imyril’s
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(group member since Nov 04, 2015)
imyril’s
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from the
SF/F Read Alongs group.
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My week two:
https://onemore.org/2021/11/13/winter... I suspect I’d be enjoying Dune more if I weren’t wondering about / impatient to get back to Kiem and Jainan…
I'll be a bit late with my week one post but super early with the week two questions (cooo). Pick as many or as few as you like to dive into:
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Now we have a better grasp of the political and diplomatic context, where do your sympathies lie? Any thoughts on Gairad or the Thean 'intervention' at the embassy do?
Having got to know Jainan - and Taam - better, how successful do you think his first marriage was? What do you make of his chances at happiness with Kiem?
Any ideas why Jainan's security access was flagged? What do you make of his response to it?
Lunver is awfully keen not to share the textbook perfect crash data, and insists the issue with the Auditor is the speed of Kiem’s appointment. She wants him to step down and let someone else marry Jainan. Thoughts?
Who do you think is responsible for all these mysterious malfunctions? Who do you trust?
How about those mysterious remnants? Why do you think the Resolution wants them back? What do you make of the timing of the Empire returning the remnant that powered the notorious Tau field device?
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We all love Mephi and Jovis!
@Jared - I hadn't caught the parallels with Myfanwy Thomas and now... now you've made me want to reread The Rook. What a hardship :D
@Claire - your comment on Lin lacking life experience is a great insight, which has me feeling a bit more sympathy for her in a way - who knows what's buried in those missing memories? And without them, you're right - what does she have but her father's (bad) example and (nasty) games...
Happy Wednesday - week two questions here we go...
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Jovis has begun to show strange new strengths since escaping Deerhead Island. What do you think is going on?
What is your understanding of witstone, and the strange effect it has on Mephi?
Lin attends two rather different - and rather awkward - family dinners. Why do you think her father invited her to eat with him? What do you make of Bayan now?
What do you make of the rebel plan and the deal they offer Jovis? Do you trust them to deliver what they’ve promised? How do you think Phalue will react to their plan?
(hide spoiler)]...as ever, feel free to get anything else off your chest that you'd like to discuss.
If answering here in the group, please remember to put your answers under spoiler tags this week as we're starting to touch on plot points!
'Scuse me, I need to catch up on everyone's thoughts from week one....
In an unexpected twist on proceedings, "my" questions this week have been largely written by lovely
Beth of the Fantasy Hive (and I'm STILL slightly late to post theme after jab side effects derailed me yesterday afternoon, sorry sorry sorry).
Usual rules: answer as many or as few questions as you wish in a blog post (if you have a blog), here in the thread (remember spoiler tags!) or join the conversation in the comments on the week's host blog.
Okay, let's get to it...
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1) Welcome to Stewart’s glorious world! What are your initial impressions?
2) What do you make of the magic system and the world-building?
3) Is there a character you’re particularly drawn to so far?
4) What do you make of Lin's motivations? How much do you think she's driven by a desire to save her Empire - or are her motivations more selfish?
5) Jovis tends to tell lies when faced with truths he doesn't want to face. As a first person narrator, how reliable do you feel this makes him?
6) MEPHI 😍 Any guesses / wild theories about Jovis's new furry friend?
...and any other topics you'd like to touch on.
(hide spoiler)]You're welcome to post whenever you're ready - my post will go up on Sunday and include a links round-up (don't worry, if you're not posted by then I'll just keep editing it as links go live!). Questions and hosting for part 2 back with me at
There's Always Room For One More next week.
Sounds good: I’ll cover weeks 1 & 3 (unless anyone volunteers for 3 in the meantime 🙂), Lisa gets 2 and Mayri has 4!
It's official: we'll be reading The Bone Shard Daughter by Andrea Stewart for Wyrd and Wonder this May. Here is the schedule for anyone who'd like to join us:
Week 1: Chapters 1 through 11 - questions by Beth, hosted by imyril @ There's Always Room For One More
Week 2: Chapters 12 through 23 - hosted by imyril @ There's Always Room For One More
Week 3: Chapters 24 through 35 - hosted by Lisa @ Dear Geek Place
Week 4: Chapters 36 to End - hosted by Mayri @ BookForager
I'll be posting on Sundays starting May 9th, but as usual you're free to post on whatever day suits you best - just drop a link here or add it to the Wyrd and Wonder master schedule so I can add you to the link up. Prompts will be shared midweek. If you'd like to take part, drop a comment (and if you would like to host a week, please yell, I'm happy to share!)
