Written in Red - Oct. 25th 2020

[Christina ❤️M❤️]

Everyone is welcome to join us in reading Written in Red.

[Janice, Moderator]

I have the book, I'm just not sure I'll be able to fit it in. I'll see you I make out for time.

[Margo]

Looking forward to it. This has been on my wishlist for years.

[Christina ❤️M❤️]

I have owned the first two in the series for years and have never opened them up. lol. It is time.

[Esther]

If the ebook is available and I am done with my current reads i may join you.

[Margo]

Yay!

[Saar The Book owl]

It's a great series! I've read the first 3 and now I'm going to start the 4th. Enjoy :)

[Margo]

Good to hear Saar :-)

[Esther]

I just borrowed both audio and eBook. Call me ready. :)

[Margo]

Great Esther, I'm ready too.

Christina, are you good to start tomorrow? Anyone else joining?

[Christina ❤️M❤️]

I am good to start... tomorrow night after get the kids to bed.

[Esther]

well, this is different, from what i have read anyway. And in a good way. I am talking about the world building. Closest I can come up with is the Cheysuli series. back in the 80`s. And this is a stretch.

I just finished chapter 2 and I am hooked, more on the world to discover than the characters so far. Not that I am not curious.

I think a sentence of chapter 2 is a good summary of the way the Others see the humans. I do not have the exact quote close by but (view spoiler)[Simon mention that their doctor did not know how to treat human so if she broke a leg, that you do as if she was a deer and eat her. I was expecting him to say, go to a human doctor. (hide spoiler)]

chapter one: (view spoiler)[Out of the pan, into the fire? It looks like it to me. Strange that she got the job so easily. Well, it is not like there was a line up but still. Simon does not look the type to take strays or have pity. And I wonder what is Tess. Surprising that even Simon does not know. (hide spoiler)]

chapter 2: (view spoiler)[Well, we not know a bit more about the other. Human life is definitely worth nothing. well, unless it is on the butcher stall. I wonder how many of the Gards are in the courtyard. So far, we have woof, bear, coyote, owl, hawk, air/vampire. All predators. Any chance of a fluffy bunny?
So Meg who does not even know how to operate a coffee machine as to survive navigating efficiently between both worlds. At list so far the job does into seem to entail too much challenge once she overcome little things like locks. But it is usually the little things that do you in. This is going to be fun...
(hide spoiler)]
Meg: (view spoiler)[who is she? She obviously had a sheltered life. Being keep inside and prepared for what? I mean you do not spend so much effort on a bunch of girls (maybe there are also boy somewhere) just for the fun of it. It doe sound like a mad scientist experiment. The fact the she is scared and does not smell like a prey is some clue. No mention of combat skill -so far- and the way she was running does point to it. So not a soldier. Spies? It does not seem likely. Genetic manipulation. Maybe so (hide spoiler)]What do you think? Any theory?

[Esther]

I just went and read the description of the book on GR's MBP. Never mind my speculation about Meg. I know now.

[Christina ❤️M❤️]

@ Esther re Chapter 1 (view spoiler)[ We really did jump into the fire didn't we. The action started with the first sentence. I am kinda scared of Tess. If Simon is scare... his kind is vicious. (hide spoiler)] I am going read chapter 2 to now.

[Christina ❤️M❤️]

I might need to check out the GMP also. I read yhe back of the book, but I know very little about Meg. (view spoiler)[ Crazy thing.. I am liking all the characters, but Jester has really caught my eye. Esther, I think you left out crow... there seems to be a crazy amount of Gard, (hide spoiler)] which you are right... I think it is going to be fun.

[Margo]

I enjoyed A Brief History of the World. As Esther said, good world building and pretty unique.

Chapter 1 (view spoiler)[ Who is Meg runing from? I don't want toread the blurd, I prefer to see the story unfold. I think it could be the law as she headed for a place where human law doesn't apply. I'd say she's in for an interesting time doing a job that noone else wants - noone except Asia and I don't think it's the work she's after!

I like the writing style so far and the characters are interesting. At the end of chapter 1 was see wolfs and vamps taking down humans and we are firmly on the supernatural side! Were these the guys hunting Meg? We'll never know because they got ate. Was that why Meg left one window uncovered - to lure them in?

