YA Addicted Book Club discussion

As there are a few of us reading this one this month, I thought I would add this here for us. Anyone feel free to join in :)

I'm definitely in on this one! I've got just under 2 1/2 hours of my current audiobook to go and then may dive into this one :)

That's what I'm doing too. I have 2 hours left of A Fire Endless and then I'm diving in.

Cool, sounds good!

I just started listening to it myself. Unsure about the audio so far.

Ah okay, will keep that in mind for when I start to listen. I'm definitely going to finish my current read this weekend, so I think I'll start it on Monday.

Oh I wish I could read it with you, but it's about 12 weeks to wait in my library.

I’ve got the audio but I’ve decided to read the physical book. Especially as there is a map.

Possible spoilers so spoiler tag just in case. I’m at the end of chapter 3 (view spoiler)[ How related to Daevabad is this? Is it related at all? Because when she spoke of Jana’s heritage I cannot help but think her dad is a djinn. Or something like Dara? Especially due to the black eyes. It’s possible in making connections where there aren’t any though. (hide spoiler)]

Elena wrote: "Oh I wish I could read it with you, but it's about 12 weeks to wait in my library."

This thread will be here for you to share your thoughts when you do get to it!

Exactly what Jo said, thread will still be here for you too join in after Elena!

Kay (view spoiler)[ I keep looking for connections too but I'm not sure there are supposed to be any (hide spoiler)]

I'm still doing the audio, still not certain on it but what was annoying me seems to have stopped. About half way into chapter 3, I'm not sure what I expected of this book but it isn't this. Not saying that's a bad thing though

Alright, just started chapter 5 (view spoiler)[ I think I may like this poisoner lady! Although an alchemist who is going blind is always a bit of a danger!
I want to know more about the deal that caused the death of the sailor guy who's daughter they will be looking for. (hide spoiler)]

It is very different to Daevabad, but I'm really enjoying it.

Hopefully going to start this tomorrow!

Just finished chapter 15 (view spoiler)[ ah finally, there's the demon!! I've been waiting for his appearance. I liked the gathering of the crew, it was fun to see them one at a time and learn bits of their story separately like that.
The blackmailing grandmother is annoying. If you want your granddaughter returned unharmed tell the truth and give the relevant details!
Tinbu and his useless, but adorable, ship cat are cute. I quite enjoyed the jail break and getting them him and the crew out. It is super convenient that Amina and Dalia arrived just in time to be able to save them. Some other power at work here? (hide spoiler)]

Kayleigh {K-Books} wrote: "It is very different to Daevabad, but I'm really enjoying it."

I'm enjoying it too.

I started this one last night, I'm about midway through Chapter 2. Some initial thoughts, I like Amina, I think she's going to be a really fun heroine and it's cool to see a slightly older woman and a mother be the heroine of a fantasy story, I feel like that's not all that common? I'm not sure about the audio yet, I don't hate either of the narrators but I don't love them either?

Kay: (view spoiler)[ There's definitely something about Jana, though I don't know if it's that she has Djinn heritage, I don't know either whether this series is meant to have any connection to Daevabad. Still, there's something going on with her father, I'm assuming that's the man that Amina mentioned she killed, and probably why they're hiding and being all reclusive on the cliffs? (view spoiler)[ (hide spoiler)] (hide spoiler)]

Glad you're enjoying it so far Jo! I'm about halfway through chapter 18 and will probably finish it in the next couple days. I still don't love the narrating style but I like the narrators voices well enough.

I haven't read any more yet, I've had a stressy week and haven't managed to read much.

Part way into chapter 21 (view spoiler)[ so they've escaped the evil Frank with all the magic and found the granddaughter. Of course the grandmother lied about why her granddaughter would want to leave, she's to be married off and is likely trans and unseen in the world.
I like that Amina is so accepting of this but I'm unsure of the repercussions of being trans in that part of the world in that time period and religion, or how Amina is now to return her to her grandmother and what would feel like a fate worse than death in many ways.

I want more about the demon!
Also can you believe the "Pearl" is really a washbasin? (hide spoiler)]

Kayleigh {K-Books} wrote: "I haven't read any more yet, I've had a stressy week and haven't managed to read much."

Hugs Kay, I hope things get better

The stress is over now. Found out my car was going to cost a heck of a lot to repair and it wasn't safe to drive. I picked up a new car last night so at least that's one thing less to worry about haha. And my new car... the screen has an audible app already there to just press so bonus haha

Brittany wrote: "Glad you're enjoying it so far Jo! I'm about halfway through chapter 18 and will probably finish it in the next couple days. I still don't love the narrating style but I like the narrators voices w..."

