Lisa - (Aussie Girl)’s Comments (group member since Sep 26, 2012)

Lisa - (Aussie Girl)’s comments from the Nothing But Reading Challenges group.

Does this count for people and sheep.. I've been wanting to read this for ages.

Karolyn wrote: "Lisa - (Aussie Girl) wrote: "Karolyn wrote: "Lisa - (Aussie Girl) wrote: "Just finished which covers Lamia 3 and 5."

Didn't have a prophecy in it by chance, di..."

I think it's probably pushing it for prophecy but would squeak through on riddle.. but I'll leave it up to our very illustrious Captains to make a decision. 😁

Karolyn wrote: "Lisa - (Aussie Girl) wrote: "Just finished which covers Lamia 3 and 5."

Didn't have a prophecy in it by chance, did it? :)"

They do have a seance where the spirits offer the following which may be a prophecy or more a riddle maybe - " The Devil's Palace sits over Hades, beware the Heavenly trust only in Death." Pg 303.

Just finished which covers Lamia 3 and 5.

That's a great movie. Haven't watched it for eons. I'll have to have another look.

This book patched together a lot of ideas that weren't really original, but all put together were a pretty good storyline.

Eldarwen, did you approve of the redemption of Aaron?

Q's Day 4 - 19th June
"Angrboda was redjusting her pack basket..."
"Angrboda couldn't argue with that." 81%

16. So in addition to her past life as Gullveig, Angrboda is also the Old One, Mother Witch, the wise old woman in the woods and a healer. I can understand wanting to forget about her time as Gullveig but why do you think she can't remember anything from the time before? Do you think she'll recover these memories at some point? She's recovered her power, with a little help from Freyja but still seems to be holding back. How powerful do you think she really is? Do you think she'll go all in and if so what do you think will happen?

Numerous attempts on her life by Odin and clawing her way back to life have taken all Boda's memories. I'm sure she will get her power back but whether or not it is enough to stop the prophecy we will see.

17. "There's no power in the cosmos that can escape what's coming". Angrboda, Odin, Skadi and a few others now know about Ragnorok and, with Loki killing Odin's son, his punishment and the start of the long winter it seems to be the beginning of the end. Do you think it's better to know what's coming like Angrboda and Odin or would you prefer, like Loki, not to know? Do you think knowing or not knowing will make any difference to what happens? Do you think there's anything Angrboda can do to change the outcome?

Knowledge is power but it doesn't necessarily make it easier. I've finished the book and it plays out as it must. Some prophecies cannot be avoided or she can do is try and help the ones she loves.

18. "I'm the one who's done the most evil among the Aesir, and if nothing else, at least they'll remember my name. That's more than one can say for you." We know a lot more about Loki now, what do you think of him as a character? Why do you think he acts the way he does? Angrboda thinks Loki may have killed Baldur for his daughter's sake. Do you believe he genuinely cares about Hel? What about Angrboda and his sons, do you think he loves them or are they a means to an end? Will Angrboda forgive him despite all he's done?

Loki is such a quicksilver character his motivations are never clear. And the Gods are capricious. It seems he may have had his own demons to slay.

19. It seems like Skadi and Angrboda are on the brink of becoming more than friends when Skadi announces that she's joining the giants in the fight against the gods. She wants to go down fighting for her people and to avenge her father. Were you surprised she wants to go out fighting rather than staying with Angrboda? Has this changed your mind about why Skadi accepted marriage in recompense for her father's death?

Not surprised they ended but together and staying to fight is completely within Skandi's personality.

20. We're moving on to the final section now. What do you think Angrboda will do now that she's alone again? Do you think she'll be reunited with her family? Loki? Any predictions for how it will all end?

I've finished and it played out in quite a satisfying ending. The prophecy came to pass but Boda was able to give her daughter happiness. I liked but didn't love the book. The spinning of the tale didn't involve me as much as I thought it would and I didn't really feel the characters. But quite an enjoyable read. 3 stars.

This was my first Kristoff book. I might go back and check out his earlier series but are they YA? Getting a bit old for some of them, LOL. Teen/twenty something angst just annoys me. 🤣 I was surprised to learn he is an Aussie living in Melbourne.

