Shelf Indulgence Book Club discussion

Please no spoilers after chapter 7!

I'm working my way through part 1 now, and I have to say the end of Chapter 4 really makes me love Jude. Especially the portion on page 31.

"I don't desire to do as well in the tournament as one of the fey. I want to win. I do not yearn to be their equal. In my heart, I yearn to best them."

I love that she has a more layered reason to be part of the fay court than just loving it. She seems to love and hate it all at the same time and it makes for an interesting thought of how she struggles with the division within herself.

I am enjoying this a whole lot so far.

I really appreciate the world building, and the great descriptions of the fey, their appearances, customs, political workings, etc.

There was a page I found to be a tiny bit of an info dump, when we are learning about Eldred's heirs at the first ball. But other than that it flows quite nicely.

Like I mentioned before, I am really liking Jude the more we learn about her and I appreciate the complexity of why she wants to gain knighthood. I find her to be much more interesting and relatable of a character than Wil (from The Glass Spare)

I agree! I'm really liking Jude. I love that quote that you posted! I actually marked it in my book. I also like Cardan as a villain so far. It's only 50 pages and already I hate him. I'm wandering if Locke is going to be the love interest? Also I have this nagging feeling that something terrible is going to happen to Taryn. We haven't gotten to much character development from her but she's very important to her sisters. So I could see the author sacrificing her as a character to really bring Vivi and Jude into action against those that treat them badly.

I could definitely see that happening with her sister. I really like the writing style, it flows so smoothly and I didn't mind the info dump too much bc I was already invested in the world and I wanted to know more.
A few things..
I like Jude.. but.. when she finally starts sticking up for herself it doesn't really feel like she is being strong it comes off a bit to me like she is throwing a tantrum because she can't compete. I wish we would have seen more of her fire before she was denied. Right now it feels a bit like her being reckless.

I'm already not loving the Locke thing.. ugh. I'd much rather have a hate to love trope teehee.

The scene where the guard bit off the tip of her finger. wtf. If Madoc is so feared how did one of his guards think he could get away with this. (I mean he did but if he was as feared as they keep implying no one would have the balls to do this)

Can ya tell I took notes this time around?? :D

What I really can’t understand how Madoc has essentially become a father figure to the girls when he killed their own parents? Maybe it was because they were just so young when it happened. At the same time, even though he murdered the parents, he still seems kind of likeable in a way.

I haven’t read a villain I have just despised in a long time. I absolutely can not stand Cardan. Holly Black is doing an excellent job of writing her villains.

I see what y’all mean by the info dump, but it almost didn’t feel info dumpy to me it was written so well I think. However, I had a little trouble keeping up with everyone at first.

I agree with the writing style. I flows very well and I love all the description we get. It's definitely an interesting relationship between Madoc and Jude. I really don't like Madoc's wife. She is so annoying. Also I totally agree with Hannah on the hate to love trope hehe!

I wrote down all the characters as they were being introduced so that I would not get confused. Once I did that everything else started to flow.

I am enjoying Madoc's character. Besides the major infraction at the start of the book, he is starting to grow on me haha!

Yes Cy! I like Madoc’s character as well. Then I think to myself “am I supposed to like his character? He did just kill this girl’s parents right in front of her.”

Julie wrote: "Yes Cy! I like Madoc’s character as well. Then I think to myself “am I supposed to like his character? He did just kill this girl’s parents right in front of her.”"

I know! Madoc's character is interesting. You want to hate him but can't help but like him because Jude likes him.

I just started reading this so I am way behind everyone. A month behind but I love Judes character and the way she stands up to Prince Cardan. I also love how Jude is with her sisters. I don't understand though why she specifically wants to stay in the faerie world and not go back to the human world when she is old enough to be on her own.