Judith’s Comments (group member since Apr 15, 2015)

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

Sounds good Melanie!

Hard to believe there is less than 20 hours to go in TT 2025

It’s been great captaining this team, you all made it easy and it helped that my co-captains are also awesome

I can switch with you Catherine

Steven wrote: "I was going to try to squeeze in a 500+ pager as my last book, but Housemaid 2 was calling to me. So I guess that’ll be my last read for the challenge. I’m so sad it’s over 😭"

Wheels will be happening later this year in the fall, so keep a look out for sign ups in a couple months ;)

Same here!

I'm glad you are starting to feel better!

Finished our tour of Greece and made a quick hop over to Italy!

Author born in Italy
Red, White and Green on cover
character uses their hands a lot (your interpretation)
character is religious
pasta on cover
letters VESPA in title (any order)
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Judith BOM Tracking

Day 1: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Day 2: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Day 3: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Day 4: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Day 5: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Day 6: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

DQs Day 6 : Chapters 34 - end

22. Within this section, we learn more about the dappleglass. What about the dappleglass do you find realistic? What is unrealistic about this plant?
Nothing really seems all that realistic but then this is a fantasy world where people use body morphs and worry about contagions. So I honestly didn't spend a lot of time thinking about.

23. What did you think of the secrets Ana and Din told each other in the “darkest hour.”
Not that surprising to be honest but it was nice to have the air cleared between them.

24. Were you expecting the answer to the mystery as Ana revealed it?
Yes, well. I was close enough on the big things anyway.

25. What were some of your favorite parts of the book? Was there anything you would have changed?
I loved the relationship between Ana and Din and how it evolved over the course of the book.

26. How likely are you to read the next book in the series? If you have read the series, are there other books by Robert Bennett that you have read and would recommend?
Definitely will be reading the next book.

DQs Day 5

Chapters: 26 - 33


17. We learn more about the world and the empire’s rules in these chapters. What part of this world feels the most unusual or fascinating to you? Would you want to live there?
All of the body morphs and this isn't a world I'd be jumping to be a part of, it's a bit too, let's saying exciting for my tastes.

18. Power and control come up again in these chapters—especially with the way information is kept or revealed. Why do you think certain characters hide things, and what does that tell us about them?
Power and control drive many things. As does greed. At the levels of politics a lot of things were happening at in this book, secrets translate into power more often than not.

19. We are introduced to Fayazi Haza and her Sublimes in this section. What was your opinion of these characters? Did you notice anything interesting about them?
Honestly they were creepy as all get out.

20. “Born into systems beyond our control, into relationships and organisations that obligate us to change…”
How do these lines reflect the pressure felt by characters like Jolgalgan or Din during these chapters? Who seems trapped by expectations, and how do they respond?
Limited options to advance and make a living drives people to tough tradeoffs. Losing your home and then realizing it could of been saved but for the greed of a single family? That could fuel a lot of rage.

21. 17. As Din gathers evidence around the Haza family’s estate, water tanks, and engineer gatherings, he begins seeing clear connections. What moment in these chapters felt most like a turning point in understanding the conspiracy and why did it stand out to you?
Honestly it was when we learned where Jolgalgan was from. Pieces started falling into place there.

Bonus: When Din is talking to Fayazi Haza in Chapter 28, he says, ”Last time they communicated to the staff at your household by throwing a yellow ball over the walls.”
I searched the ENTIRE book and never found any other reference to this “yellow ball”. What do you think of this? Is it a way of getting new information to the readers or do you think this got missed in editing? Or did I miss something? 😊

That should be or. Just one of those states

I’ve read that trilogy Erin, it’s very good

Thank you Linda!

Fixed it, thanks Linda :)

Oh whoops, that was a typo on the mods part.

DQs Day 4: Chapters 21-25

12. At the start of this section, Din is experiencing some type of battle shock after the fight, and Strovi helps him deal with the situation. He’s quite gentle and especially after their drinks earlier with the whole “we’re too formal” thing, do you think he’s (romantically) interested in Din? Or what else could be going on there? Do you trust him or do you think he’s spying on them, especially as it’s revealed he’s gentry?
I trust him and think he might be interested in Din. But I like that it's just sort of floating there in the background and not anyway close being the focus of the plot.

13. Din’s engraving skills seem to be a bit different to what is usual, based on the reactions of everyone else to his fighting skills, and also the lockpicking before that. I wonder how that interacts with his dyslexia, and also how it’s connected to his performance on the exams… what do you think?
That's interesting. The effects of mental enhancements when someone is neurodivergent. Hmm. I think I like that theory.

14. One of the things I always find interesting about fantasy is figuring out what technology exists and what doesn’t. Aristan and Suberek were quite obviously killed by gunshot wounds, yet neither Din nor the rest of the investigation team seem to recognize that, so guns aren’t a well-known weapon in this world – however, Ana seemed to have an inkling… something the might of the Empire is hiding from us? What do you make of this? Is types of technology also something you pay special attention to in fantasy?
I don't necessarily pay special attention to it but if the author is really inconsistent it can mess with the sense of place and gets annoying.

