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

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

Otherwise, read what you want and we'll get things to fit based on what needs a home at the end.

We need a mirror on the cover

The other tasks are covered/claimed

Sorry! I’ve only been on the app all weekend so I haven’t wanted to muck around with the spreadsheet

Siege and Storm

Pg116 “spear through Sandis’s middle.”

That's correct we've had all the tasks except for the holiday one twice and then it's just monsters. And we've had 2 monsters twice already.

Nope, sorry

Laura,

Did you read Fighting Destiny in March? Rereads have to be at least 6 months apart to be able to be used.

Tricia wrote: "Could Beneath the Sugar Sky be associated with Charity since Eleanor runs a home for abandoned or "troubled" children? I'm reading it now."

Yes, I think that's a good connection. And one of my favorites so far in that series :)

Just some general housekeeping here.

We are closing in on the end of Tower Teams 10 with a few hours over 5 days left.

Please let us know if there are any books on the tracking sheet you know you won't be able to finish (or just delete the entry) once you realize you won't be able to do so.

If there is not an open spot to grab in the spell outs or Wheel tasks, just let us know the letters it works for. As TT10 comes to a close Lexi, Jax and I will likely be moving books around to get everything to fit and if there are more books than spots, we can start another spelling. But we don't want to open another up unless we need it as we can only have one incomplete spelling.

We will be getting new Wheel tasks at some point soon as all three sets are only one book away from being done. Captains will be less blasé about pulling banked books off of spellings after today to ensure we don't cause problems with having too many unfinished words.

This team is amazing and it's looking like we are heading for a strong finish

Happy Reading!!

Aoife,

Can you add Children of Blood and Bone to your TT shelf when you find a spare minute between all those books you've been churning out :)

Thank you!

Done!

Perfect!

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: Chapter 32 - end

24. Chapter 32, though! How did you feel about the heart-to-heart on the parapet? Did it fill you with fluttery lovey feelings, or did it fall flat? Are you loving “Vioden” (Xadlet?)??
I'm glad they had the conversion, communication is a useful thing to use in a relationship!

25. Xaden has Violet join his special group for the War Games, and we find out about all the secrets that EVERYONE has been keeping from her. Do you think she overreacted to these revelations or is her reaction warranted? How do you feel about Dain’s betrayal? Surprised (hint hint - NO)?
Zero surprise about Dain the Dink. I think her reaction was well founded. She's been lied to and betrayed by just about everyone with the exception of Rhiannon. That would make anyone feel betrayed and very isolated.

26. Anyone crying yet? I know I was losing it through a lot of the last 15% of the book. What are your thoughts on the major losses we see during this battle? Any thoughts on the battle itself (or the enemy themselves)?
Liam, dear sweet Liam. One thing I will say, I hate books with battles were all the important/favorite characters magically seem to survive all the battles. That's just not how things turn out. I did find it interesting that if you kill the person the wyverns die.

27. That CLIFF-HANGER of an ending had me stunned! What did you think of the sudden appearance of (view spoiler)? Was it too much, or just enough?
Not surprised completely and will help sales of book 2 :)

28. What are your overall thoughts on this book? Will you read the next one?
Yes, I want to know what happens.

BONUS!
On a scale of 1 to 100, how much to you hate Dain?
95

DQ set 5: Chapters 26 - 31

19. I'm so confused by the logistics of this world! Firstly there's the comment that 6 hours in flight left them all super-stiff, but surely they've been putting the hours in in flight fight practice? And then the sudden realisation that actually it's TOTES fine to put a saddle or harness on to secure them in flight, as if that wouldn't be the very first thing you'd do the first time the dragons decided to plummet and every rider loses their seat!
Anyway, that rant is mostly to say: how are you enjoying the world-building now we are further into the story?
I would call world building dubious. The saddle thing though, I assumed most dragons won't tolerate one and the saddle for Violet on happened because Tairn agreed to where one after it was clear Violet can't keep a seat otherwise.

20. We discover that riders of mated dragons can now talk in each others minds... What do you think this adds (or detracts) to the story, characters, world?
I think it was a way to work in some easy communication in the absence of cell phones/text messaging. It seems a bit lazy from the author but it doesn't bother me all that much.

21. Lightning! Who'd've guessed that Violet would end up with a super rare, super powerful signet?! What do you think the lightning says about her character?
She's a special snowflake so of course it's rare. Lightning didn't surprise me with the dragon being black, I feel like that color and a lightning power have been connected in other fantasy stories with dragons. I think it fits her temper. I do like she has trouble aiming/wielding it and didn't control it perfectly from the start. Or after like one session of practice.

22. There's some destructive sex, followed by a decision that it can never happen again. What do you think about the different approaches that Violet and Xaden have towards their attraction to each other?
I think both are surprisingly believable considering their circumstances and age. Basically lots of lust, stupid choices mixed in with some mature issues like relationships within the chain of command.

23. Finally - is it just me, or is Dain starting to redeem himself? I feel like I'm seeing signs of improvement in him....
Maybe be but I do not trust him and think he's up to something. He's a dink.

