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

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

The Martian
Read: 29 July 2017
Pages: 387
Rating: ★★★★

Flame in the Mist
Read: 28 July 2017
Pages: 393
BOM: My input
Rating: ★★★★

27 July Discussion Questions
A Province of Pain- An Ending p. (313-392)

16. Mariko's eyes are opened when she sees how the people in the town under his protection live and how little they have to eat. Do you think her father is evil or is he following instructions from the emperor? How about her brother, is he evil? What do you think of him?

Mariko's father is power hungry and cruel. Everything he does is to curry the Emperor's favor, even at the detriment of the people under his care. I dislike him immensely. Kenshin is a little more difficult to peg down. I don't think he's evil, but he certainly has some conflicted feelings he needs to get sorted out. He preaches about honor and all that and he notices that the things his father does aren't honorable, yet he doesn't do anything about it. He needs to stand up to his awful dad.

17. Did you expect Mariko became a member of the Black Clan or did this surprise you? Why do you think the Clan and especially Okami accept her back so easily? When Okami left her he told her he would kill her if he saw her again. Do you think it was all a test?

I didn't think the members of the Black Clan were going to kill Mariko, but I wasn't expecting them to welcome her with open arms, either. I guess, while she was with them, she did prove her worth and they probably figured out that she used that bomb to help save them. I think it was a test to see if she would risk her life to try and save theirs.

18. Why did Tsunekio take Okami's place? Okami says there is more going on that Tsunekio told him.

So that people would target the wrong person and allow Okami to work more in the shadows, I'm assuming. I'm sure there is something Tsunekio isn't telling him because everyone in this book has secrets upon secrets upon secrets!

19. What do you think is the goal of Kanako? She seems to have captured Asano Naganori and is using him. Why do you think she captured him? Do you think Asano can turn himself in a fox, the one that leads Mariko's brother to the camp of the Black Clan?

I think she captured Nobutado, one of the samurai that was guarding Mariko on her way to Inako. She's using him to get to the Hattori's, I think, though to what end I still haven't quite figured it out... The fox seems like a spirit of the forest that has decided to work with Kanako.

20. Kanako is looking through the bark of the tree and sees a woman with a half burned face. Who is it and where is she? Is she someone else who Kanako captured?

It's definitely someone else she's captured in her weird, colorless world. I'm thinking it's like a purgatory of some kind except she can actually keep the people alive. And I think the woman is the metalsmith's daughter (I don't have my book close by and I can't remember her name...). The one that Kenshin loves, even though he won't fully admit it to himself. I think she's going to use her to control Kenshin for some reason.

21. Why do you think Okami and Mariko let themselves be captured by Mariko's brother? Was it a thing Okami and Mariko decided to do in the spur of the moment or was it the plan all along?

I think it was a spur of the moment thing. Mariko let herself be taken because she thought it would stop anyone she loved from getting hurt. Okami gave himself up because he doesn't want to leave Mariko to Raiden's devices. Though he perhaps has some other reason to want to be in royal custody.

22. Genmei must have had the opportunity to kill the emperor before, why do you think she choose to kill him now? Do you think she is aware of what her rival Kanako is planning?

I think she was tired of being spurned by the Emperor and she might have had an inkling as to what Kanako is scheming. She wants her son in power and, with the Emperor dead, now he will be.

23. What did you think of this book? Will you be reading the next book in the series?

I enjoyed this book and I do think I'll continue the series. I'm not necessarily chomping at the bit for the next book, but I liked this one enough to be curious about how this continues. And I really enjoyed this author's writing style.

Discussion Questions for 26 July An Honest Exchange - Smokeshields & Sorrow pages 229-312

11. Kenshin suspects the Minamoto clan of something, what do you think it is? Maybe they were involved on the attack on Mariko's convoy? I'm not sure the Black Clan is to blame. What do you think?

