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

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

That’s a good point about the And Then There were None connection. Hmm. I’d forgotten about that part

DQs Day 2
Ch 15 to 29

6.) After the teeth on the window sill and Christa's thoughts on there only being 31, were you still surprised when the found Kiernan's body?
Actually, yes I was still a bit surprised. I was thinking that whole walk after the bus broke down seemed sus like most everyone else did based on people's answers to the first set of DQs. I'm not sure his body could be a fake in any way that makes sense so I was wrong on that count.

7.) Would you of been in the group that tried walking to find help or the group that stayed in the cabin?
I'm not fit enough to of kept up in those conditions so I would of stayed at the cabin.

8.) What do you make of Alexis's story about Grayson and Denny?
I think it's a bit of a red herring and to be honest made me more suspicious of Alexis than anything. Especially in light of what happened at the end of this section.

9.) Well it looks like Brian, Kiernan, Miri, and Grayson are out of the running to be the killer. Any guesses out of who's left?
Alexis seems suspicious with some of her behavior, but that might be a distraction. And I don't think she's strong enough to pull some of it off by herself. Hutch? Steve? I don't know, but if there is an unknown mystery person we haven't met yet I'm going to be annoyed.

10.) Why do you think this group is being targeted? Random bad luck? Planned?
It almost has to be planned? But the weather is a big factor and not sure how that fits in to a master plan ahead of time. I do find it strange they couldn't find the road to the lodge and kept running into dead ends. It makes me wonder where they are.

DQs Day 2
Ch 15 to 29

6.) After the teeth on the window sill and Christa's thoughts on there only being 31, were you still surprised when the found Kiernan's body?

7.) Would you of been in the group that tried walking to find help or the group that stayed in the cabin?

8.) What do you make of Alexis's story about Grayson and Denny?

9.) Well it looks like Brian, Kiernan, Miri, and Grayson are out of the running to be the killer. Any guesses out of whose left?

10.) Why do you think this group is being targeted? Random bad luck? Planned?

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/...

DQs Day 4

13. What do you think about Emily’s plan to wake the trapped King? Aside from for plot purposes, do you think it is consistent with her character that she would make this choice?
I think it is consistent for her with a methodical approach. But also a bit desperate and self-sacrificing. Home girl needs to learn how to ask for help and recognize when she can use some.

14. We see a lot more faeries in this section. Would you like to be part of an ice court? Did you have any particularly favorite visual element from the book as a whole?
No, Fae courts are scary. Hard pass. I liked the incorporation of wee folk in the story. Too many books just focus on the high courts and male fae, err, wingspan.

15. Do you think Emily has grown as a person over this book and did your view of her change at all across the book?
I think she has and I think the author set it up for more to come in book too. I'm glad she didn't just run off and marry Wendall as that would of been out of character for her I think.

16. Did you like how the ending was told or were you expecting more details or have other suggestions?
It was fine. I'm assuming she was planning a second book while she was writing this one so it's nice to have the story set up to go somewhere interesting next.

Bonus. If your version comes with an extra story at the end, what are your thoughts on a gown with added hedgehogs and pomaded chickens? If you did not read this story, you are missing a lot of hedgehogs
I think it sounded like the perfect gown for all you Discworld lovers :P

DQs Day 1
Ch 1 to Ch 14

1. If you travel, where’s the coldest place you’ve ever visited?
Probably the coldest place I've ever visited is Iceland? Though it wasn't much colder there than it was where I live in the US at the time. Unless you figure in how cold it was when we were on top of the mountains snowmobiling.

2. Do you like skiing?
I've never gone skiing. With my athletic ability I'm fairly sure though if I attempted it, I would die or end up with a broken leg at least. I'll pass on paying for that privilege :)

3. Do you think it was odd that the ski resort was open during a time it would normally be closed?
Not necessarily. If there was a way for them to make enough money for special trips like this one to make paying utilities and staff, it would be a way to have some income coming in on the off season instead of the fixed costs of the place just draining accounts.

4. Do you think Christa and Kiernan will be reunited by the story’s end?
I hope so, it seems like Christa has been through some things before this trip so hopefully it ends well for her which I think means Kiernan needs a happy ending too.

5. Do you think Kiernan survived the storm in the beginning of the story?
I hope so but there is certainly something a bit weird going on with his situation and her memories.

No, it would be a U for United

DQs Day 3

9.) Emily seems to have a bad habit of wandering off by herself to deal with faerie problems. I'm all for independence and what not, but sometimes help is very much warranted. She got a bit lucky her first trip into faerie worked out, do you think she'll be as lucky in getting away from the King?
Her first trip into faerie, while she ran into some bumps certainly could of been worse. And she still needed help from Wendell and Shadow to get out of it. Now with the Ice King, she has neither with her and that seems like poor choices are her part. I'm guessing Wendell will be involved in getting her out of it but there'll be a high price.

