Amy’s Comments (group member since Nov 02, 2015)

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

The only book I found that didn't make it to the spreadsheet for me was A Gentleman in Moscow! My date read didn't save for that one, so I just retried and hope it saved! I'm on my phone right now so I can't link to my original post, but I definitely can tonight if needed!

Judith - I'm glad I didn't read The Last Star now that I see your thoughts! I loved the first, felt "meh" about the second, and just decided not to give the third a chance because it wasn't interacting to me anymore. It started off so great!

Also, I can't believe it's almost the end of the challenge! I know I won't finish any books in the next couple hours, but I'll go check to make sure I logged everything and it's on the spreadsheet. I've had so much fun reading with you all!

Completion Post:

Title: Ash & Quill
Author: Rachel Caine
Pages: 368
Date Read: 7/28/17
Rating: 4 stars
Review: I liked this one much better than the first two, and now I can't wait to read the fourth in the series when it comes out! I felt like a lot happened and I wasn't as annoyed with the characters.

I also participated in the buddy read and read and review for this book!

Discussion Questions Day 5
Chapters 10-12

26. Morgan seems to be recovering well, but her power is now peppered with something dark. Do you think it will lessen, as she says it will, or do you think it will only get worse? Do you think those new, darker currents are what allow her to kill things with such ease now?
I think it will get worse for sure.

27. Do you think it was smart of Thomas and Wolfe to build a fully functioning press for Callum? What about the ray guns (for lack of a better term, haha) that Thomas has built? If they are captured and Callum gets his hands on them, that can't be anything but bad.
It's definitely dangerous that they built these things, especially the ray guy thing I feel like knowing Callum is not a trustworthy guy.

28. It turns out that Callum is planning to sell Jess' friends off to Red Ibrahaim and the Archivist. I thought he would be trying to get money out of them somehow, but I didn't think he would work with the Archivist. Were you surprised by Callum's plans for our group of rebels?
I never trusted him but was a little surprised by that. I was hoping to be surprised in another way that Callum would turn out to be a not-so-bad guy or something.

29. Jess and Brendan switch places and, for better or worse, Jess lets his friends get captured. What do you think he's planning to do now that he is impersonating Brendan? Do you think it will work?
He has to have more to the plan that we just don't know yet because I can't imagine he would let all that happen without planning how to keep everyone safe. I'm not sure what the plan is, though. They seem to get out of everything, so I think it will either work eventually or the author will surprise us in future installments and something won't actually work flawlessly for them.

30. Well, we definitely ended on a cliffhanger! What do you think is in store for the next installment of The Great Library series? Do you think that our group will survive until the end?
I think Morgan will find Eskander and do what she can inside the Iron Tower. I'm not sure what will happen with the rest of the gang, but I'll definitely be picking up the next book when it's out!

I didn't truly feel invested in this series until now. Something was missing for me in the first two books, but this one was so good from the get go. I really enjoyed the addition of Brendan and having a little mystery to what their plans were at the end. I thought I would give up on this series after reading this one if it was like the first two, but it's definitely the best of the series in my opinion so far!

Thanks, Judith! I was just coming here to say I finally answered all the questions after I saw your last comment :)

27 July Discussion Questions
A Province of Pain- An Ending p. (313-392)

16. Mariko's eyes are opened when she sees how the people in the town under his protection live and how little they have to eat. Do you think her father is evil or is he following instructions from the emperor? How about her brother, is he evil? What do you think of him?
I think her father and brother both are just following what they think will keep their family safe/higher up in power. I don't know if either are evil per se, but I definitely hope her brother is on her side in the next book.

17. Did you expect Mariko became a member of the Black Clan or did this surprise you? Why do you think the Clan and especially Okami accept her back so easily? When Okami left her he told her he would kill her if he saw her again. Do you think it was all a test?
I was hoping it wouldn't be the end of what we saw of the Black Clan. I was happily surprised they accepted her as a member, and it really put the whole clan in a new perspective for me. They live in a place where women are treated so differently, so I loved that they didn't turn her away after finding out she's a girl. I think Okami was trying to protect her when he said that.

18. Why did Tsunekio take Okami's place? Okami says there is more going on that Tsunekio told him.
I'm not sure - I hope we learn more in the next book.

19. What do you think is the goal of Kanaro? She seems to have captured Asano Naganori and is using him. Why do you think she captured him? Do you think Asano can turn himself in a fox, the one that leads Mariko's brother to the camp of the Black Clan?
Possibly... These questions are tricky for me to speculate on!

