YA Buddy Readers' Corner ♥ discussion

Before

Mira Minkoba is the Hopebearer. Since the day she was born, she’s been told she’s special. Important. Perfect. She’s known across the Fallen Isles not just for her beauty, but for the Mira Treaty named after her, a peace agreement which united the seven islands against their enemies on the mainland.

But Mira has never felt as perfect as everyone says. She counts compulsively. She struggles with crippling anxiety. And she’s far too interested in dragons for a girl of her station.

After

Then Mira discovers an explosive secret that challenges everything she and the Treaty stand for. Betrayed by the very people she spent her life serving, Mira is sentenced to the Pit–the deadliest prison in the Fallen Isles. There, a cruel guard would do anything to discover the secret she would die to protect.

No longer beholden to those who betrayed her, Mira must learn to survive on her own and unearth the dark truths about the Fallen Isles–and herself–before her very world begins to collapse.

I might join in for this one if I can get it :)

I plan to join in!

Chapter 1 - Sarai 29, 2204 FG

(view spoiler)[Dying to know why Mira is in the 'pit'. I love the contrast between the 'Before' chapter and 'Chapter 1'. Also, I've got a bad feeling about Altan. He seems like a creeper. (hide spoiler)]

Ashleigh wrote: "Chapter 1 - Sarai 29, 2204 FG

[spoilers removed]"

Forgot to say in my first post.. (view spoiler)[The description of the bath that Mira wants to take just sounds heavenly and soooo relaxing. I love a good bubble bath ha! (hide spoiler)]

I'm hoping to start this either Wednesday or Thursday :)

Up to Chapter 4

(view spoiler)[Ew. Turns out my bad feeling about Altan may be right. Creepy creeper.

Why do I feel like Aaru is gonna be a love interest?

Also, what has Mira done? Or at least, what does she know????????? (hide spoiler)]

I almost forgot about this book!! Will be starting it once I get some dinner into the oven :)

Chapters 1-8: (view spoiler)[OMG
This book is so interesting!! I really want to know what Mira did to get into the Pit? What happened? Where is her family? Where are friends? Where are the dragons?

I HAVE SO MANY DAMN QUESTIONS!!!

Also the guard Altan seems super sketchy and sort of makes me cringe. Aaru seems interesting enough. But I have a feeling they both want something from her and I don't know how I feel about that.

I'm happy that Altan offered her a job but he still seems sketchy as fuck and Aaru is teaching her the silent code.. but is he talking to someone the entire time he is tapping?

Also I would hate this situation in prison because I can barely go a day without bathing. (hide spoiler)]

Chapters 9-16: (view spoiler)[Why does Altan want to know about the dragons? I don't know if I can trust him and I'm glad that Mira is feeling the same way. Also I find it strange that she didn't even know that some wanted and tried to assassinate her one night. AND that that guy is on the same holding floor a couple cells away from her. So creepy and it really feels like a small world.



And why did they really ship the dragons away? What the hell is going on? Will Mira ever see her friends again? Will she see the sun again? Will she see the dragons again?

I have so many freaking questions and I have no idea if I will get answers in this book!!



I also have no idea if I trust Aaru yet either. I don't trust anyone so far because I still don't understand why she is even down in the pit to begin with. (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 17-24: (view spoiler)[So in the beginning of these chapters you find out that someone is shipping the dragons and the biggest Noorestones to their enemy, the Algotti Empire. And Mira found this out and naturally assumed someone is giving the enemy empire the ability to travel to them more quickly or they are giving them something to attack them with. Either option isn't good.

The Luminary council has requested Mira's presence--does that mean she gets to leave the prison? If she does for how long? I actually don't like Elbena and Dara. The people in power, or in the Luminary council are obviously abusing their power. I'm sure they are doing something terrible to the dragons.

I felt awful for Lex when the dragon got captured. Lex and Mira were beyond happy to see each other again and then that happened. Mira was shocked and didn't know what was happening. Number one reason on why I don't trust the council.

