Innkeeper Chronicles - Sweep of the Heart (December 2022/January 2023)

[Nirkatze]

done! That had some twists I wasn't expecting. I think I'll have to go back and read through the text to see if I can catch more. I'm still not entirely sure how the ending went down. :)

Sean (view spoiler)[I like him better now that we've gotten a little bit more of his insides, but we didn't get to see much of his interactions, so we'll see. (hide spoiler)]

[Narilka]

@Nirkatze - Book 3 will help that some if I remember right :)

[Choko]

Up to Ch. 3... George is pretty cool:))) And the Vampires and the Hoard representatives are waaaaayyy too politely scarry to each other... I was expecting them to leap at each other over those cups of tea, and tear each other's throats! Caldenia would have loved that:)))

[Caroline]

Timelord Iain wrote: "Starting #2 now, finally...

You know... I love this series... but, I'm going to bring up my biggest question / plothole...

How is Gertrude Hunt a backwater Inn, far from any Crossroads?... if all..."

True! Though somehow, I didn't question this at all ^^

[Caroline]

Nirkatze wrote: "Narilka wrote: "Chapter 2 [spoilers removed]"

I love how the other inns all refused to host due to worry about the safety of their guests.

Dina hosts and it is entertainment for her guest.

And D..."

I remember someone commenting on the first book, that Gertrude hunt could specialize in dangerous (or something similar) guests.

Up till Book 2 Chapter 14 (view spoiler)[ I can't remember when, but I think Dina said the exact same thing. The phantom seemed a lot more interesting than it turned out to be, unfortunately. Sean Evans being this tortured so(u)l/dier is unsettling. I can only think of Nuan Cee intentionally poisoning Dina - even if he denies it - because he wanted Sean to make that deal. He did just arrive - after being this ("small") demand - and all of a sudden Dina gets poisoned by one of the lees? Sounds too much of a coincidence to me. (hide spoiler)]

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

Caroline wrote: "Timelord Iain wrote: "Starting #2 now, finally...

You know... I love this series... but, I'm going to bring up my biggest question / plothole...

How is Gertrude Hunt a backwater Inn, far from any..."

I keep hoping someone will give me a good answer to this... because it features prominantly in the descriptions of the Inn... maybe I/we have a skewed perspective, and other Inns have more Earther supernatural guests... or it's because Gertrude's roots & connections across the galaxy have withered?...

[Nyssa]

The innkeeper, who is the parents' friend (I can not remember his name), suggested Dina find a way to specialize to bring in more visitors.

I think it is "out of the way" because it is relatively new and not yet well established. Sure, people knew her folks, but not her, at least not as an innkeeper.

[Choko]

In the prologue, (view spoiler)[ that was Dina's brother who came to enlist George from the other universe Earth!!!! Does she know he is an Arbitrator? (hide spoiler)]

You guys noted everything that caught my attention, and I feel like I would be just repeating stuff...

The reaction of the policeman when he walk up was priceless! Also when Jack went to distract him, hahaha! Poor dude! However, I wish I had his repaired and modified engine nowadays, with the gas prices being what they are:)))

Nirkatze, I agree with Iain. IA definitely has much more macho alpha in their leading male characters, than I think they strife for. It just happens in their books as a whole, and we all kind of try to overlook that part of them... Maybe it is wrong, because I myself am not a fan of the type, but some authors just have a type and we like the rest of the stories too much, so we ignore it...

Grumpy cat!!! And Count!! Yay!

The ending was pretty cool! (view spoiler)[ The little Fox-people need to figure out a different way to entice their young talent to stay with the family, because obviously the blood niece of Nuan Cee had grown resentful and desperate enough to take a chance at killing Caldenia for the bond money, just so she could escape and try her luck on her own... She is obviously Smart, replicating that device that makes her invisible, and deciding to poison her, but she didn't think about everyone else she was hurting at the same time... Nuan Cee is not right to begin with, tricking the kids by, in Cookie's case, stealing something that they are responsible for and making them pay the family back by service for whatever period of time they decide, just so they can keep their talents in the family... But in this situation he is even worse, since he used the unsanctioned poisoning to pretty much enslave Sean for life! That was way wrong...

