Insiyah’s
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(group member since Apr 12, 2022)
Insiyah’s
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from the Nothing But Reading Challenges group.
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Task: Read a book shelved (listed on the first page on GR) as actionDirection: East
H - The Portrait of a Lady (AFN: Henry)
E - The Eyre Affair
L - When We Cease to Understand the World (ALN: Labatut)
P - The Pillars of the Earth
Thank you all for being a part of this challenge! It's been a really fun three months, and I look forward to seeing you all around on GR!
The Wrath and the Dawn by Renée Ahdieh
In a land ruled by a murderous boy-king, each dawn brings heartache to a new family. Khalid, the eighteen-year-old Caliph of Khorasan, is a monster. Each night he takes a new bride only to have a silk cord wrapped around her throat come morning. When sixteen-year-old Shahrzad's dearest friend falls victim to Khalid, Shahrzad vows vengeance and volunteers to be his next bride. Shahrzad is determined not only to stay alive, but to end the caliph's reign of terror once and for all.
Night after night, Shahrzad beguiles Khalid, weaving stories that enchant, ensuring her survival, though she knows each dawn could be her last. But something she never expected begins to happen: Khalid is nothing like what she'd imagined him to be. This monster is a boy with a tormented heart. Incredibly, Shahrzad finds herself falling in love. How is this possible? It's an unforgivable betrayal. Still, Shahrzad has come to understand all is not as it seems in this palace of marble and stone. She resolves to uncover whatever secrets lurk and, despite her love, be ready to take Khalid's life as retribution for the many lives he's stolen. Can their love survive this world of stories and secrets?
Mini 1Currently on Itinerary 9
Countries used twice:
(view spoiler)
Mini 4b update
A 16
B 2
C 3
E 11
F 2
G 2
H 2
I 11
K 5
L 6
M 7
N 5
O 13
P 4
R 3
S 7
T 3
U 3
Y 2
Karen ⊰✿ wrote: "Hi allSorry I am a bit everywhere at the moment with a lot going down at work, but also my husband had surgery and the wound is now infected so lots of medical stuff happening right now :o"
How is your husband now? I hope he's better
Preeti, can you add The Woods to your shelf please?
Happy birthday in advance, Richard! Karen, that sounds like a nightmare of a week - I hope you get to rest over the weekend!
Lisa - (Aussie Girl) wrote: "I've got books with paella and naan up next. Just been a bit slow this week because I've had the five grand children but should be back up to speed by Tuesday.. when school goes back. 😊I've also ..."
Perfect!
I have a book for this task: letters IKEA found in title (any order)
Update for all MinisMini 1
Countries completed twice:
(view spoiler)
Mini 2
96 Read a book first published in December of any year (claimed by Elisabeth)
Mini 3
New country: Sweden
WW35 Author born in Sweden
WW36 Yellow and blue on cover
WW37 "meatball" in text
WW38 snow on cover
WW39 character plays a sport (professionally or for fun)
WW40 letters IKEA found in title (any order)
WW41 S
WW42 W
WW43 E
WW44 D
WW45 E
WW46 N
Japan
WW108 Author born in Japan
WW111 cherry tree(s) and/or blossom(s) on cover
WW112 features a geisha
Mini 4a
paella
naan
pho
kimchi
Mini 4b
Completed letters:
J
V
W
X
Z
Remaining Letters:
A 23
B 4
C 5
D 3
E 12
F 4
G 3
H 3
I 16
K 5
L 8
M 9
N 7
O 15
P 5
R 5
S 7
T 4
U 5
Y 3
Elisabeth, you're reading for the book published in December task, correct?
Preeti wrote: "Is anybody reading anything for the Iceland "nature on cover (no people)" task? If not, I have a book that works for it.
"Kylie had read a book that covered it :)
Jul 18, 2025 11:03PM
Day 4 DQs (Chapters 13 to 16)13. There are multiple references to the snow and the mountain turning red. Scenes like this are for me a stark reminder of the brutality and bloodiness of war, rather than the romanticised glory of protection.
Is there a scene or a moment from your life you can pinpoint when the realities of war struck you the way it did Mamoru?
14. Misaki revealed herself as a fighter, and Mamoru revealed his abilities in blood manipulation to his uncle that he learnt from his mother. As the reader, how did you feel when these moments came about in quick succession in relation to Misaki?
