Shannon’s Comments (group member since May 21, 2018)

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

Feedback Ratio (Start): 61%
Feedback Ratio Updated: 63%

On shelf (6/1): 3
Read: 1
Added: 1

On Shelf (6/30): 3

TBR:


Finished:


Completed Reviews:
Betrayal and Banditry Link

I finally finished The City of Brass

Think I'm going to do a quick netgalley read before the Stephen King book. Could use an easier read since The City of Brass was such a struggle for me to get thru

Gonna suck it up and finish The City of Brass right now. Im still struggling with it as its just not appealing to my tastes. Have about 100 pages to go.

Debating starting the Stephen King book or a netgalley book next. I do remember someone saying the Stephen King book was very good so I might start that one

Suzanne wrote: "Oh shoot - I'd better verify that one.

But...our spreadsheet is looking weird to me (our planning sheet) and I'm not sure what is going on."

I think someone accidentally filtered the read by, but I put it back to no filter

DQs Day 5
Chapters 19 - 23

19. In this section there appears to be a love triangle developing. Was this what you expected. Where do you see this going?

I definitely thought that Ali would eventually fall for Nahri

20. Dara lets Nahri know about the King’s marriage plans for her. He lets her know that they can’t be together. Are his reasons valid or should Nahri put up more of a fight?

I understand that he's dead and I do think that that's a decent reason not to date someone, but maybe Nahri doesn't want to have children, or maybe they could be together and she could use someone else to have a child (ik it's older times, but I am overlooking this lol)

21. Ali and Nahri both have a hidden agenda and are using their “friendship” to achieve that. Do you think they are aware of each other’s objective?

I think they both realize at the minimum the potential for each other to have hidden agendas.

22. We learn that Ali has a separate agenda that the King is not aware of? Where do you see this heading?

I think this will anger the king a lot and the king will try to banish him back to the citadel. But I think his brother will stick up for him, as he doesn't want to marry Nahri anyways.

DQ Day 4
Chapters 15 - 18


14. Nahri meets the king of Daevabad for the first time but doesn't seem to have a lot of further interactions with him. What do you think the king's plan is truly? He offers her everything but doesn't ask for much in return - yes, he revealed to Ali that he wants to marry her to Muntadhir, but is that really all?

I don't trust the king. I think he has ill intentions, although I'm not sure what yet.

15. Prince Ali, fabulous he.. Were you surprised at this further development in Ali's character? The extreme hatred he displays towards Nahri? For some reason, whenever I read the passages from his point of view, I feel he comes across more like a brat rather than a hate-filled person, yet that seems to be what he shows most often when Nahri is around. He now feels he is a murderer, which, granted, he now is. He also realises that his father has been testing and playing him, and will now use him to his own ends. Do you think the poor boy will finally start growing up?

I was very surprised that him and Nahri didn't get along. I actually used to like his character, but he was so rude to Nahri. I never considered him to be a murderer though, I thought that it was moreso a mercy kill instead of allowing the boy to burn a slow death. I also thought that Ali seemed to be a more merciful character, but he has certainly been acting bratty recently

16. What do you think will be the outcome of Dara's quest in the middle of the desert with a future king and a contingent of warriors, who may or may not be hell-bent on killing the Afshin? Are they going to find the ifrit before their journey comes to an end?

I don't think they will. They all seem to think that Dara is delusional for saying they came across the ifrit so I think the ifrit may stay away to make him seem crazy

17. Nahri's first patient! And what a patient that was! Did this first true test of her skills - towards someone she does not know or care about - live up to your expectations?

I expected her not to be able to do it. I thought that Nisreen was rather obnoxious in this scene, especially telling her it should be easy (like ok woman, how about you try to do it). I think she felt a lot of pressure in this situation and that's why she couldn't do it.

18. Any predictions on who Nahri's father might be? I have to admit, I thought it was the king himself. But would he really want to marry his daughter to his son? Hm. What do you think?

The king did resonate with me a little, but maybe also the guy that took Ali to see the shafits. I have no real clue.

Suzanne wrote: "Oh and note to team: I have a LOT of company coming this weekend - about 13 people - so I will do our weekly update on Monday. Hmm...and I think I already said that - sorry if I'm repeating myself!..."

Have fun Suzanne!!

Participation Post:
Day 1: June 2nd Link
Day 2: June 3rd Link
Day 3: June 4th Link
Day 4: June 6th Link
Day 5: June 7th Link

DQs Day 3 - Chapters 10-14

9. As he walks through the Daeva Quarters, Ali is shot by a toy arrow, let loose by one of the children playing about. Rashid suggests to Ali that he should punish the boy by taking him to be raised in the Citadel, which Ali refuses. What do you think this says about Ali, and about others in the city’s upper echelon?

I think this would make the guards or his workers very protective over him, but also very harsh in punishment. It was a toy for goodness sake. Ali comes across as a gentler leader. It seems like he would be more accepting of everyone in the kingdom.

10. Nahri and Dara have a moment, but are interrupted. Do you like this partnership, romantically or otherwise? Is it doomed, or meant to be?

I like the two of them together. I hate how they are going based on what their ancestors think. Like that is so outdated, I think a relationship between the two of them would be cute. But I am nervous about Dara still being a slave and that being used potentially to hurt Nahri.

11. We learn about the terrible conditions in the shafit orphanage and the difficult lives all the shafit are forced into. Even though he immediately refuses to help, how do you think this will influence him in the future?

