YA Buddy Readers' Corner ♥ discussion

There’s no such thing as safe in a city at war, a city overrun with monsters. In this dark urban fantasy from author Victoria Schwab, a young woman and a young man must choose whether to become heroes or villains—and friends or enemies—with the future of their home at stake. The first of two books.

Kate Harker and August Flynn are the heirs to a divided city—a city where the violence has begun to breed actual monsters. All Kate wants is to be as ruthless as her father, who lets the monsters roam free and makes the humans pay for his protection. All August wants is to be human, as good-hearted as his own father, to play a bigger role in protecting the innocent—but he’s one of the monsters. One who can steal a soul with a simple strain of music. When the chance arises to keep an eye on Kate, who’s just been kicked out of her sixth boarding school and returned home, August jumps at it. But Kate discovers August’s secret, and after a failed assassination attempt the pair must flee for their lives.

I am down to read this

I'm in!

Maddison wrote: "I'm in!"
Ditto!

I hope to join in too.

Wanting to crash it too! Tagging along with Jennifer lol.

Sounds good guys!

Starting a little early. Can't wait anymore! I've only heard good things and I've had this author on my TBR for quite awhile so hopefully it blows us all away. This opening line sets the stage wonderfully. "The night Kate Harker decided to burn down the school chapel, she wasn't angry or drunk."

Oh wow that is a good opening line! And I couldn't get into Vicious much so hope this is better

Maddison wrote: "Oh wow that is a good opening line! And I couldn't get into Vicious much so hope this is better"
Good luck! So far I only made it through the Prelude but it sets up more of the background and intros the two main characters, who are NOTHING alike but should be interesting when they're put together lol

Oh yay! I'm keen to read it, especially as it's around music which I love

This is one of my favorite series. Hopefully you guys like it :)

Believe I will!

I hope so, haven’t read a monster novel in awhile 😳☺️

20% (view spoiler)[ I can't imagine living in a world filled with monsters. The people have two sides to pick from, both arguably the better choice. One side where you can buy protection and the other which seems more governmental and militarized. I absolutely love Kate, she is such a lil baddie and this girl knows how to take note of everything ans use it to her advantage. I only wish she didn't try so hard to be seen by her father who after not seeing her for so long you would think would be dying to just see her let alone maybe give her a hug smh. And August, what an interesting character. We learned he's one of the 'so-called' monsters himself but of a kind that's not normally dangerous. I mean he needs to eat souls but seems to only do that of the worst people. But then again apparently if he doesn't eat, bad things happen and many people die so we'll have to see what happens to learn more about him and his breed-if that's the right word to use. (hide spoiler)]

Yep, the opening is totally wicked:)

50% (view spoiler)[ Damn what's a girl to do? Kate figures out rather quickly and easily who and what Freddy/August is. But now after she was completely set up and used (probably as revenge against her father) I can't wait to see what happens. She started the day thinking she would capture Freddy, the only unknown Sunai left and gift him to her father but now he's saved her life, risking his own and I'm not sure what she'll do. (hide spoiler)]

How's everyone doing with this.? I'm almost nervous to keep going and put this book aside all weekend.
Part III (view spoiler)[ It's like the first two parts were more storytelling and letting us know who the characters are. Now we are at a precipice so I'm almost scared to see what's going to happen. It was fairly obvious, at least to me, after she killed the Malachi (I believe it was) excuse me if I'm messing it up, that there was a rogue faction against her father and I knew it would come back to bite them in the butt. While I admire her devotion to proving herself and living up to the Harker name, she has to know deep inside that her fathers' rule was or is going to end badly. Not that I'm saying the Flynn's are doing the right thing either. And after what his brother Leo made him do, I almost question his loyalty as well. These beings, creatures whatever you want to call it, no matter whose side they are on, see themselves as better and higher than humans and eventually they will resent being used as they have been. It's ironic in a way that I bet soon Kate will regret ever wanting to come home. (hide spoiler)]

