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Connor, Ellen - Nightfall (buddy read) 24 October 2011

Sans and I are planning this. Anyone is welcome to join in the discussion questions or just pop in to say "Hi!"
Expect Spoilers
Date Chapters PPDQs*
10/24/11 Prologue – Chapter 5 CaroB.
10/25/11 Chapters 6 - 10 Sans
10/26/11 Chapters 11 – 15 Lisa Kay
10/27/11 Chapters 16 – 20 Sans
10/28/11 Chapters 21 – 25 Megan
10/29/11 Chapters 26 – 30 Anomander
10/30/11 Chapters 31 – 35 CaroB.
10/31/11 Chapters 35 – 40 Heather
11/01/11 Chapters 41 – epilogue
*PPDQs = Person Posting Discussion Questions
Participants so far:
Sans
Lisa Kay
CaroB
Megan
Anomander
Heather
CaroB’s Questions Prologue – Chapter 5
1. What an awesomely dark prologue! It is scary, in that it is so easily imaginable in this “time of prophecy” we currently live in. What do you think of the prologue? A powerful beginning or just another scene-setting?
2. At the end of chapter 1, I’m trying to decide if she’s ballsy or brainless. He unties her legs and she calmly walks into the cabin ahead of him??? WTF! What did you make of her stoicism in such a difficult situation?
3. In her father’s crazy-ass letter, the craziest bit had to be “The wolf shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid, and the calf and the lion and the fatling together, and a little child shall lead them.” Which animals do you think are supposed to signify Mason and Jenna in that ? Why did Mitch speak of Jenna with affection, why would Jenna not have been told by her mother than Mitch was being sent letters about her?
4. Anyone else suspecting a link between the “riot” dogs and the rabid beasts that attacked? How did Jenna know exactly what they’d look like?
5. So far this seems a very plot-driven, action-packed read. But what’s your take on Mason’s and Jenna’s characters from the first 5 chapters?
Sans' Questions for Chapter 6-10
6. Things are happening pretty fast. Do you think Mason was right, the other people should have been left to their own devices? Or do you agree with Jenna, that they have to help them?
7. Do you think the new comers have anything to do with the passage Caro pointed out in question 3, and Jenna remembers in chapter 7?
8. Where do you think this knowledge Jenna and Penny have is coming from?
9. The demon dogs used to be people? I have to admit, I didn't see that coming. What do you think, some kind of zombie werewolf that can't turn back?
10. Thoughts on what happened to Edna, both the transformation and how Mason used her to buy them time to get away?
11. Telepathy too? Where the heck is this book going?
Lisa Kay’s Questions for Chapters 11 – 15
12. How did Penny get in the tangled thicket? Does she have some other undisclosed ability?
13. Ick. The Pit. (Thank God there was a shower!) Are they going to have to deal with that again? Is there something dormant in there?
14. Well, Bob bit the dust. Were you surprised someone else died? How many of these folks will survive? And who? What about Mason’s wounds?
15. What the hell was the “corpse” changing back into a man all about? And where did the body go? Is it still alive or did something else take it?
16. Okay, I’m thinking Mason and Jenna just need to shag and get it over with. Most of the time I like the sexual build-up, but in this instance I’m wondering if it would be best for the both of them – and everyone else. Comments?
17. What was your impression of Dr. Chris Welsh? Mason being jealous of him – plus being an a$$hat over it? I don’t know why, but I thought they were going to get him and bring him back to the cabin.
18. Was there any info in Mason’s flashback that was significant?
19. Will Tru stop cutting himself? Did Mason handle cleaning his wounds right? What about what he said about their needing him for all their survival? What will Tru do if he’s locked up in that bunker for the months of winter?
20. Jenna and Angela have bonded over a bottle of Cognac. Comments?
21. Who screamed at the end of Chapter 15? And why? Did you have to read on? Not every chapter ends in a cliffhanger – just the ones we chose as stopping points!

