Stacey’s Comments (group member since May 31, 2023)

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

Day 2 DQs : Chapters 5-9

5. So many groups! We had a couple of chapters in this part that described some of the tribes in Daevabad and elsewhere - the Daeva/Djinn, Ifrit, Simurgh, Zahhak and I'm sure I haven't listed them all. Where on the confusion scale are you - with 1 being totally confused and 10 being "I've got this". And are you ok with your level at this point in the book?

I am at around a 6/7 solely because some of these tribes are those that I have read about in other books. While they might be portrayed a little differently in City of Brass, the basics are the same and helped greatly in keeping everything straight.

6. Somewhat related to this - we learn that Suleiman curbed magical abilities because the daeva harmed humanity. I learned (thanks Google) that in the non-book world Suleiman the Magnificent was the longest-reigning Sultan of the Ottoman Empire from 1520 to 1566 - he ruled over at least 25 million people. Did you know anything about Suleiman and what do you think of his inclusion in the book?

The name is familiar, but I didn’t know anymore about him until I googled it while reading this book. I just got the basics there because I didn’t have time to fall down the rabbit hole.

7. We now know Dara was a slave for many years and was forced to do some things that haunt him. How does this make you feel about his character?

Its terrible what he was put through and the ugliness of his slavery was made clear early on. I don’t think that we can hold him accountable for what he did as a slave and under a master’s orders. That said, we could always find out he had more free will or something and so I could change my opinion.

8. Ali's father was portrayed as brutal when we first met him at the execution, and then later he seemed like a pretty good ruler as he listened to and judged people's problems. What do you think - good king or bad king?
I feel like he is probably somewhat corrupt as most people in power are and he is not acting the best interest of all his people even if some things he says or does alludes to the fact that he would like things to be different. At this point (even after finishing the novel) I don’t think I have a completely clear assessment of his rule.

DQs Day 1, Ch 1-5
1. This book begins in 18th century Cairo, with France and Turkey fighting over Egypt. I have never encountered this conflict in fiction before. Have you? Were you familiar with it before you started reading?

No I wasn’t at all familiar with the conflict or anything set in Egypt.

2. Nahri has several mysterious powers, including healing, the ability to sense illness in others, and the ability to understand and speak every language she hears. Which of her powers would you like for yourself?

Healing powers would put too much pressure on me, so I’d choose being able to sense illness in others. That way I could early detect problems in friends and family and point them in the direction of medical care right away.

3. What do you think of the world building so far? Do you find it confusing, or do you feel like you’re along for the ride?

Oh its both confusing and I’m along for the ride. Even starting out, I made liberal use of the glossary in the book and tried to find ways to keep the terminology and most especially the politics straight in my head.


4. So far we’ve met 3 significant players in this book: Nahri, Ali, and Dara. Do you have a favorite character so far, or one who intrigues you the most?

I want to say Ali is my favorite although he is far from perfect. I don’t necessarily agree with all his actions and thoughts in his head. I am intrigued by Dara and I like that she has faults and failings and doesn’t seem like a Mary Sue.

COMPLETION POST



Book: Going Bicoastal- Dahlia Adler
Date Read: 22 June 2023
Pages: 328
Rating: 4/ 5

MINI CHALLENGES:
Crayola Towers
Title: "G"
Author: "D,A"
Characters: "N,E,A,L,J" Natalia,Elly, Adam,Lara, Jasmine

COMPLETION POST



Book: Happy Place - Emily Henry
Date Read: 21 June 2023
Pages: 388
Rating: 3.5 / 5

MINI CHALLENGES:
Crayola Towers
Title: "H"
Author: "E,H"
Characters: "H, W,S, C, P, K" Harriett, Wyn,Sabrina, Cleo, Parth, Kimmy
Rainbow Towers: Cover Color: Pink

Not sure if still needed for Chipmunk task but this is a book that's main plot point is Miscommunication.

I am reading Happy Place which is on a goodreads list on books with miscommunication as the plot point. Should finish no later than tomorrow.

Michael wrote: "PLANNED READ

70. Read a book featuring a gymnast (in honour of Olga Korbut's perfect 10)

"
The Olympic Enemies book I finished last week was about gymnasts! Ooop.

