Abbey’s Comments (group member since Apr 30, 2018)

Abbey’s comments from the Nothing But Reading Challenges group.

DQs Day 3 - Chapters 17-23

11. The second part of the book is set on a journey to obtain materials for the wedding dresses and is different from the first part, which was set in the palace. To me it seems that the author had to make both characters take this journey, so that she could make the romance between them work better.Did you like the change of the setting? Or would you prefer if the plot had stayed in the palace and had more palace intrigues?
I wanted the competition to last longer. I thought that was the main purpose of the book, so I'm not loving that it ended so quickly and things are moving away from it now.


12. Honestly, I don't believe that Lady Sarnai would be able to request such dresses for her wedding - her father and Khanujin had negotiated this marriage to ensure peace, so they wouldn't give her the power to try and delay or even to cancel the wedding. Do you think she would be able to request the dresses? Or would her father or the emperor interfere?
Her father or Emperor really seem like they would have interfered like they did everywhere else. It's basically an arranged marriage, so it seems weird she suddenly has control over a timeline. However, maybe they gave her this one concession?

13. I was surprised to see Norbu again - I thought he had been executed. Do you think it was the last time we saw him? Or will he play a further role in the story?
I thought he was executed too. I hope we get to know why he wasn't, but I have a feeling he is just serving as a plot point right now.

14. I am not sure if I liked the chapters with Orksan and his people - Korin and Orksan immediately realising that Maia was a girl, everyone thinking Maia and Edan were a couple and demanding them to kiss, Vachir recognising Edan - it was all a bit too cliche. Did you like Orksan and Korin? Do you think it was the right choice to travel with them?
It seemed like a bit of an unnecessary deviation, but it was an interesting section regardless. Maybe since they weren't seeing her as a tailor, they had weren't blinded by seeing the gender they wanted to see like the people at the palace?

15. I am sure that Edan will be freed from the emperor somehow. How do you think it will happen? Will Lady Sarnai play some role in this?
Everything feels like there are rules and bargains in this world, so I have feeling being freed will not come at a small cost.

DQ 2

6. Well that is some strange competition. Do you find it reasonable or just silly?
I think it seems silly, but a talent-type search seems reasonable for their tailor. I just think this competition wouldn't match real-world experiences and not fully show the skills of the tailors. They also get rid of people quickly which seems abrupt.


7. Well Lady Sarnai is definitely an interesting character. One moment she is strong and resilient and just a victim of court schemes, the next she is quite the arrogant, cold-hearted spoiled brat. It is hard to get a read on her. Do you think she is just acting the part or is she really going to be the villain in this story?
I think she's a villain. I know arrogance can be a cover up for showing actual emotions, but often times this can overcompensation for hurt or life experiences. However, if not limited, this covering up of the deep emotions and traits can lead to the perfect setup for a misguided villain.


8. That was a lovely sabotage attempt. Kinda clumsy. Do you find it exaggerated? I mean, it is only clothing, it is possible to make a living even if they don't win, there will even be some fame for being one of the finalists. The victory is mostly just more fame and ego. Do you think it is worth the price? Injury or possible death for fame and status?
It seems desperate. However, for some people the status means more than anything else. If Maia were evil, the roles could even swap since she would lose the most by not winning and having to head back home.


9. Oh boy. The moment of choice. And I feel like she made the wrong one. I would say let the royals rot in their war and petty squabbles. It is better for self-preservation to stay away from them all. Let the evil man get the position and enjoy apprentice status while you are still young enough to fool them you are a boy.Duh, logical. Do you agree with her reasons for staying? Or do you also feel she has made the wrong choice in not leaving?
She's a determined woman and doesn't want to settle than anything but what she came for. In that sense, I can see why she did it. I would have likely chosen differently, though.


10. Well... that went well. I am pretty sure I don't like any of them. The dungeon seems like a lovely place to be in. 40 seems an awful lot, but well... This book needed some blood to be even more mainstream YA Fantasy. Did you also have the "Ha, told ya it was a bad idea to stay" moment? One might assume the story would be over now, yet so many more pages left. Do you have any idea what else might possibly happen?
I definitely had that "this wouldn't have happened if you didn't stay" moment, lol. I have no solid ideas of what will happen next.

