Challenge Corner discussion

Sweet Tooth meets The Raven Boys in this queer young adult contemporary fantasy about what it means to belong from H.E. Edgmon.

You can never go home…

Every day, all across the world, inhuman creatures are waking up with no memory of who they are or where they came from–and the Caravan exists to help them. The traveling community is made up of these very creatures and their families who’ve acclimated to this new existence by finding refuge in each other. That is, until the morning five teenage travelers wake to find their community has disappeared around them overnight.

Those left: a half-human who only just ran back to the Caravan with their tail between their legs, two brothers–one who can’t seem to stay out of trouble and the other who’s never been brave enough to get in it, a venomous girl with blood on her hands and a heart of gold, and the Caravan’s newest addition, a disquieting shadow in the shape of a boy. They’ll have to work together to figure out what happened the night of the disappearance, but each one of the forsaken five is white-knuckling their own secrets. And with each truth forced to light, it becomes clear this isn’t really about what happened to their people–it’s about what happened to them.

through Ch 7 and Before (stopped at chapter 8) / 25%

so far (view spoiler)[ I've liked getting to know this group
I'm not 100% sure I have their different talents and species correct with each name, but I think I have a vague idea

how scary, to just suddenly start having a fraction of the population start being born with animal characteristics. and it seems random, you can have none or other children and each will be different and might or might not have these aspects

and I wonder where everyone went that they disappeared and left phones

and why are the mushrooms in a circle apologizing?! yikes!

and I feel bad for Eamon and that they left. hopefully they are coming back? (hide spoiler)]

through ch 14 / 49%

(view spoiler)[ wow, this is a very volatile group of teenagers.
Hugo is honestly scary. The smoke thing Felix described was terrifying - I was glad he stopped him

but Hugo seems like he's really close to hurting Bird - not matter how much he seems to love them.

Cal seems to have secrets too and doesn't seem to be keeping any of them from fighting. Is she going to kill someone though? I'm not sure what she is but she seems like a vampire? Is she part bat?

Even though we have Eamon's POV, I don't feel like we're getting to know him very well. . .keeping lots of secrets. and now hugo has hurt him? burned him? jeez. . .

I'm not sure where this story is going. So far we're just going through a lot of emotions and how everyone is working around how scary Hugo is with these emotions.

I feel like there's been very little focus on what happened to everyone that's missing. Why are the mushrooms talking? and now the other (was that a plant?) talking? I don't understand (hide spoiler)]

Through Ch 21 / 76%

I've officially slid into not liking this one
(view spoiler)[ Ugh, I feel like this is sliding into nonsense territory for me.

Why is Hugo allowed to bully them. he absolutely says vile and hurtful things - so gross they might as well be internet troll comments. I'm tired of him beating everyone up - especially Eamon

I hate that we aren't exploring any of these wild things talking to them, apologizing. . .

instead we're with this group of kids that I swear don't even know each other even though they supposedly have lived together except Eamon. They seem to be discovering everything about each other now and, even so, barely seem to have scratched the surface of how they are.

Did someone hurt the other people they were with? Why are these weird things apologizing and why am I 75% into this book without exploring any of it?! *sigh* (hide spoiler)]

and done

This one was not my jam
(view spoiler)[ I can't believe it was all just Felix.

gah, hugo was so awful (hide spoiler)]

curious to see what you think!

I'm hoping to start this weekend but this is not encouraging lol

I know, I'm hoping you like it more than I did!!🤞🏼🤞🏼

It's really weird so far, but I'm enjoying it.

ooo I have this ARC (I think?) so maybe i'll join!

YES!! Jump in Alaina!! so curious to see what you guys will think!

Jessica wrote: "It's really weird so far, but I'm enjoying it."

I finished two days after that but that's stilll my overall impression, weird as fuck but quite interesting. I did the audio and it was narrated by Vico Ortiz who I love and I think that defiently helped.

I love weird books and can't wait. I have two e-books to read before this—one is a library book due tomorrow lol. So I definitely plan to get to this by Tuesday/Wednesday for sure.

I'm going to jump into this after I finish The Ashes & the Star-Cursed King

Starting this now!

26% (Ch1-7/Before): (view spoiler)[I'm sorry... but did I read that they sacrificed/killed Charlotte? A perfectly healthy child?!?! Also, what in the wonderland is happening here? Mushrooms apologizing over and over again? Everyone disappeared but the few who remained. What's the reason behind this? Will they run back into Eamon on their way to this camp? Will that camp even have people? Ugh! So many questions. (hide spoiler)]

Trisha wrote: "through Ch 7 and Before (stopped at chapter 8) / 25% ..."