20. Kanaro is looking through the bark of the tree and sees a woman with a half burned face. Who is it and where is she? Is she someone else who Kanaro captured?
When I read that it's a woman with burn marks, I totally pictured it as Kenshin's love interest. I can't recall her name, but I figured she might be held hostage to use against Kenshin at some point.

21. Why do you think Okami and Mariko let themselves be captured by Mariko's brother? Was it a thing Okami and Mariko decided to do in the spur of the moment or was it the plan all along?
I don't see it being the plan all along, but again, Okami is so mysterious. I think it was done to save the others.

22. Genmei must have had the opportunity to kill the emperor before, why do you think she choose to kill him now? Do you think she is aware of what her rival Kanako is planning?
I think she was biding her time until the right moment and needed him to be alive for some reason. I hope we find more about them in the next book.

23. What did you think of this book? Will you be reading the next book in the series?
I loved this plot and the characters. I will definitely be reading the next in the series!

Discussion Questions for 26 July An Honest Exchange - Smokeshields & Sorrow pages 229-312

11. Kenshin suspects the Minamoto clan of something, what do you think it is? Maybe they were involved on the attack on Mariko's convoy? I'm not sure the Black Clan is to blame. What do you think?
I don't trust the Minamoto clan at all. I'm not sure what their motives may be, but I feel like they're more likely the ones behind the attack on Mariko than the Black Clan is.

12. Okami has found Mariko out. Do you think he will keep her secret? I like what I see of their relationship so far, what do you think? I wonder what will happen when Okami finds out that Mariko is to marry Raiden.
I absolutely loved the moment he found her out and how their relationship is going. I love that he was kind of falling for her already when he thought she was a boy, and their banter back and forth have made the relationship even more exciting for me to read about. I hope he wouldn't give her away, but he's a pretty mysterious guy that seems loyal to Ranmaru.

13. What happened to Kenshin in A forest of blood and fire? Who could have been the person lurking in the woods? Someone from the Black Clan?
I feel like he's known for being the Dragon of Kai for a good reason - he seems to turn into a "dragon" and forget himself out of anger/frustration. After reading more opinions on this though, I could definitely see it turning out that he's under someone else's control. I would like that option better.

14. Do you think that the people who attacked Akira-San are the same as the ones that attacked Mariko's convoy? Their method (fire and bloodshed) seems the same. Do you think the emperor may be behind it, because of the samurai?
Definitely a good thought! I'm not sure on this one.

15. This book is filled with wonderful quotes, this is my favorite: "Love isn't something that can be understood or explained. It's intangible. Like Magic. Those who do not possess its powers never fully grasp it.". Do you have a favorite?
After finishing the book, I went to the quotes section for it on Goodreads right away and liked all my favorites. Here's one:
"You are first and foremost a person. A reckless, foolish person, but a person nonetheless. If I ever say you are not permitted to do something, rest assured that the last reason I would ever say so would be because you are a girl.”

23rd of July : An Unmerited Blessing - Jubokko (p. 80-154)

5. Regarding the description of Okami’s powers, it's a bit cryptic imo. The author mentions he blurs/vibrates. Any speculation about Okami’s powers? Also what do you think about the Black Clan’s reaction after Mariko saved Ranmaru (they drugged and kidnapped her)?
I definitely agree that it's pretty cryptic. I think it has to have something to do with the family he comes from, but it's hard to put a guess on what's going on when it seems like he's the only one that can do that kind of thing. I need more answers on this! I think any group like the Black Clan would question people's motives, and it felt right away like they were going to test her and figure out why she did what she did.

. A love interest(s) showed up in these last couple of chapters? Do you think there will be a love triangle?
I never got the feeling of a love triangle.

7. When the ashigaru (foot soldiers) are singing about home, Kenshin kicks the boy who started the song in the face. Did you think it was unexpected? What does it say about Kenshin’s character so far?
I wasn't expecting that, but I can tell Kenshin has some anger issues for sure as well as some pride issues.

8. At one point Mariko and Okami are having a conversation about their names/nicknames. Why that mysterious name Okami (= Wolf)? Is he hiding something? Or maybe he’s a shapeshifter?
I feel like he's got to be a shapeshifter. I think he's hiding a lot that, and he's probably my favorite character, so I hope we learn more about him.

9. Any thoughts about Ranmaru’s childhood friends’ story at the Jubokko tree? What are Ranmaru’s and Okami’s role in this story? (Btw that tree was creepy)
It seemed like we were getting a look into their past, but it's hard to tell how much is true and how much is missing. That tree was way creepy.