I'm beginning to think it was a group parading as the Black Clan, but under someone else's control. The Emperor seems super shady and I wouldn't put it past him at all. What I don't understand is why. Why would he want to kill his son's betrothed? Maybe he didn't really want the union. Maybe he's trying to disgrace the Hattori clan because he feels they are becoming too powerful. I have no idea...

12. Okami has found Mariko out. Do you think he will keep her secret? I like what I see of their relationship so far, what do you think? I wonder what will happen when Okami finds out that Mariko is to marry Raiden.

He's doing a fair job of keeping her secret so far. If he found out who she really is, though, I'm not sure he would keep it for much longer. Especially after what happened with Akira-san and his grandchildren. The Black Clan isn't likely to forget or forgive that and if they find out Mariko is related to Kenshin, it will not be good for her.

13. What happened to Kenshin in A forest of blood and fire? Who could have been the person lurking in the woods? Someone from the Black Clan?

I think the Emperor's mistress/witch woman bewitched Kenshin some how (perhaps with that weird spider ring?) and cause him to kill all those people. I think that fox was her messenger that was to report back once the job was done. I have no idea why she had him kill those people, though. Perhaps to draw Ranmaru out so they can kill him? So much subterfuge!

14. Do you think that the people who attacked Akira-San are the same as the ones that attacked Mariko's convoy? Their method (fire and bloodshed) seems the same. Do you think the emperor may be behind it, because of the samurai?

Well, I thought it was a bewitched Kenshin, but the phrasing of your question makes me wonder if Kenshin was just drugged and left in the clearing so it seems like he was the one that killed them. Though Akira-san did specifically say that the Dragon of Kai was the one that did it, so maybe not. I just really want to believe Kenshin wouldn't do something like that!

15. This book is filled with wonderful quotes, this is my favorite: "Love isn't something that can be understood or explained. It's intangible. Like Magic. Those who do not possess its powers never fully grasp it.". Do you have a favorite?

I don't think I have a particular favorite, no, but I am enjoying the writing.

The Hobbit
Read: 24 July 2017
Pages: 366
Rating: ★★★

Another one that's been on my TBR for a bit! I'm in.

Ohhh, yes! This has been on my TBR for forever! I'm definitely in for this one :)

23rd of July : An Unmerited Blessing - Jubokko (p. 80-154)

5. Regarding the description of Okami’s powers, it's a bit cryptic imo. The author mentions he blurs/vibrates. Any speculation about Okami’s powers? Also what do you think about the Black Clan’s reaction after Mariko saved Ranmaru (they drugged and kidnapped her)?

I'm not quite sure what Okami's powers are, exactly. That scene was a bit confusing to me. He is obviously very powerful, but I'm not sure what the vibrating/blurring is about. I feel like they are supernatural, but I can't hazard a guess as to what actually happens when he goes into attack mode. I thought their reaction was pretty rude, lol. She saved their leaders life, so they kidnap her? Of course, they see a boy who said he was out to make his fortune and is pretty smart to boot. Perhaps Ranmaru decided she was useful enough to take with them.

6. A love interest(s) showed up in these last couple of chapters? Do you think there will be a love triangle?

I'm hanging on to hope that there isn't any love interest, at this point. Mariko is focused on learning the truth and trying to infiltrate the Black Clan. I'm seeing hints of it, though, and I don't approve. Can't we just have a story about a resourceful, kickass girl without a love interest being thrown in?! And if it turns into a love *triangle*, I'm going to be super annoyed.

7. When the ashigaru (foot soldiers) are singing about home, Kenshin kicks the boy who started the song in the face. Did you think it was unexpected? What does it say about Kenshin’s character so far?

It was unexpected, but I understood why they did it. He sees it as not only celebrating a failure, but kind of disrespecting his sister. He's not going to let that stand. He has a lot of love for his family and their/his honor. Still, it's obvious that he felt uneasy about what he did to the foot soldier. I think I like Kenshin, so far.