I am glad they found a peaceful solution at the end, but it was not an easy way to reach it... (hide spoiler)]

I really enjoyed this book:) When are we reading the next one?:)))

[Nirkatze]

Caroline wrote: "I remember someone commenting on the first book, that Gertrude hunt could specialize in dangerous (or something similar) guests.

Up till Book 2 Chapter 14 [spoilers removed]"

Pretty much agree with everything here!

And I know I made that comment, others might've too.

Nyssa wrote: "I think it is "out of the way" because it is relatively new and not yet well established. Sure, people knew her folks, but not her, at least not as an innkeeper."

I would vote for this. Also, maybe there are easier ways into earth that don't involve teleporting into someone's back yard? I mean, we've only seen people in relatively privileged positions so far, right? Maybe there are other nexuses, or doors, or something, that any Jack or Sally can use if you know--like Diagon Alley--but they tend to move with major population centers?

Choko wrote: "In the prologue, [spoilers removed]

You guys noted everything that caught my attention, and I feel like I would be just repeating stuff...

The reaction of the policeman when he walk up was pricel..."

Thank you for that confirmation Choko!

For the ending (view spoiler)[at first I thought she was pointing a finger at Caldenia, then at Cookie, finally it settled on Nuan Cee and I was like... who? LOL good job me for paying attention at the end there! (hide spoiler)]

Next one is May 5!

[Caroline]

Timelord Iain wrote: " I keep hoping someone will give me a good answer to this... because it features prominantly in the descriptions of the Inn... maybe I/we have a skewed perspective, and other Inns have more Earther supernatural guests... or it's because Gertrude's roots & connections across the galaxy have withered?... "

Maybe this would qualify as an interesting ask-the-authors-question, if they have enabled it on their goodreads page :)

I finished today, enjoyed the ending ... (view spoiler)[ The epilogue was done very smart. With the officer knowing he couldn't have dreamt all of it because of the tank level (if this is what you call it). I like how they got to the happy ending. :) (hide spoiler)]

Looking forward to the next book :D

[Choko]

So glad you guys enjoyed it!!! Caroline, that was a good way of the policeman telling her he knows something is up, wasn't it?! I enjoyed it:)))

[Tonari no Emily]

Didn't enjoy this one as much as the first one.. Maybe I had the audio turned up too fast? I was paying attention to most of it, but maybe some of the nuances will slip past me if it's faster than what I'm used to.. But anyway, just gonna post some thoughts:
Idk why, but I'm very interested in the cop, and from (view spoiler)[ the epilogue I'm guessing we will get more of him. I think I just like non-supernatural folks mixing in with the magic and beyond Earth technology (hide spoiler)]

Hmm.. re Iain's question about backwards Inn.. Maybe its because it's not around where all the aliens like to go to on Earth? I don't think making portals to other places on Earth was really a thing? (so far. Could definitely be wrong here haha)

i'm very glad Dina got a cat to go along with her shapeshifting dog. (I'm always team yay kitties!)

The invisible person wasn't as satisfying mystery as I wanted it to be.

Still looking forward to the next one with you all!

[Nyssa]

I just finished Sweep in Peace. It was a good read!

The officer - SMH. Oh, well.
Orro - Yay!

I wonder how many of the guests we'll see again.

[Choko]

When are we reading the next one?

