Natalie’s Comments (group member since Oct 24, 2015)

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

I am still reading my star book.

I'm mixed on extending the challenge. I'll keep playing either way though. I do want to have enough time to get through it, so extending is probably for the best.

Still working on Star Scroll. I expect to finish it this week. I was hoping for this weekend but I ended up being busier than I thought and the beginning of this week has also been busy.

Leia, Princess of Alderaan by Claudia Gray
Date Read: 7/9
Page count: 416

One Fell Sweep by Ilona Andrews
Pages: 340
Date read: 7/7/2018

If there’s still need I can read The Star Scroll for astronomy which is 560 pages. I can probably read it this weekend.

Unlocked by Courtney Milan

Date read: 7/5
Pages: 111
Spells: U for title

Unveiled by Courtney Milan

Date read: 7/5
Pages: 381
Spells: U for title

I’ll read two U books to help out there. Is there anything with classes we need?

Clean Sweep by Ilona Andrews

Date read: 7/2
Pages: 235
Spells: A (author), B, C (title), D, E, G, H, I (author), M, R, S, W
Brian Rodriguez, Dina, Sean Evans, Hector Marais, Brian Rodriguez, Wilmos Gerwar

Sweep in Peace by Ilona Andrews

Date read: 7/4
Pages: 315
Spells: A (author), B, C, D, E, G, H, I (author), M, O, R, W
Beast (MC pet dog), Caldenia, Dina, Sean Evans, George, Hector Marais, Orro, Robart, Wilmos Gerwar

Antigoni wrote: "Ora wrote: "Up to chapter 14
I am really trying not to look at spoilers for parts of the book I haven't read yet.

Hugh (view spoiler)...."

Ok, SPOILERS, don't read it if you haven't read Magic Bi..."

(view spoiler)[
I don't think we have an updated Kate Daniels timeline. The best I ever found was this one which only went through Magic Mourns. But my memory of the books is that Erra wakes after the shift, I think only a few years max before she pops up in Magic Bleeds.

Roland wakes up sometime before the shift. I'm not sure when exactly he wakes and when he finds Hugh, but it seems like Hugh has been with him for a decent period of time. Long enough that he was fully trained by Voron before Voron left with Kate. So I doubt Erra is Hugh's mother. Also, when Roland took Hugh, he had a good warlord in Voron, so I doubt he was looking for a replacement. Just another soldier for his army. (hide spoiler)]

Iron and Magic
402 pages
7/1

DADA book - Iron beats faerie

Finished

(view spoiler)[
Overall loved it, as I guessed I would. I just love their writing and Hugh too much to give it anything other than a 5. I'm not sure when we are getting the next book, but I'm looking forward to it.

My favorite part was hearing his point of view of how it went between him and Kate. Him coming at her as a brother would have been an interesting development. I wonder if she would have taken his offer.

I did feel a bit of the book was too retconning, that is that they rewrote what happened to make him a better/easier to redeem person. For example with Ascanio, where now he wasn't healing/hurting him, he was healing and had to rebreak parts so he made it look like he was hurting him to get Kate to go with him.

I'm mixed on the he was just under Roland's control the whole time, because on one hand, the Kate Daniels series has shown that Roland does have a fatherly affect on people, and Hugh would have been subject to that his whole life. On the other I feel it's too easy to just say that he was just following orders.

I don't think he's completely redeemed, but I do think he's on that path. The scenes with Ascanio and then Raphael and Andrea seemed more to set up Hugh helping Kate and them in the next book than actually matter to the overall plot of this book.

I also loved the elephant and how Hugh solved that. I was reminded of the cat god thing that Curran ate in Magic Binds. I'm guessing that was another of Roland's magic creatures and I'm wondering what if any effect that will have on Curran.

I'm so curious about Elara and what she is/did to get this power. And the chanting at the wall. So intrigued.

I was a bit let down by the Commander with his creatures. I feel there should have been more there. Maybe future books? (hide spoiler)]

Magic Triumphs/IC2 thoughts
(view spoiler)[
So they posted that the entire Iron Covenant trilogy will take place before Magic Triumphs. But, obviously Magic Triumphs comes out next month (!) and the series is written to be read as KD9, IC1, KD10, IC2, IC3 with

"You don’t need to wait for Hugh’s entire story to be out to continue with Magic Triumphs. If you do, it won’t be as fun, because there are some revelations in Iron Covenant 2 that are best discovered after Magic Triumphs."