22. Ange: The lady doth protest too much methinks? Why do you think Penny screamed and attached herself to Tru?
23. Snow. Is Mason right? Will things calm down now that winter is here?
24. Did Penny have a bad dream or a vision? How did she get in their room anyway? And! She's talking? Is it significant that Penny is communicating with just about everyone other than her mother?
25. Has anyone else read Ilona Andrew's Kate Daniel's books? What similarities do you see?
26. Jeeze, we finally find out Mason's first name. (Not a question, just a tipsy observation on my part. ^o^ )
27. Would you be able (or want to) survive in a new "Dark Age"? How do you feel about Jenna's statement that she wishes she weren't a surviver? Is it nerves talking or do you think she genuinely wishes she hadn't lived to see this?
28. Damn, even as a woman, I think Jenna was out of line. Opinions on keying a man up, then dropping him cold?
29. First major emergency in their new digs. Did you think this would happen, some major issue crop up in the middle of an almost-lovers quarrel? How about Jenna's hearing and sudden vision? What the hell is that about?
Megan's Questions for Chapters 21-25
30. Tru seems to be looking to Mason as a role model. Do you think this is a good choice for him? At the same time, he seems angry with Ange for being such a good mother. Can you understand this emotion?
31. Jenna can't seem to understand Mason's tenderness in private and his unwillingness to show emotion during times of stress. Do you think she is being unfair in her judgment of his motivation?
32. The way the authors describe the newfound powers Jenna and Mason seem to be gaining seems very animalistic (i.e. he could smell her fear, the primal tingles they get, her heightened sense of hearing, and the way they can go out of body to connect with the creatures). Do you think this is foreshadowing of some sort?
33. Mason insists several times that the animals learn and adapt very quickly, and that he doesn't know how much they remember from before. Do you think they have memories from before they turned? Would that impact the way you see the creatures?
34. No power. Do you think they made the right decision in going to the station in the first place? What do you think about the supply run they are going on now? Will we get to see what is happening back at the station?
35. Jenna's motivation seems a little clearer after we hear that she doesn't want to be like her mother. Are there some things about your parents/family's experiences that you definitely don't want to repeat?
36. The relationship between Mason and Jenna is so volatile at this point. What did you think of her attack on him and the sexy scuffle that followed? Was Mason a little too rough with her?
37. Finally some honesty between our hero and heroine! Do you think there are better days ahead for them?
Anomander Questions for Chapters 26-30
38. Mason actually shared? I'm all agog! You?
39. Was Mason testing her, when he offered that they could run away and never return to the station for others?
40. Yeesh! The howling of those beasts reminds me of the scene from Jurassic Park where the raptors communicate with each other.
41. I hate it that we're doled out pittances about Mitch the prophet. Can't we have been told the whole story?
42. Huh.. So the people don't just turn into dogs or wolves. There's a whole variety of other animals.. even insects. What does this signify? Personality types?
43. So why didn't the beasts follow them into the village/town?
44. "Home. Oh God. Yes. But for Jenna, it was a person, not a place. It was Mason." Remember this, as you read ahead.
45. Buying the theory about only evil people making through the transformation? What if Edna could have made it and Mason never gave her the chance?
46. Oh, chapter 30 made me cry. What do you think will happen next?
CaroB’s Questions for Chapters 31-35
47. “Wrath and purpose fused into something new, harder than steel, more fluid than mercury. This new feeling transcended pain.” Do you think this passage, the purpose to save Mason, affected the results of Jenna’s change? What did you think of her mind snapping in two?
48. Were you surprised at Mason’s reaction when he realised the wolf was Jenna?
49. What do the cell differences between the rabid dogs and Jenna mean? How could this affect future changes /bitees? What about Dr Welsh’s resistance to magic? How will he adapt in this new world when everything needs a scientific explanation for him?
50. Any comments on how the group dynamics are changing? What do you think of the different roles everyone has to play?
51. What’s significance of Penny’s first words being about the wolf, and her open friendliness to Jenna?

