Free For All Friday | Beautiful Bloggers Award

Thank you to the lovely Diaries of a Book Lover and Paperback Heaven for nominating me for this award.

The rules are as follows: 

• Link to the blogger/bloggers who nominated you
• List seven, random facts about yourself 
• Nominate seven creative, beautiful bloggers and notify them

Seven random facts: 

1. I'm an only child. 
2. I never check the weather before getting dressed in the morning. 
3. I sleep on the left side of the bed. 
4. I have a weird habit of rubbing my eyebrows and biting my lips when I'm nervous and/or thinking.
5. My favorite type of sauce is buffalo.
6. My favorite part of a chicken is the wing. 
7. My goal in life is to watch every popular TV show. 

My Nominees: 

• Courtney from CourtneyReads
• Cindy from The Book Feels
• Eduardo from Booming Books
• Maria from Of a Fangirl 
• The Fangirling Misses from Fangirling Misses
• Danielle from The Fangirl Existence
• Ellen Le from Paperinksandwords

Mistborn by Brandon Sanderson | Discussion Post #4

Welcome to another Mistborn discussion post. For the last couple of weeks Courtney from CourtneyReads and I have been buddy reading Mistborn by Brandon Sanderson and after each section we've been posting short discussion posts, which I'll link to down below!

Discussion Post #1

Discussion Post #2

Discussion Post #3

There will be spoilers ahead, so if you haven't read the book yet join the buddy read! The more the merrier. 

Do you think Kelsier really died?

Courtney: I don’t really see any possibility for there to be a different outcome. The fight was rather detailed and Vin saw his body afterward, I don’t see how he could have survived. It’s possible that it was some kind of imposter but since they were using Allomancy I don’t think that is likely. That scene was heartbreaking to read. I also feel like this will somehow play into his plans. I’m not sure exactly how this would have been included, but I feel like he had a plan that the others didn’t know about that had this built in as a possibility.  

Saloni: For some reason I don’t think he really died. I know all the evidence seems to point towards his death, but there just seems to be something missing. His death was too short and quick to be real. I think this might be where the Terrisman’s powers come into play, perhaps the aspect of Vin being able to access the Terrisman’s powers. I’m not completely sure, but I think this aspect will play a role in the future.

Do you think the Inquisitors broke Marsh or that their information was obtained some other way?

Courtney: I don’t feel like we have enough information about what happened to Marsh to really know for sure. I don’t think they broke him though. I kind of feel like that would have come out in Kelsier’s fight with the Inquisitor if they had because he could have used the information against Kelsier to defeat him more easily. If Marsh broke then they would have known his relationship to Kelsier. That seems like too valuable of information to ignore.    

Saloni: It seems too easy that the inquisitors broke Marsh, too predictable. I really don’t think Marsh would have betrayed them that easily, especially after going through the effort of trying to blend in with the Ministry. Perhaps they have a spy on the crew? I hate to say this but maybe Sazed, Breeze, or Spook?

What do you think the crew will do now that they no longer have Kelsier to lead them?

Courtney: Things are once again up in the air it seems. Without Kelsier’s passion for the job the others will lack focus. However, since they all loved Kelsier so much I don’t think they will completely abandon the mission. And again, I feel like Kelsier will have had a plan that included this possibility and some way of informing them. He wouldn’t die without some way for his plans to go forward, he was too smart for that.

Saloni: While Kelsier’s death wasn’t as noble as it could have been, I think his death will spur the skaa and the rest of the crewmembers to take action and avenge Kelsier. His death will serve to push everyone else over the edge, hopefully furthering his plan.

Why do you think Elend is so interested in skaa? Do you think it’s more than curiosity?

Courtney: Elend has shown extreme interest in skaa where other nobility just ignore them. He isn’t even bothered by the fact that Vin is skaa (he even seems rather intrigued by the possibility that he’s falling in love with a skaa woman). Where this curiosity stems from I’m not sure, but I think it’s more than just the idle curiosity of a bored lord. He has to have reasons for his interest in them.

