YA Buddy Readers' Corner ♥ discussion

From New York Times best-selling author Lexi Ryan, Cruel Prince meets A Court of Thorns and Roses in this sexy, action-packed fantasy about a girl who is caught between two treacherous faerie courts and their dangerously seductive princes.

Brie hates the Fae and refuses to have anything to do with them, even if that means starving on the street. But when her sister is sold to the sadistic king of the Unseelie court to pay a debt, she'll do whatever it takes to get her back—including making a deal with the king himself to steal three magical relics from the Seelie court.

Gaining unfettered access to the Seelie court is easier said than done. Brie's only choice is to pose as a potential bride for Prince Ronan, and she soon finds herself falling for him. Unwilling to let her heart distract her, she accepts help from a band of Unseelie misfits with their own secret agenda. As Brie spends time with their mysterious leader, Finn, she struggles to resist his seductive charm.

Caught between two dangerous courts, Brie must decide who to trust with her loyalty. And with her heart.

This sounds incredible! I just requested it on Netgalley and am keeping my fingers tightly crossed that it'll be approved and I can join you :)

Dannii wrote: "This sounds incredible! I just requested it on Netgalley and am keeping my fingers tightly crossed that it'll be approved and I can join you :)"

Fingers crossed here!

Yes, fingers crossed! I'm super new to NetGallery and only requested it about a week ago, so don't see why you wouldn't get it :)

I tried to request it last week and it was unavailable for request I guess I’ll read it when it comes out I preordered the ebook🥲
I was actually shook when I saw that some people here got it but great for you enjoy it 🙈🙈

Bayan wrote: "I tried to request it last week and it was unavailable for request I guess I’ll read it when it comes out I preordered the ebook🥲
I was actually shook when I saw that some people here got it but gr..."
Oh no, sorry about that! Maybe it depends on the region? I saw a lot of 'Wish for it' books that others have been reading, but not sure how it works.

I have been approved on netgalley.uk (while on netgally.com my request was denied,)... I'll give it a try
there too

So I could request it on both? I didn’t know that.. I’ll try and see if I get it I will start on it right away I’m super interested in fae books lol

Bayan wrote: "So I could request it on both? I didn’t know that.. I’ll try and see if I get it I will start on it right away I’m super interested in fae books lol"
Yes, I requested both and got the UK one approved (I think). This one: .
Fingers crossed! 😊

I requested mine on both the .com and co.uk Netgalley too :) Both US and UK covers are stunning!

Andreea wrote: "Bayan wrote: "So I could request it on both? I didn’t know that.. I’ll try and see if I get it I will start on it right away I’m super interested in fae books lol"
Yes, I requested both and got the..."

Yeah, I was approved for the UK version, too. Fingers crossed! 😊

Thank you! I will definitely join if I get it

I just got approved :D

Dannii wrote: "I just got approved :D"

Yeah! :D

I couldn't wait the extra day and have started this one now :)

First quarter - (view spoiler)[This is so interesting. I'm glad it didn't dive straight into the romance and allowed the reader to learn about the world, with its poor humans, human mages, house goblins and rich faeries first.

Sisters, Brie and Jas, are very different but I immediately loved them both. The rest of their family though... definitely not. I can't believe their own aunt sold Jas to a faerie trader when they fell too far behind on their payments! She ended up enslaved to the Unseelie King.

Sebastian is set up as the first love interest. He seemed so sweet, with his wish to free the sisters from their debt, but I felt no spark between him and Brie, no matter the amount of butterflies she had at the sight of him.

Pretha is a sweetheart though. I loved her selfless character from the very first introduction.

Is Brie the princess of shadows from the memory of one of her mother's stories?? (hide spoiler)]

Second quarter - (view spoiler)[SEBASTIAN IS PRINCE RONAN???? I didn't see that coming!!!! It was also revealed that the silver-eyed male she danced with was the exiled Prince Finnian, and Pretha is working with him. Brie has some fae abilities that were granted to her after the fire, years ago. I wonder if that why her mother went to the Fae kingdoms - not because she abandoned her daughters but because she made a deal saved Brie's life in return for hers? (hide spoiler)]

Third quarter - (view spoiler)[Poor Jalek was incarcerated, the Slaugh was pretty terrifying, and I'm still getting more new questions than answers to the old ones! (hide spoiler)]

Fourth quarter - (view spoiler)[I'm so glad Finn resisted Brie's advances after she was drugged. It's like the bare minimum but I was still pleased to see it.

Sebastian knew Brie kept the real Mirror of Discovery for herself! And also both he and Finn knew she possessed the crown! So many unanticipated reveals. I did, however, come to suspect that Oberon was the fae who had saved Brie after their house fire but not that he had sacrificed his life in place of saving hers nor that, as king, he passed his powers to the girl he saved rather than his own offsprings.