52. What did you think of Chris's reasoning/explanation for Jenna's successful shifting? Did they all second guess the judgement concerning Edna, as her must have experienced a pretty high jolt of trauma? Could she have made it?
53. What are your thoughts on this budding relationship between Ange and Chris? Do you think they are just grasping onto something to make all of this newness easier (especially with Chris's fears of being obsolete)?
54. Did you predict Mason's reactions, even after having Jenna back and apparently okay, and were they justified or was this his way of pushing away and controlling his environment?
55. What are we thinking of Jenna at this point? Is she handling the transition well? Has she fully grasped all that Mitch left behind for them to learn and build from? Is her new mental tone that Mason is the only thing of importance, at the sacrifice of the others, a lasting one?
56. I was a little put-off by this: "He liked the distance—needed it, just as his body needed its grinding release." Thoughts on why he needed the distance if she was offering him the dominance.
57. After the beasts tried to get in, were you surprised by Chris and Ange's stance on death at her own hands rather than risking a beast attack?
58. Was Mason's reaction to close off the tunnel excessive? Also, was I the only one that felt like he was assuming too much and acting a little callous with Jenna (ex:him insisting on her acting as diversion in leaving the tunnels so he could place the bomb)?
59. Tell me I wasn't the only one shaking their head in bafflement at the role reversals right before the bomb went off between Mason and Jenna?
60. Does the theory of a traumatic episode in order to shift need tweaking after reading Chapter 40 and Jenna's delayed ability to shift?
Lisa Kay’s Questions for Chapters 41 – Epilogue
61. You know, I just have to comment that I really like Tru’s character. It is neat to see a character develop and we get to see his background. So neat that he saved Jenna. Hopefully, that will make his story (book #3) richer. I think thing seep into our subconscious, expanding the characters’ personalities. Sometimes I see someone doesn’t like a book in a series that I love and then find that they didn’t read the whole series. Comments. I think romance genre is one of the worst at labeling where (or if) a book is in a series; why is that? It certainly leads to more people reading books out of order. (Sorry, rant done.)
62. Penny does teleport! What else can she do? No answer on the Finn character. Why is everyone so sure he is imaginary? Why are we, the reader, smarter than the characters in this book and able to question this?
63. So, everyone (but me!) was right and Ange bit the dust. Comments on her exit?
64. Mason goes mano a mano with the pack leader? While the others watch? How realistic is that?
65. Okay. I’ll be honest and was expecting something to go one with a blood exchange, but not that! Didn’t the authors forget to add a shower scene after that smear feast of bodily fluids?
66. How did you like the epilogue? Did Jenna use a delaying tactic on John again? Man-oh-man! Not me. Do you like epilogues to be set weeks, months, years away from the end, or doesn’t it matter to you? And, thank goodness; no cliffhangers with regards to the next book.




Never!!
Yes, Lisa Kay and I have been a touch remiss in this read lately... ~_~





Okay, gotch!


1. What an awesomely dark prologue! It is scary, in that it is so easily imaginable in this “time of prophecy” we currently live in. What do you think of the prologue? A powerful beginning or just another scene-setting?
2. At the end of chapter 1, I’m trying to decide if she’s ballsy or brainless. He unties her legs and she calmly walks into the cabin ahead of him??? WTF! What did you make of her stoicism in such a difficult situation?
3. In her father’s crazy-ass letter, the craziest bit had to be “The wolf shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid, and the calf and the lion and the fatling together, and a little child shall lead them” Which animals do you think are supposed to signify Mason and Jenna in that ? Why did Mitch speak of Jenna with affection, why would Jenna not have been told by her mother than Mitch was being sent letters about her?
4. Anyone else suspecting a link between the “riot” dogs and the rabid beasts that attacked? How did Jenna know exactly what they’d look like?
5. So far this seems a very plot-driven, action-packed read. But what’s your take on Mason’s and Jenna’s characters from the first 5 chapters?

1. What an awesomely dark prologue! It is scary, in that it is so easily imaginable in this “time of prophecy” we currently live in. What do you think of the prologue? A powerful beginning or just another scene-setting? I thought it very effective. So often in recent years when I hear about another natural disaster somewhere in the world and I’m in a melodramatic mood, I have found myself wondering what it’s all coming to. The use of short sentences in the prologue make it a strong statement, like a newspaper report, no prose, no exaggeration. This is the way it is. Punchy!
2. At the end of chapter 1, I’m trying to decide if she’s ballsy or brainless. He unties her legs and she calmly walks into the cabin ahead of him??? WTF! What did you make of her stoicism in such a difficult situation? Puhlease! I woulda kicked him in the gonads then run like hell while dialling 9-1-1. Of course I probably would’ve been shot at while doing so, but I think it’s human nature to have some type of “fight or flight” response!
3. In her father’s crazy-ass letter, the craziest bit had to be “The wolf shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid, and the calf and the lion and the fatling together, and a little child shall lead them” Which animals do you think are supposed to signify Mason and Jenna in that ? Why did Mitch speak of Jenna with affection, why would Jenna not have been told by her mother than Mitch was being sent letters about her? I can see Mason as the wolf, but not so sure Jenna would be the lamb… maybe she’s the jaguar, not sure. Maybe Jenna’s mother thought it would be easier if Jenna harboured no expectations or ties to her father.
4. Anyone else suspecting a link between the “riot” dogs and the rabid beasts that attacked? How did Jenna know exactly what they’d look like? I think she may be experiencing some psychic abilities of her own…
5. So far this seems a very plot-driven, action-packed read. But what’s your take on Mason’s and Jenna’s characters from the first 5 chapters? The characters aren’t very well fleshed out yet, and I’m hoping that’s more due to the scene-setting than poor writing. Jenna seems extremely pragmatic and Mason, apart from horny, strikes me as honourable. Still early days…


