Audrey Jane’s Comments (group member since May 27, 2014)

Audrey Jane’s comments from the Nothing But Reading Challenges group.

Robin wrote: "Moderators of NBRC wrote: "Welcome to your new team members Audrey Jane and Robin!"

Hi team!! Joining in the fun (better late than never, right?). My name is Robin and I'm a PhD student in literat..."

Very interesting field of study, Robin ! Wishing you all the best.

Hello team ! Hi Robin ! Also checking in. Nice to meet you all, I'm Audrey. I've been taking a break from reading over the summer due to work. Happy to dive back in with this challenge. If recall correctly I've signed up for one book a week. This is my third time participating to Wheelaton.

Here's my shelf for this challenge: https://www.goodreads.com/review/list...

BOM Participation post - July 2023

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 6: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

DQs Day 6: Chapter 32 - end

24. Chapter 32, though! How did you feel about the heart-to-heart on the parapet? Did it fill you with fluttery lovey feelings, or did it fall flat? Are you loving “Vioden” (Xadlet?)??

It filled me with irritation. Twilight 2.0

25. Xaden has Violet join his special group for the War Games, and we find out about all the secrets that EVERYONE has been keeping from her. Do you think she overreacted to these revelations or is her reaction warranted? How do you feel about Dain’s betrayal? Surprised (hint hint - NO)?

I think her reaction was 100% warranted. Violet should've broken up with Xaden right then and there and vowed to never ride a dragon ever again and live her life peacefully in the countryside.

26. Anyone crying yet? I know I was losing it through a lot of the last 15% of the book. What are your thoughts on the major losses we see during this battle? Any thoughts on the battle itself (or the enemy themselves)?

I can't remember the last time I cried when reading. I think it was when Sirius Black died.

27. That CLIFF-HANGER of an ending had me stunned! What did you think of the sudden appearance of (view spoiler)? Was it too much, or just enough?

It was over the top.

28. What are your overall thoughts on this book? Will you read the next one?

Ridiculous and no, thank you. I already deserve a medal for finishing this :)

Day 4 Questions Chapter 21-25

14. Do you think there is a reason the Cadets are not being told the truth of what is going on with the battles at the Battle Brief? Is it actually for classified reasons or is there something more sinister going on?

I don't think that's the main focus of this book. And since the author does not care about a possible plot, I fail to see why I should.

15. What do you think about the mentioning of the fact that the Dragons and Gryphons use to work together to protect the lands? Could this be foreshadowing of an alliance to come?

Yes ?

16. We finally have a bit of progress in the possible romance between Violet and Xaden. Do you think they have actual chemistry or their attraction is just due to the bond of their dragons?

They have zero chemistry. Xaden turns out to be just like Dain. Girls just like bad boys.

17. We keep getting random tidbits about Violet's deceased brother Brennan. Do you think there is a possibility he's still alive?

No, he's dead.

18. With the revelations we've been given about what went on with the Marked Ones and the various battles that are raging on currently, do you think that the Kingdom of Navarre is actually the protector of this world as we've been lead to believe or are they the villains?

Yes, they are all villains.

Bonus: Anyone else wishing a Dragon would just go scorched earth on Dain already?

Yes, together with the rest of the characters :D

DQ Day 3 Chapters 14-20

10. So we are half way through the book. Thoughts and feelings? Loving it? Hating it? Ambivalent?

I'm starting to dislike it at this point. Would have DNF if it wasn't a BOM. Nothing is happening. Too much YA tropes. Juvenile writing/story. Lack of plot. Instant lust. Ridiculous dialogue. And unnecessary dragon sex. It's getting painful at this point.

11. Jeremiah gets killed pretty quickly as his signet shows. Do you agree that power can't be allowed?

Like most of this book, this doesn't make sense. They are at an academy to learn, what's the point of being there if they can't teach their students to control their powers. The author wrote that just to add some drama/tragedy. Couldn't care less about Jeremiah.

11. What's the deal with Andarna? Why do you think 2 dragons have bonded with Violet?

Because she's the main character and it's YA. Teenagers love these kind of things in their stories.

