BR Lore

[Andrea]

And off we go!!!

[Heike]

👏👏👏
First of - love the strong heroine who kicks the shit out of guys!
Second of - do not love the mystery around who she is, I prefer stories that go forward.
I'll hopefully know more after my morning snow shoveling 😉

[Trip]

Yes! I adore her strength theoughout.

In terms of the mystery, her family and the gods etc things are slowly revealed throughout. As learn about the origins of everything. Funnily enough I'm not usually keen on mystery, but i enjoyed that aspect here and it worked as she doesn't even know everything. So kind of learn with her 😊

[Andrea]

I'm so so so so sorry to be such a bad reading buddy. This week was a bit hellish. I only managed to finish chapter 6 right now. But I will catch up over the weekend!! I promise.

I kinda like it so far. I love all the different strands of myths woven together. And I also kinda love that I've read enough about it to remember most of the names 🤣

[Andrea]

I am a bit miffed about the cover, though, if this is going where I think it's going... the cover could be a spoiler? But we'll see 🤣

[Trip]

I'm glad to hear enjoying it! Xx

Thinking about it the cover could be but not for anything I'd say is important or at least not that I remember. So I don't think in the way you're expecting 😂

[Andrea]

Oh good 🤣 that's a relief

[Heike]

Andrea wrote: "I'm so so so so sorry to be such a bad reading buddy. This week was a bit hellish. I only managed to finish chapter 6 right now. But I will catch up over the weekend!! I promise."

We barely started, no worries!
Actually - I am the winner when it comes to "bad reading buddy". Since I am listening to it on audio, I have no way to make notes, I am not even sure which chapter I am, I am still trying to keep up because there are so many names thrown at me, and places, and so many of the names long and sometimes the first name is used, sometimes the last name ... *huh*.
So at this point I can only say: it is not boring.

[Heike]

A bit late in the game ... my library was so nice as to give me a .pdf additional to the audio version. And guess what. It has a Cast Of Characters. And all in the sudden I understand a bit better what is going on *lol*

[Andrea]

😂 oh good. I was allowed to go home early today because we're expecting a really bad storm (coming from the UK... Laura, stay safe!!!) So I have half a day of extra reading time!!!!

[Trip]

Andrea wrote: "😂 oh good. I was allowed to go home early today because we're expecting a really bad storm (coming from the UK... Laura, stay safe!!!) So I have half a day of extra reading time!!!!"

Im glad managed to get home early! Yeah, the storm is crazy. Not going out today, but luckily where I am not the worst of it xx

[Andrea]

Same. We're not in the worst part, but what we have is bad enough...

As for the book, I'm loving all those little nods like Lore wondering how to smuggle a poisoned shirt to the house of Achilles, or what Athena would say if she brought her back a golden apple 😂 my nerdy heart lives for this!

I just finished chapter 13, where the new Apollo is revealed and Artemis is about to show up! Loving it so far!

[Heike]

Andrea wrote: "I just finished chapter 13, where the new Apollo is revealed and Artemis is about to show up! Loving it so far!"

I am much farer in, and enjoyed the little things (Milo meets Athena, for example) as well, listening to it just lets it go past, though. I wished I would have had the Character List before starting, now it is so much easier to understand! There are two characters I would like to hear more about interacting - since they have not met, yet, I'll leave out the spoiler ...

Hope the storm passes by easily! Weird times to hear of that kind of extreme weather from Germany, I guess our little tornadoes and blizzards in the Midwest of the US are not that awe-evoking anymore if Europe gets hit similar. I was in Germany during the huge flooding west of Cologne. Go figure, I visit my family every three years, and exactly this time my hometown got hit and I spent my vacation cleaning up the mess in my brothers house. :-(

[Andrea]

Don't worry, I'll get there! With this much noise, I'll have trouble sleeping anyway.

We are very lucky. I looked outside, and it seems like we have a few broken branches in the garden, but no roof tiles have come down yet or anything. So. Just an annoying storm, but not worse. Luckily. I just read the O2 arena in London lost it's roof a few hours ago!

I still find you weather more impressive, but it feels like we're catching up with you lately. The storms are getting stronger and more frequent.
Oh I remember that storm. We were on vacation and had no idea what was happening in the Ruhrgebiet and ended up in a ginormous gridlock halfway home when we heard the area had been badly hit by a freak hurricane. Felt like a bad movie, driving through streets with abandoned trams that had stopped in front of felled trees... *shudder*

[Trip]

Yeah, part of the o2 roof fell off although tbh its only canvas like material anyway so don't think its very strong. But there has been a lot of roofs and tiles, trees etc falling across UK crazy weather. I think said strongest storm to hit London in afew decades.

