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

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

I really enjoyed this book! I fell more in love with the characters in this book. There was a lot of character development, which I really enjoyed. The story was good and kept me engaged. It started off kind of slow for me, but once it kicked in, I was completely enthralled. Also... (view spoiler)[I knew Thomas wasn't dead! I knew it! I'm so happy Thomas is back! And Morgan! I freakin' love Morgan :D (hide spoiler)]

It ended on a major cliffhanger, which usually drives me crazy, but, thankfully, the third book just came out and I'm already deep into it. I really enjoy the world of the Great Library that Rachel Caine has created.

July 17 – Discussion Questions
Chapters 3-4

7. Why do you think the Library allowed the Burners to keep/rule Philadelphia for so long? How does this benefit the Library?

I think it concentrates the main power of the Burners in one, easy to find place. And perhaps they actually think they'll be able to starve them out. The Library is pretty arrogant.

8. The description of the doctor immediately made me think of a Native American Medicine man or Shaman; so I wasn’t surprised to learn he had Obscurist powers and was trained by the Library. What did you think about the doctor; what do you think his intentions are? Will he be a help or a hindrance to “the prisoners”?

I like the doctor. I think he is less about helping the Burner's cause and more about just helping people in need. He doesn't like the Library (which I don't blame him), but he's also not hell-bent on it's destruction. He just wants to take care of sick people. I think he will be a help. He already warned Jess that Beck was trying to recruit Morgan.

9. Dr. Askuwheteau’s statement to Morgan – “Don’t do as much as you think you can. Power is like fire. It will turn on you in an instant, if you fail to respect it. I’ve seen it happen. And, you? If you burn, you’ll burn fast.” Do you think this was just a warning to be careful or more? Do you think it was foreshadowing of things to come?

I think it was a little of both. He was warning her because he's seen it happen and knows the risks. And it seems like Morgan has decided to totally disregard this warning, so it may turn out to be pretty prophetic.

10. Santi is in very bad shape by the description of his burn and the statements by Dr. Askuwheteau; apparently, it is quite a feat that he has survived this long. What do you think Santi’s fate will be? Will he be saved by the doctor and Morgan’s gift or do you think that the group is holding onto false hope? If he does survive, what do you see as his role going forward?

I honestly thought they were just going to chop his arm off. At this point, that might be better for Santi... I'm really hoping he's going to survive because A) I like him a lot and B) Wolfe will be a useless, reckless mess if anything happens to Santi. I see his role remaining basically the same if he manages to survive, though probably less physical. He still has a brilliant mind for strategy.

11. Jess easily spotted the mark (two parallel lines and a circle) that signified a tunnel controlled by smugglers. Dario easily spotted the entrance to the tunnel. Do you think it is a working tunnel or there as a trap? The Burners are likely looking for an excuse to call them traitors and make examples of them (according to Glain). Do you think that anyone would be exempt from being killed if they were caught in one of the traps? Why or why not?

It's obviously a trap. Like Jess said, the entrance is too easily spotted. What kind of smuggler would want a tunnel that even Dario can find? If they tried using it and got caught, I think the only people to survive would be Morgan (because she's an Obscurist) and Thomas (because they want his press/designs). Thomas might not even survive if they try to escape after the press is built, though they may still keep him long enough to get the designs. And they might possibly keep one of the Scholars to finish translating the books, but I seriously doubt it.

12. The imfamous press. It has been thwarted many times by the Library in the past. What is so threatening about it, not just to the Library, but to everyone? Will Thomas and Jess actually manufacture a working press for the Burners?

The Library can't control all the information in the world if people can freely print it themselves. And the Library does so love having control. I don't think it's particularly threatening to other people, but it can definitely make them an even bigger target. With Thomas there, I think they'll end up making a working press, even with the limited supplies.

13. Have you any idea what their plan is for escaping Philadelphia and how the press will help them? Do you think the press is just another distraction? Do you think everyone will make it out?

I think the press is a distraction. They are trying to find some way through the wall, be it the Ray of Apollo or Morgan tampering with the scripts the previous Obscurist left. If they can find the real smuggling tunnel, they might try and use that. Either way, I honestly don't think all of them are going to make it...