12. If you could choose a Signet what would it be? https://www.julesbuono.com/fourth-win...

13. Were you surprised about Amber's betrayal? How about when Xanden completely believed Violet but Dain didn't?

Honestly for the limited amount of page time Amber got, I really didn't care. It's not like Amber and Violet were best friends forever so no, not a surprise.
Xanden and Violet are instant lusting so no surprise there. And we need Dain for the high school drama.
I hope something good happens soon as I wouldn't be able to live with myself if I willingly picked up a 600+page YA teenage drama book. YA should be this book's main page genre. I've been misled !

DQ Day 2: Chap 7- 13

6. This section starts with two scenes with each of the male love/lust interests. The comparison of them continues very clearly. Do you like Xaden or Dain better or neither?

Neither. Both are toxic in their own way.
However at some point in the book the author writes that Dain would punish a cadet by giving cleaning duty for a year while Xaden would "beat the shit out of that person". Based on that comparison I would take Dain. Who needs a violent man in their life anyway

7. Violet uses alternative methods to survive the fighting challenges. Do you think that counts as cheating or using the resources available? Do you think she is aware that she only has this information because she comes from a privileged background and her sister count sneak in it? Do you think one of the professors should have noticed after 5 rounds?

I'm a bit puzzled how she gets away with it so easily as it was really obvious. Also, did I miss something or did the author forget to explain how Violet got the information of her next opponent - it seemed so easy to obtain. Like everything in Violet's life so far.

8. The obstacle course is straight out of American Ninja warrior (and other similar TV shows) including ending with the giant ramp. Did you enjoy this section and how Violet figured out working with her height limitations? Have they told us how tall she is? (Though in real life, the shortest person to make it up the wall has only been 5’1” – I just Googled it).

I honestly skimmed a bit here as it got a bit long and we already know she ultimately is going to make it. Quite predictable so far.

9. Finally, we meet the dragons. Was it all you were hoping for? Did anyone guess the black one when it was first introduced in this section? (Also, I am not taking the fall seriously at the end of my section since we still have 2/3 of the book to go).

I'm a bit indifferent honestly. Yes, the big special dragon is by default the YA MC's dragon :D

Bonus: If you could have a dragon from any book or movie, which one would you want?

Draco from Dragonheart. We would have lots of fun pulling pranks on poor villagers.

DQs Day 1, Chapters 1 - 6

1. As someone who grew up with the Pern books, I love diving back into a world with dragons and dragon riders. And this one has extra bonus Gryphons, apparently!
Do you have any first impressions of the main characters (Violet, Dain, Rhiannon, Xader) and the world building? Do you want to know more?

Not invested in any of the characters so far. They are pretty generic YA characters. Xaden brooding and hateful looks is getting old quickly though. However even if I don't have the wow-effect, the book is quite readable.

I don't know, I'm indifferent so far. I don't understand half the characters' motivations. All the instant lust/hate in life threatening situations doesn't seem believable to me.

2. What do you think of Violet’s mother and sister? Any idea about why her mother chose to order her to the Rider Quadrant instead of the Scribe Quadrant?

No idea - it's part of the things I don't understand. A lot of motives are being glossed over I feel or unexplained. Maybe later in the book..

3. The brutality of the selection process and the casual acceptance of murder is something else. What do you think the purpose of it is? (If there is one beyond societal norms.)
Would you have given your boot to a stranger?

Don't know - it's quite reminiscent of the Hunger Games/Divergent/Battle Royal etc. People like when high stakes are involved ? I think it's a bit over the top though.

Yes, I would be the kind of person to help another person even though it might get me in trouble afterwards.

4. So this is a world at war, but at the battle briefings at least, they don’t seem to know why the outer provinces are currently attacking the borders. Any ideas about why this is happening?

They are looking for something/someone special ? I hope it's not Violet or one of the other main characters as that would be predictable. I'm hoping it's a secret document or an ancient magical relic of some kind.

5. Do you think that Violet will survive and get chosen by a dragon? If so, any predictions on what kind?

Yes, of course ! I kind of hope that the story would take readers by surprise though and Violet fails to get chosen by a dragon but still finds a way to make her own path in life. Or maybe she's meant to ride a Gryphon instead, I kind of like that idea !