I HOPE he lays low until his father dies or releases his power and then does something to help. Although knowing Ali, I don't think this will be how it happens. I know he had the conversation with his brother, but I think he will secretly find a way to help them. Maybe by giving them Nahri who can heal people.

12. As Dara and Nahri cross the last illusion shielding Daevabad, Nahri has an odd reaction and ends up flat on her back on the deck of the ferry, with Dara rudely refusing anyone’s assistance. Do you think this was caused by something related to what Nahri is, or something else?

I think this could be him being prejudiced and protecting Nahri or maybe he doesn't want them to realize she's a shafit.

13. Muntadhir takes Ali to a secret room filled with dead Nahids. Do you think this room will be a turning point for Ali? Do you think Dara will discover this and his relic, and what do you think will follow if he does?

I hope that Ali listens to Muntadhir, but I don't think he will. I am confused about Dara because apparently he can't come back without the relic? That part was confusing. I'm not sure what will happen though

Janeylou wrote: "Have claimed for blue..but theres not a light blue and not sure if this classes as bright ??"

I feel like it looks more teal to me, but we can see what others think

Janeylou wrote: "Completions
Bonfires
Amy Lane
416 pgs
3 june
Fits..brown cover

Temporary Partner
Nicky James
378 pgs ..."

Adding now! Thank you! :)

Vi wrote: "I've finally caught up with . How's everybody finding the book? I can't say why exactly but I'm not fully invested in the book. Maybe the writing which feels c..."

I'm also struggling to want to read the book. I have no clue why either bc I usually really like these sorts of books

Just got 11.22.63 out of the library!

Day 2 DQs : Chapters 5-9

5. So many groups! We had a couple of chapters in this part that described some of the tribes in Daevabad and elsewhere - the Daeva/Djinn, Ifrit, Simurgh, Zahhak and I'm sure I haven't listed them all. Where on the confusion scale are you - with 1 being totally confused and 10 being "I've got this". And are you ok with your level at this point in the book?

I've slightly given up on all the groups. If I was really trying to remember, I would have to make a map of who hates who and who are allies/friendly. On the confusion scale I would probably give myself a 7 because I stopped keeping track.

6. Somewhat related to this - we learn that Suleiman curbed magical abilities because the daeva harmed humanity. I learned (thanks Google) that in the non-book world Suleiman the Magnificent was the longest-reigning Sultan of the Ottoman Empire from 1520 to 1566 - he ruled over at least 25 million people. Did you know anything about Suleiman and what do you think of his inclusion in the book?

I did not know anything about the Suleiman. I thought it was just made up, but it's cool that it's a real thing.

7. We now know Dara was a slave for many years and was forced to do some things that haunt him. How does this make you feel about his character?

I feel really bad for him. Especially for him to have to live with it. And the one part where there were two women trying to murder him while he was a slave was awful. He had a really hard past life.

8. Ali's father was portrayed as brutal when we first met him at the execution, and then later he seemed like a pretty good ruler as he listened to and judged people's problems. What do you think - good king or bad king?

I think he is a good king, but he can be harsh. I understand that he is trying to keep his kingdom in line and maybe he was taught that what the guy did was really wrong, but I feel so bad for the guy that was executed.

Nanci wrote: "Shannon wrote: "@Nanci how do you like Project Hail Mary? Thats been on my TBR list for a whihile now. Thinking ab reading it too"

I'm really liking it, Shannon! It's two time lines, which seems t..."

Ok! Ill have to get it out of my library

@Nanci how do you like Project Hail Mary? Thats been on my TBR list for a whihile now. Thinking ab reading it too

MN Lisa wrote: "Checked in

I also hid the May books to make it (hopefully) easier to find your books and hid the completed/checked in books on the Chipmunks tab."

This will make it so much easier! Thanks Lisa!

Just finished Wasn't sure I was gonna like it from the first few chapters, but I was pleasantly surprised!

DQs Day 1, Ch 1-5


1. This book begins in 18th century Cairo, with France and Turkey fighting over Egypt. I have never encountered this conflict in fiction before. Have you? Were you familiar with it before you started reading?

I knew that there was conflict in Egypt, but I wasn't sure who was involved in it. Just some 9th grade history faded memory... I also havent read a book with this conflict yet!

2. Nahri has several mysterious powers, including healing, the ability to sense illness in others, and the ability to understand and speak every language she hears. Which of her powers would you like for yourself?

I think understanding every language would be cool, but I also think healing would be beneficial as I'm a gymnast so I get hurt every now and then. Being able to magically heal an injury almost immediately would be amazing!


3. What do you think of the world building so far? Do you find it confusing, or do you feel like you’re along for the ride?

I like the world building. In a few parts it seems slightly overkill, but it really allows you to imagine the world.

4. So far we’ve met 3 significant players in this book: Nahri, Ali, and Dara. Do you have a favorite character so far, or one who intrigues you the most?

I almost thought that chapter 4 was a flashback to the war starting and that Ali and Dara were the same person. This could totally be wrong, but I know that there aren't many shefits anymore, at least that's what Dara said. Maybe Dara and Ali are connected. But I liked Ali. I thought he was really brave. Dara's also great with his sarcasm though

Janeylou wrote: "Completion
Chipmunks ...Film 10s - The Whole Ten Yards - Read a book that shares a title word (NOTE: THE can't be used)

Love Me Whole by
Nicky James
378 pgs
1 ju..."

I will add it! Thanks!