All the links!
Week 4:
https://onemore.org/2021/03/07/kushie...Week 5:
https://onemore.org/2021/03/13/kushie...The distant sound of screaming is me finishing the book this morning. Altogether now: feeeeeeeeeelings 😉
Ahem, better late than never? Sorry folks - week five's questions at last:
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What did you make of Phèdre’s interventions to save Kazan - first from the kríavbhog and then from the thetalos? Do you think he deserved it?
The shadow of the supernatural lies heavy across the narrative. How / does this affect your understanding of Melisande, Marco Stregazza and their ambitions?
Phèdre describes La Serenissima and Kriti as 'civilised'; she does not grant it to Illyria. Any thoughts on d’Angeline perceptions / expectations of ‘civilisation’?
Reunited! Do you think this separation will be enough to bind Joscelin and Phèdre together in future - if they survive?
Any predictions for the finale? Care to guess who will live, who will die and who will flee to fight another day?
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Welp, I’ve just realised I’m meant to post questions tomorrow, but I’ve fallen behind (haven’t read week four yet let alone week five, oops)
Will jump on it tomorrow and try to get questions by Sunday night (unless someone else who has got the reading done volunteers as tribute for week five host ;)
Sorry folks.
Okay, time for week two questions! As ever, answer as many or as few as you wish :)
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Marmion Shahrizai has a sudden fall from grace this week. What's your take on how he handled Persia's treason - and on how Ysandre handles him? Do you feel sorry for him? Do you think we'll see him again?
What do you make of Nicola L'Envers y Aragon? Do you trust her? Do you think she's right in her assessment of Barquiel L’Envers?
Phèdre returns to the Night Court as a patron, seeking help to understand her dreams. How have your impressions of the Night Court evolved since we first met Phèdre in Cereus House?
Much has been made of Joscelin standing at a crossroads. Did any of his choices this week surprise you? Any thoughts on what roads he may walk down - and where they may lead him?
On the road again... Phèdre discovers she has friends in unexpected places and allies in every port. What was your gut reaction to the confrontation with the Unforgiven? Any predictions for what may await in La Serenissima?
...and as always, share your musings on other matters that caught your attention!
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It's time to return to Terre d'Ange! I'm a bit keen so here's the questions a day early for our first week's discussion :D
Feel free to post your responses any day you like, just tag me so I know and/or pop a link to your answers here in Goodreads! As usual, I'll include a round-up of everyone's links in my post (which will go up on Thursday, but I'll add links in as they go live, don't worry).
Right then: questions...
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What is your position on Phedre’s decision to return to Court as a Servant of Naamah - and Joscelin’s reaction to it? Do you have more sympathy with one or the other?
Phedre is quite certain that the sangoire cloak is a challenge - and a promise that she can unlock Melisande’s secrets if she applies her arts. Why do you think Melisande sent her the cloak?
We get to know a plethora of characters this week: Favrielle no Eglantine, Remy, Fortun and Ti-Phillipe, Nahum ben Isaac, Marmion Shahrizai, Severio Stregazza - any new favourites so far? Any thoughts on how Favrielle and Nahum flesh out aspects of the world-building?
Phedre comments on the Midwinter Masque as a recurring motif in her life, but it’s far from the only echo of earlier events. What do you make of the way this first act mirrors events of Kushiel’s Dart?
(First time readers) Care to place your bets on who helped Melisande Shahrizai to escape Troyes-les-Mont?
(hide spoiler)]...and anything else you'd like to share your musings on!
Happy reading.
