Friday, April 28, 2017

The Friday 56 (102) & Book Beginnings: The Gauntlet by Karuna Riazi

The Friday 56 is a weekly meme hosted by Freda's Voice where every Friday you pick a book and turn to page 56 or 56%, and select a sentence or a few, as long as it's not a spoiler. For the full rules, visit the the page HERE
Book Beginnings is a weekly meme hosted by Rose City Reader that asks you to share the first sentence (or so) of the book you're reading.
29346880Synopsis from Goodreads...

A trio of friends from New York City find themselves trapped inside a mechanical board game that they must dismantle in order to save themselves and generations of other children in this action-packed debut that’s a steampunk Jumanji with a Middle Eastern flair...

When twelve-year-old Farah and her two best friends get sucked into a mechanical board game called The Gauntlet of Blood and Sand—a puzzle game akin to a large Rubik’s cube—they know it’s up to them to defeat the game’s diabolical architect in order to save themselves and those who are trapped inside, including her baby brother Ahmed. But first they have to figure out how. Under the tutelage of a lizard guide named Henrietta Peel and an aeronaut Vijay, the Farah and her friends battle camel spiders, red scorpions, grease monkeys, and sand cats as they prepare to face off with the maniacal Lord Amari, the man behind the machine. Can they defeat Amari at his own game…or will they, like the children who came before them, become cogs in the machine?
Beginnings: "In the Mirza Household, board games were a favorite pastime."

56: "She stood up and went to a series of steamer trunks lined up against the wall. The kids leaned forward and watched as she dug trough them, then carefully spread out a handful of what appeared to be clockwork odds and ends, antique tools, and a stray gear or two."
Comments: I read the Gauntlet by Karuna Riazi last weekend, and I have to say that I really enjoyed it. There were definitely some Jumanji-ish vibes. I like the beginning because it points towards the core theme of The Gauntlet. 

What are you reading this week?

21 comments:

  1. This one sounds fun! :) Glad you liked it.

    Stormi
    Friday Memes

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  2. Intriguing excerpt. Got this one on my list. I love that cover!

    My Friday 56 from Origin

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    1. I love the cover too. Its even nice in person. Thanks for stopping by, enjoy your weekend!

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  3. That beginning gets me. I love board games! This looks like a really good book!

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    1. The Gauntlet was good. I really enjoyed the story. Thanks for stopping by, enjoy your weekend!

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  4. Sounds like a good one. I have Spill Zone by Scott Westerfeld - a graphic novel - this week. Happy reading!

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    1. Thanks for stopping by, enjoy your weekend!

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  5. The cover did remind me of Jumangi even before I saw your comment. Looks like a fun book.

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    1. The Jumanji comparison is why I was so excited to finally read The Gauntlet. Thanks for stopping by, enjoy your weekend!

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  6. I can't wait to read this one! Happy reading :)

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    1. I hope you enjoy The Gauntlet once you get to it. Thanks for stopping by, enjoy your weekend!

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    1. Thanks for stopping by, enjoy your weekend!

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  8. Looks like a fun and adventurous read! Happy weekend!

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    1. Fun and adventurous are two words I would use to describe The Gauntlet. Thanks for stopping by, enjoy your weekend!

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  9. I have had my eye one this for quite some time. I hope that you enjoy it. Thanks for sharing! :)

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    1. I did enjoy The Gauntlet. Thanks for stopping by!

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  10. Nice cover, and I'm glad it was a good read for you.

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  11. This was awesome! I'm glad you liked it!

    Lauren @ Always Me

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Comments are appreciated and always welcome. :)

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