Addicted to YA discussion

This discussion will be lead by Athena. The discussion leader will be here to help keep the conversation going.

Hi! I'm Athena. I am an avid reader and writer. Favorite books of mine include: Harry Potter, The Seven Realms, Mara Dyer, Shatter Me, and Six of Crows.
So, to start: What did you think about Eliana and Rielle's POV'S? Did you think their voices were distinct? Who did you like better and why?

I loved the different POV’s and the anticipation for how things would intertwine. Once the pieces started coming together it was so exciting! I loved trying to guess at how things would fit together, and I was completely surprised and satisfied by the ending.

I think their voices were very distinct. It’s hard to say who I liked better, I liked aspects of both characters. Their stories were pretty different but came together beautifully.

This may be a long shot question .. do you think that Ludivine could possibly be Zahra the wraith? I know Zahra said that she doesn’t have a body anymore and that Ludivine can “possess” people. Just a thought bouncing around my head.

I still have quite a few questions but I cannot wait for the next book!

I liked both POVs, but I liked Eliana's better. I loved how bold Rielle could be, but I found Eliana's side of the story slightly more interesting. I think that the supporting characters on Eliana's side were more fleshed out, too, which helped. Or maybe it's because I didn't really like Audric. Though Corien did interest me. I loved the fact that neither Rielle nor Eliana were truly innocent or "pure", as some main characters seem to be in fantasy. Both of them were more on the antihero side of the spectrum.
I hadn't considered that Ludivine could be Zahra. It's a possibility, though. Interesting. They share some of the same personality traits, now that I think about it.
What, if anything, do you think could have made the book better? I wish that something different instead of a magical trial had been done for Rielle's side of things. It has been done so many times in fantasy. Or maybe some sort of spin on the magic trials idea? And I wish that Audric's character had been more flawed. He was just too heroic and good for me. I guess it was supposed to be balance out Rielle's character? Another thing: At the end, The Wolf aka Simon, seemed to do a little "personality switch" , suddenly seeming very dedicated to Eliana and a little...obsessive. But, still, I am excited to see where their relationship goes, as both of them are very flawed and complex. They are one of my favorite parts of the book.

I loved how Rielle started of as the cute girl and became more and more ‘self absorbed’ or possessed. While Eliana was more hard and became softer to the end.

True, Maartje.
What does everyone think about the world building in the novel? Do you think that the book lived up to the hype?

I think the mainstream trials could’ve been done differently. Something more unique. But I did like how “life or death” they were. Including the children and Tal was interesting, too.

I agree with how they both seemed to come into themselves more. It was a little strange for me when Simon kind of flipped the switch with his feelings for Eliana. And I also think that Audric was a little too pure, I’m curious to see if his character changes in the next book.

I think the world building was great, though. It was interesting to see how much had changed between the years. It definitely painted a picture of things in my mind.

I could make a pretty good picture in my head so the world building was okay. If there were a lot of changes over all these years I don’t know. With Rielle you see the world in the castle and with Eliane life in the village. Maybe it was different all along.

Hello everyone. Although we already know what wil happen to Rielle in the end I was so interested in her version of events, how trapped she felt, how impotent before her own power, even how vicious she could become. Really want to see how that will go down. I think both of the were alike in some things but really different in other, the author's not trying to make perfect heroines, but characters who are deeply flawed

About the personality switch in Simon, it really bugged me. I prefer him sarcastic and maybe a bit mean to Eliana, it seem more real and honest.

What really bothers me is how Simon came to be who he is, I mean, he was only a child and this Prophet seems very shady to me, like another authoritarian leader or fanatic. Anyway Eliana will have a complicated path ahead of her.

The world building was awesome. The magic and how it worked, this ancient war even the religion. About this it surprise me how inclussive it was to have female saints, warriors, scholars and knights. Usually we get a more traditional middle age setting and the view of women it brings, it was refreshing to have this kind of book where a character wasn't underestimated just for beain female.

What does everyone think about how Rielle became the Blood Queen? I just can't fathom her killing Audric in cold blood. I think it was necessary for The Gate to fall, maybe it was all necessary just to give the true Sun Queen a chance to grow up and became the heroine and warrior the world actually needs

The feminism in the book was a nice touch, it wasn't too in your face as some book can be.

It's very hard for me to imagine her killing Audric, so I'm curious to see how that will come together.

I think that the world building was one of the best parts of the book.
I can't wait to see where the author takes it in future novels!
I also really liked how Eliana was a tough female assassin, but she still had flaws that felt realistic. And Rielle, also very strong physically and mentally, showed an interest in fashion. Some authors seem to translate that a strong female character can't be interested in anything besides weapons and killing and supposed ''masculine'' things. I don't see why more authors don't have characters whom are interested in a variety of things, as in real life.