I think I'm going to like Tessa too :)

(hide spoiler)]

[Margo]

Esther wrote: "well, this is different, from what i have read anyway. And in a good way. I am talking about the world building. Closest I can come up with is the Cheysuli series. back in the 80`s. And this is a s..."

Re chapter 2 (view spoiler)[ Well I think all the fluffy bunnies, frolicking lambs and chirpy chicks ended up on the butchers block too 😄 Christina mentions the crows- I'd love to spend an hour in that shop. The courtyard seems like a good to live, or die maybe!

Ester, you've got my mind racing about Megs background. I hope one of your theories is right, I'd love it to experiments in genetics.

(hide spoiler)]

[Margo]

Chapter 3 (view spoiler)[ Hmm, Monty wondered if Meg had community who shunned technology, that could explain a lot. But why would send hunters after her when she left? This could be half of the story but there's more going here.

It's a big coincidence them both starting new jobs the same day. Did you all notice that his daughter is called "lizzy borden", at least that's how it sounds on audio.

(hide spoiler)]

[Esther]

Christina wrote: "@ Esther re Chapter 1 [spoilers removed] I am going read chapter 2 to now."

(view spoiler)[ I think the point is that we get it in our head that they are not the "usual" shapeshifter. (hide spoiler)]

[Esther]

Margo wrote: "Chapter 3."
(view spoiler)[It is Lizzy Borden.
I like Monty background. It is interesting that he lost so much because of leaving a victim with an almost dead pedophile. A mistake? Sure. But one most would have made. And he was a /$"% pedophile. But it gives us the fact that large city people are not feeling the presence of the Others as mush as smaller town and feel safer than they should. Anyway, he is not going to have it easy. What a job.

DLU: nice... not! At least the family can stop looking and hoping. At least they spare kids and teens.

Meg is slowly setting in. Her fear seeing Monty will probably make him investigate. Her wanting to do her job correctly will be a nice change. It is not hard the guess the type of people that applied for this job. You have to be desperate or some kind of crazy...
Jester: I am not so sure about him. He does not seem dangerous enough. It makes me wonder.
(hide spoiler)]
Asia: (view spoiler)[her purpose of this character is to annoy everyone, reader included and it works very well. I think by the end we will be happy if she gets eaten. /spoiler> (hide spoiler)]

[Esther]

chapter 4
(view spoiler)[Simon is definitely not good as acting human. I like it that everyone is starting to feel protective of Meg. I think she is going to need it, Both because of the ones hunting her "outside" and to survive inside. This being said, please, let it not be a romance thing between these two.

Carrots: ha!!! This will make it easier with the ponies.

Cleaning the office. The mice thing. That got me giggling. The others do not understand the human or vice versa. Having a liaison willing to do the job will probably help. And Monty will probably help as well. Well, I am assuming that as they are MC, they will survive for a while... (hide spoiler)]

[Christina ❤️M❤️]

I have started Chapter three, but my kids suddenly seemed like they were attention starved.. I laughed so hard about your comment about Asia, (view spoiler)[ I personally was thinking to myself that she was a prostitute.. only the client isn't paying the bill. I have seen her yet in Chapter 3, but that is my thoughts so far. (hide spoiler)]

[Christina ❤️M❤️]

Chapter 4... Oh, how funny. (view spoiler)[ An owl, a bear, a crow, and two humans cleaning house. I could picture it in my head. (hide spoiler)]

[Christina ❤️M❤️]

I didn't notice the Lizzy Borden... didn't make the connection with the mother's last name.

[Margo]

Esther wrote: "Margo wrote: "Chapter 3."
..."

(view spoiler)[ Yeah, it was a very harsh punishment for Monty as it seperated him from his kid. His "lover" sounds like a right piece of work. What was he doing with her? That he was punished at all shows the depth of feeling against the others that a pedo is more important than one of them. There could have been injured kids to be saved but no, he was expected to stay with the human scumbag.

He is definitely curious about Meg and the whole setup. It's a pity he didn't run into Asia but I suppose he couldn't arrest her for being annoying. I have some grudging repect for her for calling Simon out on his behavior, that took guts.

(hide spoiler)]

[Margo]

Margo wrote: "Esther wrote: "Margo wrote: "Chapter 3."
..."

..."

Forgot to say(view spoiler)[ I think the fact that the others eat the adults who trespass but send back the kids shows that human behaviour is seeping into their culture. Animals do not distinguish dbetween the ages of their victims and on the whole are more likely to attack the weak.

