Melindam’s Comments (group member since May 02, 2017)

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

I have 2 books as TBR from that list, but both are longer reads, so I don't think I'll get to them any time soon and The Warden is short at least. :)

Yayyy! :)

I will be able to pick up werewolf a little later if it's not claimed by then.

Slight improvement:

Wolfgang von Überwald
1 350-450
2 Tagged WEREWOLF at least 10x
3 A reference is made to a real book or author
4 BATH in text
5 Any kind of device (real or fictional) is used for communication

Emily Wilde’s Map of the Otherlands by Heather Fawcett

When mysterious faeries from other realms appear at her university, curmudgeonly professor Emily Wilde must uncover their secrets before it’s too late, in this heartwarming, enchanting second installment of the Emily Wilde series.

Emily Wilde is a genius scholar of faerie folklore who just wrote the world’s first comprehensive encyclopaedia of faeries. She’s learned many of the secrets of the Hidden Ones on her adventures . . . and also from her fellow scholar and former rival Wendell Bambleby.

Because Bambleby is more than infuriatingly charming. He’s an exiled faerie king on the run from his murderous mother and in search of a door back to his realm. And despite Emily’s feelings for Bambleby, she’s not ready to accept his proposal of marriage: Loving one of the Fair Folk comes with secrets and dangers.

She also has a new project to focus on: a map of the realms of faerie. While she is preparing her research, Bambleby lands her in trouble yet again, when assassins sent by his mother invade Cambridge. Now Bambleby and Emily are on another adventure, this time to the picturesque Austrian Alps, where Emily believes they may find the door to Bambleby’s realm and the key to freeing him from his family’s dark plans.

But with new relationships for the prickly Emily to navigate and dangerous Folk lurking in every forest and hollow, Emily must unravel the mysterious workings of faerie doors and of her own heart.

Reason: Bambleby is from the land of Forrest Faeries and his family seems to be heavily involved in the plot.

DQs Day 3

9.) Emily seems to have a bad habit of wandering off by herself to deal with faerie problems. I'm all for independence and what not, but sometimes help is very much warranted. She got a bit lucky her first trip into faerie worked out, do you think she'll be as lucky in getting away from the King?
A re-read for me, but I think I remember thinking back then that she won't be able to get out of this without help.


10.) I chuckled a bit when I realized that Wendell wrote in her journal. Did you enjoy this snippet from his POV?
Yes, it was quite funny and in character. He knew he would annoy Emily, but he delighted in doing that.

11.) Wendell bemoaned a bit the lack of sword fighting in the mortal world. Thoughts on being able to settle work problems with a sword fight in the parking lot (or whatever is appropriate for your workplace)?
I hate conflicts, so settling it with sword fight does not appeal in general. Not that I'm not tempted to hit some people on the head with a heavy object sometimes... 😂

12.) The changeling problem has been solved (at least it appears so). Was this a satisfactory conclusion for you?
Yes, it was nicely interwoven with the main story arch as well. I was relieved that it was concluded the way it was.

For some reason I've never felt tempted to try her (SW) books.

Sammy wrote: "Ok, so Sophie and I should keep our distance from the two of you so as not to catch it then? 😆

Luckily I have a 599 on the go 😉"

🤣

Sure, Sammy. Domi's book can be swapped. :)

Cat wrote: "anyone tempted to nominate #2 in the Forests category? ;-P"

I could.... 🤭

#9

5 stars

Bought this audiobook back in 2020, but lacked the mental stamina to actually listen to it back then. But finally I read it.

It was as painful and unsettling as expected (especially where part of a record of Harvey Weinstein attacking one his victims was played), but also very good.

Under TT we'll be bound to get all 100-175 pagers. 🤭

Sammy wrote: "Also Cat, did you infect Mel with the spinning curse, or just hand it off to her? If the latter, it'll be safe for you again. We could be dealing with a "hot potato" kind of spinning situation where one of us is "it" and should avoid the wheel?"

Of course, if it's more like an infection, we could all end up with it at the same time, in which case we're doomed

😂

🤭🥰

😶‍🌫️

Don't I know it???


Sorry.... 😳

I'm only hoping Sammy will save us with Kushiel's Dart.

Think I should also step away slowly from spinning the wheels:

Charybdis
1. 651+
2. Author's name (first or last) starts with one of the letters in POOL
3. MC is forced to make a hard choice (your interpretation)
4. fig in title or text
5. characters take a boat trip (of any type)

Yaaayyy! 😊

Gremlin is gone, but .... terribly sorry 😣

Dragon King of Arms
1. 500 to 650
2. Text mentiones a heraldic beast (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Categor... )
3. a character gets poisoned
4. letters GOLEM in title
5. a family tree is included in the book

DQs - Day 2

5. I spy with my little eye: Faeries. 🧚‍♀️
Faeries, faes are very popular creatures in Fantasy. Do you like books featuring them or try to avoid them? How do you feel the author manages them here? Is it similar to other books of the genre or different?
Very much the same feelings, Sammy, on all fronts. 🤭
I really like that while Emily is scientifically interested in Faeries, she's not obsessed with them otherwise and this makes this all quite "healthy".

6. In this part we have further confirmation that Emily's assumption about Bambleby's origins are correct. But it seems like her dog Shadow may also not be what he seems to be. Any ideas? 🐕
This is also a reread for me, but I was a bit surprised about him the first time I read the book.😊

7. I have to say that I found the story of the couple who are left with the changeling really tragic. Apart from some weak and unsatisfactory attempts on Emily's and Bambleby's side, they seem to be left to their fate by the villagers to sink or swim. What do you think will happen to them?
Also no comment. :)

8. As I was reading along, the thought struck me why I didn't like Bambleby. To me it seems that despite being socially awkward and inept, Emily is a caring person, while Bambleby very much displays the suavity and heartlessness of his kind. What do you think?
Maybe my dislike can be connected with the fact that I was sure even on first read that sooner or later (view spoiler)[there would be some romance involved and I'm sooo over that (hide spoiler)] and I just did not want the story to go that way. Will try to uphold full judgement until the end of the book, maybe this time I will change my mind about B.


Bonus: a little quiz about what kind of fairy are you? 😁

Also Water Fairy.

DQs - Day 2

5. I spy with my little eye: Faeries. 🧚‍♀️
Faeries, faes are very popular creatures in Fantasy. Do you like books featuring them or try to avoid them? How do you feel the author manages them here? Is it similar to other books of the genre or different?

6. In this part we have further confirmation that Emily's assumption about Bambleby's origins are correct. But it seems like her dog Shadow may also not be what he seems to be. Any ideas? 🐕

7. I have to say that I found the story of the couple who are left with the changeling really tragic. Apart from some weak and unsatisfactory attempts on Emily's and Bambleby's side, they seem to be left to their fate by the villagers to sink or swim. What do you think will happen to them?

8. As I was reading along, the thought struck me why I didn't like Bambleby. To me it seems that despite being socially awkward and inept, Emily is a caring person, while Bambleby very much displays the suavity and heartlessness of his kind. What do you think?

Bonus: a little quiz about what kind of fairy are you? 😁

https://www.buzzfeed.com/willow8/fair...