I hope its not too bad where you're.

[Andrea]

Could be worse. Probably is much worse in other parts...

So I made it to chapter 23. They just rescued Iro.

I'm really enjoying this one! I love that they have Athena there to tell them to think. It's a lovely break from the usual YA heroes running around getting lucky 🤣

[Andrea]

Made it to chapter 40. (view spoiler)[Artemis just died and Castor is being mysterious... (hide spoiler)]

I'm still really enjoying it. I love the non-stop action. It's also a whole lot bloodier than I thought it would be. I mean. My edition is published by Quercus CHILDREN books! But I do kind of enjoy all the stabbing 😆

Are we all firmly rooting for Miles and Van then?

[Andrea]

I liked the twist she put on Medusa'a story. Turning her into a fury and men twisting the story into what it is makes kind of sense? I have to say, I always wondered. I mean. Athena has a history of punishing girls, but usually the ones who thought they were better than her like Arachne...

[Trip]

Yes! I loved all the action and dark in parts, especially considering Young adult. Although im very much a visual reader so doesn't take much for me 😂

I adore Van and Miles, they're great characters. Oh and the tale of Medusa was stunning, I adored the twist of it too and seemed very fitting.

[Andrea]

Ok, we need to talk about the twist toward the end.

Is anyone else not surprised that (view spoiler)[Athena is evil and behind it all? I mean. She is the goddess of wisdom and strategy and all... and especially since the scene before Artemis died. I mean. The children really don't pay much attention ^^ (hide spoiler)]

[Trip]

I'd been waiting for thoughts on that, there are so many incredible twists and turns in this tale 💕

(view spoiler)[ Lol I was stunned when i read it, i didn't expect at all but it did seem so obvious once thought about it 😂 (hide spoiler)]

[Andrea]

Like how Gil (view spoiler)[turns out to be Hermes? That one I thought was kinda cute. Especially since he did it to protect Dionysos. I forgot they were together for a while (hide spoiler)]

[Trip]

Oh yes that one made me smile 😊

[Andrea]

I am somewhat curious as to what happened with the Aegis, though. I mean. That whole back and forth between present and past is just unfair...

[Heike]

Okay, it's official: I am the worst buddy reader ever. But I have a list of excuses:
- minus 25° Celsius this week
- colicing horse (actually, the stupid Pony is colicing, he got into my haystack but was too lazy to go to the water to drink while gobbling down the stolen feast). He is doing better now. But who wants to go out 3 times at night at minus 25° to check on the little glutenous beast?
- Audio books are irritatingly bad to take notes to while listening.

But I regress. The book.

Yes. I think the whole book should have been about Van and Milo! ;-)

Castor saying

I was born knowing to do three things - how to breathe, how to dream, and how to love you.

was EPIC.

I loved the twist and turns toward the end. I regretted not having the Character Cast before I had already stumbled mostly confused through the first half of the book. There were too many characters that were referred to by up to three different names.

I promise I will do better with my next buddy read!

I'll end up giving this three stars. Good story, but I would not feel compelled to re-read it.

Did you finish it, Andrea? My last excuse is nämlich (there is no English translation for "nämlich" in this context): I did not get notifications from GR that you and Laura were busily commenting on this thread yesterday!

[Andrea]

Ouch. That us super cold...

Lol. Poor little beastie ^^ I feel for you. Dragging a reluctant dog outside in storm and never ending rain for the past 4 days 3 times a day was not fun, either. For any of us... she was decidedly not amused. The outrage! The poor little paws got wet! And the indignity of having to be toweled dry. Oh the poor little thing...

That said, excuses accepted 😆

[Andrea]

No, haven't finished yet. Athena just showed her true colors, so I'm looking forward to an epic conclusion!

[Andrea]

And 🤣 it's like "doch". There just are few words where I feel we have an advantage, but nämlich and doch are pretty awesome ^^

[Andrea]

I'm on the final pages!!!!! I can't believe Athena did that. Like whaaaaaat.... so many questions!!

[Heike]

Andrea wrote: "I'm on the final pages!!!!! I can't believe Athena did that. Like whaaaaaat.... so many questions!!"

Yeah, right! How out of character for Athena. It actually annoyed me a bit!

