Alysa’s Comments (group member since Jun 27, 2015)

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

DQs Day 2: Chapter 6 - 12

5. In this world, many choose enhancements that facilitate their selected jobs - and it seems like most have some sort of Monkey’s Paw negative effect as well. On one hand, an enhancement like Din’s enables his perfect memory, so he never forgets anything. On the other hand, he CAN never forget anything, even if he wants to.
If you were to be augmented with a skill/ability, what would it be and why? Alternatively, what, for you, would be the worst or most dreaded skill/ability you could get?

Having had random conversations on this topic before, I immediately know my answer to the first part: I would want my augmented skill/ability to be facility with languages (which I think was one of the ones mentioned in this book, which was neat).
Not as sure about the worst. If we were talking super powers, I would definitely not want the ability to read minds. But that’s not what we’re exactly talking about. I really don’t know. In the context of this book, the perfect-memory thing sounds like it has some nasty side effects over time, so perhaps that. I have quite a good memory in real life, though not eidetic, and I can actually already relate to some of the negative emotional issues it can bring (though there are positives too).

6. I thought it interesting that the leviathians are getting bigger every year, and that most of the special grafts and suffusions are from collected titian bits and bones. Do you have any theories about how this will come into play going forward?

Only the most obvious ones, which means I am probably very wrong.

7. “...I no longer formed normal memories. For a memory is just a sketch a mind makes of one’s experiences, imperfect and interpretive; yet what my mind made, from that moment on, was perfect, absolute, and endless.” Do you think this robs Din of the ability to be fully human, from the standpoint that one’s subjective take on the world around her/him is what makes a person "human"?

No, this doesn’t rob Din of anything, and I disagree with the notion that having a perfect objective memory undermines subjectivity. First of all, objectivity and subjectivity are not mutually exclusive. One can have objectively perfect recall and still apply subjective perspective and interpretation. One can still associate different emotions to a memory, and so on. One person can have a fuzzy memory and insist that it is the whole truth of what occurred, while another can have a perfect memory but not be in posession of all relèvent context or facts. These two people may argue, and both of them could be equally right and/or equally wrong. What makes someone like Din different isn’t ultimately that he has perfect recall, it’s that everyone else fully relies on Din’s recall as a source of objective truth.

8. I’m enjoying the evolving relationship between Ana and Din, especially Ana’s humor. Despite Ana joking that Din had “lost his sense of humor in some tragic accident,” what is your take on the twosome? Do you think Din cheated somehow to pass his tests? Or do you think it's something else?

I am enjoying their relationship! And I don’t think Din cheated, but also have no real sense of what else is going on.

DQs Day 1: Chapter 1 -5

1) Do you have any expectations going in? This book is one of the 6 novels up for the Hugo award for Best Novel this year: https://www.thehugoawards.org/hugo-hi.... Did you know that and do you try to read the Hugo books or winners or have no interactions with the awards?

Well my general expectation going in was that I would like it, since I am a fan of the author’s work! This will be my 9th or 10th book by RJB, and it’s one of three that I have on my kindle but hadn’t read yet (and the only NetGalley of the three… I am obviously super behind on NetGalley since this is no longer a new book, ugh). I don’t pay too much attention to book awards, but sometimes if I see a book has won Hugo or Nebula it does make me go “Hmm, could be interesting.” Perhaps I will pay more attention to that stuff in future.

2) What do you think of the world building so far? Are then any particular details that stand out and if this is a reread, is anything standing out more on your re-read this early in the story? (please use spoiler tags if applicable)

I am enjoying the world building. It seems well paced: it’s not info-dumpy, but gives you what you need when you need it. Details are added for context. There’s a sense of history, and also a sense of menace.

3) So this runs right up to the edge/ crosses over into body horror between the murder scene and modifications to people? Do you read body horror or books with that theme in it? Do you have any favorites?

I watch a lot of body horror films as opposed reading body horror books. I don’t tend to seek out the latter, but I have enjoyed on occasion and am trying to read more horror, overall. One thing I love about body horror, in films at least because that’s what I know more about, is that it often intersects with sex and gender issues, and that is interesting to me. That hasn’t been the case with this book so far, but that’s okay. It’s all good.