COMPLETION POST



Book: The Red - Tiffany Reisz
Date Read: 16 June 2023
Pages: 235
Rating: 1 / 5

MINI CHALLENGES:
Crayola Towers
Title: "R"
Author: "T,R"
Characters: "M,M,S" Mona, Malcolm, Sebastian
Series: "G"
Rainbow Towers: Cover Color: Red

BOM Discussion Links
Day 1-4

COMPLETION POST



I LOVED THIS BOOK! Dragons, Indiginous people being colonized. Important and fun.

Book: To Shape A Dragon's Breath - Moniquill Blackgoose
Date Read: 19 June 2023
Pages: 528
Rating: 5 / 5

MINI CHALLENGES:
Crayola Towers
Title: "T"
Author: "A,S,T,L, M" Characters: "B,M,S,G,D,E" Anequs,Sander,Theod,Liberty, Marta (If I Dragon's could count I could double this!)
Series: "N"
Rainbow Towers: Cover Color: Red

I have read 17 of the 40 with a few more of them on my TBR.

Eldarwen wrote: "July's BOM threads are up!


Carry Soto is Back - starting 2nd July


The Fourth Wing - starting 16th July"

Eldarwen wrote: "July's BOM threads are up!


Carry Soto is Back - starting 2nd July


The Fourth Wing - starting 16th July"

Very excited for a reason to move Fourth Wing up on my TBR. I assume since I already read Carrie awhile ago, it won't count even if I answer the questions unless I re-read it? (Which I won't do because I thought it was just ok)

Eldarwen wrote: "Elisabeth wrote: "Gosh, only 1 for me. I've read Daisy Jones and the Six and didn't like it at all so I was put off her other books. I added Lessons In Chemistry to my Want to Read shelf just now b..."

I didn't care as much for Daisy or Carrie Soto but I would put Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo and Malibu Rising as two of my fave books ever. Don't be too turned off to not try the others. :)

COMPLETION POST



Book: A Starlet's Secret to A Sensational Afterlife- Kendall Kulper
Date Read: 18 June 2023
Pages: 400
Rating: 4 / 5

MINI CHALLENGES:
Crayola Towers
Title: "S"
Author: "K
Characters: "H,D,M" Henrietta, Declan, Midge

COMPLETION POST


My Goodness this was a cute little LGBTQ+ ghost novel that was a delightful palette cleaner after that mess that was The Red.

Book: Saint Juniper's Folly - Alex Crespo
Date Read: 17 June 2023
Pages: 304
Rating: 4/ 5

MINI CHALLENGES:
Crayola Towers
Title: "S"
Author: "A, C"
Characters: "J,T," Jaimie, Theo, Taylor
Rainbow Towers: Cover Color: Green

I read the Back Door book "The Red" and have a pending request to join the group. I will create a completion post once they accept my request and I answer the questions.

PLANNED READ


Book: To Shape a Dragon's Breath - Moniquill Blackgoose

Red Cover

Andy wrote: "Completion Post


Still Just a Geek: An Annotated Memoir by Wil Wheaton - 15/06/23 - 436 pages
My Rating: ⭐..."

I am all for owning up to your mistakes and apologizing but this book was tedious after awhile with all his apologies and "Looking back, I would have not done" this type stuff. Even at some points for things I didn't think needed yet another apology.

COMPLETION POST



Book: Olympic Enemies Rebecca J Caffery
Date Read: 15 June 2023
Pages: 290
Rating: 4.5/ 5

MINI CHALLENGES:
Crayola Towers
Title: "O"
Author: "E, C"
Characters: "L, O, T, J, A" Lucas, Oliver, Tom, Julius, Alicia,

Lisa - (Aussie Girl) wrote: "Eldarwen wrote: "New Chipmunk task!


57. Random 10 - Read a book with a (tin) hat on the cover
used Stacey's


58. Random 10 - Read a book that is #10 -..."

I loved Magic Tides! I have the brand new one released this week begging for me to get to it!

Eldarwen wrote: "Stacey wrote: "Ok I'll stop spamming now, I'm caught up :)"

Hehehe, thanks :-)

Can you just add this last one to your TT shelf, please? Thanks!"

oops, done!

COMPLETION POST



Book: Mortal Follies Alexis Hall
Date Read: 13 June 2023
Pages: 416
Rating: 3/ 5

MINI CHALLENGES:
Crayola Towers
Title: "M"
Author: "A, H"
Characters: "M, G, P, L" Maelys, Georgianna, Puck, Lizzie


Ok I'll stop spamming now, I'm caught up :)