FINDING AUDREY READ-ALONG discussion

Let's do this thing! What are your thoughts so far? Are you excited about this book? SHARE YOUR FEELS. :)

When do the chapters need to be read by?

I don't think you have to read the chapters by a certain time, I think it's just for when you've read these chapters you can discuss it with others who have too

I honestly wasn't expecting too much from this book. The prologue was rather boring, up until Jessamine and Linda came in. Even being introduced to our main character, Jack, I thought the book was boring.

Until Aunt Linda showed up and was like "let's go dig up some bodies!" That's when it started getting interesting for me and here on out, I can't wait to read it! I kept internally sobbing because I wanted to read more, but had to go work on other stuff. I even read further than I intended (I wanted to do a chapter a day — I did more than that), I was so interested in seeing what happens!

I think the setting is kind of interesting — small towns in the USA. It kind of adds a weird familiarity to the fantasy setting and Cinda Williams Chima does a rather good job at making sure your aren't thrown out of the fantasy element nor thrown out of the reality (the towns) element.

I like Jack and his friends so far and I'm curious to see how well they stick by his side (or don't stick by his side — I can see them turning on him for some reason). I love Aunt Linda and I'm so curious why she was scared after talking to Nick.

I'm so curious if Lee is going to show up again or how/if he's going to be involved. I thought it was odd they would mention a character so prominently in the prologue, then we never seemed to hear about him again. I was expecting him to show up at some point early in the book; I was glad Linda had met him. I wonder if he's going to be involved with Jack soon enough, perhaps something related to how Jack was "supposed" to be a wizard.

I think the writing style is a bit odd at times, particularly the frequent dropping of pronouns (page 45 of chapter 1 pops to mind where it says "Thought of Leesha", even though I feel like it should have said "He thought of Leesha"). There's also occasionally a lack of spaces between the words and punctuation. While the latter might be an oversight during the editing process, the former may just be her writing style. It doesn't completely derail the enjoyment of the book, it just irks me a tiny bit when I notice it. I kept questioning if the book was self-published or not.

The book itself feels really "basic" too, like it's the author's first novel (is it?). Regardless of this feeling, it's an easy to read and her dialogue is rather great. She clearly has a knack for showing personality for her characters — I could "hear" Hadley speak with a western accent before we were even told he looked like a cowboy. It's fun!

Overall I enjoy the book so far and oh my gosh, I can't wait to read more!

Okay, so I'm just going to throw this out there...does anyone else think that the new vice principal Mr. Leander Hastings is Lee from the prologue?

Makayla wrote: "Okay, so I'm just going to throw this out there...does anyone else think that the new vice principal Mr. Leander Hastings is Lee from the prologue?"

Oooh, I never thought of that. I wonder if that's it. I thought the vice principle sounded like a bad guy to me, but I might have read it wrong. That'd be exciting if it was!

I think the storms that "blew" in gas something to do with the wizards.

I love the fact that Jack feels uncomfortable around Longbranch & he noticed the difference when he stopped taking his medicine. The way he described it makes me think about kids on ADD medicine, anesthetized.

Also, all the neighbors involved in Jack's life seem a bit odd.

Not quite sure I'm liking this book. It's a bit slow. But at least I got to the first stopping point. Will try to continue on.

I have read and reread all of Chima's books and I thoroughly enjoy her descriptions of the characters when they are phrased as observations. An example in the prologue, "Not lazy, exactly, but largely inefficient."

Well since I made it this far I guess its alright. I was thinking initially this was going to be a revenge tale for Lee and then it switched to Jack which sort of threw me off. Jack and his friends are cool so I didn't complain too much.

Interesting point about Hastings. I thought he was one of those mages that killed Lee's family. But that is an interesting thought.

Alright Linda its time to explain some things.

I feel like this book is really slow in the beginning, like I wanted to know about all the fantasy-ish stuff a little quicker by now but idk maybe in the end, all that world building would be worth it! And I'm not sure if I like Jack all that much, he always says "well Aunt Linda said to do this but...." and then does what he's not supposed to like the sword thing at the cemetery...
Anyone feel free to comment on this :)

I am loving he beginning and it give the prologue 3.5/5 stars.. And maybe the vice P is lee from the prologue?

I feel that with most fantasy novels it's important to give the readers a good look at the world and I don't think it was very clear at the beginning of this book. The only thing that we know is that there is some sort of rivalry between the Red Roses and the White Roses. I think that adding more information about these two groups would have helped add more interest to the fantasy part of this book.
One of my favorite things about the beginning is when Jack describes how it feels getting off his medicine and the neighbors all knowing that he didn't take it. It's really interesting how different he seems off his medication and the neighbors interest really intrigues me.
I'm not sure if I like the book right now but I'll read more tomorrow and see how I feel about it!

The prologue for me wasn't slow just a little confusing, but after that the story starts clicking along and prologue doesn't seem so confusing anymore.

I also love setting. It's different than most fantasy settings. It has this small town feel at some points and then a high fantasy at other points.

I personally think Nick is Lee.

This book is moving along so smoothly so far, I'm really enjoying this, and is it just me or does Hadley seem super mysterious???

Surprisingly this is my first book that I've read (at least in my recent memory) with a male protagonist. I didn't think I would really like it and I've always kind of shied away from male protagonist cause I wasn't sure how I would be able to relate. That being said, I'm really enjoying this!

