The Procrastinators Book Club discussion

Welcome to the Shadows of Self Buddy Read Discussion thread! This thread officially opens on November 17th and anyone can join at any time. Please keep in mind that spoilers are allowed in this thread but only up to the group's current reading place. Do not spoil the book if you've read further than the group. Any extra days can be used to catch up!

Each day we will be reading by chapters or page numbers. Page numbers are an approximation based on the hardcover or paperback that is the default on Goodreads. The suggested Buddy Read discussion schedule is as follows:

Week of 11/17
Nov 17: Chapter 1-4
Nov 18: Chapter 5-8
Nov 19: Chapter 9-12
Nov 20: Chapter 13-16
Nov 21: Chapter 17-20
Nov 22: Chapter 21-26


PARTICIPANTS
~ mina
~ Selina
~ Raviteja
~ Kristina

Week of 11/17

Nov 17: Chapter 1-4
Nov 18: Chapter 5-8
Nov 19: Chapter 9-12
Nov 20: Chapter 13-16
Nov 21: Chapter 17-20
Nov 22: Chapter 21-26

I AM SO PUMPED

I will be starting this tonight... reading it alongside with Tower of Dawn and Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, but I am sure I will finish Shadows of Self first! Excited :D

you've got a strong set of books in your currently-reading :D I know this is not the right thread but how are you liking the Throne of Glass series so far? (no spoilers because Mina hasn't read Crown of Midnight yet :D)

Thank you :D

The series starts slowly (the first throne of glass being the weakest one) and it keeps getting better. If you have managed to enjoy Crown of Midnight, you should continue. You will enjoy Heir of Fire much better. I have immensely enjoyed Queen of Shadows and Empire of Storms (books 4 and 5). I hope you read the novellas before Throne of Glass and if not, you should atleast do it before Queen of Shadows.

I saw the thread for Crown of Midnight and I am following any discussion that happens on it :)

@Mina ^^ you have now heard it from someone other than our friend group so I hope you still believe us 😂

I have actually read all of it already (And LOVED it all)! I'm just rereading it to torture myself and also to accompany Mina in her SJM journey :D I somehow managed to convince her to give it another chance after she had a bad experience with Throne of Glass cause, like you said, it's the worst in the series lol

😂😂 I believe I believe. ToG wouldn't have been that bad if I had read the novellas before the book

Ahh! No wonder you hated it. I dont think any one can stand Celaena and her attitude long enough without reading the novellas 😂

I read up to chapter 4.

Everything so far, feels like a set up for something big coming later.

I just finished chapter 7. Definitely the best one so far.
(view spoiler)[
1) “Never touch the stuff myself,” Wayne said. “Causes headaches. Hey, Hoid. Can I catch a ride up there with you?”

Hoid/Wit is here!! (he is more prominent in stormlight archive)

2) "Very well. I am Harmony, the Hero of Ages, once called Sazed."

This was my goosebumps moment!
(hide spoiler)]

*claps hands enthusiastically* I mostly finished with my other BRs so I can start this one today :D

Yay!! :D

Steris and Wayne 😂

I' finished the first part, which is the first 4 chapters. Maybe I'll read more later, but if not I at least started it. And it goes so fast by :O

mina wrote: "Steris and Wayne 😂

I' finished the first part, which is the first 4 chapters. Maybe I'll read more later, but if not I at least started it. And it goes so fast by :O"

Yup. Their conversations are fun. Chapter 5 took the longest for me.

😂 Because the 5th chapter is the longest, the audio for it is 1h, which is why I stopped 😂😂

Ahh, I started the chapter because my kindle said 35 mins. I ended up almost spending an hour. It felt like eternity.

I prefer small chapters to big ones. Gives me an impression that I am making some reading progress 😅

I prefer small chapters too, for the same reason. A few days back I read The Midnight Library and the chapters were 1-2 page long, it was so wonderful :D

Ah, The Midnight Library is in my TBR list.. I hope to read it soon!

Good thing after chapter 5 is that everything that comes later feels small enough.

