Challenge 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.

Starting this now!

Ch 1-10: (view spoiler)[So far I'm really enjoying this book. Brie and Sebastian are all kinds of cute and I'm not a huge fan of her rejecting her feelings because of him lying about who he was. They are still there.. so I have a feeling the romance is just going to continue growing. (hide spoiler)]

Ch 11- 20: (view spoiler)[I'm pretty suspicious of some people, like Ronan, Finn, and Brie's mom. I just have weird feelings about all three and I'm not sure if I'm supposed to trust them or not. I also have so many unanswered questions right now. (hide spoiler)]

Ch 21-30: (view spoiler)[So many secrets are coming out to play right now. Definitely makes things a bit more interesting but I'm still suspicious of some people.

I also think things were kind of cringe-y when she was drugged or whatever?!?! Again, not sure if she was drugged or drunk. Either way - cringe alert.

I also need more than sexual tension.. sorry, not sorry. (hide spoiler)]

Ch 31-Finish: (view spoiler)[Wow so many betrayals and deceptions throughout this. I wasn't expecting that much to go down before we got to the end.

Not sure if Sebastian really did have this epic plan to get a bond with Brie.. but then again - I'm horrible at getting the clues and such. I can totally see him being the evil asshole that he is because some of that came to light.

Other than that, I'm not sure what the next book will be like but I'm excited to dive into it whenever it is available. (hide spoiler)]

I'm next in line for this on Libby and I'll start it right away once I get it!

Woohoo. Can’t wait!

Alaina wrote: "Ch 1-10: [spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[ Me at the beginning: ooohh so a love triangle between Sebastian and the prince? Me now: Oh. Same person. lol.
Yeah....I think she is right to be mad at him, for sure. I think the bigger issue though isn't that he lied but that she has to steal in order to save her sister! The plot thickens. (hide spoiler)]

Alaina wrote: "Ch 11- 20: [spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[ Yeah I am liking Sebastian less and less as this goes on. Okay also...this is giving me hardcore ACOTAR vibes and I can't unsee it. Sebastian is Tamlin. Finn is Rhysand. (hide spoiler)]

Alaina wrote: "Ch 21-30: spoilers removed"

(view spoiler)[ Umm yeah so cringe. Okay at this point I am completely over any lingering shred of hope I had for Sebastian. He seems like a manipulative jerk. He def had his friend drug her so she would bond with him. Like no.
And then I was enjoying Finn like saying no because she was under the influence...then he like. Started kissing her neck. Umm no thank you. :((((((((((((((((((((((((((. Not cool, broski. Honestly at this point she needs to just throw out the boys and focus on her sister. (hide spoiler)]

Alaina wrote: "Ch 31-Finish: Wow so many betrayals and deceptions throughout this. I wasn't expecting that much to go down before we got to the end.

Not sure if Sebastian really did have this epic plan to get a..."
(view spoiler)[ OMG when she agreed to bond with Sebastian in the last like half hour of the book I was so mad!!!!!!!!!!!! NOOOOO. And then of course he is part Unseelie. What an ass. I do think he totally had this nefarious plan all along. He is so manipulative. Screw him. She was dumb for bonding with him. She should have at least tried to find another way :/.

I'll definitely read the next book but this one wasn't mind blowing or anything. I liked the writing and I was interested but this just kind of feels like every other faerie story to me. Like, specifically ACOTAR. Like if they got to choose their mating bonds lmao. (hide spoiler)]

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RESTARTING SEPTEMBER 19TH 2021

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Won't be able to start until the 22nd since the book has just shipped and that is the date it should make it to me.

Starting this today

9% chapter 3

(view spoiler)[

Cinderella & ACOTAR vibes-feels like this is the "new" ACOTAR

Figured something would happen to her sister, now she will definitely go to the ball I think to try and find or rescue her sister (hide spoiler)]

24% Chapter 8

(view spoiler)[
Love that Sebastian is the prince!

