N.K. Jemisin: The Broken Kingdoms read-along #1

Book review, World of Books January 6, 2014 Comments: 9

And we’re back to the world where gods and godlings live alongside humans in the world shaped somewhat anew after what Yeine the Goddess did at the end of Thousand Kingdoms.

This week’s questions were brought to us by Grace of Books Without Any Pictures.

1.  What do you think so far of Oree Shoth?  Do you like her as much as Yeine?

Yes, I like her as much as Yeine. Possibly even more as she seems free, both to do as she pleases and like she has no burdensome limits left from her childhood.The Broken Kingdoms by NK Jemisin

 

2.  Sky is now referred to by its inhabitants as Shadow, and we get to see the city from the perspective of the commoners rather than the ruling Arameri.  What do you think of the book’s setting?
Love it. Especially imagining all the descriptions and the size of that tree. I keep needing to re-adjust my idea of how big it is. Well, no longer now but since the last book and at the beginning of this one, it didn’t seem that big in my mind.
3.  The gods play a much different role in this book than in “The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms,” and spend their time interacting with the people of Sky/Shadow.  What do you think of the gods and godlings that we’ve met thus far?  Who are your favorites?
I’m not naming favorites, I expect more will appear as we get further into the book. I think it’s easy to forget they aren’t human when they move so much among people and I believe that would be a serious mistake to make.

4.  Any predictions on who or what could be killing the godlings?

Some unknown witch-magic godling? 😉 Basically, no idea.
I can’t tell where the vengeance is coming from (and it feels like vengeance) so I can’t guess who could be doing it.

5.  For everyone who read the last book, Shiny’s identity should be relatively easy to guess, even though it hasn’t been explicitly stated yet.  Do you think his punishment is suiting, or is it too much?  Is there any chance he’ll come out of this as a normal person?  How do you think Oree will react when she finds out?

Hell no, it’s not too much. And I can see Oree is not eager to make that particular assumption (whether the punishment is too much).

If this doesn’t make him become a normal person/god, nothing will.

How will Oree react? Probably with cool aplomb. 😉 I think she’s no longer too surprised by godling world. I think her drawing might be more of a shock to her than Shiny’s identity.

 

Check out my fellow readers’ thoughts:

Violin in a Void

Tethyan Books

Books Without Any Pictures

Dab of  Darkness

Emma Shortt: Waking Up Dead

Book review, World of Books January 4, 2014 Leave a comment

As I said the other day, give me anything post-apocalyptic, and I’ll start reading it immediately. 🙂 Or soon.

This one though is a post-apocalyptic romance. Yes, there are love stories happening while you fight against zombies. And quite good ones too.

It starts action-packed and very tense from the beginning and it doesn’t really lessen up. which makes sense if you can get killed by a zombie at basically any moment. There is no safe place in the life of Jackson. And it all comes accompanied by some gruesome graphic detail. It actually makes me smile thinking of those details.waking dead

I was a bit worried I wouldn’t get information on how the whole situation happened, but throughout the story there are reminiscences between Jackson and Luke (and sometimes for themselves) which slowly build the picture of what happened. It is rather reminiscent of how it happened in World War Z (the movie, I haven’t read the book yet).

I found it interesting how I could understand everything Jackson went through in her head. How what is normal in her life now would have cause immense amounts of therapy in previous life and how it normal is such a relative term depending on the circumstances. I must say I admire the person she became, because it shows she has a core of steel which would have probably never become obvious while the world was normal.

Anyway, after meeting Luke and falling for him, we follow their story of falling in love during a zombiepocalypse while searching for the last human bastion rumored to be in Texas.

At some point I started wondering at the rather obvious glaring plot hole. 🙂 Turns out I shouldn’t have worried and I’m not going to point it out now.

As I could completely understand Jackson’s position in life, I was a bit worried if Luke was going to finally decide he cannot stand it, or hopefully, man up  and understand and support her life and become her partner and not try and be her protector, because, let’s be honest, she’s better at that than he is. 😀

But, yes, their love is the one to overcome all hurdles.