Questions and Comments - Ch 1 & 2

1. If the last book ends with a cliffhanger, this one starts with a punch, don't you agree? Both the Ephemeras don't bode well for our group. And the beginning of the action? The show of burning blanks and robes? Yeah, friendship, right. Not even alliance comes to mind.

I do agree! I figured it would, though, after the last books ending. They are definitely going to have a tough time of it with Beck and the Burners in Pennsylvania. And reading about all those books burning (even if they were just blanks) hurt my heart :(

2. So, swallowing a hairpin or key is nothing new but seeing it described made me sure I'd never be able to pull it off. Yuck. But Khalila is still as surprising as ever. That little trick to defend her hijab? Amazing!!!

I seriously gagged while reading that part, lol. I couldn't do it! Smart move for Jess, though. And I love Khalila so much! I was PISSED at that guard until she put him in his place. Yanking her hijab off like that... I would have kicked some @$$, too.

3. "When all the world is a lock, boy, you don’t make a key. You become a key."
This doesn't reassure me as much as it did Jess. Because hairpin against a bunch of old sturdy lock? Sometimes Golias does win.

Yeah, I didn't think a hairpin would actually work on those locks, but he somehow made it happen! Still not too sure how feasible that would be, but I'm gonna let it slide, lol.

4. Wait. Plan. Pretend to work with them. Have some bargaining chips. Gaaa! Looks like a chess play and I suck at them!! I also hate to see the way they're treated. They should be welcomed and cherished. They want to change how the Library works. Why can't the burners see that? Too deep in the fanatic thinking?

The Burners want change, but they want complete and total change. They don't want to reform the Great Library... they want to destroy it. Even though the rebellion sprang from the same idea, they have a much more violent end-plan than our protagonists. I'm hoping they can at least make *some* of the Burners see reason.

5. I'm wondering how long it would take for the word to spread that they're at the Burners' stronghold and how focus on their destruction are the archivist and company to do exactly what they have been avoiding so far? The city seems so easy to destroy. And Santi is down. I think their escaping changes just went from very low to none.

Jess mentioned at some point that if the Archivist discovers they are at the Burner stronghold, they are pretty much doomed. The Great Library has been wanting to destroy Beck and his followers for awhile and with the added incentive of getting rid of Jess and his friends, I think they'll make it happen. Hopefully they find a way to get out of there before that happens!

6. Thoughts about the book so far? I was expecting a roller-coaster, bust since it changed from the trilogy finale to the middle book of a series, I suspect there will be a LOT of new questions and events and no answers. What about you?

...This isn't going to be a trilogy anymore? Man! I was hoping for a nice wrap up in this book! But I'm also kind of excited that we get to stick with this world for a little bit longer. There certainly have been some crazy stuff happening already and we're only through the second chapter, lol. I'm enjoying it, but now I do wonder if we're just going to get a bunch more questions and not enough answers for my liking. I guess we'll see!

SET 4 - July 16
Discussion Questions Day 4: Chapters 15 - 19

20. Where there is life, there is hope.
Do you belive this statement or do you think there is ever a situation where you would actually consume the soft candy?

I wouldn't be able to do it. I have to much hope in me to just give up. I believe in that statemenr wholeheartedly. Still, I can understand where Aline is coming from... she's young and she's terrified of what they will do to her once they find her.

21. The King is a man with a vision - a vision of a land ruled by justice, with the Greatcoats serving as his agents of delivery. There seems to be a big disconnect between delivering Justice and obeying the Law - serving one doesn't always (often?) serve the other. The King is trying to deliver justice via the Greatcoats (rendering judgement as a solution vs a punishishment) to achieve the change he envisions - using a chaotic good force (the Greatcoats) instead of a lawful good (knights) one - what do you see as his obstacles and chances?

His biggest obstacle are the dukes and their unwillingness to embrace change. They have power and they want to hold on to every last bit of it. And if the other dukes are anything like that piece of work Duchess we get introduced to later, they think of the subjects as objects to be owned. They'll never understand the need for justice as long as that is their way of thinking. The chances, right now, are looking rather grim, but I have hope!