I'm also happy she got out of the prison for a little while and that she saw her friends, Iliana and Hristo, again. I wonder what is going to happen to Mira now that she didn't say what was on the paper? Is she going back to the pit? (hide spoiler)]

Chapters 25-32: (view spoiler)[

What the hell kind of bomb was that Jodi?!?! Mira goes back to save her "allies" from the damn Pit and she finds out one of her so called "allies" works for the Luminary Council?!?!?!



WHAT THE HELL TIRTA?!?!

I feel like I hate a shit ton of people in this book ... and I have no idea if that's a good or bad thing. (hide spoiler)]

Chapters 33-36, aka..
Finished: (view spoiler)[



I did not see that coming but I'm so glad that it happened. I was wondering why she wasn't affected by the noorestones and why the dragons all really liked her. I kind of really want to read the next book now. I wonder if it is available at my library. (hide spoiler)]

Chapters 5-8

(view spoiler)[I didn't realise that so much of the story would revolve around Mira's time in the pit. I thought this might be a typical first book in a trilogy/series where we get a bit more background to begin with and then we find out alongside the main character what's going on, but no (baring in mind, im only 8 chapters - not counting the before chapters, so I could be totally wrong).

However, I am enjoying it. My distrust in Altan seems to be multiplying every time he's shown.

As someone who has suffered from anxiety/OCD/panic attacks, this book feels very realistic. I just can't even imagine being locked in a tiny dirty room, and being told you can only bathe once every 10 days (if the jailer lets you, that is), and just the thought of her lying underneath her bed to get comfort, for me, that sounds hellish. (hide spoiler)]

Ashleigh wrote: "Chapters 5-8

I didn't realise that so much of the story would revolve around Mira's time in the pit. I thought this might be a typical first book in a trilogy/series where we get a bit more backgr..."

Yeah it is pretty interesting but it kind of annoyed me that people were always asking like, "what are you? who are you?" or just dropping hints that she isn't normal and i'm just like... TELL ME ALREADY.

Plus the whole no bathing thing and the quality of food made me cringe.

@Alaina I don't think I would have lasted 5 minutes in this place haha.

And yeah, I just want to know what's going on!!!!

Ashleigh wrote: "@Alaina I don't think I would have lasted 5 minutes in this place haha.

And yeah, I just want to know what's going on!!!!"

haha I know right?!?! I would've caved and told them anything and everything!

Chapters 9-14

(view spoiler)[Ahhhhh so I think I know what Mira's secret is. Well, it was implied in a 'Before' chapter, so you know. So I think she has some dragon powers a la Daenerys Targaryen.

She's already told Altan that the dragons are being shipped off in secrecy, but I think the reason she's been locked up is that the Luminary Council know that she has these powers and basically they got rid of the threat. But then why would they want her fed and exercised and generally well-looked after? Yes, I'm poking holes in my own theory here haha.

The one thing that doesn't seem to make sense is why haven't her parents tried to get her out? Well maybe they have, but I thought Mira was kind of a big deal. Shouldn't her parents have some kind of sway in getting her out of there??? (hide spoiler)]

Book finished

(view spoiler)[I really wanted to like this book bit I found it to be just okay? I didn't understand a lot of what was going on and I would have preferred more world building.

What I enjoyed about the book: dragons (Not enough for me), Mira's friends (again, not enough) and Mira finally sticking up for herself.

I don't think I'll be continuing with this series but I'm gonna make some prediction for the next book:

Love triangle for Mira with Aaru and Atlan (ew.)

