May 2022 Group Read#1 Between Two Fires

[Ginger]

Michael wrote: "Up to page 84 now. That last chapter with the river felt like I was reading a Conan story. Intense for sure."

Yes, completely agree Michael!! It had tons of Conan vibes. hahaha!

[Ginger]

Char wrote: "One other thing-I would never have survived during this time period in history.

Not knowing about germs, not being able to stay what we consider clean. People emptying their chamber pots all will..."

Yep, completely agree Char. I don't think I would have survived back then too. I'm not necessarily a hypochondriac....BUT.... hahaha!

[Char]

I can hardly picture a world where showers are not available, nor do I want to. Imagine how these people must smell. LOL

[Ginger]

Char wrote: "I can hardly picture a world where showers are not available, nor do I want to. Imagine how these people must smell. LOL"

We just started watching The Last Kingdom and I'm always thinking about showers, smells and sanitary issues while watching this world. LOL!!

[Latasha]

As someone with a rather sensitive nose, I wonder about that every time I watch any of those kinds of movies or read those books.

[Kasia]

My dad made a joke to me years ago that when people lived in castles, once it got all gross and grimy they would move out to another castle and let it "air out" but now I don't think he was kidding...

[Char]

I only have about an hour left in this book. Might finish this today!

[Kasia]

Im just in the early pages of this on chapter 3 but wow, such an intriguing story! I was worried the writing would be fussy but it's very "readable" lol.

[Trista]

I’m about 60 pages in and I’m loving the writing! This book is so up my ally. I love anything about the Middle Ages or the Black Plague and I LOVE this um… “El Topo” trope. The trope where the unlikely antihero ends up taking care of a kid.
It’s great!

[Kasia]

Big Witcher vibes!

[Trista]

Kasia wrote: "Big Witcher vibes!"

Totally! Thomas gives off very Gerald vibes as well!

[Latasha]

Yes!

[Felina]

He does! I knew he felt familiar and he’s so Geralt.

[Char]

I finished listening on my way home last night, and I listened to the last 10 minutes sitting in my car in the garage. I'll admit it, I had a tear in my eye.

[Kasia]

Very Gerald like especially battling that pg 64 / 14% (view spoiler)[river monster holy crap (hide spoiler)]

So I'm listening to some The Witcher: Season 2 soundtrack, this track is one of my favorites, called "Power and Purpose"

"Power and Purpose"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A89Mj...

and some more
The Witcher (Season 2) - Ultimate Soundtrack Suite
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wrDOO...

I'm actually not having a great day, trying to read as a distraction but this music is making me extra emotional, one of my senior pets is passing soon I think, and it just feels like being stabbed in the heart all day long.

[Kasia]

Char wrote: "I finished listening on my way home last night, and I listened to the last 10 minutes sitting in my car in the garage. I'll admit it, I had a tear in my eye."

Oh wow, that's intense Char, thank you for sharing that.

[Ginger]

Char wrote: "I finished listening on my way home last night, and I listened to the last 10 minutes sitting in my car in the garage. I'll admit it, I had a tear in my eye."

Oh wow Char. I can't wait to see where this book goes and glad the ending is this epic! :D

[Kasia]

Ginger wrote: "Oh wow Char. I can't wait to see where this book goes and glad the ending is this epic! :D"

This book right now is why I'm behind on Hunger of Gods, best conflict one can have tho!

[Latasha]

Oh Kasia I am so so so sorry.

[Kasia]

Latasha wrote: "Oh Kasia I am so so so sorry."

Thank you my love! 💓

[Felina]

Sorry about your pet. I have an old man cat I think is reaching his last days. I’m trying not to think about it.

[Kasia]

Felina wrote: "Sorry about your pet. I have an old man cat I think is reaching his last days. I’m trying not to think about it."

Thank you friend and big hugs to you too <3

[Glassaxe]

Kasia wrote: "Very Gerald like especially battling that pg 64 / 14% [spoilers removed]

So I'm listening to some The Witcher: Season 2 soundtrack, this track is one of my favorites, called "Power and Purpose"

..."

Kasia wrote: "Very Gerald like especially battling that pg 64 / 14% [spoilers removed]

So I'm listening to some The Witcher: Season 2 soundtrack, this track is one of my favorites, called "Power and Purpose"

..."

I know someone else who lost an older cat recently too, always so heartbreaking. ):

[Kasia]

Mine is my oldest chinchilla Cheech, we've had him at least 15 years and I think he's about 18 or so? He was rescued from a breeder who was doing god knows what, and while trying to get cool looking pets he ended up creating Cheech who was born with a stump for a hand and deemed him unacceptable ( fing unreal) so we adopted him when he was already an adult from a place in Long Island that took care of unwanted animals.

But I also have two senior cats and one more chin, so not looking forward to that either in the future, meh.

[Glassaxe]

So I'm pretty far in. My interest waned a little when it started getting into the back story about Thomas's wife, but I still really want to see how this goes. I can make guesses about who or what Delphine is but Buehlman might surprise me yet.
It's so funny to see the name 'Thomas' typed out like that when the narrator has been pronouncing it closer to 'Damas' with an accent.