Chapter 11:
I love how Sanderson subtly brings characters and references from the original mistborn trilogy.
(view spoiler)[
MeLaan is here :D
It didnt hit me really until MeLaan mentioned about Tensoon. I forgot the character. (hide spoiler)]
The plot is getting interesting for me, not just because of the events, but the way the story is going.

Chapter 5 (view spoiler)[Oh-oh the Steelrunner sees her dead brother. We know what that meant in the previous Era.. but what does it mean in this one. (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 7 (view spoiler)[ Ha! It actually was Marsh at the end of book one :D (hide spoiler)] The plot is more interesting than in the previous book.

@Raviteja for ch7 There's a overlapping of characters? :O I love when that happens.

Chapter 10 (view spoiler)[ the Bleeder said she (is it a she?) hasn't killed Wax's father yet. What do you think of that? His father isn't dead OR the one he thought was his father isn't his father. I'm maybe leaning on the not his father. What if his so called uncle is his father? (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 11 (view spoiler)[ Aaaaaa, we get a kandra :D I don't know why I'm super excited because of this (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 12 (view spoiler)[ Wouldn't it be funny if Innate ended up being the Bleeder 😂 That's the best disguise.
* Oh, the father as the priest.. interesting. (hide spoiler)]

Thoughts so far!
(I don't go by chapters, sorry! I don't rly take note of chapters lol)

- I'm really suspicious of the fact that Brandon found it necessary to remind us of Lessie's existence. And not just that, but to actually show us how they met. Usually, when that happens in books where someone "dead" is reintroduced, there's usually like a "sike! they've been alive this whole time" and now I really want to go back to book 1 and reread how her death happened cause I'm really suspicious.

- I was so shocked we get to see AND talk to Sazed again! That had me O.O

- @Raviteja repeating what mina said: there are overlapping characters?? I LOVE THAT. I'm thinking of starting Stormlight soon (probably when we finish this series) and I can't wait to see what that's about lol. So does Stormlight and this Mistborn Era 2 share a timeline??

- Steris is really endearing to me for some reason. I didn't mind her in book 1, in fact, I found her really amusing. But now that I can see her interacting with the group, I'm really loving her. Especially her interactions with Wayne is just so funny lmao. I lowkey prefer her for Wax. There's just something about their interactions that's really working for me.

- I'm so proud of Marasi <3

- I really like Melaan so far :D It also took me a while to connect her to Era 1 lol. I remember the character but damn if I remember her name XD

- Wayne going to the school :'(

Melaan was in Era 1 books? O.O

😂😂 She was the kandra who helped TenSoon when he was imprisoned! Remember?

I was gonna make fun of you for forgetting but we just had a conversation about how we BOTH forgot Dockson and Clubs like 15 minutes ago so I have no license to make fun😅

Ha! you lost the right. Okay, I remember someone helping him, but I don't remember the name and would definitely not connected that.

mina wrote: "Chapter 5 [spoilers removed]

@Raviteja for ch7 There's a overlapping of characters? :O I love when that happen..."

selina ☾ wrote: "Thoughts so far!
(I don't go by chapters, sorry! I don't rly take note of chapters lol)

- I'm really suspicious of the fact that Brandon found it necessary to remind us of Lessie's existence. And ..."

After the end of The Alloy of Law, I googled and found it out about (view spoiler)[Marsh (hide spoiler)]. I got all excited with it. This book is not as light as the previous one but the plot is quite interesting.

I think that chapter (prologue) is just a trip down the memory line. (view spoiler)[Given that we know that there is a kandra, it might take Lessie's appearence. Beyond that, I dont think he is brining her back. (hide spoiler)]

Hoid is a world-hopper and a master story-teller. He is more prominent in the Stormlight Archive but plays a cameo in other cosmere books. As far as I have noticed, below are his appearences.
1) In The Final Empire as an informant disguised as beggar.
2) In The Hero of Ages, he is the informant Cett mentions, but Vin doesnt meet him in the end.
3) In Elantris, he is (view spoiler)[the beggar who transport Sarene's boxes of weapons, the one who refuses to meet her during the day.
“You needn’t be so afraid, Hoid,” Sarene said. “You have a new king now. Things are going to change in Arelon.”

