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

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

Slytherin Keeper

Kaley thinks she found a weak spot in their quaffle.

Reading Thereby Hangs a Tail to take out the Q, originally read by Deanna

Slytherin Beater

Tea draws back her bat and lets the bludger fly and lands a direct shot on Nicole!

Read Best of Both Worlds against Nicole
6/23

Slytherin Beater

Jenny flies right behind her!

Reading A Spell To Tell against Jane

Slytherin Beater

Tea flies after the chain

Reading Best of Both Worlds against Nicole

Team Draco Malfoy. Starting today!

Team Slytherin gets on their brooms and begin their warmup laps around the pitch.



Chasers
Laura (TR)
LaurLa (SS)
Michelle (DM)

Beaters
Jammin Jenny (DM)
Tea (SS)

Keeper
Kaley (BL)

Seeker
Louise (BL)

Announcers
Natalie (DM)
Jammin Jenny (DM)
Eldarwen (SS)

Reserves:
Natasha (SS)
Natalie (DM)
Snowtulip (BL)
Stacie (SS)
Vicky (TR)
Wolf (TR)

Completion Post

Magic Shifts by Ilona Andrews
6/22
352 pages
BR: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Spells: A (author), B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I (author), L, M (title), N, O, R, S, V
Barabas, Curran Lennart, Kate Daniels. Eduardo Ortego, Ascansio Ferara, George, Andrea Nash, Raphael, Saiman, Lago Vista

…So I started last night. And then kept going. And finished.

(view spoiler)[This is one that I remembered some of the plot points, but they filled in as I went.

I did enjoy the plot about Curran taking over the guild and peeping to whip it into shape. And to start earning him money which they kinda need right now with Curran’s 500 hundred acre woods :)

Also love Raphael planning to buy the remaining houses for shifters who want to live near the former Beast Lord. I feel it would be a double edged sword. On one hand, he, Kate, and the others are great fighters. But they also attract a lot of attention. I think I’d live elsewhere.

Also loved everyone talking about Curran not realizing he was right in front of them. Definitely brought back memories of the first book where he’s unknown to Kate and she can only speculate on what he’s like.

I hate the wolf griffin to scorpion spider thing. I had blocked that out and now it’s back. Hands down freakiest thing in their books.

And I do partially love that this all started because of a disgruntled neighbor. Kinda a parallel to Kate and Curran’s new life.

And we get some more Roland. Not a lot, but enough. I love the dinner at Applebee’s and that poor waiter. Hopefully they got a good tip.

I don’t remember any earlier developments of Eduardo and George in the other book, but they were never main characters. They’re allowed to have a life we don’t see. And I did enjoy them in this book. Especially all Eduardo’s work to make a life for them outside of the pack.

Oh, and my favorite. When Christian walk into Kate’s house and we find out their group has been moving into their neighborhood! I loved that! (hide spoiler)]

Plan to start Magic Binds tomorrow.

Team Draco Malfoy! I’m so excited for this. Just finished my reread of Magic Shifts, one to go and I’ll be ready!

I see. I did it slightly different. I must have accidentally reviewed the kindle edition when I did my reread instead of adding a new date and shelves to my intial ebook review. I deleted the kindle and added the date read. It should work now.

Karishma wrote: "Anyone up for Iron and Magic when it releases?"

I am. I'm participating in the BRs right now and am planning to finish my reread just in time for its release.

Mods can we get a thread for Iron and Magic to start 6/26?

Starting today. Team Draco Malfoy

I wish I could remember where that was discussed. I started reading the series when most of it was written so it blurs together.

Also, finished last night.

(view spoiler)[
Two things I wanted to talk about.

Roland. I think part of the reason that they wanted to extend the series is they had built him up too much to finish in one book. Again, I can't remember where I read this.

I loved him. I had him pictured as basically a cruel and ruthless ruler and was happily surprised in how he turned out. Obviously, we don't get a lot of time with him, but I really liked him. I mean, he left her cookies!

