Red Sister [July 2017]

[Niki Hawkes, I made it past GOTM... barely]

This is a Buddy Read for Red Sister - by Mark Lawrence. Start date July 28, 2017.

[Chris]

Planning to start tonight.

[Niki Hawkes, I made it past GOTM... barely]

Chris wrote: "Planning to start tonight."

Oh, lol. Sounds good. Enjoy! :)

[Chris]

Thanks, Niki. Hoping for your insight on it too :)

[Niki Hawkes, I made it past GOTM... barely]

Chris wrote: "Thanks, Niki. Hoping for your insight on it too :)"

I'll be sure to chime in. This was a recent read that I really enjoyed. Lawrence has a beautiful writing style, something that surprised me considering the gritty subject matter of his Broken Empire trilogy.

[Chris]

I have high hopes. I've read a couple of his shorts and Prince of Thorns, but been wanting to get back to his stuff.

[Sara]

I'm going to be starting tonight! I've never read Mark Lawrence before. Can we talk about this fabulous Arya Stark-esque cover?
Red Sister

[Chris]

Sara, had you not just moments ago accepted my friend request, that comment would have made me send you one. lol

Could be that cover is what drew me to this book so quickly. I love Arya!

[Niki Hawkes, I made it past GOTM... barely]

Great reference! That's exactly how I picture Arya.

[Olivia]

I'm currently halfway through this as I got myself a copy about a week ago. And it just reminds me of Arya as well haha!

[Sara]

I thought the whole "four tribes" thing was going to be difficult to keep up with. Surprisingly it's not.

[Chris]

I just started his Red Queen Trilogy. Is his style for this story similar? Or does he shift gears since this story is with different characters?

[Chris]

Sarah, I'm not too troubled with the tribes, though the classes are a little muddled for me still. I feel like it will become clear in time, as Nona believes :)

Chris, I haven't read Red Queen and it's been several years since I read Prince of Thorns, but it does feel different to me. Not quite as dark and dreary.

[Solseit]

I am going to check this thread. I actually wanted to re-read the book - I think I was too fast in the second half of the book and I could have taken more out of the experience the first time I read it.

I LOVED it. Mark Lawrence's ability to build worlds is quite impressive in my opinion!

[Sara]

I'm only on page 100. Booktubeathon put me in a slump!

[Chris]

It's ok, Sara. You're actually a little ahead of me. No pressure..

I'm not slumping, just busy with other things as well - finishing summer semester, new grandbaby, and a beta read ;)

[Niki Hawkes, I made it past GOTM... barely]

Any characters you're intrigued by yet? :)

[Chris]

Niki Hawkes wrote: "Any characters you're intrigued by yet? :)"

Nona, for sure. Sister Apple. Clera. Sister Kettle. Lots of potential with the others too.

[Niki Hawkes, I made it past GOTM... barely]

Are you two still reading? Thoughts?

[Chris]

I'm liking it a lot, Niki. But I had to sort of set it on an unofficial pause while I work on these Beta reads....I definitely want to get back to it soon, but I am on a time crunch with the betas....

[Niki Hawkes, I made it past GOTM... barely]

That makes sense. Are you having fun with the beta reads? :)

[Chris]

Definitely. Loving Age of War at about 1/3, and got my copy of The Disappearance of Winter's Daughter today...Double booked, but it's a good problem :)

Sarah, sorry I've fallen behind on Red Sister. I optimistically got in and thought I'd be able to keep up....I will finish though.

[Niki Hawkes, I made it past GOTM... barely]

That's awesome! :)

[Solseit]

Chris wrote: "Definitely. Loving Age of War at about 1/3, and got my copy of The Disappearance of Winter's Daughter today...Double booked, but it's a good problem :)

Sarah, sorry I've fallen behind on Red Siste..."

I cannot wait to hear more about Age of War!

[Sara]

I had to DNF Red Sister on page 322. It just was a lot more... for lack of a better word... masculine? I couldn't connect to Nona. I felt like I was reading a book by an adult male trying to write from the point of view of a 12 year old girl, which is what is was. It just wasn't happening for me. I also don't read a lot of violence and horror (chronic nightmares 🙄), and the end was getting a little gratuitous for me. I NEVER DNF, but I ran into the same issues with The Farlander series by Col Buchanan. Too many visuals.
Alas, I have failed my first buddy read!

[Chris]

Sorry you didn't care for it, Sara.

You didn't fail, though. It's a Buddy Read, and you read with a buddy :)

[Solseit]

It's all about having your own opinion, Sara!!

There are going to be plenty more buddy reads and you'll see there is going to be a variety of opinions!

[Niki Hawkes, I made it past GOTM... barely]

I also thought Nona was a little more knowledgeable and "adult" than her age would dictate, but it didn't bother me as much as it could have. I'd always rather a clever character lol.

Don't worry about the DNF - it happens to most of us during buddy reads at one time or another lol.