Kerri’s Comments (group member since Sep 29, 2015)

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

DQ’s Day One: Chapters 1-3

1. It’s interesting to see the dynamic between the main girls (Hetty, Byatt, Reese). They can fist fight over food one minute, but still be best friends the next. Reminds me of my sister & I. LOL. Have you ever had this kind of relationship with someone?

I mean, my brother and I would have a shouting match or two, but I can't imagine having a knockdown, drag out fight with him! A relationship like the one our three main girls have would make me anxious, lol. Just *reading* their interactions made me anxious!

2. Byatt sneaks out of the room when she thinks Hetty is sleeping, then crawls up in Reese’s bunk when she returns. Where do you think she snuck off to? & what did she mean when she said to Reese, ”If you know something...”? Reese shuts down & kicks her out of her bunk. Wonder what their secret is?

Maybe she was trying to find a way past the fence that didn't involve using the gate? Perhaps she's trying to help Reese get out there to find her father? There's a lot f mystery already, but we're only three chapters in, so I don't have any concrete guesses! Maybe Reese knows something about what is happening out in the forest?

3. Hetty says, “And I’ve wanted boys, and I’ve wanted girls, but I’ve never wanted anyone enough to miss them, enough to pluck them from the slideshow of my old life and bring them here.”
People have different ways of handling emotional stuff like this. Some people (like Hetty) believe thinking or talking about your loved ones or past life would only make the situation harder to deal with emotionally. Put yourself in this situation. How do you think you’d cope with missing your old life/family? Would you be like Hetty & shut down emotionally to prevent more pain? Or would you be like the other girls, laughing & sharing stories of your old life?

I would think about/talk about my family all the time! I love revisiting old and happy memories in times when I'm struggling or sad. It makes me feel better to think of happier times. So I'd definitely be more like the other girls than like Hetty, but everyone copes differently.

4. Personally, I’m really enjoying the book already! I love the writing style, the world building, & the characters. I know we’re only a few chapters in, but how are you liking it so far? What aspect of the book do you like best at this point (writing, world building, characters, etc.)?

I think the general concept of the book is crazy interesting. I'm not in love with the writing style yet, but I feel like it could grow on me. As for the characters... ehhhhh.... I kinda like Hetty, but that's about it, lol.

Finished today’s reading and I feel like this is gonna be a wild ride...

Even embiggened, I would never in a million years have called that brown 😂 But, thankfully, that’s just one little opinion! I say, if y’all think it’s brown, go for it!

Alysa wrote: "Speaking of brown, the Back Room BOM also looks pretty brown to me!



Agreement?"

Though I can get behind that cover and it’s buckets of sexual tension (😆), I kinda agree with the others that it doesn’t seem brown enough.

Joanne wrote: "Here's another cover colour up for debate:
- brown enough?"

Looks brown to me :)

Allison Ann wrote: "Hey team. Managed to come down with pneumonia. Lots of reading, just not lots of energy for being on the computer. Sorry for the lack of participation this week. I'll post my books well before dead..."

Well that sucks! I hope you feel better soon!

I'd definitely say blue, too.

[[ Frankie ]] - Punkins & Pages! wrote: "I just noticed that one has an LGBT tag like Gideon. What’s up with the LGBT Space Opera books? Is this a trend I’ve been missing out on? Since Space Opera is one of my least favorite genres - Gide..."

I agree with Alysa that Gideon was definitely not a Space Opera, lol. I enjoyed it, but I don’t see where people are getting that genre.

As for The Long Way, so far I’m loving it! The characters are so interesting and complex. Of course, I also loved Gideon, so take that with a grain of salt, Frankie 😂

M wrote: "I am also reading The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet we will need to compare notes when we are all finished with it"

Ohh, definitely! I, obviously, love talking books. I love seeing other people's interpretations of one book... it gives it so many more layers.

Happy Canadian Thanksgiving to our Canadian teammates!

I’m debating whether or not to sign up for the second November BOM (already signed up for Chestnut Man!) since I’m only vaguely interested... but I might do it just for the points, lol.

