Before-Chapter 6

[Vanessa]

This is not a re-read for me. This is the first time that I am reading this book and I could shoot myself for waiting so long because it is so good! This book is most definitely NOT suffering from middle book syndrome. I already like it better than the first!

I love that the book began in much the same way the first book did. With Before, The Boy and The Girl...

I love these sections of the books. I liked in this one that you see Mal, of course, being good at everything and Alina struggling yet again. I really like Mal in the role of Alina's protector.

In this first section it bothered me that Alina was not using her powers, not even a little bit, and she has wasted away. I wish she would have used her powers in secret so that she was not sickly again. I get that they were in hiding, but she needed to keep her strength up. I mean look what happened with The Darkling.

I must say that I was very surprised so see The Darkling so soon in the story. I thought for sure we wouldn't see him until much later, but with the way the story is going it makes perfect sense.

I love Strumhond. He is such a great character. I really like his crew also.

So now there are dragons and firebirds oh my! Not to mention 3 amplifiers! What!

I'm worried for Alina. Her internal monologue about her power and the amplifiers bothers me. I worry that the power is going to prove to be too much for her. I do like that she is practicing with her new amplifier so that she can learn to control her abilities.

And Mal! What is with his ability to track all the things? I'm starting to wonder if her is Grisha or what! I don't know what to make of his uncanny ability to learn new things immediately and to track so well.

What's with the book of saints? It's supposed to be a children's book but clearly not. How does The Darkling know so damn much!? Why is Alina meant to have the amplifiers and not The Darkling or anyone else for that matter? The Darkling has his creatures bite Alina on purpose, but what is that purpose? Is he now a part of her and she him?

I have so many questions!

[Elle]

I'm also reading this book for the first time, but I'm really enjoying it and I wish I'd read it sooner!