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

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

Lisa - (Aussie Girl) wrote: "I'm not going to Nominate for January BOM - I like the look of your book Judith so I'm going to vote for it, you've had it nominated for quite a few months, LOL."

OMG, I lost track of how many months. LOL Usually I just end up reading it for whatever reason. But it keeps getting bumped for other books for challenge tasks.

It's come close to winning a couple times. Tease!

I’ll look at your color books Vi when I get on a computer, the app isn’t cooperating

Yes, that would work great!

Yep, I’ll be getting on the computer during my lunch break and will check it out then and move as needed!

Thanks Cathy!

Steven wrote: "I finished my Hot Mess Express for the story! Now all we need is Denise's Matchmaking for Psychopaths. Question is - will Cat be ATTENDING Matchmaking for Psychopaths or TEACHING the seminar? :P"

Or maybe she'll be match-made (is that a word?) by a psychopath. LOL

I love our team :)

That is all

Judith's 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 - Ch 48 - end

25. We have a classic final act twist, of who Pytkis actually is. Was that expected? Did the resolution of the puzzles make sense?
I hadn't figured it all out but once the solution was revealed, it all fit together for me.

26. How do you feel about the world building at the end of the book? And the characters? Do you find the world coherent? The people believable?
I'm enjoying the world and the characters. I like how the characters are all flawed in believable ways. There are no Mary Sue's, perfect in every way that magically develop a fix to a solution out of no where.

27. Happy days! Din has free choice to continue working with Ana. Was this party of the ending satisfactory? Do you agree with the view that having a strong justice system is essential to the formation of a good future, regardless of the form of government? (at least, that's broadly the gist I got - the Empire and the Kingdom of Yarrow are neither depicted as good outcomes, nor a renewed ruling Khanum class....)
Yes, I enjoyed the ending and look forward to them having many more adventures together that we get to read about. And I agree about the justice system, I think we are seeing examples of what happens when the justice system doesn't uphold their duties to monitor others in power.

DQs Day 5: Chapter 40 - 47

20. This section had several important questions. Malo speaks about being naukari and what she expects will happen when the empire leaves. The previous section has the Kardas mention that it is not the Empire’s job “to wade into the affairs of other cultures and scold them into decency.” Who do you think is in the right in this discussion? Also, do you think the author is also making a commentary on real world events and if so, what?
This was an interesting discussion. I mean I don't quite agree with Kardas, but it depends on what he means by decency. Allowing something like slavery, child abuse, etc to continue in a country brought into the empire, I would never seem as okay and not the job of the Emperor. It wouldn't surprise me if Bennett was making comments on a lot of the power overreach that many leaders seem to be doing as of late.

21. Thelenai created Pyktis in many ways. In sort of Dr. Frankenstein and monster parallel. Who do you feel at this point in the story is more to blame and if you have read further or a re-read, did the end of the book change your opinion? Please use spoilers if you are a re-read or read ahead.
Hmm, well having finished the book, I think it goes more towards power unchecked/or not having strong checks and balances leads to major problems eventually. Things never happen in a vacuum and too many people acting independently, even for seemingly good reasons, can cause a cluster.

22. On a lighter note, fantasy books, especially if set in a more pre-Industrial age setting, often have an awe of the sea moment as Din does on the boat. Have you even felt overwhelmed by something in nature, such as the sea, but also a mountain or other natural feature? Do you think this is less common in books with more modern technology and why if you agree or disagree?
I felt this way on some of the glaciers in Iceland. I think with a lot more technology in some books they just don't include a lot of the environment and nature for the awe to occur.

23. The augers are bothered by not being able to predict the outcome. Why do you think they could not predict this, and do you think this is a limit of their power?
There's no predicting chaos? Prediction requires patterns and/or logic. Chaos by definition is the opposite of this.

24. There is a lot of imagery in this section of especially of the shroud itself. Do you picture it like any real building or image from a movie or book?
Yes, sort of. I think that's just how my brain tried to make sense of it.

DQs Day 4 Ch 30-39

1) After everything you've read so far - what genre would you call this? Were you expecting it to veer so close to horror, or is that just because I hadn't read the first book?
A mystery/thriller mixed with fantasy. Having read book 1, it was what I was expecting for the most part.

2) What do you think of Ana’s meals? There seems to be a big focus on them and I'm trying to figure out what the author is trying to tell us.
I figured it had to do with whatever her modifications were mixed with her curiosity.

3) Why do you think he’s killing people, what is the ultimate plan? Is anyone else fascinated and completely in the dark?
I thought it had to do with political power and the Empire versus staying a kingdom.

4) Do you think we will meet Pyktis by the end? Do you think he is a stranger or secretly someone we have already met?
I honestly wasn't sure about this bit. Part of me figured we'd met him without realizing it but neither would of been surprising.