Day 4 Questions Chapter 21-25

14. Do you think there is a reason the Cadets are not being told the truth of what is going on with the battles at the Battle Brief? Is it actually for classified reasons or is there something more sinister going on?
Of for sure secrets abound that the Cadets are being kept in the dark about. The question really is why.


15. What do you think about the mentioning of the fact that the Dragons and Gryphons use to work together to protect the lands? Could this be foreshadowing of an alliance to come?
I think it was some foreshadowing but also made me wonder if that's how things used to be before humans muddled everything up.


16. We finally have a bit of progress in the possible romance between Violet and Xaden. Do you think they have actual chemistry or their attraction is just due to the bond of their dragons?
They have something. Lust at least but it seemed to be happening before she bonded so I guess it's not just the dragon connection. And when they talked about dragon mates, it didn't seem that their riders were also a matched pair.


17. We keep getting random tidbits about Violet's deceased brother Brennan. Do you think there is a possibility he's still alive?
I've been wondering that for a bit. I would be interested to see if this was true. Also if it is, I would be curious as to how much Violet's father knew before he died.

18. With the revelations we've been given about what went on with the Marked Ones and the various battles that are raging on currently, do you think that the Kingdom of Navarre is actually the protector of this world as we've been lead to believe or are they the villains?
If they aren't straight out villains they are at least content to let others suffer and do nothing about it.

Bonus: Anyone else wishing a Dragon would just go scorched earth on Dain already?
YES PLEASE

Logan wrote: "I found the page/quote for zebra in The Only One Left in case the entry needs to be updated:

p.80 "A pair of matching leather armchairs sits atop a zebra pelt in front of a fireplace.""

Thank you!

Everything is covered for the new set of tasks. I found banked books for everything but the ship task which Lexi has a book in progress for

DQ Day 3 Chapters 14-20

10. So we are half way through the book. Thoughts and feelings? Loving it? Hating it? Ambivalent?
I am enjoying it. I'm lumping it in with Sarah Maas's books. Where I know it's garbage with it's tropes and googly eyes. but very readable and a fun yarn if you have low expectations for it to change your life. Like a good evening soap opera, it's silly and fun, some stupid drama but better than reality TV.

11. Jeremiah gets killed pretty quickly as his signet shows. Do you agree that power can't be allowed?
In the military? When you can't control when you read people's thoughts? So problematic I don't know where to start. One, I think as he should he was going literally insane and likely wouldn't of lasted to gain any type of control. Two, secrets are important to the government and military operations. Three, I think there are a lot of secrets this particular government isn't interested in sharing.

11. What's the deal with Andarna? Why do you think 2 dragons have bonded with Violet?
I read a little ahead so I know what her deal is. But not sure why 2 bonded with her other than the little one felt like it.

12. If you coul choose a Signet what would it be? https://www.julesbuono.com/fourth-win...
I like Mira's in being able to protect your squad with wards.

13. Were you surprised about Amber's betrayal? How about when Xanden completely believed Violet but Dain didn't?
Nope, it pushed the story forward with a character no one would miss. Just glad it was her and not Imogen (too obvious) or Rhiannon because I hope that friendship is legit and for life.

DQ Day 2: Chap 7- 13

6. This section starts with two scenes with each of the male love/lust interests. The comparison of them continues very clearly. Do you like Xaden or Dain better or neither?
Well I like Xaden better than Dain because I think Dain is a patronizing douche nozzle. I kinda hope Violet punches him in the nads. I feel like she's putting up with him because they've been friends forever but I also think she's almost ready to punch him in the nose. Or at least I hope so.

7. Violet uses alternative methods to survive the fighting challenges. Do you think that counts as cheating or using the resources available? Do you think she is aware that she only has this information because she comes from a privileged background and her sister count sneak in it? Do you think one of the professors should have noticed after 5 rounds?
Hmm. In this world? I'm not sure it does. Are there rules against it? If not, then it's not cheating. Playing dirty, yes indeed. I do think she knows it's a leg up but not so sure it's all that different than any other legacy. The main difference is she's a legacy that prepared to follow in the footsteps of her other parent for a whole different life. Other legacies have at least some of the same knowledge she does. And, who says the professors didn't know or suspect? I think that's implied but if Xaden figured it out some professors likely did too. Which brings me back to it's not cheating.

8. The obstacle course is straight out of American Ninja warrior (and other similar TV shows) including ending with the giant ramp. Did you enjoy this section and how Violet figured out working with her height limitations? Have they told us how tall she is? (Though in real life, the shortest person to make it up the wall has only been 5’1” – I just Googled it).
I don't remember a height being mentioned. I've been picturing her around 5ft even and small framed. As for her getting to the top, gurl do whatcha gotta do.

9. Finally, we meet the dragons. Was it all you were hoping for? Did anyone guess the black one when it was first introduced in this section? (Also, I am not taking the fall seriously at the end of my section since we still have 2/3 of the book to go).
My guess was the black one. I think the little bit with the dragons is fun and the most interesting part. I like they smelled the scales in her armor.

Bonus: If you could have a dragon from any book or movie, which one would you want?
Toothless of course. What a loveable goob. That can burn you alive :P