YA Buddy Readers' Corner ♥ discussion

I am Henrietta Howel. The first female sorcerer. The prophesied one. Or am I?

Henrietta Howel can burst into flames. When she's brought to London to train with Her Majesty's sorcerers, she meets her fellow sorcerer trainees, young men eager to test her powers and her heart. One will challenge her. One will fight for her. One will betray her. As Henrietta discovers the secrets hiding behind the glamour of sorcerer life, she begins to doubt that she's the true prophesied one. With battle looming, how much will she risk to save the city—and the one she loves?

megan ••book slayer•• wrote: "Looking forward to this one!!"
Me too!

I like the writing – it flows nicely.

So far I'm here for neither Henrietta x Magnus or Henrietta x Rook romantically.

(view spoiler)[ I want her with Blackwood. They give me such Elizabeth x Darcy vibes. (hide spoiler)]

Despoina wrote: "So far I'm here for neither Henrietta x Magnus or Henrietta x Rook romantically.

[spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[
Lol! I was against Elizabeth and Darcy too, at first. I thought Darcy was a pompous ass... ;) .
(hide spoiler)]

Megan ••bookslayerReads•• wrote: "Will you all discuss with me if I start this tomorrow?"

Absolutely! I'm only just starting...

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Date Changed. Restarting February 8th 2017. Happy Reading ☺

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I'm reading this for a book club that meets on February 10th, so I may start a smidge early. This will probably be my first buddy read in this group, though, so I'm super excited!

this counts for the challenge right? im in !

It starts with 'A' so it does indeed count :)

Yay! I'll be joining you all. I've been trying to find someone to read this with me since August!

Chapter 2 (10%)
Exciting start! I like Nettie and Rook. And Agrippa.

I like the writing – it flows nicely. I have so many questions.
(view spoiler)[
What is the prophecy? What does it mean to be “unclean” and can Rook heal? What are the Familiars? Scary bunch, those… And the Ancients?
(hide spoiler)]

Chapter 5 (20%)
(view spoiler)[
Oh, lordy. It looks like Nettie may be smitten with charming Mr. Magnus. Hopefully not too much so, because he’s no Rook. Of course, I'm rooting for Rook and Nettie!
(hide spoiler)]

Chapter 10 (40%)
This is really exciting!
(view spoiler)[
I'm not sure how I feel about the whole "chosen one" business, though. I'm not a fan of predestination. I think a hero is made through her actions and her choices, not because of predestination or some prophecy. I would really love it if they turned it around and had Henriette not be "the chosen one," but a hero nonetheless (or in spite of it).

I'm also worried about Henriette's connection to the Blackwood family. She knows the house and it feels like "home" in her dreams. I hope she is not part of that noble sorcerer family. That would just make all her claims that even a commoner can rise up and be a hero (and/or a great sorcerer) crumble and support Blackwood's claim that noble blood is more valuable than common blood.
(hide spoiler)]

TJ wrote: "Chapter 2 (10%)
Exciting start! I like Nettie and Rook. And Agrippa.

I like the writing – it flows nicely. I have so many questions.

What is the prophecy? What does it mean to be “unclean” and ..."

I also like the writing. :)

TJ wrote: "Chapter 5 (20%)

Oh, lordy. It looks like Nettie may be smitten with charming Mr. Magnus. Hopefully not too much so, because he’s no Rook. Of course, I'm rooting for Rook and Nettie!
"

I'm also rooting for (view spoiler)[Rook and Nettie! :D (hide spoiler)]

(view spoiler)[I'm also usually not a fan of the whole chosen one business. I also like when a hero proves themselves worthy of the name.

I was curious about the Blackwood thing too. :) (hide spoiler)]

Bookbuyer wrote: "[spoilers removed]"

Chapter 11 (43%)
Yes! This mixes things up a bit!
(view spoiler)[
Bookbuyer wrote: "I'm also usually not a fan of the whole chosen one business. I also like when a hero proves themselves worthy of the name.

I was curious about the Blackwood thing too. :)"

Exactly! It's as if Jessica took our worries into consideration when writing the next chapter -- Henriette is a magician! This really remixes the cards entirely!

She may not be a sorcerer at all! She still may be though -- maybe through her mother's side. Maybe that's the Blackwood connection. She still may be the prophesized one -- maybe she's so powerful (or will become powerful) because she has both sorcerer and magician blood.
(hide spoiler)]

TJ wrote: "Chapter 10 (40%)
This is really exciting!

I'm not sure how I feel about the whole "chosen one" business, though. I'm not a fan of predestination. I think a hero is made through her actions and her..."

100%
(view spoiler)[I really enjoy the fact that her mysterious connections to the Blackwood family haven't been resolved yet, and also that they seem to have been a red herring. I was wondering if she was a lost member of the Blackwood tribe and thus of sorcerer descent (like if her dad was actually a Blackwood cousin or brother or something, or, in a Cassandra Clare-esque twist, she and Blackwood ended up being probable siblings or half-siblings). I'm glad that doesn't seem to be the case. (hide spoiler)]

Sea wrote: "TJ wrote: "Chapter 10 (40%)
This is really exciting!