Hoid shrugged. Despite Telrii’s death, the beggar refused to meet with Sarene during the day. (hide spoiler)]
4) In Warbreaker, he is (view spoiler)[the storyteller summoned by lightsong to perform for princess Siri

“This is Hoid,” Lightsong said. “Master storyteller. I believe you had some questions you wished to ask...” (hide spoiler)].
5) In Mistborn: The Secret History, he is not explicitly mentioned by his name. But I am sure that it is definitely him.
(view spoiler)[ “Who are you?” Kelsier said.

“I?” the man said. “I am a drifter. A miscreant. The flame’s last breath, made of smoke at its passing.” (hide spoiler)]
So, if we continue down the path in secret history, Hoid is also present in the Well of Ascension (Mistborn #2). I read only the parts of secret history that corresponds with the story till the Hero of Ages. There is still a lot more and I am sure Hoid will make his appearence in it.

Hoid is the most mysterious character in the whole of Cosmere (which is why I love him). He is also Sanderson's favourite among all of his characters and apparently, the reason is a spoiler 🤷🏻‍♂️

Brandon said that the Cosmere timelines are chronological. While no exact years/dates are given, he said that Mistborn Alloy-era is after Stormlight Archive #5.

Chapter 10/12: (view spoiler)[I still couldnt understand how "your father" corresponded to the priest.. We know Wax is religious, but is he the church going kind?🧐🤔 (hide spoiler)]

Steris is way better in this book compared to the previous one. Her cold self became more honest here.. Wayne still doesnt like her for Wax though.

Wayne and the school scene is indeed heavy :(

I am 100000% bookmarking this page for future reference because I can't open the spoilers from elantris/warbreaker/secret history yet and I wanna keep an eye on Hoid now because I am so intrigued by "world-hopper and a master story-teller"

Ahh, you haven't read them yet!
A suggestion from me would be to read Warbreaker before Stormlight Archive. That way, you catch a couple of easter eggs ;)

you would love Wit's stories :)

THANK YOU! I've been struggling to pick which one between Elantris/Stormlight/Warbreaker to start 😅 Definitely gonna start with Warbreaker then.

Elantris scares me cause it's a big boy, and Stormlight scares me due to the fact that it's apparently supposed to have 10 books and only 4 books are out and i don't know how I'm gonna handle all that waiting when I'm already dreading having to wait for the book after Bands of Mourning and the 3rd book of Skyward

@Raviteja (view spoiler)[ In the previous chapters it's mentioned that Wax's only duty in the planing of the wedding is to pick a priest or whatever, and he did that.. he picked this exact priest. So I think this was only a play of words that he was "his" because he picked him for the wedding. (hide spoiler)]

mina wrote: "@Raviteja [spoilers removed]"

Ahh, now it makes sense. I didnt pay enough attention to those details I guess. Now, I feel stupid 😅😂

I remembered it only because it said his name is Bin.. and that reminded me of Mr. Bean 😂

thank you
for that
imagery
Mina

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

mina wrote: "I remembered it only because it said his name is Bin.. and that reminded me of Mr. Bean 😂"

😂 😂.😂 😂

selina ☾ wrote: "thank you
for that
imagery
Mina

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣"


😂😂 you are welcome

Hey Ravi, would you be interested in reading the next book immediately after Shadow of self?

Yes. :)

:D Great. I guess I should ask for a new thread for the next book.

Raviteja wrote: "mina wrote: "Chapter 5 [spoilers removed]

@Raviteja for ch7 There's a overlapping of characters? :O I love when that happen..."

selina ☾ wrote: "Thoughts so far!
(I don't go by chapters, sorry! I..."

omg I just need to say YES HOID!! 🙌🏼 I didn't even realize there was a worldhopper until I was reading Warbreaker and I was amazed

In what thread should I ask for the book, November or December? Because of the games I'll be finishing it soon, and Selina is probably going to fly through it too.