[Andrea]

I mean. It does make sense at the end. The prophecy called for the ultimate sacrifice, and to give up their powers willingly to a human does fit that bill for a god. I actually liked that resolution a lot!

[Andrea]

Aaaand I'm finally finished!!!!! I am really surprised how much I enjoyed this one! I'm thinking 4 stars. Or 5? There were a few minor tiny little things but nothing that really annoyed me. I am so pleasantly surprised by this!

[Trip]

Yay! I'm glad you enjoyed it, was definitely one that surprised me too. I loved the characters and all the twists 💕

[Heike]

Andrea wrote: "Aaaand I'm finally finished!!!!! I am really surprised how much I enjoyed this one! I'm thinking 4 stars. Or 5? There were a few minor tiny little things but nothing that really annoyed me. I am so..."

*Wow* - I envy everyone with 4 and 5 star reads, good for you!

I am not quite there, everything above 3 would mean to me I would expect to want to read it again, but with all the entertainment value it had, I would not go back to it.

As I said - my next buddy read will not be an audio book again so I can actually contribute! :-)

[Trip]

Oh i rarely give 5 stars, but I'm rather picky in general. Although baed mainly on how makes me feel and vibes.

But if I based it on books I would reread or go back too, then id never give above 3 stars as I don't do rereads 😂

Hopefully we can all do a buddy read again soon.

[Heike]

Laura wrote: "But if I based it on books I would reread or go back too, then id never give above 3 stars as I don't do rereads 😂"

Actually - me neither. 😂
But I want to with some books . So it's probably more of a mental pretense ...

[Trip]

Heike wrote: "Laura wrote: "But if I based it on books I would reread or go back too, then id never give above 3 stars as I don't do rereads 😂"

Actually - me neither. 😂
But I want to with some books . So it's ..."

Haha, now that I understand.

I do sometimes look back at my reviews, favourite quotes & /or scenes but thats about as far as it goes for me.

[Andrea]

You guys are making me feel bad about handing out 5 star ratings all the time now!

But for me, if I get so absorbed by a book that I forget where I am or can't stay away from it, it almost always gets five stars in the end?

But then, I also reread A LOT. So many books I've read more than once and still loved them.

[Trip]

Oh no! Don't feel bad, its something i love about book ratings and reviews. Everyone has their own way and its lovely to see 😊

Also glad you reread as allowed us to buddy read and you introduced me to some new favourites along with Authors. 💕

[Heike]

Andrea wrote: "You guys are making me feel bad about handing out 5 star ratings all the time now! "
You have a rating average of 3.29, Andrea, you don't throw out 5 star ratings like Karnelvalsbonbons (candy at a parade, for you non-Germans 😉). So I love it that you enjoyed this one so much!
I think the last book where I really went all over was Martha Wells Murderbot book(s) (All Systems Red. And guess what - some of my (very picky chosen) GR friends did not like it. Well, very few 😃
Must read if you have not done so yet. It's a sifi, but it's more about a character who is just a good person (Murderbot) who gets underestimated by humans. It's awesome! That is one I would definitely read again. I actually met it as audiobook and went right out to buy the e-book. I am getting giddy just thinking about it ...
If you ever choose to buddy read that I'll pick it up again. Novella length.

This said - don't dare to feel bad about a five star rating!

[Andrea]

Aw. You guys are the best! And also, please don't remind me it's Karneval. I have to go to work in Düsseldorf tomorrow. On Rosenmontag! Which at least won't be officially celebrated because of Covid, but... there will still be too many drunk people with bad music outside for my taste... the horror! I can't wait for it to be over. But at least I don't work in an office anymore that was in a street where the Umzug went through every year. Small mercies 🤣🤣🤣

Added your Murderbot book to the list 😀 I'll go see how expensive it is and let you know!

[Heike]

Andrea wrote: "Aw. You guys are the best! And also, please don't remind me it's Karneval. I have to go to work in Düsseldorf tomorrow. On Rosenmontag! Which at least won't be officially celebrated because of Covi..."
Well, if you get a ticket for speeding say that you know the sister of the police boss, my brother works in D'Dorf. 😁
I grew up with Karneval, but have never been crazy about it. Be careful driving and stay out of the way of the drunks!

[Andrea]

Heike wrote: "Andrea wrote: "Aw. You guys are the best! And also, please don't remind me it's Karneval. I have to go to work in Düsseldorf tomorrow. On Rosenmontag! Which at least won't be officially celebrated ..."

🤣🤣🤣 that is an awesome coincidence

Oh believe you me, I will avoid them as best I can...