Brennan - Turning Darkness into Light [Aug 22, 2019]

[Scott , Karsa Orlong]

Turning Darkness Into Light

[Siobhan]

This buddy read with Kathrine and I is actually for September 10th. But I guess anyone who wants to read it can start any time they like. :)

[Scott , Karsa Orlong]

Siobhan wrote: "This buddy read with Kathrine and I is actually for September 10th. But I guess anyone who wants to read it can start any time they like. :)"

I swear the spreadsheet said August 22nd but I'll change both later.

[Siobhan]

Scott wrote: "Siobhan wrote: "This buddy read with Kathrine and I is actually for September 10th. But I guess anyone who wants to read it can start any time they like. :)"

I swear the spreadsheet said August 22..."

Sorry I might have had that date on the brain or something!!

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

In!

[Siobhan]

Yay! I was waiting for you to see my message on the invite thread actually XD

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

<3!!! I missed that somehow, but I’m oh, sooo glad you got this going! :D

[Bill]

Is it a standalone or the start of a new series?

[Siobhan]

So far I think it's a standalone. Some places are referring to it as Natural History of Dragons #6.

[Kathrine]

I’m so excited for this!!! One can never have too many Lady Trent-stories!

One thing I’m really excited about is seeing how the world has changed now that some decades presumably have gone by (because we’ll be following Isabella’s granddaughter in this book I think?). If the first Lady Trent book started in an alternative Victorian Era, which time period would the world be in after, what, 50 years? If Isabella’s world even develops like our own... The main series definitely implied that the world is greatly impacted by the dragons, both in terms of culture and technology... I’m absolutely confident that Brennan will weave some excellent world-building and I can’t wait to read it :D

[Bill]

Siobhan wrote: "So far I think it's a standalone. Some places are referring to it as Natural History of Dragons #6."

Great thanks. I’m going to try to join if my library gets it. I don’t know why but I feel almost reluctant to jump back into this world. I liked the first 5 and thought they got better as they went along so don’t know why I feel that way.

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

Katherine, that’s a great point! I didn’t even consider that this one would be in a new era. I’m also really excited to see how Lady Trent changed the world and what it looks like now. I can’t wait!!! ::sobs::

[Siobhan]

I'm so excited to see how the world has changed in that time! :D

[Siobhan]

My copy arrived 8 days early!! 😍😍😍

https://www.instagram.com/p/B1EdfzVAO...

[Kathrine]

Siobhan wrote: "My copy arrived 8 days early!! 😍😍😍

https://www.instagram.com/p/B1EdfzVAO..."

OMGGGGGGG I'm so jealous! Also you might have gained a new Instagram-follower – I saw pictures of Liveship books and couldn't resist xD

[Siobhan]

I hope your copy comes soon!!

Yay! Happy to have you! :D My friends IRL don't appreciate my book pictures haha! 😂❤️

[Anni]

I only saw your update mentioning book pictures kn the feed and immediately came here to see it. And wow, it's gorgeous! ❤️

[Siobhan]

Haha XD isn't it beautiful?! I'm so happy it matches all the previous covers. Going to look so good on my shelf! <3

[Kathrine]

Siobhan wrote: "I hope your copy comes soon!!

Yay! Happy to have you! :D My friends IRL don't appreciate my book pictures haha! 😂❤️"

Thanks, me too :D

No, mine wouldn't either so I'm just not posting any book pictures – but I also don't really post any pictures in general haha 😂 I'm a very private person online 😂

[Kathrine]

Siobhan wrote: "Haha XD isn't it beautiful?! I'm so happy it matches all the previous covers. Going to look so good on my shelf! <3"

It's gorgeous! I love the covers for the Lady Trent-series, they look soooo good! And also happy that they decided to match this new one with the old – I hate cover updates for series :(

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

For some reason I thought this started yesterday so I was going to say I was late. Now I realized I’m super early lol. I started today but I’ll read it slow because I have a hella crazy week going on.

