Fantasy Buddy Reads discussion

Written in Red - Anne Bishop

March 1, 2020.

Who's joining for this one? I'll get my copy this afternoon.

I'm wrapping up my Black Jewels trilogy reread and then will be joining here. So I'll be a few days late. Probably mid next week some time.

No problem, Narilka. I'll be here :)

Feel free to start dropping in comments as you go. I always go back to spoilers once I catch up :)

Also I finished my reread much faster than I expected. Should be starting tonight.

I am going to start this tomorrow:-)

I am two chapters in and quite intrigued. (view spoiler)[Seems that Meg has spent most if all her life in a hospital or some sort of facility? We will see how she adapts. If her first day in the mail room is any indication, she'll figure things out fast. (hide spoiler)]

Going to start this one tonight, just picked up my copy recently

I've started this evening and read bits while at work. The prologue was interesting to read on how everything got build up.
I'm at chapter 1 and I've got a Twilight - feeling, like the bookcover suggested. For now, the story is interesting.

Through Ch 9. I'm liking it a lot and find the story engaging. (view spoiler)[What does everyone think that Tess turns into? I'm sure her hair changes are a big clue but I have no idea!

I really hope Meg can help little Sam.

Meg is interesting. She's definitely picking up a lot. It's good the Others have semi "adopted" her. Eventual romance with Simon is my guess. Also pretty cool the elderly vampire has accepted her.

Love the ponies! They are adorable :D And elementals LOL

I'm ready for one of the Others to eat Asia already. (hide spoiler)]

I'm reading the Dutch translation and I'm somewhere in chapter 3. There's so much mystery in this book! At times a bit confusing, but still interesting.

Through Ch 18. This has been a wonderful slow burn. (view spoiler)[And I get the feeling that shit is about to go down. I'm so nervous for Sam and Meg!

It's heartwarming how well she's adapting to the Others. Maybe it will help them understand humans better anyway.

Someone still needs to eat Asia. If she survives to the end of the book I'm going to be mad! LOL

I am loving the creepy atmosphere in this book. Anne Bishop has done an amazing job of making the Others feel truly alien and not just like another vampire or were-beast. (hide spoiler)]

I remember loving this book on my first read-through... it felt monumental, that I read the whole thing in one marathon session (2013)...

This is my 3rd read, and I still love it, but these days I have mixed feelings about how Anne Bishop writes her male-female dynamics (having read all the Black Jewels books and all the Others books)...

Timelord Iain wrote: "I remember loving this book on my first read-through... it felt monumental, that I read the whole thing in one marathon session (2013)...

This is my 3rd read, and I still love it, but these days I..."

Reading this directly after the Black Jewels trilogy, I do see some similarities with the writing. For me the eerie atmosphere of the Others is making it different enough to be highly enjoyable. In Black Jewels (view spoiler)[only Jeanelle had that "other" quality compared to everyone else. Even the high king of hell was more of a grandpa figure :) I think that changes in books 7 & 8? Been so long since I've read them. (hide spoiler)] Right now this is trending to 4 stars for me. I think I can kind of give Simon a pass since (view spoiler)[he just doesn't understand humans period, either sex. I am frustrated that he isn't trusting his instincts and doing something about Asia since he knows something about her bothers him but won't cross that line. Why not? I know they're trying to be nice but Human rules don't apply in the Courtyard. (hide spoiler)]

Tess (view spoiler)[I think she's a gorgon in a similar vein as Medusa in her natural form. That would explain the hair and that people die when they look at her. (hide spoiler)]

Finished. Quite enjoyed it. I will definitely be continuing on to book 2.

(view spoiler)[Great twist at the end there that it is the blood of blood prophets being used as that drug. Meg brought up a great point - why are there no male blood prophets?

Asia's death was so very satisfying! I now think that Tess is a blend of myths. Some gorgon (snake hair and the gazing thing) mixed with one of the four horsemen (Death). (hide spoiler)]

Not nearly finished...

About Meg: (view spoiler)[ I wonder when they are finally going to see that she doesn't know a lot. You can't learn everything from images and pictures, how good your memory can be. So, who will look through that? Also, what will the task be of Monty and Kowalsky? (hide spoiler)]

I'm still reading and I'm up to chapter 7:
(view spoiler)[It seems that Meg, besides her true nature, can make friends, without revealing who she is, until now. I don't know what Asia is up to, but it's certainly no good. I feel so sorry for Sam, loosing his mother on such a horrible way and afraid to change back into his human form. I'm glad that the Council decide that they will protect Meg and I think there's already something brewing between her and Simon. (hide spoiler)]

Saar The Book owl wrote: "I'm still reading and I'm up to chapter 7:
[spoilers removed]"

We have similar thoughts at this point :)

This is a spoiler for the entire series and any romance, but I feel like I should warn you... (view spoiler)[the main series basically ends (after 5 books), with Meg and Simon committing to a relationship, without actually getting to see any "action" on-page...

So you'll never see much more than what you do now, with Meg and Simon dancing around one another... (hide spoiler)]

Should I open it, Iain, after not yet finishing the first book? ;)

Saar, are you still working on this one?

Saar The Book owl wrote: "Should I open it, Iain, after not yet finishing the first book? ;)"

That's the problem with the spoiler... I feel like explaining the spoiler in any ways spoils it... I feel like the best bet, is to get a second opinion from someone else who's read the series or the spoiler...

@Narilka: yes, I'm still reading, but I'm more than halfway. It's still interesting, but it's slow! There are a few things happening, like: (view spoiler)[when Simon hear about people getting enraged. That made me think about a scene of the animation movie 'Zootropolis'! (hide spoiler)], but it keeps on with an easy pace.