8. At one point Mariko and Okami are having a conversation about their names/nicknames. Why that mysterious name Okami (= Wolf)? Is he hiding something? Or maybe he’s a shapeshifter?

I'm sure he's hiding a lot of things, but I can't begin to guess what they are. The idea that he is a shapeshifter is definitely an interesting one! Perhaps he was the weird shadow creature that Mariko encountered in the woods before that scavenger stumbled upon her? That would be interesting.

9. Any thoughts about Ranmaru’s childhood friends’ story at the Jubokko tree? What are Ranmaru’s and Okami’s role in this story? (Btw that tree was creepy)

I kind of figured Ranmaru was the child we saw in the first chapter. I wasn't expecting that Okami would be the son of the other samurai/childhood friend that the Emperor had killed. I feel like Ranmaru and Okami both want revenge for what happened to their fathers. The Emperor is definitely in trouble...

And that tree was terrifying. The fact that she could hear it slurping... *shudder*

10. How are you liking it so far?

I'm enjoying it quite a bit, so far. I actually read way past where I was supposed to without realizing it, lol. It's an interesting plot and I'm liking Mariko's character a lot. I'm actually finding myself liking quite a few of the characters, even those of the Black Clan. I'm eager to see what happens!

Comments and Questions
22 July The Beginning - Fall Forward to Keep Moving

1. Have you read any other books by Renee Ahdieh? If so, is there one you would recommend?

I haven't read any of her other books, though The Wrath and the Dawn has been on my TBR for awhile.

2. This whole section seems to be the synopsis in one! What do you think of Mariko's character? Do you agree with her reasoning to pretend to be a boy and find out the truth?

I do like Mariko. She's not just laying down and taking what is handed to her. Even though her entire convoy was killed, she's determined to find out the truth. She's tired of living her life like she is just a bargaining chip or a plaything for men. I think her decision to masquerade as a boy is pretty bold. Hopefully she can pull it off (though it obviously has to work since that's kind of the premise of the book, right?)

3. While on her way to Helan Castle, Mariko muses
"She should care that she was being exchanged like property in order to curry favour. But Mariko did not.
Not anymore."
What do you think of the last sentence? Did she have a falling out with her father before she left?

I think, at that point, she had resigned herself to what her life was going to be. She couldn't think of a way out of the arranged marriage and I don't think she would want to willingly hurt her family. She was determined to be the "good girl" until her convoy was attacked.

4. Do you think the boy in the prologue (who watches his father die) is Ranmaru? Or perhaps the boy is "the lazy comrade...fast asleep on the bench" in the Black Clan?

I believe it is Ranmaru since I believe he has the same last name as one of the Emperor's "friends" that he had killed so he could maintain power. It would make sense that Ranmaru would then lead a group of people that undermine the Emperor's rule. I am curious as to who the "lazy" comrade may be. Perhaps it could be the little boy, after all.

Traitor's Blade
Read: 22 July 2017
Pages: 370
BOM: My input
Rating: ★★★★

Discussion Questions - Day 6: Chapters 26-End

31. Trin is revealed to be the daughter of Duke Jillard and Duchess Patriana, were you surprised, and if not, what clued you in to this?

I was surprised! I felt like there was something going on, but I thought not-Valiana was masquerading as Trin to get closer to Falcio. I really wanted Trin to not be an evil... witch. Sigh, so gullible...

32. Why do you think everyone else seemed to understand what was happening with the different plot lines except Falcio? I was starting to feel bad for him that everyone else seemed to know what was going on.

Falcio is focused, but a focused idiot. I think he was so set on keeping Aline safe and escaping that he didn't once actually look at the big picture and all the clues pointing towards it. I honestly wanted to slap him a couple times. Open your eyes! Sheesh.