Eldarwen wrote: "I've finished Book 3 "Blood and Silver" and am intrigued!
[spoilers removed]

Astrid is a bit of a special cookie. I find I like her. I may not trust her completely, nor Chloe for that matter, but ..."

Re Aaron.. keep reading. I'll be interested in your thoughts by the end.

LISA'S POST FOR BOM CREDIT

DAY 1 - https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
DAY 2 - https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
DAY 3 - https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
DAY 4 - https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

DQs Day Three - 18 Jun
"There came a day in laste summer..."
"Angrboda agreed." 62%

11. I love how the myths surrounding Loki are casually mixed into this book. I'm a fan of Norse mythology, though I don't know a ton about it. Do you know or enjoy Norse mythology? Do you like how the author is incorporating it into her book?

It's a long time since I've read any Norse mythology ( as someone mentioned I too am more conversant in Greek mythology) so my knowledge is sketchy. Probably recent knowledge is from Marvel movies! I'm enjoying the book more as it goes along.

12. "Was I wrong to not tell them the world may not accept the the way they are?"

This is Angrboda's question after not only Loki's other wife, but Loki himself, refers to their children as monsters. How would you answer her question? Was she right to try and protect and hide them from the Nine Worlds? Should she have gone about it in a different manner?

She was only doing what she thought was right. And as she had forgotten the prophecy at this stage she only had instinctual knowledge that her children wouldn't be safe.

13. What an ending to Part One! Did you see what was to come? Did you already know the myths before or were you completely surprised? If you already knew the myth, did you like the author's interpretation of events? Were you as angry at the world as I was reading all that happened to Angrboda and her children, cause I was ready to fight!

As mentioned only sketchy knowledge. It makes a good tale though even though it seems quite harsh and unfair. But most tales of the Gods are like this, whatever the mythology.

14. It seems that Angrboda's dreams can now transport her into other's thoughts. Do you think this is a one-off event because of how much stress she was under? If not, how do you think she'll use this skill from now on?

Now she is gaining full knowledge of the Prophecy and her powers she will be able to attempt to subvert it.

15. So Angrboda has a new voice in her head. Who do you think the voice belongs to? Do you think it's connected to Angrboda's seeming inability to die? Do you think it's a friend or a foe?

Another facet of her personality? Giving her more knowledge of herself to be able to fully resume and use her power maybe?

DQs Day 2 — "He stayed with her as the days ..." to "... given her daughter a new obsession" - 40%

6. After Angrboda performs seid for the first time again, she starts having dreams where she hears someone calling to and beckoning her. Angrboda doesn't believe it to be Odin at first, but her suspicion changes over time. Who do you think it could be?

I don't think it's Odin, a few people have suggested Loki. I'm going with a so far unknown character.

7. Skadi reappears in this section, having left her husband behind. Do you think he'll come back into the story later? Why do you think she chose a husband as recompense in the first place?

Is Skadi gay? So she's just chosen a husband as a second choice, maybe to gain some power at Asgard?

8. Hel was born with "dead" legs (or dead flesh on fully functioning legs? I'm honestly a little confused by it) and when she over exerts herself she starts turning blue. Angrboda attributes this to when she tried to save her daughter — but I'm not so sure. Do you have any theories on what the cause could be? Is it as simple as Angrboda believes, or do you think it's something bigger to be revealed later on?

I can't remember a lot of Norse Mythology, but isn't Hel the Goddess of Death? She's half dead and half alive maybe?

9. There have been several mentions of a witch who birthed a race of wolves who chase the sun and moon so far in the story — and now Angrboda has given birth to a wolf. Do you think she is the Old one the stories reference? Or, if not, do you think we will meet that character later on?

I think it's her. Again my knowledge of Norse legends is a bit sketchy.

10. Angrboda decides not to tell Loki about his and his family's involvement in her vision of the beginning of the end. What do you think of her decision? Do you think she made the right choice in not telling him?