5) Do you think it's a good idea to move the marrow? Do you have an idea of what happens next?
No, I thought this was a bad idea. And I've finished the book at this point so skipping the second question.

Hello Team!

wanted to check in with when people think they'll be done with books claimed for color mini tasks. I've swapped some things around to find homes for finished books that needed mini tasks. What we have left on the first go at color mini tasks:

-yellow item on cover (Catherine)
-brown cover (Lexi)
-Pink Cover (Cathy)
-Grey Cover (Cathy)

Lisa, for the Travel Guide, how much is text versus illustrations/maps? I'm a little concerned about it meeting the minimum word count. But I'm not sure how much of that travel guide is images v. text.

Steven wrote: "

I have this book on my kindle and it has this cover edition. It looks to me like those those diamond shapes are road warning signs?

I’ve been meaning to read Jane Har..."

Yep, those are road signs! And I agree with Lisa that it's a great book. I think that was my first Harper, but certainly not my last!

One of the tasks we still have unclaimed in Mini 5: Road trip is R16, Road sign on cover.

I have no idea if these are any good, but saw this series pop up in my GR feed thanks to Cat.



seems to be some sort of mystery series. Just tossing it out if it strikes someone's fancy and they are looking for the next book to read.

Series is on KU, at least in the US.

Oh yay!

Well between the title and the author name, that’s 2 vowels, so likely one should work at the very least

Laura..devouring books like crumpets wrote: "finished my book mr Heartbreaker but spreadsheet not letting me edit it"

weird, date added for you!

Lauri wrote: "Hello, all! I managed to finish 2 books this weekend with one more almost done…

Can I get another brave volunteer to fix the spreadsheet for me, pretty please?

I truly appreciate the assistance!"

Sure thing!

Can you add Suicide Forest to your challenge shelf?

Denise wrote: "My favorites, so far, have been Atmosphere and The Impossible Fortune. I love the Thursday Murder Club series, but this book especially seemed to touch on some thi..."

I've been meaning to start The Thursday Murder Club series but it keeps getting bumped for other things.

DQs Day 3 Ch 21-29


10. How do you feel about Din and Ana’s relationship? Din is her assistant, do you see them that way or more as equals? Do you feel like their relationship changed at all up to this point of the book?
I like their mentor/mentee relationship and think it overall is a healthy one. His exasperation of her at times cracks me up. I think it's deepening in again healthy ways as the learn more about it other and trust grows. But there is definitely a hierarchy to it but not in a bad way.

11. Din has asked Ana why she hasn’t disclosed her augmentation, why do you think that is? What augmentation would you want if you were investigating this crime?
Maybe she can't because of that secret revealing thing? Maybe it'll make sense why she keeps that info close to the chest if we ever learn what it is. Hmm. I think heightened hearing and smell would be useful but only if you can turn it off and on. Otherwise I think those could get overwhelming.

12. How do you feel about the explanation of why the empire is trying to stabilize the marrow? Do you believe the motive started for the benefits of the people or was it always just political?
I think something like that can be both at the same time and promoted in different circles for the different reasons to gain support and funding.

13. We have a suspect! Ana also concludes that he could have taken everyone out already and is confused as to why he hasn’t yet, why do you think he has waited?
Crazy is as crazy does? He's probably got a grand scheme and wants to have it play out.

14. So far in my reading I have thought there have been several details that have reminded me of other novels (especially Sci-Fi). For example, the heavy emphasis on augmentations reminds me of The Murderbot Diaries. Where there any elements that made you think of other works, novels or otherwise?
It reminds me of some Kingfisher more than Murderbot. Like Sworn Soldier and The Hollow Places.

DQs Day 2, Ch 11-20

6. After establishing the hypothesis that it was not Sujedo, but an imposter, Din questions Ana on the how. What are your ideas on how this imposter actually proved his Treasury credentials without living blood?
I don't know really. But as Sujedo wasn't killed right away, maybe they took his blood and held it in some sort of stasis or whatever? I figure I'll learn the how when needs be.

7. The owner of the Apoth Box also began tapping on his body/clothing… as the chapters progress, it is clear that this is an important detail, but might it also be a red herring? Any thoughts or ideas?
Very important. I think it is a connecting trait between people involved and likely goings on at The Shroud. It seems like a good way of communicating without drawing a lot of attention to it.

8. More questioning of Ana’s alterations has begun! If you read the previous novel, did you make any assumptions to that end? And do you have any new ideas?
Nope, just kind of going along for the ride on this as well. Though thinking it might have something to do with like computing power of her brain? Also wondering if she's been sworn to secrecy about it.

9. The King of Yarrow, and those in his employ, seem very… corrupt. Considering the book's title, do you think the corruption is relevant to this murder, or a side plot?
Oh yes, very much so.