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

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

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 questions: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

DQs Day 5

16.) Were there any surprises about the supporting characters? Did they get the endings you expected? That the characters deserved?

17.) Did the ultimate point and outcome of the tournament leave you satisfied? Or did the whole thing seem like a bizarre waste of everyone's time, money, and life (literally in some cases)?

18.) Luiza and Santangel's ending. Was it what you were hoping for? Satisfying? Remind you of how a different series ended the storyline for lead MCs (view spoiler)[Shadow and Bone's Alina and Mal ending is almost the same with most people thinking they are dead but went off quietly together in hiding (hide spoiler)]. Would the ending of worked if the magical system had been more defined? I still don't have a handle on the parameters of Luiza's magic. Maybe there isn't any?

19.) What did you end up rating the book? Would you recommend it to others?

DQs
6 July Chapter 34 -44

12. Have you read any of Baduga’s books before? I’m finding this quite different for her dipping into HF. Your thoughts if you have read the others? If not, are you interested in picking up some more of her books?
I've actually read most of her catalog. I still need to read Hell Bent which has been sitting in a physical pile of books judging me for not reading it for quite awhile. Other than that, I think I've read everything but maybe some novellas. But I'm not liking her writing as much as I used to and I think if I read Shadow and Bone series now, I wouldn't rate it as high.

13. Many of the characters are changing from what they were first presented as. If there anyone you are finding you like more than you did originally?
I not sure "like more" is the proper phrase. Maybe more like find "more interesting" than I did before. Santangel and her aunt are more interesting now that a lot more of their respective stories are known.

14. Do you believe there will be a HEA here? Or is Luzia doomed?
I've finished the book so skipping this one. But I will say I assumed she'd have some sort of HEA.

15. Bardugo’s family were expelled from Spain during the inquisition and she said in a People interview “This was something I was passionate about learning about, because it's my own family's history”. Do you think this adds to the story that she has a personal connection ? Is there anything in your family history you wish you could research more?
Hmmm. I'm not sure it adds to the story directly but I can see why she'd want to write about this time period and learn more about the time and place.
I have a reasonable handle on my family's history once they arrived on what is now the US. Both sides of my family can be definitively traced back to people who arrived on the Mayflower. One of them is Governor Bradford, whose wife mysteriously fell overboard on the way to the New World. I'd like to investigate what THAT was all about. And the European ancestry we know little about and would be interesting to dig into.

I can add whatever needs be to the spreadsheet

Alright I think I have things moved around to where they need to be. What's left unclaimed on the mini

Part 1
-One YA book (Stacie might have this covered, if not I can)

Part 2
-One #7 book (I think Lexi is taking this as Cordelia took the fantasy spot from Lexi)
-One Door book

Emily’s book Lyon something (I can’t quite remember) is a first in series and one of our first in series works for horror.

I was going to make the swap after my tiny tyrant goes to bed

It looks like Krissy grabbed the 1st in series.

I shifted a book to mystery and Julie and the wolves can fill a YA genre spot in Part 1.

Emily,

Can you add Ninth Circle to your challenge shelf when you get a chance?

Thanks!

Also, you have my favorite reason of the challenge for weapon. haha!

Cordelia, FYI I went ahead and added Other Birds to the spreadsheet since I saw it on your challenge shelf.

Krissy,

Can you add The Annual Migration of Clouds to your challenge shelf when you get a chance?

Thank you!

I didn't think about it really until your comment but it is a bit odd for her to say it.

Whomping Willow defeated by a revisit with my favorite literary bromance (Royce and Hadrian). I'm excited about Drumindor coming out soon, finally get to hear that story after all the hints in the original series.

New monster
Tipua
350 to 450
Set in Australia or Oceania
Plant on cover
At least three vowels in one word in title
Author initials in MAORI

I think that statement from Luzia is partly trying to pass as Christian and partly just repeating phrases she likely hears multiple times a day without much thought to what she's actually saying?

Hello Truitt! Hope all is well

I saw your post in the D8 thread about my book A Wing and a Prayer: The Race to Save Our Vanishing Birds.

I'm definitely going to read it (we need the Nature MPG!), so you'd be safe to use it if you want for your team's door.

Happy reading my friend :)

Truitt_T wrote: "Greetings, District 8!

I'm visiting from District 2 to check about a book. Judith - are you fairly certain you'll be reading [book:A Wing and a Prayer: The Race to Save Our Vanishing Birds|6127229..."

I'm definitely going to read it Truitt! I'll cross post in D2

Day 3 DQ's Chapter 24 - 33

9. We keep hearing how people smell. Luzia of orange blossoms, Perez of plums and amber. Why do you think the author keeps mentioning this? Do the smells mean more than just an odor?
Smells are incredibly powerful memory triggers. I'm also wondering if the author is using it to set ambience or further describe characters. I think of orange blossoms as a lighter, sweeter scent while something like roses can be cloying or heavy.

10. We are over halfway through the book. What has been your favorite part/scene/person/line so far?
I like the trials and the mix of true magic and farce all wrapped up together as men use these people as pawns to grasp for power.

11. Valentina and Marius seem to be rekindling their marriage, finding love where there wasn't before. Why do you think the author is adding that part of the story when she could have left it out?
I actually thought everyone was getting frisky at the same time because Luzia and Santangel were getting busy and their magic intertwined, leaked out and made the who castle twitterpated.
I have some other thoughts as to why she included this couple specifically and it has to do with Valentina's character growth but I don't want my answer to be spoilery as I've finished the book.

11. Now we are over halfway and know more of Luzia, the competition and this world. Why do you think the publisher and possibly the author chose this cover over any other possibilities? If you could remake the cover, what would you want it to look like?
I assumed it was because Santangel was a sneaky thing moving around behind the scenes. The overlooked power behind the man and his spirit animal or whatever is a scorpion.
Hmm, maybe something iconic from Madrid? I really don't know what I'd put on the cover

Jenny wrote: "Day 3 DQ's Chapter 24 - 33

"But, isn't Luzia supposed to be Jewish? There is no hell in Judaism. I can't tell if Luzia is trying to fit in with the Christians around her, or if Bardugo was being lazy in her research"

Bardugo was born in Jerusalem has quite a diverse Jewish lineage (this sounds weird but that's basically how it's presented) and she's a practicing secular Jew.

Before someone thinks I'm a mega-stalker fan or something I saw Jenny's post, I thought I remembered Bardugo was Jewish. fI looked her up before when I read books the Grishaverse. I was curious about some of the folklore weaved in there and was curious about this new (at the time) author.

Anywho, wikipedia was my friend. LOL

We are doing great everyone!

And no worries if you can't find a spot for a book on the mini. I may be able to shift some things around and get it to fit

Current unclaimed mini tasks

Part 1 - need one of each
-science fiction
-historical fiction
-thriller
-contemporary
-crime
-horror

Part 2
-1st in series (1)
-7th in series (1)
-8th in series (1)
-Door (2)

Melanie, I removed Midnight Sacrifice from the mini because it was finished before July 1st.