Discussion Questions: Birthmarked by Caragh M. O'Brien

1. When reading dystopian, the scary aspect is thinking, "Could this happen one day?" Did you ask yourself this while reading Birthmarked? Do you think a future like this is possible?  Personally? This particular future...no. Humans are lazy and in Birthmarked they weren't relying heavily on technology - well, it didn't come across that way - yes they may not have had the resources like we do now, but humans are not only lazy, but smart also so I think it would have been more plausible to have us zooming around in oxygen powered hovercars than to the old adage of "The first world war was fought with bows and arrows as will the fourth, because we will destroy everything in the third"
2. How did the puzzle aspect of the story work for you?  Did you figure out the code or was the explanation a surprise? Does this element work for you in a story or is there one you like/appreciate more? I figured it out and I really liked it, i thought it was very clever. It took me back to the days of the Plot Busters books.
3. Gaia follows in the steps of her mother as a midwife. For Gaia in the beginning its service and only later does she realize what taking the babies signifies. Can you put yourself in the mothers role, what would you do if Gaia tried to take your newborn? To be honest, I would probably seriously injure/kill her and run. Doesn't matter if its "treason" or I might have to fend for myself, I would rather be on the verge of starving than let anyone take my child.
4. Gaia feels ugly because of her scar and unable to fit in within the wall (enclave) because she wasn't perfect. Do you think finding out that her parents lied to her [about how she got the scar] was able to move the story along?? I think that Gaia feeling ugly and accusing everyone of mocking her and her scar grew extremely tiresome. The fact that her parents gave it to her and that we didn't have to spend too much time trying to figure out how she got it (because I couldn't care less and thought she really needed to get over herself) was ok, it didn't slow us down too much. I can understand why they did it, I don't understand how they managed to hurt their own child as they did though.

Discussion Questions: Bitten by Kelley Armstrong

1. Let's talk relationships.  What did you think of Elena's relationship with Philip? Were her feelings for him genuine? Why or why not? I don't think her feelings were genuine at all. She was making herself go out with him to prove to herself that she could lead a normal life, constantly trying to talk herself into loving him and staying with him.
2. Keeping secrets from someone you love, is it being true to yourself?  Elena was hiding out in Toronto and away from the Pack. Did this make Elena a stronger character or whiny? I don't really think it made her either. If anything maybe a little stronger because she did manage to care for herself, but I definitely don't see it as whiny to try and make your life normal after having it turned upside down. I think that there are some secrets that need to be kept, for the good of the relationship. Telling someone you love that you were once engaged really isn't going to make any difference other than make your partner doubt you. There really isn't any point. The werewolf thing may be a different story, but Elena didn't think Philip could handle it, well she knows him doesn't she. Someone you truly love, should probably be let in on that little secret though.
3. Kelley Armstrong's werewolves lean more towards the traditional side of the wolf legend. What "were" type are you? Do you enjoy the pain riddled, desiring human flesh werewolves like the Wolfman or the intensely scary wolves like in the movie Silver Bullet or do you prefer painless shifters that keep a majority of human emotions...ie..Twilight and other light PNR novels? I LOVE her take on werewolves, they're real. You can't really expect to turn into an animal and still think like a person...that's kind of dumb. The fact that they can fight through their change and still think with a bit of a human mind is also, well, believable. I don't want to read about a werewolf that acts more like a puppy than a wolf and Armstrong gave me real wolves which I thoroughly enjoyed.
4. Could you forgive the man you loved if he were to BITE you like what occurred with Elena? Hmm, this is a hard question. Depending on how much I loved him I think. I can think of a couple of exes that I would take great pleasure in killing if they turned me into a werewolf. I don't think I'd mind being one to be perfectly honest, but it does give me a good reason to kick some ass. I can think of some other people that in time, although it would be hard, I could forgive.

