[May} Trail of Lightning

[imyril]

This year for Wyrd and Wonder we are running two semi-formal read-alongs - this is the first, starting on MAY 5TH and running each Sunday.

Our schedule (thanks Sarah!) :

SUNDAY 5th: Beginning through the end of Chapter Eight
SUNDAY 12th: Chapter Nine through the end of Chapter Eighteen
SUNDAY 19th: Chapter Nineteen through the end of Chapter Twenty-Eight
SUNDAY 26th: Chapter Twenty-Nine to the end

We will aim to post questions here each Wednesday ready for blog posts on Sundays - and possibly running a Twitter chat too on a Sunday evening (UK time / afternoon EST / morning PST) if there's demand for an open chat format too.

Fancy joining in? Shout to let us know you're interested and we'll see you in May :)

Banners etc to follow next month.

PS You don't have to formally be signed up to Wyrd and Wonder to join in the read-along

[Susan]

I adore this book! It was one of my favorites from 2018. I may join in just for fun.

[Ash]

Awesome. This book has been sitting on my shelf since last year. I am joining you guys in May.

[Ash]

Where do I sign up for Wyrd and wonder? Is it a different group or something?

[imyril]

Hooray! Here’s the sign up form for Wyrd and Wonder: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1eGsN...

[Lisa]

I'll be hosting the first week of this read along, and I hope to have questions posted here by the weekend. If anyone else fancies hosting a week and asking the questions, just shout!

[Sibil]

Hi! I'd love to join! I have this book on my TBR and I was counting on Wyrd and Wonder to read it so... together would be more fun!

[Lisa]

QUICK CORRECTION to my comment above - I seem to have gotten dates/books mixed up. I will instead be doing my best to have the first round of questions for this posted here by Thursday/Friday.

[Lisa]

Sibil wrote: "Hi! I'd love to join! I have this book on my TBR and I was counting on Wyrd and Wonder to read it so... together would be more fun!"

Hooray! The more, the merrier. :D

[Lisa]

OK! Here are the discussion questions for Chapters 1 through 8. The idea is to write up a blog post to answer/discuss, but I'm thinking I'll post these questions again on Twitter this Sunday for anyone who'd rather have a Twitter chat-style discussion. However you choose to approach it, the questions are under the spoiler cut!

(view spoiler)[
First up, let's talk about the setting/worldbuilding. What are your first impressions of where/when the story begins?

On to the cast of characters! We get a fairly no-holds-barred introduction to Maggie Hoskie, and some interesting interactions between her and other key characters (or so they seem). What do you think of her, and of Kai and Grandpa Tah?

The plot's afoot ... Perhaps just barely, but still. Any thoughts/suspicions/predictions? Or are you content to be taken along for the ride?

I'm sticking to broad stroke-type questions for this round, as we've only just begun, but feel free to add any other thoughts/feelings/observations you might have about the book so far!
(hide spoiler)]

[Annemieke / A Dance with Books]

So I wasn't going to join this one but I just bought the ebook... So I might be reading along after all. The things you people do to me. ;)

[Lisa]

One of us! One of us! :D

[imyril]

I’ll be late to the party this week thanks to my Danish sojourn but catching up!

[Lisa]

My first post is up now! https://deargeekplace.com/trail-of-li...

[imyril]

If you'd like to borrow my read-along banner, you are very welcome. You can download it here.

[imyril]

Oops, I forgot to post my link!

https://onemore.org/2019/05/08/trail-...

Week 2 questions to follow shortly :)

[imyril]

Right, week 2 questions here we go!

(view spoiler)[
- 24 hours isn’t long to forge a partnership, but it’s been eventful! Do you think Maggie and Kai make a good team? Why?

- A Trickster comes to tea! We meet our first Bik’e’áyée’ii - what do you make of Ma’ii? …and his mission?

- We learn more about Maggie’s past, and about Neizghani. Do you think she’s too hard on herself? How do you feel about Neizghani’s role in her life - and about the way he left?

- Any predictions or other observations at the half-way stage?
(hide spoiler)]

[Lisa]

Here's my post! https://deargeekplace.com/trail-of-li...

[imyril]

And mine: https://onemore.org/2019/05/12/trail-...

[Ash]

I am sorry, I couldn't do the readalong questions as work got really hectic this month. I finished the book and loved it. Thank you for hosting the readalong! I wouldn't have picked up the book otherwise.

[Lisa]

No problem! Glad you enjoyed it. :D

[Lisa]

Questions for Week 3 under the spoiler tag! :D

(view spoiler)[
Stakes are getting higher and seemingly more personal for Maggie, as she finds more backup in her fight that she can't seem to simply walk away from... How do you feel about 'found family' stories, and do you think that's what we're getting here? What do you think of Grace and her family?

We find out more about Kai in these chapters - specifically, that Maggie isn't the only one with clan powers - after a particularly brutal run-in with Longarm. What's your verdict on how Maggie handled the corrupt cop, and has your opinion of Kai changed with this reveal? If so, how has it changed?

Ma'ii's method of transportation was an interesting one, and it raises the fact that Neizghani isn't the only one with a 'signature' that involves lightning. Do you think it's possible (or even likely) that Neizghani's involvement in this mystery is a red herring?

What do you think we can expect from Maggie's visit to Shalimar? Nothing but trouble, or will she get what she's there for? (hide spoiler)]

[imyril]

My week 3 post: https://onemore.org/2019/05/19/trail-...

[imyril]

Oops, sorry for being Lil Miss Last Minute with the last batch of questions!

(view spoiler)[
1. To absolutely nobody's surprise, Coyote is a Trickster and Kai has been keeping secrets. What was your take on the final act?

2. Maggie has gone on a hell of a journey since we first met her. Are you happy with where she has ended up? How do you feel the various (predominantly men's) attempts to influence her? Do you think she/Kai have a chance at a future together / do you want them to work it out?

3. Time for closing thoughts! What was your favourite / least favourite aspect of Trail of Lightning? Will you be reading the sequel(s)?
(hide spoiler)]

[Lisa]

My final post, here: https://deargeekplace.com/trail-of-li...

[imyril]

And mine: https://onemore.org/2019/05/26/trail-...