Jenna's A-Z Challenge

[Chris]

I haven't gotten to that last series yet. I just finished the Rain Wilds last year. If I haven't gotten to them by the time you catch up, we can always buddy read.

[Jenna]

Chris wrote: "I haven't gotten to that last series yet. I just finished the Rain Wilds last year. If I haven't gotten to them by the time you catch up, we can always buddy read."

Sounds like a plan :)

[Helen, I·ᴍ ɪɴ ᴛʜᴇ ʟɪʙʀᴀʀʏ]

I ended up enjoying the Rain Wilds series.

[Chris]

Helen wrote: "I ended up enjoying the Rain Wilds series."

Yes, I did too.

[Helen, I·ᴍ ɪɴ ᴛʜᴇ ʟɪʙʀᴀʀʏ]

I should start the new set but I want to wait till they're complete. Have you read that other trilogy, soldier son is it?

[Chris]

I haven't tried those yet. I've really heard mixed things on them.

[Helen, I·ᴍ ɪɴ ᴛʜᴇ ʟɪʙʀᴀʀʏ]

We'll have to buddy them next year...

[Chris]

Sounds like a plan.

[Helen, I·ᴍ ɪɴ ᴛʜᴇ ʟɪʙʀᴀʀʏ]

:)

[Jenna]

Helen wrote: "We'll have to buddy them next year..."

So many buddies <3

[Jenna]

Just finished The Builders. 4/5*

It was a short, fun revenge story. It took me a bit to get into the setting as I haven't read much animal fantasy, but I loved the use of animal stereotypes (and Frenchmen!).

[Chris]

Jenna, did you see that it is nominated for a Hugo?

[Scott]

Jenna wrote: "Just finished The Builders. 4/5*

It was a short, fun revenge story. It took me a bit to get into the setting as I haven't read much animal fantasy, but I loved the use of animal st..."

yeah, Builders buddies!

[Jenna]

Chris wrote: "Jenna, did you see that it is nominated for a Hugo?"

I did not see that! But it is well deserved :)

[Jenna]

Scott wrote: "yeah, Builders buddies!"

Woohoo!

[Jenna]

Finished Nine Princes in Amber. 3/5* It was just very mediocre. There were some parts that were well done, others not so much, but mostly a whole lot of middle. The beginning showed promise, but (view spoiler)[ after Corwin got his memories back, the mystery was gone and I lost interest. The prison escape was pretty good (hide spoiler)] and I was happy with the ending - some resolution, but enough potential for a better second book.

[Chris]

I really liked that first Amber series but i dont remember a lot of it..

[Jenna]

Chris wrote: "I really liked that first Amber series but i dont remember a lot of it.."

I really liked the concept, but after (view spoiler)[ Corwin got his memories, it still didn't really seem like he knew what was going on. I felt like his con was more believable (and entertaining) than after he got his memory back (hide spoiler)].

[Jenna]

I finished Queen of Fire. 3/5*
I went into Queen of Fire not expecting much after hearing a lot of bad reviews. Blood Song is one of my favourite books and I also loved Tower Lord, and Queen of Fire was definitely not on the same scale. It was still pretty good, but there were too many long, dragged out scenes (mostly of travelling on ice) and if you switched characters' names to different POVs, you would barely be able to tell the difference.
Vaelin (view spoiler)[without his blood song is just not nearly as cool as before (hide spoiler)] and there are not enough Vaelin fight scenes or POV chapters in general.

[Helen, I·ᴍ ɪɴ ᴛʜᴇ ʟɪʙʀᴀʀʏ]

That's annoying! I've yet to read them. Your a-z is like a guide to good fantasy ;)

[Jenna]

Helen wrote: "That's annoying! I've yet to read them. Your a-z is like a guide to good fantasy ;)"

Haha, thank you! I've lucked out with a lot of my choices - most I've been meaning to read for a while and finally did because of the challenge.

[Jenna]

I've finally updated my challenge! The Thousand Names was excellent - I could hardly put it down. 5/5*
my short review

[Scott]

It was excellent. Given your love for the powder Mage I figured you would love it. I still need to read that trilogy.

[Jenna]

Scott wrote: "It was excellent. Given your love for the powder Mage I figured you would love it. I still need to read that trilogy."