The interest in different things was a nice touch, I think the author try not to create just perfect heroines but more human and real ones.

Giving it some thought to the identity of The Prophet, do you think it could be someone from the past too? There must have been more marques around. I was thinking even Auric, since it was told that Rielle kind of dissolve him when she pierce his heart with a blade made form the empirium itself and she affected the threads that Simon built while trying to run with baby Eliana, so she could have that ability too. We don't know the extent of her power after all. I don't have anything else to support this, but it could be a nice touch. Dealing with time traveling could be really tricky after all

I love the idea that the prophet could be someone we’ve met already! So many little pieces that could fit together, it would be really cool if all our theories turn out to be correct.

I enjoyed this very much, but will say a few things... one is that Simon feels distinctly like a watered down Kaz from Six of Crows at the beginning, then is almost a dog worshipping at Eliana’s feet at the end. Very confusing!

As others have guessed, I have to imagine that Ludivine is Razha, and was very impressed that I didn’t see that reveal coming. I thought she was a bit too gracious when Rielle and Audric were caught, but I wrote it off too easily. That’ll teach me!

And finally, as much as it pains me to say... Corien turned out to be way too Darkling for my taste. I’ve already had my portion of attracted to the enemy sated by that, so this felt a bit overblown. I’m interested in how the author will bring this back around in the next book and am REALLY pleased that it didn’t end with the end of Rielle’s story. Definitely looking forward to book #2!

Do you think that Rielle's side was less suspenseful because it was told in reverse chronological order?
I think the thing that turned me off from her side a little was that the magic trials that she went through felt a little repetive.

I tried to get into this one and I after about 2 1/2 hours of audio I only knew one character's name and had no idea what was going on. I like the narrator a lot but I think choosing that format was a mistake for this type of storytelling. I'm not sure if I will read it myself or abandon it at this point now that I'm kind of turned off and don't really want to start over. Plus I really really want to read this author's new release instead 😏

I think Rielle’s POV definitely lost its pizzazz being in reverse. There’s a bit of information between where the book ended and her death that didn’t get revealed, so I am hoping that there’s still room for a little surprise.

I am really interested in how Simon grew up to be the way he is. Also, despite the rather repetitive and, to be honest, not very original trials, I am quite interested in Rielle's further story more than I am in Eliana's. Particularily, in how it came down to her battling Auric. My guess is that Corin had possessed him at some point maybe? It was remarked that Audric had a mind easy to peek into, wasn't it?
Weirdly, even to myself, the change in Simon didn't really surprise me, somehow I think I sensed it not too far into their journey. He was cheeky and rude but he kinda was ready to die for her right off the bat. I also think we will meet Harkan again though I fear it might be the Hunger Games-like situation. Btw, that's what Rielle's trials reminded me of the most.
What irked me a little bit was the amount of m|m couples, actually. Don't get me wrong, I loved how it wasn't shown as something frowned upon, it was like it's an average thing in that world BUT I dunno, it felt kinda forced to me, when it was Patrick and Hob declared husbands first thing upon appearing and then "the Astavar kings" the prince called fathers. Maybe I'm just not used to it though, huh. Also, I'd like to see it balanced out with canon w|w pairs, I think. There weren't any, were it? Besides Eliana's offhand mention of one woman pleasing her better than Harkan.
All in all, I think I will read the next book at some point after it's out but I might actually wait for the last one to do so as it is not something I am desperately craving at the moment like I am The Wicked King, for example.

I agree with you on the last part. I too am dying to read The Wicked King.

Yes. Me too. I'm am dying for The Wicked King.

I loved this book sooo much more than I expected. Once I had a break and could really start reading this for more than 5 minutes straight, I couldn't stop. I really couldn't. Thank god it was the weekend, otherwise I would've been screwed.

I'm also really curious about everything. I totally called it that Eliana was Rielle's daughter. It made sense because why else would it be from her perspective? (Also, this is random but the names are so pretty). I really want to know what happens with Rielle to turn her into the Blood Queen, and why Simon is the way he is, and who the Prophet is, and why does Corien even exist, and basically everything we don't know. I'm really, really dying. I don't want to have to wait for the next book...

I read this book twice and still didn’t like it the second time. (Only read it again because I had Kingsbane) I thought the plot idea was so interesting, but didn’t feel like it was done very well. And there was so much that didn’t make sense when I read it. (And still didn’t make sense the second time) I might read Lightbringer eventually. I do own it. :/