YA Buddy Readers' Corner ♥ discussion

Ever since Jacob Reckless was a child, he has been escaping to a hidden world through a portal in his father's abandoned study. Over the years, he has made a name for himself as a finder of enchanted items and buried secrets. He's also made many enemies and allies--most important, Fox, a beautiful shape-shifting vixen whom Jacob cares for more than he lets on.

But life in this other world is about to change. Tragedy strikes when Jacob's younger brother, Will, follows him through the portal. Brutally attacked, Will is infected with a curse that is quickly transforming him into a Goyl--a ruthless killing machine, with skin made of stone.

Jacob is prepared to fight to save his brother, but in a land built on trickery and lies, Jacob will need all the wit, courage, and reckless spirit he can summon to reverse the dark spell--before it's too late.

Up to chapter 5 (view spoiler)[ I keep getting the brothers mixed up. I had to go back and reread because this chapter confused me at first. Also, I would have loved more world building. (hide spoiler)]

Up to chapter 14 (view spoiler)[ There are several stories happening in one. there is also so many references to actual fairy tales. (hide spoiler)] I still feel like I've been dropped in the middle of a series instead of the very beginning.

I started this morning but am only three pages in so will carry on this evening and catch up with your thoughts :)

Chapter 3
(view spoiler)[ Kind of with there had been a little more about the mirrors or the brothers or really anything before everything sort of blew up. Is this Hansel like Hansel and Gretel? (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 9
(view spoiler)[ That took a really dark, gory turn with the Tailor. I'm getting that this isn't like a fun fairy tale, but I wasn't expecting that. (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 13
(view spoiler)[ So was that another character/plot introduced? I'm a little confused as to everyone's relationship with everyone else. Seems that everyone is connected, or at least their goals are. It's interesting to read how the goyls (Basically just Gargoyles?) have evolved. (hide spoiler)]

Krystal wrote: "Up to chapter 14 [spoilers removed] I still feel like I've been dropped in the middle of a series instead of the very beginning."

(view spoiler)[ Yeah, that threw me a little too. Some are general enough, like the Dark Fairy. That could be a lot of fairy tales, though I always think of Sleeping Beauty. But others like Hansel are specific. (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 20
(view spoiler)[ The story flows a little better now. I do with there were more back story about Jacob with the fairy for a year. I think this book could be filled in a lot. (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 26
(view spoiler)[ I guess we are talking about Sleeping Beauty after all. These reference drops are kind of random. Usually when they are mixed like this, it's the theme. This seems more like filler between Jacob's parts about his brother. (hide spoiler)]

Ashley wrote: "Chapter 3
[spoilers removed]"

That’s a really good question but I totally agree. The series is named after then after all but we get nothing.

Chapter 32
(view spoiler)[ I was curse about Lorelei and whether they were real or something Funke created. If anyone else is curious, this is what it said:

Lorelei siren
Lorelei, German Loreley, German legend of a beautiful maiden who threw herself into the Rhine River in despair over a faithless lover and was transformed into a siren who lured fishermen to destruction.

I thought that was interesting. (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 49
(view spoiler)[ Maybe I'm just tired of trying to put all the different pieces of this story together but I just don't care at this point. I usually don't mind multiple plotlines, but I can't tell what the primary part is anymore. (hide spoiler)]

Finished
(view spoiler)[Well, that left with a cliffhanger. I definitely have mixed feelings about the book as a whole. I think that the setting has limitless possibilities and so many ways the rest of the series can go. There are tons of fairy tales that can be integrated or new ones made. However, I didn't really care about the characters. I get that Jacob was desperate to help his brother, but the why left me wanting. Seems that it was only out of obligation. I get that, but it doesn't make me want to emotionally invest in the characters. (hide spoiler)]

39% (view spoiler)[ What in the world. He is speaking to the Red Fairy like we have already read this part of his adventure. This is super strange. (hide spoiler)]

Ashley wrote: "Chapter 20
[spoilers removed]"

YES! Thank you. It's like we are just supposed to know what happened with him and the fairy.

56% (view spoiler)[ This whole thing with the water and Jacob and Clara thing is so unnecessary! It does not add to the already way too long story. (hide spoiler)]

Ashley wrote: "Chapter 32
I was curse about Lorelei and whether they were real or something Funke created. If anyone else is curious, this is what it said:

Lorelei siren
Lorelei, German Loreley, German legend o..."

I do really love the different creatures and things in this book. I like how the book gave them the more creative and cultural names, like how you mentioned before.

72% (view spoiler)[ I wish we knew more about Fox. I like her and her ability and like when she's in the picture. (hide spoiler)]

83% (view spoiler)[ So, since she crushed the moth above his heart, does that mean she lifted the curse of him dying because of him saying her name? (hide spoiler)]

Ashley wrote: "Chapter 49
[spoilers removed]"

Agreed. I thought this was going to be a lighter, more thrilling adventure book. It's been a hard read.

