ChrisP’s Comments (group member since May 19, 2025)

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

Here is the final set of questions:

30. Who ended up being you favorite character and why?

Jesper - he was always there to make me smile.

31. On page 392, Matthias tells Nina that Kuwei is "one of us" Who do you think he is referring to as "us"?

Someone that the ice castle had chewed up and took away their humanity

32. Kaz has the thought that: survive, survive, survive is how he has lived his life. Do you see this as in sync with his character? Do you see him as a character that survives through caluculated plans or luck?

He is a survivor who always sees moves before they happen...a chess master if you will. He is quick on his feet and has hired the right people to get the job done. There is a saying luck favors the prepared


33. Do you have a favorite quote from this book?

Jesper said many things that are worth putting her but nothing comes to mind.

34. What lesson or lessons do you think the author was trying to teach us through this story?

Forgiveness and see through misconceptions of what we think is true.

35. Were you satisfied with the ending? Will you read on in this series?

YES!!!!! the author is not on my favorite list of people today for that ending.

Chapters 27-36


26. Wow, this was an exciting section! Kaz shows up after his encounter with Pekka Rollins covered in blood and lies to the group about finding him. Any new thoughts on what you think happened between Kaz and Pekka in that cell?

A little bit of torture, but he let him live because he didn't want to get down to killing him in cold blood. He wants to beat him

27. When Matthias showed up outside of Nina's cell with Brum, he totally had me thinking that he had betrayed the team! Did he fool you too?

At first he did. I was expecting Kaz to come out of now where and rescue her but the longer it went and the more Brum spoke you could tell he was completely changing allegiance

28. Brum reveals that his people have been experimenting on the Grisha for at least 15 years. So apparently the Grisha are worth keeping alive only if they use their abilities under the control and direction of the Fjerda. Now that Matthias knows the truth about what his people have been doing, do you think he'll still return home after he gets his pardon (if the team is successful)?

No, after being trained almost brain washed and to see them using them instead of putting them down. His brain would break and realize what he believed to be true may been built among half trues and soon as you start going down that hill you started thinking for yourself and the pieces don't add up



29. Wow, those Tidemakers were scary! We've now seen Squallers and Tidemakers fight our team. Will they face Inferni? What would an attack from jarda-parem-taking Inferni look like?

Melt the ice castle? Not really familar with Inferni yet.

30. The team's plans keep getting thwarted, and now with Inej captured, do you think the whole team will make it out alive?

Yes, the author seems like she doesn't want to kill her characters. This team and their skills is highly skilled and one or the other will get them through

I finished Six of Crows, I should have everything updated over the next hour.

Goal: Takes place in prison should work here.

21. We have gotten a report on the audio version, but to those reading the book, how are you finding reading so many POVs? Do you feel the book is flowing well, or do you find it disjointed and hard to follow?

I am loving the flow in the book. I love the past slowly being revealed through the story for each character. I'm impressed that the author can write about each individual character as their own. I could see how the audio could be difficult if there weren't pauses..

22. I am having an issue with the ages of the characters (I find them inevitably at least 18 in my head). It seems like the author has written a LOT of backstory and responsibility for a group of characters all under the age of 18. Is this a situation where the ages are dictated by the "YA" category, or do you this

It is probably the YA character but most fantasy the special characters are younger not just YA, most non YA fantasy has characters that have accurate maturity for teenagers, this book however these characters are emotionally beyond their years.

23. The group has entered the prison. Do you think they will be successful in their mission? Do you think Bo Yul-Bayour is in the prison? Or do you think the whole job is a wild goose chase?

This is going to go from bad to worse. This Bo character is the one running the prison. The amount of foreshadowing with fabricated rooms are leading to that revelation.

24. We find out two interesting tidbits about Jesper in his chapter. Did you find either one of these surprising? Do you think either will play a part in the story, or is it just to help us better understand his character?

I think that was one of the twist and turns that once everything is loss there is a plan G. This book reminds me of the TV show Leverage.

25. We finally find out the rest of Kaz's backstory and why he wears the gloves. At the end of the section, Kaz has completely gone off mission and has Pekka right where he wants him. Do you think he will kill him? And how do you think the rest of the group will react when they find out what he is really doing?

