larran keep having meet cute moments. Do you like this romantic pairing?
I do, they are both very solitary people and are bonding, even though they are out of their comfort zones

How are we all doing, we have 3 completed spellouts and 2 partials

DQs- Day 1, Chapters 1-7

1. The book opens with quite a tough scene: a Great Library is set on fire and Kiela has already packed crates of books to rescue. And she asks herself the question "if she were stranded on a desert island, which books would she most want to have with her?"
Now I'm putting you the same question limiting your possibilities to
- 1 complete works of an author
- 2 book series
- 3 standalone books from different genres, 1 must be non-fiction

Oh my, that is a tough one
I would need to take the complete works of Agatha Christie reading her novels as a young teen inspired my love of reading especially mysteries.

I read a lot of series books but I think I would need to save Women’s Murder Club each new book is always released near my birthday and I have the complete series so far. The other would have to be Harry Potter a series that appeals to adults and children alike

Standalone are more difficult but I would probably go with The Light Between Oceans All the Light We Cannot See and Spare

2. While it's only explained sketchily, a little politics, history (?)
of the Empire is mentioned, alongside some curious species, flora & fauna (winged kitties, anyone?) What do you think of the world-building so far?
I’m enjoying the world building so far

3. It's mentioned several times how Kiela keeps herself to herself in the Library (apart from Caz's company). Do you think such an almost complete isolation described here is possible even in such a vast Library?
I think it is possible if someone really wanted to be isolated.

4. I found it a bit disturbing that Kiela doesn't tell anyone on the island that she came away because a revolution has broken out in the capital (I understand her keeping silent about the books). It IS supposed to be a big deal after all and one would think they will learn about it eventually. A bit later some excuses are offered. Do you think they are sufficient or it's just a usual plot-driving tool?
Probably a part of the plot as Kiela has her own secrets and is not sure who she can trust.

5. I really liked the idea of Kiela & Caz sectioning the garden and naming them after book genres. Which genres would you name parts of your real or hypothetical garden? :)

Sci-fi - Exotic Plants
Horror - Fungi
Romance - fragrant flowers
Historical- ferns and grasses
Non fiction - bushes