I have sooooooo many questions!

50% (Ch8-14): (view spoiler)[Everyone has so many goddamn secrets. I do like that they are all together now... even if Eamon almost basically died from these crazy assholes. (hide spoiler)]

Trisha wrote: "through ch 14 / 49% ..."

I too have so many questions. I do think she is a vampire/bat based off the teeth but who knows... she could be part dolphin in this book. I was very surprised about Eamon's POV where he said people have amnesia or lie like he did. I want to know more about him for sure.

lol right? SO. Many. Questions!!

Like, I'm confused AF but I also just keep reading. Hoping to finish this tomorrow but who knows.

Im starting this one as soon as I can force myself to finish Gifted and Talented! So cllllosee yet so farrrr away.

77% (Ch 15-21): (view spoiler)[Okay, I'm back in this! So, the question pile is still high on my end and there are no answers so far. I'm confused about so many things. The caravan is obviously a cult or whatever. I'm not exactly sure how they "find" these brand-new people to join or whatever. Unless they are the sole reason that person is now considered brand new. Again, cult vibes.

Also, is everyone weirdly attracted to everyone in this group? Well, except for Felix... I think? Like yes, there's tension between Cal and Bird, Cal and Hugo, Hugo and Eamon, and Eamon and Bird. FELIX HAS TENSION WITH HIS BROTHER BUT THAT IS IT.

I think, right? Again, so confused.

I want to know why random things talk to them and say things. I'm also wondering why Bird's mom was acting so weird in the RV before she left. AGAIN, I'M GETTING CULT VIBES.

So, does this mean everyone disappeared because they didn't sacrifice something to their cult god/leader? I have no freaking idea. (hide spoiler)]

100% (Ch22-End): (view spoiler)[Wow. What a twist. I totally forgot about Charlotte being dead. So, when her death popped back up (which was completely horrible), I started to connect the dots to the girl who kept finding Eamon. Interesting. Now the siblings are dead and together (in a way). The caravan is definitely a cannibalistic cult. We know they make the people brand new. All I can hope now is that Cal, Eamon, and Bird ran very fucking far away from Holly and the cult.

What a weird book. (hide spoiler)]

Carrie wrote: "Im starting this one as soon as I can force myself to finish Gifted and Talented! So cllllosee yet so farrrr away."

yes!! That one was a chunky read! hopefully you like the ending!!

Alaina wrote: "100% (Ch22-End):/i>

ooh I was curious to see what you'd think of this one. I think you liked it more than me but yes, lots right at the end and lots of tension the whole book!

I am finally starting this one!

Trisha wrote: "through Ch 7 and Before (stopped at chapter 8) / 25%

so far I've liked getting to know this group
I'm not 100% sure I have their different talents and species correct with each name, but I think ..."
Yes there was quite a bit of "species" characterization/details. I partly feel bad for real life gypsy's as this seems to be stereotypical with the cult references and such. Not knowing where they are or not, travelling caravans are definitely being judged in this book, I feel. Yes I hated that they left him and also hope they come back, but I am thinking not.

Trisha wrote: "through ch 14 / 49%

wow, this is a very volatile group of teenagers.
Hugo is honestly scary. The smoke thing Felix described was terrifying - I was glad he stopped him

but Hugo seems like he's ..."
Hugo is a loose wire, literally.

Jessica wrote: "It's really weird so far, but I'm enjoying it."
I'm a little more than 50% through it, It is very very strange. Not really my cup of tea. I am trying my best to enjoy it.

Alaina wrote: "Trisha wrote: "through Ch 7 and Before (stopped at chapter 8) / 25% ..."

I have sooooooo many questions!"
50%+ in and have even more questions now than I had at 25%. Are the mushrooms brainwashing? Are they what is hunting them? I could go on and on

Carrie wrote: "Alaina wrote: "Trisha wrote: "through Ch 7 and Before (stopped at chapter 8) / 25% ..."

I have sooooooo many questions!"
50%+ in and have even more questions now than I had at 25%. Are the mushroo..."

Right? I wanted to know why things were talking? and saying the same thing?! SO many weird moments and no one was talking about them!!

I didn't love this one. curious to see what you'll think of the end!

Alaina wrote: "50% (Ch8-14): [spoilers removed]"

love Felix saying, " i know yall have your "issues" to work through" no doubt, you think?

F….ing bizarre to quote the book.

ugh, sorry you didn't like this one more. . .