And for the next book, it seems Luke’s blood might hold the key to human survival (my guess, it’s not spelled out in the story)…

Now only if the sequel might come soon…

“You know your life has hit rock bottom when you’re living off cooked rats and showering once every few months—if you’re lucky. But for Jackson Hart things are about to get a whole lot worse. When her best friend, Tye, disappears hunting for food, kick-ass Jackson’s ‘head south to safety’ plan looks like it’s dead before it’s even begun. But then she meets ex-mechanic Luke Granger, who takes her to his bunker, feeds her with non-rat based food, and offers her protection against the zombie hordes—not that she needs it. She knows how to use a machete and isn’t afraid to.

Jackson was tempted to stay in the city with her rescuer. Food, shampoo and the possibility of finally getting laid, what more could she ask for? But the flesh eaters are getting smarter and the bunker is compromised, so Jackson and Luke have no choice but to make the journey south.
Luke and Jackson team up to find other humans in a road-trip romance for the ages. They travel for thousands of miles with zombies shadowing their every move. They must utilize every resource at their disposal…and then some. On the way, they discover that even if flesh eating zombies are knocking down their door, there’s always time for sex and even love. “

My book choices in 2013

Book review, I've been thinking, Reading challenge, World of Books January 2, 2014 Comments: 10

Here is what my year looked liked when it came to reading. If you take a closer look, you will notice Harry Potter appearing several times (it was a stressful year) and you will also notice that of my 100 books in a year goal, I basically came 2/3 to the finish line (luckily that’s not how I run). 😉

I keep thinking that the fact that I read every day if I can (and I usually can, as I schedule my time in such manner), I would be able to get two books read in a week (on average) but no. Well, a part was really my fault because I got hooked on Vampire Diaries and while watching all 4 seasons in the time allotted to reading, no books were added to my list.

Generally though, I’m very happy with what I’ve read in 2013 and I highlighted my favorites.

Who knows, maybe next year is the year I hit 100. 😉

 