15. Speaking of technology – I’ve also been thinking about its relation to social class and especially fertility in this world. We have Strovi, who’s gentry which is why he doesn’t have any augmentations, as they impact fertility, and then we have Fayazi Haza who’s so heavily modified there doesn’t seem to be anything “natural” left about her, surely leaving her infertile (but maybe this doesn’t matter when you’re part of the Haza clan. Or maybe they found a way around that.) And then there’s people like Din who seem to undergo these transformations as a way of improving their situation in life (not that we know much about his or other regular people’s backgrounds – but him sending almost all his earnings back to his family does suggest a significant degree of poverty), where it seems like nobody considers infertility a negative impact… I’m not sure I have a concrete question here, so: thoughts?
I think it's down to tradeoffs. The ability to have issue for inheritance versus a way to make a living to support your family. Also the rich could pop out some kids and then do the enhancements?

16. It seems very neat that Jolgalgan, from the Oypat canton, would be the one behind this plot and all of these murders. Do you think it was actually her, or do you think there’ll be a big twist? If it was her after all, what do you think she knows?
Probably not her but not sure how it all fits together yet.

Finished off NZ and while we are in the area, hopped on over to Australia

Author born in Australia
Red, White, and Blue on Cover
mentions Vegemite
features a marsupial
character goes to the opera
ocean on cover
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DQ 3
Part III Chapters 13-20

9. Were on the move now and hearing more of the environment. Are you able to imagine the world and How do you feel about the mix of genres - fantasy, sci-fi, mystery?
The descriptions are well done so I think I'm able to picture things well enough. And as these are some of my go to genres in general, the blend of them is my cuppa.

10. Were seeing Ana showcasing her skills and abilities more and seeing Ana and Din interact even more. Have your thoughts changed about them and what secrets do you think Ana and Din is hiding from one another if any?
I love their pairing and think they are well suited/balance one another. Their banter is *chef's kiss*. I think they are both hiding things but for good reasons and hopefully as trust builds, we'll learn those secrets.

11. Knowing this is book one and we probably wont get much how are you imagining the Leviathans so far? What is your closest comparison to what they may be/look like?
I'm kind of picturing very, very large Chinese dragons but in the water instead of sky? Something along those lines anyway. Or maybe if one of those types of dragons had a baby with a blue whale.

Day 2: Ch 6-12

5. In this world, many choose enhancements that facilitate their selected jobs - and it seems like most have some sort of Monkey’s Paw negative effect as well. On one hand, an enhancement like Din’s enables his perfect memory, so he never forgets anything. On the other hand, he CAN never forget anything, even if he wants to.
If you were to be augmented with a skill/ability, what would it be and why? Alternatively, what, for you, would be the worst or most dreaded skill/ability you could get?
Maybe better stamina? Needing less sleep? I never seem to have enough time in the day to get everything done that I'd like too. And more energy to keep up with my son wouldn't hurt either.

Not so much a fan of never being able to forget anything. Your mind would break after a certain point, memories can be heavy.

6. I thought it interesting that the leviathians are getting bigger every year, and that most of the special grafts and suffusions are from collected titian bits and bones. Do you have any theories about how this will come into play going forward?
No idea and I'm just leaving that to learn as the author wants me too.

7. “...I no longer formed normal memories. For a memory is just a sketch a mind makes of one’s experiences, imperfect and interpretive; yet what my mind made, from that moment on, was perfect, absolute, and endless.” Do you think this robs Din of the ability to be fully human, from the standpoint that one’s subjective take on the world around her/him is what makes a person "human"?
it seems to remove the feeling and emotion from memory which is likely a blessing and curse. I would think it would also impact how people interact with him.

8. I’m enjoying the evolving relationship between Ana and Din, especially Ana’s humor. Despite Ana joking that Din had “lost his sense of humor in some tragic accident,” what is your take on the twosome? Do you think Din cheated somehow to pass his tests? Or do you think it's something else?
I'm finding it fun. My guess is there are a good match/balance for one another. I'm guessing Din's hiding something but not sure what or why.

DQs Day 1: Chapter 1 -5

1) Do you have any expectations going in? This book is one of the 6 novels up for the Hugo award for Best Novel this year: https://www.thehugoawards.org/hugo-hi.... Did you know that and do you try to read the Hugo books or winners or have no interactions with the awards?
I'm expecting to enjoy it mainly because several GR friends with similar tastes in books all said it's one of their new favorites. But other than that, not real expectations. I'm aware of the Hugo awards and generally like those books but I don't seek them out specifically. Most end up on my tbr list though.

2) What do you think of the world building so far? Are then any particular details that stand out and if this is a reread, is anything standing out more on your re-read this early in the story? (please use spoiler tags if applicable)
It's seems to be an interesting and complex world and the author is explaining things well enough to absorb with the story without annoying info dumping. That's always nice.

3) So this runs right up to the edge/ crosses over into body horror between the murder scene and modifications to people? Do you read body horror or books with that theme in it? Do you have any favorites?
Horror is not something I read all that often and is one of my least favorite genres. I have read some Kingfisher with body horror in there but I read them more because they were written by Kingfisher than due to the book theme.

4) Does your version have a map? If it does, did you look at before reading or at any point when reading this first section? Do you like maps in books? (Map under spoiler if you were audio only)
(view spoiler)
I'm audio only so I appreciate Lexi sharing the map. I find them useful in a lot of books, especially if there's political aspects to the story.

I think my favorite is mini 3

But I love how everyone really embraced this whole theme 🥰