Yeah I don't really understand the point of cutting away to the scribe. Like I just want to hear Amina?

About half an hour through Chapter 3, these chapters are so long! I remember it's something I didn't love about the Daevabad books either.
Anyway: (view spoiler)[ So there's obviously something going on with Jana's father, it definitely seems like the author is hinting that she has some sort of magical heritage though I guess whether her father is Djinn or not remains to be seen. Quite a few questions to be answered there. I love Amina's mother, she seems like an absolute spitfire of a woman. I'm intrigued as to what actually happened to Asif, obviously he's dead but there seems to be far more to the story because learning that the kidnapped girl was his daughter did seem to have quite the effect on Amina. I have so many questions about why she retired from piracy in the first place, who Jana's father is and now what exactly happened to Asif that meant he ended up dead. I'm looking forward to seeing Amina in action now that she's taken up this quest-the latest chapter seems to indicate that she's in her early forties, if she ran away at 16, came back fifteen years later at thirty one and it's been ten years since that, and I honestly can't remember the last time I read a book with a female protagonist over 30, let alone over 40, so it's really great to see that! (view spoiler)[ (hide spoiler)] (hide spoiler)]

Jo wrote: "About half an hour through Chapter 3, these chapters are so long! I remember it's something I didn't love about the Daevabad books either.
Anyway: [spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[ I agree! Most characters nowadays are in their mid-20s even in adult books. I think the last one I read with a protagonist a bit older was The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches, and she was 31. It’s very refreshing to read a fantasy with a protagonist who is a bit older. (hide spoiler)]

Kayleigh {K-Books} wrote: "The stress is over now. Found out my car was going to cost a heck of a lot to repair and it wasn't safe to drive. I picked up a new car last night so at least that's one thing less to worry about h..."

That is a great bonus! Also glad you have a new vehicle!

Yes some of the chapters are so long! Its why I am rarely on a the start of a chapter when I post either

Jo wrote: "About half an hour through Chapter 3, these chapters are so long! I remember it's something I didn't love about the Daevabad books either.
Anyway: [spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[ I too appreciate the older protagonist for a change! I don't want to say much about your thoughts but I am looking forward to hearing what you think when you find things out! (hide spoiler)]

Brittany wrote: "Yes some of the chapters are so long! Its why I am rarely on a the start of a chapter when I post either"

It's slightly annoying because I hate leaving off mid chapter, though it is easier to do with audiobooks than with physical books!

Also glad you've managed to get a new car Kay and sort all that out!

Kayleigh {K-Books} wrote: "Jo wrote: "About half an hour through Chapter 3, these chapters are so long! I remember it's something I didn't love about the Daevabad books either.
Anyway: [spoilers removed]"

[spoilers removed]"

I actually don't know the last fantasy I read with a main character who wasn't in their twenties! I've definitely read more historical fiction with a wide range of ages in characters, a lot are still in their twenties but there seems to be more of mix there with characters in their thirties and forties and even some in their fifties and sixties too if the book covers a long timespan.

Okay so I've made it up to Chapter 5.

(view spoiler)[ I agree Brittany, I love the poisoner already, she's so great and I love the dynamic she and Amina have, though yes, an alchemist who is going blind could be quite the liability! I also really want to know what this deal was that resulted in the death of her crewmate, it definitely seems like there is more to that story.
I'm still not loving the asides from the scribe, I get that maybe it's meant to show us more from Amina's adventures before she retired and maybe it will get more fun later on but at the moment, I'm more intrigued by what's going on in the present. (view spoiler)[ (hide spoiler)] (hide spoiler)]

I’m not finding much time to physically read lately so after starting on audio for chapter 1 then physically reading chapters 2, 3 and 4 physically I’m going back to audio tomorrow.

I find it much easier to find time to listen to audios as well Kay, as I usually listen when I'm doing other things, like walking to work or getting the bus!

Jo wrote: "Okay so I've made it up to Chapter 5.

"

Yeah (view spoiler)[ those asides to the scribe pull me out of the book every time and I hate the change in volume for them on the audio. I get it its her narrating her story to someone after the adventures are done or whatever but ugh. And the Scribe parts some are super useful but not my favourite either. (hide spoiler)]

Kayleigh {K-Books} wrote: "I’m not finding much time to physically read lately so after starting on audio for chapter 1 then physically reading chapters 2, 3 and 4 physically I’m going back to audio tomorrow."

