Nothing But Reading Challenges discussion

Its probably the best line she says!

I agree so I'll be awful with you :) I would've been like screw these people and is it really good to make another zombie, fake brains available or not? The responsibility of it!

I can start whenever, I'm pretty open. Should we just plan it as every Sunday or Monday like we did with the other series?

yeah thats fine with me, i'll probably start it tomorrow then

I'll probably start tomorrow.

Not sure if you started yet but I started last night, though I only got thru the 1st 2 chapters (not nearly enough). Will read more tonight!

i have not. my seasonal depression is baaaaad this year so i've spent most of the past several days listening to funny podcasts with no desire to read. on the plus side though i have also literally taken 100 books off my tbr today lol

i will try to listen to some tomorrow though, maybe while i'm at work or something. i have a feeling that once i start it will go quickly like usual but i am so unmotivated. need to at least do a few books this week for towers though. i feel bad that i haven't been hitting my goal since the first few weeks.

Sorry to hear that Devann. But you can't force it, if you're not feeling it you're not feeling it. Hope those funny podcasts have helped! And yay for getting those off your TBR :)

i am ...not sure where i am chapter-wise but i guess about 1/6th of the way through the audio [they're at the fancy party thing] and i guess that isn't all that far in and maybe it's just my generally bad mood this week but it seems like this one is moving sooo sloooowly.

i guess it's just because i don't really care about marcus. and i mean it's great she's gonna get her GED but also i don't need extended play by play of her studying for it. it just seems like they introduced the zombie movie thing in the first chapter and i was like 'ok what are we gonna do with this' and then they were like but first! other stuff!

hopefully it'll pick up soon but while i'm enjoying them these are kind of like juuuust on the wrong side of 'too domestic / inspirational' for me ...which you wouldn't think from the subject matter but idk.

also her putting brains with chocolate milk i'm just like [gags]. i'm not like ...against brains i guess, because you can eats brains of any animal but it makes sense to use them as a substitute for another meat in a stir-fry or something but she keeps mixing it with sweet stuff and i'm like oh god. i guess she has to have something she can eat/drink on the go but it still doesn't seem like it would be that good. i'm not sure what kind of 'savory' liquid concoction she could come up with though. but she keeps smoothie-fying them and i'm like ok that is literally like when they blend up mashed potatoes and steak for old people or something lol

Yea, that's why I didn't comment when I finished the 1st couple chapters - not much to comment on! More of the mundane stuff, didn't seem like too much in the overall scope of the series-arc (or at least what I think is the arc with Charish & Philip & that whole Zoldier faction).

The milkshakes are definitely one of the grosser ones. That's how I think of it too - like a blended up steak with milk and chocolate. Bleh! The zombie chips weren't as bad - it's almost like beef jerky but with brains.

Am now thru Chpt 12 -

(view spoiler)[Even though Marcus has been on my shit list too, I feel like he is trying and he hasn't gotten on my bad side, except for one scene where he was condescending but Angel put him in his place :)

I actually really like Angel, but with all the fights that have not only happened but are surely to come, would've thought she would've taken some hand-to-hand combat class or self defense or something like that because although she's bad-ass at times (cracking skulls & eating brains!), she has a ways to go!

And ugh that Philip guy. What is up with her mommy feelings for him? Makes me wonder if that's how Marcus feels about Angel. She never should've made Philip, she should've let him die. Now that's coming back to bite her in the ass! And just think how many other zombies has he made in these last 6 months?! That whole scene, with them holding her down and taking her blood, they had to have injected her with something else...

And Pietro still holding onto those heads they recovered - seems a little strange. So they're just sitting in lockers or what? After so many months you would think the heads would "die", especially without bodies. Well, actually maybe not. They did keep a zombie head "alive" on Santa Clarita Diet so maybe. (hide spoiler)]

I’m just popping in to comment. I’m still reading and just got through chapter 19. I know how you feel Devann with the weather changes my motivation has been low. Plus it’s hitting that point of almost being done with this school semester and I cannot be any happier about it. I just can’t wait like seriously.

