Fantasy Buddy Reads discussion

This is a Buddy Read for Everwild by Neal Shusterman starting on February 7, 2024.


Happy Reading!

Thank you!

Schedule:
1. Everlost (January 7th) [link]
2. Everwild (February 7th)
3. Everfound (March 7th) [link]

Started! In Chapter 7--(view spoiler)[Zin is interesting--Civil War, cross-dressing, and ripping... (hide spoiler)]

I'll be starting in a couple of days.

Through Part 2--(view spoiler)[I did not like Part 2. I hate love triangles. I do not like slimy people almost successfully seducing people with codes of honor. The only redeeming factor was that Milos wasn't successful. But the fact that Ally was was even willing to go so far with Milos--someone who saw fleshies and skinjacking as something to enjoy regardless of the violation, someone who had enough threatening power over thugs like Rocky and Bullwinkle, really lowered my opinion of her. Sure, he was able to teach her a bunch of useful tricks, and the act with the people who were dying was sweet, but even invading prisoners was a violation, and he saw no wrong. It really bothered me. (hide spoiler)]

Part 3--(view spoiler)[And Mary also is willing to ally with any scum to get her way. At least I didn't have a high opinion of her in the first place, so I found this segment rather amusing. She and Capone deserve each other. (hide spoiler)]

I like how the Parts are easily recognizable chunks of character story. Makes it easier to comment on.

Part 4--(view spoiler)[Cramming... wow, I feel like the whole game has changed... (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 28--(view spoiler)[Damn, and yet another game-changer... so all skinjackers are actually in comas... hence not being able to move on until their bodies actually die... (hide spoiler)]

Finished! Enjoyed for the most part, though some sections made me uncomfortable. This middle book wasn't quite as doom as many. (view spoiler)[Seems to end more with an ominous "baddies'll be coming back" tone rather than a "baddies in control and all hope is lost" 2nd book ending.

Several game-changers--Zin's ability to push the Afterlife people into the world of the living, discovery that Skinjackers aren't wholly dead--and even Ally pushing Danny back into his body before he fully died... Very curious to see how this all works out.

Was not at all surprised by Mary's request at the end... as soon as she became flesh she was sure to find a way to die. I *am* surprised she didn't just off herself the minute she manifested though. Though she always does have others do her dirty work, so I really shouldn't be surprised. The fact that we don't see it happen already--makes me wonder, will it work the way she thinks? It's too much to ask that it won't...

Mikey & Nick together is another line I'm curious to see...

Ally punching Mary in the face was very satisfying. Only wish she could have done the same to Milo. Seriously? The nerve on that asshole, breaking his word, and then expecting--demanding--Ally keep hers, not to mention what she did to Danny! Really looking forward to all of them being brought down in the next book. (hide spoiler)]

It's on my shortlist... returning to work and reading Cinnamon Bun 2 has slowed me down a bit...

I'm sure you won't be disappointed.

So I started the audio earlier today but split with reading the Threadlight book (mom had a procedure so I spent a few hours sitting in the hospital waiting so ebook was better) and can someone explain how the hell there is just 3 hours 35 minutes left but I am only 14 chapters out of 41? There must be some very short chapters in my near future lol

Through chapter 14 (view spoiler)[I agree with Nirkatze, the "love triangle" is cringe, definitely not a fan. Poor Nick, forgetting himself and turning into chocolate because of Mary spreading stories about him.

It just occurred to me that I will likely not love how this series ends.....dammit! (hide spoiler)]

Nirkatze wrote: "Started! In Chapter 7--[spoilers removed]"

Agreed...

Nirkatze wrote: "Through Part 2--[spoilers removed]"

Haven't finished this part yet, but I agree, again...

Overall, there have been some interesting new characters, but I haven't been enjoying this one as much as book 1, so far...

Not 100% sure if it's the book or me... as I posted in the Vagabond thread, over the past 2hrs the medical Leave of Absence stress has reared it's ugly head again, and I get to deal with the Claims Management people some more, after a nice 5-7 day lull, basically... and that's what I've been dealing with during half my reading, so far...

Hopefully it doesn't invade my whole reading weekend...