1. Justin Cronin: The Passage

2. J. Rollins & R. Cantrell: The Blood Gospel

3. Chris Ashbrook: A Darker Gold

4. Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl: Beautiful Creatures

5. Shannon Delaney: Weather Witch

6. Melissa Marr: Carnival of Souls

7. Julie Kagawa: The Eternity Cure

8. Steven Brust: Dragon

9. Steven Brust: Issola

10. Steven Brust: Dzur

11. Robert Masello: The Romanov Cross

12. Mia Thompson: Stalking Sapphire

13. James M. Tabor: Frozen Solid

14. Eloisa James: Desperate Duchesses

15. JK. Rawling: Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone

16. JK. Rawling: Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

17. JK. Rawling: Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

18. JK. Rawling: Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

19. JK. Rawling: Harry Potter and the Order of Phoenix

20. Kim Harisson: Once dead, twice shy

21. Stephanie Laurens: And then she fell

22. JK. Rawling: Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

23. JK. Rawling: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

24. Dan Brown: Inferno

25. Claudia Dain: Daring a Duke

26. Sam Cabot: Blood of the Lamb

27. P. Briggs: River Marked

28. P. Briggs: Frost Burned

29. Kate Elliott: Cold Magic

30. Kate Elliott: Cold Steel

31. Kate Elliott: Cold Fire

32. James Rollins: The Eye of God

33. Kresley Cole: MacRieve

34. JK. Rawling: Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone

35. JK. Rawling: Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

36. JK. Rawling: Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

37. JK. Rawling: Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

38. JK. Rawling: Harry Potter and the Order of Phoenix

39. JK. Rawling: Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

40. Cinda Williams Chima: The Enchanter Heir

41. Alex Connor: The Rembrandt Secret

42. JK. Rawling: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

43. John Oehler: Aphrodesia

44. Cristin Terrill: All Our Yesterdays

45. JK. Rawling: Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone

46. JK. Rawling: Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

47. JK. Rawling: Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

48. Jennifer Lynn Barnes: The Naturals

49. Kresley Cole: Endless Knight (The Arcana Chronicles)

50. Lindsey Fairleigh & Lindsey Pogue: After The Ending (The Ending Series)

51. Nigel McCrery: Silent Witness

52. Lindsey Farleigh: Echo Prophecy (Echo Trilogy, #1)

53. J. Carson Black: The Survivors Club

54. Lizzy Ford: Cursed (Voodoo Nights, #1)

55. Lindsey Fairleigh & Lindsey Pogue: Into the Fire (The Ending Series #2)

56. Molly Harper: How to Run with a Naked Werewolf

57. Julianna Scott: The Holders

58. Lizzy Ford: Hear no Evil (Hidden Evil, #1)

59. Susan Isaacs: Compliments of a Friend

60. Sabrina Jeffries: When the Rogue Returns

61. Lisa Jackson: Sinister

62. Deb Marlowe: An Unexpected Encounter

63. Sarah Morgan: Sleigh Bells in the Snow

64. Veronica Roth: Divergent (Divergent series #1)

65. N.K. Jemisin: The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms

66. Isabella Bradford: A Wicked Pursuit

67. Scott Lynch: The Republic of Thieves

68. Jennifer Lynn Barnes: The Naturals

Isabella Bradford: A Wicked Pursuit

Book review, World of Books January 1, 2014 Comments: 2

Like I said, time for romance. This time of the historical variety. And quite lovely too.

From my obviously feminist perspective a guy falling for a girl only after he got to know her so well wicked pursuit(before he thought he should marry her very much better looking but rather vapid sister) is a bit difficult to swallow but it worked in this novel.

In his defense, he is rather young and full of himself and didn’t know better but luckily for Gus (Augusta) he came to his senses. Well destiny interfered and his ego got the rather needed deflation.

But it’s actually such a cute love story to read full of funny and sometimes heart-wrenching twists. the best thing is that Gus is such a brave little thing, confronting all her problems, not running away from them, that is so rare and I loved her for it.

She is also a person who deals with her problems from a loving point of view and it works.

It was great fun seeing Gus and Harry fall in love.

Now there are two more free brothers left in the Breconridge family…

 

“As the eldest son of the Duke of Breconridge, Harry Fitzroy is duty-bound to marry—and marry well. Giving up his rakish ways for the pleasures of a bride’s bed becomes a delightful prospect when Harry chooses beautiful Lady Julia Barclay, the catch of the season. But a fall from his horse puts a serious crimp in his plans. Abandoned by Julia before he can propose, the unlucky bachelor finds himself trapped in the country in the care of Julia’s younger sister.

Harry has never met a woman like Lady Augusta. Utterly without artifice, Gus is clever and capable, and seems to care not a fig for society. After a taboo kiss awakens passion that takes them both by surprise, Harry realizes he’d almost given his heart to the wrong sister. While London tongues wag, he’ll use his most seductive powers of persuasion to convince the reluctant Gus that she belongs with him—as his equal, his love, his wife.”

2013. The year that was

I've been thinking, Perfume thoughts, World of Perfume December 31, 2013 Comments: 24

I have no better words to describe it. It was, it’s over now.

I look back on it and all I can think is, thankfully, it’s over. Nothing bad happened to me but it still felt like a bad year, full of bad news (both domestic and international), lethargy, indifference, deaths – generally, a year that didn’t display human kind at its best (an understatement) and did display it at some of its worst.

I always feel guilty for thinking like this, I feel I am being ungrateful. Compared to most of the world, I lead a life of plenty. And realistically speaking, it’s true. I lack for nothing, quite the contrary, I have a great family, a nice job, a good education, great circle of friends. I live in a beautiful country. I travel. I can buy perfumes and books. I am also healthy and hopefully will remain so.

So why feel like my year was one I just went through? Because it was. It mostly feels like a year where I went through all the motions of my everyday life when actually it felt more like hibernation with some small sparks of life.

But I want to focus on all the positive things this year brought me (because it feels like the hibernation period might be over) and one should always bring in the new year on a positive note. 🙂

 

PERFUME

This year has brought me some true treasures. 🙂black smoke

I discovered Cuirelle by a lucky chance and fell in love completely.

Suzanne opened my eyes to what incredibly happy perfume 24, Faubourg is.

I listened to Maurice Roucel give a talk on perfumes and met some new perfume friends.

And then the new Puredistance Black came out. And speaking of black, it really has become my favorite color to wear.

 

 

BOOKS

I discovered I am hooked to post-apocalyptic novels of any and every caliber – YA, horror, zombie, romance – you name it, I’ll probably enjoy it. I do wonder about what that says about me because I’m scared of the actual possibility (some of them sound too realistic). Am I preparing for the possibility?!passage

I haven’t read World War Z but I did see the movie and loved it. I’m guessing the book is better. When someone asks me what I want for birthday, that will be on my list (although I can already see the eye-rolling accompanying my wish for more books). 😀

I also think I will never reach my annual goal of 100 books. Last year I came closest, but this year, I think it’s the worst so far. Maybe I should sign up for the 50 books a year challenge, I would be able to finish that one. 😉

 

THE REST

The highlights of my year have been the trips to Vienna and Rome. In Vienna I finally got to meet the lovely Birgit and her boys, with an additional surprise of meeting Sandra and her son as well.