@Cathy I agree that the mommy feeling towards Philip is creepy and that it also made me question if that how Marcus feels about Angel. Like is that why he’s such a babying controlling douchebag towards her cause subconsciously eh just sees her as his kid? Which if so is even skeevier and creepy than I considered him.

you guys are definitely get through this before me for once lol. not sure what chapter i'm in but i'm about a third of the way through.

while i am enjoying this series i'm thinking i might need to take a break before the next one because i feel like if i keep pushing with it then i might end up not liking it so much. do you guys have any standalone books you'd like to read? i've got a shelf for the standalone books on my tbr or if you guys have any ideas i'm open to that too. i might want to read the first chapter before i decide to actually request the thread though lol [even for ones on my own tbr]

ok, finally through chapter 12!

And ugh that Philip guy. What is up with her mommy feelings for him? Makes me wonder if that's how Marcus feels about Angel.

oh god, that's so creepy. i agree he's being much better in this book but that would be really messed up ...although would explain a lot of his behavior really.

and i loved santa clarita diet so much! i heard they canceled it which makes me sad because the last season ended on such a weird cliffhanger.

i think it's weird how chill she is about marcus' uncle now. i mean in the last book he was planning on doing this whole ~only i should be able to choose which zombies live by being the sole provider of brains~ thing and now it's just like hey it's your weird eccentric uncle! like ...no lol i guess her inner monologue is still a bit suspicious of him but i'm always just glaring at him like ...i know you're a dick even if you're acting nice!

Okay so I finished yesterday but didn’t make time to come comment til now. I enjoyed this book. @Devann your right it stated slow but then it picked up action wise.

(view spoiler)[ I agree with @Cathy that Angel needs to invest in self defense. Like the whole scene when they attack her and hold her down and steal her blood was messed up. But she later on keeps charging into crazy situations without thinking about the fact that she can’t fight.

Marcus seemed a bit better this book but regressed multiple times. I just can’t get into the pairing between them. I think he won’t be able to help it and keep regressing back to thinking he knows better. Like he’s trying but I don’t think he’ll be able to do it. Angel also is like working to improve and change herself so I totally see her outgrowing him as the series goes. She’s a lot bolder and more action driven while Marcus is to happy letting others to fix things while angel wants to know things and be involved.

On Pietro I don’t think that Angel has lost her wariness but she was way more chill towards him than I thought she would be considering what he set her up for. And now she’s gotten in with him and his organization. Like I know she worries about it but I actually think she is going to end up fitting well with the shady zombie mafia. I think Pietro also realized he underestimated her and now is starting to see her as an asset to cultivate and that’s why he’s being do nice and accommodating.

I wonder if as the series goes she gets in deeper with the zombie mafia or breaking off and making her own faction. Do you guys think Pietro is going to end up getting killed off? And how old do you guys think he really is. Does this mean that Marcus’s parents also know of zombies and that Marcus is one?

Speaking of parents knowing about zombies how do you guys feel about Angel’s dad finding out and his low key reaction to it. Like I think he repressed a lot of it but the dude was seriously scared of her after he found out.

The creepy mommy feelings were annoying and disturbing. Even more because of the whole thing at the end where angel thought he was going to kiss her and was okay with it and would have kissed back. Like that whole relationship is messed up. Then there is the fact that he did a lot of messed up things towards her while he was undercover and just ugh no.

Did anyone else see the whole Nick likes Angel thing coming? I kind of started suspecting last book after the expensive watch thing but then it was like super obvious in this book. Pobrecito I felt bad for him since she’s obviously not into him. (hide spoiler)]

I was going to comment earlier about finishing but hubs wanted to watch Mandalorian so got sucked into it. I'm not a huge fan of that world and wasn't all that into it until the end of the 1st episode - I just about died when they showed Baby "Yoda"! It was just too cute!!! Then I had to find out more about it and before you know it, 2 hours have passed. I can see it now - all the merchandising from it is going to kill this Xmas season!