22. We meet Tailor again - (her role reminds me of the Weaver in The Fionavar Tapestry.) Now learning that she is Aline's nanny, are you starting to think again about Aline's role in the story? Do you think the Tailor is phychic, more than human, or just imbued with magic?

I am starting to wonder if Aline is far more important than we have been led to believe. I want to be as awesome as the Tailor when I'm her age! I could see her being somewhat magical, yes.

23. Speaking of magic, it's touch has been very subtle in the book so far, like simple tracking spells. Do you think magic will become more important as the narrative proceeds? Do you think it needs to?

I feel like magic is more as a background force as opposed to something that will play a huge role in the story. I'm sure it will continue to be used throughout the book, but I feel like it will remain subtle or in the background. I don't really think it needs to play more of a part, no. The story is moving along just fine without it.

24. The fight with the Dashini seems to be another example of words besting the might of life-long fighting skills - do you think the tactic Falcio took with the pair of Dashini would really have worked, or worked enough? (I'll admit, I am still a tad skeptical about this ;) )

Super skeptical!! These assassins are trained literally from birth and they fell for that?!? I don't buy it. Still, I did enjoy that fight scene. This author has a way of making me enjoy super unbelievable circumstances.

25. Honestly, I was hoping I wouldn't get this chapter for the DQs - I found it absolutely brutal. Anytime I am presented with the last of of a creature, its existence is already shaded with melancholy. What the Duchess did to the Fey horse was so over the top abominable, and the fact that she destroyed the rest of the herd as well? She has topped Ramsay Bolton within one chapter.
Ok, the question: The Duchess tried to make the fey horse utterly destructive and malicious, and failed. How does someone get to be like the Duchess? Do you think she cares about anything? Do you think she will be the big baddie for the trilogy? (You can answer these questions or use this space to vent on the Duchess if you'd rather.)

UGH, THE DUCHESS. I haven't hated a character this much since Umbridge!! (Umbridge still wins in the hate category, but she is trying her hardest to take the crown). Anyways, I don't know why she's such a miserable... witch, but I definitely see her becoming our big bad guy for this series. She's one of those characters that is so awful that you yearn to see them get their comeuppance, but the author withholds it for forever!!! Good example: Joffrey. I keep wishing for Falcio's rapiers to magically appear so he can stab her in her stupid face! As for whether or not she cares about anything, she certainly cares about power. I think that's about as far as her caring extends, though. Did I mention I hate her? Ugh...

Paper and Fire
Read: 16 July 2017
Pages: 354
Rating: ★★★★

Discussion Questions Day 3: Chapters 12-14

14. After seeing the house of the Tiarren family was burned down despite assurances that the family would be protected, Falcio said that he didn't think Princess Valiana was evil, but " much worse". What are your thoughts on that? Do you agree with Falcio

I felt like he said that because she is ignorant of the damage she can inflict by "playing" princess. I don't think he gives her enough credit, honestly. She's kind of awful at times, but I don't think she genuinely means to hurt people. Still... I can see why Falcio thinks the way he does.


15. The little girl who survived the Tiarren fire is named Aline like Falcio's dead wife. Do you think that is more than a coincidence? Why or why not?

I can't see how it could be anything else but a coincidence at this point. It's not like Aline lived long enough to produce a kid.


16. I was surprised to learn that the order not to fight when the Dukes came for King Paelis came from the King himself. Why do you think the King made Falcio do that knowing it would likely mean his death?

I think he did it for the reasons that he stated: there was no way any of them were getting out of there alive if the Greatcoats tried to fight for their king. I think King Paelis felt like his ideals would at least live on if he made them stand down even though he himself was going to die.


17. When Falcio meets the "New Greatcoats", it didn't go so well. Do you think we've seen the last of Lorenzo and his troop?

Oh, definitely not. Lorenzo doesn't seem the type to take being humiliated very well. Teaching him a lesson is going to come back and bite Falcio in some way or another.