Finn sacrificed humans but even after that something was wishing that Brie would side with him and wouldn't trust Sebastian so willingly. It seems my suspicions were correct. I didn't know if this was a standalone fantasy or not to begin with but the ending was so open that there must be another instalment. (hide spoiler)]

Chapters 1-4 (view spoiler)[I can't shrug off the idea that Sebastian is the underlie prince in exile.. what do you think?

So far I am really enjoying it :) (hide spoiler)]

Chapters 4-9
(view spoiler)[So, I was partially right with my guess... But I bet on the wrong prince XD

Dannii wrote: "I couldn't wait the extra day and have started this one now :)

First quarter - This is so interesting..."

Dannii, I definitely agree with you pretty much on everything ;)
I really like Sebastian (he is so sweet!) but I have a bad feeling about their possible romance.. not only because of the web of lies developing between him and Brie, but above all because I fear he'll be the poor (typical?) love interest too good/sweet/caring to be actually chosen above the less "perfect" alternative...
Moreover, - another bad omen - I do not understand how Brie can reject all her feelings for him just because he lied (comprehensibly) about his identity.

Nonetheless, really liking it! (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 2
I'm definitely getting the Cruel Prince vibe already!
(view spoiler)[Although I do feel like the blurb and US cover reveal too much. I mean Sebastian is obviously Prince Ronan. You can suspect if from Ch. 2, but the cover just confirms it.
I am very intrigued, enjoying it so far and I'm curious to see if Brie will end up with Sebastian (hide spoiler)]

Vippi wrote: "Chapters 1-4 I can't shrug off the idea that Sebastian is the underlie prince in exile.. what do you think?

So far I am really enjoying it :)"

Good theory!

Vippi wrote: "Chapters 4-9
So, I was partially right with my guess... But I bet on the wrong prince XD

Dannii wrote: "I couldn't wait the extra day and have started this one now :)

First quarter - This is so i..."

(view spoiler)[I liked their characters individually but there was just something about their romance I was never sold on. There were also so many lies between them that were only ever going to be revealed and cause havoc. (hide spoiler)]

Andreea wrote: "Chapter 2
I'm definitely getting the Cruel Prince vibe already!"

That's interesting. It came as a big surprise to me, but I have the UK cover and only skimmed the blurb so maybe that's why.

Dannii wrote: "Vippi wrote: "Chapters 1-4 I can't shrug off the idea that Sebastian is the underlie prince in exile.. what do you think?

So far I am really enjoying it :)"

Good theory!"

I am only through Chapter 12 but I know what you mean... nonetheless, (view spoiler)[I hope she won't break Sebastian's heart (hide spoiler)]

Andreea wrote: "Chapter 2
I'm definitely getting the Cruel Prince vibe already"

(view spoiler)[I bet on the wrong prince... so I can't say I see it coming XD (hide spoiler)]

Vippi wrote: "
[spoilers removed]"
(view spoiler)[It was only because he told her something like "I know you hate the fae, but what if you realise that prince Ronan is not so bad?". I thought he must be one of they fae princes because of the US cover showing a guy with long white hair.😅" (hide spoiler)]

Andreea wrote: "Vippi wrote: "
[spoilers removed]"
[spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[XD
I realized he was fae reading the same line... nonetheless, I bet on the Unseelie prince XD
(hide spoiler)]

@Vippi - haha, love that gif! (not true, though)
Chapter 9 (30%)
(view spoiler)[@Dannii - I agree, I'm not feeling the chemistry between Brie and Sebastian/Ronan. Maybe because it all happened in the past, off page. And now all Brie mentions is how good looking he is...
@Vippi - Agreed, I thought Brie's reaction to finding out Sebastian lied to her was a bit extreme too. A bit too dramatic, haha.

I'm curious about their mother. I now get the sense that she didn't abandon them by choice. I wonder what the shadow princess actually is. Fae or human? Part of one of the two courts?

Personal preference, but I'm not crazy about the modern language 😅. It throws me when I read something like "That's fresh coming from you" or "stranger danger" haha. (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 12 (38%)
(view spoiler)[I'm getting a weird feeling about Ronan now. He hid her scar, so he obviously knows more about her than he lets on. He talked about the bonding (which still sounded manipulative too me) and one result was being aware of where your partner is - how did he know how to find Brie when the wolf attacked her? I thought it might just be the pendant, but who knows. And Finn & co seem to dislike him and hate the queen.
I need answers! (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 14 (42%)
(view spoiler)[So Finn was pretty grey up to this point, but I'm now convinced he really is good. You can't have the bad guy saying "You're wrong about that. What's truly dangerous is not having hope.". Or telling Brie never to enter into a bond.
I don't know how I feel about Brie's attraction to him, though. I hope they won't turn out to be mates, I don't like that trope. (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 17 (54%)
(view spoiler)[I am curious about Brie's mother too. In line with Dannii, my current hypothesis is that she made a deal with an Unseelie Fae who saved Brie during the fire and passed her some of his powers btw. So, the million $ question is: who is he? (crazy guesses: Finn's father? Finn himself?)