Jennifer. She's a character who has appeared since the first book, but I never took real notice of her during my first read until the fourth book when her sister dies and she starts on her vendetta against Kate. I paid more attention to her during this reread, despite not mentioning it. While not a major character, she does have a rather tragic fall, from wolf alpha, to dying offscreen.

Favorite parts:
- Kate and her new sword, especially when she shows it off Landon Nez (who didn't believe she was who she claimed to be) and he swears and gets out of the car. Also the discussions about her new sword :)
- Curran choosing to leave the pack. It was unthinkable when its brought up a few books ago, but so realistic now. (hide spoiler)]

Michelle wrote: "Shelf check!

Natalie, just need a current date read for Magic Burns on your TT shelf (already in sheet). And I somehow missed adding [book:Orcas Intrigue: Book 1 of The Chameleon Ch..."

Sorry I must have overlooked this post earlier. It's showing as read 5/19-5/20 in my review and on my shelf. Does it still need to be fixed? I think this was during the period where dates on GR disappeared.

Completion Post

Magic Breaks by Ilona Andrews
6/20
402 pages
BR: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Spells: A (author), B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I (author), L, M (title), N, O, R, S, T, U
Barabas, Curran Lennart, Kate Daniels. Evdokia, Ascansio Ferara, Ghastek, Hugh, Andrea Nash, Julie Olsen, Raphael, Steinlein, Ted, Uath

Through chapter 10

(view spoiler)[
For whatever reason, I couldn't remember if Hugh was in this book. And then he shows up at the dinner and drops the body. I remembered parts of the plot, but had a few holes and his appearance filled most of them in. Still love him <3

Desandra is a fun addition to the series, though between her and the fighting between Derek and Ascansio for most of this part of the book, I'm almost on snark overload.

And the rats! One thing I did pay attention to in my reread has been their role (or lack of) in all the goings on.

The scene in the order always upsets me, especially with the deaths and fucking Ted. And then the Nick reveal. I definitely noticed him more in the earlier books knowing now who he was. (hide spoiler)]

I also agree above with how well the authors do with developed their story and series. My copy had a note about how despite this reading like the final epic book, they were under contract for three more (Magic Triumphs in a few months).

I think I did read somewhere that they initially planned for seven, but then realized they wanted more time to wrap it up. I think, given having read this and the next two, it was completely the right choice. There are some great plot points coming up in the next books and I'm dying to know how everything ends.

Starting today finally. Team Draco Malfoy

Finally finished this

(view spoiler)[
I always forget how long this is. I have Harry Potter books in this mental box of quick reads. Doesn’t help that the first time I read this book, I read it in one day. Actually afternoon to evening. I had preordered it through amazon as they advertised their new release day delivery. It didn’t occur to me that it meant the book wouldn’t be delivered until typical delivery time, in this case, around 2pm.

Book four is the shift in the series to a more mature one, and this book solidified that shift. Harry is your typical whiny teenager who is dealing with hormones and of course, his daily issues of being the chosen one. I always enjoy reading this series though.

One standout for me this time is that chapter near the end with Dumbledore where he apologizes for how he has treated Harry, both this year and in previous ones by not explaining what he needed to know. Dumbledore is the source of most of the series’s best quotes, and this chapter is full of them.

Especially looking back at this considering the events and revelations of the seventh book which I won’t go into. This chapter is one that can be seen in so many ways. (hide spoiler)]

Completion Post

Nice Dragons Finish Last by Rachel Aaron
Date read: 6/18
Pages: listened to audio, default is 287
Spells: A (author) B, C, E, I, K, M, N (title) O, R (author) S
Bethesda, Chelsea, Estella, Ian, Katya, Marcy, Oslo, Svena

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by JK Rowling
Date read: 6/19
Pages: 870
BR: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

Works for plenty of spells, but earmarked for arithmancy 800-900 category. Will edit in spells later if needed.

Jammin Jenny wrote: "@Natalie are you still planning on reading a book between 800-900 pages?"

Yes. Working on it. I just needed a break from reading. I should finish today or tomorrow.