Catsalive’s Comments (group member since Feb 05, 2022)

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

Shelby wrote: Kylie - I added A Civil Contract & Family Matters to the spreadsheet, please fill in the resources when you get a chance. :)..."

Done. Thanks for the heads-up, I thought I'd done it already.

by Barry Humphries 1/5 4★ 388p
by Matthew Reilly 2/5 4★ 697p
by Chris Hammer 4/5 4★ 496p
by Jincy Willett 5/5 3★ 326p
by Katie Ward 6/5 2.5★ 340p
by Shannon Donnelly 7/5 3★ 246p
by Adrian Hyland 8/5 5★ 320p
by Meredith Appleyard 11/5 5★ 416p
by Dianne Blacklock 12/5 3.5★ 595p
by P.J. Tracy 14/5 4★ 432p
by Peter Heller 15/5 2★ 336p
by Suzanne Collins 16/5 3.5★ 448p
by J.D. Robb 19/5 4★ 373p
by J.D. Robb 21/5 4★ 360p
by Kerry Greenwood 22/5 5★ 290p
by Ngaio Marsh 23/5 3★ 288p
by Alexander McCall Smith 24/5 4★ 250p
by Lisa Jackson 25/5 2★ 400p
by Sophie Green 26/5 4★ 427p
by Agatha Christie 27/5 3.5★ 272p
by Dorothy Gilman 28/5 3★ 224p
by Georgette Heyer 29/5 5★ 432p
by Ellie O'Neill 29/5 3★ 384p
by Charlaine Harris 31/5 3★ 232p

Pages: 8964

Group Total: 854,746

Day 5: Chapters 40 - 56

20. Cade goes to each of the other travellers and has final words with them. Do you think he learned any new information about his travellers? Or did he learn something about himself?
Possibly both, although he's not that great at knowing himself.

21. The journey to The Seven Brothers is full of many challenges. Did this journey remind you of any other quest you've read?
Many quests where the chances of success are fairly slim.

22. We now find out about the Pandorals, how they were using The Seven Brothers as vessels. Quite interesting how this was accomplished. Did this surprise you how they were formed ? What did you think of why they came to acquire the red soil?
Surprising & icky. Perhaps they need iron in their diet.

23. It was determined that Cade be the one to use the apparatus. What attunement do you think he chose?
Pandoral.

24. What was your overall impression of this story? What was your favorite part of the story? Will you read the next in the series or try one of the authors other series?
The questing part wasn't bad but the ending was disappointing because the quest was essentially a lie, most of the characters & the world remain fairly undeveloped, & the one character we're really getting to know is such a hypocrite. I doubt I'll read any more of the series but you never know. I see my library has the Spellslinger series if I'm ever at a loss for something else.

Day 1: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Day 2: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Day 3: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Day 4: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

Day 4: Chapters 28-39

15. The way the different characters react to the trek through the magic wasteland is interesting. With all the magic that flows through this world, why do they not have transport spells? Did this trek remind you of any other stories?
Yes, why don't they have transport spells? Maybe they'd rather know what they're walking into, & I suppose it depends on what sort of magic they have. I haven't noticed a transportist yet :0) There's always a trek of some kind & they have to walk or ride in most fantasy.

16. We keep being reminded (by the narrator) that the wanderists are not good guys. Do you agree with this assessment?
Well, they're not, but some of them are better than others.

17. What is your impression of the seven brothers? The Pandorals are benevolent? Really? Do we believe that?
The brothers are creepy & maybe they believe what they're saying, but the Aurorals & Infernals are arseholes so you can guarantee the Pandorals are no better. I don't think they want to open Pandora's Box.

18. So. We get to see the apparatus. What would you have done with that temptation?
The deal is too good to be true but someone's going to have to try it out some time, probably Cade.

19. Is anyone who they say they are? Did you expect Mr. Bones?
Everyone's got secrets. Yes, I expected Mr. Bones or there'd be no point to him at all.

Day 1: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Day 2: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Day 3: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

Day 3: Chapters 19-27

11. The fantasy genre is known for its world building. How do you feel about the world building in this book? How does it compare to other fantasy novels you’ve read?
It's moving slowly but I'm finally get an idea of it in this section.