Finished (view spoiler)[ Oh, I see that the curse of him dying is still there. I am glad he saved his brother. The story, however, was wayyy to long and not actually that interesting. (hide spoiler)]

Ashley wrote: "Finished
[spoilers removed]"

I agree (view spoiler)[ I would like to just see the different fairy tale elements and all of the magical items. Jacob and his woes aren't important. The story was super dullish and just flat. (hide spoiler)]

First quarter - (view spoiler)[Jacob appears in both worlds and it was obvious that his younger brother would be curious about where his stories and treasures came from. It led to his skin turning into jade and for Clara to descend into this other world too. This world seems to magical and I'm keen to explore more of it. I am a little confused about the timeline of events though. (hide spoiler)]

Second quarter - (view spoiler)[Jacob, Clara, and Will are still searching for the cure for Will's predicament. Jacob is seriously suffering too. I'm enjoying the portions of this world they are venturing through, including the unicorn graveyard, and the characters they meet, such as the dwarf. There is a dual political focus also occurring. I'm interested in everything but somehow not yet super invested. (hide spoiler)]

Krystal wrote: "Up to chapter 14 [spoilers removed] I still feel like I've been dropped in the middle of a series instead of the very beginning."

I agree. I loved all the magical and fairytale references but never felt I truly got a concrete grasp for what was occurring.

Ashley wrote: "Chapter 13
[spoilers removed]"

My thoughts exactly. I remained intrigued but also a little lost.

Ashley wrote: "Chapter 20
[spoilers removed]"

This book both feels too long-winded in some parts and too rushed over in others. I never got to the point where i felt immersed at all as I was constantly puzzling too mny things out.

Ashley wrote: "Finished
[spoilers removed]"

Every one of these thoughts was mine too. Great concept but I didn't love the execution.

Krystal wrote: "72% [spoilers removed]"

Fox is the most interesting character, imo.

Third quarter - (view spoiler)[Jacob is still undergoing a lot of torment, although the scorpion poison proves less lethal than the shot to the heart he took earlier. I really thought Clara's kiss was going to awaken Will but it didn't work as easily as in the Snow White fairytale. (hide spoiler)]

Fourth quarter - (view spoiler)[I wasn't intrigued throughout, which made the book feel like it dragged as it continued. The ending and Will's involvement with the Goyls was, like everything that came before, interesting to explore but felt too convoluted and underdeveloped. (hide spoiler)]

I don't know if I want to continue on with the series, sorry guys. This wasn't really for me 🙁

Dannii wrote: "I don't know if I want to continue on with the series, sorry guys. This wasn't really for me 🙁"

I'm feeling the same way honestly. Still deciding.

Dannii wrote: "Ashley wrote: "Chapter 20
[spoilers removed]"

This book both feels too long-winded in some parts and too rushed over in others. I never got to the point where i felt immersed at all as I was const..."

This was a perfect description! So long winded for no real reason.

Dannii wrote: "Ashley wrote: "Chapter 20
[spoilers removed]"

This book both feels too long-winded in some parts and too rushed over in others. I never got to the point where i felt immersed at all as I was const..."

Yes! It felt so random to me. A mix of original story with other established stories and somehow they mix into the same plot but not really? Almost like part were thrown in to add to the page count.

Dannii wrote: "I don't know if I want to continue on with the series, sorry guys. This wasn't really for me 🙁"

I really like the world itself, but I don't care about the characters. That's never happened to me before. Like I want to know what happens because there are so many possible plots. But Jacob is just meh. If there were a different MC I think I would be more interested.

Krystal wrote: "72% [spoilers removed]"

I would be so down to read a book about Fox. Back story or present. She's way more interesting. I think maybe something got lost in translation.

Ashley wrote: "Krystal wrote: "72% [spoilers removed]"

I would be so down to read a book about Fox. Back story or present. She's way more interesting. I think maybe something got lost in translation."

Me too!! I want her backstory and her history.

I might start the second one and see how it goes. But it won't be my total focus.

Ashley wrote: "Dannii wrote: "I don't know if I want to continue on with the series, sorry guys. This wasn't really for me 🙁"

I really like the world itself, but I don't care about the characters. That's never h..."

My thoughts exactly!

Krystal wrote: "I might start the second one and see how it goes. But it won't be my total focus."

I hope it picks up for you, Krystal. I have an arc for book four and set up BR threads for all four books so feel bad for not continuing. I might catch up with my other BRs and begin then... maybe. Lol.

Dannii wrote: "Krystal wrote: "I might start the second one and see how it goes. But it won't be my total focus."

I hope it picks up for you, Krystal. I have an arc for book four and set up BR threads for all fo..."

Don't feel bad! If it goes sour, I might bail, lol.