Phèdre's challenges are far from over, so we'll be rejoining her in the new year to confront her beloved nemesis and try to save Terre d'Ange all over again. This will be another 6-week odyssey, with prompts posted on Feb 6 (and each Saturday thereafter) for discussion posts any time the following week:
Week One | Beginning through end Chapter Seventeen - hosted by imyril @ There's Always Room For One More
Week Two | Chapter Eighteen – Thirty
Week Three| Chapter Thirty-one – Forty-four - hosted by Zezee with Books
Week Four | Chapter Forty-five – Fifty-five - hosted by Mayri @ BookForager
Week Five | Chapter Fifty-six – Seventy
Week Six | Chapter Seventy-one through the end - hosted by Lisa @ Dear Geek Place
If you'd like to host one of the remaining weeks, just sing out and let me know which week you'd like. I'll be posting on Thursdays, but any day goes - just add your link here when your post goes live :)
Okay, week three post:
https://onemore.org/2020/11/21/golden......and week 4 questions!
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Christie’s identity feels very fluid as she struggles to separate herself from the Hexenmeister's memories and re-establish herself with her human colleagues. Do you think (in retrospect) that she was right to accept the Hexenmeister's memories? To what extent do you think being an empath has helped vs complicated her experiences on Orthe?
What do you make of the election and the way the T’an Suthai Telestre is chosen?
Do you consider Ruric a traitor? What do you make of her reasons for her actions? Do you think Earth is as big a threat as she suggests?
How do you think the Dominion will respond to Christie's reports and recommendation? Do you think they will send her back?
Looking back, what are your favourite / least favourite aspects of Golden Witchbreed (characters, themes, subplots / twists)? Anything you would have liked to see explored further?
...and any other final thoughts you have in closing :)
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It is now :) All yours.
But first, all the questions for week 2... pick and choose as you wish!
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Last week, Christie gained a nickname. This week, she takes an arykei. Were you surprised by her choice (and who she chose)? ...and how did you feel about Falkyr's choices in light of their relationship?
There's a lot of games of ochmir played this week. How good a metaphor for Southland politics do you find it?
What was your reaction to Blaize? What did you think about Christie allowing him to live and tag along?
What do you think happened to Haltern?
Fenborn! Why do you think they took Christie's party? ...and why do you think they let them go?
From one supposed myth to another... Everyone is afraid of the Golden Witchbreed! Do you believe in them - and do you believe they're dead and gone?
There are intriguing hints of the mystical creeping in with Theluk's intuition and endurance as an Earthspeaker and the revelation of memory-dreams. How has this changed your understanding - or expectations - of Orthe?
Christie begins to realise how little she has truly understood about Orthe, and the Southland in particular. Now that you've got to know her, do you think the Dominion were right to send her? What is your assessment of her as a person and a diplomat?
(hide spoiler)]...plus anything else you'd like to comment on (because WOAH there was a LOT going on this week)
Mayri: Hi, imyril, I'll happily host a week if they're not all taken? That would be lovely - which week would you like? :)
It's the first Sunday of SciFiMonth and that means our read-along begins here! Okay, okay, I admit I started already... but only so I could bring you some prompts to consider for our first week's chapters.
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Apostrophes and italics everywhere! What’s your approach to pronouncing the challenges SFF writers throw at us?
'For my part, I prefer aliens that look alien... Humanoid aliens, they’re trouble.’ Physical differences - and similarities - trouble Christie and the Ortheans this week, but how do you feel? Would you rather your aliens looked more or less like us? Do you think Gentle is giving us a warning about what to expect?
There's a lot of rapid world-building as Christie is thrown in at the deep end. What aspects (if any) stand out or intrigue you?
‘He’s a good man,’ she said. ‘Don’t trust him.’
Every friendly Orthean warns Christie not to trust the others. What are your first impressions of Christie's new alien allies (Geren, Haltern, Ruric and Dalzielle/Suthafiori) - and what do you think about Orthean intrigues?
‘Up until now they’ve taken you and your kin for overgrown ashiren. Now they know you’re the same as us, it’s just your methods that are different.’ Christie S'aranth survives a second assassination attempt and gains a nickname - do you think the shift in how she is perceived will be a good thing? Would you trust Maric and keep ke close?
...and anything else you would like to discuss!
(hide spoiler)]If anyone would like to host a week, please yell :)
