Vikki’s Comments (group member since Dec 11, 2011)

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

Hi all

I'm Vikki from Northern Ireland. I've played Tower Teams many times and always enjoy it. I love the country theme for this one!

My go-to genres are crime & thriller, but I also like fantasy, historical fiction, chick lit, and anything that happens to grab my attention.

My shelf is here

I've completed my last book & updated on SS

I'll finish The Killers Christmas List before the deadline

There's a small part of sky on my current book cover

Wondering if my book (Christmas Castle In Scotland) would work for MC needing to know how to handle a budget. She was left a castle which needs a lot of work doing esp as she plans to open it as a hotel. So she would need to manage a budget to do that...

I'm also finished for this round

Cat wrote: "yeah, actually, that'd be handy - we've no pressing need for a #9 right now, and Xs will be gratefully received from Saturday evening! :) (if you can wait it out that long, of course. no worries if..."

Yeah it's ok, I can wait it out and focus more on my other book.

The book I'm currently reading has a character Xanthe - would it be better if I finished it for Round 4? It's my book for 9th in series.

Cat wrote: "a #9 will be wonderful, thanks!"

Ok, I'll bump it up my list!

I have a book that's 9 in series if it's needed at the moment?

My book for the admin task (initials in filing) is finished and updated on SS now

I was focusing on finishing Powerless as a friend leant it to me. She's here this week but goes home on Saturday (She lives in another part of the UK) so I wanted to finish it before she left.

I'm going to start my admin task this evening and hopefully will get through it quite quickly!

I could take author first & last initials in Filing with The Christmas Tree Farm by Laurie Gilmore

DQs Day 5, Chapters 30-36

19. Although it seemed like all conflicts were resolved at the end of the last section, Radane’s (ex-)fiancé comes back and is looking for her. Were you surprised the story was taking another twist? What do you think about how all of that resolved?
It resolved very neatly, perhaps not realistically. (Maybe I'm cynical) I was a little surprised at how the Captain behaved but it was a pleasant surprise

20. Radane ends up returning Kiela’s parents’ cookbook to her and even fixed the torn out page. What would be in your parents’ cookbook?
Christmas cake - that was something my mum and gran used to do a lot.
Mince & stew which were 2 childhood favourites of mine.
Apple tart / crumble


21. On Sunday I was at my friends’ place and had some of her stepmother’s raspberry and elderflower jam, which was delicious. What’s your favorite type of jam?
Strawberry or apricot

22. The revolution was successful, Radane is free, Kiela gets to do her spells with the coven, the merhorses foaled, Kiela und Larran are getting married… everything is just peachy on Caltrey! How did you enjoy the book? What is your rating? Are you going to pick up more from Sarah Beth Durst?
I enjoyed it and gave it 5 stars. I read most of it yesterday and today, it's been a bit of an escape. I would look at other books by this author, and if they sounded interesting, yes I would pick them up.

Day 4 DQs

14) What were your thoughts when Kiela was teaching Eadie, Bryn, and Ulina how to make the pine cones? Particularly the way she tried to disguise that it's actually a spell?
I liked it, it showed that she was embracing getting to know other people, begin to trust them. Disguising that it was actually a spell would protect both her and them,

15) Well these chapters were a whirlwind. What were your thoughts throughout the twists and turns?
I wasn't expecting all the twists and turns. I thought that Radane was trouble although I wasn't quite sure what her role was. I had thought perhaps a spy. I definitely didn't expect the twists that came in these chapters.

16) I loved loved loved the scene where Caz and Meep were threatening Radane. It made me laugh so much that the spider plant was being so much more aggressive than the actual human. If you had been in that scene, would you be more like Kiela (the good cap) or Caz (the bad cop)?
I would definitely have been bad cop. I also loved these scenes!

17) Radane confisticated Kiela's family cookbook. What family heirloom do you value so much to keep protected?
We don't really have any family heirlooms. There are books that belonged to my late Gran, and possibly even her mother. I wouldn't want them to get damaged.

18) What are your thoughts on the Cozy Mystery genre that this book is a part of? How often do you find yourself reaching for a cozy book?
I do enjoy reading cozy mysteries at times. My preferences do lean towards darker crime/thriller books and I have no issues reading about violence and gore. But a change of pace is good and there are a few cozy mystery series that I'm gradually working my way through. It's nice to have something lighter as well as the dark.