I'm not sure how I feel about the whole "chosen one" business, though. I'm not a fan of predestination. I think a hero is made through her acti..."

(view spoiler)[That's exactly what I was thinking as well. I wasn't worried about the possible brother-sister relationship too much at the beginning since they hated each other. But towards the end I was a bit more fearful of that.

I also like that the whole Blackwood thing might have been a red herring. Since we don't yet know what the magician was going to tell her about her father it might be that he wasn't her biological father so there might still be some credence to the whole Blackwood thing but I'm betting not. :) (hide spoiler)]

Review: (view spoiler)[Overall this was a good book but it lacked a certain oomph to take it to the next level.

I liked Henrietta, Rook, Magnus and Blackwood alright. They didn't really stand out to me but they weren't boring either.

I was devestated by both Magnus's betrayal and Agrippa's. But at least Magnus was able to redeem himself.

I was shocked to learn of Palehook's dark magic use and that Agrippa was working with him. I was also shocked that Agrippas' daughter Gwen was still alive and working with one of the Ancients.

I was so glad that Rooked lived and mad about the cliffhanger. Now I have to wait till September to find out about Henrietta's father.

I loved the concept of the Ancients and the fact that it's set in London and has the Queen in it. :) (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 17 (63%)
Uh Oh.
(view spoiler)[
I think Rook may be lost. I would still have hope for him if he weren't so excited about "his powers." I'm afraid dark forces are using him to get to Henrietta. His pain went away after Henrietta chased that ancient away. Highly suspicious.

Now I may have to look elsewhere for a favorite romantic interest for Henrietta. I still like Magnus a lot -- who wouldn't? But Blackwood may turn out to rise above his upbringing and prove himself worthy... If he doesn't turn out to be Henrietta's brother or cousin or something...
(hide spoiler)]

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Reading from the 20th of March 2017

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Chapter 19 (68%)
(view spoiler)[
I knew it! I suspected that Henrietta's aunt gave her up to protect her! Hargrove's statement that it wasn't her aunt's fault confirms my suspicions.
(hide spoiler)]

Chapter 20 (71%)
(view spoiler)[
Oh man! What was Hargrove going to tell Henrietta about her father? I am sooo curious! "He wasn't..." What?! Dang that Blackwood for his bad timing... ;)
(hide spoiler)]

Chapter 22 (77%)
(view spoiler)[
Well, I see no need to criticize Henrietta for what she almost let happen with Magnus. Or about her getting all emotional (and almost burning the place down). These things happen. Move on. ;)
(hide spoiler)]

Chapter 23 (79%)
(view spoiler)[
Jenkins Hargrove is Howard Mickelmas! Well, I definitely did not see that coming! Okay. So the rumors about him and Mary Willoughby are likely not true -- or gravely exaggerated. Hargrove does not seem to be evil at all. He may have done some things in the past that he regrets, but not likely with evil intentions.
(hide spoiler)]

Chapter 25 (82%)
(view spoiler)[
Okay. I did not see that coming. I didn't think Hernietta would be commended, and I thought her test went much too seamlessly..., but... that Agrippa and Hargrove would both turn on her? I am shocked!

...I still hope/suspect that Hargrove has something planned...

but Agrippa? I do not trust him anymore.

We still have Blackwood, Magnus, Dee, and Rook, who may still be able to help... And, of course, Henrietta is quite powerful. I suspect she can get herself out of this mess. Oh, and her aunt is still somewhere...

But that commendation scene was exciting!
(hide spoiler)]

Chapter 28 (92%)
(view spoiler)[
Yay! I knew the boys would come to Henrietta's aid! She is one of them! And Mickelmas! Yooo hooo! Agrippa? What a condescending, patronizing, sexist jerk!

So Henrietta's father didn't drown? Is he still alive? (I've been expecting that for a while now). Is he someone we know?
(hide spoiler)]

Bookbuyer wrote: "Sea wrote: "TJ wrote: "Chapter 10 (40%)
This is really exciting!

I'm not sure how I feel about the whole "chosen one" business, though. I'm not a fan of predestination. I think a hero is made thro..."
(view spoiler)[
Bookbuyer wrote: "That's exactly what I was thinking as well. I wasn't worried about the possible brother-sister relationship too much at the beginning since they hated each other. But towards the end I was a bit more fearful of that.

I also like that the whole Blackwood thing might have been a red herring. Since we don't yet know what the magician was going to tell her about her father it might be that he wasn't her biological father so there might still be some credence to the whole Blackwood thing but I'm betting not. :)"

I don't think it was a red herring. Henrietta has memories of that house. I think Henrietta's father is still alive -- maybe even someone we know.
(hide spoiler)]

Sea wrote: "100%
(view spoiler)[
Sea wrote: "I really enjoy the fact that her mysterious connections to the Blackwood family haven't been resolved yet, and also that they seem to have been a red herring. I was wondering if she was a lost member of the Blackwood tribe and thus of sorcerer descent (like if her dad was actually a Blackwood cousin or brother or something, or, in a Cassandra Clare-esque twist, she and Blackwood ended up being probable siblings or half-siblings). I'm glad that doesn't seem to be the case."