Rome was a trip we planned while in Paris in 2012. I cannot say how happy I am that I got to meet with Suzanne, Mark and Asali in Rome again. I thought there wasn’t a city in the world that could remove Paris from the top of my list of places I would love to live, but there’s Rome. I love that city and I hope to visit it again soon.

View from the park above Spanish steps

View from the park above Spanish steps

It might seem like I had a very active year, what with finishing 4 half-marathons in 3 different countries, but that was an uphill fight all the time, as all I wanted to do was stay home and read, and not go out and run. Still, you can’t tell that from the races, so at least it looked good on the outside. 😉

IMG_2034

See how tired I was?!

But I took time off for the last two months as I needed to replenish my physical and psychological energy levels. I actually feel better now.

So, without further ado,

Wishing you all a successful, fulfilling New Year full of happiness, laughter and joy!

*off to toast to that with a glass of champagne*

Champagne_glass_flower_stem_shape

The Rose of Morocco – Andy Tauer’s Phi Une Rose de Kandahar

Perfume thoughts, World of Perfume December 30, 2013 Comments: 19

Actually, it’s the rose of Afghanistan but I’m calling it the Rose of Morocco in my mind as it smells of dry and thorny rose, on the familiar Tauer base which always makes me think of L’Air du Desert Marocain (not that they smell similar).

But the idea of dryness and dust is there, accompanied by light acridness and the feeling of thorns being hidden so you better beware when approaching it.desert rose

HEAD NOTES: natural apricot extract,cinnamon,hints of bitter almond, bergamot essential oil.

HEART NOTES: rare rose essential oil with its unique scent of spices, plums and flower petals, rose absolute from Bulgaria, Bourbon geranium,dark tobacco fond, absolute of dried tobacco leaves.

BODY NOTES: patchouli, vetiver, vanilla and tonka, musk and amber gris.

I would say smelling the notes is not what is important here. Sure, I can smell the bergamot, spices and almonds in the opening together with a beautiful rose note. And then the warmth of the vanilla and tonka, together with a pinch of tobacco. Finishing off with a warm, dry base resting on incredible patchouli.

What I find incredible is that it actually smells and feels like a warm, dry, rough region where the most succulent rose comes from. Not that I would know what dry, rough lands smell like, whether in Afghanistan or Morocco, but in my mind, this is how.

And once the night falls down, the rose closes its petals and you are left with the warmth of dry lands, reminiscing what bounty there was to smell when the petals were open.

This rose has so easily captured my heart and climbed the list of my favorite rose perfumes.

My sample was provided through http://www.tauerperfumes.com/ and the notes were taken from there as well.

Sarah Morgan: Sleigh Bells in the Snow

Book review, World of Books December 29, 2013 Comments: 2

It’s that time of year when I just love curling up with a romance book and enjoying my evenings at home.

And doesn’t this title sound like just the thing for such an evening? It certainly does.

I loved the chemistry and the budding love story between Kayla and Jackson, but I especially enjoyed the fact that it’s Kayla’s journey of life, coming free of the psychological burdens of her childhood, all with sleigh bellsthe help of a gorgeous, smart guy (I wouldn’t mind doing the same if Jackson was there beside me). 😉

The story is set at the week leading to Christmas, in as perfect setting as one can imagine for it, Vermont (well, I imagined it as perfect while reading the book).

The best thing about this book (if we ignore the sizzling chemistry that you will feel while reading it – incredible!) is that the end is realistic. 🙂

The rest of characters are fun to be around, and since Jackson has 2 brothers, I’ll be visiting Vermont (virtually) again it seems. 🙂

“Once upon a time, Christmas was Kayla Green’s favorite time of year. Now all the workaholic wants for Christmas is for it to be over—as fast as possible! So when duty calls her to snowy Vermont to close a deal with a new client, Kayla is grateful for an excuse to avoid the holidays for another year.

