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

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

1. What do you think of the characters of Midnight? Did any of them in particular pique your interest as to what their secrets are? What of Midnight itself?
All the characters seem quite intriguing/mysterious up till now. I want to know more about Bobo & Aubrey and Olivia, since Manfred thinks she went after those strangers in the restaurant. I think she's hiding something too.

2. Do you think Manfred’s abilities are real? If so, are they significant? Did he choose to move to Midnight specifically? Why did he leave his last residence? What are his “plans” financially?
I think they might be real but we haven't had prove of his abilities yet, I hope so later.

3. Is Creek too young for Manfred? Will he ever get to see her naked?
No, I don't think she's too young for him. lol I don't know if the 'feeling' is mutual. Creek seemed indifferent towards Manfred's charms. But why not maybe later. But it has been hinted at that almost everyone in town is protective over Creek, including Lemuel.

4. What did you make of the two strangers eating in Home Cookin Restaurant? Who were they watching?
I liked Manfred's observations about their behaviour. I will go with what Manfred said, I think they were watching Bobo. He's linked to Aubrey & the pawnshop, there's enough mystery surrounding him.

5. So, Lemuel was “leeching” from Manfred under the table. Did Lemuel feel it was an emergency situation, due to the possible threat from the two strangers? What did you make of Manfred’s reaction to it all? Were the others completely oblivious, or just discreet?
Yes, and to test Manfred because he's the new guy around. Manfred was pretty cool about it and only noticed it when he was feeling tired, not before.

6. Does Lemuel know anything about the night Aubrey vanished?
I think he does but he keeps to himself.

7. What did you think of Fiji’s citywide picnic and hike idea to Río Roca Fría (Cold Rock River)?
Sounds nice, and this way it might bring up some answers when everyone is brought together and we might be able to observe the dynamics in the group.

8. Fiji doesn’t seem to have quite mastered all her spells. Did the one she performed in the hopes of revealing Aubrey’s true nature go awry? What talent does Manfred see “lurking” in Fiji? Will her attraction to Bobo remain unrequited?
I think her spell didn't work but it seems she feels partly quilty for Aubrey's disappearance. I'm sure Bobo will find out eventually but in the meantime Fiji might have moved on.

9. Did you notice the woman sprawled across the road in the blue cover above? Is that the vanished Aubrey? Do you think she’s alive or dead?
I secretly hope she isn't dead but rather some obscure/mysterious reason why she left/disappeared.

10. Manfred always seems to put his foot in his mouth around Fiji. Do you think they’ll become good friends? Or something more? Will he ever say he’s sorry?
I think they will become friends but I don't think more than that. Yes, at some crucial/emotive moment or so.

I?

T?

Yes :) Your turn Carmen!

C A P T A I N / B L O O _ by R A F A E L / S A B A T I N I

Letters used: C, H, A, R, T, P, I, E, N, L, O, F, S, B

C A P T A I N / _ L O O _ by R A F A E L / S A _ A T I N I

Letters used: C, H, A, R, T, P, I, E, N, L, O, F, S

C A P T A I N / _ L _ _ _ by R A _ A E L / _ A _ A T I N I

Letters used: C, H, A, R, T, P, I, E, N, L

:)

C A _ T A _ _ / _ _ _ _ _ by R A _ A _ _ / _ A _ A T _ _ _

Letters used: C, H, A, R, T

C A _ _ A _ _ / _ _ _ _ _ by _ A _ A _ _ / _ A _ A _ _ _ _

Letters used: C, H, A

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ / _ _ _ _ _ by _ _ _ _ _ _ / _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

Is it Paullina Simons? If not I got a whole bunch of other names ready :)

Nicole wrote: "Just finished yesterday's reading and I'm so glad that it's picked up. How's everyone else liking it?"

I will finish it tonight. I hadn't expected to like it as much as I do. I'm glad it got picked as BOM. The book reads like a train. One of my favourite passages is when Thor and Loki are visiting the giants in Utgard and the subsequent competitions :)

Questions June 13

8. Maybe being laughed at is something new for him and he doesn't know how to handle it. It was a big humiliation for him.

9. The punishment was light. I had expected something that would make her remember the episode forever or something like that. No, I don't think so, it was mostly Freyja's doing.

10. It does seems a bit strange maybe they think themselves untouchable. I wonder if they stop eating those apples, are they turning mortal?

11. That was indeed amusing and it would have been really fun to see Loki paired up with Skadia. The tension at home!

12. It's seems that all those events and Loki's trickery is a built up to the alluded 'Ragnarok'.

Questions 14 June

15. Yes. Although Thor is very hot-tempered. Did the whole party really had to die? Loki played the role of the handmaid like he does that all the time :)

16. I would like to think so but there has been too much tension and friction between those two already. But it would be interesting to see them fighting side by side.