As for right now, just started The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet. I’m hoping I like it as I’ve been in a sci-fi mood lately.

Cat wrote: "btw, for the written word readers: did you love the new symbol for the Ninth in the last chapter?!"

Thank you for bringing that to my attention! Love it!

Wait! I just checked and we're currently in 1st!!!

Just finished Slay (which is amazing, btw, highly recommend!) and updated the spreadsheet :)

And I'm excited that we're tied for 2nd! Way to go, team!

Day 6- Chapters 34 to the end

22. In chapter 3 we get the first of the big reveals. Were you surprised by the actual dynamic between the twins? And were you as creeped out as I was by Ianthe's little speech about the place between life and death..."where the things are that eat us."?

I have to say, these last few chapters were INSANE. Everything just happened so fast! I had a feeling that Ianthe was more than she seemed but I didn't realize she was THAT insane. I mean... I guess she did figure out the whole Lyctor thing before everyone else, but still. And that whole scene when she was fighting Silas was just gross and creepy and I loved it, lol.

23. There have been many types of necromancy and magic and science talked about and demonstrated in this story. In sci-fi and fantasy books, I often find myself wishing that some of the science or magic was real. Are there any aspects of this world that you wish was real, or that intrigues you?

The science behind the necromancy definitely intrigues me! I'm not sure if I would want necromancy to be real, though... But the science was interesting. I'm really curious about the history in this book, too, like what was the Resurrection? What happened before that led to the Resurrection? Who is the girl in the Locked Tomb?!

24. The second big reveal gave us the name of the big bad. I personally did not find clues to this littered throughout the story, so I was surprised. Did you find this reveal satisfying? Surprising? Did you enjoy the fight at the end?

I KNEW DULCINEA WAS FISHY!!! I did not, however, guess that she was a ten thousand year old Lyctor bent on killing the Emperor. Did not see that coming. I thought the reveal was done well! I love a good surprise in a book. And that fight was intense and bloody and ah-mazing!

25. Was anyone else waiting for a sex scene? Why use the term "lesbian necromancers" in the description? Who cares if they are heterosexual or gay if it really doesn't come into the story? Marketing? Or do you think it was an important story point that the main character liked girls?

Yeah, that tagline was definitely a marketing ploy. I don't mind that the romance (if there really was a romance?) wasn't a big part of the book because I was invested in the action. Still, I would have liked the relationship between Gideon and Harrow developed a little more. It felt like it happened too fast... one moment they hated each other and the next the were willing to die for each other. Also, the tagline isn't even talking about our main characters who is definitely not a necromancer! But, hey, it got me to read it and I'm thankful for that.

26. Will Gideon's and Camilla's bodies or selves be recovered? Will you read the next book to find out? Did you like the book?

What the heck happened to Gideon's body?!? She was right next to Harrow! Unless Camilla took her body for... reasons? Camilla was still alive last we know, but I don't know why she would run off with Gideon's body. I hope Camilla pops back up, though. I liked her!

I will most definitely be reading the next book. I want to see what happens with Harrowhark now that she's the Emperor's Hand. And I want to know more about what happened in the past! I really enjoyed this book, so I can't wait for more!

Man, we are doing well with the DQ selections! Yay!

Also, I totally agree that we kind of got the short end of the stick with our sin genre/cover color combo, heh. I mean... brown?! I don't think I own a single brown book. Space opera isn't so bad, but I'm not a fast reader and most of the space opera books I ran across are huge and intimidating, lol.

Alysa wrote: "Kerri wrote: "I'm marked down as readin 1.25 books a week, so I wasn't sure if I should try and read more than that or stick to it?"

If you are ever able to round that up to 2 a week, particularly..."

Okay, that makes sense! I'll go ahead and get started on Slay so I can get it finished before the beginning of Week 2.

