Rose’s Comments (group member since Oct 23, 2013)

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

The Latin makes me feel incredibly guilty, because I took it in college, and should remember much more than I do. Except, I'm pretty sure a large chunk of it is medieval Latin, and I took classical....that's my story and I'm sticking to it :)

I'm only on chapter six. It was slow going (this may be because I just binged on urban fantasy books), but I think I'm going to like it. It's hard not to skim when he details statues.

Also, does anyone else think this narrator is a bit of a drama queen? I may only think that, because he just described a seeing a monk in the library as like seeing the devil. lol

Cynthia wrote: "Rose wrote: "

I really like this one too. This book has more of a heist/super secret spy feel, and it's a lot of fun to read. I loved Ling the Merciless, and it was..."

Yeah. That was the most frustrating thing about it. I liked both the characters, but they had zero thoughts towards each other other than puppy love/lust. Actually, made me think this is how all the unwise parings in this series (e.g.Rose's Father and Mother) must have have wound up together. Not exactly a comforting thought.

I'll be reading
next.

Has anyone read a book for red yet? If not that one should work.

Hi guys, sorry for the no show. I have been really sick and really busy at work. My grant is done though (I feel fifty pages lighter).

Just an update. I finally started the BR discussion for Sworn in Steel
Bayou Moon
Fate's Edge
and Steel's Edge

Steel's Edge and Fate's Edge were the only books I read this week :(

I really like doing BRs on series. I feel like I never talk about individual books in a series in general conversation. It's always "you should read this whole huge thing that's amazing!!" This makes you think more about what you like and don't like about each element.

Okay. I gave this two stars. I just didn't like the main female character. She was just not very fleshed out.

(view spoiler)[I get that she has all this noble training, but some of the scenes were just strange and out of place. She would kill a bunch of people, then decide something was too much the next second, and I could never tell what part of her made that the line in the sand. Also, one minute she is naive in love after being cloistered, the next she is manipulating people with ridiculously complicated court relationships. I can't believe she had that much growth in seeing/manipulation personal relationships when everyone in the edge seems to be pretty isolated. (hide spoiler)]

Also, this is mostly the book I am referring to when I say the romance scenes can get a bit jarring. One chapter we have a plot full of slavery, murder, and rape-the next we have a pretty forceful romance scene. It just threw me.

(view spoiler)[As did one character going from chasing slavers off from his daughter (granted-while winning terrible father of the year awards) to somehow becoming a raping slaver himself. I was so confused (hide spoiler)]

I really like this one too. This book has more of a heist/super secret spy feel, and it's a lot of fun to read. I loved Ling the Merciless, and it was cool to see some of the characters we were introduced to in the first book after they matured a bit (even if they were written as sometimes annoying teenagers who succeeded in annoying me. lol).

One thing I really didn't like though. Throughout the book we get how the male lead (not saying his name for spoilers sake) is a playboy/rake/charmer, mostly from the perspective of the female lead. The thing that bothers me is there is nowhere in the book where this is addressed. Instead she just realizes she loves him and he loves her, and BAM- serious relationship. I fell like they should at least have a discussion/realization (especially since some of the other males in his family were not the best examples of people to marry) about how he isn't those things, and would make a good person to settle down with. This is just me being too rational, and pedantic, but it really was irritating.

I just finished the series. I was on vacation and then sick for the week (and work was nuts) so I'll just post my thoughts on each one now.

Bayou Moon

This is actually my favorite of the series. Admittedly, I am not really a "romance reader". I like romances in books, but the whole possessive "we just met, but I must own/make babies with you/can't think about anything but having you even when people are getting their heads chopped off" mind frame kind of throws me out of the plot in some books. In this one I think didn't jar me as much, because William is supposed to be a bit out of it (violent, broody) as part of his core personality. Also, I thought this one was really well developed, and the Mar's family was pretty fascinating.

p.s. that dead snake bill was hilarious.

I'll just put some of my comments here now, so I don't forget.

