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

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

Moderators of NBRC wrote: "Just checking... it is nbcr-wheels-9‎
should it be
nbrc-wheels-9
?
😊
(or maybe you have the cr that way for another reason)"

I presume you don’t like me revamping the group’s name to “Nothing but Challenge Reading” 😊

You're absolutely right though. Thanks for catching that, Karen ! It's fixed now.

Greetings everyone ! And thank you, Mel, for your message. Audrey here. I think I’ve played with most of you along the years. However always nice to meet new fellow team challenge enablers.

My favourite genres are historical fiction, mystery (gothic), retellings and history books (with a particular interest for the Victorian era). I’m allergic to romantasy. I love listening to podcasts and I’ve recently became an avid History Hit listener. This means longer walks with my dog.

A couple of years ago I was gifted a 3M coverall for Christmas due to my inferiorly way of painting. Apparently there was some frustrations going around in my family about me ruining decent clothes 😐 They also couldn't appreciate the highlights in my hair after each paint job.

I was convinced I already created my shelf but must have been in my dreams and must have confused it with reality. So Karen, here’s my shelf: https://www.goodreads.com/review/list...

Looking forward to play with you all 🙂

Woohoo! Well done, team :) !!

Didn't know Germany operated city by city regarding religious holidays, that's interesting ! I'm belgian so still wrapping my head around the french way of doing things, France follows religious holidays although the state is secular, go figure it out 🤷‍♀️

Anyway, I've finished my last book, yay ! I gave it my all the last couple of weeks :) Had lots of fun.

The Gathering by C.J. Tudor

Deadhart, Alaska. 873. Living.

In a small Alaska town, a boy is found with his throat ripped out and all the blood drained from his body. The inhabitants of Deadhart haven’t seen a killing like this in twenty-five years. But they know who’s responsible: a member of the Colony, an ostracized community of vampyrs living in an old mine settlement deep in the woods.

Detective Barbara Atkins, a specialist in vampyr killings, is called in to officially determine if this is a Colony killing—and authorize a cull. Old suspicions die hard in a town like Deadhart, but Barbara isn’t so sure. Determined to find the truth, she enlists the help of a former Deadhart sheriff, Jenson Tucker, whose investigation into the previous murder almost cost him his life. Since then, Tucker has become a recluse. But he knows the Colony better than almost anyone.

As the pair delve into the town’s history, they uncover secrets darker than they could have imagined. And then another body is found. While the snow thickens and the nights grow longer, a killer stalks Deadhart, and two disparate communities circle each other for blood. Time is running out for Atkins and Tucker to find the truth: Are they hunting a bloodthirsty monster . . . or a twisted psychopath? And which is more dangerous?

My current read will be my last book for this challenge. Can't believe it has been 3 months - time flew by ! And I had fun as well as achieved my reading goals :) Had no reading slump this round and enjoyed all my books (wellll, more or less) so I'm content :)
Thanks captains and team ! Will for sure see you all around !

Same here 😂

Rereading favourites is great, especially when you're in a reading slump. Also curious to find out if my opinion about them changed in the mean time.

I've been reading more than usual the last couple of weeks as I was in-between jobs. I was less tired and had more time for myself - it has been a blast and additionally I enjoyed all my reads :) ! Will gradually go back to my usual reading speed though.

My little reading sprint did help me with all kinds of reading challenges so I'm happy.

Way to go, Christina ! Hope you enjoyed these BOM :)

So I've purchased a book from Thriftbooks for 3 $ (7€ including shipping), it was delivered this week and when I opened the package I saw that the book used to belong to the El Paso library and the library card is still included. The book was first checked out in September 1997. I was so excited by this :)

Over the years I've found all kinds of interesting things in my secondhand books. Some of them I use to decorate my bookshelves, like a couple of postcards from beginning 1900s.

Finished my last book (Bride) for this round and enjoyed it. I thought picking up The Wishing Game next but I won't be able to finish it before the 16th of July.

Oh Christina, I feel for you and your dog <3 !

Audrey's BOM Participation Tracking - The Familiar:

DQs Day 2
DQs Day 3
DQs Day 5

DQs Day 5

16.) Were there any surprises about the supporting characters? Did they get the endings you expected? That the characters deserved?
Yes, there were some out of nowhere surprises, Don Marius/Valentina/Quiteria/Luzia's aunt etc. I don't want to delve deeper into it as I just rolled my eyes when reading. It seems it was written as an afterthought and doesn't contribute anything to the plot.

17.) Did the ultimate point and outcome of the tournament leave you satisfied? Or did the whole thing seem like a bizarre waste of everyone's time, money, and life (literally in some cases)?
I didn't really care for the tournament, it felt very YA and made me think of the Hunger Games. Yes to all on your second question :) I thought the tournament quite boring honestly and yes a waste of time.

