YA Buddy Readers' Corner ♥ discussion

Goodreads Blurb

"When Katharine Tulman’s inheritance is called into question by the rumor that her eccentric uncle is squandering away the family fortune, she is sent to his estate to have him committed to an asylum. But instead of a lunatic, Katharine discovers a genius inventor with his own set of rules, who employs a village of nine hundred people rescued from the workhouses of London.

Katharine is now torn between protecting her own inheritance and preserving the peculiar community she grows to care for deeply. And her choices are made even more complicated by a handsome apprentice, a secretive student, and fears for her own sanity.

As the mysteries of the estate begin to unravel, it is clear that not only is her uncle’s world at stake, but also the state of England as Katharine knows it."

Elizabeth and I will be starting this on August 4th if anyone wants to join us.

@Elizabeth are you still joining me for this today?

Page 26 (view spoiler)[ The hair in the drawer is super creepy. As is the giggle that she heard that came from nowhere. I'm finding her a little snotty. But I am intrigued with where this will go. I didn't think I was going to like it at first. (hide spoiler)]

End of chapter 4 page 42 (view spoiler)[Okay so this is a little strange... I don't know what to expect. I am predicting some sort of romance to be kindled between Lane and Katharine. (hide spoiler)]

End of chapter 7 page 79 (view spoiler)[ Okay I would definitely be terrified. That sounds like a Chucky doll to me. (hide spoiler)]

Page 104 end of chapter 9 (view spoiler)[ I hope that she does lie to her aunt. It is such a nice place, providing for so many. (hide spoiler)]

Pg 131 (view spoiler)[ What is Mrs. Jefferies doing?! All of this sneaking around is so suspicious. I'm so intrigued.

It's clear that Lane and Ben both like her. I'm partial to Lane though. Ben is too proper for me. Although she is a lady, so I'm curious as to who she will be attracted to. (hide spoiler)]

I'm starting this tonight. I also finished Thorn Jack today, if you want to discuss that.

Awesome. Once I'm done with this I'll start that.

Through chapter 5 (view spoiler)[ It's very different than I thought it was going to be. I didn't expect the haunting element. And her uncle clearly is crazy. There are just hundreds of people dependent on him. At this point, I'm not sure where the plot is going. (hide spoiler)]

Elizabeth wrote: "Through chapter 5 [spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[ There is definitely a creepy aspect to this book. I love that about it. (hide spoiler)]

Through chapter 12 (view spoiler)[I have to confess I don't really LIKE Katharine. Any time she's uncomfortable, she resorts to snobbery. I feel a little like she's snowing her poor, mentally disturbed uncle. (hide spoiler)]

Through chapter 18 (view spoiler)[Yeah, I'm still not liking Katharine. I'm not okay with her breaking into Lane's room, and when she tries to teach Davy how to read, I found the whole thing condescending. And as for the plan to declare her uncle crazy, I get that she has to look out for herself, but there are 900 people at stake and she COULD get a job. She HAS skills after managing her aunt's house. (hide spoiler)]

Through chapter 21 (view spoiler)[ Wow okay. So she's not crazy. This is nuts though. She's been drugged this whole time? How did she not notice that at all? I knew I never liked Ben that much! (hide spoiler)]

Finished last night (view spoiler)[It was okay. I'm glad everything worked out. But I don't think I'll read the next one. (hide spoiler)]

Elizabeth wrote: "Finished last night [spoilers removed]"

I agree completely. It took me way too long to get through to want to read the next.