Jackson O’Neil left a thriving business behind to return home and salvage his family’s resort—it’s in his blood, and he can’t let it fail. Now that he’s got marketing whiz Kayla Green working with him to put Snow Crystal on the map, success is on the horizon. The fact they strike enough sparks off each other to power all the Christmas lights in Vermont is just an added bonus.

Kayla might be an expert at her job, but she’s out of her depth with Jackson—he makes her crave the happy-ever-after she once dreamed of, and it’s terrifying. As the snowflakes continue to swirl, will the woman who doesn’t believe in the magic of Christmas finally fall under its spell?”

This is what I think it must look like in Vermont

This is what I think it must look like in Vermont

N.K. Jemisin: The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms #4 (End)

Book review, World of Books December 23, 2013 Comments: 9

This is where we part ways with Yeine for the time being.

The last week’s questions were brought by Lauren of the Violin in a Void and here they are:

1. Yeine shows us the meaning of esui when she summons Nahadoth, makes an offering of herself, and asks him to make love to her like the god he is. What did you think of her decision and the scenes that followed? Cosmic sex or verging on comic? What importance does sex has for their relationship?kingdom

I was thinking she has some serious case of esui. 🙂 But I think their cosmic sex is important for their relationship because of trust and letting go of yourself in order to make a point of love. At least, that’s how I read it.

 

2. Relad makes a last-minute play for succession by offering to help the Darre. Are you satisfied with his role in this book or do you think he should have had more of a presence? What do you think of his strategy to get Yeine to choose him over Scimina?

I’m satisfied, especially since I didn’t expect anything much from him I admit. And I think his strategy was rather good, unexpected and back-stabbing when it comes to Scimina which I enjoyed.

3. The final chapters show us more of Dekarta’s character than the rest of the book. How do you feel about him now, knowing the truth of his motives and of Kinneth’s death?

Hmm, I’m not sure. I don’t think that not being responsible for Kinneth’s death absolves him of anything. he still did everything else. Although he does seem to have some nice emotions in himself it seems.

 

4. The Succession Ceremony: Absolutely nothing turns out the way anyone thought it would. Did any of it match your expectations? What are your thoughts on what happened?
[Note: so much happened in this ceremony that I have separate questions for Itempas and Yeine’s roles. You can discuss them there rather than in this question].

Nothing matched my expectations except for the Relad part. I was left reeling trying to figure out everything that was happening.

I could have done with a better explanation of Yeine’s change, it seemed like she became another person and there was no Yeine left even though I could tell the author wanted to convince us otherwise. I’m not really convinced it’s still her.

 

5. We finally meet Itempas, a mad god whose overpowering love and hate caused all this suffering. What did you think of him?

God, I hope he suffers as a human for eternity. It’s probably going to take him that long to learn to love. He’s a bit of a psychopath if you ask me.

 

6. As a goddess, Yeine makes some dramatic decisions and changes, like altering Sky, killing Kurue, and trapping Itempas in mortal form. How do you feel about this new goddess-Yeine? Would you have down anything differently?

I think she made some great choices and changes with her power. What I’m not so enthusiastic about is that I can’t think of her as Yeine. 😦

 

7. Wrapping up: What did you think of the book as a whole? Any loose ends you’d like tied up? How might the world be changed by these events? Will you read the next book to find out?

I will definitely read the next book but if I got it correctly, it’s going to focus on Itempas and not Yeine and Nahadoth. I don’t think there are any loose ends, I just wish Yeine goddess felt more like Yeine to me. Unfortunately, it felt just like the goddess, no Yeine.

Hopefully, that will change in the future.

The Scent of Music: Winter Wonderland

World of Perfume December 22, 2013 Comments: 26

It’s that time of year when we all want to write about our Christmas scents. A big thank you to Undina and Natalie for bringing us all together for another fragrant blogging event.

Today we are pairing Christmas music and perfumes and I just have to say it’s the best idea as I love Christmas music and well, you all know I love perfume.

My choice of music was Dean Martin‘s Winter Wonderland – the idea of winter wonderland paired with his voice makes for a perfect song to indulge in during this time (at least for me it does).

“Sleigh bells ring, are you listening,
In the lane, snow is glistening
A beautiful sight,Winter_WonderlandWe’re happy tonight.
Walking in a winter wonderland. ..