That's fair! Nothing wrong with doing a mix of both!

I'm near the end of chapter 23 and things just took a turn for the weird.

middle of chapter 26 (view spoiler)[ there it is! the confirmation that yes we are in the same world and Amina has apparently fallen through to the magical side somehow. Looking forward to seeing how her petition goes that should be a lot of fun.
Also poor cow like creature! It sounded cute. Beware of the pink jellyfish like foam... (hide spoiler)]

Brittany wrote: "Jo wrote: "Okay so I've made it up to Chapter 5.

"

Yeah [spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[ YES. The way the volume goes down so you can hardly hear what she's saying is ridiculous. (view spoiler)[ (hide spoiler)] (hide spoiler)]

Right? Its so frustrating! Who thought that was a good idea?

I have no idea, but I hate it!

Me too! Its what made me almost give up on the audio. There's less of it I think as the book goes on which is something

I kind of like the little comments between her and the scribe. It makes me laugh and I think it shows her humour and personality, but I agree the sound going down is such a stupid decision. I'm always driving and I'm like... what?

I might have enjoyed them more if it wasn't for the sound thing

Im finished, 4.5 stars for me
Not really sure what to say so I will wait for you both to finish too so we can talk :)

Kayleigh {K-Books} wrote: "I kind of like the little comments between her and the scribe. It makes me laugh and I think it shows her humour and personality, but I agree the sound going down is such a stupid decision. I'm alw..."

I guess they do but I feel like I get enough sense of her humour and personality through her own narration, I don't really need the asides to the scribe!

Made it to Chapter 7.
(view spoiler)[ It was fun getting to see Amina in action a little bit as she, Dalila and Yusuf worked to free Timbu, and I find myself loving Dalila more and more with each chapter, she may be the standout of the book so far for me (sorry Amina!). She's not even left Aden yet though and she's definitely not been very under the radar so far, so I sense she may have created a little more trouble for herself than even she's anticipated with this most recent prison break.....(view spoiler)[ (hide spoiler)] (hide spoiler)]

Okay I'm up to Chapter 9 now.
(view spoiler)[ I love, love the banter between Dalila and Timbu, I find myself constantly laughing at their conversations. Their escape from Aden was very exciting, I liked seeing Amina in captain action and the creation of the Naft firebombs was very clever. I also already love the ship cat and the fact that she has latched onto Amina because she can tell she doesn't like her, that's a very cat thing to do! It's interesting to find out more about Falco and what he may potentially want, he's clearly been approaching members of Amina's crew looking for her, but I do wonder why and who has given him the information that he needed to be able to track them down. It must have been one of the crew, so who is the traitor? What does he want from her? Of course this trip was never going to be as simple as going to Aden and asking a few questions, that would be very boring! (view spoiler)[ (hide spoiler)] (hide spoiler)]

Made it up to Chapter 10.
(view spoiler)[ Things seem to be ramping up now after their run in with Lethe-that whole death scene was quite gross! So it seems that Falco is looking for them in order to hunt down this Pearl of Sabaa, but it's still not entirely clear how he managed to track them down or who his source is in all this. What is clear is that he's pretty dangerous and probably not someone Amina really wants to get tangled up with, though it seems too late to avoid that. It's interesting that Deyna obviously went to Falco willingly, which has my suspicions raised about Saleema, I wonder what she really wants and what she's really up to? I still don't like the scribe, and didn't really feel like his little aside about the tale of the Pearl of Sabaa added much to my knowledge or understanding, honestly whenever his bits come up, I find myself feeling very impatient to get back to Amina. I do wonder where they're going to go next though, as Lethe was their best lead and he didn't actually tell them the island that Falco has taken Deyna to. I do wonder if maybe this whole thing is a trap/set up and Saleema is actually working with Falco in order to lure Amina into finding the Pearl for them? I guess I'll have to wait and see if I'm right! (view spoiler)[ (hide spoiler)] (hide spoiler)]

I am loving your chapter updates Jo!
(view spoiler)[ That was quite the vivid death scene!
Do you have suspicions of who told Falco about them?
Too bad you aren't enjoying the scribe at all.
I love how much you like Dalia, she was one of the best characters for me throughout. Just too fun! I also agree about the banter between her and Timbu. (hide spoiler)]