(hide spoiler)]

[Margo]

Chapter 4 (view spoiler)[ A romance between a human and a wolf would he iccy. Ann Rice tried that in one of her books and it vergedon beastiality. Gross.

The clean up crew made be smile too, as did the misunderstanding over the reason Meg wanted the mice caught 😆

(hide spoiler)]

[Christina ❤️M❤️]

Chapter 5... (view spoiler)[ Well, a Grizzly will make a good bodyguard. Henry seems to be the most friendly, but still scary. Who is Winter?... Is she literally the season? (hide spoiler)]

[Christina ❤️M❤️]

Chapter 6 seems so short compared to the rest. The Chapters all seemed fairly lengthy... and then this tiny Chapter lol. (view spoiler)[ not much seems to happen.. a report to Simon about the intruder and Asia plotting. (hide spoiler)]

[Christina ❤️M❤️]

I am reading Chapter 7 and I can't stop laughing.. (view spoiler)[ when Tess' hair turns black, it gets a reaction. Doesn't it? (hide spoiler)]

[Margo]

I'm still on chapter 5 but I'll catch up tonight. These chapters are very long but they fly by with the audio.

[Margo]

Chapter 5 (view spoiler)[ Self harm, walking names, prophesies - what kind of place did Meg come from? It's no wonder she is struggling with every day tasks.

Henry does make a good body guard and the owls make great alarm :)

I think it's literally winter, the season. She talked about her sisters that are currently sleeping, the other 3 seasons I suppose but who could her cousins be?

(hide spoiler)]

[Margo]

Christina wrote: "Chapter 6 seems so short compared to the rest. The Chapters all seemed fairly lengthy... and then this tiny Chapter lol. [spoilers removed]"

I know, I had to check that my player hadn't skipped forwards lol

[Esther]

Christina wrote: "I am reading Chapter 7 and I can't stop laughing.. [spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[I keep thinking medusa (hide spoiler)]

[Margo]

Esther wrote: "Christina wrote: "I am reading Chapter 7 and I can't stop laughing.. [spoilers removed]"

[spoilers removed]"

Chapter 7 : That's an image that will stick!

(view spoiler)[ A blood prophet. It sounds like a terrible life. She's definitly better off where she is. The others have really closed ranks aroud her, it's nice.

(hide spoiler)]

[Margo]

Chapter 8 (view spoiler)[ Benevolent ownership my ass, it was slavery!

So the pony's are elementals, Winters cousins.

I wonder what is contaminating the food supply of some humans and making them aggress. It's not poison, could it be magic?

Oho, I Simon is strarting to fantasise about Meg. I see dodgy romance looming on the horizon. Does it make it better that Meg is not quite human?

(hide spoiler)]

[Margo]

I can't seem to put this down !

Chapter 9 (view spoiler)[ Don't you hate when someone dumps their dog on you at the last minute? 😆

Whatever it is that the humans are taking is making them go kamikaze. Attempting you others like that is suicidal.

Loved the way the birds were "helping" the Meg hehe

(hide spoiler)]

[Esther]

Margo wrote: "Chapter 8 .."

(view spoiler)[
I wonder as well. Between this and the Meg issue, I do not think everything will get resolve in this book. But this contamination things is not a good thing.
Meg and Simon: In my book it does not. I really wish there was a book where this did not happen, Maybe they will just ended up being really good friends?
Also, I really like Vlad. (as long as he stays fictional). The concept of loosing blood by handshake is a good incentive for social distanciation. **shudder**
(hide spoiler)]

[Esther]

Margo wrote: "I can't seem to put this down !

Chapter 9 ."

(view spoiler)[One thing I find different than the other books with shifters I read was that the animal traits are there even when in human shape. More so than what I usually. The crows liking shiny things, etc...
I liked that Meg is taking this concept in stride and also acting accordingly.

Another question I have no answer for is aging. I am not sure how long the Others live. I am guessing life span is relative to the specie but I do not know if the average is similar to humans.
(hide spoiler)]

[Esther]

chapter 10
(view spoiler)[It could be subtitled: I would never have dare.
-why going alone at the plaza.
- and the leash. OMG! Adventure buddy is a good idea but doing it without running it pas someone i would not have done. One thing about the wolves they are not asking question they just assume.
(hide spoiler)]

[Esther]

chapter 11
(view spoiler)[Well, She is making so much progress with Sam. It works. But i cannot believe she will not get in trouble at some point.