4 Nov
DQs Day 3
Ch 14 to 21

9) I'm enjoying the variety of people and creatures (for lack of a better word) in the story. Do you have a favorite? Is there one you'd dream up and like to see wandering the island?
I'm more a dog person than a cat person, but the winged kittens sound super cute, and I like the sound of the merhorses. If I had to create one, it would be some kind of dog,

10) If you could have a helper sentient plant, what type would you choose and why?
At the moment I'm thinking of a venus fly trap - simply because I've had a rubbish day and maybe the venus fly trap could eat more than just flies! LOL

11) Do you think it is remotely realistic that Kiela can keep her activities secret? And with the trouble at the center of the empire, would any of those in power notice or care?
I don't think she's going to keep her secrets for much longer. I just have a feeling it's all going to come out. Would those in power notice, or care. At the moment, I don't think they would notice, unless someone told them. But I do think they would care and try to do something about it.

12) Radane, trouble for Kiela in more ways than one?
Yes, there's something about her that makes me feel suspicious. I wonder was she the cause of the storm....

13) Previous questions have touched on this but I'm thinking Kiela has avoided sharing what's happening with the revolution as a trauma response. If she doesn't talk about it than she can almost ignore it? It makes me wonder what happened to her parents. Like the library became her home/only place she felt safe after losing them and then it literally burned before her eyes. Anyone have thoughts about why she still isn't sharing to the point of literally running away?
I'm also feeling a bit of the trauma response after reading these chapters. Like burying painful memories and experiences, then a reminder is traumatic. But I wonder how much she knew about what was happening if she was isolated in the library - does the trauma come from her parents, or the library burning, perhaps both. Perhaps at this stage she's not able to share and the only way she can cope is to run away. I hope we get some answers

DQ Day 2 Chapters 8 - 13

6. There's more information released here about magic use and it's impact on the world. What do you think about this?
It's made me curious to learn more magic in this world, why things have changed, can things be restored.... I hope there will be some answers as the book progresses

7. Lucky that Kiela can exploit the absence of fruit to fill a niche shop, eh?! What do you think about her plan to make a living out of jam and secret magic?
I think it's a good plan, but I think at some point the islanders are going to start asking questions or figuring out that magic is involved. The magic isn't going to stay secret for long. It shows that Kiela has initiative.

8. Kiela and Larran keep having meet cute moments. Do you like this romantic pairing?
So far yes, but I hope it doesn't become overpowering. I'd like the focus to be on Kiela, Caz and the magic.

I'll definitely finish The Spell Shop before the deadline for this round, but it could be Saturday

DQs- Day 1, Chapters 1-7

1. The book opens with quite a tough scene: a Great Library is set on fire and Kiela has already packed crates of books to rescue. And she asks herself the question "if she were stranded on a desert island, which books would she most want to have with her?"
Now I'm putting you the same question limiting your possibilities to
- 1 complete works of an author
- 2 book series
- 3 standalone books from different genres, 1 must be non-fiction

Oh this is really hard!!!
Complete works.... I'm going to go for Charles Dickens.
2 book series... Harry Potter.... and the Thora Gudmondsdottir series by Yrsa Sigurdardottir
Standalone books... The Heroin Diaries by Nikki Sixx (non fiction), The Devil Aspect by Craig Russell and The Chestnut Man by Soren Sveistrup

2. While it's only explained sketchily, a little politics, history (?)
of the Empire is mentioned, alongside some curious species, flora & fauna (winged kitties, anyone?) What do you think of the world-building so far?
I like it so far, it sounds like an interesting place. I do wish the book had a map included (my copy doesn't, not sure if other editions do). I'm curious to know more about the politics/history of the world. Loved the scene with the merhorses and I can really picture the cottage and surrounding area.


3. It's mentioned several times how Kiela keeps herself to herself in the Library (apart from Caz's company). Do you think such an almost complete isolation described here is possible even in such a vast Library?
It's probably possible if someone wants it to be possible. I'm sure there are people who live off grid in almost complete isolation. Within a vast library, yeah, I think it could be possible, especially if someone wanted that level of isolation.

4. I found it a bit disturbing that Kiela doesn't tell anyone on the island that she came away because a revolution has broken out in the capital (I understand her keeping silent about the books). It IS supposed to be a big deal after all and one would think they will learn about it eventually. A bit later some excuses are offered. Do you think they are sufficient or it's just a usual plot-driving tool?
I can understand Kiela not telling everyone at the start - she's had a big change, doesn't seem to be good with people, the stress about the books. And perhaps her knowledge is limited if she's been so isolated in the library. She seems wary of people, so perhaps she needs to grow more comfortable and find out who she trusts.

5. I really liked the idea of Kiela & Caz sectioning the garden and naming them after book genres. Which genres would you name parts of your real or hypothetical garden?
That's a good question... I'm not much of a gardener.
Anything that could be poisonous could be in a crime section.
Fruit, vegetables, herbs, spices... unoriginal but how about cookery.
Flowers could be cozy mystery

Elli wrote: "Just an observation..

The book used for G14, The Book of Witching, could be used for G15 instead as it contains 1 H and 2 Os. Considering that G15 seems to be more difficult."

I had thought that as well but realised it had to be in the 1 word :(