4) Does your version have a map? If it does, did you look at before reading or at any point when reading this first section? Do you like maps in books? (Map under spoiler if you were audio only)

Luckily my NetGalley version does have the map in the beginning (which is not always the case) and I looked at it before reading. I love maps in fantasy books. I can look at them for ages.


I might be the only one here doing this BOM but not doing Tower Teams, lol. I am just happy that the BOM gave me an extra incentive to finally read it.

I finally completed a maze!!!

And it only took me 3+ years lolololol

I may do another one but not immediately. First I will bask in my success. 😁

We Burn Daylight

An epic novel of star-crossed lovers set in a doomsday cult on the Texas prairie that What would you sacrifice for the person you love?

“Symphonic and suspenseful . . . In an epic act of empathy, Bret Anthony Johnston inhabits every point of view, from doomed devotees to perplexed law enforcement.”—Geraldine Brooks, Pulitzer Prize–winning author of March

Waco, Texas, 1993. People from all walks of life have arrived to follow the Lamb’s gospel—signing over savings and pensions, selling their homes and shedding marriages. They’ve come here to worship at the feet of a former landscaper turned prophet who is preparing for the End Times with a staggering cache of weapons. Jaye’s mother is one of his newest and most devout followers, though Jaye herself has suspicions about the Lamb’s methods—and his motives.

Roy is the youngest son of the local sheriff, a fourteen-year-old boy with a heart of gold and a nose for trouble who falls for Jaye without knowing of her mother’s attachment to the man who is currently making his father’s life hell. The two teenagers are drawn to each other immediately and completely, but their love may have dire consequences for their families. The Lamb has plans for them all—especially Jaye—and as his preaching and scheming move them closer and closer to unthinkable violence, Roy risks everything to save Jaye.

Based on the true events that unfolded thirty years ago during the siege of the Branch Davidian compound, Bret Anthony Johnston’s We Burn Daylight is an unforgettable love story, a heart-pounding literary page turner, and a profound exploration of faith, family, and what it means to truly be saved.

The Indifferent Stars Above: The Harrowing Saga of a Donner Party Bride

In April of 1846, twenty-one-year-old Sarah Graves, intent on a better future, set out west from Illinois with her new husband, her parents, and eight siblings. Seven months later, after joining a party of emigrants led by George Donner, they reached the Sierra Nevada Mountains as the first heavy snows of the season closed the pass ahead of them. In early December, starving and desperate, Sarah and fourteen others set out for California on snowshoes and, over the next thirty-two days, endured almost unfathomable hardships and horrors.

In this gripping narrative, Daniel James Brown sheds new light on one of the most infamous events in American history. Following every painful footstep of Sarah's journey with the Donner Party, Brown produces a tale both spellbinding and richly informative.

Task: Read a book where mc has big, quirky family
Direction: South

P : Peter, character in Until the End of the World
A : Real Vampires Take No Prisoners by Amy Fecteau
S : Spacer
S : Storm Glass

Task: Read a book shelved (listed on the first page on GR) as relationships - plurals and spelling acceptable
Direction: North

H : Hummingbird Salamander
A : Free: My Search for Meaning by Amanda Knox
L : Larely, character in Consorting With Dragons
T : Tinbu, character in The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi

It's always weird answering one's own DQs, haha


DQs Day 5
Ch 28 - End

18.) In case anyone had any doubt that we've been reading not only historical fantasy but an Action Adventure novel, things have ramped up even more: Amina's deal with the peris, the flight with Khayzur, the council of pirates, the new friendship (?) with Magnun... And now Amina has gained supernatural strength and sight! What do you think about all these developments? What did you like (or dislike) most about all these elaborate plot elements introduced between the Peri island and the final showdown on Socotra?

