Challenge Corner discussion

In Skyhunter, a novel laced with adrenaline and filled with nonstop action, #1 New York Times bestselling author Marie Lu creates an immersive world broken by war where the only hope against overwhelming evil lies with a team of young warriors willing to sacrifice everything to save what they love.

The Karensa Federation has conquered a dozen countries, leaving Mara as one of the last free nations in the world. Refugees flee to its borders to escape a fate worse than death―transformation into mutant war beasts known as Ghosts, creatures the Federation then sends to attack Mara.

The legendary Strikers, Mara’s elite fighting force, are trained to stop these monsters. But as the number of Ghosts grows and Karensa closes in, defeat seems inevitable.

Still, one Striker refuses to give up hope.

Robbed of her voice and home, Talin Kanami knows firsthand the brutality of the Federation. Their cruelty forced her and her mother to seek asylum in a country that finds their people repugnant. She finds comfort only with a handful of fellow Strikers who have pledged their lives to one another, soldiers determined to push Karensa back at all costs.

After another devastating battle, Mara seems ready to fall. But when a mysterious prisoner is brought from the front, Talin senses there’s more to him than meets the eye. Is he a spy from the Federation? Or could he be the weapon that will save them all?

Starting this now!

Ch 7: (view spoiler)[I'm really happy that she did save him because there has to be reason.. maybe this will help her back into everyone's good graces. (hide spoiler)]

Ch. 16: (view spoiler)[I'm really digging them getting closer. It's also interesting how they can speak to each other in their minds.. and some how share nightmares/dreams. (hide spoiler)]

Ch 33: (view spoiler)[Aw come on - someone speak up! Also shit, the federation?? Shit's about to go down. (hide spoiler)]
Finished: (view spoiler)[Well well.. lets get to revenge! I'm also annoyed that this audio ended early. (hide spoiler)]

Alaina wrote: "Ch 7: [spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[I'm glad too but when she started going down in the arena like that I was worried for her ^^ (hide spoiler)]

Kelly wrote: "Alaina wrote: "Ch 7: [spoilers removed]"

[spoilers removed]"

haha same!

Ch 16 (view spoiler)[ He had to kill his sister :( (hide spoiler)]

Kelly wrote: "Ch 16 [spoilers removed]"

😭😭

Ch 33 - (view spoiler)[Lots of action happening. Unfortunately I'm not loving this book as much as I thought I would but that's probably because I had a migraine while reading some of it so yeah.. (hide spoiler)]

Finished - (view spoiler)[The Federation offering her to be a skyhunter to fight for them was a bit predictable and nothing new in YA :( I think my expectations were a bit too high for this book but it was alright overall (hide spoiler)]

Alaina wrote: "Finished: [spoilers removed]"

It seems like many of the books you read finish early ^^

Kelly wrote: "Alaina wrote: "Finished: [spoilers removed]"

It seems like many of the books you read finish early ^^"

LOL I know right? Like why am I cursed with this?

Kelly wrote: "Ch 33 - [spoilers removed]"

Aw no !

Kelly wrote: "Finished - [spoilers removed]"

Maybe the next one will be less predictable and more lovable?

Alaina wrote: "Kelly wrote: "Finished - [spoilers removed]"

Maybe the next one will be less predictable and more lovable?"

Hopefully :)

Alaina wrote: "Kelly wrote: "Alaina wrote: "Finished: [spoilers removed]"

It seems like many of the books you read finish early ^^"

LOL I know right? Like why am I cursed with this?"

lol I think your curse is called statistics. The more you read the more you'll find books who stops early

Kelly wrote: "Alaina wrote: "Kelly wrote: "Alaina wrote: "Finished: [spoilers removed]"

It seems like many of the books you read finish early ^^"

LOL I know right? Like why am I cursed with this?"

lol I think..."

Ugh, no, I need to read less.

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RESTARTING JULY 26TH, 2021

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I've started it! Let me know when you do!

I've got one book to finish and then starting this.

I didn't see your final comments on Song of the Forever Rains. Did you finish that?

Yes I just added notes to Song of the Forever Rains thread!

