Tortall Series by Tamora Pierce - Reading from 'In the Hand of the Goddess (Song of the Lioness #2)' from August 3rd 2019

[Natalie]

Finished First Test!

(view spoiler)[Okay seriously, how great was it that Kel’s group of sparrows (led by Crown) were able to lead the hunting party to the spidren ;D

Not too sure how I feel about the description of killing the baby spidren though... seems a bit unnecessary and just reminds me of the kittens at the beginning ._.

On a happier note though, Kel receives another gift! I’m assuming it’s from Alanna but then would that be too obvious? (hide spoiler)]

Will start Page tomorrow c:

[Dr. Andy]

Natalie wrote: "Ch2 [spoilers removed]"

I can totally see the Mulan reference!

[Dr. Andy]

Natalie wrote: "Ch4 [spoilers removed]"

Agh I love him!

[Dr. Andy]

Natalie wrote: "Ch9 [spoilers removed].."

Oh that's a good point, I didn't even think about that

[Natalie]

Starting now

[Natalie]

Ch1 (view spoiler)[A new dog AND a new maid in a single chapter - well done o.O

Gotta say though, if history repeats itself and someone kills the dog (like someone previously killed Faithful) I’m gonna fucking REVOLT :| (hide spoiler)]

[Natalie]

Ch4 (view spoiler)[I’m glad that Kel is taking the time to reach Lalasa some self defence. Hopefully being able to better protect herself will give her some of a confidence boost as well! (hide spoiler)]

[Natalie]

Ch10 (view spoiler)[Ooh! Cleon’d back! I really like him - he’s a bit of an idiot, but a very likeable one ;D
It also appears that he may be getting a bit of a crush on Kel c: (hide spoiler)]

[Natalie]

Ch12 (view spoiler)[Maura! And the wolf pack! Whoot! :D

Disappointed they didn’t have a bigger role but meh, nice to have the cameo (hide spoiler)]

[Natalie]

Ch14 (view spoiler)[I am BEYOND impressed at Kel managing to make her way down the outside of the tower whilst carrying Jump and leading Lalasa. I am absolutely terrified of falling from heights like that (the heights themselves are fine provided there is an infinitesimal chance of falling, such as a plane :P) and just freeze up to the point where there is zero chance I would actually physically be able to do that. And she did two thirds of it with an injured and bleeding leg too?

Kel has my deepest respect for that one. Yikes ._. (hide spoiler)]

[Natalie]

Finished! (view spoiler)[Not really pleased with the ending though :/ We didn’t learn for certain who hired the thugs, we didn’t get anything on Kel’s final test aside from ‘she passed’ and we still don’t know for certain who the mysterious benefactor is :|

Plus, we don’t get to find out who she’ll be squired to until the next book! I’m personally guessing Raoul at this stage, considering how unlikely it is that Alanna could squire her due to all the issues around that at the moment... (hide spoiler)]

[Natalie]

Starting now/tomorrow (ish. It’s bed time :P)

[Natalie]

Ch1 (view spoiler)[I was right! Raoul IS the one she’s to be squired to! I didn’t expect Alanna to take Neal on though o.O

I’m so glad that Lalasa has her shop as well! Not sure what she’d have been doing otherwise, and she likely wouldn’t have wanted to stay behind at the palace without Kel.

And of course, some of the sparrows are going to go with Kel into her new position, yay! I really love the parts that animals play in these books c: (hide spoiler)]

[Natalie]

Ch4 (view spoiler)[This is very different from the previous two books o.O it’s not as structured in the formatting as there are no formal classes to attend and Raoul is definitely not the ‘normal’ knight ‘master’. It’s really neat to have Raoul as a more central character too, as he was more of a supporting character in the first series.

I’m really glad that Buri’s back too, and it seems we’ll be learning more of the Queen’s Riders c:

And now Kel has a baby griffin to look after? Awwww <3 (hide spoiler)]

[Dr. Andy]

Natalie wrote: "Starting now/tomorrow (ish. It’s bed time :P)"

For some reason I did not get any of the notifications until now...

[Natalie]

Andrea wrote: "Natalie wrote: "Starting now/tomorrow (ish. It’s bed time :P)"

For some reason I did not get any of the notifications until now..."

I hate it when that happens ._.

[Natalie]

Ch5 (view spoiler)[the Griffin is such a petulant child - I love it (and him) xD

Glad Diane came to offer some advice for taking care of him - though I expect Kel will still have endless wounds from the temperamental little brute :P (hide spoiler)]

[Natalie]

Ch6 (view spoiler)[Raoul is commanding her to be a commander of a large army because he has so much faith in her and has seen what she’s managed so far. I’m so happy ;-; (hide spoiler)]

[Natalie]

Ch7 (view spoiler)[They’ve found out who paid the thugs to kidnap Lalasa! And now it’s back to the castle for a trial. Good thing this isn’t a tv series because that would’ve been the cliffhanger episode ending - as it is, it’s just the end of a chapter and it’s time to read more and find out for certain WHO DID THE THING. (hide spoiler)]

[Natalie]

Ch8 (view spoiler)[I can’t believe all Joren got was a fucking fine. And all because of some stupid law that basically treats servants as slaves for the purpose of letting nobility get off lightly >.>

Hopefully Jonathan will get that law changed stat.

