Christian Fiction Bloggers discussion

Abbi and Melanie will be buddy reading Luminary by Krista McGee.

She was an anomaly with a death sentence. Now she's free.

Thalli was scheduled for annihilation. She was considered an anomaly--able to experience emotions that should have been eradicated by genetic modification. The Scientists running the State couldn't allow her to bring undue chaos to their peaceful, ordered world. But seconds before her death, she is rescued.

Now Thalli is above ground in a world she thought was destroyed. A world where not even the air is safe to breathe. She and her three friends must journey across this unknown land, their destination a hidden civilization. It's their only chance of survival.

Broken and exhausted after an arduous journey, they arrive in New Hope, a town that survived the nuclear holocaust. When Thalli meets the people there--people actually "born" to "families"--her small world is blown wide open.

Soon after their arrival to New Hope, the town comes under attack. She has escaped imminent death, but now Thalli is thrust into a new fight--a fight to save her new home. Does she know enough about this world of emotions, this world of chaos, to save not only herself, but the people she has come to love?

Ok was it just me or was Thalli's attitude really annoying especially at the beginning? I know there's a lot that she's had to go through and that her brain has to process but it just seemed like she could have tried to be a little more positive!

I loved watching John get to experience the things he had missed for so long like the dog, the pond, and the food!

That ending was a kicker huh?! I'm really curious as to how Thalli is going to figure out how to get out of that situation.

I thought it was awful how the Scientists brought about the war and kept everyone else from finding out what was going on until it was too late!

I found her annoying, too. I understand that she was afraid she'd cause her friends to be killed, but I wish she wouldn't have been so negative!

Me too! His reaction to seeing that dog was priceless! :D I was a little nervous at first, though, when he went into the pond because I thought it might be contaminated or something.

I agree! What a place to have to stop, lol! It definitely makes you curious as to what Thalli's going to do...I wonder if she is going to play along with the engagement or stop it right away?

That was horrible! I'm glad John's son wasn't aware of it, but wish he would have left once he found out about it - like some of the others did.

I can't believe Thalli is starting to think that Athens isn't a terrible place. After everything Peter and Diana told her about the king of Athens, how can she think they aren't evil??

I don't know what to think about Berk and Thalli's relationship. I don't think Berk has romantic feelings for Rhen...Thalli probably just jumped to conclusions because she was jealous.

I liked how Thalli risked her own life to try and save Berk's life when he was being attacked by the wolves.

I don't know about you, but I laughed when Dallas talked to Peter at the clinic. At first, the things he said seemed mean, but once I found out they were friends, I knew that must be the way they always talk to each other, which made it funny.

Yeah I wish John's son would have been one of the ones to leave too!

I agree but in some ways I can see her position. After all just because Hitler was evil it didn't make all Germans evil. And Peter himself was in love with Helen the king's daughter. And also she really is only being shown the good and none of the evil so it would be easy to start to doubt.

I don't know what to think either but I agree that Thalli is probably just jumping to conclusions.

Yeah that was cool!

Haha I was laughing at that too!

I liked the scene with the swings. I absolutely love swinging so it was cool to imagine what it would be like to experience it for the first time or for the first time in decades!

I like how the author is showing Thalli struggling with the subject of lying. It is such a difficult topic since the Bible says not to lie but sometimes to protect lives it seems like it becomes necessary. I like how the author isn't just glossing over that.

True. I agree that not all of the Athens are bad and she is only being shown the good parts. For instance, when Alex brought Thalli to the music room and he had to visit one of their factories, I wonder why he did that and if it was really just to surprise her or if he didn't want her to come with him for some reason.

That was such a cool scene!!

I liked that, too.

I wonder if Gerald and the people of New Hope are going to continue to wait and give Thalli the time they promised her. In some ways, I don't think ten days is long enough.

I think they will wait cause I think Carey and Kristie will be able to hold them to their promise. And I agree that 10 days doesn't seem long enough!

Well I couldn't come up with anything else-you?

Nope. Ready to read the rest of the book? :)

Yep!

I'm done and ready to discuss whenever you are!

That was quick! I haven't started yet (trying to finish The Dancing Master first for a blog tour).

:) No worries! I wanted to finish it before the read-a-thon and also I haven't been able to read for several days so I just couldn't stop! Take your time though! I hope you are enjoying The Dancing Master!

I finished it. Wow!! This book was so good and that ending makes me want to read Revolutionary so much!! I'm glad the wait isn't too long for that book. :)

I'm glad my suspicion that Alex was a "bad guy" turned out to be wrong. I liked how he overcame is upbringing and actually cares about the people of Athens - and doesn't want to control them.

I was a little nervous that Thalli and Alex might actually get married, so I was very happy when Berk interrupted the wedding! I liked how he didn't care about his life, just wanted to help Thalli. :)

I know!

Me too! I ended up really liking him and I can't wait to see what he does.

I was too! I had no clue how she was going to get out of that one and I was so happy when Berk showed up! I liked that too!

So the fact that Thalli was being drugged explained a lot! I couldn't believe how the king just drugged everyone to get them to do what he wanted them too!

I was surprised to find out that Helen wasn't actually the king's daughter! And it was so sad how he arranged for her to be killed in order to have a reason to fight the people of New Hope! And it was horrible how the king even drugged Alex into believing Thalli had killed her! I was glad she was able to break through the drug-induced haze and help him see the truth of what was happening.

I felt so bad for Peter! But I was also glad he was the one to kill the king so that Alex didn't have to live with killing his own father no matter how evil the man was. It was sad that Peter died though it would have been horrible for him without Helen. I was glad Thalli was able to help him to Helen's room before he died so that he could breathe his last surrounded by memories of her instead of the same place the evil king had died!

Ugh. I had part of my comment typed up, but now it's gone. :/

(Sorry for the delay in commenting back)

I agree - finding out Thalli was drugged was a surprise! It also explained why Thalli believed the king so quickly!

That was SO sad! I can't believe how he planned her murder, her mother's murder, and so many other murders! Yeah, I'm glad Thalli was able to help Alex overpower the drugs and see the truth. It was cool how Alex tried to make the other drugs in the king's house ineffective.

I felt bad for Peter, too. That scene was totally unexpected - though thinking back, it makes sense that Peter would want revenge for Helen's murder. I'm also glad Thalli was able to help him to Helen's room.

I was so sad when John died, but I'm glad that he was able to experience things above ground again. I hope his son ends up helping Thalli and her friends in the next book.

It's cool that Rhen and Dallas are a couple now.

With Alex in the picture, I'm not too sure how things are going to go between Thalli and Berk, but I'm hoping she ends up with Berk. :)

Ok I am SO sorry for taking so long! We've been busy and I kept either forgetting or being to brain dead to comment!

Yeah that was SO depressing though I agree that it was cool how he got to experience those things again! It would be so cool if his son helps them in the next book!

Yeah I liked that!

I feel the same way! Alex is cool and all but I still want her to be with Berk!

Ok as sad as this is I couldn't find anything else to discuss! Do you have anything else?

No problem. :)

The only other thing I can think of is this: remember the last scene and how the Scientists came? I wonder what they said to the leaders of New Hope to get them to agree and leave so willingly.

Oh yeah I was curious about that! Hopefully we'll find out in the next book!

:) Thanks for buddy reading this book with me!! I enjoyed discussing it with you. :D

Ditto!