Going to read chapter 1 tomorrow

puny, I know

I might join you Nick XD

10% (view spoiler)[ Ok so not much backstory or world building to start us off which made it a little hard to acclimate myself to what was going on and "who's who" here. (hide spoiler)]
23% (view spoiler)[ Yea took me way to long to realize August was a "monster" this dystopian world is is so unique but I really wish I honestly knew what exactly happened to get us here. (hide spoiler)]
33% (view spoiler)[ OH no I hope she doesn't turn August in to her dad.. You never know with Victoria Schwab who is going to turn out to be the actual bad guys.. her writing reminds me of when the Men in Black movie came out and Will Smith is in his "test" phase and shoots only the girl with the quantum physics book and none of the aliens that pop up... You just never know who is going to be the real monster with her. (hide spoiler)]
42% (view spoiler)[ So wait is all the monster stuff only going on in Verity? or are they going on in the other areas as well? There are only 3 Sunai? This story is kind of profound in that the monsters are actually created by humans its like suffering immediate consequences for your sins, and just like in real life you aren't the only one that has to suffer from your mistakes. What would be crazy is if Sunai actually turned out to be the good guys trying to save the world from their sins.. (hide spoiler)]
63% (view spoiler)[ Oh no Kate is just now realizing her father's pet may have been behind her mothers death.. She was running because she was scared. This is going to tear her up.. I bet her father is behind it. (hide spoiler)]
88% (view spoiler)[ OMG I knew it! I knew someone that was supposed to be a good guy was playing for team douchebags! Dang it Leo. He really has this cult like righteousness. I wonder if the way Sunai are born really effect their abilities that way. I mean Isla can detonate like a bomb, what is August's superpower really? (hide spoiler)]
Elegy - Totally cute name for the end there! (view spoiler)[ I think other Sunai are being born the news caster was talking about a string of grisly gang related murders going down in Prosperity... and Kate is headed right there. (hide spoiler)]
Finished: I totally sat down and binged this whole freaking book and a whole pot of coffee this morning. Needless to say my laundry still isn't done... Not a cliffhanger ending but still alot unresolved I look forward to book 2!

Oh my gosh XD I can't wait!

Wow Tiera good job. I’m hoping to finish today or tomorrow. Are you reading book 2 as well?

I have book 2 if you want to team up for it! I’ll squeeze it in whenever!

Absolutely in for the second one. I’ll let you know when I’m done with the first and we can go from there!

Prelude (view spoiler)[ "Kate had the pleasure of hearing the prestigious old nun let out a string of colorful words.." A nasty girlie, isn't she? xD
"..but then he shot her a nasty look, and she decided to let him stew" Yep! and revengeful, as well:) (hide spoiler)]

I'll get this started tonight, will read at Nick's speed!

Hey, Maddison! A little warning: I'm gonna be veery slow. Like, a chapter in two days.
If it suits you, I'd be glad!

Yeah that's fine for me, at least until I get to the end of the month and will finish it up.

Cool:)

August (view spoiler)[ Reminds of the Hunger Games a bit, which I reckon is good (hide spoiler)]

Is that still Prelude?

Finished (view spoiler)[ While I was able to figure out a bit of the ending I still was impressed and blown away by how things played out. But wait is Sloan alive? That’s so fucked up. And this new Alice character I’m assuming since she’s arisen after the horror of Leo Sloan and the random Malachis death, she’s some new monster and will be the big bad in the next book?! And man I know Isla was such a minor character I am so so happy she turned out ok. I do wonder if her voice is gone for good though 🤷🏼‍♀️ Looking forward to the next book. I feel like Kate is gonna turn into a monster slayer, the new Buffy badass lol (hide spoiler)]

Tiera I finally finished but am still working on a few other books. Wanna start the second in a few days, the 18th work?

Nope, that's right after it

Okay perfect, I'll catch up after I finish King of Scars!