18.) Luiza and Santangel's ending. Was it what you were hoping for? Satisfying? Remind you of how a different series ended the storyline for lead MCs (view spoiler). Would the ending of worked if the magical system had been more defined? I still don't have a handle on the parameters of Luiza's magic. Maybe there isn't any?
It's too convenient. I would have preferred if Santangel would have died which makes more sense. It wasn't mentioned once that Luzia was a necromancer or something along those lines. There's a limit to her power since she can't multiply money but when it comes to love not ? Too farfetched in my opinion but I guess lots of YA/Romantasy readers love these kind of HEA endings.

19.) What did you end up rating the book? Would you recommend it to others?
2 stars - it was a quick read for which I'm grateful but it was definitely not for me. The story was too simplistic and had too many of the familiar YA tropes. There was a glimpse of potential but the author went for a completely different story. I'm a bit confused about why it's shelved as adult or historical fiction. Would definitely recommend it to romantasy readers. Glad I read it though in order to confirm that this book wasn't for me :D

I will take feeling nothing towards a book any day over rant-level inducing frustrations over a book haha. I like it when I'm indifferent :D

I'm afraid that The Familiar is currently also hovering around the 3 stars. It started strong in my opinion but I arrived at that point in a book where I'm starting to be bored.

Day 3 DQ's Chapter 24 - 33

9. We keep hearing how people smell. Luzia of orange blossoms, Perez of plums and amber. Why do you think the author keeps mentioning this? Do the smells mean more than just an odor?
I think it's linked with their magic, especially the orange blossoms for Luzia.

10. We are over halfway through the book. What has been your favorite part/scene/person/line so far?
The first 20% of the book was my favourite. It started strong but now it starts to drag with the trial - which is déjà vu - and the religious elements.
I like mysterious characters like Santangel but his converstations with Luzia are sometimes borderline ridiculous and their relationship is going so fast. I think he's trying too hard to be mysterious.

11. Valentina and Marius seem to be rekindling their marriage, finding love where there wasn't before. Why do you think the author is adding that part of the story when she could have left it out?
I think it was in order to demonstrate Luzia's powers since everyone in the castle was affected by Luzia and Santangel getting it on. I'm glad for Valentina though - being in a loveless relationship is the worst especially considering she had no choice.

11. Now we are over halfway and know more of Luzia, the competition and this world. Why do you think the publisher and possibly the author chose this cover over any other possibilities? If you could remake the cover, what would you want it to look like?
I like the current cover, I wouldn't change it. I love when covers gradually make sense the further you read: the scorpion, the rosary, the garnet, etc.

DQs Day 2 Chapter 13 - 24

5. Luzia’s refranes combine elements from diverse cultural traditions, creating a powerful form of magic tied to her Jewish heritage. Does the portrayal of Luzia’s magic suggest that blending different cultural traditions enhances personal power and resistance, or does it emphasize the delicate balance and possible loss of identity in such a blend?
Option 1. I think it enhances her identity by blending multiple cultural elements that all belong to her and her past/family line. Be it of Hebraic, Spanish, Portuguese or even Moorish influence.

6. Characters like Valentina and Hualit demonstrate varying levels of ambition and moral compromise on their paths to security and success. Is pursuit of personal safety and financial security a justifiable reason for ethical compromises, or should ambition be tempered with moral integrity?
I can understand both motivations. Not everyone is ambitious and that's fine. However it seems that humans tend to strive for safety and financial security which is understandable. I can see how both want a better lives for themselves and try to achieve that in their own way.

7. Have you done other reading set in late-16th-century Spain? If not, are you having any problems following the political intrigues and social mores? What’s your favorite time period to read for historical fiction?
No, it's the first time I'm reading a historical fiction book set in Spain in the 16th century. However I'm familiar with the history since I've studied history at university.
Favourite time period in historical fiction: Medieval and Victorian times.

8. What do you make of Santángel? At one point we get the line, “And Santángel would be free.” Free from what, do you think?
I think the title refers to him: "the familiar" and he will be free of his servitude towards Victor de Paredes' family line. And I think that maybe he wants that Luzia takes his place as the familiar.

Nosy bonus question. Are you reading this book for historical fiction, for fantasy, for romance, and/or for DQ points for your BG team? 😉
Historical Fiction is my favourite genre ! But this book wasn't on my TBR, I only picked it up because it's the BOM and of course points :)

I've avoided The Wishing Game thanks to Judy 😌 after reading some reviews, it doesn't seem like I would enjoy it anyway. Judy, are you enjoying The Familiar at least ?

Fiona, were you perhaps hungry when nominating these books ? :)