The Rithmatist (Rithmatist #1) by Brandon Sanderson - Restarting March 5th 2018

[Sarah Elizabeth]

The Rithmatist, Brandon Sanderson's New York Times bestselling epic teen adventure is now available in paperback.

More than anything, Joel wants to be a Rithmatist. Rithmatists have the power to infuse life into two-dimensional figures known as Chalklings. Rithmatists are humanity’s only defense against the Wild Chalklings. Having nearly overrun the territory of Nebrask, the Wild Chalklings now threaten all of the American Isles.

As the son of a lowly chalkmaker at Armedius Academy, Joel can only watch as Rithmatist students learn the magical art that he would do anything to practice. Then students start disappearing—kidnapped from their rooms at night, leaving trails of blood. Assigned to help the professor who is investigating the crimes, Joel and his friend Melody find themselves on the trail of an unexpected discovery—one that will change Rithmatics—and their world—forever.

A New York Times Book Review Notable Children's Book of 2013

[Max]

Woo! I'm so excited for another Sanderson book. He's my favourite author apart from Cassandra Clare.

[C.P.]

I hope you like this one! I loved it.

[Max]

I hope I do, too! I've given every other Brandon Sanderson book I've read 5 stars, so I hope this one does not disappoint!

[Maddie]

Found the thread :D

[Heather]

I'm reading this starting tomorrow!!

[Maddie]

Awesome :D Let me know how you like it?

[Heather]

Will do!

[Maddie]

Awesome. I'm keen to read it.

[Heather]

It's gunna be my first book by him!

[Maddie]

I've read Steelheart which I loved.

[Heather]

I ordered The Way of Kings and it should be here in a week or so

[Maddie]

Ah awesome.

It may be a few days until I start this. I'm going away with my boyfriend. So I'll start this probably 4 days away?

[Maddie]

Starting this tomorrow.

[Max]

This will be my tenth book by him so yay!

[Maddie]

Woah good on ya Max!

Planning on reading a little more of this in a few minutes. Page 120 I think currently. I'm liking this book so far. It's pretty complex, what with all of the different Defenses, and needing to remember what they all do, but the storyline's not that difficult yet. I sense it'll pick up a bit though later on haha.

[Sarah Elizabeth]

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Date Changed. Restarting June 24th 2016. Happy Reading ☺

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[Helen 2.0]

Starting today! But it's going to be a slow read for me.

[Helen 2.0]

Part 1: (view spoiler)[ I really dislike Joel. He reminds of of David from Brandon Sanderson's Reckoners series; both are obsessed with a powerful group of people they can never be part of.
Joel is childish, dramatic, kind of asocial, if you ask me. I think he's just making himself miserable by pursuing Rithmatism when he's only going to be disappointed.
I hope this means Joel is going to see a lot of character development later on. (hide spoiler)]

[Helen 2.0]

Chapter 9: (view spoiler)["The man who spent his youth being shoved around... When that man gets a little power and authority, he often uses it to become a tyrant on par with the worst warlords in history.'
Fitch is so wise! He sees the dangerous path Joel could go down if he doesn't work on his character integrity. (hide spoiler)]

[Helen 2.0]

Done with Part 2: (view spoiler)[ The pace feels like it's picking up, finally. So far there hasn't been much action, just a lot of sitting and talking. I like that we're getting to know the characters in-depth but I want some action already.

This world is weird. It's close to ours but not really. First-off, all the places have similar names with one or two letters tweaked (Egyptia, Nebrask, Floridia...). America is colonized, but apparently it's made up of islands, not states. And in Europe people eat with chopsticks! I'm very confused with the worldbuilding.

One thing I love is the steampunk machines on campus. (hide spoiler)]

[Helen 2.0]

Chapter 18: (view spoiler)[ It's nice that Joel gets another chance at becoming a Rithmatist! But even if it does work out I feel like Joel might end up disappointed. He puts Rithmatism on such a pedestal, yet Melody claims it's not all it's cracked up to be, and I believe her (Melody is my favorite :D) I just hope Joel's dreams don't end up crushed. (hide spoiler)]

[Helen 2.0]

Chapter 20: (view spoiler)[ I like the idea of circles being a symbol of divinity. The major religions' reaction to Rithmatism makes a lot of sense. (hide spoiler)]

[Helen 2.0]

Chapter 24: (view spoiler)[ GO FITCH and GO MELODY! Is it weird that I like the supporting cast way more than the main character? (hide spoiler)]

[Helen 2.0]

Done. (view spoiler)[ I loved the ending with the melee, that was sweet. Joel and Melody do make a great team.