Saloni: There’s something quite interesting about Elend. He seems very disinterested in the lives of other nobility but is very interested in skaa life. I agree that it probably stems more than from simple curiosity, what it is exactly I’m not sure. Perhaps something to do with his childhood/ past? A theory is that perhaps he actually was skaa from birth and somehow ended up as the heir to the largest noble house.

Do you think that the Lord Ruler’s overwhelming power (even when a Smoker is present) is simply because he’s stronger or because something else is aiding him?

Courtney: The end of this section is the first time we’ve actually seen the Lord Ruler (through Vin’s eyes). I’m not sure if it’s that he’s extremely powerful on his own and can thus break through a copper cloud or if there is some other explanation for his extreme display of allomantic strength. I also think the fact that he wears so much metal has to be important somehow.

Saloni: I would say that something is most definitely aiding him. Everyone has a weakness, and I don’t think the Lord Ruler is any different, especially since he wasn’t always like this. His power is linked to something, perhaps a rare metal supply like the Eleventh metal? Since we’ve gotten to see bits and pieces of his past, we can tell that there’s a Before and an After, now we just have to find out what’s separating these two.

Tuesday Talks | Requesting ARCs

Welcome to yet another Tuesday Talks, a GoodReads group started by Janie and Janelle where we discuss book-related topics every week. Today's topic continues last week's discussion of ARCs, whether or not we request ARCs.

When I was relatively new to blogging and reviewing, the idea of free unpublished books was like heaven. While I still love the idea, it's so much harder to manage all of the ARCs I receive. Unless a book really stands out to me I don't really request it just so I don't overwhelm myself.

I'm not a huge fan of digital books so eARCs don't really appeal to me unless it's a book I'm really looking forward to. While Netgalley is an incredible resource, I usually don't scour it because I'll end up requesting everything and then forgetting about it a few days later.

While I love reviewing books for publishers and authors, I usually don't go out of my way to unless some special condition holds.

What about you guys? Do you guys like requesting ARCs? Let me know in the comments below! 

Mistborn by Brandon Sanderson | Discussion Post #3

We've finished yet another section so here we are with yet another discussion post.

If you don't already know, Courtney from CourtneyReads and I are doing a buddy read of the Mistborn Trilogy by Brandon Sanderson. So far we've done two other discussion posts, which I will link below:

Discussion Post #1 

Discussion Post #2

There will be spoilers ahead, so if you haven't read up until part 4 I suggest you come back after reading it. And if you haven't picked up the book yet, join along with us!

How do you think Vin has changed as an individual so far?

Courtney: Vin’s character development is slow and steady. Sometimes this can be annoying because she seems stuck on things that to me as a reader don’t seem like things she should care about. However, I think this slow development of her personality is fitting for a character that started out in her position. She transforms right before the reader’s eyes, page by page. As an individual she’s very conflicted; switching between Vin and Valette, never sure who she really is, but I think this will help her determine her place. Eventually. It might just be a while before we get there.  

  

Saloni: I can’t really tell if Vin has progressed from the beginning of the book or not. As Vin, though she lived in fear, she has established a personality for herself. However as an individual, as part of Kelsier’s crew, she’s subjected to constant change in character from Valette to Vin. And though she’s a more skilled mistborn and a happier person, the only growth I’ve really seen in her is her becoming more trusting. Unfortunately that trust may betray her when it comes to Lord Elend, who knows?

With so many of his men dead, how do you think Kelsier is going to proceed with his rebellion?

Courtney: Kelsier seems determined to carry the plan, or something like it, forward no matter what. I’m not sure that it’s possible at this point to completely recruit a new army; it was hard enough getting the first one. I also don’t feel like we, as readers, completely understand what’s going on in Kelsier’s mind and what his plans really are. He’s very vague at times, even his thoughts that we’re privy to are often held in check somewhat, so I’m guessing he has a plan. Or if not a plan then, then a thought. A crazy thought.  

Saloni: Recruit more skaa soldiers and try again? After the unexpected slaughter Kelsier’s determination seems even more strengthened, so I don’t think he’ll give up until he reaches his goal, no matter the costs. Maybe now Kelsier will buckle down on more of the politics and try to wreck the nobility from the inside, rather than spend effort rebuilding his army.