It felt like there was a LOT going on, maybe a little too much at times, but it all fit together pretty well like a big plot jigsaw puzzle. I appreciated Khayzur being like a sort of conscientious objector/voice of reason among the peris, and how his strong hint about the marid is largely what helped Amina (along with her newly-gained abilities) do her part in thwarting Falco's plans. I also really liked how Dunya flipped the script on Falco, quite literally, and how all of Amina's old friendships came to bear on the final outcomes. I also loved Magnun and his insanely cool pirate ship.

19.) We finally found out the full story of what happened to Asif. Do you think Amina is culpable for Asif's fate, as she believes she is?

I knew right away that the scene with Asif beyond the door in the cage was a hallucination caused by some supernatural force or creature (I've seen/read too many stories that had this twist, I suppose!) but it was no less effective. I'd never have guessed that Amina didn't "kill" him, per se, but in fact kind of "re-killed" him after he'd essentially come back as a revenant following his death of natural causes. He was resurrected because of Raksh's foolishness, but not intentionally -- and I think Amina is wrong to blame herself simply because she let Raksh on her ship. That's just nonsense, really. If anyone can be blamed (and I'm not saying they should!), it's not even Raksh but Asif himself.

20.) It seems like the author wrapped things up fairly well, while neatly setting up for further installments. Will you read more in this world? Any particular teases or loose ends that most interest you?

I LOVED this book, one of my best reads of 2025 so far, and I will definitely read the next one when it comes out. I'm curious how long Amina will be able to keep Raksh from finding out about her daughter. And I would love to know what "Transgression" Amina will hunt down next, and whether the author will be able to make that plot as fun and surprising as this one.


21.) Did you read the "Author's Note and Further Reading" -- and if yes, are you interested in any of the books she cites or recommends?

There's so much that sounds great, but I'd be most interested first in reading The Ocean of Churn: How the Indian Ocean Shaped Human History .

Bonus question: Dunya / Jamal ! Did anyone see that coming?! Thoughts?

I did NOT see that coming! But mainly my blindspot goes back to what I said in response to that DQ Day 1 question, about how the "sitting at Amina's feet" bits felt a little clunky to me. We've always known that Amina's talking to someone named Jamal, but even now, knowing the whole context, it still feels clunky -- like, there's nothing about the characters' relationship thus far that would point to the tone Amina uses when speaking to Jamal.
IDK. Like, the twist felt a little bit pasted on. But neat at the same time. Perhaps if we get to see how their friendship evolves over time, it'll make this Book 1 stuff work better in retrospect!

DQs Day 5
Ch 28 - End

18.) In case anyone had any doubt that we've been reading not only historical fantasy but an Action Adventure novel, things have ramped up even more: Amina's deal with the peris, the flight with Khayzur, the council of pirates, the new friendship (?) with Magnun... And now Amina has gained supernatural strength and sight! What do you think about all these developments? What did you like (or dislike) most about all these elaborate plot elements introduced between the Peri island and the final showdown on Socotra?

19.) We finally found out the full story of what happened to Asif. Do you think Amina is culpable for Asif's fate, as she believes she is?

20.) It seems like the author wrapped things up fairly well, while neatly setting up for further installments. Will you read more in this world? Any particular teases or loose ends that most interest you?

21.) Did you read the "Author's Note and Further Reading" -- and if yes, are you interested in any of the books she cites or recommends?

Bonus question: Dunya / Jamal ! Did anyone see that coming?! Thoughts?

DQs Day 4
Ch 20 - Ch 27

14.) The Moon of Saba certainly has a complicated tale. Do you think the author did this to highlight in a different way how the past is not always what we think? And the true story is often very different from what is recorded in the history books?

The different conflicting stories about the Moon of Saba do indeed highlight the idea of the past not always being what we think, and there are other things in and about this novel that highlight that. From the very start we've been getting examples of how the legends about Amina differ from the realities, and about how the characters' pasts don't always align with what one might think, or how the readers' assumptions about history might be skewed. It's all a consistent theme of the book, which is actually pretty cool.

@Judith, I also love that aspect of Michael J. Sullivan's series -- and funny you should mention it because I was actually planning to read Esrahaddon as my next book before my library loan of Amina came through in time for the BOM, and will probably start it next week instead!
Have you ever read Jane Yolen's Great Alta trilogy? I still need to read Book 3 (there's a pattern here, haha) but that series is also very much about stories having different versions depending on whether they're the truth, the myth, the legend...