10.) I chuckled a bit when I realized that Wendell wrote in her journal. Did you enjoy this snippet from his POV?
This made me like him more actually. I enjoyed the bit from his POV and thought it was just enough. As I was reading that, all I could think was Emily is going to be so annoyed when she sees her journal. LOL

11.) Wendell bemoaned a bit the lack of sword fighting in the mortal world. Thoughts on being able to settle work problems with a sword fight in the parking lot (or whatever is appropriate for your workplace)?
This would be amazing. We should all have this option or Friday dodgeball games where you can pelt annoying coworkers during the game. Not that I'm condoning violence *looks away*

12.) The changeling problem has been solved (at least it appears so). Was this a satisfactory conclusion for you?
Yes, I like how it wasn't a rando thread but fit into the larger story/issues of the area.

DQs Day 3

9.) Emily seems to have a bad habit of wandering off by herself to deal with faerie problems. I'm all for independence and what not, but sometimes help is very much warranted. She got a bit lucky her first trip into faerie worked out, do you think she'll be as lucky in getting away from the King?

10.) I chuckled a bit when I realized that Wendell wrote in her journal. Did you enjoy this snippet from his POV?

11.) Wendell bemoaned a bit the lack of sword fighting in the mortal world. Thoughts on being able to settle work problems with a sword fight in the parking lot (or whatever is appropriate for your workplace)?

12.) The changeling problem has been solved (at least it appears so). Was this a satisfactory conclusion for you?

DQs Day 2

5. I don’t try to avoid them but they are getting a bit overused. I agree with Sammy this is especially the case with High Fae, to the point that’s it’s almost boring. But I agree with her other point that books with the Wee Ones are interesting and largely untapped. And so much lore there to pull from.

I enjoy when authors pull from lessor known stories. So much more interesting than the same old Seelie/Unseelie, he’s so hot with a large wingspan or whatever. Time and a place 😂

I like the mix in this one and that we learn about the fae along with Emily in her research.

6. I’m assuming some sort of protector? Not sure why she has one. Maybe from helping a fae in the past? A family connection seems unlikely.

7. I hope they get help and ideally their child back but that doesn’t seem likely. Maybe find peace with their changeling?

8. He is very self centered and definitely thinks he’s above doing certain things. I know he cares for Emily but not sure why. It’s not likes he’s not dabbling in carnal pleasures do to his love for her or whatever.

I’m a tree fairy 🌳

DQs Day 1

1. Emily finds herself in a very cold, snowy location, and worries about surviving the cold.
What do you think of the setting?
Have you ever found yourself in similar surroundings, and how did you cope, or how do you believe you would cope if you haven’t?
Also splitting logs…Would you manage like a boss, or risk loss of limbs?

I think it’s effective in setting a remote, isolated, lonely area for her to be in. For some reason tropical places don’t come across the same way as easily even though the person can be just as isolated.
I’ve been in really cold places. Went to grad school in Maine, Quebec and Iceland trips in winter but never without proper gear and access to modern conveniences. With her situation what would kill me is the outhouse at night. Brrr.
I feel like there is an art to splitting logs safely and efficiently that I have not learned. I’d give it a go though.

2. How do you feel about footnotes?
I think they work here. Emily is a scholar and she’s using footnotes for accreditation and additional info. It works for her character, some nonfiction authors might want to take that under consideration. *judgy face*

3. In a world where the existence of faeries is an established fact, would you consider dryadology as a profession?
Maybe? But probably more as protecting their spaces in the mortal world and not really what Emily is doing.

4. What do you think of Emily so far? And Brambleby?
I like she’s not perfect and has made definite blunders. I’m looking forward to her character growth. Brambleby is not my favorite and I wouldn’t trust him as a colleague in terms of sharing credit, etc.

Sounds good!

Either is fine with me. Since it’s a reread for you, I’ll let you pick which one is easier for you

Lexi, I’m starting the book today so if you want to swap to get some breathing room, we can

Lexi, if you run into procurement issues I can swap if you need the extra days. Just give a shout!

I picked it up the last time Tiny Tyrant asked to go to the bookstore

Works for me!

And then one from Vegi-Might. Apparently the wheels want us to read some short books!

Vampire Pumpkins
100 to 175
Book has a clear sense of season
Orange item on cover
Main antagonist is not very effective (your interpretation)
Title starts with letter in BLOOD

Decided to revisit an oldie but goodie and spun the original Greek monster wheel.

Harpies
100 to 125
features a feast or banquet
contains a chase (car chase, foot chase, etc)
character is royalty
features a thief

And I've finished off Troll finally which we've had hanging around since Nov 1st.

2 new monsters coming shortly

I just finished a monster if someone is around and wants to spin. I likely won’t be back on the computer until tomorrow