Loving the world-building, the twist about why her sister was kidnapped, the threat of the Unseelie court, the quest, and her shadow hiding powers. (hide spoiler)]

43%

(view spoiler)[

Some selection vibes as well she seems to act a bit like America when she thinks in her internal dialogue about why she wouldn't want to be his queen. AND of course the other girls there also vying for his heart reminds me of the selection (hide spoiler)]

62%

(view spoiler)[
Loving this dream and her conversations with the child seer-Super cool (hide spoiler)]

68%

(view spoiler)[

GAH! Had to charge my headphones at an intense part! (hide spoiler)]

68%

(view spoiler)[

GAH! Had to charge my headphones at an intense part! (hide spoiler)]

86%

(view spoiler)[

AHH The Banchee! (hide spoiler)]

Finished

(view spoiler)[
OMG!!! That ending-wow and Sebastion's secret about being seelie and unseelie-WOW (hide spoiler)]

23%(view spoiler)[I am loving this story so far so much has happened in such a short time I really like this fast paced book so far. I love the characters especially Brie she is interesting a strong capable woman willing to do anything to save her sister. I am liking the plot so many things happened quickly Brie and her sister wanted to escape their situation but her sister's contract was bought first so she set out to save her gets caught and is sent on a mission to retrieve some things she also feels betrayed by someone she has cared for because he lied about who he is. So overall I am loving this book will continue soon. (hide spoiler)]

Will finish tomorrow

Cindee wrote: "23%[spoilers removed]"

Totally agree

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RESTARTING OCTOBER 13TH 2021

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Starting a bit early

Ch 1-9 (view spoiler)[ So Sebastian is Ronan! I didn't think he would be, but I did wonder if Sebastian was fae. He's cute and I wonder if they'll get together? (hide spoiler)]

Ch 2
(view spoiler)[ so far it reminds me of Cinderella with two girls instead of one! (hide spoiler)]

Emma wrote: "Ch 2
[spoilers removed]"

Yes it definitely does!

Ok Ch 5 (view spoiler)[ IS this actually meant to be a Cinderella retelling because now Brie has met Pretha in the queue to the palace who is acting like a fairy Godmother?! (hide spoiler)]

Emma wrote: "Ok Ch 5 [spoilers removed]"

Hmm, I'm not sure but I do see the similarities

Ch 10-18 I got a bit bored and wasn't feeling this but I'm back and trying to get into the story.

(view spoiler)[I think Finn is the one she'll end up with. I know she cares for Sebastian but he'll be crushed that she's using him and I think Finn understands her better. I'd like to know more about her magic and parentage (hide spoiler)]

Aly wrote: "Ch 10-18 I got a bit bored and wasn't feeling this but I'm back and trying to get into the story.

[spoilers removed]"

I agree. I’m going to give it a bit longer but I might ask Amazon for a refund!
At least I now know Brie is (view spoiler)[ a princess of shadows (hide spoiler)]

Emma wrote: "Aly wrote: "Ch 10-18 I got a bit bored and wasn't feeling this but I'm back and trying to get into the story.

[spoilers removed]"

I agree. I’m going to give it a bit longer but I might ask Amazo..."

I listened a bit more and I'll post an update, but I think I'll set this aside and see about coming back to it later. Luckily I didn't pay for this one!

Ch 19-26 (view spoiler)[ F@$% Sebastian. "Oh I'm hurt so it's okay if I leave you and go have sex with someone else." Ugh what an ass and I now do not like him anymore.

Clearly Finn is the better choice, but I'm worried she'll go back to Sebastian. (hide spoiler)] I've been seeing lots of comments comparing this to A Court of Thorns and Roses and I'm agreeing more and more.

I’m quitting at 24%. It’s not ‘bad’ (view spoiler)[ but I think it’s written as young YA so far anyway Nd I’m also finding it very predictable. (hide spoiler)]

Emma wrote: "I’m quitting at 24%. It’s not ‘bad’ [spoilers removed]"

I definitely see what you mean. I hope you can dive into something more enjoyable!

Ch 27-End (view spoiler)[ I'm disappointed that she bonded Ronan and he played her like that. Finn was right and Ronan is a douche. At least now Brie is pissed and really taking control of her powers.

I might read the sequel so I can see her take Ronan down, but I didn't really love this and it was too similar to ACOTAR for me (hide spoiler)]

Aly wrote: "Ch 27-End I'm disappointed that she bonded Ronan and he played her like that. Finn was right and Ronan is a douche. At least now Brie is pissed and really taking control of her powers.

I might re..."

(view spoiler)[ I’m glad I got my money back! (hide spoiler)]

Emma wrote: "Aly wrote: "Ch 27-End I'm disappointed that she bonded Ronan and he played her like that. Finn was right and Ronan is a douche. At least now Brie is pissed and really taking control of her powers.
..."

