2025 & 2026 Reading Challenge discussion

This thread is to discuss Katherine Arden‘s book, The Girl in the Tower.


***Please remember to mark spoilers.***

Participants: Kristin, Ellen, Beatriz, Ilona, Eileen, Alexxy, Kristy, Harshmi, SarahKat, Kaylee, Suki, Dyln, Kara, Randy

Suggested break down of reading so that you can check in and let us know how you're doing. The following breakdown is purely a suggestion and is therefore not set in stone.

Rather than putting dates for each section I've done it so that it takes into account that not everybody will necessarily have the book at the same time.

Week 1: 91
Week 2: 91
Week 3: 91
Week 4: 91

Has anyone already started reading this book? I have just started Middlesex, but it is next on my list!

I'm just starting this today. May has been a difficult month for me so I'm behind on my reading.

Me too! May has been crazy, but I am positive that I can finish Middlesex today and start reading The Girl in the Tower!

I started reading last weekend, but have only just reached the part where Vasya encounters the first village. The pace is higher in this book compared to The Bear and The Nightingale, but so far I am not enjoying it as much as that book.
Then again, I am only just at the beginning of the story. Hopefully, I have some more time to read this weekend!

Just finished this book!

(view spoiler)[The relationship between Vasya and Morozko grosses me out as well! I like them as friends, but him being in love with her..yuck. Strange enough when Vasya just met Kasyan I loved the idea of them together, as he accepted her the way she was. Of course, that was before he turned out to be a creepy old bastard. But I am hoping that Vasya finds her place in the world to be herself and won't be stuck in a tower as all the other women in Moskov seem to be! (hide spoiler)]

I was a bit hesitant about this book in the beginning, but enjoyed the second part much more! Will definitely read The Winter of the Witch when it comes out in January 2019!

I think I have less than 100 pages left. I agree with you Ilona. It was pretty slow to get into at the beginning even though there was more action than in the first one. I'm pretty intrigued now though. I should finish by tomorrow.

FYI, the third book, The Winter of the Witch, is not due out until January 2019. I will keep it on my tracking list and check back in when it is available.

Kristin wrote: "I finished this a few days ago. I continued to enjoy Arden's writing. I think she has a knack for details. I also liked some of the new characters that we were introduced to and getting to know pre..."

(view spoiler)[ I didn't think the chyerti had a big part in this book either and I missed that. They were so mysterious and interesting in the first one and in this one they were just peripheral.

I love Solovey. I'm worried about his fate since one of the prophecies from the bannik was that Vasya would "cry for nightingale." (hide spoiler)]

I thought most of the book was too slow and having naught to do with the main plot and then the end just sort of happened. I didn't like it as much as the first one for sure.

Kristin wrote: "Yes, I am worried about the same thing as you, SarahKat. [spoilers removed] Do you think you will finish the series?"

I agree Kristin. Yes I'll finish it. I'm enjoying it enough and I want to see how everything turns out.