18. Do you think Falcio was right in fighting Lorenzo? What do you think you would have done in Falcio's shoes?

Yes, I think he was right in fighting Lorenzo. Lorenzo was being a show off and unnecessarily cruel, but still styling himself as a leader of an offshoot of a group Falcio cherishes. He wasn't holding up the Greatcoat ideals at all... he just wanted to play at swords. If I were in Falcio's shoes (and as skilled as he is, haha) I would have definitely done the same thing.


19. By the end Chapter 14 we are halfway through this novel and the story has had a lot twists, turns, and revelations. Where do think the story is going to go from here?

I'm always bad at these questions. I'm really hoping that Falcio makes some progress on his quest, though this is the first book in a series, so who knows if anything will actually be resolved. And I'm really hoping both he and Aline make it through the coming week!

Day 2 Questions - July 13
Chapters 7 - 11

8. In this section, the characters are given more substance. We find out more about Valiana and Feltock, we see Bal again, and we get to know the Greatcoats a little more. Which character is most appealing or believable to you? Which character do you see yourself most like?

I really like Kest, though I don't see myself reflected in him. I also really like Falcio and I can see myself in him a little better. Minus the insane anger management issues... But he seems like the one that takes care of business and tries to uphold what he believes in (even when it would be easy to give in and become the scoundrel that everyone believes the Greatcoats to be) and I can definitely relate to that.

9. In chapter 7, Feltock and Falcio have a conversation about what happened the day the King was murdered. Feltock said he was demoted because he "forgot to laugh." What are your thoughts on this? What do you think he meant? Do you think it showed disloyalty to the Dukes?

I think he didn't get any enjoyment out of killing the King or being part of the coupe. Maybe he didn't really believe in the Dukes' cause, but he knew that the King was fighting a losing battle? Or he sees nothing funny about killing, no matter what side he is on. I'm sure the Dukes would have interpreted it as disloyalty. They are a strange bunch.

10. What are your thoughts on the continued arguments Brasti, Kest, and Falcio have concerning fulfilling his quest to find the charoites? Why do you think they have different viewpoints on what is most important?

I think they have different viewpoints because they have different backgrounds. I think Kest and Brasti consider Falcio's quest to be foolhardy, at best, and they don't believe in it nearly as much as he does. Falcio was a lot closer to the King, however, so I can understand why he feels like he has to finish this last mission.

11. Valiana is the daughter of two powerful Dukes, one of whom helped kill King Paelis. However, it is still unclear who's side she's on, given Kest's opinion and what she does later concerning the Tiarren family. Will she turn out to be on the Dukes' side or the Greatcoats' side? Explain your reasoning.

I honestly don't know. I'm still feeling Valiana out. She wants power, but it's yet to be seen whether she wants it just because she wants to be powerful or because she wants to actually do some good in the world. I'm hoping it's the latter... she's had moments where I didn't want to shove her off a bridge. I also have this funny feeling that she sometimes switches places with her handmaiden... mostly because the fact that they look eerily similar has been mentioned way too many times. I feel like it has to be important at some point.

12. I have been really intrigued by and appreciative of the author's writing style, dry humor, and story building. What are your thoughts on how the story has been built, flashbacks intertwined and all? How about the dry humor and witty banter?

I'm enjoying this author's writing style and the fact that we're getting flashbacks intermixed with current events. I feel like the story has a good pace and I'm definitely invested in what may happen next. And I'm always a fan of dry humor and witty banter :D

13. What is something you still have unanswered questions about after having read this section?

Ugh, all the things. Mainly, though, I want to know why the Greatcoats didn't protect the King if they loved him so much? Whhhhyyyy?!?

Emily wrote: "@Teddie, I liked it fairly well. Really good premise, pretty good plot/action. I had a few problems with the plot mechanics, like where I didn't think things made sense within the story, but overal..."

I didn't notice that when I initially read it, but that does seem odd that there wouldn't be more representation from places other than Western Europe.

