Chapters 1-5

[Mana]

So .. I was checking out the load .. and it's about 90 pages .. so should we give it a week Starting from March 10th to finish these chapters .. and then use this thread to lash out .. if there are feels to share in the beginning that is ..

[Bookaholic (reads every mortal thing)]

Nah. I guess two days would be enough to read 5 chapters. We can start on March 10th and on March 12th, we can discuss the first 5 chapters.

[Kitkat]

Uhhh 2 days? I was also thinking maybe a week. Okay, anything is fine, I guess.

[Kitkat]

Okay 90 pages sounds easy. Kay then 2 days it is :)

[Mana]

hhh tell you what .. on the 12th i'll post like main points on what to talk about .. and we won't start till we make sure everyone's on the same page (or at least finished the 5th chapter lol) .. sounds good?

[Mana]

So today's finally here .. How's the reading .. Happy times?? .. I won't say anything don't worry .. i've forced myself to stop at 3 chapters just to have something to read tomorrow .. which is ok since i have to sleep .. and I have to study for an exam tomorrow .. but either way ,, I'll see if I can post points to talk about from the first 5 chapters (good stuff so far) .. ok then .. no spoilers until everyone confirms reading 5 chapters ,, ttyl

[Bookaholic (reads every mortal thing)]

I already finished all 5 chapters in 15 minutes. IT WAS SO DAMN ADDICTING! You dont even know when its over

[Mana]

I know!!! I could finish it but figured I should slow down .. I haven't read chapters 4-5 yet since i'm studying but i'm eager for my break .. In any case .. I figured we could dish out on point like (settings/ a feel of the book and the characters so far/ map and russian word references/ good scenes so far) and anything else .. I know it's too early to tell .. + I haven't read everything yet so no idea what I've missed .. but just to keep a discussion going .. I personally am enjoying this .. So do you guys want to make it 5 chapters a day thing? we can do that and then fangirl afterwards as long as everyone confirms reading everything .. how does that sound? (i talk too much don't i?)

[Bookaholic (reads every mortal thing)]

YES! YESYESYESYES! YUSSS! LETS MAKE IT 5 CHAPTERS PER DAY !! IM ONBOARD!

[Kitkat]

OF COURSE YOU ARE ON BOARD X___X YOU ALREADY READ 10 CHAPPIES :(

ANYWAYS, YES YES LETS MAKE IT 5 PER DAY :)
WAIT, SO WHAT ABOUT CHAPTERS 5-10? WE'LL READ THAT TOMORROW? And then the discussion for that will be....? Tomorrow itself? I'm sorta confused :$

[Kitkat]

Yeah, and I'm actually enjoying it so far!
It was confusing a bit in the start, just like all the other books. But by the fifth chapter, it was actually exciting.

There are so many Russian-type words though :/ Its confusing. But I like where the story is going :D

[Bookaholic (reads every mortal thing)]

Moya- Russian for me (female)
Moi- Russian for me (male)

Tsar and Tsarina- Russian for King and Queen

[Bookaholic (reads every mortal thing)]

Da- Yes

[Mana]

ok ok.. settle down everyone .. Dear bookaholic .. have you been skipping ahead? .. no fair lol .. KitKat .. I love how action packed it was even though it's just the first few chapters .. of course I'm assuming you read it right? *spoiler alert just in case* so I agree on that there were some confusing bits but I feel like it's normal since it's a new world and it's pretty much an introductory 5 chapters .. My copy of the book has a map at the beginning .. it kinda helped me imagine stuff but I still feel like i need to run over the different grisha titles to get the hang of their ranks

It's too soon to tell anything about anyone .. but I like how the setting is so far .. and the narration of Alina was really good .. at first with her stressing out and the childhood thing .. I thought she would be a gloomy person but she turned out to be funny .. I love how she has these comments to herself mid-narration .. I LOLed hard when she admitted it to the darkling

Speaking of which .. 120-sh?? really?? I was so shocked .. The way he was presented .. I kinda felt he'd be her age and therefore inevitably a part of the usual love interests.. but for now I'm not gonna think about it much .. all I want to know is .. "The darkling??" that's the name we're going to be thinking of the entire time?? there better be a name .. cuz I think I'm developing an interest and dude seems deeper than to be called The Darkling ..

Now the childhood friend Mal .. I loved how he was kind as a kid .. saying he didn't think she was ugly .. so cute .. and then as they grew apart .. I could tell he still cared for her but maybe that's still unclear since he could have been douching out on her.. boys .. you can never tell .. too early to tell and i'm still forming thoughts .. but when he said he'd meet her in their meadow i was kind of sad.. so yeah .. Mal's sort of a conflict to be resolved for me ..

Alexei :( .. so sad .. I don't think he's dead though .. there's no way a talent and a friend like that would go away that easily .. I don't know why .. but that's what I believe ..

what do you guys think?? we don't have to rush this at all btw .. I wanted to make it a point to dish out together on smaller parts to get the most of it .. but it's entirely up to you if you want to make it a 5 chapter/ a day thing .. but the thing with that is sometimes we'll have things to do .. (like my exams in the next couple of days) .. + there is the matter of waiting for everyone to finish so that we can discuss our "findings" .. so whenever you guys read this let me know how the 5 chapters were .. and YA maybe you can be our translator to every key russian word? (so please don't skip ahead?? >A< )

[Bookaholic (reads every mortal thing)]

IM SORRY! :( Seriously. I didnt even see the chapter until I reached at 10. I SWEAR. Then I was like, "Nope. Im not going to continue."