And yes Devann, I loved Santa Clarita Diet too! It was pretty funny & I love Timothy Olyphant & Drew Barrymore. So sad it was canceled :(

(view spoiler)[Did anyone else get confused about who was working for whom and who was working undercover for this company or that? I like a good twist but that was just too confusing. Charish working for Pietro again, undercover? Really? I think that was taking it a little too far. I mean sure, I'll take Philip being a double agent. But then Pietro talked her into working for him again? After the last book?

And it's funny that I didn't think the whole mommy zombie thing was creepy per se, but it was a little weird. Adding Marcus to the mix, um yea, I can see why he's so overprotective of Angel but dude needs to calm down. He did try so hard in this book so I give him that, and he didn't make me nearly as mad as before, but I agree with you Claudia. Angel will probably outgrow him. Though I don't think she'll ever completely be free of him (with their relationship with Pietro).

The thing with Philip though, with the almost kiss, was bleh. She had maternal feelings for him up to this, and then all of a sudden it's more physical? And yea, after all the crap he did to her, undercover or not, not sure I'd be able to completely forgive or trust him. Wouldn't want to be alone with him, that's for sure.

I had that same question about Pietro - she kept saying that he was hundred years old but then how can he be Marcus' uncle? Or am I remembering that wrong? I think Angel is going to get deeper into Pietro's organization - she's taken the 1st step in working for him at the lab. Next you know, she'll be taking on more and more for Pietro.

I was shocked that Angel told her dad about her zombieness. I did not see that coming! And he took it so well... Not sure if he'll be able to keep the secret though which doesn't bode well for Angel & Marcus.

I did see that coming about Nick the prick. He was a total dick in the beginning but he's been really nice to her since. First with the watch, and helping her study for her GED. I felt a little bad for him but hope that he'll be a friend to her. I actually love everyone at the morgue - Dr. Leblanc & Derrel especially :) (hide spoiler)]

Devann - I don't mind taking a break from this series. From your shelf, Mr. Splitfoot was one I was going to read before but never ended up getting to it. It sounds interesting.

I finally got to start!

〰️Beth〰️ wrote: "I finally got to start!"

Yay, that's great Beth!

ok finally finished!

agree with claudia that i'm getting real sick of the 'marcus is an asshole but then says he's sorry so she forgives him rinse and repeat' thing. i mean i know that it's unrealistic to expect him to do a complete 180 immediately but also the fact that i just reeeeaaally don't like pietro feeds into it as well because i associate them with each other.

idk how the series is going to go but i really need pietro to die and this whole zombie mafia thing to get blown up. at the end of this book she's like 'well they're assholes but we need it' and i'm like you literally don't though? or at least not in the form it's in right now. i mean yeah it wouldn't be good to have like 'every zombie for themselves' but also i still think pietro is more concerned about profit and results than actual people and also that he is going to use it as a way to make sure the 'right' kind of people stay zombies and people he doesn't like won't get access to the things they need.

The zombie parent feelings are definitely creepy, and i don't know why she's not more concerned about marcus feeling like that towards her. i mean i know it gets brought up a couple of times but i would be much more freaked out if i was her. i'm wondering if it kind of goes both ways and that is why she cuts him so much slack with everything.

i didn't see the whole thing with nick coming and now i'm just like please no love triangle please no love triangle. or love square maybe? her zombie dad, her zombie son, and the random dude at work all fighting over her. no thank you lol

@Cathy i agree that i am totally confused as to who is with what group and what everyone is supposed to be doing. i thought it was just because i've been having trouble paying attention this week but i was really lost for a lot of the time. i'm just going to go with 'everyone is awful' lol

i'm wondering if marcus is pietro's actual uncle or maybe it's more like great-great-etc-uncle and he's just kind of ~the family uncle~ and everyone knows about it after they reach a certain age? i know it said in the last book he wears makeup to look older but he still could be even older than he is pretending to be.