Sebastian and Finn are keeping many secrets from Brie... Sebastian hid her scar, while Finn couldn't heal properly (is he missing his powers?) and he told Pretha that Brie was not ready to know something... Moreover, there's still the "bond issue" we have not dealt with yet...

I agree with you both. There's no much chemistry between Brie and Sebastian, probably because their developing feelings are all off-page.
Even though I know their relationship is doomed, my heart is still hurting after reading the end of Chapter 17. Bash really loves Brie and I know he (and I) will suffer so much discovering all the secrets she's keeping.

And here we come to Lark's prophecy. “You could never be the Seelie queen.” Why?! (hide spoiler)]
Secrets upon secrets upon secrets... I am loving that!

Chapter 22 (62%)
(view spoiler)[Yep, so many secrets & mysteries! It's a lot more intriguing now.
But now I feel like Sebastian/Ronan is going to be the bad guy. It probably wasn't a coincidence that he went to that particular human mage. He probably did it to get to know Brie and make her fall in love with him? Now I'm wondering if maybe he's involved in Jas's disappearance. Maybe in league with Mordeus? I just get the feeling that Mordeus doesn't really have Jas, which is why he refuses to let Brie see her.

I love little Lark! The prophecy - maybe that's linked to your theory that Brie has her power from Oberon or Finn, so it's Unseelie power & that's why she couldn't be Seelie queen? Great theory with the power, by the way. Maybe it was Finn who gave it to her? Maybe that's why he's weak? Hmmm. (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 26 (74%)
(view spoiler)[Wow, that was cringey! Even before she was drunk/drugged I was embarrassed by how petulant she sounded talking to Riaan, and how she kept revealing things. I expected her to be smarter, but oh well.
I'm also disappointed that all the scenes with Brie x Sebastian or x Finn are just sexual tension. Sorry, but that's not enough for me. (hide spoiler)]

Andreea wrote: "Chapter 26 (74%)..."
(view spoiler)[I totally agree with you on everything :):
- Brie let her guard down too easily, ending up drugged and nearly blabbing away all her secrets.
- the scenes with the love interests revolve too much around the sexual tension between them (and no much else). (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 34 (94%)
(view spoiler)[I don't buy it. In the beginning, I was so sure Sebastian loves Brie, but now... now I am totally convinced that he orchestrated everything to meet her and make her fall in love with him. He wants Brie to bond with him - having a one-track mind about it. What if he is Arya and Oberon's son? He would be able to use the crown power and be king of all the Fae (as he admitted to wishing).
Moreover, despite his motives, I am quite convinced he is the bad guy, too. When Jarek was in prison, we saw a side of Sebastian - cruel and violent - that I did not imagine before. And there is the scene with the "other girl"... I loathe him, and I don't understand how Brie could pass over it so easily (especially considering her overreaction after discovering he hid his true identity), buying all the crap he told her.

On the other hand, Finn is no Saint too. But he definitely grew on me. He seems to truly care for his people and for her, too. I mean, he had the opportunity to leave Brie to die after the Sluagh's attack or to trick her into bonding with him while she was drunk. He seized neither of these opportunities.

I have a few pages left. I hope Brie will see through Bash's deception before it's too late. (hide spoiler)]

Finished.

Dannii wrote: "Fourth quarter..."
(view spoiler)[Our suspicions were right. Too bad :(

Despite some flaws, I really enjoyed this reading. All the layers of secrets and deceptions definitely intrigued me and now I desperately need to know what happens next. (hide spoiler)]

Andreea wrote: "Chapter 26 (74%)
Wow, that was cringey!"

I had SO MUCH second-hand embarrassment!

Vippi wrote: "Finished.

Dannii wrote: "Fourth quarter..."
Our suspicions were right. Too bad :(

Despite some flaws, I really enjoyed this reading. All the layers of secrets and deceptions definitely intrigued ..."

I loved reading all your thoughts. Your theories were pretty much on point. Way more than mine were, at least. Haha! I really enjoyed this one too. It wasn't a perfect book for me but I would be interested in a sequel after the way this one concluded.

Dannii wrote: "Vippi wrote: "Finished.

Dannii wrote: "Fourth quarter..."
Our suspicions were right. Too bad :(

Despite some flaws, I really enjoyed this reading. All the layers of secrets and deceptions definit..."

Well, I was wrong more often than right with my non-stopping guessing XD
I agree: it was not perfect but glued me to the page nonetheless. I really liked how it made me change my mind and developing theory after theory just to discard them in the span of a few chapters.

