Fantasy Buddy Reads discussion

This is a Buddy Read for Into the Fire by Gregg Andrew Hurwitz starting on January 7, 2025.


Happy Reading!

LOL Iain spelled my name Norkatze in all the requests.

Looking forward to picking this back up again.

Once-a-Month schedule:
1. Orphan X (June 7) [link]
Short: Buy a Bullet
2. The Nowhere Man (July 7) [Link]
3. Hellbent (Aug 7) [Link]
Short: The Intern
4. Out of the Dark (Sept 7) [Link]

--2025--
5. Into the Fire (Jan 7)
Short: The List

6. Prodigal Son (Feb 7) [link]
7. Dark Horse (Mar 7) [link]
8. The Last Orphan (Apr 7) [link]
Short: The Recital
9. Lone Wolf (May 7) [link]
10. Nemesis (Jun 7) [link]

audiobook: no library/subscription copies.
ebook: 1-4 on KU

I think Ann-Marie requested these?

Hah, nice try.

I mean, I was being serious... I said something about requesting more, then forgot for 2 weeks, and Ann-Marie volunteered... if that wasn't this series it was another... I know Emily requested InCryptid, because somehow she got Yanique to add BRs all the way to like December 2025...

Yeah, I was teasing. ^_^ I have a lot of tracker maintenance to do...

Do I have several BR scheduled for before this? Yes I do. Do I miss Evan so much? Yes I do. Am I starting this tonight? Yes, I am :)

Nirkatze wrote: "LOL Iain spelled my name Norkatze in all the requests.

Looking forward to picking this back up again.

Once-a-Month schedule:
1. Orphan X (June 7) [link]
Short: [book:Buy a Bullet|..."

Did I spell your name wrong???? If so I am sorry.....

Ann-Marie wrote: "Do I have several BR scheduled for before this? Yes I do. Do I miss Evan so much? Yes I do. Am I starting this tonight? Yes, I am :)"

LOL I love it.

And no worries about the name thing--it's my online nickname so the spelling doesn't bother me. I just like opportunities to tease Iain.

Ann-Marie wrote: "Do I have several BR scheduled for before this? Yes I do. Do I miss Evan so much? Yes I do. Am I starting this tonight? Yes, I am :)"

Ha ha!!

Through ch 20 and OMG (view spoiler)[EVAN HAS A PUPPY???? I mean if he doesn't keep it I will be literally bereft. He broke up a dog fighting ring which was AWESOME! He is going to disappoint Mia again, the old lady got mugged and there is no way Evan does not murder the guy's face that did it. We even got to see Trevon when he passed Evan's number to Alex, the current person Evan is helping, loved that so much. Joey is local too and still working with Evan, still a ball buster and still wonderful. Lots of kicking ass already, loving all the things so far!!! (hide spoiler)]

Ch 21 and (view spoiler)[he gave his number at the vet!!!!! (hide spoiler)]

Ch 22 and now I am bereft (view spoiler)[no pets allowed in the building but wait a minute, Joey needs a dog!!!!! Also Evan at the HOA meeting was hilarious, Peter grabbing the olives was perfect lol (hide spoiler)]

Finished this a bit ago and yeah, it was so good! (view spoiler)[First, THAT ENDING!?!?!?!?!? I have to wait a month to see what happens next????? Evan's mother called him, is she a spy too? Is it really her? But anyway, this book. Dog the Dog! Love that so much! And you just knew Evan had bought the apartment building where Joey lives and was beefing up the security and when she said she'll just move around the corner he was like I'll buy that building too lol We got to see trevon again and when Evan had pepperoni on his pizza I was like Oh No, that is not going to work! When Evan maimed the guy with the McDonald's straw, what was that? It's hilarious that these villains are like You don't know who you are messing with meanwhile Even killed POTUS the last book. Evan in this book was at such a major disadvantage with the concussion and for the first time Mia got on my nerves a bit until Peter's life was at stake, then her attitude suddenly changed. Evan going to jail to kill that one guy and then blowing up the BIG baddies at the end was chef's kiss. I loved his interactions with Joey and also with Tommy (You did what to my sniper rifle?) <3 Loved it so much! (hide spoiler)]

I also read The List and again, so good! (view spoiler)[Joey at her best but Evan still there being supportive and a little over-bearing which I loved. Her taking down the assholes that ran the list that caused that poor girl to commit suicide was so on brand for her, loved it! (hide spoiler)]

1) the plot of this one doesn't stick with me... book 4 was such a high... this is more of a transition book, as Evan wonders what to do, now that one of the biggest driving forces in his life has been taken care of...

2) The cliffhanger/zinger ending tho gives a reason for book 6... this series definitely likes to play with your emotions/expectations, going forward, I think... (view spoiler)[first the mom, then the Vice President giving an ultimatum to retire (that might be a spoiler, can't remember if that overlapped with mom showing up here, or happens at the end of the next book)...

Then the book gives reasons to keep doing missions anyway, and risk it... which hurts Evan's chances of settling down with Mia/Peter...