also @Claudia do you have any opinions or suggestions on what to read next? i definitely need a break from this series lol. cathy suggested splitfoot but we're open to whatever

@Devann and Cathy I think I'll take a break from buddy reading until you guys are ready for the next zombie book. it's end of semester so gonna do all my school stuff

ok, when is your semester over? back when i was in school it wouldn't be over for like another month, is yours different? i would honestly probably drop this series entirely at this point if we weren't buddy reading it but since we are i figure i can take a break then try one more for you guys lol

The last of my assignments is due on dec 4th so mad going to try and have it done by thanksgiving so I can just be done

hey guys just checking in to see when you guys want to start reading again?

in theory i'm good whenever you guys are ...in reality i am still in a big slump lol. but who knows how long that will last so if you guys pick a date then i will do my best to start it then. if i'm not into this one though i think i am gonna drop this series because i have not missed it at all.

I really enjoyed book one and am interested in continuing. Please let me know when you plan to start

How did your exams go Claudia?

Sorry you're in a slump Devann. If there are any upcoming books that you are interested in reading, let us know. Or if you want to re-read a series that you already like (InCryptid?) we can start them instead.

But I do like this series so far and am down to keep going. But it will have to be after this weekend after TT ends. I'm reading like crazy because of it but luckily can slow down after!

Beth, we've already gone thru the 1st 3 books so you will want to catch up now before we start #4. We'll keep you company if you post in this thread :)

we can do one more in this series just because i WANT to like them but they always end up way more boring than i'm expecting. but yeah after that maybe go back to incryptid ...although we're on the third one and i don't like that one that much lol maybe i'll like it more this time. 4 and 5 in that series are really good imo though but yeah we can just start book 4 of this next monday?

sooo i just actually looked at the audio version of this book and it's almost 15 hours long so i'm definitely gonna have to bow out of this series because my interest is not high enough for such a long listen. i didn't really think to check before because i think the other books were like 9-10 hours and i didn't expect such a shift in length. so if you guys are gonna keep buddy reading the series i guess just let me know whenever you have time to try something else.

sorry for the silence back from my brothers wedding and the mini vacation I took after to celebrate end of semester.

@cathy end of semester went good I just had a project, and two papers but I passed everything and am glad because absolutely hated my classes. metadata and cataloging is not for me.

I am open to anything. gonna be honest gonna keep reading this series cause I'm enjoying it but we can add on another buddy read with Devann as I just have work now so all my free time is back and I can up all my reading time

Oh wow, had no idea it was longer! But I'm fine with that. Claudia if you want to continue, I'll read with you since I'm enjoying them. Just pure entertainment and easy to read. Will you be starting #4 today?

I just started InCryptid #2 as well to catch up. Sorry to hear #3 is not your favorite Devann. It's the last one from Verity's POV though right? Or am I thinking of a different series...

no, 3 and 4 are from the brother's POV so maybe i was just thrown by the shift the first time around and it will be better this time. i remember that i like 4 because she does some very interesting things with the 'werewolf' type creatures in this universe. then book 5 is back to verity. and then 6-8 are the younger sister and 9 will apparently switch to sarah. book 9 comes out at the end of february so now would actually be a good time to start reading them again if we wanted to get through them by then. could you both read book 2 this week and we could pick up on 3 next week?

Oh wow, she really jumps around!! That will take some getting used to.

Yep, I'll definitely read #2 in the next couple days (am thru Chp 5 now) so I'll be read for #3 at least by end of this week. It's perfect timing then with the new book out soon :)

yeah i feel like it probably would have been more cohesive to do like 3 in a row with each POV character but i guess you've gotta write whatever you are inspired to lol

@Cathy I can start tonight if you want on next zombie book. Or we can start like on Thursday if want to finish the Incryptid book first.

I should go read the second Incryptid book as well. I can totally knock it out in a day or 2.

