Fantasy Buddy Reads discussion

This is a Buddy Read for The Shadow Throne by Django Wexler starting May 22, 2022.

Will be here:)

I will attend!!

I've been struggling to get through the rest of the first book this week. I think putting it down for so long then trying to get re-acclimated has messed up the flow I had with it.

I really liked the first one. I hope the second one is good too...

Fingers crossed!

I saw the request to set this one up - just commenting to bump it on the radar. I'm not sure if it was Rob or not. We're here!!! :)

Haha! I think everyone is running so behind on everything:) It is the month that all of us overestimated ourselves and is catching up with us:)))

Oh good I'm not the only one behind :) Started this one a few days ago but put it down again...

I am so behind but I will try to get in this read

I'm glad I'm not alone! Perhaps this needs to morph into a "read and comment when you can BR" lol

Okay finished this one yesterday! I haven't had time to collect my thoughts, but I liked it a little more than the first. Very different setting and lots more political maneuvering... Will try to write up spoilery stuff later :)

Just finished this one, is everyone ready to discuss? This one took an interesting change in story, really enjoyed fleshing out the characters in this one, lot's of backstory and some surprises along the way.

I'm finishing up the first one today.. I liked a lot of things about it and definitely want to continue. I think I need a couple weeks break before starting this one.

I am actually starting this tonight. I will start discussing right away. I am sorry for running late.

I am up to Ch. 5... This is definitely different so far. Palace intrigue, city living for our guys... (view spoiler)[ I wonder what J is thinking sending Winter to spy on the docks? Then we discover that her Jane is the boss of the girl gang? What is he playing at?

The Duke is not at all what I was expecting. Still scarry though, particularly with his connection with the Black Priests and the people they put the demons in... They seem to be doing exactly the same thing as Mother was doing in the previous book.

I like the Princess. I wonder what type of connection and control The Duke and his Priests have over her now, that she has one of those things inside her too... I understand why he saved her, with the hope that when she becomes a Queen, he will control her, but would she be able to have any independence once her dad dies and he decides to put his mind into her control for real...

The dude with the magic ability to tell a story ... I feel sorry for him, because he is totally at the mercy of other people. I don't like anyone using him... (hide spoiler)]

Up to Ch. 12... (view spoiler)[ This is getting too complicated for me to hope for a good end for some of the characters I am actually liking. It is starting to remind me of the fighting in the streets from Les Miserables... I am wondering who is going to be Gavroche... I feel terrible for Denton, because he doesn't have any clue what is actually going on. I feel absolutely depressed for Mad Jane's girls! Their lives are horrible really, despite how much they say they want to help by prostituting themselves to the soldiers, in order to protect their little fiefdom from being even more abused than it already was...

Once again, the lower classes are doing the job of power change, the dirty job of the real powers. It is so clear when on page, and it is so hard to see when you are in the middle of that in real life...

I feel the worst for Markus! He is an honorable man who wants to do his job and protect the innocent, but is put in a horrible situation. (hide spoiler)]

Up to Ch. 19... (view spoiler)[ I knew Danton is going to get killed. He was too innocent, too gullible and too easy to be used by whoever gave him food and beer. I was actually sad for him. The dude who killed him, now he scares the crap out of me! He has magic that fades him into shadows and who knows what else...

I do have a question. Is there a certain type of bullet that he used to kill Denton, because he had that demon within him, or do not all demons have the ability to keep their hosts healthy, alive and regenerating??? From the last book we learned that there are many different types of demons with different abilities, but I thought all of them help with regeneration...

I hope The Gray Rose is alive. Her trapping and killing that dude in the cottage was pretty awesome!

This lawlessness after a revolution is always horrible... And it always happens. And The Duke is still alive... I am kind of scared for everyone involved!