…Later on, we’ll conspire,

As we dream by the fire

To face unafraid,

The plans that we’ve made,
Walking in a winter wonderland. …

When it snows, ain’t it thrilling,
Though your nose gets a chilling
We’ll frolic and play, the Eskimo way,
Walking in a winter wonderland.”

 

I skipped parts of the song and just focused on those I will feature in perfumes. That said, I’m still looking for a perfume embodiment of snow I have in my mind.

Each time I consider a winter wonderland, I think of white woods and walking through them in the snow. I guess all the skiing did its thing. 😉

So, my perfect perfumes embodying the smell of a walk in the winter woods would be Serge Lutens Fille en Aiguilles, making you feel you’re still close to the cabin and its fire while also smelling the pines around you, and Winter Woods by Sonoma Scent Studio which is such an incredible depiction in perfume of exactly what the name says.

Then there are perfumes that might not smell like snow exactly, but they smell white and cold and sparkly, and come very close.

I find it funny that I would list Byredo’s Bal d’Afrique among them but I do. It smells white to me and light and when I smell it, I feel the same as I would when I breathe in the snowy air.

Then there is Le Labo’s Gaiac 10 , with its incense and cedar and it makes me think white and clean, and therefore snowy. It’s strange that when a perfume has an incense note that smells white, I am fine with it (otherwise it’s a no-no for me on incense).

My third choice for the tranquility of the white world (winterland) is Montale’s  White Oud. It’s as serene and peaceful as a white, snowy landscape where you are alone to find peace.

And as we go back to warm ourselves by the fire, I always go back to Piment et Chocolat, a perfume to warm you up that you wouldn’t mind drinking by the fire either, and Festive, the one you might want to wear if you need warming up of another kind by the Christmas tree. 😉

Please visit my fellow participating bloggers for their choices on what songs smell Christmas-y to them:

I’ll leave you now with Winter Wonderland. 🙂

And my favorite for this year and one of my all time favorite Christmas songs of all time:

N.K. Jemisin: The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms read-along #3

Book review, World of Books December 17, 2013 Comments: 14

Yes, I skipped number 2. Sorry.

I’ll go on with answering this week’s questions, provided by Andres, The Little Red Reviewer.

1. T’vril takes Yeine to the servant’s party. What did you think of that party, and of Sieh’s part in it?
kingdom
I loved the fact that the servants have their hidden pleasures that are completely off limits to the inner family. I also think it’s Sieh’s way of letting his nature out, getting back at the inner family through parties for those they consider lesser.
2. Yeine presents herself as such a nice, compassionate person. Did your feelings about her change after the meeting she and Nahadoth had with Gemd?
No. She’s a leader and even though she didn’t expect what happened, she knew she had to go with it. I think her now  a strong person as well.
3. On page 230 we learn about the Darre concept of “esui”, of attraction to danger. Have you ever experienced Esui? did it help you, or hurt you? Do you think it will help Yeine, or hurt her?
I loved that! We need a word for that! That is definitely a concept that exists. I experienced it and it didn’t help me but it give me pleasure at the time it was happening and it did make me learn about myself. I think the same might happen to Yeine as well.
4. What did you think of the reveal regarding Ygreth’s (Kinneth’s mother) death? Was it something you expected?  How does being forced to do something like that (or knowing you’ll be forced to) shape a person?
I didn’t see that coming at all. It does show though that Anameri think more of personal success than of the people they love because they obviously come second to it. I’m not sure how does that shape a person, as I’m having a hard time generally understanding the Anameri.
5. If I’m reading it correctly, the ceremony can require a human sacrifice (to show that the heir is strong enough to kill anyone, if asked).  Who might Scimina sacrifice? Who might Yeine sacrifice? 
If I’m reading it correctly, the ceremony does require a human sacrifice as it’s not possible to survive handling the stone and without the ceremony can’t take place.
Hmm, that’s a good question. Scimina does not strike me as someone who actually has someone she loves that she could sacrifice. Can she sacrifice her looks? A part of her? I don’t think anything else comes close to her heart.
As for Yeine, I don’t think she’ll be sacrificing anything but if she ends up having to, T’Vril or her grandmother come to mind.
6.The ball is only a few days away. What do you think will happen?
This reminds me of the Lynch read-along. I have no idea what will happen. But if Yeine is the sacrifice, I think she might survive it. And that might be the cause of why she’s trying so hard not to lose herself and her memories.