SarahKat’s Comments (group member since Jan 11, 2017)

SarahKat’s comments from the 2025 Reading Challenge group.

Found a few discussion questions. I'll put some under spoilers if it has a plot point mentioned within the question.

1. Professor Wolfgang Beckman accuses Scott of having "no respect for the murk. For the blackly unexplained. The un-nail downable." How does Scott's perspective on mystery and the "blackly unexplained" change over the course of the novel?


2. Cordova's films were filled with such horror and violence that, in many cases, they were banned from theaters. What is your perspective on violence - its role and its effects - in movies today?


3. (view spoiler)[Discuss how Scott advertently or inadvertently involved his daughter Samantha in his investigation. What did you think of the role she wound up playing, in his discovery? (hide spoiler)]


4. (view spoiler)[What did you think of the evolution of Nora and Scott's relationship? (hide spoiler)]

Through Part 2 (chapter 17): (view spoiler)[I was very concerned for a minute about the kids having to glean the other one. I figured it wouldn't happen, assuming this rule won't stand if they have different mentors. I'm shocked that Faraday handled it by gleaning himself though, assuming he did and didn't get murdered!
Very concerned about Rowan's experience with Goddard. (hide spoiler)]

I am 29% through the audiobook, December 25, 2000.

(view spoiler)[I relate to a lot of what Eva says, especially before she has Kevin. Her whole thing about grief and little annoyances that are still annoying even after something huge and horrible has happened. I'll find the quote and add it here at some point. Her anxiety/anger about her husband being late and not knowing where he is. That entire section is very me. Her talking about wanting to have a baby because all the big things left in life that she can think of are all negative. I didn't realize before but I think I have some of that. Not that I had children for that reason, but now that we are done having kids it's like "what now?"

That being said, her lack of maternal love and care for Kevin is where she stops being relatable. Of course her situation is completely different, having a baby who it seems just hates her from the very beginning.

I wonder why she is writing letters to Franklin. Are they separated? Is he dead? I really do love the writing in this book and I wish I had time to read it physically and pull out my highlighter. (hide spoiler)]

I started over the weekend and I'm through chapter 10. Really liking it!

(view spoiler)[I must remind myself with YA dystopian books that it's okay if the setup of the world doesn't make sense. Like, there are much easier ways to quell the overpopulation from not dying other than this. Such as only allowing people to "turn the corner" a certain number of times before disabling their healing nanites, or gleaning them then. I'm also positive not everyone actually does want to live forever so there would be at least a small percent of people willing to sign up to die at some point. Also, why stick with the percentages of deaths from the time or mortality? Why does that matter?

Anyway, other than my nitpicky brain, I do like this a lot. I like that to be a scythe you really shouldn't want to do it (much like being king or president). I like the kids and Scythe Faraday. These rogue scythes that are mass-gleaning are scary though. Are they within their rights or is there some kind of uprising within the system? (hide spoiler)]

I finished and I agree Lorraine.

(view spoiler)[I was holding out hope for the majority of the book but I really just stopped caring. I read the last 100 pages but I can't say I absorbed or cared about it at all.

The letters after the first 3 or 4 were just a waste of time. They didn't reveal anything at all, just the history of what had happened to the previous Myfanwy and since we knew how that ended up, it didn't matter!

Urban fantasy does seem to miss for me more often than high fantasy. I thought the premise was pretty interesting and I enjoyed bits and pieces of the book. However a lot of the plot was either boring or ridiculous, like the screaming, skinless Belgian. Was the author going for funny? It wasn't. (hide spoiler)]

Updated

I finished. I rated it 3.5 stars. Review

Through the end: (view spoiler)[I sort of stopped liking it when they arrive at The Peak and things just start getting weirder and weirder. Then the ending itself fell a little flat. Ashley had cancer, which is a fine twist, but the way Scott figures that out with just a whole monologue from Inez was a little meh. (hide spoiler)]

Dominique, do you have a preference on month for One of Us Is Lying?