I'm still expecting Henrietta to be connected to the Blackwoods (because of her memories of the house) -- maybe through her mother's side.

I enjoyed the ending -- exciting climax! A lot of loose ends are not tied up, though. Guess I'll just have to wait for the sequel... ;)
(hide spoiler)]

Chapter 3 (view spoiler)[ So she acts so much older than her age and that bothers me. Then there's they boys who act like they're 5. I get what the dialogue is trying to do but during formalities, it seems awkward (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 2
(view spoiler)[Well, that all happened very quickly and easily. I'm hoping the storytelling will become more tactical because the story seems interesting. (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 6
(view spoiler)[The prophecy doesn't rhyme! If I needed further proof of the author's lack of writing chops, here it is. I really don't want to continue reading... (hide spoiler)]

Nicole wrote: "Chapter 3 [spoilers removed]"

What's worse is that, despite acting older, she throws tantrums like a 5 year old.

Quirks wrote: "Chapter 6
[spoilers removed]"

I'm still waiting for the part where it'll tell us about the men that will "fight for her, challenge her, and betray her". Then there's also the part that she may not be the chosen one. This is all from the synopsis btw. I agree with you. The writing is very choppy and the synopsis itself promises a lot of scenarios. I'm already very nervous about this book. So far, the story is not very well tied together and we're still in the beginning.

Chapter 7: (view spoiler)[ This is why I don't like the book so far. There are a lot of characters being introduced with little background and development on them. They just come and go. Then there's the magicians. At this point, I can't even tell if the magicians actually have magic or they're just con artists but apparently they're "evil". So I guess they do have magic but so far, the book portrays their "magic" as parlor tricks (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 10 (view spoiler)[ Okay, I'm now convinced that I don't like Blackwell at all. But I am interested in her connection with his family. I REALLY hope that idea goes somewhere... (hide spoiler)]

I read 7-8 chapter and I don't think I'll be continuing. The writing isn't good, the story seems to be nothing interesting, I don't like the protagonist, and I can't stand the complete absence of world-building.

Chapter 21: (view spoiler)[ Well...I'm not really surprised that happened but I didn't think he'd be that shallow. "Didn't I tell you?" "Must have slipped my mind." Really? And he still tries to sleep with her. (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 27 (view spoiler)[ Wow...all I can say is wow... That's his excuse? He had a daughter that was a sorcerer and he's saying that women can't handle magic? Seriously? (hide spoiler)]

Finished: (view spoiler)[ Such a disappointment. I think this book had potential. The author introduced some interesting ideas but never developed any of them. We never actually learned what was up with Henrietta's stave and how she's connected to Blackwell. And I just couldn't feel any connection to the characters at all. Most of them just seemed rude and spoiled. Sigh...oh well hopefully I like my next book. (hide spoiler)]

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Date changed. Restarting August 13th 2018. Happy Reading ☺

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Chap 5
(view spoiler)[ I hope this doesnt turn into a go to magic school book, those really arent my favorite. Im glad she got to bring Rook with her though (hide spoiler)]

Chap 10
(view spoiler)[ I was expecting a little more from this book, I'm super bored! I hope it gets better. It doesn't seem like she is the girl that prophecy is about, it seems like everyone thinks its Gwendolyn? Didn't they basically just think it was her since she was a girl? (hide spoiler)]

Chap 21
(view spoiler)[ Why is she keeping this magician secret from everyone? Its just going to cause drama later and get everyone mad at her, nothing good is going to come of it. I'm not into the whole Magnus thing either, especially since he just told her he is already engaged, its strange (hide spoiler)]

end
(view spoiler)[ So I actually really started to like Magnus better once he saved her from the jail. I knew that magician thing was going to cause so many issues, but I'm glad all of her friends accepted her. The end was so much better than the rest of the book. I was so glad when Rook didnt die! (hide spoiler)]

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Date changed. Restarting July 10th 2019. Happy Reading ☺

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ch 10 - (view spoiler)[well well.. i totally forgot that I needed to write a comment and i'm kind of in the zone with this audio. i think it's pretty interesting so far and i'm kind of excited to see her grow more into her powers. (hide spoiler)]
ch 21 - (view spoiler)[hmm.. but how long did you really want this? (hide spoiler)]
ch 30 - (view spoiler)[aww well don't cry.. (hide spoiler)]
finished - (view spoiler)[this was pretty good. i would be down to dive into the next one just to see where this whole adventure is going to take me next. (hide spoiler)]

17% - (view spoiler)[Wow. Palehook is a complete dick. Fck that guy!

Love the concept so far. Very interesting.

So I find in YA, when male characters show up in books that are of similar ages to the MC and are attractive, there might as well be a massive flashing arrow pointing to them saying 'this will be the love interest'. And we have two of those in this book. Please no love triangle. Please no romance overshadowing the plot. Please please please no.

(hide spoiler)]