I really like the moral dilemmas and dichotomies the series explores... this series is more special to me than Gray Man, which I feel is more action focused with Gray Man on the run half the time and/or in hiding... (hide spoiler)]

(I might have spoiled one of the surprises from the final chapter of the next book in there)...

If you thought the cliffhanger here was nuts, wait until you get to last year's book... I'm probably gonna jump ahead and read Nemesis with Brian/Soo next month, separate from the monthly BR, because I don't think I can wait 6 months to get some answers...

It's a shame I'm pretty sure this is the only book we see Trevon again, unless my memory sucks...

Generally, I think that formula of this series is that Evan uses one character from the previous book to help in the mission of the next book... I know that happens in the 2 most recent books, and it's happened here, and I think it's happened a few other times...

Maybe, someday, there'll be an ultimate/penultimate book, where Evan has to use all the people he's helped over the years to pull off a final ultimate mission... but we'll see... almost a pipe dream of nostalgia...

I’m at chapter 34 (view spoiler)[ and I hate Mia so much. She’s the world’s biggest vigilante cock block. Like, don’t be jealous that he solves problems better than you do!

Super happy to see Joey, Travon and not Candy.

The stakes in this one seem a lot smaller than the last one.

Still loving it. (hide spoiler)]

The stakes are smaller, as they have to be... but I think they ramp up with the (view spoiler)[concussion (hide spoiler)]...

This one is mostly about Evan figuring out if he wants to keep doing this, or try and move on with his life, with the Orphan Program resolved...

Finished (view spoiler)[ his mother!!! (hide spoiler)]

Ann-Marie wrote: "Through ch 20 and OMG [spoilers removed]"

That halfway point was such a good high!! Through Chapter 25 (view spoiler)[and I love how Joey named the dog Dog! (hide spoiler)]

Through Chapter 53 (view spoiler)[I love that he's doing little things too, like helping the old lady get her necklace back.

I was surprised to hear the President call. But then I remembered... he took care of the old asshole president. New president now. (hide spoiler)]

Finished! I really liked the smaller stakes, like Iain mentioned--this book felt more personal? Like, most of the previous books had to do with his past, and this one was more the transition into Evan's future: (view spoiler)[seeing Joey established, helping everyday people--and then the tie-in to his romantic life... I didn't find Mia as annoying this book--mostly because like Ann-Marie said, the ending when she realized that she can't be black and white when people she cares about are on the line... I just hope she realizes that for Evan, everyone has that status.

And I'm very curious about what Iain says is coming up, maybe both phone calls have a connection? (hide spoiler)]

Loved your rant-response, @Ann-Marie!

Just listened to The List and it is by far the best of the shorts--all the others feel like deleted scenes, but this was a full-fledged mini-story with great character development for (view spoiler)[Joey. And I LOVED seeing her take down the Alphas--with her own brand of justice, without having to do anything that would mar her soul. I love how Evan was there always there--whether he was always watching out for her, or he was just in tune enough to anticipate exactly when she might need a hand, but never pushing. Especially at the end, when she calls and asks him to come over, and he's right outside, just waiting to see if she'd ask. Like, if it was anyone else it'd be kinda creepy. But with him, it's sweet.

I also really liked the post-book chat with author and fans, discussing Joey's character. Really makes me hope she gets more to do in future entries. (hide spoiler)]

Timelord Iain wrote: "I mean, I was being serious... I said something about requesting more, then forgot for 2 weeks, and Ann-Marie volunteered... if that wasn't this series it was another... I know Emily requested InCr..."

Lol I just kinda kept going xD

Timelord Iain wrote: "It's a shame I'm pretty sure this is the only book we see Trevon again, unless my memory sucks...

Generally, I think that formula of this series is that Evan uses one character from the previous b..."

That would be such a cool ending! But yeah given how many books and therefore people there are I'm not sure how that would work../

I definitely feel like there's potential, at least with certain people he starts helping in the coming books... I tried explaining what I mean in spoilers, but there's just no way... you need to just RAFO :D

Timelord Iain wrote: "I definitely feel like there's potential, at least with certain people he starts helping in the coming books... I tried explaining what I mean in spoilers, but there's just no way... you need to ju..."

Damn, haven't been RAFOd in a while xD

Through 21 and BOY do these get my blood boiling (view spoiler)[ so that I'm 100% behind Evan burning shit to the ground! I want to join him! And I can't wait for some puppy bonding time...
I love how Evan is slowly opening up his world to allow other people in. It was a pretty touching scene with the widow... And gives Mia another side of Evan to see (hide spoiler)]

For me Mia never really bothered me because I understood where she was coming from, like she couldn't risk her position as a DA since she is Peter's sole caregiver and provider. The first 2/3 of this book she started getting on my nerves a bit, like you know Even and what he is going to do. Buuuut then (view spoiler)[ that ending and her's and Peter's lives in jeopardy and my man Evan coming to their rescue? Let's just say I would not be mad if her attitude changes going forward..... (hide spoiler)]

Started... Better late than never. It is a bit disorienting when I have been away from the series for a while, but it's good to see Evan again:)

Finished. So good! Travon is still my favorite character, but Joey is catching up with him:) That ending! Very satisfying 😄

Agree on Travon & Joey!