Charlotte, I'll put all of your suggestions on November for now with a note you're open. Darker Shade of Magic will be confirmed for December of course.

Updated

Hi Beth! starting this one tonight

I will also join The Alice Network

Updated

Through Chapter 24: (view spoiler)[I am not really liking the letters anymore at all. I would rather figure out the history in a different way now that new Myfanwy is more familiar with her surroundings. It's alright though.

We just figured out Gestalt is the traitor. Was he the one who tried to kill her too? I'm not sure we should trust Shantay. They keep mentioning "The Americans" but I think she's really the only one we've seen. Her partner was sick at the hotel when they first met. Her entourage wasn't mentioned/there. When Bronwyn shows up it's like "hey don't trust this person right away, it could be a Grafter!" But, so could Shantay?
And just recently they are all sitting around the table looking at each other suspiciously like anyone could be a Grafter. I don't know! (hide spoiler)]

Welcome Alex!

I finished. Here is my review.

I'm through Chapter 16 and I agree. (view spoiler)[I like the world and the whole Checquy system. I also like the main character, though I wish I could spell her name without looking... Myfanvwy?
I do not like how heavily the story relies on the exposition in the letters. I tend to zone out during the longer ones, which is unfortunate since I'm sure I'm missing some important things.
She is much more honest and outgoing than I would be if I didn't know what I was doing. She really doesn't spend a lot of time quietly observing. I'm also surprised she told Dr. Crisp that she interfered with the interrogation. She still has no clue who betrayed her, maybe play things a little closer to the chest. (hide spoiler)]

Through Chapter 80: (view spoiler)[We found out Hopper's connection with Ashley, which is much deeper than he originally said. The camp thing with Orlando dying was very sad.
We also got a little of Nora's background who also had a rough go of it. The guy who takes her bird and the scene in the bathroom was very hard to read. How much have we actually figured out about Ashley though? There is a lot of talk but we don't really *know* more. Do we think the whole witchcraft/devil stuff is real/true? It seems more and more likely that it is. (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 92: (view spoiler)[I haven't really been a huge fan of Scott but this chapter where he takes his small child to meet with a potentially dangerous man, embroiled in an already-murdery plot, NO. NO YOU DO NOT TAKE YOUR KID.
She even had her school uniform on so the guy could just find her easily after the visit. So at this point I guess I relate the most to Scott's ex-wife. (hide spoiler)]

Me too! I have a hold at the library. It will probably be a few weeks before I get to this one.

Hi Lorraine! Sounds good! I will try to get to the library today or tomorrow to get my copy.

It's my first time with this author as well. I've had it on my list for a while!

I've started this.

I joined because I listened to the first book last summer and liked it enough to continue, just never got around to it!

I just finished Marble Hall Murders by this author as well and I think I like that series a little more.

I'm not a huge fan of Horowitz writing himself as a character in this series, but I like the Sherlock-esque vibe and the mystery itself! I just try really hard to pretend Horowitz isn't himself. (view spoiler)[I am wondering if Richard Price is based on the author of the same name, but I'm not sure who the ex wife of Adrian would be if she's a real person? (hide spoiler)]

I'm in for all 10

🐇 A book that starts a series or sends you on a journey
🌹 A book with red on the cover or in the title
🍔A book where characters gather, dine, or drink
🔍 A book that’s a mystery or made you say “what is going on?!”
🐛 A book with a wise, strange, or philosophical character
👭 A book with a mirror, reflection, or doppelgänger theme
👑 A book featuring royalty, powerful leaders, or fierce femmes
🎩 A book you chose for no logical reason at all
📖 A book that’s fantasy, surreal, or speculative fiction
⏱️ A book that’s been on your TBR for far too long

Update to Message 22: 9/15

9/15

The Fury by Alex Michaelides

Wow have I never updated my progress on this challenge?? Oops

Update to message 22: 30/30 complete!!