Summer Reading Book Club discussion

This is a thread for chapters 11-20.

BEWARE OF SPOILERS IF YOU HAVE NO READ THIS FAR.

PLEASE DO NOT SPOIL ANYTHING BEYOND CHAPTER 20. GO TO THE OTHER THREADS FOR THAT.

So, I'm about 15 chapter in.

I definitely like Theron better than Mather, like 10x.

And I'm so glad Meira sees past Mather's emotional constipation and bullshit. You go girl.

TEAM THERON!

I agree with you on that. Theron is so sweet trying to get Meira to just like him, he could have just treated her like is possesion, but instead he is trying to build a relationship.

I also like the struggle Meira is having with giving up her dream of being a warrior to become a queen in a forgien country. As much as I love to see females kicking butt, there is also something very noble about giving up your dreams to save your country.

Although I really hope we still get to see Meira kick some butt, marry Theron, save Winter, and become best roalty friends with Mather and his wife.

Becky wrote: "I agree with you on that. Theron is so sweet trying to get Meira to just like him, he could have just treated her like is possesion, but instead he is trying to build a relationship.

I also like ..."
THIS IS ALL I WANT TO HAPPEN OMG THERON IS SO CUTE

I just read the part in Noam's study with the letter! Theron should just kill his father and take over as king to help out Winter!

Becky wrote: "I agree with you on that. Theron is so sweet trying to get Meira to just like him, he could have just treated her like is possesion, but instead he is trying to build a relationship.

I also like ..."

Well, Meira is actually not giving anything up, she's compromising. She will take etiquette lessons and learn other things in order to be a queen, but she will also do what she can to train.

I'm sure that once Theron is king he will give her even more leeway, but until then she will have to compromise.

What I don't get where the sappy "we have to be ourselves" bit is coming from. I thought one of the sacrifices that royalty has to make -- in exchange for all the luxury and safety and loyalty -- is to give up what they want for what the kingdom needs Their lives are not their own not because Daddy is being mean -- but because literally if they don't learn to be competent leaders they kingdom will fall apart. And I thought that was kind of like the first thing they learn as royalty? You come second, kingdom first.

Becky wrote: "I just read the part in Noam's study with the letter! Theron should just kill his father and take over as king to help out Winter!"

That would actually be really bad.

Unless Theron has the support of all the generals, nobility, and the court, if he takes control by murdering his father he could have a Civil War or at least a massive rebellion on his hands.

From what I understand Noam may be a greedy bastard, but he's not a bad king and he has the support and loyalty of his army and nobility.

Alright, I just finished chapter 20 and I may or may not be screaming... (I'm at work so I'm only screaming on the inside)

So continuing our conversation from the first thread here, Marina, because I am through Chapter 17 and I finally feel as though the question of why the other countries aren't helping more has been answered satisfactorily by King Noam. Two Kingdoms did try and go in and get Spring out of Winter. Perhaps for their own personal gain rather than helping Winter, but still. And everyone saw how that turned out so eff trying to go after Spring without a real plan.

Also, I totes love Theron. Good for Meira.

Still like my theory on her actually being the heir, but conceding that it is highly unlikely. Especially with the second 'dream' she had where Queen Hannah was actually talking to her. Can't wait to figure out what that's about!

Becky wrote: "What I don't get where the sappy "we have to be ourselves" bit is coming from. I thought one of the sacrifices that royalty has to make -- in exchange for all the luxury and safety and loyalty -- is to give up what they want for what the kingdom needs Their lives are not their own not because Daddy is being mean -- but because literally if they don't learn to be competent leaders they kingdom will fall apart. And I thought that was kind of like the first thing they learn as royalty? You come second, kingdom first."

Okay, stay with me here because on the whole I agree with you. Especially about the competent leaders and the kingdom coming first.

But there is more than one kind of competent leader. A strong physical warrior is just one kind, and I can see why King Noam would push for his son to learn and be that with the 'Shadow of the Seasons' being a constant looming threat (though that might be giving Noam a little too much credit, since he isn't much of a fighter himself, and seems to want to avoid war at all costs).