Chapters 1 thru 7 - 25%
(view spoiler)[ Most everything mentioned in the blurb at the top has happened in this 25%. The structure of the world and the unknowns about the Ancient civilization are basically established. Talin's position as an outsider in the elite fighting force makes her both feared and disrespected. Corian's death makes her position more in jeopardy. Then her rescue of the Federation soldier tarnishes her further. It will be interesting to see how he changes things as we learn more about him. He sounds like he may be someone similar to Talin in the Federation, an outsider with talents that make him valuable. We'll see. (hide spoiler)]

Chapters 8 thru 16 - 50%
(view spoiler)[I had a feeling Red was that boy who refused to shoot her as a child. I wonder if he will learn about that thru their link or if she will tell him at some point or if it will just remain her memory?

Having just found out about his family being turned into Ghosts and his killing them, I'm curious if this was to torture him into doing their desires or if he found out it was done and it was a mercy killing. Either way, was this the trigger that caused him to escape?

Although the access and positives attached to Red seem that they can be a turn in the tide for Maran, I'm very pessimistic about the country's future and feel sure that this is going to lead to a negative or mostly negative battle climax with significant characters dying or being captured by the Federation. I hope there is a positive enough ending to want to read the next volume. (hide spoiler)]

Chapters 17 thru 26 - 76%
(view spoiler)[ Well I got that a bit wrong! Instead of another battle we have a suicide mission to save the day!
Despite the daring mission, it seemed predictable to me that the Premier was going to set a trap for the team once they had Red. He had to figure someone would come to the rescue and that there was a reason that Red was easily captured, though he may not have known exactly what was intended. He wouldn't be Premier and have conquered so much if he was stupid. He also had to guess that the rescuer would be Red's bonded link since it was open for the taking when Red escaped.
Well, Talin has been captured... we'll see how this plays out. (hide spoiler)]

Chapters 27 to the end - 100%
(view spoiler)[ Well, I was giving the Premier more credit than he deserved. He didn't guess they would come, the Speaker betrayed them. I didn't see that coming.
I loved the execution scene and confrontation of the Speaker. The Strikers as one standing up for their own!
The ending leaves us with defiance and determination in the face of unlikely odds. This is not the kind of ending I like. It may be a cliffhanger that I will pursue, but then again I may let it slide and regard the ending as a tale that leaves us with hope. I hate to support cliffhanger authors. (hide spoiler)]
My overall rating for this book would be a 4. I liked much about it but felt the world building was lacking. The Federation wants to take over the whole continent but what of the rest of the planet. What else is there and where is it in the scheme of things? (view spoiler)[It also faults in not describing much of the Maran society outside of the Strikers. The Strikers seemed to be the only good guys protecting the ungrateful sheep.
As many YA stories, adults are useless or the villains. Talin's mother is the exception. The other default to me is the whole predictability of the Maran society falling by the end. No other land is mentioned to retreat to or even described; the Federation is a war machine with unlimited resources and technology; and the Marans lose ground at every confrontation (hide spoiler)]

Linda C wrote: "Chapters 1 thru 7 - 25%
[spoilers removed]"

Abt your note Chap 1-7

(view spoiler)[

your note: "Most everything mentioned in the blurb at the top has happened in this 25%." --Luckily, I had forgotten the blurb when I started reading. A lot of times I'll read the blurb, add to my GR and then forget about it and not read the blurb again when I start reading or am about to start reading. It's kinda fun that way because then it's like past you is recommending books to future you lol and you go into it blind which I sometimes like so the blurb doesn't give me unrealistic expectations. It's kinda nice when the blurb doesn't give it all away too.

Your note "The structure of the world and the unknowns about the Ancient civilization are basically established. Talin's position as an outsider in the elite fighting force makes her both feared and disrespected. Corian's death makes her position more in jeopardy. Then her rescue of the Federation soldier tarnishes her further. It will be interesting to see how he changes things as we learn more about him. He sounds like he may be someone similar to Talin in the Federation, an outsider with talents that make him valuable. We'll see." ----I was super surprised by Corian's death!! I am used to the outsider main character so it was a yawn to read that honestly. getting kinda tired of it (hide spoiler)]

Linda C wrote: "Chapters 8 thru 16 - 50%
I had a feeling Red was that boy who refused to shoot her as a child. I wonder if he will learn about that thru their link or if she will tell him at some point or if it wi..."