15.) Now that we know more about Raksh, what do you think about him? Has your opinion changed over the course of the story? Do you think he'll find out he's a father?

My opinion hasn't changed much; I always thought him quite complicated under the surface, and his very being unknowable. I think he'll find out he's a father, but my theory is that there's all this build up only so that the author can diffuse it in some way, like maybe Raksh will be like "Oh, I've had lots of kids, whatever" and not take much interest or responsibility -- which would obviously suit Amina just fine.


16.) Amina's first conversation with Dunya was certainly illuminating. Was she what you expected? In her shoes do you think you would of pulled a runner with Falco?

I hadn't foreseen the coded-transgender part, but otherwise she was pretty much what I expected. Willful and smart and running from something. In her shoes I have no idea what I'd have done.
Probably stayed, because I'm not especially brave and I appreciate stability and home comforts. But maybe when I was her age I'd have run? No idea, truly.


17.) Anyone else trying to figure out how Amina survived in the ocean with no potable water for 2 weeks? Also, anyone else want to go to the magical island?

LOL, that two weeks was a stretch for sure. And I would only want to go to that magical island if there are pina coladas, and the bird people promised to let me leave alive!

DQs Day 3
Ch 14 - Ch 19

10.) There's some really graphic scenes in this section. Why do you think Chakraborty chose to be so detailed (esp what Falco did to them), when she could have been more circumspect?

It didn't strike me as any different from the rest of the book -- fantastical but grounded in emotional realism, the impact of which would have been lessened had the writing been any fuzzier on details.

11.) We met Raksh! Huzzah! What are you thoughts on final meeting him? Did that opinion change at all during the section?

I was not expecting him to provide so much comedy! I'm a little worried that it's partly meant to distract us from suspecting something terrible and dark that he's going to end up doing. But then again, we already know he's fully capable of darkness and has done horrible things in the past. So, complicated I supposed. But still very funny!

12.) And Falco too! What do you think of him? Does the backstory of crusading fervour in his father leading to financial ruin add or detract from him as a villainous villain?

Falco's childhood backstory adds color to how he became who he is: a raging malignant narcissist. A similar backstory could have turned a different man another way, but not Falco.

13.) Following from that - we see the first serious religious tensions in this section, in the hesitation to bury the Christian villages and then also in the Crusades history shared.
But, rather than dwelling on that point in particular - do you feel that the world being evoked is real, bedded in history, or too glamourised? General thoughts on the setting welcomed!

I don't know enough real history or anthropology about the part of the world where this book takes place to say how real it feels (apart from the fantasy elements, obviously), but I definitely appreciate the effort that Chakraborty has put it to situate it in a larger global context, especially vis-a-vis undermining the European Crusader perspective that I assume much of the reading audience is familiar with. I'm enjoying this book very much as a historical fantasy novel, but it also makes me want to learn more about the time and places that inspired it.

Judith wrote: "I agree with Cat though that something happened between Amina's last husband (djinn?) and what lead to Asif's demise."

That's a good theory. I was thinking the husband was supernatural (djinn), and something about Asif's death was supernatural-related, but I hadn't necessarily connected the two things.
Though if Amina had romantic and/or sexual relationships with BOTH of them, that makes sense too.

DQs Day 2
Ch 7 - Ch 13

So far we have met a mojority of the key players. With Salima requesting that Amina find her grand daughter Dunya because her dead son Asif used to work for her,

6.) We are getting hints of a nefarious demise of Asif with the possibility that Amina was involved. Any guesses (If you don't know) of what may have happened. Did anyone else confuse Asif as being Morjana father?

I get why some of the other characters though maybe Asif was the father, but Amina's been pretty clear with the reader that that wasn't the case. I think maybe there was something going on between Asif and Amina at some point though. And it sounds like there may have been supernatural elements involved in Asif's death.