[Nyssa]

One Fell Sweep
The scheduled start date is May 5th! :)

[Choko]

Awesome! This series is such a breath of fresh air:)))

[Narilka]

Sweet! It's going to be my next book just as soon as I finish my current one :D

[Nirkatze]

Choko wrote: "So glad you guys enjoyed it!!! Caroline, that was a good way of the policeman telling her he knows something is up, wasn't it?! I enjoyed it:)))"

LOL I thought it was funny (view spoiler)[that the mechanic totally didn't obey orders and did in fact fiddle with the car. Fuel efficiency! Or maybe even not a combustion engine anymore. (hide spoiler)]

Emily wrote: "Didn't enjoy this one as much as the first one.. Maybe I had the audio turned up too fast? I was paying attention to most of it, but maybe some of the nuances will slip past me if it's faster than ..."

YAY TEAM KITTIES!!!!! I want kitty to become superkitty. Or supersnugglekitty.

@Nyssa, ditto on Yay Orro!! He was one of the most fun bits of the new book. And made me want to try cooking some of his meals.

[Nyssa]

Nirkatze wrote: "YAY TEAM KITTIES!!!!! I want kitty to become superkitty. Or supersnugglekitty."

SuperSnuggleKitty for the win!!! :D

[Tonari no Emily]

Re mechanic: (view spoiler)[ Honestly he probably didn't even think the human would notice XD (hide spoiler)]

[Nirkatze]

Emily wrote: "Re mechanic: [spoilers removed]"

LOL I just have an image of the mechanic slamming the hood down on the car, then looking around and walking away whistling innocently.

And @Nyssa--fist bump! SuperSnuggleKitty forever!

[Narilka]

I'm starting One Fell Sweep tonight :D

[Choko]

I will start tomorrow then:)))

[Nyssa]

I want to try to finish reading Under the Whispering Door first. So I hope that means I’ll be starting this coming weekend.

[Choko]

No problem, we will be here:)

[Caroline]

Nirkatze wrote: "Choko wrote: "So glad you guys enjoyed it!!! Caroline, that was a good way of the policeman telling her he knows something is up, wasn't it?! I enjoyed it:)))"

LOL I thought it was funny [spoilers..."

I understood it wrong then haha x.x (view spoiler)[ I thought the problem was, that the gas tank was emptier after the nightly stake out than it should have been, if he hadn't driven or the tank hadn't been destroyed/leaking that night. (hide spoiler)]

[Narilka]

No rush at all to join the read! We'll be here :) And it's a reread for me so my commenting will be kinda minimal until everyone else joins.

CH 2 (view spoiler)[That rescue/bar fight is epic! One of my favorite scenes in the series so far.

I love little Helen's response of "We killed them back" lol oh man vampire children. Interesting times ahead. (hide spoiler)]

[Choko]

Caroline, haha! That's OK. The engineer couldn't help himself:) He made it look exactly the same, but improved it up to his standards, so now it barely used any gas:))) Haha! I wish we could find him to fix us up today! I spend $50 every two days on gas for my car, and it is hitting my bank kind of hard!

[Choko]

Up to Ch. 4 of One Fell Sweep... (view spoiler)[ Wow, Dina's sister is a badass! Her entrance scene was dramatic! I loved how Lord A. was just dumb-struck when he saw her fighting:) She said to Dina that she never ever wants to do anything with a vampire anymore, but I wonder if the two of them might end up hooking up... The little girl is wonderful too! And she sleeps cuddled up with her two knives... Kind of funny, but also sad... Her and her mom have not been safe nor felt safe in a really long time...

Shaun, in the first chapter, thinking that she wouldn't sense him if he is right outside of the Inn's grounds, but wanting to be close when he couldn't sleep... Ooooohhhh! It's kind of sweet and stalky at the same time... He probably needs the connection more than she does... (hide spoiler)]

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

Choko wrote: "Up to Ch. 4 of One Fell Sweep..."

Mild spoilers, but (view spoiler)[Maud, Arland, and the child (hide spoiler)] are the spinoff series...

[Choko]

Ooooohhhh! I am so glad, Iain! Are they any good?