Just initially, I think I assumed this was the first in a new series and a looking-forward series. After just a little ways in I it might be a stand-alone more focused on historical happenings (I’m game for either!).

Through the first section (view spoiler)[I LOVE the tablet translations. Brennan has a way of making things so engaging and exciting for me. Maybe because I’d like to be either a dragon naturalist or a draconican translator in another life lol. I think the epistolary presentation is pretty cool as well. I like Trent’s granddaughter so much I wish there would be more from her, but I’m kind of thinking the book is going to flash back to the past instead of sticking with her. (hide spoiler)]

[Siobhan]

Ah you're not too early! XD I can't wait to start but by god I need to finish something first!! I'm reading so many books 🙈

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

Haha story of my life! I’m sure if I’d waited until the 10th I would’ve been buried under even more currently readings. XD

[Hailee]

Siobhan wrote: "I can't wait to start but by god I need to finish something first!! I'm reading so many books 🙈"

Haha I know that feeling!! I'm only 3 chapters into Gardens of the Moon, then I should have started both The Left Hand of God and A Clash of Kings on the 1st. I should be starting The Wizard Heir tomorrow. Then there is The Priory of the Orange Tree on the 10th and The Desert Spear on the 15th.

I know you are scheduled for loads of these as well and more besides. I think we might have to give up sleep this month 😂😂

[Siobhan]

You're right there, Niki! Without a doubt!

Hailee, YES I AM! 😭 Haha. What have we done?!

[Hailee]

Siobhan wrote: "Haha. What have we done?!"

We've overbooked ourselves just like we do every month 😂. The worse thing is that neither of us will learn our lesson and just keep doing it over and over again 🤦🏻‍♀️🤯

[Siobhan]

Hailee wrote: "Siobhan wrote: "Haha. What have we done?!"

We've overbooked ourselves just like we do every month 😂. The worse thing is that neither of us will learn our lesson and just keep doing it over and ove..."

Sooo true! 🤦‍♀️

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

Hailee wrote: "Siobhan wrote: "I can't wait to start but by god I need to finish something first!! I'm reading so many books 🙈"

Haha I know that feeling!! I'm only 3 chapters into [book:Gardens of the Moon|12550..."

haha omg Hailee that's so many!! And robust books too!! I'd lose my shit.

[Hailee]

I'm close to losing it 🤪. It doesn't help that my reading time is dramaticly reduced at the moment. I'm basically acting as my dads legs while he's healing so what few moments I have between doing that and going to work I'm napping or vegged out in front of the TV 🙈

[Siobhan]

Sorry I'm so late, gonna start tonight.

Kathrine, did your copy come? :)

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

I had to stop to read a review obligation book, so we’ll be running at the same pace hopefully lol.

[Siobhan]

Niki Hawkes wrote: "I had to stop to read a review obligation book, so we’ll be running at the same pace hopefully lol."

Great! :)

[Siobhan]

11% in (no chapter numbers boooo). (view spoiler)[
No dragons. I want dragons! Pleeeease.
I usually quite like the letters, articles, diary entry format, I find it engaging. That's promising to me. I'm not sure how I feel about Audrey's narrative yet. I'm hoping she grows on me. (hide spoiler)]

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

Siobhan wrote: "11% in (no chapter numbers boooo).


at 11% (view spoiler)[It's not until this very moment that I realized there ARENT any dragons so far... I guess I'm so interested in the clerical aspect of this story that I didn't even notice or mind! That's bizarre, Siobhan. haha! I think Audrey is a really interesting character. I like that she seems to have a few flaws. She's won me over so far. (hide spoiler)]

at 25% (view spoiler)[ part of me is glad that we get an expansion on what happened after Brennan dropped the whole Draconian society bomb at the end of the last book because it would've bothered me not knowing how that discovery changed the world. I also love that this includes Kudshayn and gives insight to some of his mannerisms and upbringing.