Anymore thoughts on Lord Elend?

Courtney: Ah, Elend. It’s hard not to fall in love with Elend, at least for me. We’ve definitely gotten more of his story and know him a bit better now. He seems sincere and I feel like Vin trusting him, even though she doesn’t trust easily, is a good sign. Either that or a very, very bad sign. I’m sure there is more of him to come.  

Saloni: I love him and I can’t stop loving him. He’s witty, he’s intelligent, he’s funny, he’s everything a Lord should be. I can see why Vin is falling for him because so am I. I definitely sense some type of twist with him coming up, but I can’t decide what it is. Since Kelsier and his gang are highly suspicious of Lord Elend, him actually turning out to be associated with the Lord Ruler almost seems too predictable. But him actually being a good guy and working with Kelsier and Vin seems too good to be true. The likelihood of his death seems to be getting higher and higher.  

Do you think the new information regarding the “magic” of the keepers (Sazed) will affect the mission? If so, how?

Courtney: I’m not sure this new knowledge about Feruchemy will have a huge impact on the overall mission that Kelsier is on, but I do feel that it will play a role. It’s already been used to save Vin’s life and other uses have been mentioned. Sazed will be in need of these special skills before the conclusion, I believe. How this will come about or in what way they will be used, I’m not entirely sure.     

Saloni: I don’t think it will play a crucial role in the plot directly itself. But, as Courtney said, I think he’ll be needed to keep the plot from falling apart. I think the Keepers will be used as a form of backup, in case something happens to the Mistborns. Since their reserves are so limited, it would be difficult to have them be engaged in the actual fighting.

Now that we know the contents of the book Sazed and Vin found, do you think this will help or hinder the crew?

Courtney: The fact that they now have a record penned by the Lord Ruler himself seems significant. What they’ve read (and what we’ve been reading as our chapter headings the entire book) doesn’t seem life altering, but it gives a new perspective. The crew now has an idea of the man that the Lord Ruler was before the ascension, before he became the Lord Ruler. And the changes are extreme. How this will help or hinder their plan is up in the air, but something in those pages is important.  

Saloni: I honestly think it will serve to hinder the crew since it gives a different, softer perspective on the Lord Ruler. Throughout the entire book we’ve only known the Lord Ruler as this brutal tyrant who, we agree, should be put down. But as the book progresses and we get to read bits and pieces of his life before, he becomes more humanized, which might make him harder to kill, especially if Kelsier and his crew start sympathizing with him.

Any thoughts on who, or what, is acting as Lord Renoux’s imposter?   

Courtney: Vin is constantly amazed by how well the imposter that is Lord Renoux plays his part. While he is not out and about in the larger societal gatherings that she attends, he does attend to matters with the lesser nobles, never breaking character. This seems important. There have been several mentions of methods of impersonation that cannot easily be detected, most notably by the elder Lord Venture. So my guess would be that something is wearing his skin. Again, this seems like it will be very important later on and I’m interested in finding out exactly what is going on there.

Saloni: For a couple of chapters I really thought that Kelsier himself was pretending to be Lord Renoux, but that is obviously not the case. I honestly have no idea who/what is acting as Lord Renoux’s imposter. It may be another magical being, perhaps someone who can transcend physical bodies?

Snapshot Saturday | Independence Day

Happy Independence Day! Fireworks are one of the biggest events associated with the 4th of July so here's one for us to remember the day our country became free. 

Mistborn by Brandon Sanderson | Discussion Post #2

As you probably already know, Courtney from CourtneyReads and I are buddy reading the Mistborn Trilogy this summer. At various points along the novel we'll be posting discussion posts.

If you want to read our first discussion post, click here.

There will be minor spoilers ahead, so if you haven't read up until part 3, I suggest reading that and coming back. Here's our second discussion post for Mistborn by Brandon Sanderson.

What do you think of Elend so far? Any predictions for him?