[Narilka]

Choko wrote: "Ooooohhhh! I am so glad, Iain! Are they any good?"

That's book 4, which we'll be reading next. You'll find out soon ;)

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

I like em...

[Choko]

Great!

Meanwhile, I am in Ch. 7 ... (view spoiler)[The little girl fight Arland was adorable!!! And then Maud and Arland was pure foreplay:))) I also absolutely loved Dina's conclusion, that they are besieged by intelligent fowl, hahaha! (hide spoiler)]

[Choko]

Ch. 8 ... (view spoiler)[ Hahaha! The bargaining with the alien creatures with the help of Cookie was hilarious!!! And the shoes!!!

I am worried about whatever evil entity or energy they just discovered in the twisted innkeeper... He used to be her brother's best friend??? What the hell? And what if something like that has happened to her parents? It doesn't bode well for them finding them alive or well... (hide spoiler)]

[Nirkatze]

Nyssa wrote: "I want to try to finish reading Under the Whispering Door first. So I hope that means I’ll be starting this coming weekend."

Oh I loved that! Not as much as Cerulean Sea, but still super cute!

Choko wrote: "I wish we could find him to fix us up today! I spend $50 every two days on gas for my car, and it is hitting my bank kind of hard!"

Yikes every two days? That's insane!!! Definitely need to get that mechanic working here. I'd take a turn two, but mine's only every two weeks. >.<

[Narilka]

Ch 4 (view spoiler)[Talk about the ultimate temptation for Dina. A chance to get real information about her parents. (hide spoiler)]

[Narilka]

I agree with Nirkatze. $50 every two days for gas is insane!! Of course I haven't filled up my car for a good 6 months lol

[Choko]

Haha! You guys must not drive as much as I do... As a social worker, I do tons of house calls, and I drive an average of 200 miles a day... It adds up...

Of course Dina is going to do it, since she wants to find her parents so badly!!!

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

I fill up once a month… live 5 miles from work…

[Narilka]

Ch 7 (view spoiler)[How could I have forgotten the fart gun lol (hide spoiler)]

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

Book 3 hits alot of highnotes for me... starting around chapter 13, with Officer Mraise (or however it's spelled... it sounds like that name from Stormlight Archive)...

[Narilka]

Timelord Iain wrote: "Book 3 hits alot of highnotes for me... starting around chapter 13, with Officer Mraise (or however it's spelled... it sounds like that name from Stormlight Archive)..."

I agree. Book 3 is my favorite in the series so far too.

It's spelled Marais in the book. I had no idea how it was pronounced lol

[Choko]

It is the best so far in my opinion as well. I really enjoyed it:)) "Please, eat, little human! Please, little human, eat!"... I love him so much!!!

And the mechanical, smelly creatures, I love them too!!!

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

Mar-ACE is how the it's narrated...

[Nirkatze]

Choko wrote: "Haha! You guys must not drive as much as I do... As a social worker, I do tons of house calls, and I drive an average of 200 miles a day... It adds up..."

On the plus side, I imagine so much driving is great for audiobooks. I'm about 10 miles from work, I think, so I only fill up every 2-3 weeks.

Started um... Thursday? I've been laughing out loud each chapter. I've been trying to keep track...

Chapter One (view spoiler)[Mr. Ramirez to Sean: “Good luck with your jogging.”

Poor Dina, with a nosy Texas neighborhood poking their noses into her love life. (hide spoiler)]

Chapter Two (view spoiler)[Fast, good, cheap: pick two! I remember my dad telling me about this when I was a kid. He worked in a fast food restaurant that had that as its motto.

Karhari described as eighteenth century vampire Australia. (hide spoiler)]

Chapter Three (view spoiler)[I like Maud so far. And I like that it seems to be setting uh per and Arland--even though she insists otherwise. I like Arland and wasn't looking forward to his reaction when Dina clearly chooses Sean over him. Introducing Maud could potentially neutralize that.