7.) So far it seems that instead of Amina being the great baddie that she once was, is really the one being taken advantage of. With Salima forcing her hand to find her grand-daughter. Do you think that even if found her grand daughter would go home willingly?

Nope. I think Dunya knows her own mind and does not want to go back to her grandmother Salima at all.

8.) Amina has gotten her old crew back together (Dalila, an expert poisoner; Tinbu, her first mate; and Majed, her navigator) Which reunion did you enjoy the most?

I love that the old gang's all back together! I have enjoyed that in other books too, and no less here. I liked all of the reunions equally, though maybe I was the most entertained by the reunion with Majed, where they're scrabbling in a doorway until Majed's wife intervenes. Kind of slapstick in a good way.

9.) With magic playing afoot and Falco being able to do things unknown and Amina not being familiar do you think they eventually bring in or find someone to help them with that?

I don't think they will bring in anyone else specifically to deal with that, since they're so close-knit and they didn't have a 5th solid crew member before (unless Asif knew a lot about magic? I don't think that's been clarified, although he did grow up in Salima's house and we aren't told if it's Dunya who has amassed the occult library there or if it was already there...). Perhaps once Amina and her crew locate Dunya, they will end up convincing Dunya to help with magic against Falco or something? IDK. More likely there's going to be some kind of huge twist that I am currently not seeing coming!

DQs Day 1
Beginning - Ch 6

1.) Do you have any expectations going in? Have you read The Daevabad Trilogy (starting with The City of Brass)?

I *hoped* this would be as good as it looked, but I tried to keep my expectations on the lower side because I didn't like City of Brass enough to continue with the rest of The Daevabad Trilogy. It wasn't terrible or anything, just a bit meh. This, on the other hand, was giving Delilah Dirk vibes, but more literary. And the author seems to have evolved in a good way.

2.) Right off the bat, the quote "that to be a woman is to have your story misremembered". What do you think about this statement?

Sadly it's often true. I mean, I suppose plenty of non-women have their stories misremembered too, but it's been far more likely for women to be erased from the record, or be grossly misunderstood, mischaracterized, or used only as convenient for someone else's story.

3.) Did complaining about the annoyances and expense of home maintenance make the legendary pirate seem more real and relatable even after fighting off a demon in the previous chapter?

Yes, it definitely did. It all added color and context and realness.

4.) There seems to be a fun bit of the mystical woven into this world. Do you think Marjana's father is human?

Seems to be some kind of djinn.

5.) Are you liking how the book is structured? Like we are sitting at Amina's feet while she tells her tale with some fun extra thrown in between chapters.

I like the extras between the chapters, but the "sitting at Amina's feet" bits feel a little clunky to me. Maybe it's not the fact of them, but just the way they're integrated. It kicks me out of the story slightly, rather than drawing me in. Idk, maybe it'll grow on me.



I finished reading thru Chapter 6 at like 6:30 this morning during an unfortunate bout of insomnia. Silver linings 😂

Moderators of NBRC wrote: "break down is up! Alysa, maybe you could commit to the last section? No worries if not - we can flex :)"

If we put in a break day I think I'll be able to manage last section questions on 3/21...

Task: Read a book with a single body part on the cover
Direction: South

P : The Narrow Road Between Desires by Patrick Rothfuss
A : Threads of Empire: A History of the World in Twelve Carpets by Dorothy Armstrong
S : Stockham, character in Winterkill
S : Salina, character in Widow's Web

Me too! But I don't promise to stay on-schedule lol

For next time I do a month-long NG challenge...

TBR:

I started choosing a book that fits this task and goes the desired direction, but then realized I’ve read enough books since my last maze turn that it’s just easier to do a skip LOL

Task: Read a book with a house on the cover
Direction: East

M : Matched, 418 p
I : Irene, character in The Dark Archive, 336 p
S : Vampire Kisses by Ellen Schreiber, 216 p
S : Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas, 416 p

Task: Read a novel with a recipe in it
Direction: North

H : Dark Heir by Faith Hunter
E : Eulalie, character in Moon Bayou
L : Ladanyon, character in Confronting the Demon
P : Philip, character in A Deliberation of Dragons