She doesn't really trust him... what does Dr Phil say.. the biggest predictor of future behaviour is past behaviour.. and Loki doesn't have a good track record, LOL. So definitely right choice, although it doesn't seem to have saved her children at this point.

Favourite character. How can I go past Gabriel... How did Dior describe him. "Tall, dark and damaged"... What's not to love, LOL. And he was loyal and lived to his own moral code. Swoon.

But I really liked Dior as well. (view spoiler)[ It's going to be interesting following their relationship moving forward. He's like a father figure to her and she's gay, so unless there is a huge shift they are not going to be a couple. The romance reader in me is wondering if Gabriel will remain true to his one true love Astrid, or whether another love interest will pop up sometime? (hide spoiler)]

DQs Day 1
Beginning to "... a promise she knew that she couldn't keep."

1.) What attracted you to this book? BOM points? That COVER? Because of the Norse Retelling angle to the story? Any expectations you'd like to share?

BOM points! But I do like a bit of Norse storytelling also.

2.) What did you think of Angrboda's first meeting with Loki? I mean he brought her heart back in his knapsack basically because he was bored. But he was so charming, I'm not sure I'd care either. Though it didn't hurt I kept picturing him as Tom Hiddleston. LOL

Yep, Tom H will always be Loki to me. I'm actually finding the writing quite emotionless and the characters more so. So what should have been a poignant moment... wasn't.

3.) Thoughts on Skadi? Why do you think she helped Angrboda in the first place? And to such an extent? If Skadi was male, how different do you think that interaction would of been?

I think she knows something and wants something. Interesting question, if the gender was flipped, I'm sure Skandi would have used a different approach all together. Not so paling up and more straight forward.

4.) The quote from Skadi, "Time doesn't matter unless you are keeping track of it." Resonated with me. What do you think of this? Do you agree with the statement?

Well, it depends on your point of view. Do you let things go, water under the bridge, or remember everything will the intention of getting square. Interesting quote and question.

5.) Loki's reaction to the pregnancy was, let's go with interesting. What type of father are you expecting him to be? Do you think he will be a functioning part of the child's life?

From what has happened so far it doesn't instill me with a lot of confidence. The track records of the Gods and DemiGods with parenting is not good from lots of myths and legends also.

Saar The Book owl wrote: "I've almost finished a book that I've started before the Mini. Can I still use that?"

Yes, you just have to finish it after it starts so 👍

I finished last night. By the end I was really into it. Great world building, part Interview with the Vampire, part The Da Vinci Code, part Game of Thrones, Jay Kristoff mixed it all together to come up with a pretty good read.

Mixing the time lines/stories together made it a bit choppy to follow sometimes but it all came together at the end.

4.5 stars

Eldarwen wrote: "I finished Book 1 "The Death of Days" and am intrigued by the Order Argent. The Silversaints seem to have some odd rituals..

From what we have learnt in the prologue, Book 1 and the first couple ..."

Don't they smoke the sanctis.. (view spoiler)[ As halfbloods, to stop them from going over the edge and becoming fully fledged vampires? It enhances their vampire abilities but they remain human. They reason that being addicted to the smoke is better than losing their humanity and ripping people to pieces in blood lust? (hide spoiler)]

I really enjoy the illustrations, it definitely adds to the reading experience.

Karolyn wrote: "I've had a hold on The Book of Cold Cases for over a month and my library says it will still be 4 weeks before I get it. I really want the BOM points... for those that have read it, is it worth buy..."

It wasn't my favourite Simone St James, about a 3 star rating from me. If you can get it on kindle or at a cheaper book outlet I'd think about it but not at full retail bookshop price. Up to you Karolyn.

We are going great. Yay team.

I think some of the teams are being sneaky and haven't logged in their books for a while though. Might be a stealth attack!

Should be finished my door stopper later on today.

Sixty wrote: "I have updated it to include the corresponding numbers."

Thanks for going to all that trouble. It will help a lot.

Eldarwen wrote: "I'm almost done with Book 1 and thoroughly enjoying this. Cannot wait to see where this is going.

One thing is for absolutely certain so far at least: Aaron is an ass :-p

[spoilers removed]"

Finally some redemption...