Haha. Cemetery Boys is much better in my opinion

23%

(view spoiler)[I like that Brie was willing to give the money that she stole to someone else to prevent them from a terrible fate. It shows that she has good character.

Wow, I can't believe that Brie and her sister are like indentured servants to their aunt. Their aunt and their cousins treat them like trash. It's sad. It has a definite Cinderella vibe.

So their mother ran off to be with some noble fairie lord that she was in love with? Hmm...it makes me wonder about their father. Could their father be a fairie?

Sebastian is awfully concerned about them going to the faerie ball.

I wonder why the Unseelie King would purchase her sister. I wonder if it has something to do with her mother?

So the Seelie Queen loved the Unseelie King and has a portal to the Unseelie realm. That makes me wonder if her son is the child of both courts?

I think that it is odd that the goblin is offering her help in the form of the bracelet. Even if the cost would be a lock of her hair, it seems odd that he would offer it anyway.

Well, Sebastian is being suspicious, right? It was adorable that he gave her an amulet of protection. He has been keeping things from her but it's clear that he cares about her.

Pritha's kindness was unexpected. I wonder if she was genuine or if she had an ulterior motive in helping Brie. And where is she? Did she not get in? Was she even human?

Well, Faerie pulled her right in and wouldn't let her go. And who is this faerie lad that is interested in her?

Is the moon-like scar on her wrist significant in some way? The faerie boy remarked on it and started to say something about it. She says that it is because she was in a fire when she was young but maybe the scar is from something else? Maybe it isn't a scar? Maybe a brand? The fae boy said that she shouldn't let the queen see the scar and then he bowed to her. Very curious. Maybe she does have fae blood after all? Even the goblin that she bargained with commented on how her hair color wasn't natural. But why else would this fae boy bow to her? It makes no sense.

Oh she has got to be part fae. The Seelie Queen fell in love with the Shadow King, or so the story says. It clearly didn't work out. And then Brie has shadows around her and vanishes into a wall? And her mother had claimed that she was in love with a fae lord? Perhaps that fae lord was the Shadow King and Brie is his daughter? I'm probably way off base with that, but the gears in my head are definitely turning. I mean, how could she be the Shadow King's daughter when one of her love interests is supposed to be the Unseelie Prince? That would be gross.

Wow, even the Unseelie King insinuated that she was more than human.

From the story that their mother told them, it sounds like maybe her mother was the lover of the first Unseelie King and that perhaps she is the reason that he lost his throne? Maybe? Maybe not?

Why would the Unseelie boy help her?

Sebastian is clearly a fae and has been hiding it from Brie.

Oh yep, he sure is. He is Prince Ronan. I guess I would feel pretty betrayed if I were her. Pretty shocked. And I honestly don't know if that bodes well or not for her mission to rescue her sister. She is supposed to get the prince to love her to be able to get access to the artifacts that she is supposed to steal, but it's clear that he already does. But only because Ronan and Sebastian are the same person. Which brings so many things into question.

And I find it odd that she doesn't really question, at least not entirely, the way that she can sink into the shadows and disappear. That is clearly not something a human can do and it's like that thought never crosses her mind. Slipping through walls and created shadows that can hide her is something that she should really be more concerned about, right? (hide spoiler)]

Aly wrote: "Ch 1-9 [spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[I definitely thought that he was fae and secretly hiding it. By the blurb in the story it was easy to predict that he was once of the princes. (hide spoiler)]

Emma wrote: "Ch 2
[spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[I got the same feeling at the beginning. There are definitely a lot of Cinderella parallels in this story so far. (hide spoiler)]

Emma wrote: "Ok Ch 5 [spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[It didn't occur to me at first, but that totally makes sense. (hide spoiler)]

Emma wrote: "I’m quitting at 24%. It’s not ‘bad’ [spoilers removed]"

That's where I am right now. I'm sorry you didn't like it but I hope that your next read will be better. <3

50%

(view spoiler)[Ah, so Pritha is a fae.

The Seelie Queen didn't hold back on her distaste for Brie. But she is in the running anyway, so we'll see how it goes.