Can you start the WTZ book on Wednesday? I'm working late tonight & tomorrow so would be better to start fresh then :)

Yeah I can start on Wed instead

i went ahead and had them put up a thread for sunday but if we don't end up starting then that's okay. with christmas next week reading will probably be weird lol

Thanks Devann!

I started last night & am thru Chpt 10 -

(view spoiler)[Once again I'm loving Angel - she's so funny :)

Love that we're getting more of the "Tribe" here. BUT I admit that I don't really remember a lot of the characters, like Brian & Kyle. How do the Saberton folks keep infiltrating?!?! And geez, what Phillip is going thru! Just please don't tell me that they hook up later, though I do think Angel has more chemistry with him...

So I'm thinking fans don't like Marcus? I mean to just sort of write him off like that? I know that's not the end of him but it sure felt like it. And that breakup scene was just so... sudden? blase? It was just so (not even sure what to say here) - no drama, very matter of fact, almost like an after thought. Huh. They didn't really have to break up at this scene but ok. He's been one of those characters we either love or hate (depending on the scene) but I didn't expect it to go down like that. (hide spoiler)]

Sorry Cathy I’m reading this I swear, just really slowly…I’m currently finished Chapter 19.

(view spoiler)[ I agree that the end of Angel and Marcus was kind of sudden and like not even a big thing? It’s like a footnote of the story. I am also still super creeped out by the thought of Angel and Philip especially with the whole zombie mama thing. I can’t believe that Brian betrayed them and I keep hoping something is going on like a triple cross where Brian pretended to defect as a larger plan and didn’t really defect. OR maybe that there is some sort of mind control or something else going on. I just can’t believe he would betray them. (hide spoiler)]

No worries. I figured you were busy and tried to take it slow but then I was done before I knew it.

(view spoiler)[I couldn't even remember who Brian was in the scope of things but I'm glad it turned out that he was still on their side. And to find out Angel was the "mole" the whole time O.O What?!?!?! Makes sense though it was sort of shitty that she was the source of this Saberton problem. But they were going to escalate things no matter how it went down. Just hoping that the series arc moves on from Saberton for a while, especially with Angel turning Andrew. Only time will tell if he really becomes an ally or becomes an altogether different villain.

I think the author chilled out out the zombie mama-baby vibe between Phillip and Angel so by the time it ended, I didn't feel like it was a "thing". And I didn't get that same mama-baby vibe between her and Andrew. Maybe in the next one? Angel is collecting some zombie babies hahaha!

So with Pietro now Pierce, and looking like Marcus is taking over the "family" business (now the uncle thing makes sense!), things are about to change big time. Angel also has a bigger role within the organization so wonder if she will continue working at the morgue.

That last chapter with Nick. Hmm. There's something off about that guy, not sure what it is (maybe he knows Angel's a zombie?) but I'm interested in finding out.

And god that last scene... Angel was already a drug-addict. This is so bad that she now has a drug that her zombie side actually likes. This does not look good for Angel... (hide spoiler)]

Okay I finished!!
(view spoiler)[So a lot kind of happened in this book. I like how we finally got the explanation of how Pietro could be do sold and Marcus’s uncle. The whole shapeshifting twist was kind of cool.
I saw the whole Angel getting bigger role in the organization coming and am more surprised by how Peitro/Pierce wants Marcus to take over. Marcus doesn’t seem like a leader to me he’s a follower.
I’m torn on Andrew. I really hope that he becomes an actual ally and not another villain. But this is mainly cause I really like Naomi and I want her to be able to reconcile with her brother.
I agree with you that the scene at the end with Nick was weird. I wondered why he had the panic asthma attack. I started wondering if maybe he knew she was a zombie now as well. Like do you think Allen knows as well? Maybe that’s why he really doesn’t like Angel.
I didn’t like how the book ended with her getting high with that last mod. I feel like her character backslid.
(hide spoiler)]

Yes a lot DID happen, and I think this really was a pivotal book in the series. I didn't realize that book 6 was the final one so we only have 2 books left!