10. How are you liking it so far?
I finished it, but I loved it at every point in the story!

Comments and Questions
22 July The Beginning - Fall Forward to Keep Moving

1. Have you read any other books by Renee Ahdieh? If so, is there one you would recommend?
No, I haven't! I've already finished Flame in the Mist, though, and I added one of her other series to my to-read list since I liked it so much.

2. This whole section seems to be the synopsis in one! What do you think of Mariko's character? Do you agree with her reasoning to pretend to be a boy and find out the truth?
I enjoyed Mariko right from the start. I think in her position, it was very brave of her to want to infiltrate the Black Clan as a boy to figure out the truth. I don't know if I would think to do that myself, but I can see why she wanted to try.

3. While on her way to Helan Castle, Mariko muses
"She should care that she was being exchanged like property in order to curry favour. But Mariko did not.
Not anymore."
What do you think of the last sentence? Did she have a falling out with her father before she left?
I think she just knows it is how it is.

4. Do you think the boy in the prologue (who watches his father die) is Ranmaru? Or perhaps the boy is "the lazy comrade...fast asleep on the bench" in the Black Clan?
I've finished the book, so I won't say anything on this one!

Crista726 wrote: I read The Wrath and the Dawn by Renee Ahdieh and had a hard time getting into the story and the MCs. I wasn't going to read Flame in the Mist but I have read so many good reviews I think I may have to give the author another chance. Did you read the wrath and the dawn?

I haven't read The Wrath and the Dawn yet, but it's on my to-read list now after reading Flame in the Mist! I wish I could compare them, but I know I personally fell in love with all of the Flame in the Mist characters and loved the plot.

Completion Post

Title: Paper and Fire
Author: Rachel Caine
Pages: 354
Date Read: 7/25/17
Rating: 3 stars
Review: I thought this was more entertaining than the first, but there were still things I had trouble with. Mainly, I feel like these characters aren't that sneaky but somehow get away with a lot. It just seems odd to me that the Library is watching them so closely but miss so much.

I've also added my two cents to the Read and Review discussion board!

I enjoyed this more than the first, too! (view spoiler)[I was really happy that the gang all got back together - especially since I didn't want Morgan to be left out! (hide spoiler)] The one thing I found a little repetitive is how often Jess talked about not trusting anyone and how he was so cautious, but then ended up giving a lot of trust to people that I would definitely question. I also felt like it was odd that this group got away with so much right under the Library's nose, but somehow slipped by each time. They didn't seem that sneaky, and it's hard for me to believe they wouldn't have people tracking them (view spoiler)[like every time they snuck off to meet up at night... that seemed far fetched (hide spoiler)]. I'm hoping it might get cleared up later on!

I hope you like it, Judith!!

Title: Flame in the Mist
Author: Renee Ahdieh
Pages: 397
Date Read: 7/21/17
Rating: 5 stars
Review: This was so good! I haven't had much luck with young adult novels lately and feel like my patience usually wears thin, but this was a breath of fresh air!! I never felt bored, and it was so hard to put down, especially during the last half. The setting was new and exciting, and the main characters are amazing. I'll be participating in the BOM discussion when it starts!

Title: Passenger
Author: Alexandra Bracken
Pages: 496
Date Read: 7/20/17
Rating: 2 stars
Review: The beginning of this story started out promising, but about halfway through I found myself unbelievably bored and fed up with the main characters. Etta and Nicholas both started to grate on my nerves. Nicholas was one of my least favorite male love interests in a really long time. He asked Etta "Whatever is the matter?" too many times for my tastes.

Sandy - Yes, I thought book 2 was better! It took me a while to read both of them, but it was harder for me to put down the second book for sure.

Title: Words of Radiance
Author: Brandon Sanderson
Pages: 1087
Date Read: 7/19/17
Rating: 5 stars
Review: This is the second in Brandon Sanderson's Stormlight Archive series. I loved the first in the series, The Way of Kings so I was really hoping the excitement I felt would continue into the rest of the series. I was blown away by how much I loved the characters even more in the second book, and the world building continued to be really excellent. I hate having to wait for the next one to come out, but it will be nice to space them out a bit since they're so long.

I love your description of Traitor's Blade, Judith!!

Also, thanks to whoever added my participation points for that BOM discussion! I always forget to add that in my posts :(

Title: Traitor's Blade
Author: Sebastien de Castell
Pages: 370
Date Read: 7/16/17
Rating: 4 stars
Review: I was not expecting to love this as much as I did! The content was fairly dark at points, but the characters and their wit really brought some lightheartedness to this that I don't see often. This series wasn't even on my radar before, but now I can't wait to pick up the next one.