Discussion Questions: Hex Hall by Rachel Hawkins

1. Sophie is abandoned by her father for her supposed protection. Do you believe there is anything that justifies abandoning your child? None at all. Abandoning your child is the lowest possible thing anyone  can do. If your child needs that much protection, stick around and protect it.
2. Did Hex Hall remind you of any other series? Yes! Harry Potter and Evernight. Although it reminded me of the series Hex Hall was still completely unique.
3. Normally when you think of Dark Witches and White Witches, you think good and evil. This series seemed to have a different take on that all together. It almost had an apathetic take on human life with only care taken if their secret might be revealed. Do you find this disturbing or real? I find it real, instead of some cliche dark vs light battle we had everyone on the same side for once working towards a common cause, the secrecy of their kind. Now, working together doesn't really seem naturally human BUT these people aren't human, so it's ok. I liked where it went with the dark and light, just a different branch of power, no stereotyping.
4. Looking forward to the next book, or pass on it? Why? I am definitely looking forward to the next book, considering what happened in the end, I'm interested to see what happens in regards to Sophie and her powers. I originally thought this was a stand-alone book, and I think it would work ok like that too. A lot of strands in the story were wrapped up toward the finish

Discussion Questions: Embers by Laura Bickle

1. So if you had the chance would you have a pet elemental, even with the inconvenience of broken microwaves? Of course I would! I would just have to keep my laptop locked away in a cupboard but if it was anything like sparky, I would have one in a second. I was thinking about other creatures, not just a fire salamander. I was thinking about what could go with the other elements. Some sort of bird for air (duh!) like a hawk or an eagle or even an owl. Earth, hmm that could be anything really a burrowing creature would be good though, like a rabbit. Water is hard because so many creatures have fins, i was thinking maybe a frog, platypus or crab. Fire, I would want a salamander or a serpent, like a massive python would be sooo cool!
 
2. What did you think about the relationship between, Brian, Anya and Drake?
To be perfectly honest, I think Anya is a cheater, and the only reason Bickle put Brian in a coma was to get him out of the way so that Anya could sleep with Drake, which was pointless, and not have to worry about Brian finding out because oh, how convenient, he's unconscious for half the book. The demon Mimi was right, if Anya loved Brian she wouldn't have jumped in the sack with Drake. 

3. Did the book make you want to visit Detroit or steer clear? 
The book had an air of falseness, I didn't want to visit Detroit in the first place, and I still don't but Embers made absolutely no difference in regards to that decision. 

4. A big part of Embers surrounds paranormal activity and the whole Scooby style system....What do you think of shows like Ghost Hunter, Paranormal State and the such? 
Umm, Ghost Hunter? I will have to youtube that later. The Scooby style ghost hunting would have been good if there was some Scooby style ghost hunting...they did two. One at the start and one so she could end up with Mimi inside her, for the promise of ghost hunting, there wasn't much. 

5. Do you believe in the paranormal world around us or chalk it up to complete fantasy and make believe?
I have always wanted to believe in it, but I think that as much as I would like to, I don't. Sure I want to meet a demon, marry a vampire and have a werewolf as a bestfriend, all the while developing my kickass fighting skills and perfecting my magical powers but I think that now after wishing for so long and even dreaming that my boyfriend told me he was a werewolf, I don't think it's going to happen.
I do however believe in Tarot, Destiny, Spirits and Auras.

BWB Discussion Questions: The Iron King by Julie Kagawa

1. What did you think of the feud between Puck and Ash? How do you think that might play out in the next two books?

The feud was very interesting, I love the duels and how Puck fights dirty whereas Ash is very noble, if only he would fight dirty he might have a chance at winning. The way the duel came about was a little weak in my opinion, because of a girl? Come on, with the way Puck is it would be believable if he set their Ice Castle on fire. It will definitely play a part in the next two books, provided Puck makes a recovery, which is inevitable.

2.  Favorite scene or line from the book? Could you relate to any of the characters?

I can't relate to them per se, but my favourite character would have to be Grimalkin, who was actually a boy despite the myths. I love all of his lines. I loved Puck in it too, he was hilarious as he is in all the books he crops up in. My favourite scene was actually in the park with the tree people. I don't know but for a second there I could almost smell the trees and the grass. It was a very vivid scene and although it wasn't long, I loved it.