Yes, you do need to read it! Compared to The Thousand Names, there are quite a bit more magic and supernatural aspects.

[Jenna]

I read Stardust in between a couple of planned reads. It was short, but a fun fairy tale for all ages. 4/5*

[Jenna]

I think I'm about the only person out of my friends who did not like The Blade Itself. 2*

[Chris]

Jenna wrote: "I think I'm about the only person out of my friends who did not like The Blade Itself. 2*"

Wow. Did we just disagree on a book?

[Jenna]

Chris wrote: "Jenna wrote: "I think I'm about the only person out of my friends who did not like The Blade Itself. 2*"

Wow. Did we just disagree on a book?"

I suppose there's a first time for everything? (hides in a corner)

[Jenna]

Chris wrote: "Jenna wrote: "I think I'm about the only person out of my friends who did not like The Blade Itself. 2*"

Wow. Did we just disagree on a book?"

I think we might have to take a break, Chris.

[Jenna]

Jenna wrote: "Chris wrote: "Jenna wrote: "I think I'm about the only person out of my friends who did not like The Blade Itself. 2*"

Wow. Did we just disagree on a book?"

I think we might have to..."

Don't worry, it's not you, it's me.

[Jenna]

Jenna wrote: "Jenna wrote: "Chris wrote: "Jenna wrote: "I think I'm about the only person out of my friends who did not like The Blade Itself. 2*"

Wow. Did we just disagree on a book?"

I think we..."

I just need some time to think about us, you know?

[Chris]

No need to hide. I respect and value your opinion even when it differs from my own. :)

And yeah, was pretty shocked that finally happened.

[Jenna]

<3

[Chris]

lol. Just blame Abercrombie.

[Jenna]

Chris wrote: "No need to hide. I respect and value your opinion even when it differs from my own. :)

And yeah, was pretty shocked that finally happened."

I'm not sure if you saw my other comments yet or if you are ignoring them on purpose. ;P

[Jenna]

Chris wrote: "lol. Just blame Abercrombie."

Aw, you beat me to it my a few seconds. Okay, I will blame him for ruining us.

[Chris]

No, I'm just slow. Side effect of studying all night and taking Benedryl for mosquito bites.

[Jenna]

Chris wrote: "No, I'm just slow. Side effect of studying all night and taking Benedryl for mosquito bites."

Oh I hate mosquito bites. Fun fact, mosquitoes are attracted to O-type blood. You are 83% more likely to be bitten if you have O blood.

[Chris]

That's interesting. I guess South Georgia mosquitoes like B+ just fine.

I'm 100% more likely to be bitten if I step outside.

[Jenna]

Chris wrote: "That's interesting. I guess South Georgia mosquitoes like B+ just fine.

I'm 100% more likely to be bitten if I step outside."

Lol. Well I have the unfortunate luck of being type O, but I'm nowhere near South Georgia so maybe that's a plus on the mosquito front.

[Chris]

These things are like ninja commandos too. I never saw a bug.

[Chris]

Okay, I can't hold my eyes open any longer. G'night, my friend. And I still feel there's hope for us ;) We can get past Abercrombie.

[Jenna]

Chris wrote: "Okay, I can't hold my eyes open any longer. G'night, my friend. And I still feel there's hope for us ;) We can get past Abercrombie."

Haha, goodnight. If worst comes to worst, we could always go through couples therapy in the form of a buddy read.

[Chris]

Perfect solution! Haha.....'nite..

[Angela]

Jenna wrote: "I think I'm about the only person out of my friends who did not like The Blade Itself. 2*"

You guys are funny. Made me laugh reading your conversation.

You are not disowned Jenna!! Hey, it's one less series to read ;).

[Scott]

We'll only suspend not revoke your Bro-Card.

[Jenna]

Scott wrote: "We'll only suspend not revoke your Bro-Card."

As long as you don't take it away. :)

[Helen, I·ᴍ ɪɴ ᴛʜᴇ ʟɪʙʀᴀʀʏ]

Lol

[Jenna]

So I definitely failed this challenge, but that's okay - I discovered a lot of new authors and series from both my challenge and from looking at other people's challenges. I am going to make a series completion challenge to get some of the ones I started done.

[Angela]

You're not the only one Jenna. Ditto, it did help me to find some new authors and gave me the push I needed to start a few series that had been on my TBR a while.