So far, the book is giving me everything I wanted out of it. I'm really eating it all up! This is good - I've been so meh lately with other books. (hide spoiler)]

[Siobhan]

25% /5 years previously section - (view spoiler)[That bastard snake! Stealing Audrey's idea and publishing it! Should have listened to her grandma...! No wonder at the end of the last section she said she'd never work with him.

I agree Niki, it's good seeing how the discovery of the Draconians has changed the world and how people have reacted. I'm really getting into this now. :) (hide spoiler)]

[Kathrine]

Omg I'm so so so sorry for dropping off the face of the Earth, life's been crazy for a few weeks. I've started a new school type of thing (Danish Folk High School which is like a weird cross between boarding school and summer camp) and that combined with shitty mental health and insomnia has completely ruined my reading motivation. But I've got my copy of this and I'm starting as soon as I get back to the school from my weekend break! Can't wait to dive back into the world of Lady Trent – is it good so far?

[Siobhan]

Kathrine wrote: "Omg I'm so so so sorry for dropping off the face of the Earth, life's been crazy for a few weeks. I've started a new school type of thing (Danish Folk High School which is like a weird cross betwee..."

I'm sorry you're having a shit time with mental health :( but I hope you're enjoying Folk High School, sounds very interesting!! Don't worry at all about being busy, none of us can help it!

It is good so far! :D can't wait to see what you think.

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

Siobhan wrote: ".."

(view spoiler)[right?? I'm pretty furious with that character - so aggravating! As soon as Grandmama mentioned plagiarism, I cringed. (hide spoiler)]

At about 75% (view spoiler)[My favorite parts of this book by far are when Audrey is detailing her disastrous exploits haha. I LOVED the letter from lady Trent explaining the difference between reckless behavior (what would gma do?) and justifying that what she was doing on her adventures was only reckless because she was so focused (like grandma, like granddaughter haha). That was delightful.

The only thing I'm not really enjoying is the text itself. I like the footnotes they add, but the story being revealed isn't compelling to me at all. I'm far enough along to see it's relevance, but I wish it were more an accurate history rather than a fanciful myth or religious interpretation of events, if that makes sense.

Overall, I'm fond of the writing and the fact that this takes me back. Can't wait to see how it ends! (hide spoiler)]

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

Kathrine wrote: "Omg I'm so so so sorry for dropping off the face of the Earth, life's been crazy for a few weeks. I've started a new school type of thing (Danish Folk High School which is like a weird cross betwee..."

Really glad you're able to join us now - I'm liking the book a lot! I'm also sorry to hear about your struggle with mental health. I've been suffering a lot lately with something similar and it sucks. You're not alone. And hopefully this delightful book will provide a good distraction for you too. :)

[Kathrine]

Siobhan wrote: "I'm sorry you're having a shit time with mental health :( but I hope you're enjoying Folk High School, sounds very interesting!! Don't worry at all about being busy, none of us can help it!

It is good so far! :D can't wait to see what you think."

Thank you! I am, it's so amazing, I'm learning all kinds of new stuff like pottery and crocheting and playing guitar which is a good distraction from the fact that I'm not really feeling all that good – but it'll get better!

[Kathrine]

Niki Hawkes wrote: "Kathrine wrote: "Omg I'm so so so sorry for dropping off the face of the Earth, life's been crazy for a few weeks. I've started a new school type of thing (Danish Folk High School which is like a w..."

Thank you for the support, and also sorry to hear that you've also been struggling :( It's really awful that it's so common but I'm glad we can support each other.

I hope so too! So far I'm about 25% in and I absolutely love it! The format is so interesting and different but I really really enjoy it. And Audrey is a great character even though I think she's a bit naive; (view spoiler)[I don't think Lord Gleinleigh is up to anything good and I don't think Kudshayn is safe. (hide spoiler)]

[Siobhan]

Niki Hawkes wrote: "Siobhan wrote: ".."

[spoilers removed]

At about 75% "

(view spoiler)[I agree about Audrey's exploits! Loved the letter from grandmama! Absolute gold.