12. In this section we meet Cade’s former teacher Hazidan. What do you think of her character? Did you ever have a favorite teacher and were they similar to Hazidan in any way?
I think she's very clever & has seen a lot, realising that things are definitely wrong with the Justiciars. I can't believe she's the only one, but perhaps she's the only one willing to say anything. My favourite teacher in school certainly pushed me harder than other students.

13. Chapter 25: Friends in Low Places had a pretty big reveal about the Celestials plans and how they’ve been herding Cade this whole time. How did you feel about this twist?
He's so tied up in his own self-revulsion that he wouldn't have noticed anything without being hit over the head with it. He's quite a lot of an idiot.

14. At this point I think we have the whole team together: Is one of them your favorite?
No. It probably will be Cade when he starts thinking instead of feeling. Corrigan is still a laugh but the others remain ciphers with very little development. Hazidan & Tenebris are probably the best so far & they aren't members of the 7.

Bonus for audiobook listeners: How are you liking the audiobook? Would you recommend it?
Paperback.


Day 1: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Day 2: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

Day 2 DQs - Ch 9 to 18

6.) Did Galass turning into a blood mage and Fidick being the cause of Lucian's death (I assume that's what the black cloud that left the tent did) surprise you? Or were you expecting their bit in the story to be over and just a footnote about Cade's character?
I'm surprised at what they did but not that they'll have a larger role. Galass has is such a smartarse she was bound to have a bigger part. No point Cade keeping them alive otherwise.

7.) We learn about more magic types and there's pretty much any type of magic you can dream up. What type of magic you like to have or what animal would you like an affinity with?
Cats, of course.

8.) Is anyone else's favorite character Mr. Bones? Just me? mkay.
He hasn't done much yet except bite a couple, not much to like there yet. He's as good a favourite as anyone else, although Corrigan at least gets the odd funny line.

9.) At this point I think it's clear Cade is a fallen Glorian of some sort, likely a Justicar. Do others agree with my guess here or do you have other thoughts?
He seems to know them very well so it sounds likely, or on a very secret mission.

10.) Assuming my guess in Q9 is right, why do you think Cade got the heave ho from the Glorians?
Because he wouldn't play by their rules & thinks his moral code is better than everyone else's.

Day 1: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

DQs - Day 1: Chapters 1-8 (pages 1 -71)

1. The book has the MPG Dark Fantasy. Do you like this genre in general? If so, do you have any favourite authors or books?

Not a favourite of mine. I may have read one or 2 but I certainly wouldn't choose it over other fantasy.

Picture a wizard. Go ahead, close your eyes. There he is, see? Skinny old guy with a long straggly beard. No doubt he's wearing iridescent silk robes that couldn't protect his frail body from a light breeze. The hat's a must, too, right? Big, floppy thing, covered in esoteric symbols that would instantly show every other mage where this one gets his magic?

2. The book starts with the quote above. Is this your mental image of a wizard, too? Or something different? :)

I suppose my first thought would be Discworld wizards, so yes. They're usually ancient after all the years of studying. Mind you, Polgara kept her looks & figure.

3. And the author lands us in the middle of a siege (ideal for the Book Games, right? ;) with 2 of the main characters Cade Ombra and Corrigan Blight. Cade is narrating what is happening and offering us his views on good and evil, the part they are playing and how they "win" this particular siege.
Do you think it's a strong start to the book? Has it got you intrigued?

In the middle of the action is a good starting point.

4. As an extra incentive & entertainment, the Ascendant Lucien offers young girls and boys (sublimes) to the wanderists after the siege. We get introduced to Fiddick and Galass and learn that Cade decided to kill Lucien. We can actually start putting some pieces of Cade's character together. What do you think about him at this point?

He's trying to stick to his own set of standards but he's not much good at hiding his intentions. He's too much of an idiot to survive but I know he will because he's supposed to be the "good guy".

5. Some demonic highlights to this introductory part: Tenebris the demon, with whom Cade as an "infernalist" mage trades with to get his spells.
What were your impressions of Tenebris? How do you find the "religious/magical" system of the Infernals and the Celestines?

At least you know what Tenebris wants & whose side he's on - his. The religious/magical systems are so confused I have no idea who does what nor why, & I don't really care. This is going to be a slog for me - 8 chapters in there's no character to connect with, I'd have been just as happy if they'd gone ahead & killed Cade.


