Joanne’s Comments

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

Note: Joanne is not currently a member of this group.

Up to Chapter 21

(view spoiler)[This book has been taking me a lot longer to read than the previous three. It feels like not a lot has happened so far although just read through the first task and it’s definitely picked up. I hate how Ron had been acting and how he comes back to Harry after the task is over ready to be friends again like nothing happened. Harry might be ready to forgive him but I’m not quite yet. After being friends for so long he owed Harry the benefit of the doubt. (hide spoiler)]

Vicky wrote: "Of your unanswered questions, I would say that only one is fully answered by the end of Torch. I'm hoping Reaper sheds some more light on some things!"

I hope so too, seeing as the 4th one isn't out yet!

I'm in for this one. Team Draco Malfoy.

I am avidly following the match, even though I’m not commenting. Go team!

Cathy M. wrote: "This book is totally engrossing! Got thru Chpt 25 so far -

."

All these comments could have been taken straight from my own head, lol. Can't wait for the next one!

Forgot to add my buddy read link so I've modified post 282 to include it.

I'll be ready to start this one on the 25th. Team Draco Malfoy

I'll be ready to start the next book in a couple of days. Just going to read Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire first, since I put that one aside to read this book.

Amy "the book-bat" wrote: "I was wondering if anyone would be interested in buddy reads for A Court of Thorns and Roses (I didn't see it listed but the rest of the series seems to be there)

Also, I would be ..."

I would like to read . This has been on my list forever. I'm open to starting whenever.

An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir
Finished: 06/22
Pages: 464
Buddy Read Link: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

Spells: E, S, T - Characters: Laia, Helene, Marcus

Classes:

Charms - Fire-Making Spell: Title has the word "ember" which could start a fire, could be paired with "fire" "blaze" "inferno", etc

Defense Against the Dark Arts: book has jinn, which are defeated by singing

I could not stop reading this book and just finished. If I hadn't had to work today I would have just read until I was done, but as it was, I didn't want to socialize and just spent all my breaks reading instead.

(view spoiler)[ I really liked the book, but in the end decided to give it 4 stars instead of 5 because it didn't really feel satisfying as a complete book. There are still so many unanswered questions:
What is Cook's relationship to Laia's mother and why does she stutter when she talks about her?
Why is only one female mask chosen per generation?
What are the Commandant and the Nightbringer plotting, and what does her tattoo have to do with it?
Who is Elias's father?
Will they save Darin?

Those trials were brutal! I couldn't believe how many people were killed in the third one. I kept thinking, they couldn't really be dead. And in no way could the last one be seen as a fair trial.

I was glad to see that Helene helped them a bit at the end when they were escaping. She may have backed herself into a corner and have to be loyal to Marcus now, but I always liked her character so I'm glad she's not completely cold-hearted. (hide spoiler)]

Cathy

(view spoiler)[I agree the world is a lot more brutal than I was expecting. Multiple times I kept thinking "they're not really dead, they're just hurt" but this book just killed off people like nothing. (hide spoiler)]

I'm in! Team Draco Malfoy

Up to Chapter 22 (XXII)

(view spoiler)[Ugh that first trial. At first I was intrigued by the Commandant's character and thought she might have some hidden depths to her, but it seems like she is just pure evil and tried to arrange for her son's death. I'm curious as to how she "seems to know things she shouldn't" as Izzi said. Also who taught Marcus and Zac to hide their thoughts from the Augurs? Some bigger plot is going on here.

Elias was kind to Laia and carried her back, but I'm scared its only a matter of time before his mother finds out about it and Laia is the one who will be punished.

Very interested to see that apparently Cook knew Laia's mother and strongly disliked her.
(hide spoiler)]

You guys are killing me. I need to read more ASAP!

Laura wrote: "Joanne wrote: "Also curious to find out why Keenan seems to be reacting oddly to her."

I can't remember if it's anything more than love triangle stuff. But I think there's 2 love triangles, or a whole complicated square in this one. :)"

Oh no! lol

From the comments here it sounds like the audio is the way to go on these books. Too bad my library doesn't have them. I bought the first book awhile back and I've just checked the second one out from the library, but they don't have the third one yet, so not sure if I'll be able to participate in that discussion.

I've read up to XIII: Laia
(view spoiler)[The twists and turns just keep coming. I was very interested to hear that Laia has a lot of family history with the resistance. Also curious to find out why Keenan seems to be reacting oddly to her. Like the whole situation makes him angry, and it seems like he knew her parents, although she says he would have been too young to.

And Elias has decided not to desert, and instead is potentially going to become the next emperor. Interesting how the Augurs talk about how the current emperor has no male issue, and so they are doing trials to find a new ruler, and yet one of the aspirants is Helene. Very interested to see what kinds of trials they will have to face. And I want to know what secrets she is keeping. I want chapters from her POV.

Very nervous for Laia, being the Commandant's slave. I wonder how she will meet Elias, as it doesn't seem that he has any sort of special relationship with his mother.
(hide spoiler)]

Jammin Jenny wrote: "I'm up for Lux book 3 and 4 ... and

starting July 10 or later..."

I would also be in for book 3 for sure and possibly book 4

Stay by Riley Hart
Finished: 06/20
Pages: 361

Spells: S, R, H - Characters: Wes, Braden, Jessie

Classes:

Charms - Banishing Charm: title has word "stay", could be paired with "go"???

It's hard having the discussion in the thread where there are lots of discussion questions because I have to be very careful to avert my eyes and avoid spoilers. I'm very tempted to peek.

So I started this one today (first time reading) and am up to Chapter VII: Laia.

I'm really intrigued so far.
(view spoiler)[I find myself much more interested in the chapters following Elias than Laia's. I want to hear more about his elite training and would especially be interested in learning more about his friend Helene and why there is only one woman chosen per generation. And how the previous generation's woman is his mother.

Since Elias wants to desert, I'm guessing he will meet up with Laia soon, somehow, but I hope we still get more on Helene's storyline. With her starting as a good friend but also a stickler for rules, I can see her becoming an antagonist potentially.

Laia found the resistance pretty quickly and I'm hoping that as she figures that world out we learn about some connections to her mother. I don't know if we know for sure if she is dead. It sounds like she left and never came back. Maybe she is with the resistance?
(hide spoiler)]

How do you pronounce the name Laia? Is it LAY-A or LIE-A?