Day 1 DQs

1. In this world, women are not able to become tailors or inherit their father's business. It reminds me of the Victorian era in England (like Jane Austen times). Maia is a very talented tailor but cannot be that as a woman. Would you go to the lengths she did to hide her identity in order to fulfill her destiny? Can you think of any other women in history that had to do that?
I think it depends on a lot of risk factors. I also know my voice and face would never even slightly pass for a male, even if people only saw what they wanted to see. I'm also a terrible actor, so the jig would be up rather quickly. Along the lines of destiny, I've got overarching passions in life that can luckily be pursued/fulfilled from many directions, so it makes it hard to see just one lane being my destiny. I should be able to think of this quicker, but off the top of my head, it reminds of me of females who led to the spy and coding efforts in WWII. They got to still present as females, but had to hide their work identity in real life/use it to their advantage for their jobs.

2. I felt so bad for Maia when someone ruined her shawl, but I loved that the magic scissors brought it back to life. Who do you think ruined her shawl? What else do you think those scissors can do? Did you anticipate that happening?
I think it was that outspoken guy who was trashing her the most. I'm not great at names when listening to audio, so I can't remember his name. But it seems like no one else hated her as strongly. I figured the scissors meant something when she was told they never worked for her Father, especially since it seems odd that regular scissors wouldn't physically work, so it was likely not what he meant. I did not anticipate them working in the manner that they do though.

3. There was a hawk that was following the carriage when Maia is taken to the palace, and that same hawk shows up outside Maia's window later on. Who do you think the hawk is? Is it the Lord Enchanter?
I'm not sure. I'm still getting a sense for this world and the magic that exists in it. I figure it's someone magic since it’s the same hawk, which seems unlikely for other reasons, but I don't have a good guess right now.

4. Do you think the Lord Enchanter suspects that Maia is a girl and not a boy? I wonder because of his comment about her feet being so small and dainty.
I think so. "Dainty" is a very traditionally feminine word and seems odd that even if a guy had small feet that another guy would call them "dainty." It seems like a small nugget he his dropping to hint what he suspects/knows.

5. I love the world building that has gone on so far. It feels like a real place to me. What is your favorite aspect of the book so far?
I like her family dynamic and just the building of her life on the small coastal town.

Jenny wrote: "I went through the spreadsheet and there are a couple of books listed as done that are not on people's shelves. When you all get a chance, can you please check your shelves please?

I also started ..."

I realized I hadn't shelved a few, but I think I've got them all fixed/updated now! Thanks for your help! Finding tasks is fun for this last round because I don't need to worry about "saving" anything for the future rounds.

Happy Friday everyone!

I totally thought our round ended today and I panicked...only to realize we've got another week :) Booyah. I also finished the BOM Spin the Dawn today, so I'll get those discussion questions for some points (especially since I've struggled to find books that work for this word).

Jenny wrote: "I have looked through the tags lists, and I have a bunch of books that I will read in the last week to cover that tags we need. I just haven't put everything on the spreadsheet yet, as I want to lo..."

I've definitely found this round's word super limiting, which has been a bummer! I had a few books that needed to go back to the library and somehow none of them had characters (or titles) that fit into the word. Argh.

I'm updating my books now and they should be set by tonight.

I also noticed line/row 22 has a 380 page book at 89 points. After closer inspection, there is no formula on that line, just the text.

It only caught my eye because my 912 page book was 91 points, so the 380ish page book at 89 points just above it stood out. So figured I'd let y'all know.

Thanks again for your awesome work!

Sorry for the radio silence on here, I just finished moving back down to Kentucky to start my grad school semester on the 17th. Feels good to be back in my apartment (which I've paid rent since March to not live in lol), but now I'm figuring out my new routines and where getting on my laptop fits into my life :)

I should be on track for finishing my books on the spreadsheet. There is a chance I won't finish Order of the Phoenix, but I don't work until Monday now, so I may have shot at getting it done.