15. Since the beginning, we are repeatedly told that the Matsuda family is powerful, important, etc. We get to see this over the battle as the two brothers join forces and create the Matsuda Dragon.
Powerful families put a lot of pressure on their children to carry on the legacy. We see this in Mamoru and Hiroshi, who at five years old is determined to do better than his peers at any cost. Do you think this is a practice that should be continued in today's day and age?
16. Well, this has been quite the bloody section. Takashi's last order to Mamoru, Mamoru having to order his master to leave him and his having to face all the enemy himself, Misaki desperately protecting her home, the killing of all these mighty warriors of the Sword of Kaigen...
What I'm wondering though, is that if such a bloody battle that spans across six chapters and 15% of the novel is in the middle of the story, what happens after? Do you have any predictions for what happens after this battle?
Jul 18, 2025 12:01PM
DAY 3 DQ'S CHAPTERS 20-3010. "Art is coincidence. Love is Chaos."
"Art is a small break from human despair."
Do you agree? Discuss these quotes in relation to the book and real life in general.
I agree with both quotes; art is a break from life, and art is coincidence. Whenever I'm writing, I'm always surprised by the way my characters seem to just take over, the way I imagine them doing a specific thing and they end up actually being written as doing something completely different. Art is coincidence, and love is chaos; love being chaotic is where almost all of humanity's stories come from.
11. We still don't know the artist's real name and now we find out he isn't even in the picture! What do you think is the author's intention in regards to the Artist's role throughout the novel? And how about the significance of the title of the picture, " The One of the Sea instead of the Artist's thoughts it should have been called, The Boys and Her?
I found the hiding of the artist's name really odd, but it makes sense as well. Names are what identify a person, but the artist being called 'the artist' means that you really only see them through that point of view. It isn't until they're given a name that they're suddenly a person with pain and happiness and love and all those messy human emotions.
12. Louise asks Ted, "Were you two a couple?" In light of how the relationship is written were you surprised by his answer?
Not really. Platonic relationships can be as intense as romantic ones.
13. This novel is full of big emotions, real life hardships, death and tragedy but connected and possibly redeemed by the beauty in meaningful and fragile human relationships. The Artist and his friends, Christian and the Artist, Ted and the Artist, Ali and Joar, Ted and Louisa, Fish and Louisa... Which relationship has made the most impression on you? Which one do you think is pivotal to the storyline?
Christian and the Artist made the most impact on me; Christian giving the artist art again in the wake of the Owl's actions, especially when he himself was struggling so much; that struck a chord.
14. Chapter 30 - Louisa leaves the picture then gets off the train when Ted is asleep. Did you see that happening, what do you think will happen next? Ted and Louisa reconnecting or big tragedy? (More tissues needed!)
I didn't see it coming, but I was surprised she decided to leave.
Jul 18, 2025 11:42AM
DQs Day 2Chap 5 to 7
6. What do you think about the hierarchy of the villages and the Matsudos and Yukinos being the "rulers" of the mountain?
It's not unrealistic by any standards. Historically speaking, there would always be one family who ruled the area and everyone else fell under them. In what capacity and in what roles, how the relationship between the two groups went differs based on culture and other factors, but it makes sense.
7. We get to know the history of the relationship between the Matsudos and the Kotetsus. Do you think this relationship/the Kotetsu family will play an important role later on in the story? If so, how?
Maybe. The Kotetsu family represent Mamoru's escape from the rules of his home, and the opportunity to live a different life, even if it is within the confines of the mountain.
8. In chapter 6, we find out that Misaki was a real badass in her past. Was there anything that stuck out to you when getting to know her backstory? Something interesting, shocking, odd?
I found her ability to put herself out there and really measure herself against the best extremely admirable. Not many would do that.
9. The conversation between Misaki and Mamoru was heartwarming. Do you think we will see both of them side by side as warriors by the end of the book?
I hope so. The conversation seemed like the first time she felt like she could also be a guiding figure to him, something she'd previously resigned herself against. I hope she continues to be able to be his guide.
DQs Day 3
Chapter 8 - Chapter 12
10. Mamoru is becoming more friends with Kwang Chul-Hee and seems to be rebelling more and finally has a fall out with his father. Do you think his father would have hit Mamoru again if Misaki wouldn't have accidentally interrupted?