12 July Discussion Questions
Chapters 1-6

1. The 3 Greatcoats were hired as bodyguards. It sounds strange they say torture and making love sounds the same, what do you think? Is it strange they didn't realize earlier what was going on?

I suppose it depends on the noises one makes while having sex, but I've never thought of that comparison. I guess if there's a lot of groaning involved... maybe? Still, I would think the sounds of pain would be distinctive enough to tell the difference. I definitely think they should have checked on our their charge sooner than they did.

2. What do you make of the strange errands Falcio had to do for his mother when he was a boy? What do you think is the reason she send him away from the house? Why do you think this is one the childhood memories that is shared with us?

My first thought was maybe she was running a sort of business out of her home that she didn't want him to see (prostitution, illegal goods, or something). Then he mentioned how she was still waiting for her husband that had abandoned them and I thought maybe Falcio reminds her of that man too much. It was an interesting childhood memory to share. I wonder if it will somehow come into play later on.

3. Why do you think Bal told Falcio that legend said the Greatcoats wold be back again soon? Was he just trying to entertain a child or did he had other motives? Bal was important to Falcio as a child. Do you think we will see him again?

I think he told Falcio that story to give him something to believe in and to give him hope for a better life. We might see Bal again, though I didn't get that vibe.

4. The Greatcoats are called tatter-cloaks because they didn't stand by their king. Even though the kind was said to be a tyrant, people think badly of the Greatcoats. What do you make of this? Why would the Greatcoats not help their king?

People seem to value honor highly in this place, so I can see them thinking badly of people who essentially abandoned ship right when things got dicey. Of course, Falcio made a remark that Greatcoats are beholden to the King's Law and not necessarily the King. Maybe they were holding true to the law when they stood aside? Falcio obviously thought highly of the king, so I find it hard to believe he was a tyrant. But perhaps Falcio viewed him with rose-tinted glasses. I'm still trying to figure that mystery out.

5. What do you think made Kest pick up the sword when he was twelve years old? Do you think we will learn the reason along the way?

He seems a practical sort, so perhaps he realized that he would one day have to take over when his father died, so he finally decided to learn? Or perhaps he couldn't defend someone he loved and they got hurt? I do hope we learn the reason because I find his character very intriguing!

6. Do you think joining the caravan was a good call? Why would the lady offer to hire them if their leader wins in a 1 to 5 fight?

Well, now that they are heading in the completely opposite direction from where they were headed, maybe not. Then again, it seems like they could potentially pick up some allies (Blondie did help them in the fight, after all) and perhaps they can gather more information about these gems that Falcio seeks. Not sure how I feel about the lady, herself... she seems shady... But I think she required the fight for the reason that Falcio mentioned: to test his abilities.

7. Why does the lady demand them to drop their weapons when the knight and his men want to "prosecute" the Greatcoats? And why do you think sing the song convinced the caravan men to help them?

She wanted to appear in compliance since it doesn't seem like a good idea to get on a Duke's bad side. And I think she was fairly confident that they would win. I think the song helped because it made them realize they were fighting a common foe (merchants don't seem very buddy-buddy with the dukes).

Camilla wrote: "I'm off to Greece early tomorrow morning, will be there for a week. I should have free wifi at the hotel, so I'll try to get my books shelved. If it doesn't work, I'll just report them when I'm bac..."

I hope you have a pleasant trip, Camilla :)

I just got Paper and Fire in the mail on Saturday and Ash and Quill should be here today :D I volunteered for DQs for the buddy read, as well. I've already read Ink and Bone and I don't know if I'll have time to re-read it before the end of TTV, but I'm definitely going to read the other two!

My copy will be here tomorrow! I'd like to sign up for DQs for Team Millennium Falcon :)

Tower Team - Millennium Falcon

I absolutely love your Great Library series and I'm crazy excited that you have other series I can explore. Which series have you enjoyed writing the most, so far? And will there be any new series in the near future?

@Ivy - Yay for being snake-free :)

@Samantha - Have a great trip!

And it looks like our fearless captain, Teddie, got picked for DQs for our next BOM :D Yay for extra points!