Question: The book I just finished, The Night Fire, is sort of part of multiple series. It's the 3rd in a "Ballard and Bosch" series, #22 in Harry Bosch and #32 in the "Harry Bosch Universe" - which number would I/could I use for the series number task?

Just an FYI on the spreadsheet, the task points for the second word are not populating the task points (there is no formula in their cells). I just added a task and noticed this, so figure I'd pass it on. No rush to get it changed, you both are awesome!

Angie ☯ wrote: "If you want to read something else for this round or if you finish something before 5pm EST.... We have a full set of letters for OvernightExpress - minus 1 G and 1 S.

But we don't technically ne..."

The book I just entered Chili Con Corpses can be moved to work for an S too. The author is JB Stanley, but that is a pseudnym for Ellery Adams. My audiobook has both author names listed since it's a re-released book, so I put it under an E - but JB Stanley works too. It's also part of the "Supper Club Mysteries" now that I remember the title, so if the author debacle is too confusing - the series works too! I left it at the E - but it can be moved as needed. :)

Abbey wrote: "I like this new word (so far at least lol)! I should be able to get everything I have listed on the spreadsheet finished. I swapped one physical book for an audiobook (same letter), so I just need ..."

Also just realized it's Wednesday, not Thursday, sheesh. So, I'll definitely get books completed.

I like this new word (so far at least lol)! I should be able to get everything I have listed on the spreadsheet finished. I swapped one physical book for an audiobook (same letter), so I just need to finish HP #4 tonight and Let's Talk About Love tonight and tomorrow.

I'm *hoping* to still get all my books this week! My mom and I will be driving some of my old furniture down to Kansas City to give to my older brother Monday/Tuesday (just a 'quick' trip down and back from MN), which means my progress will slow a bit. I added one book to the spreadsheet we'll be listening to together, but she listens at a slower (okay, a regular 1x speed :)) so the pacing will be different.

I think I'm on pace for my audiobooks I planned, I just need to get after my physical reads. I'll be aiming to get them all in as planned, but will let you know by Wednesday-ish my updated plan. I do enjoy having 'deadlines' again for some of my reading though, so I thrive off of this environment :)

Hope everyone had a good weekend of reading or other activities! Anyone reading anything spectacular??

Celia wrote: "Thank you for all the kind messages. Drove 7 hours to grandma’s Thursday and got back last night. It was hard to see her so frail and almost unresponsive, especially since she was literally up and ..."

As hard as that must have been, I'm glad your family was able to have extra time with her together, especially during all the uncertainty these days.

I loved a Tree Grows in Brooklyn too - just read it last year - and not sure I hadn't read it before either!

Celia wrote: "Please consider this my check-in for this weekend. My grandma is in hospice."

Sending virtual hugs your way!

Jenny wrote: "So, the August BOMs are up. If any of you are interested in reading, or volunteering for DQs, here are the links.


https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/......"

I just reserved the first one, but it's 8 weeks out so hopefully it gets to me sooner than that so I can participate!

I'm planning to join in if my library hold comes in soon enough to start, so I won't volunteer for DQ at this time, in case it doesn't arrive. :)

Jade aka MrsTosh wrote: "Abbey wrote: "Jade aka MrsTosh wrote: "Manage to finish another couple of books today. was brilliant, I definitely recommend a read, this is exactly why Nora Roberts i..."

Thanks for the great suggestions, just added them to my TBR and will search for them from library online after work (or when I get bored of working... lol). I'm excited, I love finding new prolific authors, because there is much to enjoy!

Have you or anyone else read the JD Robb Naked in Death book's by her too? Seems like an interesting series and has been in my TBR for a while, but it's quite long lol.

Kate wrote: "Added some books for Round 3 - I'm going on vacation next week so they are longer than usual. Hopefully that helps with the points! Will have internet access so shouldn't have any trouble logging t..."

I am so jealous! I LOVE the mountains and wish I was near them now. Have so much fun and enjoy escaping the heat for a while!