Almost definitely. A man who has never been defied suddenly defied by his young son? He would have beaten Mamoru down just to prove a point.
11. Are you understanding their powers and magic system more through these last few chapters and the fighting that has occurred. Which power would you want?
I do understand it better; I'm still drawing a lot of Avatar parallels though.
12. Misaki received a letter from her friend and told her to run and get out of town. With the Emperor keeping it a secret. Do you think anyone else knew war was coming? And why they are attacking such an isolated village?
Things were deliberately kept under wraps for sure - Kwang called it propaganda, and he wasn't wrong. As for attacking such an isolated village - maybe there's something there that no one knows about? Or maybe it's about morale - if the Sword of Kaigen are the country's hopes, defeating them would be a huge loss to morale of common soldiers.
LavenderLane wrote: "Oh yes! I didn’t realise it was a different spreadsheet. Looks like it’s just the tracking one that is wrong."In that case, don't worry about it. We do a lot of messing around with the tracking spreadsheet, which often leads to formulas getting muddled up.
Jul 17, 2025 11:54AM
DQs Day 1Ch 1 to 4
1.) Had you heard of this book before it was nominated for/was selected to be a BOM this month? Or read other books by the author? Any expectations going in?
I'm hoping it's good; I'm a huge fantasy person, but I'm really picky about the books I end up enjoying because if the worldbuilding is terrible, I'm not going to enjoy it at all. That said, I got into this one pretty quickly, so I have tentatively high hopes.
2.) How effective is the author at conveying the isolationist nature of Kaigen? And at the glimpses of what the rest of the world is really like? How do you think the Emperor has managed to do this so effectively?
Extremely. Kwang comparing the world and technology he's seen with this, where there's barely any coms/phones around is a pretty big indicator. No paved roads, no hospitals - I don't think any village in the real world is quite this level of isolated.
3.) Misaki is an interesting character with a lot of repressed or hidden depths I think. I like that one of the main characters in an epic fantasy is not a 20 something who just happens to master everything in 5 pages. What are you most curious about her at the moment. Also, shout out to her friends, who seem like real women-friends. Yay!
I love her; the part where she clearly had an incredible and adventurous past and is now stuck as a subdued housewife whose only job is to take care of the home and have kids? I can't imagine how stifled she must feel, but as a character, I love reading her POV. Also yes, love the friends, particularly her sister-in-law; I'm so glad the two are friends and they've not been cast as rivals.
4.) Takeru (husband/father) has managed to make me hate him without even popping up on page yet. Go him. Do you think we'll get a scene where Misaki does her version of 'down with the patriarchy' before the end of the book?
I really hope that scene comes, or better yet, she comes out as a badass and he regrets that he never really knew her because he is such a patriarchal man in all the worst ways.
5.) What do you think of the magic system so far?
I'm intrigued, though this also reminds me a bit of Avatar, so I am trying to keep an open mind right now. I keep flipping back and forth between the glossary, the characters, and the chapters, which is quite helpful in understanding the connections and how they work.
Jul 17, 2025 09:32AM
Day 2 Chapter 12-19 18-37%
#5. Joar mentions that his mom thinks the best invention in the world are pockets. I have seen a Meme that says a woman, when complimented on her dress will reply “It has pockets.” I love a good pocket. How do you feel about pockets?
I love pockets! It's the best thing about the outfits I wear (google dawoodi bohra ridas) - I get giant pockets!
#6. I must admit I am confused and intrigued about the artist. Who do you think the artist is? What is his or her significance in the story?
They're a part of the group of friends.
#7. I am loving the banter between Louisa and Ted. Louise is so precocious. What do you think of their relationship? Any ideas of what is to come between the two?
I'll skip this one because I've finished the book.
#8. In Chapter #19 we find more about the mentioned Ali. What is your impression of her?Any guesses on what happens next?
Ali fits right in with the boys.
#9. Fredrick Backman has a way of pulling at your heartstrings. In Chapter 19 I both cried and laughed. The children's stories are both heartbreaking and heartwarming. How are you feeling about the book so far? Are you enjoying it?
I actually was finding it a bit hard to get into quite a bit into the book; I can't pinpoint why exactly, but something really threw me off about it.
Are the points on the main spreadsheet correct? The link is in Message 1
Fixed! Thank you for pointing it out!