Paper cut. ugh. what a life. If I had to go through that every time I cut myself I probably be in the loony bin. Blood prophet are interesting creature. I am wondering about their origin. Are they human and there are a few here and there that pop in? Are they a species? If so, closer to the Other than the human? so many questions...

Cannot get myself to trust Erebus..
(hide spoiler)]

[Margo]

Chapter 10 (view spoiler)[ I like the recycling policy for catalogues. We could do with a bit of that here, I get so fed-up with all the junk mail here trying to sell me things I don't want. It all goes straight into my recycling waste which I have to pay for. So wasteful 😡

I'm getting the feeling that blood prophesies might not just predice events but actually play a part in making them happen 🤔

(hide spoiler)]

[Esther]

Chapter 12
(view spoiler)[Nice review of a chick flick. :)

Special meat... LOL This whole section got me laughing. What's a stag stick? Well, a picture is worth a thousand words,

Meg "playing prey". Here is a reminder of what they are,,,,

Asia is so self-centred that she does not even consider the reality. I have met a few like her. She is bending the reality to fits her needs. The others will not bend tough. She is looking for trouble.
(hide spoiler)]
I really like the subtle humour in this book. I would not label it as funny but I find in entertaining and i makes me smile a lot.

[Esther]

Margo wrote: I get so fed-up with all the junk mail here trying to sell me things I don't want. It all goes straight ..."

Years ago, a company appear. Shops could sign on and their flyers are put in a bag (plastic, of course) and they are distributed once a week. Nowadays there are 2 companies. The good thing is you can select to opt out. You get a big sticker that let the distributors known that you do not want it. After a few calls to complain that you got it anyway, it does work. It really does take to volume of junk down.

[Margo]

Re chapter 8 (view spoiler)[ I'm with you on the need for social distancing from Vlad, what a hand shake LOL I haven't taken to Vlad, I think he is very hidden, we don't get to know what he's thinking.

I don't think I've read a book like this where the MC doesn't end end up with (at least) of the other characters! If there has to be a romance I'm voting for Monty :-)

(hide spoiler)]

chapter 9 & 10(view spoiler)[ The thing I like most about Meg is that she has no pro-conceptions of how she should behave so she just goes with her instincts which are sometimes a bit off the mark e.g. the wolf on a leash thing :-D

I agree that the aging thing is interesting.

(hide spoiler)]

[Margo]

Esther wrote: "Margo wrote: I get so fed-up with all the junk mail here trying to sell me things I don't want. It all goes straight ..."

Years ago, a company appear. Shops could sign on and their flyers are put ..."

The opt out is a great idea. We have a sticker on our mail box "no junk mail" but it is mostly ignored. I recently caught a local politician sticking her election propaganda in. I pointed out the sign. She got quite annoyed that what she saw as necessary information was in my mind trash. She didn't get my vote lol

[Margo]

I managed to get so engulfed that I was listening to chapter 13 before I realised 11 had ended!

Somewhere in chapter 13 (view spoiler)[ I agree Esther, blood prophets are very strange creatures. I can't wait to find out more about them. I hate to think that Sam is in danger.

I am also enjoying the humour. Stag sticks *snort*, I got a viv8d mental picture of the butchers little demonstration hehe

Asia is almost too mean to be believable. Does she have no redeeming qualities?

The head of the vampires creeps me out!


(hide spoiler)]

[Esther]

chapter 14
(view spoiler)[ The other are really single minded as far as solution goes. At some point Henry says that the must fond the root of the sickness then decided what "needs to be killed". not what we need to do about it. Killed. I wonder if that is because the humans are involved that they go straight to this. Were the Others like this before the started dealing with the humans? Violence is THE solution? Were they fighting amongst themselves but now posed a united front as a result of the "human invasion"?

The newsletter. oh boy.. too funny. That "chew toy" is going to stay on my mind for a long time. I could picture her referring to her friend`s part as a chew toy to his face. That ought to make a guy nervous.

(hide spoiler)]

[Christina ❤️M❤️]

I had a busy day today... Looks like I have some catching up to do... lol.

[Christina ❤️M❤️]

Can't wait to read these spoilers.