Discussion Questions - July 8
Chapter 29 - end

31. Carrie and Lo seem to find some common ground, and Carrie leaves the Winnie the Pooh book for her. Do you have a comfort book like this? What books do you think of fondly from your childhood?

Actually, my mom used to read me Winnie the Pooh when I was a baby, so that is my most cherished childhood book. I wouldn't say it's a comfort book (I've never even read it for myself *hangs head in shame*), but I do have fond memories of it. I don't think I really have a comfort book... Books and reading in general are comforting to me.

32. Carrie spills all of the plot to Lo before switching identities. Did you suspect she was masquerading as Anne prior to the reveal? And do you think Richard killed Anne as part of his plan to be with Carrie or do you believe it was an accident?

I suspected Anne was involved some how (I figured she might be in danger) but I didn't suspect the woman in cabin 10 and "Anne" were the same person until she wiped off her makeup. Richard killed Anne cause he wanted her money and for no other reason. Richard is a bastard.

33. Lo has a close escape with Richard and barely makes it to the hotel. Would you have had the courage to try to make it across the verandas? In that situation would you have tried something else?

I have a fear of heights, so absolutely not. I probably would have just died on that ship, lol. I dunno know, though... when you're afraid for your life, you can do some incredible things. Perhaps I would have plucked up the courage to climb over the railing. After all, the ship was about to leave port and then she would have had no other choice than to try and hide somewhere on the ship until they docked again.

34. When the hotel manager calls Richard, Lo runs for it. Barefoot and terrified, she comes across a police officer. When he reaches for his glove box, she runs again. Do you think she was justified in running, or do you think this was a result of her paranoia? Would you have taken your chances and gone with him?

Hell yes I think she was justified in running! She asked that man to call the police and he called Richard instead! And he said that the Bullmer's were regular guests, so I'm sure Richard had him in his pocket. And the police officer, though maybe not in Richard's pocket, was getting the hotel clerk's version of events from dispatch. So, yeah, she made the right decision. I think I would have done the same thing that she did, though I would have played it a little differently at the hotel (try not to bring up the Bullmer's name or something to that effect).

35. Lo finally finds shelter and drops in exhaustion. When Konrad discovers her and she gets to his phone, she calls Judah, not her parents or the authorities. Did you find this surprising? Who would you call in that situation.

She's been thinking about Judah for pretty much this entire trip/ordeal, so I wasn't too surprised she called him first. If I were in a similar situation, I would call my husband before I called my parents. I figure, she was stressed and injured and exhausted, so she didn't want to talk to a lot of family, so she called Judah who could then relay the message for her. At least, that would be my thought process in calling my husband first.

36. The action really gets going in the remainder of the book after some really slow pacing up until now. Did the slow pacing and details add to the suspense for you? And did you feel the switch in pacing worked for the novel?

The slow pacing was okay, at first, but I found myself getting bored towards the middle of the book. It didn't really add to the suspense for me. I did enjoy the switch in pace, however, and I really enjoyed the last bit of the book.

37. There were a couple of surprises at the very end. Were you surprised at which boat companions reached out and left her messages? And were you surprised by the reveal of the bank deposit and Richard's death?

I was a little surprised by Tina's reaching out since she didn't seem to particularly care for Lo, but the others made sense. Chloe was always nice to Lo when she encountered her on the boat and Ben obviously cares for Lo, though he's still pretty sleazy. I was definitely surprised that Richard was the other body found and that (view spoiler)[Carrie not only killed him but somehow got access to some of his money. Way to go, Carrie! (hide spoiler)]

38. Overall thoughts of the book? Will you read more by this author?

The book was okay, but not my favorite. Like I said, I started getting bored towards the middle of the book and it didn't really pick up until the last bit. There's also the fact that I really didn't enjoy the main character until the last bit of the book, as well. Still, it was good enough that I'm interested in reading this author's other book.

The Woman in Cabin 10
Read: 7 July 2017
Pages: 340
BOM: My input
Rating: ★★★

Duma Key
Read: 7 July 2017
Pages: 611
Rating: ★★★★★

Discussion Questions Day 5 (July 7)
Chapters 22-28

25. Ch 22 is where the action starts. Before now, the pace seemed slow but steady. In this section, things heat up considerably. Are you satisfied with the pace before and during this section? Why or why not?