1. What an awesomely dark prologue! It is scary, in that it is so easily imaginable in this “time of prophecy” we currently live in. What do you think of the prologue? A powerful beginning or just another scene-setting?
It for sure set the scene for a horrible reality that we would be facing in this story. It was a rather dark intro into a series I thought.
2. At the end of chapter 1, I’m trying to decide if she’s ballsy or brainless. He unties her legs and she calmly walks into the cabin ahead of him??? WTF! What did you make of her stoicism in such a difficult situation?
I could understand her shock and not reacting to the situation at first, but I would have thought she would have tried to kick him when he opened the trunk or put up more of a fight before even going into the cabin.
3. In her father’s crazy-ass letter, the craziest bit had to be “The wolf shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid, and the calf and the lion and the fatling together, and a little child shall lead them” Which animals do you think are supposed to signify Mason and Jenna in that ? Why did Mitch speak of Jenna with affection, why would Jenna not have been told by her mother than Mitch was being sent letters about her?
I got the feeling that Jenna didn't want much to do with her father once she was a little older and understood that her father wasn't a "normal" dad and her mom was just trying to make it as easy on Jenna as possible. Playing the middle man, so to say.
As for the animals, I have no idea. I thought she was the child that will lead them. I think she will start to develop some of dear old dad's abilities. At least I got that forshadowing from the letter and the prophecy.
4. Anyone else suspecting a link between the “riot” dogs and the rabid beasts that attacked? How did Jenna know exactly what they’d look like?
I think they are the same thing, maybe the government learned a way to control them and cannot any longer? OR this maybe her new foresight coming into play?
5. So far this seems a very plot-driven, action-packed read. But what’s your take on Mason’s and Jenna’s characters from the first 5 chapters?
Mason is very much a macho man so far to me. Very much "this is the way it goes, take it or leave it" and already drawing the sexual tension to the surface.
As for Jenna, she's a little harder to pin down. She's been a little all over the place. Brave, judgemental, proud, naive. I think she'll turn into a kick-butt heroine, but for right now she's still not yet there.

1. What an awesomely dark prologue! It is scary, in that it is so easily imaginable in this “time of prophecy” we currently live in. What do you think of the prologue? A powerful beginning or just another scene-setting? Extremely dark prologue...and I agree with you CaroB about the phrasing of the sentences. Very direct and no-nonsense way of laying out the facts.
2. At the end of chapter 1, I’m trying to decide if she’s ballsy or brainless. He unties her legs and she calmly walks into the cabin ahead of him??? WTF! What did you make of her stoicism in such a difficult situation? I thought it was a pretty smart move actually. She'd already mentioned how she could never hope to overpower him and at that point she had no idea where she was. I'm not sure I could've been that smart, but remember she had the whole car ride in the trunk to think things through.
3. In her father’s crazy-ass letter, the craziest bit had to be “The wolf shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid, and the calf and the lion and the fatling together, and a little child shall lead them” Which animals do you think are supposed to signify Mason and Jenna in that ? Why did Mitch speak of Jenna with affection, why would Jenna not have been told by her mother than Mitch was being sent letters about her? I am at a loss as to who represents which animal. I know this is supposed to be a trilogy, right? So I'm assuming each of the animal pairs represent the couples in the three books. I'm sure Mitch was probably proud of his daughter, even if he had a different purpose in life. I think it's pretty sucky that his child felt the way she did, but maybe he didn't realize how his neglect was affecting her? Maybe he wasn't aware that the mother was hiding the fact that they were corresponding. I'm wondering if he sent her letters, too, that she doesn't know about?
4. Anyone else suspecting a link between the “riot” dogs and the rabid beasts that attacked? How did Jenna know exactly what they’d look like? I'm definitely suspecting a link. This sort of reminds me of how the magic comes in waves in the Kate Daniels series, except this is one huge wave of magic that is transforming the world. The letter does seem to make it clear that Jenna will play a huge part in what's to come, so it would make sense that she might be getting some powers soon.
5. So far this seems a very plot-driven, action-packed read. But what’s your take on Mason’s and Jenna’s characters from the first 5 chapters? Mason seems pretty stoic so far, and Jenna just seems extremely confused. I'm intrigued by them both, and can't wait to see where the story goes!