Also, Arland's misconception of earth ladies was amusing. I too would love to see him watch an MMA match! (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 4--@Narilka & Choko, totally! And it's cool to see some movement on that plot point after three books! (view spoiler)[I just want to give the poor Hiru a hug--bad idea that it is. Of course Dina has to help him, and not just for her parents! True, her job is to keep her guests safe--but her guests, Caldenia and Arland, really need this kind of conflict for their sanity, don't you think?

More things that made me smile--Arland "sojourning" at Gertrude Hunt.--though there was a hint that this may cause trouble for him? His Uncle apparently had clear demands...

--Olasard, the Ripper of Souls! Every book needs a kitty. I think I'll have to name a new flashdrive after him. Aaaand I just had to spend a few minutes browsing cat pictures online, thank you kitty! (hide spoiler)]

Chapter Five (view spoiler)[Arland: “I’m on a sojourn,” he said. “Trying to improve my physical and mental state. A little exercise is good for the body. It is my understanding that an innkeeper must meet the needs of her guests. I require a battle.” Still makes me smile just typing it in here!

Ku on a Hero's journey... poor guy, I hope he doesn't die doing something heroic for the Inn...

How fast Tony agreed that the Rodriguezes would be staying for dinner.

“I’m done!” Helen announced.
“May I be excused?” Maud corrected.
“I may be excused,” Helen recited.
I can see this kind of exchange becoming a family joke. (hide spoiler)]

Chapter Six (view spoiler)[Anyone else think of Ivy the Archive? Archive characters are cool.

The Hiru essentially bartered their very selves for a chance to ask the Archivarius questions. Their selves are worth two questions, and they are willing to give one to Dina in exchange for her assistance in making it possible. I know that they probably don't have any other choice, but it still seems like a very generous offer, another tidbit that shows the Hiru are good folk who got a really short end of the stick in the world. (hide spoiler)]

Chapter Seven (view spoiler)[Cooking beings. On the one hand, ugh. On the other hand, meat is meat. If no one is home, what's the harm? What is the origin of this bone-deep taboo? Is it our hubris? Not just facing our own mortality, but our ultimate insignificance, to be reduced to food?

Fart guns. Faaaaart.

And Cookie! Fun to see the little dude in his element. (hide spoiler)]

Chapter Eight (view spoiler)[More Cookie in action! I love how he pulled off the trade in the shoe shop. And walking barefoot in cities is grooooooooosss!

The corrupted innkeeper--even though corrupted, to see an innkeeper outside of its inn wielding such power suggests that Dina could get a serious level up at some point. This also gave me Dresden vibes--this seems like the kind of thing that would hook in to a much bigger multi-book plot. Maybe! (hide spoiler)]

Chapter Nine (view spoiler)[Is it just me, or does asking Sean to become an innkeeper seem a little like proposing before even going on a first date? (hide spoiler)]

Sorry for the long post!

[Nyssa]

There is no reason to apologize. The whole point of this thread is to discuss the books! :)

[Narilka]

What is Ivy the Archive?

Ch 7/8 (view spoiler)[I loved seeing Cookie in action :) (hide spoiler)]

Ch 9 (view spoiler)[Technically they've had 1 date... hehehe (hide spoiler)]

[Choko]

I love Ku and his little statue! That scene was my most favorite in the whole book!!!

[Nirkatze]

Narilka wrote: "What is Ivy the Archive?

Ch 7/8 [spoilers removed]

Ch 9 [spoilers removed]"

Ivy the Archive is a character in the Dresden Files. One of my favorite characters, though she's only been in a handful of the books so far!

I love it when books have repeating character cameos.

re: Chapter 9, LOL true! Can't forget the technicalities. (view spoiler)[And they do know each other decently--it's not like they're total strangers!!--and there's oodles of chemistry. I know folks who have gotten married on less and have had happy lives together. Hasn't it been a year since the first book? (hide spoiler)]