I completely agree with 'The Darkling'. He is the supposed love interest of Alina and is about 120+ years old. So far, I like The Darkling. I mean, in a mysterious kind of way. I dont know why, but neither completely sold on the Mal+Alina ship or the Darling+Alina ship. I like them as an indivigual. This may change on the later on chapters, but for now, I kinda feel that way.

Alina is a flawed character and love that about her. She isnt pretty or perfect nor is she fragile and delicate, even though she's all skin and bones. She is mentally strong and keeps her head held high even in difficult situations.

Mal seems like the kind of guy who you would just want as a friend. He seems like the kind of guy you would think you're in love with when the both of you are 'just friends', but when time comes, you realise that both of of you are better off as friends.

I really, really like Alexei. I had actually shipped Alexei+Alina O.o
I wish he was alive. He was such an awesome friend and till how much we read about him, he seems awesome.

The Darling is very interesting. I dont know exactly what to make of him. So...I would have to read more (PS- I dont even remember what happens after the 5th chapter except in bits. I re-read chapters 1-5 and forgot 6-10. SO DONT WORRY!)

I still dont get this whole kefta business. Kefta means robe in russian. But what I dont understand is all the colors on the kefta .

The map on the first page was actually quite informative and helped create the whole picture. But the only place in the whole map I could identify was Novosibirsk. Thats it.

I feel the exact same way about the rank. We get to know that The Darling is the only person who is allowed to wear black. Then that the healers wear red. After that my mind kinda zoned out.

When is your last exam, Mana?

[Mana]

YA .. Relax .. You make me sound like an angry parent lol .. I understand the need to finish quickly trust me .. I just thought it was a good moderation exercise LOL .. Recently our school bookstore had crazy sales and thankfully I managed to buy a reasonable number .. About 6-10 books for the price of 1-2 .. So like the buying .. The reading should be slowed down and shared with ppl .. That's why I wanted to do this read along thing (please stop me if I blab too much) .. Btw I did good on my exam .. Though I have another one tomorrow lol ..

Completely with you on everything .. Love the "darling" typo as well XD .. Cracked me up .. I still say alexei isn't dead .. Cuz they just flew him away .. That's no way to kill someone that we've seen take a role no matter how short ..

Do you think he was gay? I don't know why he sort of reminded me of kenji of tahereh mafi's shatter me .. And there were some speculations about his sexual orientation .. Lol


Kitkat.. How u doing?

[Bookaholic (reads every mortal thing)]

Wait? Kenji is gay? I never knew that. But never really paid attention to anything and was bored outta my wits

[Mana]

No no .. There was no clear statement .. But it was something someone brought up .. And I think it made sense lol

[Bookaholic (reads every mortal thing)]

PS- Ironic how if you remove the 'k' from Darkling, it'll become Darling. As demonstrated from yours truly ;)

[Kitkat]

Hello.
So, I'm fine, I guess haha xD
Okay I completely agree with you two on everything that you discussed. But to be honest, I didn't even pay attention to the map in the starting.

I dunno why but I don't like maps for some reason. This happened after reading Eragon. It had a map and Idk I just started ignoring maps from then

YES OMG SAME REACTION WHEN THE DARKLING'S AGE IS KNOWN.
First, when he came, I was like oooh, The Darkling sounds cool and evil, and I expected him to be young, or maybe a little older than Alina.

BUT 120 YEARS OLD? WAIT WH..WHA..WHAAAT?
THAT IS NOT POSSIBLE. I like him with Alina.
And I like his character too. He's that dark, mysterious, enigmatic sorta guy <3

I also felt that Mal wasn't really major, like he just drifts on and off and it was as if he wasn't there. I really don't want Alina + Mal. They can be just friends. Please :|

Alexei.....Oh Alexei. He seemed so sweet. It was like he was just introduced, and BAM, suddenly he's dead. Or taken by Volcra. Whatever xD
Haha I didn't feel like he was gay. He was really kind and supportive. Gay? Idk lol.

Hahah Darling. I didn't even notice that until you mentioned it. Thats such an ironic typo hahaha.

I'm really enjoying where this story is going though. I usually love fantasy stories where they have special powers and stuff, and this is really enjoyable :)

Anyways, I'm almost done with chapters 6-10, and I can't wait to discuss them haha.

Good Luck for your exam, Mana :)
And YA, WAIT PLEASE. STOP JUMPING AHEAD, I BEG YOU.

[Bookaholic (reads every mortal thing)]

I AM NOT! '

GOD!

[Mana]

XD XD XD .. poor YA .. alrighty then .. as soon as discussion ends for chapters 6-10 .. 11-15 in 24 hours .. this concludes our discussion I guess .. but if anyone at anytime wants to add something or express themselves .. please feel free .. you're more than welcomed