No, I don't think he will kill him yet. Something about starring the whale in the face will effect him differently and the tables may get turned. The group will need to save him

Discussion Questions November 25
Chapters 18-20, pages 202-254

16. We get a glimpse of Kaz feelings for Inez. Were you surprised? How do you think their story will evolve?

No, I was not surprised his razor tough exterior can't show weakness on the outside but the heart wants what the hearts wants. I think it will go back forth through the series

17. Kaz shares a bit of his backstory with Inez, and considerably more with us. We are introduced to Jordie, the Hertzoons and an innocent, dependent Kaz. What were your thoughts reading about it?

The beginning where Kaz went from being a hopeful child to the beginning of dirtyhands

18. They finally landed on Fjerda. The heist plan is revealed. Matthias has a plan of his own and implies that Nina might have one too. Will they make it? At what cost? Is the gang going to break apart before the end?

I think the Wraith knows

19. We learn more about Nina and Matthias backstory. Now, their characters are better shaped. Did it change your opinion for either of them? Can you see them escape their prejudices? How do you think their story will evolve?
[For those that have read the Grisha trilogy: The hatred between Grisha and the Fjerdans run deep. Grishas are burned to the stake like witches. The Grishas armies burn villages and destroy the land. Is the original Grisha trilogy explaining how all this started?]

Sacrificing themselves to save each other and the rest of the team

20. The company is attacked by a drug-empowered Grisha. The competition is getting tighter. Is their mission as clean as they were led to believe? What role Bo Yul-Bayur will play if he gets his freedom?

The dangers of the drug takes effect. Turning someone with powers into an addict who will do anything for a score. This is not the answer for either side

The holiday's slowed my reading down. I'm current reading Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil: A Savannah Story (I visited Savannah, Georgia (US) a few months ago it was awesome. If you do decide to go I would recommend to read the book first.) I'm also reading Six of Crows, I'm starting to really enjoy the book!

I don't think either one works for any of the challenges.

11. With new developments in some of our characters back stories, which one did you find the most interesting and why? Did it change the way you viewed them? And how?

Injeh's backstory just wanted me to read more about her. She is the one of my favorite to read about and I can't wait to get back to her.

12. Kaz comes a little unglued... What's your take on that? Is he truly heartless and self seeking like he likes to be seen? What did you think of what he did to Oomen, and do you think that revealed anything?

Kaz was reminded he was human and the minute that occured he shut back up. I thought that Kaz would have killed Oomen without mercy, but Kaz always has a plan.

13. We get to see the history between Matthias and Nina! Who's side are you on? And who do you think Matthias will choose in the end?

Nina side by far. Matthias went looking for trouble and was looking to enslave her. Love has a way of breaking down the toughest walls

14. There are a lot of references that translate to today or modern history: street gangs, slavery & ships, human trafficking (brothels), and underground arenas for entertainment. Do you find their hard circumstances justify their criminal ways, or just make you care for them despite them?

We are a product of our environment. That doesn't excuse human trafficking. Hang'em I say.


15. Lastly! what's with kaz's gloves?! Hands stained by blood? Too sensitive to touch? Any theories out there?

He's got skills with human touch. It seems to easy to think they are damaged and it would show him week to his peers.

I have Aftermath on reserve. After that I will have all the Star Wars canon read

With the holiday I probably won't be around much the next few days.

Discussion Questions November 23

Chapters 5-9, pages 69-133

6. Putting the plot and characters aside for a moment, what do you think of Leigh Bardugo’s writing? If you regularly read YA how does it compare in quality. If this is your first YA book, is the quality of the writing what you expected?

I read all types of books. At this point of the books I wanted to see more humor as characters are introduced. (This changes later.) Writing style is fine I'm not blown away with it. This part of the book was tough to get through.

7. In Part Two, we meet Matthias Helvar. Nina said, “Helvar is driven by honor and only honor. You can’t bribe or bully that.” Do you think that statement is accurate based on what we learn about him during his rescue?

