Kim’s Comments (group member since May 29, 2017)

Kim’s comments from the Date A Book YA Book Club group.

Oo - I treated myself to those very same editions earlier this year! I couldn't resist the pretty covers. (Plus, neither of my Immortals or Lioness editions matched before, so I thought it was time to get a matching set)

I really hope you enjoy them - let us all know what you think of Numair/Arram the later years!

Hey Kelly, a Date a Book member here *waves*

Arram is the main guy in The Immortals series - but he has a different name in that series: Numair Salmalin

(which is also why Tempests and Slaughter is called the Numair Chronicles)

This is my second time reading Tempests and Slaughter already - I can't get enough of Tamora Pierce. When I heard it was coming out, I decided to make 2018 my year of rereading all the Tortall novels in chronological order...it just happened that this read along fell into place just when it was time to read Tempests!

The life Arram had as a kid was always a mystery to me - I always wanted to know how he became who he was in The Immortals series. And the over 10 year wait for this book almost drove me mental. But I love how awkward, but talented Arram proves to be. I love that he forms his own ideas of the world, despite being surrounded by other strong willed and intelligent people.



Kelly (Diva Booknerd) wrote: "Commence fangirling!

This was my first introduction to Tamora Pierce actually, I thought her books were adult fantasy and was pleasantly surprised. I've been looking at her previous releases and would love to get into the series that inspired the prequels but not sure where to begin. "

Welcome to the Tammy Pierce fan club, Kelly! I would definitely recommend going back and reading Tamora's first series, The Song of the Lioness Quartet, because it's the best introduction to the Tortall world. But The Immortals Quartet (where you meet a grown up Arram) is also a fantastic place to start if you want to see more of Arram. You don't need to have read the Lioness books to read Immortals, you just might spoil some of the mystery behind which couples form in Lioness by reading Immortals first.

I've read Stalking Jack the Ripper a couple of times now, so I'm trying to remember what my first impressions were - other than that I loved both Audrey Rose and Thomas straight away!

I think I fell in love with them so quickly because of Kerri's perfect introductions. You fall for characters so easily when the writing hooks you in from the very first word - and it was such a descriptive and memorable opening! I don't usually crave historical fiction or horror, but I'm 100% confident that I'll crave anything Kerri Maniscalco writes.

I agree with Kelly about Audrey Rose proving you can have more than one focus, even in a world that dictates women need to only care about dresses and landing husbands. It was empowering to read the ways she was challenging the norm for herself.

In real life, I think that would annoy the hell out of me - never knowing which side Kaz was on. It's a good thing it is fiction, and that it makes him such an interesting character!

My favourites are Nina and Matthias (although it looks like I might be the lone supporter of Team Matthias).

I don't know if I locked onto Nina as a favourite because, being Grisha, she was familiar within a new world - but I definitely fell for her playful exterior and hidden vulnerable side. And I loved that we got to see more of her relationship with Matthias in this part: the shipwreck and trekking through the icy wilderness. Nina brings out a different side of Matthias and I love her for that.

I've always been weirdly drawn to characters that have epic weaponry aim - but normally bows and arrows or knife throwing. So I guess the skill I'd want is Jesper's aim. But I also really like characters that tinker with things, so Wylan's trinket building/demo skills would be great too!

It also just hit me that none of their "skills" are very gentle. It's all a bit destructive: guns, knives, blowing things up, stopping hearts with super awesome Grisha skills, stealing through slight of hand. The good-natured side of me feels like there needs to be like a butterfly summoner or something to balance the scales.

This isn’t my first Bardugo – it’s not even the first time I’m reading Six of Crows – but I love Leigh’s books.

Like Meg, I love that this series is edgy and gritty. I can’t get over how Six of Crows is so much stronger than the original Grisha series (not that there’s anything wrong with Alina’s story, it just comes off as more romantic and gentle, even when it covers some darkness…no Darkling or Rift puns intended)

I also love how it seems more inclusive. Alina’s story was so central to the Grisha struggles and even though her story took you out of Ravka at times, you don’t really see much of the rest of the world. But I do have a soft spot for the Grisha, so I love seeing them in the Ketterdam world too.


You might regret asking me for favourite quotes. Leigh pulls off some awesome exchanges between the Dregs. I’ll limit it to a few for now…

“A good time needn’t involve wine and . . . and flesh.”
“You wouldn't know a good time if it sidled up to you and stuck a lollipop in your mouth.”


“Kaz leaned back. "What's the easiest way to steal a man's wallet?"
"Knife to the throat?" asked Inej.
"Gun to the back?" said Jesper.
"Poison in his cup?" suggested Nina.
"You're all horrible," said Matthias.”


“The heart is an arrow. It demands aim to land true.”


Also just about anything that involves Nina or Matthias <3