Just one last thought/question (view spoiler)[what do you think about Sebastian at the end? I mean, once past the halfway, I was pretty sure he was using Brie for getting the crown, as he did. However, maybe he was also really in love with her. Otherwise, he would have not saved her after the bonding happened. (hide spoiler)]

Vippi wrote: "Dannii wrote: "Vippi wrote: "Finished.

Dannii wrote: "Fourth quarter..."
Our suspicions were right. Too bad :(

Despite some flaws, I really enjoyed this reading. All the layers of secrets and dec..."

(view spoiler)[Hmmm, I'm not 100% sure. I'm pretty conflicted about his character overall and never really bought into their romance from the start. I think this author is trying to do a Sarah J. Maas and make an initially good character become the villain of the story, in later books. I believe there is genuine affection there, although not as much as he made out, but he will prove misguided in his attempts to protect her. (hide spoiler)]

Dannii wrote: "Vippi wrote: "Dannii wrote: "Vippi wrote: "Finished.

Dannii wrote: "Fourth quarter..."
Our suspicions were right. Too bad :(

Despite some flaws, I really enjoyed this reading. All the layers of s..."

(view spoiler)[I am very conflicted, too. In the beginning, I was so sad for Bash being used by Brie, while it has been the other way around all the time. Throughout the reading, I sided with him less and less (while I started to care for Finn more and more). However, TBO, what really upset me is when he cheated on her.
Let's see what will happen... but you're right, the Sarah J. Mass vibe is very strong XD (hide spoiler)]

I would like to thank you both so much: I really enjoyed our buddy-read :)

Vippi wrote: "Dannii wrote: "Vippi wrote: "Dannii wrote: "Vippi wrote: "Finished.

Dannii wrote: "Fourth quarter..."
Our suspicions were right. Too bad :(

Despite some flaws, I really enjoyed this reading. All ..."

(view spoiler)[ (hide spoiler)]
I loved this BR too. Thank you!

I forgot this was part of a duology! I was wondering how it would all wrap up with so little left in the book, but guess it will be next year, haha.

Yep, a fun BR, thank you! Enjoyed swapping theories & opinions 😊

Finished!
(view spoiler)[Sooo, some things I suspected were true, others quite far off, haha.

Overall, I found it more frustrating (due to Brie) than enjoyable.
I wasn't sold on either romance or guy (male :P) - if I had to pick one, it would be Finn, but I didn't particularly like him either 😆.

I'd say Sebastian did really love Brie. When she was in pain during the transformation he was upset about it and asked (his mother?) for help. There was no need to keep pretending at that point.

I can definitely see the ACoTaR similarities: the curse that no one could talk about, the love interest who seems good, but isn't (although Tamlin was bad in a different way) & the one who seems bad but isn't.

Isn't it a bit weird that Sebastian & Finn are almost Brie's step-brothers 😅? Lol. I mean I know they are not related by blood, Oberon and her mum were not even married, and Brie was born after Oberon returned to Faerie, but it still seems a little odd to me.

Honestly, I'm disappointed in Oberon. What sort of a king endangers his entire kingdom for the life of his ex's daughter? As much as he still loved this woman (who found another man in just a few years) and wanted to spare her the pain, that's a terrible thing to do! I don't find it particularly believable. (hide spoiler)]

Andreea wrote: "I forgot this was part of a duology! I was wondering how it would all wrap up with so little left in the book, but guess it will be next year, haha.

Yep, a fun BR, thank you! Enjoyed swapping theo..."

(view spoiler)[I'm not convinced Brie should end up with either male, too. I think Finn will become endgame though, unless Bash has a major alteration in character in book two. I think he will turn darker instead though and we will really start to see more differences between them both.

Weird that I never thought how closely they were almost related before, haha! (hide spoiler)]

Dannii wrote: "Andreea wrote: "I forgot this was part of a duology! I was wondering how it would all wrap up with so little left in the book, but guess it will be next year, haha.

Yep, a fun BR, thank you! Enjoy..."

(view spoiler)[Surely Finn becomes a more likely match due to the depth of Sebastian's betrayal... nonetheless, with this SarahJMass-y authors you can never say never.

@Andreaa
I am sorry the book disappointed you. I read your review and can totally agree with the flaws you pointed out. (hide spoiler)]

(view spoiler)[Agreed, I think it would be hard to redeem Ronan enough. At least Finn didn't do anything to trick her although he could have.

@Vippi - well I still had fun reading it, but the book had a lot of my pet hates & it made it hard to focus on the good things haha. (hide spoiler)]

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Date changed. Restarting September 19th 2021. Happy Reading ☺

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Are you guys still up for this buddy read? If yes, then I would love to join you.

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Date changed. Restarting October 13th 2021. Happy Reading ☺

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I started a bit early!!