Everyone has a price. He may turn on them like a rabid dog, but he's not in that hole for being true to his ideal

8. I enjoy world building that has enough connections to the real world that I can picture what’s going on because of this relationship, but the scenes are still original and creative. I think Bardugo does a good job with this concept. My favorite scene like this so far has been (the spoiler is my favorite) (view spoiler).

Most world builders don't usually put guns into which is a nice change of pace. The wolf part was important to give you some foreshadowing about his connection to the world. There is a key here. I wouldn't have thought it would be hard for him to do this because a wolves typically are know to fight each other for dominance.


9. Since Wylan turns out to be Van Eck’s son, how do you think his role with the gang will play out?
Comic relief. A friendship with Jespair. With some fun bombs along the way

10. Now that we have met all six members of the gang, do you have a favorite?

Injeh, there is an ocean of depth in her character

Kelly wrote: "I just finished Six of Crows. I thought it was really good; better than I thought it would be. It's classified as YA but to me it has a more adult feel to it.

I'll be starting [bo..."

I'm stuck on chapter 5. Does it start to improve. I'm enjoying my historical books more that last couple of days.

I started reading Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil: A Savannah Story I know a little background, does anyone know if there is infidelity in the book?

Completion Post

Book Rebel Queen by Michelle Moran
Series: None
Page Count 355 pages
Date Read: 11/24/2015
Main Genres: Historical Fiction, Cultural>India
BOM: N/A
Goal: Historical Fiction about an actual historical event.

Rating: 4.01 (GR)
Date first publication: 3/13/05
ISBN 10 1476716358
Any other Details: N/A

I finished Rebel Queen it will meet the historical fiction category. I should have the other discussion updated shortly.

November 22nd

Chapters 1-4

1. Do you like the book so far? Why did you decide to read it? Is this a genre you normally read?

I think I do. When I read description of the book, reminded me of The Lies of Locke Lamora. After reading four chapters Kaz is no Locke. I do like this genre and it has the parts to make this good. I'm hopeful.

2. During the parley in chapter two, Kaz tells rival gang member Geels: "A secret's not like coin. It doesn't keep its value in spending." What does Kaz mean by this? Do you agree with him?

If everyone knows the a secret, than it is no longer a secret and doesn't have value. I'm not a blackmailer but it makes sense.


3. Inez seems to have led a very interesting life so far. What do you think her relationship with Kaz is? Does she have romantic feelings towards him? Is Inez someone you would trust? Is Kaz trustworthy?

I don't this her relationship with Kaz is love or anything like that. I think its more complicated like she needs something and is unable to do it herself. She is hiding and attached herself to a notorious underworld type where she couldn't be found. I don't find him trustworthy at all. I'm hoping the author can make him funnier/smoother

4. If you could have a magical talent like the Grisha, what would you want your talent to be? Which category of Grisha types (listed in post 102) do you think would be most helpful to us in the real world?

I would like to be a healer more than any other Grisha. Materilaki would be the most useful for our society the ability to build things quickly with little resources/energy could change things.

5. Have you read any of Leigh Bardugo's other books? If so, would you recommend reading her Grisha trilogy before reading Six of Crows?

I haven't started reading the Grisha books but I could see how reading those books first so you can get familiar with the Grisha would be beneficial. For some reason my library doesn't have the Grisha books online....

Britta wrote: "I suppose "lack of belief in a religion" might possibly work, good point. :D
I did like it, but it's still more in the 4-star range for me. I think I've read at least three King novels so far, and ..."

I understand completely what you mean. My favorite books by him is The Stand and It.

I think it could work for infidelity of the moderators look at all the definitions of the word:)

BTW - did you like it?

I'm currently reading the Rebel Queen. I do believe it is based on real events. I'm uncertain of the liberties the author may have taken. I'm about 1/2 done.

With infidelity are we boxed into broken marriage vows are will any of these definitions suffice.

1. lack of faith or constancy, esp sexual faithfulness
2. lack of religious faith; disbelief
3. an act or instance of disloyalty

Another one bites the dust!!!


Book Jewels: A Secret Historyby Victoria Finlay