ABT your chapter 8-16 notes

(view spoiler)[

Your notes "I had a feeling Red was that boy who refused to shoot her as a child. I wonder if he will learn about that thru their link or if she will tell him at some point or if it will just remain her memory?

Having just found out about his family being turned into Ghosts and his killing them, I'm curious if this was to torture him into doing their desires or if he found out it was done and it was a mercy killing. Either way, was this the trigger that caused him to escape?

Although the access and positives attached to Red seem that they can be a turn in the tide for Maran, I'm very pessimistic about the country's future and feel sure that this is going to lead to a negative or mostly negative battle climax with significant characters dying or being captured by the Federation. I hope there is a positive enough ending to want to read the next volume." ------I was not expecting Red to be alive/experimented on at all! I was a bit annoyed that he's not really dead because sometimes I like when things are unexpected like early deaths but as the book went on, I wasn't upset anymore. I feel for the scientist and federation people they are manipulated into doing bad things
Think the ghost thing is creepy and cool (hide spoiler)]

ABT chapter 17-26 notes

(view spoiler)[

Your notes---Well I got that a bit wrong! Instead of another battle we have a suicide mission to save the day!
Despite the daring mission, it seemed predictable to me that the Premier was going to set a trap for the team once they had Red. He had to figure someone would come to the rescue and that there was a reason that Red was easily captured, though he may not have known exactly what was intended. He wouldn't be Premier and have conquered so much if he was stupid. He also had to guess that the rescuer would be Red's bonded link since it was open for the taking when Red escaped.
Well, Talin has been captured... we'll see how this plays out.

---I thought it was going to be a battle too! I liked that this sci fi has actual science elements with fantasy, paranormal and politics. I dont think I've read anything with all of those elements (hide spoiler)]

ABT your chapter 27-end notes

(view spoiler)[

Your notes: "I loved the execution scene and confrontation of the Speaker. The Strikers as one standing up for their own!"---YES same!


"The ending leaves us with defiance and determination in the face of unlikely odds. This is not the kind of ending I like. It may be a cliffhanger that I will pursue, but then again I may let it slide and regard the ending as a tale that leaves us with hope. I hate to support cliffhanger authors." --Interesting! I don't mind cliffhangers to be honest. I feel like a LOT of authors use them so it would be hard for me to cut out all cliffhanger authors. It's used a lot in fantasy I think (hide spoiler)]

Agreed and think I'll rate it a 4 as well. I would have liked more world-building too and a different type of character instead of the usual "outcast" and different plot points as well. I'm wondering about the rest of the world too. We will hopefully find out in the next one.

Ruthie wrote: "Linda C wrote: "Chapters 8 thru 16 - 50%
I had a feeling Red was that boy who refused to shoot her as a child. I wonder if he will learn about that thru their link or if she will tell him at some p..."

Comment on your comment for Chapters 8-16:
(view spoiler)[ From your comment I was not expecting Red to be alive/experimented on at all! I was a bit annoyed that he's not really dead because sometimes I like when things are unexpected like early deaths but as the book went on, I wasn't upset anymore. - I have the impression you thought Red was Corian who died at the beginning. Not so. (hide spoiler)]

Ruthie wrote: "Agreed and think I'll rate it a 4 as well. I would have liked more world-building too and a different type of character instead of the usual "outcast" and different plot points as well. I'm wonderi..."

I agree with you on the "outcast" theme being overdone.

Linda C wrote: "Ruthie wrote: "Agreed and think I'll rate it a 4 as well. I would have liked more world-building too and a different type of character instead of the usual "outcast" and different plot points as we..."

YES! ugh!

Linda C wrote: "Ruthie wrote: "Linda C wrote: "Chapters 8 thru 16 - 50%
I had a feeling Red was that boy who refused to shoot her as a child. I wonder if he will learn about that thru their link or if she will tel..."

Ok ya I guess I am confused, though it seemed like someone who she thought died wasn't actually dead? Or was that just all confused in my head?