Edit*
got past that one little slow spot and now everything is insane and gnarly again dear god.

[Kasia]

Im about to pick this up again, haven't read today yet, still only at 17% but can't wait to read for an hour hopefully.

[Kasia]

Wow page 89... (view spoiler)[ (hide spoiler)]

[Lawrence]

Kasia wrote: "Wow page 89...

"

laughing as I thought the same thing when I reached that point...

[Michael]

Lawrence wrote: "Kasia wrote: "Wow page 89...

"

laughing as I thought the same thing when I reached that point..."
That makes three of us thinking of that movie.

[Michael]

I'm now at page 159. After those last two big scenes (the tourney and Paris), I don't know what to think. This keeps getting stranger and stranger. As if the plague conditions weren't horrific enough!

[Ginger]

Kasia wrote: "Wow page 89...

"

Right Kas?!! OMG, I went right to this moment in the movie too. 🤣😂

[Trista]

I’m on chapter 5 and I’m having a GREAT TIME. Thomas is *chef’s kiss*. He’s definitely my kind of protagonist!

[Char]

Kasia wrote: "Very Gerald like especially battling that pg 64 / 14% [spoilers removed]

So I'm listening to some The Witcher: Season 2 soundtrack, this track is one of my favorites, called "Power and Purpose"

..."

I'm so sorry to hear about your cat, Kasia. HUGS

[Char]

Domino wrote: "So I'm pretty far in. My interest waned a little when it started getting into the back story about Thomas's wife, but I still really want to see how this goes. I can make guesses about who or what ..."

LOL Enjoy, Domino!

[Char]

Trista wrote: "I’m on chapter 5 and I’m having a GREAT TIME. Thomas is *chef’s kiss*. He’s definitely my kind of protagonist!"

I loved Thomas more and more as their journey continued on.

[Kasia]

Char wrote: "I'm so sorry to hear about your cat, Kasia. HUGS."

Aww thank you, it's actually Cheechee, the chinchilla. <3 He's struggling a bit but still here. I'm secretly hoping he will push through, but he's so old for a chin, that it's really mostly wishful thinking.

[Kasia]

Trista wrote: "I’m on chapter 5 and I’m having a GREAT TIME. Thomas is *chef’s kiss*. He’s definitely my kind of protagonist!"

Best praise you can give, I dig him too :)

[Raif Hoffman]

Well that was certainly something. I thought the story was a little repetitive overcoming the various obstacles they faced and I'm not sure I loved the climax. That said, holy crap, pretty much every obstacle they faced was pure nightmare fuel and uncomfortably well described. I was impressed that the post climax provided good closure.

[Victor]

Just finished. I will immediately, and enthusiastically be adding this author's other books to my TBR stack. Right near the top.

[Felina]

Victor, do Those Across the River first. 😉

[Giovanni]

I loved the epilogue

[Victor]

Felina wrote: "Victor, do Those Across the River first. 😉"

Thanks for the recommendation Felina. I've heard The Lesser Dead is excellent as well. Decisions, decisions lol.

Between Two Fires definitely scratched my itch for 'weird horror'. For now though, it's back to my regularly scheduled Stephen King - that Bill Hodges trilogy isn't going to read itself. :-)

[Felina]

I'm sure it can read itself but you won't benefit much from it. ;)

[Michael]

Victor wrote: "Felina wrote: "Victor, do Those Across the River first. 😉"

Thanks for the recommendation Felina. I've heard The Lesser Dead is excellent as well. Decisions, decisions lol.

Between Two Fires defi..."

I haven't finished Between Two Fires yet, but I've already added those other two novels to my growing To-Be-Read list.

[Michael]

Now on page 283. Very episodic but I don't mind. That provides some convenient breakaway points.
This turned very quickly into a horror novel. Love the black plague setting, makes it even more creepy - - would not want to be there.

[Neil]

Have just finished chapter ten. I am loving it so far. The three main characters are thoroughly likeable and their relationship with each other is entertaining and, at times, touching. The Hieronymus Bosch hellscape of Medaeval France is suitably nightmarish. The introduction of monsters doesn’t seem in anyway out of place next to the horrors of the Black Death. Highlights so far have been the description of the Battle of Crècy and the debauchery in the castle. I’m not sure where this is going but I’m in for the duration.

[Char]

Giovanni wrote: "I loved the epilogue"

Me too, Giovanni!

[Glassaxe]

Neil wrote: "Have just finished chapter ten. I am loving it so far. The three main characters are thoroughly likeable and their relationship with each other is entertaining and, at times, touching. The Hieronym..."

Literally what I said once those last few chapters started coming at me. "What in the Hieronymus Bosch was that??"
lol. Very cool.

[Charlene (Char)&#x1f341;☕️&#x1f4da;]

I am 283 pages in and so far so good! Although I keep guessing who exactly is Delphine!? I have an idea/ thought but I won’t say it in the thread (:

[Char]

That's a good question! ;)