Day 2: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Day 3: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Day 4: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Day 5: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

Vicky wrote: "I'd love everyone's input on this, so please discuss! My feeling is, at least for the first round where we don't have a mini to worry about, that we start off on the right foot and send over a supply drop. Doing it this round doesn't mean we're obligated to do it for the next so we can absolutely reevaluate for round two, but with no mini completing for our books until round 2 starts we don't lose anything by sending over a few books. :)..."

I think it would be worth it, there's bound to be a benefit at some stage.

I'm afraid I find the whole scene with Rue, Katniss & the flowers, incredibly cheesy, & not entirely believable for Katniss, no matter how much Rue reminds her of Prim. The singing, maybe, & I'm all for her cocking a snook at the Capitol in some way, but the flowers make me gag a bit. I have to remind myself that this is a children's book, populated by children.

I hope I'm adding the right kind of things to the ss 😊

Sammy wrote: "LOL! Great minds think alike 😆"

SNAP, eh. 😀

Sammy wrote: "I'm a little behind as I was concentrating on getting a couple of long audios out of the way, and just finished part 1.

The main reason I rated this 3 stars in the past (I've read it twice before...."

Yep, I agree.

Judith wrote: "One of the things that I didn't appreciate Collins getting at in my first read all those years ago is the how expensive/the additional costs of being poor...."

Here's the wonderful boot analogy from the inimitable Terry Pratchett, the key to the socio-economic success of the rich & titled of Ankh-Morpork.

“The reason that the rich were so rich, Vimes reasoned, was because they managed to spend less money.

Take boots, for example. He earned thirty-eight dollars a month plus allowances. A really good pair of leather boots cost fifty dollars. But an affordable pair of boots, which were sort of OK for a season or two and then leaked like hell when the cardboard gave out, cost about ten dollars. Those were the kind of boots Vimes always bought, and wore until the soles were so thin that he could tell where he was in Ankh-Morpork on a foggy night by the feel of the cobbles.

But the thing was that good boots lasted for years and years. A man who could afford fifty dollars had a pair of boots that'd still be keeping his feet dry in ten years' time, while the poor man who could only afford cheap boots would have spent a hundred dollars on boots in the same time and would still have wet feet.

This was the Captain Samuel Vimes 'Boots' theory of socioeconomic unfairness.”

Are there any tasks or are we just trying to fit books into those broad characters. I can't work out how the colours work. I feel like I may be missing something somewhere 🤔

Sammy wrote: "Ah Cinna... Casting Lenny Kravitz was a stroke of genius. Easily my favourite character both in the book and on screen! 😁"

Yes, a stand-out character. I could see him while I was reading. Effie was well-portrayed by Elizabeth Banks, too.

All up, it's a pretty good story, fast-paced & easy to read, & I enjoy a good dystopia tale. I doubt I enjoyed it as much as the first reading but it was still entertaining despite my dislike of Katniss.

I find the time in the cave a bit dull, & the whole pretend to be in love scenario is tedious, but there are some great action scenes, & some really awful ones - that last one with Cato & the muttations is fairly horrible.

The Capitol & Gamesmakers really come up with some devilish ideas. I have to wonder how they thought switching back to one winner would go down with viewers & sponsors, wouldn't have been a popular move in most quarters I'd have thought, although a few would have loved it. That part felt a bit contrived, just so Katniss could cock a snook at the establishment at the last moment, thus fanning the embers of rebellion, (view spoiler)[but it did guarantee they both got out alive, I suppose (hide spoiler)].

I love the introduction of the mockingjays, they sound wonderful if a bit eerie - imagine if they started up when you were alone in the forest, or thought you were...

The scene with the tracker jackers is pretty cool, except for those great, big oozy lumps - icky! As for Peeta's part in this, you could tell he was thinking way ahead from the beginning, he's certainly good at the long game.

I like Katniss & Rue joining forces, & (view spoiler)[if the aftermath is very sad, at least it prevents one from having to kill the other in the end (hide spoiler)].

Erin *Proud Book Hoarder* wrote: "And do have to say this bugs me ---"

I have to agree with you on that.

I'm not a fan of YA stuff but the pacing is very good so I find this pretty easy to read. I'm struck by how unlikable I find Katniss, she is so self-centred, not terribly bright & often foolish. I've no doubt her upbringing would have hardened her outlook & that she'd have no trust for Capital-types but to be violent towards her own people the instant she doesn't like something is sheer stupidity, & not endearing. Onwards...

And we're off!