33. What do you think the Tailor's end game really is?

I think she revealed it. The Dukes killed her kid (King Paelis) and she's not going to take it lying down. She reassembled her own Greatcoats and she's finding to make sure his dream is realized. The part where she stripped naked was a bit weird, though... High emotions, I guess?

34. It seemed odd to me that the Duchess Patriana just decided it was the end of her game (even though she had been plotting for 20 years), why do you think she ended this so quickly?

It did seem odd that she would just kill herself. I don't think she's actually dead. She has way to much of a strong will for that drug to actually work. It only worked on Falcio because he was ready to give up. I think she's playing dead so she can get out of there (there was no other way to survive cause Falcio was about to murder her face) and she'll regroup with her real daughter, Trin. I kept thinking, "You should probably stab her body. You gotta make sure she's dead!!!" I think we'll be seeing her again.

35. Do you think Aline has the heart and the head to eventually be a good Queen, or do you think these dark experiences will impact her too much for that?

I think she's a strong young lady and I think she'll make a good queen. And she's going to surround by some great people. I do wonder, though... if there are other "chariotes" (aka the King's illegitimate kiddos), how is it automatically assumed that Aline will be queen? Is she the oldest? Or is it because she was the first one found?

36. Are you going to continue the series?

I believe I will. I enjoyed the writing, I enjoyed the characters, and I kind of want to see how this plays out.

Ash and Quill
Read: 21 July 2017
Pages: 368
BOM/BR: My input
Rating: ★★★★

Teddie wrote: "Kerri wrote: "Would any of these work?"

You ROCK Kerri! I will pass this list along. Thank you! :D"

Glad I could help!

Just finished Ash and Quill and here's my review. I really enjoyed it! But, of course, it had to end on a huge cliffhanger, bah. Looking forward to the next book.

Another great addition to a great series! I was unaware that this series had been extended to more than three books, but I'm so excited that it has been. There's no way that everything that is happening to Jess and the gang could have been wrapped up in this book!

This book started of strong and did not let up. The plot was intense and engaging and it was hard to put it down! I continue to love how this author writes her characters. I find myself very attached to Jess and all the rebels. I'm so nervous about what the next book holds in store for them.

Can we talk about that cliffhanger, though?!? How am I supposed to wait for however long to find out what happens?! Guh... Still, I'll be the first in line to pick up the next one. I love the world of The Great Library and I can't wait to dive back in.

Discussion Questions Day 5
Chapters 10-12

26. Morgan seems to be recovering well, but her power is now peppered with something dark. Do you think it will lessen, as she says it will, or do you think it will only get worse? Do you think those new, darker currents are what allow her to kill things with such ease now?

27. Do you think it was smart of Thomas and Wolfe to build a fully functioning press for Callum? What about the ray guns (for lack of a better term, haha) that Thomas has built? If they are captured and Callum gets his hands on them, that can't be anything but bad.

28. It turns out that Callum is planning to sell Jess' friends off to Red Ibrahaim and the Archivist. I thought he would be trying to get money out of them somehow, but I didn't think he would work with the Archivist. Were you surprised by Callum's plans for our group of rebels?

29. Jess and Brendan switch places and, for better or worse, Jess lets his friends get captured. What do you think he's planning to do now that he is impersonating Brendan? Do you think it will work?

30. Well, we definitely ended on a cliffhanger! What do you think is in store for the next installment of The Great Library series? Do you think that our group will survive until the end?

Would any of these work?

Discussion Questions day 4
Chapters 8 and 9

20. Travel between location in many case have been covered with just a brief description indicating how the travelers got to the new location. Why do you think the author included the sea travel in more detail?

It wasn't necessarily more detailed, though I suppose she dwelled on it a bit more. I think it was mostly because there was a bit of plotting done along the way that the author wanted us to see. And sea travel is a lot more fun to describe than just walking/driving somewhere, in my opinion :)


21. Why do you think the Artifex Magnus sent Rafa with the message to Khalila and the group? Did he really trust Rafa or was Rafa set up to be killed and be made an object lesson?