People are saying that it's slow, and I can see that, but I really liked the prologue and I'm excited to see how everything connects and I'm hoping that it actually does in some way.

I'm curious to see if Jack is somehow related to the family in the prologue?

That's also an interesting point about the new vice pricipal that was mentioned! I also thought he was going to be some sort of bad guy :o . But now I'm scurrying it off to reread it!!

Fictionboy - I agree about Hadley! I really want to know if he just got randomly involved because the wizard forced him to since he knows a lot about genealogy, or if he somehow has a deeper connection.

I'm really interested in finding out more about the background of all the Roses, warrior, enchanters, etc. I'm hoping that we (and Jack!) get some explanation of how they all tie in together without giving away too much of the mystery. There's seems to be a lot of old history there and just scratching the surface with the sword makes me itching for more.

Trainerkelly wrote: "I honestly wasn't expecting too much from this book. The prologue was rather boring, up until Jessamine and Linda came in. Even being introduced to our main character, Jack, I thought the book was ..."

I would totally have to agree with you. I didn't think much of the prologue either. As soon as I got to the part with Jessamine and Linda it got interesting for me as well.

I am actually really enjoying all the characters right now (even the annoying ones - there has to be an antagonist right?) I was kind of expecting this book to have a lot more magical realism in it than it does right now but I assume it's still coming.

I am really enjoying the book as a whole and I can't wait to read more. :)

I really hate to say this but this book is just not for me. :( I can't connect to the characters, they don't have dimension or personality. So far it's confusing to me. Maybe that's what's supposed to get you to read more but it's putting me off. I guess I'll wait to see what next month's book will be.... Believe me, I hate to miss out on this but why read something you're not going to enjoy?

Does anyone else think that Nick is a wizard and that Aunt Linda is Nick's enchanter?

Typhoon glenda made it possible for me to read this! I think this is my first fantasy read and I'm loving it!!

This book is a bit slow so far but I think it's going to start being more interesting. I want to find out more about the white roses and the red roses as I feel like it hasn't been talked about a lot in the book so far. The book is different then I thought it would be. So far it's okay nothing spectacular.

It's good but it's not grabbing my attention as much as I thought it would. Hopefully it will pick up. Usually when books are slower it's for laying groundwork for future establishments in the series, but I don't see this happening much-at least not right now. Still not giving up hope!

I don't think the book is slow at all. It's really exciting!

I love the characters and the series gets better as it goes on.

I am enjoying this book so far, as it is easy to read and fast-paced. However, I feel like at this point we should have had more world-building. I still have no idea what's going on, and who the different characters are. I also think it's completely unrealistic that the three boys are going along with the aunt and her shenanigans even if she does have magical powers.

I'm thoroughly enjoying the characters and I really like how this is being set up!

But wait.. if one is born with the magical stone, then how could that doctor find another one? I mean, Jack was born without it and thats why he almost died.. I dont understand if you live and die with it or somehow when you die you give it to the next generation.. Kind of confussing. And what about the white rose and red rose? Hope I find out soon. Anyway, im enjoying this book so far! Glad to read fantasy after a long time.

I just barely started this book, it's kind of going slow and I'm still getting used to the terms. I wonder if Lee is going to show up again, did it say somewhere that wizards lived forever? I don't remember. But was Carrie the one who gave Jack the warrior stone? And how come he wasn't born with a stone? Ah, so many questions, I hope the book picks up soon I love fantasy books! :D

I'm really liking the pacing and the plot of this book so far. It kind of reminds me of Rebel Belle in a way. I like the main character and the idea of a wizard/warrior combo sounds pretty unique!!

I really like the book so far. The characters are very interesting. I am not sure why but I feel like we can't trust Fitch for some reason but I could be really wrong there is just something about him that I think might be important later on. And I thought it was smart that Jack thought to grab the keys out of the Mercedes but why did he throw them into the dark!?!? Take them with you that way there is no chance of him finding them at all!!

It's kinda slow, but I'm really liking it. At the beginning, it reminded me of Harry Potter but I can see that is taking another direction. I hope this turn out to be a good book.

I am in the same boat as everyone else feeling like the first four chapters were slow. I also have a slight problem with the beginning of the prologue where it talks about Lee. Why mention him here if he doesn't show up in the rest of the book. Unless Jack mets him when he gets taken and possibly forced to play for one of the Rose houses. Just a thought. And what is up with the new Vic principle. Sounds like he might be magical. Can't decide if he is good or bad yet.

Off to a slow start, buy I'm liking it. I feel like Jack is super oblivious, and also, what principal has frosted tips and piercings?! Sounds like a 90s movie.

Normally I love fantasy books and if I read this at another time I'm sure I'd love it but I feel like I'm getting into a reading slump so I can't really get into this story right now. It sounds interesting but I keep trying to push myself to read it.

The prologue was so confusing and by now, I had hoped that I would have understood what was the deal between the Red Roses and White Roses, and then there's some kind of game? A tournament? I don't really understand the wizard's stone either and how it works. At some point I thought Mr. Hastings was one of those men who visited Slansky as well, but Lee's name (Lee Hastens) and Leander Hastings, look and sound a lot like each other so he might be Lee. But from the prologue, it felt as if Lee was a good guy and Mr. Hastings gives off a bad vibe. Oh, the confusion and mystery!

I'm liking it so far but I could really use an explanation soon because I wouldn't just go into things without knowing why I'd be endangering my own life and for what. Despite the storyline being slow-paced, it's an easy read so far.