(view spoiler)[That whole shapeshifting thing reminded me of something... can't quite remember what (book, movie, tv show?) but sounded like something we've seen somewhere. But it was an interesting way for the zombies to live these long lives without having to resort to building these false identities along the way. Crafty!

I don't think Marcus will be able to cut it, especially at first, but I think Pietro/Pierce will be there to groom him so he might surprise us. And I do like Naomi too so hoping that with her on their side, Andrew won't screw them over. Plus, his mother is the worst! She kept the fact that Jennifer/Naomi was still alive, and she headed Saberton so can't see how, regardless of his family's legacy, that he could side with her. Unless he forces her out? A coup maybe?

I'm not sure about Allen. I don't think so but I think we need more of a scene with him in order to tell... I thought (before) that he just didn't like her because of her past.

And totally agree, that last scene was just horrible. I have a feeling it's just going to get worse... (hide spoiler)]

Hey Cathy when do you want to start the next book. I can't believe we are almost done with the series...

Let's finish this! Do you want to start tomorrow or after InCryptid?

I can start tomorrow and be done by Sunday/Monday for the next Incryptid book. Sound good for you?

Perfect!

So far thru Chpt 10: (view spoiler)[Ugh it's sorta heartbreaking how Angel is so into her addiction - when she justifies it and all the lying and stealing. And how its controlling her. I love how Dr Nikas is so understanding and wants to help her but its super shitty how it affected Phillip.

Allen definitely knows! But how?!?!

I'm loving her relationship w/her father now. They've had a lot of ups and downs but I love how its gotten so much better. (hide spoiler)]

Am thru Chpt 30 now so not far from the end: (view spoiler)[I feel like there are so many things going on!

Allen - it's surprising that he took it all so well, even Angel's filching the brains from the bodies. And how convenient he knows the key that they need. Wonder if Kang will be coming back any time soon. And that FBI agent definitely knew something was up with Angel especially with Angel all rotting and all. I guess it would've been suspicious if Angel said no to her request to take Angel's picture but if that was me, I'd be like no, I don't know you!

Nick - seems like maybe they will be hooking up in the near future? I can't really see it but that's where it seems to be heading...

Rosario - damn another Saberton guy?!?! And Dr Cherish escaped? I feel like that should've been more than a footnote, that there should've been more on that before now. Just like it was a little weird how Marcus & Pietro were being evasive with Angel in the beginning of the book. Thought they thought of her as part of their team?

Judd - holy crap, Angel sort of turned him with just the bite to his arm? I thought regular bites like that didn't usually turn people (or am I thinking of another book?), but maybe it isn't as complicated a procedure as originally thought. And him coming after her without most of his brain was crazy. He was more of that mindless zombie that we usually get with zombie shows/books. (hide spoiler)]

Sorry I haven’t read beyond the first chapter on this because I literally woke up sick the day I was going to start reading. I’ve been l just sleeping and in bed but I’m feeling better now and no longer wishing I was dead so I’m gonna pick it back up after I finish Pocket Apocalypse.

Hoping you are feeling better!

I finished this a couple days ago and damn (view spoiler)[can't believe Angel LITERALLY fell apart! Body parts flying off, only her torso & head remaining. That must've been a horrific sight - poor Nick! Don't see anything happening between them, especially after that. Could you imagine?!?! But of course it was convenient that they had a formula to help her regrown & quick. Again, gotta say I love the changes to her dad. His letter did make me tear up a bit, it was so sweet. (hide spoiler)]

1 more book to go!!

Cathy I’m so sorry I know that you’re done already and wanting to move to the next but I totally haven’t picked this up beyond chapter 3.
Like right now I’m kind of annoyed at how Angel has backslide and is shooting up. Like I hate it so much. I am seriously going to force myself to sit down and read this. I’m planning to read some more tonight and tomorrow. I totally need to catch up.