There can be a scholarly king though as well, and I think that's really what sets Noam and Theron apart. Noam is so narrow minded that to him there is only really one way. Theron is a broad minded whole picture kind of guy. Theron struggling to be himself is going to make Cordell a better kingdom in the long run.

I can see why he would then turn around and tell Meira to find ways to be herself as well. And I think that it is one of the reasons that they are actually a really good match. She's more fighting just-let-me-get-out-and-do, while he's more contemplative let's-look-at-this-from-another-angle. I am really rooting for them because I think with the two of them at the throne Cordell would have some kick-ass rulers who work on the basis of equality rather than subservience.

Alright, just finished chapter 20, and I'm still just like ??????

I truly like Meira, and the characterization of some of the other characters (like Theron, who reminds me a bit of Dorian from Throne of Glass), but that alone can't really make up for the pretty terrible world building that has been going on throughout the novel. I honestly still have a very slim understanding of what exactly is going one and there is only 11 chapters left in the book at this point.

The book has been moving really fast paced, which I honestly don't know if I like or not; I feel like a lot more could of been explained and more development could of happened if they added like, five more chapters to the book.

I just, i'm very eh right now on this book, which is a little depressing because I was excited to read this book.

Kathryn wrote: "So continuing our conversation from the first thread here, Marina, because I am through Chapter 17 and I finally feel as though the question of why the other countries aren't helping more has been ..."

Wait... Really?! OMG How did I miss that part!??

My theory of that is that maybe, maybe Hannah somehow absorbed the power of the amulet into herself like Angra absorbed the badness cloud. And through the dream she passed the magic on to Meira.

Also, I thought that it was already kind of established that the only reason Sir kept Meira out of battle was because he could marry her off eventually?


Kathryn wrote: "Becky wrote: "What I don't get where the sappy "we have to be ourselves" bit is coming from. I thought one of the sacrifices that royalty has to make -- in exchange for all the luxury and safety an..."

Those are very good points. I guess the reason it annoyed me was how Theron was imparting his knowledge to her.

What makes me happy is how Meira reigns herself in and gets a hold of her temper. Although the way she talks to King Noam is appalling and I'm frankly surprised she didn't get smacked or at least strongly reprimanded.

Mae wrote: "Alright, just finished chapter 20, and I'm still just like ??????

I truly like Meira, and the characterization of some of the other characters (like Theron, who reminds me a bit of Dorian from Thr..."


I actually like the fast pace, although I can see how it would annoy you.

But yes, I agree, the world is a bit flimsy and I wish she had developed it better.

Is there a thread for beyond chapter 20 yet? Cuz I'm beyond freaking out xD

Kathryn wrote: "Is there a thread for beyond chapter 20 yet? Cuz I'm beyond freaking out xD"

YES. The next thread is 20-31!

Mae wrote: "Also, I thought that it was already kind of established that the only reason Sir kept Meira out of battle was because he could marry her off eventually?"
Somehow when originally reading I missed this line. But I don't know, I guess it felt like a weak excuse to me what with there being at least one other single female in the group who was allowed to fight, Denandra. And true Noam didn't expressly ask for her, since she'd be considerably older than his son, I never liked it.

I suppose considering how flimsy the rest of the world is I ought to have accepted it, but... alas... haha.

Mae wrote: "YES. The next thread is 20-31! "

I just found it. YAY!

So I'm still not liking the writing and the world building but I can definitely agree that the story is really fast paced. We've already had a retrieving of an important artifact, royal engagement, and battle.

I'm skimming so much because I'm really not liking the writing.

So things have gotten a little better. Some motivations seem more clear but this world still makes no sense. And there are too many happy coincidences for me. For example, Theron just happens to bring Meira to his room, she just happens to notice one book which just happens to be about magic history which has one sentence Theron just happens to make sense of which just happens to explain everything about what happened with magic in the past exactly as Hannah shows her in a dream? Come On!!!

The love triangle trope is bothersome as usual. There is really no reason for her to still like Mather or for him to like her. That whole fight between Mather and Theron was badly written. I do like Theron even though he's a cliche as well. The scene with the letter up to Theron talking back to Noam were THE best scenes in this book so far.

Also, though I appreciate things moving quickly in some places am I the only wondering at how quickly everyone seems to be going back and forth across the plains which, according to the map, are all bigger than their own countries.