I thought the pace before this chapter was okay (like you said, slow but steady) but I'm glad it's been kicked up a notch! It does seem like everything happened all at once, though, lol. After all that plodding along BAM everything is in your face. Of course, there isn't much book left, so that might be why.

26. In chapter 23, Lo tries to solve the mystery, trying to figure out who is the murderer, and, equally important, who had died that night. During this chapter (before Lo figures it out), who did you think was the murderer, and who had died? Share your reasoning.

I honestly had no idea. When she saw the woman from cabin 10 was still alive, I thought maybe she had stumbled on something else. Maybe a drug drop or something. But I didn't figure out what was coming until right before Lo did, heh. I did not have my investigator cap on during this book.

27. While Lo tries to solve the murder, answers all her questions, and talk to the girl, she has fewer panic attacks. However, there’s a nasty negative voice in her head trying to convince her she’ll die and continuing to give her hopeless thoughts. Do you think the change is realistic? Is it a side effect of the withdrawals from her anti-depressants?

It seems realistic to me, but this is coming from a person who has never experienced a panic attack in her life. I honestly probably wouldn't handle that situation any better than Lo.

28. Lo’s plan to get the girl on her side seems to have backfired, and she’s stuck for over several hours or more without food, entertainment, or even human interaction. How would you pass the time, and how long do you think it would take for you to go crazy?

Probably in the same way: making up little mental games. Maybe I would sing to myself. I do that under normal circumstances, so why not? I could probably handle the isolation a lot longer than I could handle the hunger. That would make me snap real quick.

29. Judah receives word that traces of Lo’s clothes were found. Do you think he believes she’s really dead? Do you?

I think he believes it at this point, but I'm not sure. It seems like it would be too obvious if it's actually Lo. Perhaps Lo will escape but Richard Bullmer wants everyone to think she's dead, so he kills the woman and dresses her up as Lo? I dunno...

30. At the end of this section, Lo thinks Richard Bullmer is the murderer. If this is true (I honestly don’t know, I haven’t read ahead yet), there are still unanswered questions about Ben. Do you think he is an accomplice? Why or why not?

At this point, I don't think Ben is involved. It seems like this is something Richard Bullmer cooked up on his own. Of course, maybe he used Ben to do his dirty work? He doesn't seem like the type to actually kill someone he wanted dead. He just organizes it.

6 July Discussion Questions
Chapters 18-21

20. Lo sees a picture on Cole's camera of who she thinks is the woman in cabin 10. Cole's camera then ends up in the hot tub. Who do you think knocked it into the water? Do you think it was an accident, like Cole claims, or was it done on purpose?

21. Lo and Ben encounter Alexander in the hallway and he mentions that he saw a woman exiting Ben's cabin the night of the murder/disappearence. Do you think it was our missing woman? Or perhaps Alexander is just trying to create drama?

22. Richard Bullmer finally hears Lo's account of what's going on and seems to be taking her seriously. Do you think he's actually going to help Lo or do you think he might be in on the plot?

23. And now Lo's phone is missing! I'm assuming someone stole it because they're going to be in a port soon and will probably have internet access. But then I thought that wouldn't much matter since she was planning on going to talk to the police and there would presumably be a way for her to contact people in Trondheim. Why do you think her phone was stolen? Is it to keep her from contacting anyone or just to scare her?

24. Well, they are almost to Trondheim. What do you think is going to happen once they reach the port?

Teddie wrote: "Welcome to Wednesday MF-ers!

In case you didn't see, they are going to be doing a special mini-challenge in July. This is the only we have at the moment:

Just a heads up, we're going to have a mi..."

I loooooooved the first book! It had an interesting premise, I liked quite a few of the characters, and it kept my interest throughout the entire book. Loved it! I haven't read the second one but I've been meaning to for quite some time. Of course, I plan on reading the third one, as well :) Perhaps this is just the incentive I need...