And hopefully Joren will get his ass whooped and either get a REAL punishment or do some SERIOUS repenting! (hide spoiler)]

[Natalie]

Ch9 (view spoiler)[CLEON KISSED KEL AND IT WAS ADORABLE.

...and if I could make the damn posting of gifs work while on my phone I would be posting shipping gifs right now because I SHIP THIS SO MUCH. (hide spoiler)]

[Natalie]

Ch10 (view spoiler)[Well we got a cameo from Alanna! A very VERY short one. That was what? Two paragraphs and a ‘nod’ from her? ._.

Hopefully she gets a larger part before the series is over. I was expecting something a bit more grand for her entry D: (hide spoiler)]

[Natalie]

Ch12 (view spoiler)[While I’m glad the Griffin was reunited with his parents, I’m gonna miss the little bugger ;-; (hide spoiler)]

[Natalie]

Ch14 (view spoiler)[Noooooo ;-;

Crown and Freckle are both dead, and while it was entirely due to natural causes (they WERE old for sparrows) I didn’t want that to happennnnnnn ;-;
(hide spoiler)]

[Natalie]

Ch17 (view spoiler)[What on earth was that thing? It seems like some kind of unholy combination of metal and magic from some really twisted Mage - like they tried to combine a giant with a robot. And the fact that it called Kel “Mama”? I’m really worried that they put the spirit of a child into a metal body and then turned it into a weapon or something ._. (hide spoiler)]

[Natalie]

Finished! (view spoiler)[And we finally got confirmation as to who was Kel’s mysterious benefactor. It WAS Alanna! Whoot! So nice to finally know for sure ;-;

And her final(?) gift from Alanna was a sword that she named Griffin? Awwwwwww <3 (hide spoiler)]

[Dr. Andy]

SQUIRE CAME IN ILL START TOMORROW!!!

[Natalie]

YAYYYYYYYYY!!!! :D

[Dr. Andy]

Ch. 5 (view spoiler)[ OF COURSE KELL FINDS A FUCKING GRIFFIN!? I am so excited for that. I wonder if Kell will ask Daine to talk to it?? And this fucking Flydon or Flinn person is a damn dick and I don't like him. Also I feel like Alanna and Raoul planned their squires to be Neal and Kell so they can like meet up secretly so Alanna and Kell can FINALLY FUCKING MEET! (hide spoiler)]

[Natalie]

Started c:

[Natalie]

Ch 2 (view spoiler)[Well now there’s a pattern, huh? Book 1 - sparrows, book 2 - Jump and Lalasa, Book 3 - Griffin and now, book 4? Tobe, a potential horse Mage XD

Kel really does gather companions, huh? ;D

Looking forward to seeing how Tobe does in this book c: (hide spoiler)]

[Dr. Andy]

Ch. 8 (view spoiler)[ Wow I'm so not fucking surprised it was Joren who tried to get rid of Kell. I hate him so much!! Holy shit I really do. The griffin is so much trouble omfg. But I love Raoul as Kell's knight, he's such a good guy. I'll miss Neal and the others tho. (hide spoiler)]

Ch. 12 (view spoiler)[ Argh fuck the dudes in Raoul's command who think Kell didn't work just as harder (read three times harder) than the male pages of her class. Ugh I'm so done with people thinking Kell isn't capable because she's a girl. ROLL EYES SO HARD THEY POP OUT. But I'm so damn excited to see Kell joust this prissy Knight's ass. what a dick!! (hide spoiler)]

Ch. 15 (view spoiler)[ I loved seeing Cleion and Kell develop their relationship. I would literally be SCREECHING in my car because THEY ARE TOO DAMN CUTE OMFG. And Kell facing Lord Whildon, omg that was just great. Argh I love this book too much. (hide spoiler)]

Finished (view spoiler)[ HAH VINCENT AND JOREN GOT WHAT THEY DESERVED!!! I loved this book so freaking much. ALANNA AND KELL GOT THE MEETING I FINALLY WANTED YESSSSS. I knew it was her dammit. And Neal and Yuki are cute while Cleion and Kell are cute. THERES TOO MUCH CUTE (hide spoiler)]

[Dr. Andy]

Natalie wrote: "Ch4 [spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[ Okay I thought Buri was the one we met in the last Alanna book but I wasn't sure!! (hide spoiler)]

[Dr. Andy]

Natalie wrote: "Ch6 [spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[ I WANT KELL TO BE A COMMANDER SO FREAKING BAD OMG (hide spoiler)]

[Dr. Andy]

Natalie wrote: "Ch8 [spoilers removed].."

