Ris’s Comments (group member since Apr 11, 2020)

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

Likewise! Thanks for volunteering to be captains, @Saar & @Melanie!

My bad - I looked through the rules again and since books can be used multiple times (depending on page number) the question of spell-out versus scavenger hunt solves itself! I'm definitely interested in how this goes - I haven't been in a challenge quite like this, haha!

Thanks, Melanie! It the spreadsheet looks GREAT!

Only thing I noticed as I started to add my books is it looks like the logical formula for H & I does not continue past Row 2. It wouldn't let me apply the rule to the rest, otherwise I would. Sorry!

I'm a mood reader too, but I'm in a lot of book clubs and have some required reading for work, so I know those titles for sure and can input them ahead of time. Most are between 300-400 pages (your general book club length). We'll have "water" covered with The Water Dancer!

Thanks, @Melanie! And I agree with @Jade that it might be easiest if we can all enter our own terms, but also to have a captain/co-captain to double check things in the end.

Also, if we max out at 80 books a round (which is about three books per week per person), then I'm thinking it might be best if we focus on scavenger hunting the words rather than spelling out? What do y'all think?

Hello, Everyone~

I'm in Northeast Ohio and so go by Eastern Standard Time. My favorite genres are fantasy and romance, which I see we have a lot of in the group - how fun!

Ompf, I've read so many great books this year, but if I had to pick a favorite, it would have to be: House of Earth and Blood ♡

And, haha, my least favorite might be the one I'm currently listening to: Crave. It is making me seriously consider getting drunk to finish listening to it!

Yes, thank you @Saar, for taking care of sign ups!

@Annalisa, I like the idea of "Ravenous" in the team name. What about "Team Ravenous Readers"? Is our team name also our restaurant name?

It's a little too late, but I just had to share: the book I'm reading (book: A Deadly Education) mentions "a troupe of Morris dancers"!

This sounds so fun! And I’m quickly becoming addicted to challenges, haha! Looking for teammates, as well. I usually read between 3-4 books a week, for 12-16 books a month.

DQ3

11. The second part of the book finds Maia & Edan on a journey across the lands to obtain materials for the wedding dresses. The plot and setting change felt clumsy to me - I wish the author had started in media reis to them on the journey or in some way justified the need for the competition (other than the set the setting). I personally like palace intrigue stories, so I would have been happy for it to remain there. I don't see the romance being one of my favorites, no matter the amount of time and focus on it.

12. I am interested in seeing why the emperor allowed the demand for the three impossible wedding gowns to stand. Perhaps they both have something up their sleeves?

13. At this point, I think Norbu will be a pesky villain in the story to appear later on.

14. I found Orksan and Korin to be fine - again, more filler chapter scenes. I didn't think they had much choice but to travel with them (the road didn't seem wide enough to accommodate them both and they lacked supplies.) I did find it annoying that they were able to see that Maia was a woman but no one in the palace was - it is either obvious or not.

15. I too believe Edan will be freed from the emperor. Perhaps Maia will use the wish given to the maker of the dresses will be used to free Edan?

DQs 2

6. I found the competition to be anti-climatic!

7. Lady Sarnai is actually one of my favorite characters with her complexity! I hope she continues to play a big role, but not necessarily as the villain! (It would be fun to read the story from her perspective.)

8. I don't think fame and status are worth the price of injury or death. Though, I do understand how poverty and promise of financial stability may be a powerful motivation.

9. & 10. The pacing of the novel feels off to me. A large emphasis was on the competition, which didn't amount to much. I knew she was going to stay, because there wouldn't have been a story otherwise. I'm wondering what direction the novel will go in next.

This was a lot of fun, y'all, thank you!

Day 1 DQs

1. Because Maia is unable to become a master tailor because she is a woman, she disguises herself as her brother in order to compete in the empirical tailor trials. Though I hope I would have the courage to hide my identity in order to fulfill my destiny, I frankly do not feel as if I have a destiny worth risking my life for (though I do enjoy what I do). Looking back in history, I only know of Mulan who has done something similar. Perhaps Joan of Arc, who disregarded her femininity for the sake of leading an army? I am interested in seeing everyone elses's answers, however!

2. It was tragic that Maia's shawl was ruined by spilled tea! I am not sure who ruined the shawl, though I sincerely hope they've already been eliminated from the competition. I wonder if the scissors can bring to life her designs to the best of her ability, which may prove to be extraordinary if she is indeed the best tailor in the land. I am nervous of the princess's disdain of magic in relation to Maia's use of the magic scissors.

3. YES! I believe the yellow-eyed hawk with the gold band around his talon is Lord Enchanter!

4. Yikes, yes! I do believe the Lord Enchanter suspects Maia is a girl. (Which makes sense for his character, but I love the confused sexuality trope that happens with cross-dressing romances.)

5. I too love the empire setting on the Eastern Spice Road!

Louise, that sounds absolutely lovely! I'm so glad you were able to have a service that honored him well. I agree with Rina, he would be proud!

Oh, no, Sunny - that sounds terrifying! I hope you're safe and rested and more relaxed now!

Just saw these messages about DQs now - thanks, Rina, for working on them!

Sorry, Rina, I'll add team info in the future if I read another!

Sunny, if your assigned day doesn't work, I think I was one of the subs. Just let me know!

Yes, I'm still in! I have three books to add to the Excel sheet tomorrow!

Go team on the DQs so far!