Oh, Rafa was definitely just a means to an end. He was there to distract the group long enough for the pride of automaton lionesses to kill them all. The Library doesn't even care about the people who are loyal to them, at this point. They just want the group of rebels dead.

22. Nicolo Santi shot an automaton in the head and it stopped moving. Do you think he knew what he was doing or was it an act of desperation?

Thomas told the group that there was a vital bundle of cables located in the forehead, but he said the shot would have to be pretty precise. Santi took that information and his skills and used it to the best advantage.

23. The group is now back with the Brightwell clan in England. How do you expect this to end?

Things are going to get ugly. From what Brendan is implying, Callum plans to sell them all to the highest bidder. They need to start planning an escape and soon. Though Jess and Dario seem to be cooking something up...

24. Nicolo Santi and Wolfe are more open in their affection, before it could have been attributed to a close friendship, but now it is clearly a loving relationship. Why are they more open now? How does this new openness affect how you feel about them?

Since the end of the first book, I've always seen their relationship as a loving one. I think they are more open in the moment because they are (relatively) safe for the moment and they've just been through a pretty harrowing experience. I know I'd hold my husband a little closer after living through something like that and I wouldn't be thinking about being discreet. I feel the exact same way about them as I did before this scene. I enjoy them both.

25. Callum is belittling of Jess. Why do you think he is? Does he intend it to encourage him to do better (in Callum's view) or does he truly not see the true worthiness of Jess?

Callum is a bastard who only cares about himself. He sees other people as objects to obtain what he wants and he doesn't care if they are family or not. The only reason he protects his family so much is because he sees any attack on them as an attack on himself. I dislike Callum immensely....

July 18 – Discussion Questions
Chapters 5-7

14. Glain and Jess discover someone tried to murder Wolfe and Santi under cover of the library bombing. Who do you think it might be and why?

I definitely think it was Beck. Beck is trying to dwindle the numbers of the prisoners and he's trying to gain the upperhand. I think, by killing Wolfe and Santi, he thinks that the others will lose any fight they had in them.

15. The total destruction of Philadelphia came mere hours after Jess' and Thomas' printing press demonstration. Is it possible this is connected and there might be a spy in the Philadelphia camp ? Or do you think it was Brendon who somehow organised the bombing to help cover Jess and his friends' escape?

It seems like it's something that Brendan pulled off somehow. Maybe he leaked that Jess and the others were there? I always thought the Library would destroy the city if they found out that they were. Two birds with one stone and all that.

16. "Da wants you with us. Fortress. Generously agreed to give all your friends shelter" Jess is suspect of his father's motive's for wanting them to stay with him. Do think he should be? Do you think he genuinely wants to help them or an ulterior motive?

Yes! Callum Brightwell doesn't do anything without having an ulterior motive. I'm not sure what it might be, but I don't think it's a good idea to trust him. He's already shown that he can't be trusted, after all.

17. The doctor escaped with them. Do you think he will play a further part in the story? Or do you think this is the last we will see of him?

I'm kind of hoping he will play a further role in the story. I like the doctor and they could use a medic while they are on the run. I'm sure there are plenty more injuries in their near future. Of course, he probably won't want to leave the other people who escaped from the city. Either way, I like his character.

18. "...as a precaution against inclement weather, rations were being cut. For the present, only the ill,elderly, and very young were to be fed." Can you imagine having to live (or survive) like this? Do you think Morgan meant to kill the burners' crops or do you think it really was just an unintended consequence? Had the city not been destroyed do you think they would have starved to death instead? Either way do you think the city would have been destroyed had not the group been brought to the city?

I don't think Morgan intentionally ruined the crops. There's no way she would knowingly condemn all the people there to starve to death. She's not cruel like that. With no crops, there's no way they could have survived. Smugglers can only sneak in so much and it wouldn't have ended well. I don't think the city would have been destroyed so soon if the group hadn't been there, but I think it would have eventually been destroyed by the Great Library.