Courtney: I really enjoy Elend’s laid back attitude. It’s hard to tell at this point if that is all just an act and he’s trying to use Vin or if he really is just an unsocial reader who may be slightly interested in her. After only one real interaction with him it’s hard to say where I think his loyalties will lie. But he’s so funny. I want him to be good.  

Saloni: I’m suspicious because I already like Lord Elend which usually means one of two things. He’s either working for the Lord Ruler and just talking to Vin to gain information, faking his charm, or he’s going to die. I sincerely hope he’s one of the good guys, but I can tell that Brandon Sanderson is all about unpredictability so the I think the chances of Elend being “good” are fairly low.

Do you think Vin’s father will have any significant part in the plot?

Courtney:  I’m not sure that he will play a major role in the novel, but I think who he is and the fact that he’s Vin’s father with have consequences. We still don’t really know how important he is in society, but I’m guessing his role will affect events somehow. I’m expecting something to come out that. And the fact that Vin’s brother wanted her to see him and know what he looks like has to mean something. 

Saloni: I really don’t think Sanderson would introduce a character or even mention him/her if we were never going to see them again. I don’t know how much of a part he’ll play in the actual plot itself, but I think his existence will somehow affect how the plot will turn out.

What do you think is the significance of the book Sazed brought back?

Courtney: I think that the book will have more significance than you would expect. It came from the palace, which means that it’s somehow connected to the Lord Ruler. Translating it will be the tricky part, but I think once they do it will have some kind of record either by or about the Lord Ruler. Not sure what the significance of that will be, but I think it will mean something. 

Saloni: To be completely honest, I actually ended up somehow skipping over the few mentions of the book. But after rereading it, I still have little to no idea what it could hold. At this point it could honestly be anything from an insignificant reading book to a guide on how to beat the Lord Ruler. Maybe it has crucial information about the eleventh metal. There are so many things that the book could hold.

After what happened in the palace, do you think that Kelsier was betrayed the first time?

Courtney: The palace scene really affirms one thing in my mind: the crew (and thus the reader) don’t know enough about what the Lord Ruler can do. His power seems far stronger than they thought it was. The first time around, Kelsier wouldn’t have been able to feel the Lord Ruler’s Allomancy (since he was not yet Mistborn), so perhaps it has something to do with this extreme power that Vin seems to sense near the palace. It’s hard to say if Kelsier was betrayed or if this power somehow alerts the Lord Ruler to their break in. Or it might have something to do with the chamber itself, we still don’t know what is in there. I think this will definitely be explored more as the story progresses.  

Saloni: This book seems to have a lot of contradictory themes of trust and betrayal. While it is possible that the Inquisitors just happen to be there, it seems more likely that someone alerted the palace. I really hope that it wasn’t someone from the crew, but for some reason I’m mildly suspicious of Sazed. He had found Vin near the palace, which means he was in the area. As of now he’s the only likely candidate to betray them. He continually is telling Kelsier how crazy his plans are, but maybe it’s not because he’s concerned about the safety and wellbeing of the crew, but rather so Kelsier doesn’t get to close to the Lord Ruler.

Free For All Friday | Feminism

After my ethics class, feminism has been a recent topic of interest to me.  I have friends on both sides of the spectrum, those who believe that patriarchy affects everything and everyone, and those who believe that feminism is only relevant in third-world countries.

From an American standpoint, I can see the arguments of feminism made and I know there are still ways to go before we reach equality, but from an Indian standpoint I can tell you how much has changed. 

I recently had several relatives over and I could just see how much things have changed. In India, the norm for a woman is essentially to serve her man. She has to cook, clean, take care of the kids and in return the man makes the money. It's a full-blown patriarchy. We've moved to a point where women can have low position jobs, but the mind set is still the same. Women can't talk back to the head of the house, they can't argue or express any type of differing opinion. Men are entitled.

Being a woman in America in the 21st century is quite incredible, comparing it to the circumstances I would have been in. I don't know if it's the effects of a different country, a different time period, or maybe it's just my family but I'm not confined. I can argue and express my opinions. I can hold jobs other than being a schoolteacher. I can do so much more. And while there's still room for improvement, there's still so much to celebrate in regards to women's rights.