All the talk about fae bonding has my brain whirling like mad. Sebastian seems to think that fae bonding is a beautiful thing, but Brie is totally disgusted by it. Since fae bonding works differently on humans than other fae, I suppose she has a point. It has me wondering though, since Sebastian mentioned that the bond was a way of protection, if he has already bonded with Brie? The token he gave her that said would protect her...was that some part of the bond? They don't mention what the bond entails or how to achieve it, so I am unsure. Though if that is true, I am assuming Brie is going to be furious when she finds out. Since she is so opposed to it and since Sebastian already lied to her about who he is, I think that she would find that a complete violation.

I'm still not sure what to think of Pritha, Cain, and Finn. They seem nice enough but their endgame is still a mystery so it's hard to trust them. At least they are helping her for now.

And enter the love triangle. Now that Brie is spending time with Finn she is starting to feel things.

Okay, what Sebastian just said has me thinking. It kind of gave me a foreboding feeling. When she asked him what he believed the best solution was to the warring courts, he told Brie that change is coming and that the right leader could unite both courts. To me, that sounds like he plans to be the one leader of the fae that unites the courts. Which seems pretty ominous. It feels very villainy. Not that I think his intentions might not be genuine. He appears to want the greater good for all the fae. But most villains believe in their cause and think that it is the best way, even when in truth they are trying to take over the world.

I wonder why Finn can't heal. Is he without magic? When he was trying to teach Brie to use her magic he never used any of his own that I can remember.

Wow, fae prison camps.

Wow, now I wonder if Sebastian didn't bond to Brie without her knowledge. I don't fully understand what tributes are, but they sound like the bonding that Sebastian and Brie were talking about between a fae and a human. And Finn kissed that girl that wanted to be a tribute so I assume that is part of how it works. Though, I am not sure what the ramifications of it are or how it really works. Finn didn't seem inclined to agree to taking a tribute. In fact, he seemed downright pissed about the whole thing. But he must need one to heal properly. Though, I don't know what that would do to the human. Kill them somehow, I assume. (hide spoiler)]

Aly wrote: "Ch 10-18 I got a bit bored and wasn't feeling this but I'm back and trying to get into the story.

[spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[Yes, I have been going through ideas about everyone's parentage and loyalties. I also think that Finn is endgame for her. (hide spoiler)]

74%

(view spoiler)[I was doing some thinking on this, and it's probably WAY off, but what if Finn and Sebastian are brothers? The queen said that his father was this other guy, but she DID have an affair with the previous Unseelie King, which is Finn's father. Maybe Sebastian is Seelie and Unseelie? And maybe that is why he thinks that he could unite the fae with a single ruler?

So Lark is Finn's niece. That would mean that Finn has a sibling that is Lark's father. Pritha did say that she has her father's eyes, which are just like Finn's.

The Unseelie King letting Brie keep the mirror but not really saying why was weird to me.

Library pixies that live among books and sing? Yes, please.

What did Jalik mean when he told Sebastian that if he killed him then she would never give him the crown? And that he doesn't have her fooled? Who is her? Is Jalik talking about Brie? Because he can't be talking about the Queen, right?

So the sluagh lured her into a trap, but why the fore? I guess Lark's vision about that future was right after all. When Brie woke up and Lark was there and then she told Brie about all the different futures she could have I didn't know what to think. She is definitely a powerful little girl.

Pritha has noticed that Finn has feelings for Brie. She asked him if he was sleeping with her, which he denied, and then she said that he was in love with her, which he also denied. But it is so obvious that he cares about Brie. I mean, it seemed as though she was on the brink of death after they rescued her and I assume that Kane wanted him to take her power and let her die, but Finn refused and made Pritha heal her. He was adamant that she be healed so yeah, he clearly cares more than he's letting on.

So Pritha's brother is the king od the wild fae. And her former lover is his wife. That sucks for her. Especially since they shipped her off to marry Finn's brother, then she grew to love him, and then he died. Maybe she'll find love with Kane? He seems to care about her.

So the amulet that Sebastian gave her wasn't for protection after all, but to track her.

Finn said that Sebastian isn't his enemy and that he wishes him no ill will. Just the Queen. Yeah, I am starting to think that they really are brothers with different mothers.

Well, what a lying slimy bastard. Saying that he wants to be with her, wants to marry her, getting hot and heavy with her, and then excusing himself to go to a meeting before they seal the deal, and then getting with another woman? Really? There is something very off about that.

Did Sebastian's friend drug Brie to get her to go to Sebastian and agree to the fae bond or was it Sebastian's idea? (hide spoiler)]