YA Buddy Readers' Corner ♥ discussion

In this action-packed epic fantasy debut, three heroes scarred by old hatreds must find a way to overcome their pasts if they are to have any chance of saving their crumbling Republic from complete destruction. Perfect for fans of George R. R. Martin, Brent Weeks, and Brandon Sanderson.

A shadow has fallen over the Tressian Republic.

While the armies of the Hadari Empire invade the borderlands, the Republic’s noble families plot against each other, divided by personal ambition.

But as Tressia falls, heroes rise.

Viktor Akadra is the Republic’s champion and conqueror of the rebellious south. A warrior without equal, he also hides a secret that would see him burned as a heretic.

Josiri Trelan would gladly see Viktor condemned to the flames – vengeance for a rebellion crushed and a mother slain. And while Josiri plots fresh insurrection, his sister, Calenne, is determined to escape their tarnished legacy and break the shackles of the past.

As dark days beckon, these three must overcome their differences to save the Republic. Yet decades of bad blood are not easily set aside. Victory – if it comes at all – will command a higher price than they could have imagined.

I have a good feeling about this one!

This book will probably takes me all month to read but I'm happy to finally get to it :)

I'm 10% in and i absolutely love it!

I just started this book. I have the audiobook and the ebook to follow along. I'm only one chapter in but I'll check in once I've read more than just 3%!

Glad you're enjoying this one too, Kelly :) I'm making such slow progress but loving all I read. I'm 14% in now and reading about a chapter a day.

15% in and I have to say I'm beginning to understand what's going on but I feel a bit lost to be honest with all of these characters. And it's such a long book! I still have 24 hours left of audio ^^

I can imagine its confusing to listen to! I'm reading it physically and still really enjoying but it does take me quite a while to acquaint myself, every time I pick the book up. I'm still only 17% in!

First quarter - (view spoiler)[It took me a long time to get here, but I loved every page of it! This is such a politically dense read but yet still has a magical and fantastical edge to even it out. Anastacia's character is one of the most intriguing and I hope we learn more about her abilities as a demon, of sorts. She is a prisoner of the estate so I wonder what her past crimes were. Calenne is another favourite character and I felt sad for here when she found about her betrothed's death, right on her wedding morning. I know she didn't love him, but he was going to provide her with a means of escape and she like a genuinely good person who wouldn't have mistreated her. Maybe she could have found a way to love him back, if their futures had been different. Akadra saved her from the men in the forest, after her escape, and is showing a different side to the fearsome character he originally posed, and the one who haunted her dreams all her childhood. He also announced he wasn't her mother's murderer, so perhaps he will become another aid to her or become sympathetic to the Southerners. I have no idea where this will go! (hide spoiler)]

Second quarter - (view spoiler)[I was sensing something more might have been brewing between Victor and Calenne, at least until she proposed their marriage but stated she didn't love him YET. I still think it will come though and she still remains one of my favourite characters, as does Anastacia. They both have such sass and I love it!

Victor's plan to plant Anastacia inside the 'doll' was a little confusing and totally catastrophic! (hide spoiler)]

I'm sorry... I forced myself to listen to it (40%) but I need to stop and DNF it. This book is really not for me. I hate forcing myself to listen to something I don't care about and everything is difficult to grasp. The audio probably didn't help since there's only one narrator and her voice is a bit monotone. It's easily for my brain to tune her out unfortunately. There's still 17 hours left. I feel like this book could have been a lot shorter.

I'm glad you're loving it though! :)

Kelly wrote: "I'm sorry... I forced myself to listen to it (40%) but I need to stop and DNF it. This book is really not for me. I hate forcing myself to listen to something I don't care about and everything is d..."

That's totally okay! I don't think I could have coped with it on audio as so many parts I have to go back and reread to get the perfect understanding of them. I hope your next read is a better one for you :D

Dannii wrote: "Kelly wrote: "I'm sorry... I forced myself to listen to it (40%) but I need to stop and DNF it. This book is really not for me. I hate forcing myself to listen to something I don't care about and e..."

Yes, the audio was a mistake ^^' I could technically read the ebook but I'd rather read something new. Thank you! I hope you'll love it. I'll probably read your spoilers to see what happens in the end :)

So I got no further in the book this month. I'm directly 50% through but couldn't summon the mental energy to commit to this density. I'm still hoping to finish the book off next month, but will have to learn not to read something else alongside it as I keep getting confused with the story every time I put down and pick the book up again.