And, yes, I am definitely curious about the mini challenges. I wanna knoooooow! The mods here are so creative, so I imagine they'll be a good (if possibly wrath inducing) time :D

Alysa wrote: "@Everybody currently reading Gideon the Ninth:
Do you think you will
A) finish the book during Week 1?
B) finish answering at least 3 sets of DQs during Week 1?

It’s okay if you don’t! I’m just t..."

I'll definitely be finishing Gideon within Week 1! I'm marked down as readin 1.25 books a week, so I wasn't sure if I should try and read more than that or stick to it? I could probably squeeze in Slay this weekend (it's a little over 300 pages) and it will work for Envy (YA). Though, given the subject matter, I'm sure something will enrage me, so it could work for Wrath, too! I could also save it for Week 2 if you'd rather I stick closer to my weekly amount. Either way works for me!

Also, @M, I hope you feel better soon!

Day 5 - Chapters 27 - 33

18. We get a lot of thanalogical (??) science theory chat in the section, with the exchanges between Palamedes and Harrow, which seems to confuse them at least as much as it did me! Did you enjoy the science chat and reveals, or did it get in the way of the action?

I'm a huge fan of science talk, so I rather enjoyed these bits. Did I completely understand it? Not at all! But some of it made sense and I definitely still liked learning a little bit more about this world.

19. We see other sides to a couple of the Houses during this section: the Eighth, who had been reported as being super weird with the cavalier being effectively a vegetable, actually transpire to be super weird with the cavalier trying really hard to hold to whatever shred of his life he can claim as his own (Colum says: "I've got my sword. I've got my honour. Everything else is yours." "Your sword is mine also" said Silas. Silas is an ass of the highest order, btw)
Similarly, the Second become all noble and self-sacrificing in chapter 33, a change from the rule-bound nimrods they'd been up to that point.
Do you like the shifting understanding of the characters? Have your favourites / least despised changed over the course of the book?

Honestly, I saw what the Second did as them still being rule-bound assholes. They've been trying to close this whole thing down this entire time and they finally decided to just do it on their own terms because they believed it was their duty. I'm a little mad that the "killed" Teacher, too, so screw them.

I don't think any of my opinions have changed *except* when it comes to Harrow. I, begrudgingly, like Harrow now? Or maybe I just hate her less? That whole story about her parents killing all the Ninth children so that she could be born... I wonder if there was any way Harrow could have turned out in any better shape with that hanging over her.

Oh... I do disike Dulcinea less after her big reveal. Still don't trust her, though.

20. Speaking of changes: MASSIVE emotional reveal between Harrow & Gideon. I loved the line "she wrapped her arms around Harrow Nonagesimus and held her long and hard, like a scream", which is just SO Ninth House. How does this information make you re-evaluate Harrow & Gideon's relationship?

I loved that whole scene! It felt like a release, finally learning the Big Secret about the Ninth House. And I like that it's chipped at the wall that Harrow has built around herself. I think if Harrow and Gideon can come to trust one another, they will become an unstoppable team.

21. Something a bit lighter: in the midst of the blood and death and bone-key making and such, there are still some moments that made me snigger. one that I particularly enjoyed was "Hm," said Camilla neutrally, and Gideon knew immediately that she organised Palamedes's and her socks by colour and genre."
The little blips of humour have definitely helped me whilst reading the book. Do they work for you?

I love the humor in this book! It jives with my sense of humor rather well, which is one of the reasons why I think I'm enjoying this book more than a lot of people seem to be. I have laughed out loud quite a few times and agreed with Gideon's thinking and phrasing more times than I can count. Can't wait to finish up!

Day 4 - Chapters 21-26

14. More deaths! Do you have any theories on why the Fourth were killed? Why Gideon was spared? Who do you think is committing these murders?

Someone is clearly controlling that construct, I just can't figure out who it is. Maybe the Third? I would blame the Eighth because I hate them, but I don't think it's them. Maybe it's the First House somehow? Ghosts of the First House?! I HAVE SO MANY THEORIES! They're clearly targeted attacks, though... perhaps someone taking out the weak links who haven't claimed a key yet?