I really liked the second installment. I think is a good squeal to the first book, just as fun and adventurous. I did feel like some of the elements were underutilized (see spoilers below), but I was still startled by the big (you will know it when you read it) surprise in the middle. I'm not sure how the author manages to do that and still make it so obvious in retrospect.

Really minor spoiler (view spoiler)[ I really wish that the actors that Drothe travels with had played more of a roll. They seemed interesting, but weren't really used except as random plot advancers. (hide spoiler)]

The very ending made me laugh way to hard. Poor Drothe

Random thoughts below.

I like that Drothe needs a brick to the head in regards to Fowler, but I wish we had some of the story from her perspective. I want to know more about her than we get from Drothe's bumbling thoughts. Also, tell me the backstory on Christina's husband already! There is no freaking way she killed him. Drothe being clueless and the narrator sometimes frustrates me. lol.

I'll start this tonight :)

I've added these to my shelf, but just posted them to the READ thread. I finished -



º The Iron Duke 384 pages - 11/24


º Sworn in Steel 499 pages - 11/27

ºBayou Moon 447 pages - 11/29


Heads up-Sworn and Steel and Bayou Moon are both BRs, but I haven't had a chance to participate in discussion (and Sworn and Steel hasn't started yet).

I'll also be doing the Martian BR (7th) and Name of the Rose (9th)

I did get some good black friday deals, but they were online. Shopping in stores is just frustrating that day. All the things on sale are rushed and sold-out. Everything else is not a good enough deal to wait in an hour check out line. I just browsed to get an idea of what to order, and clicked away at night.

I just finished the second, so any date is good. I posted in the thread. I may have temptation issues.

I just finished this. I may have been way too impatient after the last one. Now I'm going into withdrawal :(

Happy Birthday!

Anyone else go black Friday shopping? I feel like I might have gotten run over.

I'm in

Audrey Jane wrote: "@ Rose: I like Kate Daniels better too. I agree that the Edge books focus more on the romance, but I'm currently reading book 2, Bayou Moon (I'm 51% in) and I find myself enjoying it..."

That's good to know. I'm planning on starting the Bayou Moon as soon as it comes in from the library. Yay vacation.

Finished

º Among Thieves, 414 pages - 11/18

º On the Edge 309 pages - 11/22

and both were buddy reads. I've posted the link on the read thread

so nice to on vacation :)

Finished On the Edge. I have to say Ilona Andrew's books are some of my favorite absolute pop corn reads. You may have no idea why you are investigated in the characters, and can tell plot "twists" from the beginning, but it will always be an amazingly fun ride.

I think I like the Kate Daniel's books better, but I'm intrigued by the three world's in one of this series. I think it's, because On the Edge at least, was a bit heavier in the romance aspect then the action/world building. I really found my self not carrying about them getting together at all. I just wanted to see what the other side looked like, and explore a bit of the society. I hope that comes up in the other books.

I finished this book a couple days ago, but I haven't had a chance to stop by and comment.

I really like this book. It was entertaining and fun to read without being to gentle to the author. It kind of reminded me of the Lies of Locke Lammora with the thief underground plot, but with a unique in it's own way.

I thought to beginning scene was kind of a clever way to introduce the character. It's interesting to read a book where you can't figure out if you feel bad about liking them.

Also, does the Drothe's attitude remind anyone else of a less honest Harry from the Dresden files?

View spoiler for my thoughts on the middle of the book's plot twist- you know it when you've read it.
(view spoiler)[ I was totally caught off guard by the long nose reveal, but as soon as I realized it happened I remembered all the subtle hints, and information, the author left to hint that something like that was going on. Even that the author gave you the information on what long noses were on like the third page. That was some well done foreshadowing (hide spoiler)]

I'm at crunch time for grant writing (which is code for I hate my life and just want to curl up and read). The good news is, crunch time is happening because I'm heading out on vacation for a week, and I read like a crazy person on vacation. What is everyone else doing for Thanksgiving?