HAHAHA little bitch got what he deserved eventually

[Dr. Andy]

Natalie wrote: "Ch9 [spoilers removed]"

I WAS SCREECHING IN MY CAR SO FREAKING HARD I LOVE IT

[Dr. Andy]

Natalie wrote: "Ch17 [spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[ THEY DID IM HORRIFIED (hide spoiler)]

[Dr. Andy]

Natalie wrote: "Finished! [spoilers removed].."

(view spoiler)[ Okay so do you think there's a god that's responsible for the magic of the chamber?? Because I do and I think it totally chose Kell to do it's bidding. Idk maybe Mythros or the death god?? But I liked how Kell kept going back to the chamber to test herself and that it spoke to her (hide spoiler)]

[Natalie]

Andrea wrote: "Natalie wrote: "Ch4 [spoilers removed]"

[spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[Pretty sure Buri was Thayet's bodyguard? c: (hide spoiler)]

[Natalie]

Andrea wrote: "Natalie wrote: "Ch6 [spoilers removed]"

[spoilers removed]"

IT WOULD BE SO AMAZING

[Natalie]

Andrea wrote: "Natalie wrote: "Ch9 [spoilers removed]"

I WAS SCREECHING IN MY CAR SO FREAKING HARD I LOVE IT"

YESSSS

[Natalie]

Andrea wrote: "Natalie wrote: "Finished! [spoilers removed].."

[spoilers removed]"

Definitely a possibility, or maybe it's like that (view spoiler)[monkey thing whose name and purpose I forget that guarded the jewel in Lioness Rampant? Wasn't that guy "above" the gods of the realm or something? (hide spoiler)]

[Dr. Andy]

Natalie wrote: "Andrea wrote: "Natalie wrote: "Ch4 [spoilers removed]"

[spoilers removed]"

[spoilers removed]"

Yes!! She was, I thought that was her, but I convinced myself I was hearing the wrong name XD

[Dr. Andy]

Natalie wrote: "Andrea wrote: "Natalie wrote: "Ch9 [spoilers removed]"

I WAS SCREECHING IN MY CAR SO FREAKING HARD I LOVE IT"

YESSSS
"

OMG I WILL THO I DONT CARE I WILL DROWN FOR THIS SHIP

[Dr. Andy]

Natalie wrote: "Andrea wrote: "Natalie wrote: "Finished! [spoilers removed].."

[spoilers removed]"

Definitely a possibility, or maybe it's like that [spoilers removed]"

Oooooo that's also a possibility. I'm so intrigued now I need to know hahaha

[Natalie]

Andrea wrote: "Natalie wrote: "Andrea wrote: "Natalie wrote: "Ch4 [spoilers removed]"

[spoilers removed]"

[spoilers removed]"

Yes!! She was, I thought that was her, but I convinced myself I was hearing the wro..."

Completely fair XD

[Natalie]

Andrea wrote: "Natalie wrote: "Andrea wrote: "Natalie wrote: "Finished! [spoilers removed].."

[spoilers removed]"

Definitely a possibility, or maybe it's like that [spoilers removed]"

Oooooo that's also a poss..."

Me tooooooooo. And no luck so far in Lady Knight (which is 100% NOT a spoiler).

[Natalie]

Ch3 (view spoiler)[Okay first of all, HOW DARE YOU. You sunk the ship! ;-; Cleon’s going to go ahead with the arranged marriage to save his land/people on the land? While noble and all... MY SHIP! D:

I’m intrigued to see that Kel has been out in charge of the refugee camp. I think she’ll do a really good job, and I’m not at all worried about the fact that she ‘might not be able to get to the nothing man’ (or whatever he was called) because the chamber said he would come to her, or something along those lines, right? And being in charge of a refugee camp there would be children... and from all the visions she’s had? Somehow I think he’ll find her ._. (hide spoiler)]

[Natalie]

Ch6 (view spoiler)[So this Blayce guy is a necromancer, and is indeed killing children and using their spirits/souls to power those death machine things. Great ._.

And he’s potentially after the refugee camps so he can make more of his death machines.

Honestly it seems like the Scanrans were idiots for allying with him - sounds like the sort of character that is obsessed and will go through anyone (friend or foe) to stick with their obsession... (hide spoiler)]

[Natalie]

Ch9 (view spoiler)[ “But the gods have their own notion of time,” continued the Wildmage. “It isn’t ours, and sometimes they come at things in a way we see as, well, cockeyed. They may prefer to work through a human vessel.”

Huh. Maybe it is one of the gods rather than something like that ape guy in Lioness Rampant after all... because that definitely seems like a finger pointed at The Chamber being one of the gods - or at least an extension of one?

On a different note though... I really don’t feel comfortable with Kel and co being in Mastiff and leaving the refugees mostly alone. I just don’t feel there’s enough SENSE left amongst the people remaining - especially with that fur trader dickhead front and present.

I’m also REALLY worried that Blayce is gonna take all those kids from Haven and turn at least some of them into his killing machines before Kel can come to the rescue ;-; (hide spoiler)]