Nalizar and the Nebrask war was never explained very well, but I'm okay with that. This book really only dealt with what happened at the school, so there's plenty of time in the next book to explain everything that was only hinted at so far.
(hide spoiler)]

[Abi]

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Reading from the 5th of March 2018

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[Natalia]

Part 1 (view spoiler)[ I really like this book so far. The world building is great, I love how detailed everything is explained (especially the drawings are amazing).
I don't really have an opinion for Joel so far. He is definitely a smart and ambitious character and I like this about him (hide spoiler)]

[Rae]

Jumping in on this!

[Rae]

Part 1
(view spoiler)[ I really do like Joel even though he is sabotaging himself, at least he is a boy with a goal right? I don't really get the selection process of the rhitmatists, who says who gets chosen? And I am going to need professor Fitch to grow a pair! How you let him just bully you like that! The concept thought is a bit ridiculous to me, you are fighting with sidewalk art? I am getting a real "Good Will Hunting" Vibe from this book as well. (hide spoiler)]

[Rae]

This chalking thing is like a chess game I feel, you are always trying to figure out the opponents next move.

[Rae]

Part 2
(view spoiler)[ WAIT if he didn't get a chance to go to his Inception does that mean that he can be a Rithmatist and just not have been given the opportunity? I wonder if Nalizar is the one that is harming/stealing these young rithmatists but for some reason its not striking me as he is. Also this book is giving me a headache its like math and chess and art mixed together... certain things should not mix. (hide spoiler)]

[Rae]

Part 3
(view spoiler)[ So I can say that I was for sure not expecting that for an ending! But the duel with Joel and Melody :-) I loved it! Now that its a no go for Nalizar I wonder how he will get his students to have the upper hand. (hide spoiler)]

[Natalia]

Chapter 9 (view spoiler)[ I love the magic system in this book, it's so cool. I love how Fitch gave him some lessons, I wonder why Joel wasn't selected to became a Rithmatist (hide spoiler)]

[Rae]

Natalia wrote: "Chapter 9 [spoilers removed]"

It is very cool, but the math/art/science mix was just too much for my head...lol

[Natalia]

Part 2 (view spoiler)[ I really like this book so far, there isn't so much action, but I definitely like the characters and world. The world building and magic system is amazing. It this weird mix between magic/geometry/art and I love it. (hide spoiler)]

[Natalia]

Chapter 18 (view spoiler)[ It's great that has another chance to become a rithmatist, but I can't help that he will be disappointed whatever happens. Even if he becomes a rithmatist, he idealizes it and at some point he'll probably be disappointed (hide spoiler)]

[Natalia]

Chapters 22 (view spoiler)[ I feel bad for him. He definitely really wanted to become a rithmatist. (hide spoiler)]

[Natalia]

End of part 3 (view spoiler)[ Wow ok I definitely didn't expect this ending, it was so good.
Also I loved the duel with Joel and Melody, it was so cool and I loved how they worked together (hide spoiler)]

[Jasmine]

Starting now! Good grief...this month has not been in my favor!

[Jasmine]

Part 1 (view spoiler)[ So weird to me that they fight with chalk! Fitch is Joel's favorite professor so I feel bad for him that he gets beat in the Duel with Nalizar. I really like that he proved the math professor wrong about cheating. He seems pretty smart. He wants to be a Rithmatist so bad! Wondering how his summer elective will go with Professor Fitch. (hide spoiler)]

[Jasmine]

Part 2 (view spoiler)[ I think it is pretty funny that Joel finds Melody annoying. I like that this has all the sudden taken a turn. In chapter 7 I was wondering why the professor was having Joel look at obituaries. Now it's all making sense. For some reason this book is reminding me of the Professor Latyon games. If the inspector doesn't think Nalizar is guilty of anything then who is it?? (hide spoiler)]

[Jasmine]

Chapters 15-20 (view spoiler)[ I like the team of Joel and Professor Finch. Who is the killer? Did he escape from Nebrask? Why is he taking Rithmatists? I'm kind of picturing the chalkings to look like Flat Stanley for some reason. I really like that this has turned into a whodunit type book. There are so many people that could be the killer! I kind of wonder what part Melody is playing. I'm glad that Joel's mom decided to move back to his dad's workshop. Nalizar has to be involved in all of this. Especially the death of Melody's brother. (hide spoiler)]

[Jasmine]

Finished! (view spoiler)[ OMG! The vision of Joel not being able to scream for help. Like every nightmare I have ever had. That just gave me the sickest feeling. Exton to the rescue! So glad that Joel saw him and Exton helped him, but wait, is Exton the killer??? Nope, it's Harding! I kind of thought it was him cause he seemed so gung ho and crazy at times. And Nalizar was the puppet master. I did see that one coming for sure. I really like that the kids that were "kidnapped" had just been turned into chalklings. Glad to see that Joel and his team won. (hide spoiler)]