19. "You have to be ready to win. Not just die in a blaze of glory." Do you think its possible that some of the group do not believe they can win but are just here to go out in a blaze fighting? Do you think they can win? What to do you think will happen next?

I think there might be a few *coughDARIOcough* that think they have no chance of winning. I think they have a very hard fight ahead of them, but I think they have a chance if they are smart about their next moves. I can see why this series is being extended... there's no way that you could fit in the fight they are going to have to engage in into three books! I'm thinking the group is going to go into hiding, for now, so that they can plan their next move.

Discussion Questions - Day 5: Chapters 20 - 25

26. I was surprised by the addition of Ethalia to the story. It seemed to come out of the blue. I never thought Falcio would leave with her and that he loved her after only knowing her for a few hours. Did you think it was ever a possibility for Falcio to actually go with her and live on her island? Is there anything that would cause Falcio to abandon his quest and his companions?

I didn't think there was ever a chance that Falcio would go with her to her island. I'm sure it was tempting, but Falcio is nothing if not stubborn. He has been stuck on this quests for years and I don't think anything will be able to dissuade him from it. It would have to be something pretty drastic and that he considers more important than his geas.

27. Falcio and Aline end up leaving Rijou after her name is called at the Rock. Did you have doubts that would happen? At the Rock, Aline is called by her mother's rather than her father's name. I doubt her father is her mother's husband. Who do you think may be her father as there has been some foreshadowing with talk of her mother cheating on her husband?

I had some pretty major doubts that they were both going to get out of there alive. I felt a little better after they picked up Monster, but they were surrounded by potential hostiles. I won't answer the second part of this question because I got curious about the rest of this series and, in looking at the summaries, kind of spoiled myself, heh...

28. Throughout the story I keep thinking about the first chapter and the woman with a magical powder that killed the man Falcio and the rest were protecting. Kest seems to think that woman was Valiana but I think it was actually Trin. I also think there is something suspicious about her relationship with Valiana. It wouldn't surprise me if Trin was actually the real princess and Valiana her stand in. What do you think of Trin and her attempts to integrate herself in Falcio's personal life? Do you think that she has an ulterior motive?

I've been thinking something along those lines for awhile now. The author keeps mentioning how much they look alike and it makes me wonder if they are switching places. Perhaps Trin is the real princess or maybe Valiana parades as Trin to get closer to Falcio? I'm not sure... I would like to think Trin doesn't have an ulterior motive because I like her, but I'm really not sure.

29. Aline might have some "powers" or magic in her. She detected the bandits that were approaching the caravan and talked about how Falcio and Cunien were "talking" with their swords while fighting. What do you make of her? Do you think there is something special about her?

I definitely think there is something special about Aline. I know one thing for sure, but I think there's even more to her than that. Perhaps she does have a touch of magic.

30. Where do you think the story goes from here? Will Falcio and his companions stay with Valiana? Will there be more attempts at their lives? Do you have a theory about the "charoites" Falcio needs to find and what they are?

I think they will stick with Valiana because they don't want to be blacklisted from caravans. After this whole ordeal is over, they do still have to find work, after all. There will most definitely be more attempts on their life. I feel like the Duchess is plotting something. Why would she demand that her own daughter go with so little protection? I would ask why she would want her own daughter dead, but she's a pretty sick woman. And I have no idea on what Falcio's charoites might actually be or what they are going to do if they ever find them.

I'm loving the Great Library series, so I'm happy to get us the extra points :) Here's the link for my review for Paper & Fire: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

We're in the middle of moving right now, so I'm trying to catch up with all the BOMS/Buddy Reads, lol. I'm almost done with Traitor's Blade and I'm about halfway through Ash & Quill. Two great books, so far!

I think we can definitely hold on to second. You guys rock!