I made the plan of reading 3 chapters a day, which should be around 50 pages. I mean we read at our pace, but we have a maybe plan to follow :D

3 chapters a day sounds good.. Assuming that we stick to our current schedule, we would be done with The Shadows of Self by tomorrow. With the prologue + 31 chapters + epilogue, it would be 11 days for the book, and will get into december. November 23 - December 3?

Althea | themoonwholistens ☾ wrote: "Raviteja wrote: "mina wrote: "Chapter 5 [spoilers removed]

@Raviteja for ch7 There's a overlapping of characters? :O I love when that happen..."

selina ☾ wrote: "Thoughts so far!
(I don't go by c..."

Yup. I was amazed in Mistborn #1 (since I read Stormlight Archive first) and had been keeping a close look for him ever since. He is everywhere in the Cosmere. He presents an interesting mystery and while some of his abilities are understood (over the books), he is still an enigma.

There is this book Dragonsteel which was Brandon's university scholar work. Hoid's origins (and his world) are apparently discussed in this book. Brandon said he would refine, polish this book and publish it after the Stormlight Archive is finished (would be 18 years or so later).

Raviteja wrote: "3 chapters a day sounds good.. Assuming that we stick to our current schedule, we would be done with The Shadows of Self by tomorrow. With the prologue + 31 chapters + epilogue, it would be 11 days..."

For some reason when I was making the plan I saw only 30 chapters and I was oh, great it fits perfectly in 10 days.. And honestly, in the end we usually speed through it so we won't need an extra day for the 31st chapter and the epilogue.

The last 1/3rd of Sanderson's book get over for me in a day or two, so what you say is realistic.

I just made a schedule based on number of chapters and didnt think much 😅

I was looking the number of pages and was thinking that around 50 pages a day should be an okay number. I could probably read more, but in case I don't have time that day or something 50 still sounds doable.

Raviteja wrote: "Althea | themoonwholistens ☾ wrote: "Raviteja wrote: "mina wrote: "Chapter 5 [spoilers removed]

@Raviteja for ch7 There's a overlapping of characters? :O I love when that happen..."

selina ☾ wrot..."

ooo definitely gonna be waiting for Dragonsteel. In the mean time, I need to catch up because he writes books faster than my reading can keep up XD

Chapter 20:
(view spoiler)[
Tensooooooooon!!! I wanted to shout.
As I was going further, I realized that this is the chapter where it all starts coming together. (hide spoiler)]

@Ravi on Chap 20:

(view spoiler)[
I WAS SO SHOCKED! I didn't think we'd actually get to see him again. I think I was just in so much distress in the end of hero of ages about everything that was happening that I can't remember if Tensoon lived or not so hearing snippets of him in the 2nd Era were a godsend. AND NOW WE ACTUALLY GOT TO SEE HIM AGAIN 😭😭 He was one of my faves from Era 1, so I am so incredibly happy to see him again and I wish we see more 😭 ngl, I was home alone so there were no witness to me full-on shouting and jumping around in the kitchen with my dog.
(hide spoiler)]

Anyway, I actually am finished with the book 😅 I was in the organizing/getting-my-life-together zone today so I just had the audiobook going the entire time.

No surprise, I rate it 10 stars out of 5. I really, really, really just love Era 2 with my whole damn heart and I would read about this gang all day every day, if i could. LET ME KNOW ALL YOUR THOUGHTS as soon as you guys finishhhh.

I'll finish it tomorrow. I just finished chapter 17, but I'm feeling sleepy so.. yeah, I'll report tomorrow.

selina ☾ wrote: "@Ravi on Chap 20:


I WAS SO SHOCKED! I didn't think we'd actually get to see him again. I think I was just in so much distress in the end of hero of ages about everything that was happening that I..."

(view spoiler)[The whole chapter and the parts with Tensoon felt like nostalgia coming back. We just see the more experienced, stronger side of him. I hope there is more of him coming in the next book. (hide spoiler)]