17. That was one of my favourite parts. Somehow I had a feeling something was off and they had been tricked. I think it was necessary to explain that to them afterwards so Loki and co. knew that they had been outsmarted and got a taste of their own medicine.

18. He knows no boundaries. He's capable of anything.

19. It gives you a small hint of what is to come. I like it.

20. I'm surprised I'm enjoying it so much.

The first name again. U?

Questions 12 June

1. So, this time I read the synopsis. The road to Ragnarok from Loki's point of view? Promising. He started with the description of the gods - nice snarky comments and all - and a "Stop right there" in the "official" reports. And then we are treated with 20 pages of creationism. What? I feel cheated. What happened to the promised trickster humor?
I liked the introduction of the different gods by Loki but since the reader hasn't any background of the gods or the mythology yet it kind of felt detached and I skimmed through it. I concur with Kimberly, it's definitely more interesting when you read further in the book and then come back to it.
I first thought the creationisme part was a bit out of the blue but it was interesting to read about "Loki's" take on it. I liked when he talks about the metaphorical & literal interpretation of Odin's account. But like others here have pointed out, I don't think the book has a strong beginning.

2. What do you think about Loki and Odin's first encounter? And the way Odin put his brand on Loki, a little ironic that the lord of deception was the one being tricked and manipulated, don't you think?
I think Odin must be smart and ruthless to keep the other gods in line. Loki suggested a bit further that Odin is on par with him when it comes to trickery and cunning but I guess Odin conceals it better.

3. Surprise, surprise. The other gods' acceptance and treatment wasn't as promised. Nice trick with the runes though. They give knowledge and power, but can also be twisted and used as regular objects.
They remind me of the Greek gods. I guess there are similarities with other mythologies. Although Loki really seems the pariah here.

4. Were you familiar with the Nordic Mythology? What's your opinion of the portrait of the gods as viewed by Loki's eyes?
Not really, just read bits here and there when Scandinavian folklore was used in other books.

5. Finally, the Loki we all know and love... kind of. He turns himself into a mare to save face when his initial plan backfires. He promises a new hair after cutting it in the first place. He reminds me of a little boy, that made a mistake and keeps making more to avoid being punished by the first one.
I agree. He puts himself into difficult situations and then tries to redeem himself (sometimes with the help of trickery). You kinda want to feel bad for him but you can't because he just keep doing it again.

6. "You're really that good?"
"Better, I'm Loki."
Too self confident? Maybe. He did tricked his way into having some gifts to turn the boat into his favor. Just to let himself get trap into a bet. Any predictions of the outcome?
He does sound overconfident and that vanity puts him into nasty situations.

7. After the action finally started, the story grabbed my attention, however the constant references that certain decisions backfired or that is a story for another time throws me a little off. How about you? Are you liking the book so far?
The book didn't grab me right away. I'm glad it's the BOM or I wouldn't have picked it up before a long time. But the story about the hair and the gifts got me invested and I'm enjoying it now.

D?

K?

I get to watch the World Cup and can combine it with my favourite pastime. I'm in! I hope we will see some beautiful matches and sportsmanship.

Duration: 12 June 2014 - 27 December 2014 - Completed
Level: Hat Trick
Progress total: 36/36

Step 1 - Build Your Team - Option 3

5/5

S Scarlet - Marissa Meyer✓ 30/06 ★★★
P Page Morgan - The Beautiful and the Cursed ✓ 22/06 ★★
A Agatha H and the Airship City - Phil Foglio and Kaja Foglio ✓ 18/06 ★★★★
I Larissa Ione - Sin Undone ✓ 15/08 ★★★
N Night Falls Darkly - Kim Lenox ✓ 29/07 ★★