You are going to leave me in the dust anyway, so, no need to hurry=) Take your time=)

XD I'm reading 6 books at the moment. So we will see. But eventually I want to get that number down. Probably take me until the end of the month.

Yea the 18th is fine!!

Tiera wrote: "Yea the 18th is fine!!"

Perfect. See you this weekend!

Verse 1-I
(view spoiler)["..truth wasn't the same thing as fact. It was personal." An interesting observation (hide spoiler)]

I hope to be starting this next week...

Jenny, I hope to start next week too.

Starting tomorrow.
Initial Thoughts: (view spoiler)[I’m hoping AUgust and Kate hookup again and work together. I’m still afraid about this new character and what kind of threat she’ll be not to mention Kate’s nemesis not being dead. While she’s a badass she’s going to need AUgusts help and probably his sisters as well. Though I am interested in what she’s been up to since she took off. (hide spoiler)]

Verse 1-II
(view spoiler)[Okay, so, I'm in confusion. Aren't the MCs supposed to be the noble ones and to care about everyone? Kate seems a little too much cynical so far. (hide spoiler)]

Verse 1 - (view spoiler)[ Interesting start. I love how August and Kate are so different, yet have so much in common. Are Sunai angels?? (hide spoiler)]
Verse 2 - (view spoiler)[ I really hope she doesn't just turn over August to her father. Clearly she can see that he doesn't really treat his monsters well, and August did just save her! (hide spoiler)]
Verse 3 - (view spoiler)[ Uh, why didn't he just feed off of some of those bad people on the way? I don't think this is going to be a passing problem for him. (hide spoiler)]
Finished - Awesome first book! (view spoiler)[ Although, I am a little sad that August and Kate are separated. Will she be able to turn her soul back to white - it is even possible? I can only imagine that things are going to be harder for her in a new town and now with Sloan and his new friend after her too.....it's going to be rough. I hope the next book tells us more about the other territories and their sins - August labeled each for one of the 7 deadly sins, so it must mean something, right? And if Isla has lost her voice, how will she sing the souls in order to feed? Won't she just keep going dark all the time?? So many questions! (hide spoiler)]

Verse 3-VIII-(view spoiler)[Okay, I was tricked. Thought I was going to be disgusted by this book. But it's quite envolving.
Impossible though it seems, I'm rooting for Kate and August to be together, there are reasons and hopes for that.
Kate still irritates me from time to time, but not nearly as much as she used to.
Like, when she decided she had a new purpose in life - to prove to her father she was his true daughter. I know it's only logical, and life goals are important and stuff, but I just couldn't respect her for that. A shitload of sheer willpower and strength, though.
More, like, admiring her spirits now. August is sweet.
Ilsa makes me nervous all the time. (hide spoiler)]

26% Verse II (view spoiler)[Ok so on top of the threat of both Alice and Sloan now Kate comes upon a new monster which seems to have the same immobilizing ability as August when he uses his violin. And then to mess with her memory like that. I’m scared and def scars for her. Poor August losing his partner to boot. This book is dark bloody and just getting started. I need Kate and August to hook up again, no better team. (hide spoiler)]

53% Verse III (view spoiler)[Omg so theres a third threat to Kate this time some shadow being that makes everyone go slasher movie. And what is this sliver in her eye? How is it connected to this creature?! Kind of bummed by her reaction to Sloan being alive, it was more a non-reaction. And August, ugh he’s turning into his brother and I do not like it, hes becoming emotionless and that’s not good for anyone. and I just realized Alice is Kate’s moms name, please lord don’t let her look like her too, that’s just too cruel. (hide spoiler)]

69%
(view spoiler)[So they finally had a moment AKA kiss and even though it brought Kate's soul forward I'm still counting it as a plus. I love how she's the only person who stands up to him and calls him out on his shit. He may be able to fool himself but not her. How creepy is this new monster, what the heck is it and how in the world will they ever be able to defeat it? I understand them treating Kate like a prisoner but I no like. (hide spoiler)]