As I said above, the Ascanio, Raphael, Andrea part seemed to me to be more for a set up of Hugh and Elara helping Kate in the next book. Like, if Hugh just showed up without having these talks, Raphael/Kate/Curran would likely try to kill him on sight.

So what role will he play in the book? How will he act with Elara as its taking place later in their relationship. Although I did see the page for IC2 lists it as the story of Elara Harper. So maybe it takes places before IC1 and we learn the background for her group and powers? Then IC3 jumps back to after IC1 and wraps up their story? Anyway, for now I'm intrigued. (hide spoiler)]

Diane ~Firefly~ wrote: "Natalie wrote: "I got like 4% into this on Tuesday before going on Quidditch duty. Then had a few days of rest and needed to save this for another challenge. Finally got back today.

Through Chapt..."

(view spoiler)[I’m hoping/assuming the pettiness doesn’t last the whole book. It’s fun to read for now, but I’m guessing later in the book they’ll get to trust each other more. Like with the septic system. Hugh would have agreed with Elara to do it, but she didn’t tell him and had him waste time getting upset and tracking down the crew to question them.

But I also loved her ribbon cutting ceremony. (hide spoiler)]

I got like 4% into this on Tuesday before going on Quidditch duty. Then had a few days of rest and needed to save this for another challenge. Finally got back today.

Through Chapter 6
(view spoiler)[
Arranged marriage is one of my favorite romance tropes so I was happy when I heard that was part of the plot. I wasn't sure which route they would go, love or hate at first sight. Hate is more fun for me to read and I am having so much fun so far.

One thing I really like is both Hugh and Elara are capable leaders. I love their fights because I agree with both of them for the most part. It's not one of those cases where one party is just being unreasonable. They definitely antagonize each other more than necessary, but the reason for their decisions makes sense.

My favorite quote so far is:
“You two will get along. He’s like you.” “How’s that?” “A big, mean sonovabitch that nobody wants.” Ryan realized what he’d blurted out. His face went white.

and

“You’re handsome, a big, imposing figure of a man, and um…” Lamar scrounged for some words. “And they’re desperate.”

Both parties are desperate and that's why it works.

Another part I found interesting is that Hugh keeps referring to Kate as Daniels. I don't remember him doing that during the main series, so it's interesting to get his inner dialogue and see that. (hide spoiler)]

Completion Post

Quidditch Books (page points only)
Undercover Princess - 288 pages
Evernight - 352 pages
Dangerous - 352 pages
Until You - 352 pages
Betrayed - 352 pages

The four 352 pages are not a typo

Slytherin Beater

Jenny gets the call that Michelle needs saving again. She picks up her broom and heads out

Reading Ruby 182 pages. Same book as Michelle.

Slytherin Chasers

All three chasers are on the field with a repaired quaffle (superglue this time) and are headed to the goal.

Slytherin Quaffle Chain #9
Q - The Queen of Attolia | read by Natalie - 6/23
U - True Devotion (Series Title: Uncommon Heroes) | read by Laura - 6/27
A -The Marco Effect (Author LN: Adler-Olsen) | read by Snowtulip - 6/28
F - Forsaken | read by LaurLa - 6/23
F - Divided in Death (Character: Feeney) | read by Laura - 6/25
L - Love Finds the Way | read by Michelle 6/28
E - Ella Enchanted | read by Natasha - 6/27

Chaser Chain #14

#1 - Ruby - Michelle (182 pages)
#2 - Artificial Condition - Snowtulip (159 pages)
#3 - Omens and Artifacts - Laura (162 pages)

Current Score:
Slytherin: 50
Ravenclaw: 90

Slytherin Keeper

Natalie dismantles the quaffle, preventing the chain from scoring!

Read Quite Contrary, currently used for Q
6/28

Slytherin Seeker

Louise has followed the clues and has found the snitch. She flies after it, pushing her broom to the limit.

Reading Miss Buncle's Book (304 pages)
Used in Chaser Chain #2 by Michelle

Slytherin Beater

Jenny goes on the attack after the Ravenclaw team

Reading Miss Frost Solves A Cold Case: A Nocturne Falls Mystery to attack Kate (same book as chasers)