Challenge Corner discussion

Half Bad (The Half Bad Trilogy, #1)
This topic is about Half Bad
12 views
Let's Buddy! - Fantasy/Para > Half Bad by Sally Green -> Starting April 8th, 2023

Comments Showing 1-24 of 24 (24 new)    post a comment »
dateUp arrow    newest »

message 1: by Aly (new) - rated it 4 stars

Aly (alyp_01) | 28997 comments Mod
Wanted by no one.
Hunted by everyone.

Sixteen-year-old Nathan lives in a cage: beaten, shackled, trained to kill. In a modern-day England where two warring factions of witches live amongst humans, Nathan is an abomination, the illegitimate son of the world's most terrifying and violent witch, Marcus. Nathan's only hope for survival is to escape his captors, track down Marcus, and receive the three gifts that will bring him into his own magical powers—before it's too late. But how can Nathan find his father when there is no one safe to trust, not even family, not even the girl he loves?


Ashlyn | 5968 comments Started


Ashlyn | 5968 comments Up to Post-Trauma (view spoiler)


Ashlyn | 5968 comments Part II (view spoiler)


Ashlyn | 5968 comments Part III (view spoiler)


Ashlyn | 5968 comments Finished (view spoiler)


Ivelisse | 1436 comments You finished this already?!


Ashlyn | 5968 comments Yes, it was a quick read.


message 9: by Ivelisse (last edited Apr 10, 2023 08:03PM) (new) - rated it 4 stars

Ivelisse | 1436 comments I'll work on this one tomorrow. I'll be on a field trip with 4th graders, hopefully I can get it all done.


message 10: by Ashlyn (last edited Apr 10, 2023 08:24PM) (new) - rated it 4 stars

Ashlyn | 5968 comments Oh I had the physical book. It was under 400 pages, so not sure why it would be that long on audio unless it's a graphic audio? But there several parts that are more lists if that makes sense. It was like two words per line so maybe the audio would take longer for those than reading it?


Ivelisse | 1436 comments Ashlyn wrote: "Oh I had the physical book. It was under 400 pages, so not sure why it would be that long on audio unless it's a graphic audio? But there several parts that are more lists if that makes sense. It w..."

I was surprised when I saw how long the audio was. I'll see what the physical looks like.


Ivelisse | 1436 comments I honestly do not know how I feel about this book.

So he was in a cage... gets out and very detailed about his hand/arm... I agree with the writing style. It's more of a diary and I am not sure I am a fan of it.

Now Jessica does explain about his mother and her suicide and she was not very nice about it either


Ivelisse | 1436 comments Lots of details... Jessica is excted to be a true witch. She will get 3 gifts when its her turn.

The council asks questions to Nathan and he doesn't answer, they consider him uncooperative. Gran asks that he answers something so the next day the council shows up and he does. Very little but enough to appease gram.

Marcus is Nathan's dad. He does refer to him by name. He cannot talk about him whatsoever since he is the most evil blood witch.

After Jessica is given her gifts, he realizes the only way he will get his gifts are from his father but he will have to go to him.


message 14: by Ivelisse (last edited Apr 12, 2023 03:26PM) (new) - rated it 4 stars

Ivelisse | 1436 comments Annalise is now mentioned and he very detailed... she begins to be nice to him and he's shocked. One thing leads to another and well...

They avoid each other to not draw attention to Connor and Niall...

*** I am working and listening as audio... I make notes and come back to thread***


Ivelisse | 1436 comments Well Connor and Niall have found out about Annalise... he was not left unharmed.

He healed rather quickly which proves he has healing capabilities.

He also received a letter which has taken him to visit a lady to celebrate her 90th birthday... I loved this lady! He has to follow specific instructions to arrive to her place.

Mary finally provides details about Marcus and the council. We learn about Nathan's grandparents and great grandfather. Marcus also gains power by eating the heart of the witches. Anyone from the council or Fairborn witch are not safe with Marcus which has made him very powerful.

Nathan learns that his mother was forced to commit suicide... Nathan's mother would get away to be with Marcus. On a trip while the kids were with Gran, the husband turned up and Marcus killed him. Nathan was born and looked nothing like her and a lot like Marcus. The husband was also a member of the council.

There are sooo many names, people intertwined and stories... I am so invested now.


Ivelisse | 1436 comments Two Weapons

There are two weapons that can kill Marcus... one is a knife called Detheridge... the other... is Nathan. Marcus has had repetitive dreams of such. Nathan swears he won't. We'll see. I have a feeling he'll end up killing Marcus but not intentionally or with any ill intent. We shall see!


message 17: by Ivelisse (last edited Apr 12, 2023 06:21PM) (new) - rated it 4 stars

Ivelisse | 1436 comments The Sixth Notification


Mary explains he is always followed... that's what hunters do and they're good at it! Do they prove it when they take him and can trace each and every time he's left and met up with Annalise. Annalise's uncle is on the council so it does not go well for Nathan. Here is when he ends up in the cage... he's only 15.


Ivelisse | 1436 comments Part 3

This woman has taken Nathan, has put on a band of acid on Nathan. He keeps referring her to as the woman. She's testing him. It's obvious with the choker when she tells him it's on tight and that she knows he can handle it... "You're tough, Nathan"

In the cage, he does push-ups, entertains himself the best way he can all while shackled.

Her name has been revealed. It's Celia.

She is basically training him... has him on a routine. It's the same thing for each part of the day.

Celia talks about Marcus but refuses to talk about Nathan's mothers side. There is a list of all the powers he's taken and the names of the witches. The story as to how they came to be is also mentioned.


Ivelisse | 1436 comments He has to get assessed for his 16th birthday... he also needs to get cleaned up. He goes for the punk look... piercings and all.

His goal... "freedom from persecution"


Ivelisse | 1436 comments On his birthday... he's visited by 3 of the council members... 2 men and Soul O'Brien... Annalise's uncle


Ivelisse | 1436 comments Oh gosh... they have them doing the outer circuit... Nathan and the Hunter. Making him fight then heal... fight then heal.

The leader of the Hunters came to check Nathan out... come to find out. Clay killed Saba... and Saba killed Clay's mother. Here Nathan learns that his mother saved Clay's life once from a poison that would have killed him. She was such an "exceptional healer", I'm sure they want to see what she inherited from her.


Ivelisse | 1436 comments Nathan has been codified... what does that mean?! Celia did not know anything about this! She is not happy


Ivelisse | 1436 comments B 0.5... he has been tattooed and no way he can make it go away... and in like multiple spots


Ivelisse | 1436 comments Soo good... I finished it in bed last night! Glad he found Mercury and ended where it did! I will be going on to book 2


back to top