3. With whom did you identify with the most? And Why?

Probably a mixture of Grimalkin with his disdain for stupid people, Ash because of his nobility and Puck because of his sense of humor. Puck the most I think because i love him as a character and because he got the best of both worlds...except for when he was a crow.

4. Did you find the concept behind the Iron King-  being  a technology fueled modern day faerie-  original or unbelievable?

I found the essence of The Iron King to be unoriginal, but the introduction of the Iron Fey to be quite unique even though we don't really see much of them in the story itself. If they play more of a part in the next books, which I'm sure they will, it will get very interesting indeed.

5. Kagawa used a lot of mythical faeries in The Iron King, such as King Oberon, Queen Mab and Puck. Which fae from myth would you have liked to have seen added into the pages of The Iron King besides the ones she used?

I'm actually really over the use of King Oberon and Puck. I like them in A Midsummer Night's Dream and although its fun for them to crop up, it's been done before. Just exploring the fey in general, water nymphs and fire nymphs, they don't have to be famous they just have to be fey and I'm happy.

Discussion Questions: First Drop of Crimson by Jeaniene Frost

Denise and Spades chemistry sparks more than a firecracker on the 4th of July. Did you like the chemistry between them and did you feel the development of the relationship work? 

I loved the cheimstry! Denise had that vulnerable quality about her that made her think that Spade was such a worldy man who would never want anything to do with her. But she still didn't all out fight the attraction to him. The relationship built up very nicely, it wasn't rushed and it was also believable. The companionship that we see between the two was refreshing, and it was a huge tease as the feeling developed. Especially when Spade was in the shower...

Have you read the Cat & Bones series? Denise is such a different (wimpier) character than Cat... did that make a difference to you?

I will make no secret of the fact that Cat and Bones are my favourite pair. But to compare Cat and Denise in regards to wimpiness is not something that really can be done in my eyes. Cat has strength yes, she can beat up anything you throw at her, but she also has a weakness for gin. Denise is very strong minded though and I never saw her as a wimpy person in the first four books anyway. I will say that it felt weird when Cat showed up in FDOC and I wasn't reading from her point of view...it just felt wrong, but I reckon Denise is strong in her own way and being able to beat someone up has nothing to do with that.

LIGHTNING ROUND. Identify your top three favorite PNR series.  "There are too many!" is not an answer. Neither is more than three.  Name the top three. Ready.....go!

1. Night Huntress Series (duh!)
2. The Accidental Friends Series
3. Black Dagger Brotherhood (granted I have only read one, but it was really really good.)

They all seem like really boring choices now that I think about it...oh well, I like them. (I wanted to pick Vampire Academy, but I don't think it counts)

Sizzle or Fizzle? Sizzle ma nizzle fo' rizzle.

BWB Discussion Questions - Wondrous Strange

Questions

1. Faeries seem to be very big in YA lit lately, how does Wondrous Strange compare to others in its genre such as Lament, Wicked Lovely, etc.? 
2. How did you view the relationship with Kelley and Sonny, was it a believable romance? 
3. Wondrous Strange was written in the typical fashion of paranormal literature, with the protagonist unaware of her supernatural abilities, meets boy who introduces her to the world... do you find these plot lines tiresome in their likeness, or do you believe there are always similarities within fiction and it is all about the deeper story? 

 Answers

1. Wondrous Strange was actually my first proper adventure into the world of Faery, I wouldn't have it any other way.
2. I thought the romance was believable to an extent, it wasn't "Oh, we are soul mates, marry me tomorrow!" But with the way Kelley treated Sonny and with the way he kept going back for more...well I wouldn't have been bothered myself, but true that he was intrigued by her spark. Believable to an extent.
3. They are kind of predictable for my taste BUT it is the way the author uses the plot line. Books like these are like Law & Order, you know they are going to catch the bad guys, you just want to know how they are going to do it, and why. These plot lines run along the same principal, it is the way you get to the end that is intriguing, not the actual end. I think this is why Wondrous Strange has been so popular, because it is so different.