@Iain: I don't know anyone who've read it before. I'll wait.

I'm trying to wrap it up quickly, but I think the fastest is 6th April to get the next book.

Saar The Book owl wrote: "@Narilka: yes, I'm still reading, but I'm more than halfway. It's still interesting, but it's slow! There are a few things happening, like: [spoilers removed], but it keeps on with an easy pace.

..."

No problem :) You can open my spoilers for book two once you get there.

Saar The Book owl wrote: "@Narilka: yes, I'm still reading, but I'm more than halfway. It's still interesting, but it's slow! There are a few things happening, like: [spoilers removed], but it keeps on with an easy pace.

@..."

Sounds good... the spoiler doesn't spoil any big plot point of the series, just tempers expectations about certain things happening on-page or before the end of the current storyline... that might be the vaguest clarification ever, lol...

So far: (Im reading the Dutch translation, so it can be that names are a bit different from the original book)
(view spoiler)[It seems that the Others are caring for Meg. Well, most of them, anyway. I still can't get my head around Simon. He's a bit of a mystery. I find the Crows very funny. They have lots of simmiliarities to the animals. For now the story is for the biggest part happening around the mail room or in it, but I'm not sure on what Asia's part is in the story. She can't be trusted, but who is the man that she is working for? Also, Monty and Kowalsky are a bit of side characters. Keeping the pace, keeping an eye. I love Sam. He's so cute, but his story is so sad. I wonder if Meg will convince him to transform. Also, for Meg it must be difficult to not fully functioning in society. It most be exhausting asking herself where she had seen that image, what the simple things are used for, etc. (hide spoiler)]

Narilka wrote: "Tess [spoilers removed]"

I thought that too. There's a lot of similiarity.

Narilka wrote: "Through Ch 9. I'm liking it a lot and find the story engaging. What does everyone think that Tess turns into? I'm sure her hair changes are a big clue but I have no idea!

I really hope Meg can hel..."

My favorites are (for now): (view spoiler)[the ponies, Henry, the Elementals and Sam.
I also think that the writer has well thought of discribing each gard. They all have their odness. (hide spoiler)]

Timelord Iain wrote: "Saar The Book owl wrote: "@Narilka: yes, I'm still reading, but I'm more than halfway. It's still interesting, but it's slow! There are a few things happening, like: [spoilers removed], but it keep..."

Ah, I think I know what it is :)

I just started... What the heck is Tess????

The beginning is a very good retelling of the settlement of the Americas... Don't we wish the native Americans could bite...

Choko wrote: "I just started... What the heck is Tess????

The beginning is a very good retelling of the settlement of the Americas... Don't we wish the native Americans could bite..."

Oh how different North America would be if the European settlers had found predators instead of prey when they landed ;)

Narilka wrote: "Choko wrote: "I just started... What the heck is Tess????

The beginning is a very good retelling of the settlement of the Americas... Don't we wish the native Americans could bite..."

Oh how dif..."

Yea... I saw some similarities to Roanoke, in the history...

Narilka, exactly! It would have been at least more fair of a fight...

Iain, yep. Me too...
Ch. 1... She doesn't smell like lunch... Hmmmm...

You guys are right - someone should eat Asia ASAP!!!

@Choko: she's only getting worse...

Choko wrote: "You guys are right - someone should eat Asia ASAP!!!"

Reading this out of context, my first thought was "the whole sub-continent?"

Haha, good one :D

Haha! Yep!

I love the Crows, but I worry about their inexperience to be among humans... I hope they don't get hurt once they start mingling more...

It is wonderful how different things the Others take for granted are so weird to humans◉‿◉

Choko wrote: "Haha! Yep!

I love the Crows, but I worry about their inexperience to be among humans... I hope they don't get hurt once they start mingling more...

It is wonderful how different things the Others..."

And vice versa - things humans take for granted are so strange for the Others.

Yes! I love the little observational details! I am really loving this book! It is somewhat haunting and so gently touching at times! Sam is such a kid! He is vulnerable, but also brave and so adorable, I can barely take it! I really hope he doesn't get hurt or worse... I am 65% in... Think I will finish it tomorrow...

Choko wrote: "Haha! Yep!

I love the Crows, but I worry about their inexperience to be among humans... I hope they don't get hurt once they start mingling more...

It is wonderful how different things the Others..."

Well, about the Crows: (view spoiler)[I hope whatever is going on in the East they don't get attacked in the Citypark, because it seems that they are the first target. (hide spoiler)]

How I loved and almost cried with Sam! He is so sweet!
But, I think it was in chapter 13: (view spoiler)[Meg vomitted and then Simon came in. He smelled the vomit, but licked her cheeck! I was like 'Ieuw!' (hide spoiler)]
The writing style is really funny and entertaining and that compensates the slow pace of the story.
And the funniest part was when Ferus did the 'smelling - thing'. I could just imagine how that looked like!
I'm almost finished. I think 70 pages or so left.

I loved it! Got five stars straight up! It was touching and haunting and funny and sad... I am looking forward to the next book◉‿◉

Choko wrote: "I loved it! Got five stars straight up! It was touching and haunting and funny and sad... I am looking forward to the next book◉‿◉"

Second boo thread is already going :) Join in when you're ready.

I'm at the scene where (view spoiler)[Meg is sitting with Sam on the couch and Simon with her. Very cosy :D (hide spoiler)]

Saar, it is very hard not to think of Sam as a puppy whenever the two of them are interacting. There is such tenderness in their growing friendship!!! ❤️

Many of Sam's scenes are so sweet :)

I'm nearly finished. The Dutch translation is 100 pages or so longer than the original version.