Will join the discussion. I'm amazed to see how famous this book got in such a short amount of time. Curious to find out why :)

Melindam wrote: "I nominate



The Blue Castle by L.M. Montgomery


An unforgettable story of courage and romance. Will Valancy Stirling ever escape her..."

I second this nomination, Mel. I love this book so much and agree with why it qualifies :)

Excited for this. I think the theme has something to do with towers/skyscrapers or buildings as well :)

Sammy wrote: "Read a book while para-gliding from the top of mount Everest..."

Hhahahaha 🤣

Imagine making the headlines and trying to explain yourself afterwards "Sooo I'm in this team challenge on GR..."

DQs Day 1 - Prologue - chapter 12:

1. How are you liking it so far ? The chapters are quite short and written from multiple pov's. Is that something you usually enjoy ?

2. The prologue was full of nostalgia. Unfortunately we don't get to revist the 90s since that first chapter. Was New Year's Eve 1999 something special for you ? Did you celebrate the new millennium in a more 'significant' way ?

3. What do you make of Jesse and her online background research on Ella ?

4. 'Goodnight pretty girl'. Do you think that the Blockbuster case and the Ice cream shop incident are related ? Do you think Chris' brother, Vince, might be involved somehow ?

I will participate and I can write DQs.

The Night Shift by Alex Finlay

It’s New Year’s Eve 1999. Y2K is expected to end in chaos: planes falling from the sky, elevators plunging to earth, world markets collapsing. A digital apocalypse. None of that happens. But at a Blockbuster Video in Linden, New Jersey, four teenage girls working the night shift are attacked. Only one survives. Police quickly identify a suspect who flees and is never seen again.

Fifteen years later, in the same town, four teenage employees working late at an ice cream store are attacked, and again only one makes it out alive.

Both surviving victims recall the killer speaking only a few final words. . . . “Goodnight, pretty girl.”

In the aftermath, three lives intersect: the survivor of the Blockbuster massacre who’s forced to relive her tragedy; the brother of the original suspect, who’s convinced the police have it wrong; and the FBI agent, who’s determined to solve both cases. On a collision course toward the truth, all three lives will forever be changed, and not everyone will make it out alive.

======
Why it fits ? Lights on the cover

It was a bank holiday over here so I used the time off to finish my last book for this awesome challenge :)
Thank you captains and co-captains! Loved the creative mini challenges during this edition of tower teams.

@Keri: Here is the countdown posted by the mods in the announcements thread :)

https://www.timeanddate.com/countdown...

Trojan Supergroup: Round 6

Attack Game - Trojans vs Mythics

B5 - Feminism - 4 books

1. Just Like Mother
2. Catch and Kill: Lies, Spies, and a Conspiracy to Protect Predators
3. Jane Eyre
4. The Tobacco Wives

J6 - Nature - 4 books

1. A fák titkos élete - Mit éreznek, hogyan kommunikálnak? Egy rejtett világ felfedezése
2. A Walk in the Woods: Rediscovering America on the Appalachian Trail
3. If Only They Could Talk
4. Bringing Back the Beaver: The Story of One Man's Quest to Rewild Britain's Waterways

C1 - Retelling - 1 book

1. Bitterburn

F9 - Urban Fantasy - 1 book

1. A Darker Shade of Magic

Trojan Supergroup: Round 6

Defence Game - Aegeans vs Trojans

I1 - Suspense - 5 books

1. White Heat
2. The Black Book
3. The Fire Still Burns
4. The Stepford Wives
5. The House Across the Lake

G8 - LGBT - 5 books

1. Tried & True
2. Aristotle and Dante Dive into the Waters of the World
3. A Closed and Common Orbit
4. The Charm Offensive
5. Forbidden Magic

As always, I can't believe we're already approaching the end of the challenge. Time truly waits for no one.

This was my puppy at the start of the Tower Teams challenge:

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This is him now:

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I sincerely hope real life improves from now on for the whole team. Sending lots of positive energy your way !