I can just feel it coming and I'm not happy about it haha. (hide spoiler)]

22% (view spoiler)[ This is interesting, but I'm getting kind of bored. Is Mira going to be trapped in this prison for the whole book/series? Are the dragons important at all? And what the hell did Mira actually DO to get thrown in the prison? (hide spoiler)]

Ch. 12 (view spoiler)[ I'm pretty fascinated by everything. I can't believe Mira survived four days without light, people and very little water. She's definitely improving from the spoiled brat she was. But she told Altan something and the secret just kind of seemed like it was over-hyped and that this punishment is ridiculous. (hide spoiler)]

Ch. 17 (view spoiler)[ Really getting into this. Chenda ending up in the Pit has only made things more interesting. Sounds like all the governing bodies are doing fucked up things... Hmmmmm. I wonder what other secrets Mira is hiding, seems like something is going on with her and dragons. I hope she and Aaru can escape. I'd like them to bring Gerel too. (hide spoiler)]

Ch. 23 (view spoiler)[ Mira better not read that speech. I hope she does anything else. JUST DONT READ IT. I swear if she does I'll never like her again. I'm glad Hristo is there even though he can't do anything and I hope Mira does something good for her friends in the pit like rescue them! (hide spoiler)]

Finished (view spoiler)[ What an explosive ending! Hahaha. I wonder what this power is Mira has? She can use the fire from noorestones, Dragons seem to understand her and for a minute I thought she was a dragon. Hmmmmm I need to know what will happen next. (hide spoiler)]

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Date Changed. Restarting November 10th 2017. Happy Reading ☺

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I plan to join this one if that's ok. Hoping to start it by 11th at the latest

Can't wait to start ^_____^

page 101, through chapter 7 (view spoiler)[ I love how complex the prison system is and I also love how elaborately the setting of the prison is described. I can picture it so clearly in my head! I wonder what Altan could possibly want to know about the dragons.... hmm... I can already tell that I'm not going to like Mira's parents if we ever do meet them again. I hope she gets to see Hristo and Ilina, though. Also, I'm wondering who the love interest could be - right now I'm thinking either Aaru or Gerel, but I don't know. Also, I hope we get to see more dragons as we go along!!! (hide spoiler)]

page 177, through chapter 12 (view spoiler)[ but why would someone on the mainland want dragons and why does Altan care about dragons? Also, who tf is Altan, like actually? (hide spoiler)]

cant wait to start

Akshaya wrote: "cant wait to start"
I'm loving it so far!!

starting now :-)

finished (view spoiler)[ I NEED THE SEQUEL NOW!! I MEAN WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN IN THE NEXT BOOK? Now that they're all out of the prison, are they going to go save the dragons? And are Aaru and Mira going to learn to control their powers? Also, why can't Aaru talk? I'M SO EXCITED TO READ THE SEQUEL!! (In like a year...) (hide spoiler)]

Starting chapter 10 (view spoiler)[ I am probably way over thinking this but what if Altman end is being the good guy and the love interest and Tirta the spy to find out what she knows. I am probably reading more plots in this than there really are LOL but I was think if Altman is a kulhan warrior maybe he wants to bring back the dragoonrider warriors? Or not LOL! I wonder what the secret of the dragons is. (hide spoiler)]

Starting chapter 14 (view spoiler)[ Looks like I was partly right about Altan. Maybe not the love interest part (yet...LOL) but about him being a Drakon warrior. Also wondering about this power that Mira seems to have over Dragons (hide spoiler)]

Starting chapter 33 (view spoiler)[ huh! So was I was right about Tirta being a spy. It did seem kinda suspicious that she was always there to help when Mira needed her. Completely wrong about Altan being. A good guy though LOL! Still wanna know what’s up with Mira seeming to have powers with noirestones and dragons. Hoping we will get some explanation before the end (hide spoiler)]

Finally was able to properly start! I just read till chapter 14. Love it a lot so far ^___^

Nadia - Bookish Book Nerd wrote: "finished [spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[ I know. I want to know more about MIra's powers and its also interesting that in their group there seems to be a representative from each of the islands. I wonder if this will play a part in later books (hide spoiler)]