Middle Grade Madness! discussion

I have a signed copy of the first book. I don't have the rest yet, so we'll see how that goes because I am trying to not buy new books (or check out library books) until the bookcase of unread books shrinks a bit.

Hey guys! I'm so excited to do the readathon for this book! I have always wanted to read the series, but I never had the time to read it. Thank you so much for doing this readathon!!!!

Audrey wrote: "I have a signed copy of the first book. I don't have the rest yet, so we'll see how that goes because I am trying to not buy new books (or check out library books) until the bookcase of unread book..."

A signed copy wow! It's so cool when you get to meet a published author👏🏻

Kate wrote: "Hey guys! I'm so excited to do the readathon for this book! I have always wanted to read the series, but I never had the time to read it. Thank you so much for doing this readathon!!!!"

I'm super excited for this too! It seems like a big mystery book and I loooove mysteries so I'm really excited to read and discuss it with everyone! And thank you for being so enthusiastic I really appreciate that😊 I am hosting for the peoples, after all!😂

I’ve never heard of this series before but I’m excited to try it out, love me some good fun middle grade times :) I hope my library has a copy

I’m really looking forward to discovering some new series especially because middle grade isn’t my primary genre I’m so happy I joined this group
Ah this is so exciting!

I’m so glad you’re looking forward to it Che! I’m super excited to start it myself! It’s officially August so we can all start😂👏🏻

my kobo plus subscription has the dutch translation of the book! i had never heard of the book before, but i'm excited to read it :)

I just started reading Stowaway and I'm also reading Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone for the goodquiz so I think this one will have to wait for me! I want to read everything all at once but it only makes me read slower😩

@Dee @Zenne I can't even remember how I came across this book... maybe one of the ladies mentioned it or maybe I found it myself🤔 I'm not sure but it was a good find!
I'm glad we're all trying new books here!

Kadi wrote: "A signed copy wow! It's so cool when you get to meet a published author"

It's the most exciting thing ever for me.

MY FAMILY JUST GOT MY BOOK WET. It's not too much, but I am devastated.

I'm around page 100. It appears to be a historical fiction adventure/mystery. I had assumed fantasy, but it doesn't look like it.

@Audrey OH NO! Are the pages wrinkled now? Also I’m not sure how I feel about historical fiction... usually I don’t like it but I’ve only ever read adult historical fictions which I’ve never enjoyed so maybe it’ll be different for an MG book. Also it’s mystery and we all know I love it!
I just finished a book I started yesterday (Stowaway by Pam Withers) so now I’m kinda free to finish one more book I’m reading and then start this one! I won’t have a lot of wifi (I’m using airport wifi right now) for the next week so I’ll have a lot of time to read books!

Never heard about this series... found this on Kindle...will try to read this as I have a couple of books planned for this month... will kind of have to squeeze this in between :)

Me too Sameeksha! I have a couple of books I'm already reading and some i have planned to read later but I definitely will be starting this one in a few days!

My hold came in from the library so I’m definitely reading this soon!

I feel like every comment I say on here is "I'm going to start this tomorrow"😂 is it ok if I say it one more time? I definitely feel like tonight is the night I'm going to start it!

I'm waiting to pick this book up from my library, I'm excited to read it!

I just spent ALL DAY yesterday reading this book when I was supposed to be working on my essay courseworks...
Has anyone else read it? I NEED TO DISCUSS IT WITH SOMEONE!!

Did anyone end up reading this beauty of a book? I'm so excited to start book 2 in a few days! I'd also really love to discuss the first book with someone...

I don’t think I’m going to make it this month 😫 I had it on my TBR but then I had to change it but I’ll try to fit it in next month.

Hi, I'm new here, but I joined for just this reason. I would love to discuss this book, but I don't have it yet. I just put the box set of the entire series in my Amazon purchase basket. I'll have it soon if you can wait for me to get it and read it.

Kadi wrote: "Did anyone end up reading this beauty of a book? I'm so excited to start book 2 in a few days! I'd also really love to discuss the first book with someone..."

I going to purchase it if you can wait for me to get and read it.

@Ilsen no worries! The books are a very reasonable length so you probably won’t have any issues catching up next month if you want to! I definitely recommend reading it I really loved the first book but of course take your time, the readathon in continuing until November so you’re all good!

@Lynn welcome to the group!!🎉 and yes I can definitely wait! Take your time and we can discuss together when you’ve finished, there’s no rush😊

Kadi wrote: "@Audrey OH NO! Are the pages wrinkled now? Also I’m not sure how I feel about historical fiction... usually I don’t like it but I’ve only ever read adult historical fictions which I’ve never enjoye..."

Only the first page with the promo stuff is wrinkly.

It's very thriller-y, like Da Vinci Code or National Treasure.

@Audrey I definitely agree. Although I’ve read a LOT of mystery novels (it’s literally my main genre of reading) I’ve never read a book quite like this. Like the way (view spoiler)[the Master dies like 1/4 through the book (hide spoiler)] so surprised me.
Also the way Christopher immediately (view spoiler)[found out not long after the Master’s death that it was that other apothecary guy who killed the Master as he had suspected (hide spoiler)] I thought that was unexpected because it shouldn’t have been that easy. In hindsight I should’ve realised that (view spoiler)[because it was so easy it meant that the reveal was not true (hide spoiler)].
But all the running around and solving clues was thoroughly enjoyable.

Also, all the spoiler tags in here hide actual spoilers so beware reading them if you haven’t finished the book. Especially the last spoiler tag because that’s hiding something from the end of the book, the other two tags are from like 1/4 through the book.

I liked how Christopher used his knowledge of science to get out of sticky situations.

Audrey wrote: "I liked how Christopher used his knowledge of science to get out of sticky situations."

Right! I loved that too. Like any moment when he's stuck it's like "aha! Scientific knowledge of chemicals can fix this!" It's very unexpected. I also found myself wondering if my sister (who recently graduated university with a chemistry degree) knows all this stuff about these different chemical elements... maybe I should ask her and see if she does😂

So I know this series readathon has long since been over but I've just started reading book 2 Mark of the Plague again after having DNF'ed it last year. If anyone wants to get back into the series and read it with me, feel free to come and discuss it here: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
I'll be leaving some general discussion points there anyway...

Also, in super exciting news, I've just found out after checking the goodreads series page that there is actually a book 5 in this series: The Traitor's Blade which was released this year! And book 6 The Raven's Revenge will be released next year! Yet another reason for me to get back into the series!