I also quite enjoy the text translation though. Been enjoying trying to guess where it's going and what that untranslated word might mean. (Think we already know at this point but not sure so I'll not say haha). (hide spoiler)]

[Siobhan]

Finished! I really loved it. Such fun to read. The characters grew on me really quickly after being unsure at first. I particularly loved Cora.

(view spoiler)[I love how convoluted the plot got! I mean someone bombed a museum to destroy evidence of forgeries! Amazing. XD I'm glad that Mornett fellow kinda redeemed himself in the end by not letting Audrey burn to death. Can't believe he forged the ending tablet, what an awful scholar!

I really hope we get another book about these characters! Pleeeeeassse! (hide spoiler)]

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

Kathrine wrote: "Niki Hawkes wrote: "Kathrine wrote: "Omg I'm so so so sorry for dropping off the face of the Earth, life's been crazy for a few weeks. I've started a new school type of thing (Danish Folk High Scho..."

Thank you <3

I think the format might be my fav part. It reminded me a little of Hobb's Rainwild books (to a much lesser degree). Naive is a great description for Audrey... I cringed a few times while reading. XD

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

Siobhan wrote: "Niki Hawkes wrote: "Siobhan wrote: ".."

[spoilers removed]
i..."

100% honesty... I was so bored during those passages that I didn't retain enough to even guess ::facepalm:: But that's just my bias against that type of tale showing through, not necessarily a reflection on how well it was done. Were your predictions correct?! 100% spoiler (view spoiler)[for which circumstance?? The forgery or the real ones? haha (hide spoiler)]

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

Siobhan wrote: "Finished! I really loved it. Such fun to read. The characters grew on me really quickly after being unsure at first. I particularly loved Cora.
.."

100% !! (view spoiler)[ Meeee toooo!!! It surprised me a number of times and I loved it! I even loved for a brief moment that I though Mornett had been shot and it bothered me. Such a good manipulation of my feelings throughout the whole thing. I would love more from these characters. I really think it's wide open. And I'd be especially eager to see what passion Audrey decided to take on next!!! So much fun! My single and only negative continues to be the text itself. I wasn't moved by any of it. But that's small stuff! (hide spoiler)]

[Siobhan]

Niki Hawkes wrote: "Siobhan wrote: "Niki Hawkes wrote: "Siobhan wrote: ".."

[spoilers removed]
i..."

100% honesty... I was so bored during those passages that I didn't retain enough to even guess ::facepalm:: But th..."

My predictions were not correct (view spoiler)[for the forgery! :( and oh my goodness I don't even remember how they translated it in the real version!! I must have been sleep reading haha. If he wasn't a traitor, what was he! Going back to check haha! (hide spoiler)]

So glad you loved it too, Niki!

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

Siobhan wrote: "Niki Hawkes wrote: "Siobhan wrote: "Niki Hawkes wrote: "Siobhan wrote: ".."

[spoilers removed]
i..."

100% honesty... I was so bored during those passages that I didn't retain enough to even guess..."

hahaha I hate it when I do that! Glad you loved it too!! :D

[Kathrine]

Forgot to mention that I also finished and absolutely adored it!!!!!!! I love this series so much and the format of this book worked amazingly; I’m glad Brennan did something new with this sequel as I think it might have felt a bit boring if it was another memoir-style book like the main series.

What did you guys think of the development of the world? I guess I expected them to be further ahead than they were but maybe I’m placing the book in the wrong decade. Are we in the equivalent of the 30’s maybe?

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

Kathrine wrote: "Forgot to mention that I also finished and absolutely adored it!!!!!!! I love this series so much and the format of this book worked amazingly; I’m glad Brennan did something new with this sequel a..."

Yay!! Glad you adored it too! It was pretty narrowly focused, so I definitely wouldn't call the world development a strength... I was expecting a bit more in that regard. Were there motorized vehicles?! I can't remember haha. For some reason I'm thinking slightly earlier. Like 1910. I'm excited to see if there will be another book... I want to see more of what Audrey can get swept up in!