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

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

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...

Eldarwen wrote: "Oh wow! Nice going, Lisa!

Glad to hear you're enjoying it so far :-)

I'll see how far I can get today. I wanted to do a little something productive, like chores today, but I may just leave those ..."

Never let a little thing like chores get in the way of a good book. He endeth the lesson!

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]"

I'm getting towards the end of the book... and still no (view spoiler)[comuppence for Aaron! (hide spoiler)]

And I'm really intrigued about the relationship between Gabriel and Astrid. A lot of teasing and I've got a bit of a feeling they are not going to have a lasting HEA.. 😒

LISA'S POSTS 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/...
DAY 5 https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

26) Out of all the people in the city, why do you think the Devil decided to help the Master and Margarita? Or did he really even help them?

It was all a bit of chaos really. And maybe that's the Devil's aim. Big I dunno !!


27) What do you think are some of the things the author was trying to convey with this book?

The only thing I took from this is bad/crazy things happen all the time and people either look away or rationalize. Is this the Devil and Hell is really on Earth? Again, you could spend hours pondering this. People who know this stuff say it was the author's satire on the situation with Stalin. But it seemed a pretty convoluted way of describing it.


28) All through the Devil seems to insist to others that Jesus really exists. Why do you think that is?
I guess you can't have one without the other?

29) (Thanks Google! - I thought this was interesting) The title to Chapter 30 (It’s Time! It’s Time!) references this poem by Alexander Pushkin:
It's time, my friend, it's time! The peace is craved by hearts...
Days flow after days -- each hour departs
A bit of life -- and both, you and I,
Plan a long life, but could abruptly die.
The world hasn't happiness, but there is freedom, peace.
And long have I daydreamed the life of bliss --
And long have planned, a tired slave, the flight
To the removed abode of labor and delight.
Now the question:
It seemed to me that peace (as described in the poem) was a pretty great reward for the Master. But why do you think/ what did in mean that the Master " earned peace but not light?"


Agree with what some others have said. Light would be heaven, peace may be oblivion.


30). What did you rate the book and why?

Like a lot of classic literature of the time it needs a lot of explaining and thinking through. Maybe it is the Russian style? Did I enjoy it? Not really but I always enjoy the discussion and getting the POV from others.

It really fits into the category... "Supposed to be literary fiction by people who know... but WTF was going on! Only 2 stars from me.

I'm half way through. It's pretty good, but not the sort of book you can skip through. And it does jump between time frames so you've got to pay attention. Liking the main character... at lot.

That's great, Sixty. That's going to help a lot. Well done. 😍