Finished and I am not sure how I feel about it. It is definitely the second on the series and I feel that my opinion will be impacted how it all plays out in the conclusion. (view spoiler)[I don't know if I just glossed over it in the first book or if it is because we came across so many more dead children here but this is just a downer of a story! I hate Mary so much and Milos is a little asshat as well! Nick is a golem now? Allie is locked up? Mary will be back to her shit in a few months with Milos at her side. Basically a typical second in a series ending. I also thought it was interesting to find out Allie was not dead but in a coma and those scenes with her parents were tough! I enjoyed it but I have concerns about the ending next book..... (hide spoiler)]

Timelord Iain wrote: "Nirkatze wrote: "Through Part 2--[spoilers removed]"

Haven't finished this part yet, but I agree, again...

Overall, there have been some interesting new characters, but I haven't been enjoying th..."

I hope all goes well with the bureaucracy, that added to your injury does not make it easier I am certain.

This feels very middle book, from title alone...

Ever: lost, wild, found...

Worker's Comp is much easier, since it's on the workplace to do 90% of the paperwork/etc... alot of it feels like the perils of large corporation... bosses felt much more open to working with me to keep me at work and contributing as much as my light duty allowed, versus the faceless 3rd party... 3rd party / official documentation is more accommodating of worker's comp claims, since I think the workplace has to foot the bill more, and wants to keep getting any work it can out of you, even if it's outside your job code. (The light duty I was doing was 50% in my job code, and 50% in that limbo space of things they ask someone to volunteer for when short-handed, even tho it's outside official job code.).

Anyway, hopefully all goes smoothly, and I get Short Term disability pay for 2 of the 3 weeks I'm off... even if I don't, as long as leave of absence is approved, I think my time off lines up just perfectly enough that I work just enough inside the 2 pay periods to cover my medical insurance contributions, without having to pay out of my bank account, to avoid missing any payments...

Around 33%: In another thread recently, I talked about loving SF/Fantasy ideas/explanations for things... my 2 examples were Blood Engines book title/idea, and deja vu in The Matrix...

I just saw another good one here: (view spoiler)[the skinjacking explanation for why you zone out sometimes, while driving or trying to say something and forgetting... (hide spoiler)]

40-50%: (view spoiler)[that Skinjacker kiss scene felt very "boys will be boys" in it's rationalization, after the fact... a bit icky... and Milos picked a boy that looked a bit like Mikey, and maybe a girl that looked like Jackin' Jill... (hide spoiler)]

Nirkatze wrote: "Part 4--[spoilers removed]

Chapter 28--[spoilers removed]"

Part 4: what a name for it :D

Chapter 28: yea... didn't see that coming...

(view spoiler)[Allie's actions with the "teacher" were well-intentioned, but talk about going too far, and almost getting someone killed...

And I'm not 100% sure it's as easy to electrocute yourself as all that... or if it is, if it wouldn't be more deadly than the perfect jolt Allie gave the struggling woman she was skinjacking... (hide spoiler)]

Finished... so much happened...

(view spoiler)[But, I'd say nobody is really in a great place right now?... not the 100% typical mid-book... (hide spoiler)]

Timelord Iain wrote: "Finished... so much happened...

[spoilers removed]"

Agree, this ended on a downer for sure.

The "downer"-ness of this book reminds me a lot of where the Scythe series was in the middle... very similar hopeless vibes... but some threads to pull to maybe unravel things...

I realized I never came back and commented on this book. I've been rather MIA lately around here. This month has been terrible! One of my cats died unexpectedly. He was fine and then one morning he wasn't. He was only 5 and an indoor cat, so it came as a shock. My in-laws are coming on the 28th so I'm busy getting things ready for their visit, and stressed out a bit. Plus someone rear-ended my car and I've had to take care calling insurance, of dropping it off at the shop and picking up a rental. At least the other person's insurance is paying for it all.

Anyway, about the book...I enjoyed rereading this, but not as much as Everlost. I agree that it's a very frustrating book at times. I also didn't like the (view spoiler)[love triangle (hide spoiler)]. The best part for me was definitely when (view spoiler)[Allie punched Mary! I hate Mary so much. Milos is a close second (hide spoiler)]. I had forgotten the part when (view spoiler)[the boy is pushed into the pool by Milos and drowns. It was horrifying, and I couldn't remember if he was going to actually make it or not (hide spoiler)]. Even though this one was a bit of a downer, at least things can only get better in the third book.

Yay, thoughts...

Boo, life stuff...

Agree book stuff...

Hope life things improve...

So sorry to hear about your cat, Tammie! And life just piling stuff on top... I hope it turns around karmically soon.

Bookwise, also agree, especially--(view spoiler)[Allie punching Mary was totally awesome!!! (hide spoiler)]