1. What an awesomely dark prologue! It is scary, in that it is so easily imaginable in this “time of prophecy” we currently live in. What do you think of the prologue? A powerful beginning or just another scene-setting?
I liked it. I wondered if there really was Xi’an Xi. See how gullible I am? I was a little confused about why there was power for radios, after the power failure, but **shurgs** - analogue. I’ll go with it.
2. At the end of chapter 1, I’m trying to decide if she’s ballsy or brainless. He unties her legs and she calmly walks into the cabin ahead of him??? WTF! What did you make of her stoicism in such a difficult situation?
I thought she was pretty smart. I mean, he is much bigger than her, her legs are still wonky, and he has her out gunned. I think trying to escape while he was away from the cabin was much smarter.
3. In her father’s crazy-ass letter, the craziest bit had to be “The wolf shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid, and the calf and the lion and the fatling together, and a little child shall lead them.” Which animals do you think are supposed to signify Mason and Jenna in that ? Why did Mitch speak of Jenna with affection, why would Jenna not have been told by her mother than Mitch was being sent letters about her?
Leopard for Mason, kid for Jenna? I don’t knowm just guessing. Unless he is the "lone wolf". Her mother probably just wanted Mitch - thinking him a wacko - out of Jenna’s life.
4. Anyone else suspecting a link between the “riot” dogs and the rabid beasts that attacked? How did Jenna know exactly what they’d look like?
Nope, not me. She did? I missed that. Is she psychic?
5. So far this seems a very plot-driven, action-packed read. But what’s your take on Mason’s and Jenna’s characters from the first 5 chapters?
Well, Mason is a total extreme survivalist - trained anyway - with the added touch of being the hero. And does he have psychic abilities? Jenna, I don’t know, I would have thought her to be more clued in. How much evidence does she need that the end of civilization is nigh? I mean, the East has gone to hell in a handbasket.

# 2 – Okay, Zena, Warrior Princess! Have you been taking a self-defense class you haven't told me about? The guy has her beat by twelve inches. (hee hee – not those twelve inches! ☺) Plus, you phone doesn’t work!
#3 – Yes, went back and looked and Mind Meld!
# 5 – Yes, early days.

#2 – Wow. I’m in the minority!
#3 – I guess I better re-read that letter.
#4 – A governmental conspiracy!? Love it.
#5 – Totally agree with you on Jenna's character. Mason's too.

#2 – Finally! Someone who agrees with me. ☺
#3 – Now, see, you are so clever. I didn’t think to look at the next books in the series.
#4 – Yes, it is shades of the Kate Daniels series.
#5 – Yes, that is the word for Jenna. Confused.

# 2 – Okay, Zena, Warrior Princess! Have you been taking a self-defense class you haven't told me about? The guy has her beat by twelve inches. (hee hee – not those twelve inches! ☺) ..."
LOL! I think you guys were right, it was the smart thing for her to do, but when I was reading it , I was mentally screaming at her to do something!
Books mentioned in this topic
Midnight (other topics)Midnight (other topics)
Midnight (other topics)
Midnight (other topics)
Daybreak (other topics)
More...
Authors mentioned in this topic
Carrie Lofty (other topics)Ava Gray (other topics)
Ann Aguirre (other topics)
Ellen Connor (other topics)
This topic is open for discussion of Nightfall by Ellen Connor.
Description:
First in a stunning new post-apocalyptic paranormal romance trilogy.
Growing up with an unstable, often absent father who preached about the end of the world, Jenna never thought in her wildest nightmares that his predictions would come true. Or that he would have a plan in place to save her-one that includes the strong, stoic man who kidnaps and takes her to a remote cabin in the Pacific Northwest.
The mysterious ex-Marine named Mason owes a life-debt to Jenna's father. Skilled and steadfast, he's ready for the prophesied Change, but Jenna proves tough to convince. Until the power grid collapses and mutant dogs attack-vicious things that reek of nature gone wrong.
When five strangers appear, desperate to escape the bloodthirsty packs, Jenna defies her protector and rescues them. As technology fails and the old world falls away, Jenna changes too, forever altered by supernatural forces. To fight for their future, she and Mason must learn to trust their instinctive passion-a flame that will see them through the bitter winter, the endless nights, and the violence of a new Dark Age.