15. The Third House (maybe Ianthe) seem to be lurking in the background of this book, all sneaky and suspicious. Coronabeth seems like the nicer one out of the Twins. But do you think this is the case? Do you think Coronabeth has something up her sleeves?

I think the entire Third House has something up their sleeves. They are a bunch of creeps. Coronabeth is just the *least* creepy, so she's the talking head or the house. The one that tries to make everyone think they are playing fair and make them not look *too* suspicious. There is definitely something going on with them, though.

16. Gideon had a weird encounter with the Eighth house. What did you make of the comment, 'because you grew up servant to a murderer, in a tribe of murderers. You are, more than anything, a victim of the Ninth House'. Do you think Gideon will accept their invitation?

I think her curiosity will get the best of her or she'll go to try and shut them up. After all, she doesn't want everyone to know that she's a fake cav and I'm sure the Eighth House creeps would tell eeeeeeveryone if she doesn't comply with their weird wishes. Also, I kinda want to hear what they have to say and I think Gideon does, too.

17. (This is a bit of a silly question). Over the course of the book, Gideon has been getting closer to Harrow, Dulcinea and Coronabeth (although it seems she wishes she could get closer to the latter). Put yourself in Gideon's shoes. Harrow, Dulcinea and Coronabeth - Kiss, Marry, Kill.. Explain your reasoning haha!

Kiss - Coronabeth, just to say you did/see what it's like (I don't see Gideon as being especially attracted to her beyond surface level)
Marry - Dulcinea because she's been the kindest and Gideon seems especially taken with her
Kill - Harrow because... duh. Her few moments of semi-niceness can't really make up for an entire childhood of torture.

Day 3 - Chapter 14- 20

10. Thoughts on the deaths, did you care to lose these two or are you just waiting for the body count to increase?

I was so sad when they died! (view spoiler)[I had gotten rather attached to Magnus. He was one of the few people who was decent to Gideon even though she was being forced to be creepy and stand-offish. And he was the only one that seemed *genuine*. Sigh... (hide spoiler)] It will be interesting to see who's next, though.

11. I like the electric toothbrush detail. What do you think of the room they found? Are there any details from the room that you think are going to be important later?

I definitely think that piece of a note Gideon found is going to end up being important. It has her name in it! I also think there may be more clues in there once they start unraveling more of these experiments. Like maybe they'll go back to the creepy picture with the scratched off faces.

12. The letter clearly has Gideon’s name in it (see below) but we get no comment from Gideon as the narrator on her reaction to this. What do you think of this as an author’s choice and what do you think the letter means?
" ut we all know the sad + trying realit
is that this will remain incomplete t
the last. He can’t fix my deficiencies her
ease give Gideon my congratulations, howev"

I think Gideon herself is still processing the note. She was half asleep when she initially read it and then kind of busy afterwards, so I don't think she's had time to process it. It's obviously important, though! I wonder how Gideon is mixed up in these experiments. Maybe she's a product of these experiments! I don't know, but I need to know.

13. This quote feel like somewhat heavy handed foreshadowing , though I may be wrong.
“You’re all right. Gideon, Gideon … you’re so young. Don’t give yourself away. Do you know, it’s not worth it … none of this is worth it, at all. It’s cruel. It’s so cruel. You are so young—and vital—and alive. Gideon, you’re all right … remember this, and don’t let anyone do it to you ever again. I’m sorry. We take so much. I’m so sorry.”
She would remember each word later, loud and clear. It seems to imply this is Dulcinea’s voice and does this impact your opinion of her?

I have never trusted Dulcinea and that distrust increases with every new encounter. There is something so wrong with her and I don't know what but I don't like it. I'm actually on Harrow's side when it comes to that woman.

Bonus Question: The skulls on top of the chapters belong to each house but I have been unable to find any pattern or meaning to their order. Anyone think there is a purpose or pattern? Did I miss something obvious?

They seem to correlate to the House that Gideon interacts with the most in that chapter. At least that's what I've noticed while reading. It may just be random, lol.