Jane and Abby... I actually figured that one out when she was moving out a pile of clothes from Jane's bedroom that first night Winter found them. Not surprising, but I was surprised by Winter's strong reaction. I guess I should have expected it, since Jane was her first love, after all... (hide spoiler)]

By the way, I love all the fights and battles. He does a great job and puts the reader right in the middle of them! Really exciting:)

I finished and absolutely loved it! This is very much up my alley - a bunch of political intrigue with a ton of character development and here and there a fight or two! Beautiful! I am actually very impressed that the author did such a great job! This is not that easy to do, but he was able to keep up the suspense and tension through the whole book!

The ending and epilogue once again don't bode well for the peace of the kingdom... I am guessing full out war for the next book... And although I love Janus, I am with the Gray Rose - I still don't trust him... Let's see what happens:)

When are we reading the next book? I am not in a hurry, nor am I pushing, just asking:)))

Choko wrote: "I finished and absolutely loved it! This is very much up my alley - a bunch of political intrigue with a ton of character development and here and there a fight or two! Beautiful! I am actually ver..."

I tend to love political, so I can't wait!

Choko wrote: "I am up to Ch. 5... This is definitely different so far. Palace intrigue, city living for our guys... I wonder what J is thinking sending Winter to spy on the docks? Then we discover that her Jane..."

Yes I loved Danton (I think that's his name).. (view spoiler)[ I think the author displayed him as neurodivergent which was pretty interesting! He seemed to have some sort of "good demon" in him based on Winter's perception... I hated how he was used though.. He just wanted to tell stories :C (hide spoiler)]

I know! He was my favorite, particularly in the moments when he was himself...

Choko wrote: "I finished and absolutely loved it! This is very much up my alley - a bunch of political intrigue with a ton of character development and here and there a fight or two! Beautiful! I am actually ver..."

You basically hit my high points as well! Loved the political intrigue :)

I very much enjoyed the new POVs, especially the princess (view spoiler)[ Undercover princess to foment a rebellion was great :D
I'm interested to see how the restructured government works out... (hide spoiler)]

Leatherbacks (view spoiler)[ I was honestly very happy Jane seems to be doing well for herself... She wasn't left helpless in the clutches of that one guy like Winter thought. I do feel for her girls and having to prostitute themselves out for protection... but hopefully that will change as well.

Also the women regiment was great! And Janus is so practical. I really like him, but yes do not trust him at all.. (hide spoiler)]

Markus (view spoiler)[ We find out a bit about his family... Do we know why the Duke wanted his family out of the way?? I can't remember if the book touched on that. Markus in this one was just trying to do the right thing and I was honestly very proud of him for how he handled the jail situation... (hide spoiler)]

Magicky things.. Still not super clear on magic/religion side of things (view spoiler)[ Does the church use what they think is evil to prevent other people from using the same magic/demons? How hypocritical... It also seems like the church is foreign to Vordani.. Is that right? (hide spoiler)]

Yep, that branch of the church isn't Vordani. I guess it is like one church, but three different denominations. And since the war, all three are allowed to practice, only that foreign church is the ultra obsessed with demons, so yeah, they are using demons to hunt other demons... I hate them! I understand when the demon spirit is malevolent, but when it's a demon that wants to be an actor, c'mon! Let it be!

Choko wrote: "I finished and absolutely loved it! This is very much up my alley - a bunch of political intrigue with a ton of character development and here and there a fight or two! Beautiful! I am actually ver..."
Knew you would like it, really enjoyed what was done with the characters here, and yes the political and royal intrigue, mixed with the military.
This book reminded me so much of the series by Pete McLean's War for the Rose Throne, with it's fourth and final book arriving this summer. All should check it out.

I am definitely going to check it out! Thank you so much for the recommendation:)))

Frank, I read the first one and really liked it! Just need the time to continue 😅

Choko wrote: "I am definitely going to check it out! Thank you so much for the recommendation:)))"

Let me know what you think!!

Emily wrote: "Frank, I read the first one and really liked it! Just need the time to continue 😅"

You have time, Niki hasn't scheduled the third volume as of yet.