Step 2 - Play Championship - Option 2

16/16

♣ Group Stage ♣

Group A
1. Brazil: Jenn Bennett - Bitter Spirits ✓ 30/08 ★★★
2. Mexico: Meljean Brooks - The Iron Duke 22/09 ★★★
Group B
1. Netherlands: The Miniaturist by Jessie Burton ✓ 31/10 ★★ (set in the Netherlands)
2. Chile : Carolyn Crane - Mind Games ✓ 28/07 ★★★
Group C
1. Colombia: Charlaine Harris - Grave Sight ✓ 09/08 ★★★
2. Greece: Clay Griffith and Susan Griffith - The Greyfriar ✓ 25/07 ★★★
Group D
1. Costa Rica: Carolyn Crane - Double Cross ✓ 13/08 ★★★
2. Uruguay: C.S. Harris - When Gods Die (flag: white, blue, yellow) ✓ 29/09 ★★★
Group E
1. France: Phil & Kaja Foglio - Agatha H and the Clockwork Princess ✓ 03/07 ★★★★
2. Switzerland: Shelley Adina - Her Own Devices ✓ 02/08 ★★★
Group F
1. Argentina: Kelley Armstrong - Omens ✓ 08/08 ★★
2. Nigeria: Chloe Neill - Some Girls Bite ✓ 26/08 ★★★
Group G
1. Germany: Terri Garey - Dead Girls Are Easy ✓ 01/09 ★★★
2. USA: Thea Harrison - Dragon Bound ✓ 25/07 ★★ (set in New York City)
Group H
1. Belgium: Philippa Ballantine - Geist ✓ 08/07 ★★
2. Algeria: Ilona Andrews - On the Edge ✓ 17/07 ★★★



♣ Quarter Finals Participants ♣

8/8

1. Brazil: James Bowen - A Street Cat Named Bob: How One Man and His Cat Found Hope on the Streets ✓ 06/08 ★★★★
2. Colombia: Charlaine Harris - Grave Surprise ✓ 11/08 ★★★
3. Netherlands: The Rosie Project by Greame Simsion ✓ 12/12 ★★★ (flag: red, white, blue)
4. Costa Rica: Charlaine Harris - An Ice Cold Grave ✓ 14/08 ★★★★
5. France: Laura Frantz - The Colonel's Lady ✓ 09/11 ★★★
6. Germany: Elly Griffiths - The Crossing Places ✓ 18/11 ★★
7. Argentina: Ilona Andrews - Magic Breaks ✓ 01/08 ★★★★
8. Belgium: Brenna Yovanoff - Paper Valentine ✓ 05/08 ★



♣ Semi-finals ♣

4/4

1. Germany: Kerstin Gier - Ruby Red ✓ 05/12 ★★★
2. Brazil: Bayou Moon by Ilona Andrews ✓ 24/11 ★★★★ (flag: green, yellow and blue)
3. Argentina: Jennifer Ashley - The Madness of Lord Ian Mackenzie ✓ 04/08 ★★★★
4. Netherlands: The Gods of Gotham by Lyndsay Faye ✓ 21/12 ★★ (flag: red, white, blue)



♣ Final ♣

2/2

1. Germany: Gordon Andrews - Curran POV Collection ✓ 02/12 ★★★★
2. Argentina: Jennifer Ashley - Lady Isabella's Scandalous Marriage ✓ 12/08 ★★



♣ Winner ♣

1/1

Germany: Blindsighted by Karin Slaughter ✓ 19/11 ★★★★ (colours on the cover/German flag: black, red, yellow)

M?

I?

This is a practical way to keep track of series. I'm in.

Note: not counting the short stories/novella's.

✽ Never Ending Series Challenge ✽

♦ Mercy Thompson by Patricia Briggs 9/10

Next:

♦ Alpha and Omega by Patricia Briggs 4/5

Next:

♦ Kate Daniels by Ilona Andrews 9/10

Next:

♦ The Edge by Ilona Andrews 2/4

Next:

♦ Innkeeper Chronicles by Ilona Andrews 3/3

Next: ?

♦ Sebastian St. Cyr by C.S. Harris 9/12

Next:

♦ Kate Shugak by Dana Stabenow 12/20

Next:

♦ Charley Davidson by Darynda Jones 4/7

Next:

♦ Gentleman Bastard by Scott Lynch 3/4

Next: &

♦ Vorkosigan Saga by Lois McMaster Bujold (following the intern chronological order. Author's reading order recommendation here) 3/15

Next:

♦ The Graveyard Queen by Amanda Stevens 3/4

Next: (2015)

♦ The Grisha by Leigh Bardugo 1/3

Next:

Waiting for release:



Abandoned Series

(view spoiler)[
♦ Kara Gillian by Diana Rowland 5/6

- Abandoned

♦ Casssandra Palmer by Karen Chance 2/6

- Abandoned

♦ Jane Yellowrock by Faith Hunter 2/6
- Abandoned

♦ Penryn & the End of Days by Susan Ee 2/3

- Abandoned

♦ Magnificent Devices by Shelley Adina 1/6

Next: - abandoned

♦ The Lunar Chronicles by Marissa Meyer 3/4

- Abandoned

♦ The Diviners by Libba Bray 1/2

Next: - Abandoned

♦ Temeraire by Naomi Novik 1/9

Next: - abandoned
(hide spoiler)]

Completed Series

(view spoiler)[♦ Aisling Grey by Katie MacAlister4/4

- Complete (hide spoiler)]