Book of The Month discussion

Every year, thousands in the kingdom of Talin will flock to its capital twin cities, San-Er, where the palace hosts a set of games. For those confident enough in their ability to jump between bodies, competitors across San-Er fight to the death to win unimaginable riches.

Princess Calla Tuoleimi lurks in hiding. Five years ago, a massacre killed her parents and left the palace of Er empty…and she was the one who did it. Before King Kasa’s forces in San can catch her, she plans to finish the job and bring down the monarchy. Her reclusive uncle always greets the victor of the games, so if she wins, she gets her opportunity at last to kill him.

Enter Anton Makusa, an exiled aristocrat. His childhood love has lain in a coma since they were both ousted from the palace, and he’s deep in debt trying to keep her alive. Thankfully, he’s one of the best jumpers in the kingdom, flitting from body to body at will. His last chance at saving her is entering the games and winning.

Calla finds both an unexpected alliance with Anton and help from King Kasa’s adopted son, August, who wants to mend Talin’s ills. But the three of them have very different goals, even as Calla and Anton’s partnership spirals into something all-consuming. Before the games close, Calla must decide what she’s playing for—her lover or her kingdom.

5 chapters

interesting so far
(view spoiler)[ I'm a little. . .vague on the jumping. I mean, the people standing there afterwards - there have to be so many that are constantly displaced. And like the one guy said - they don't show up to work and spend their money. Yikes, how is this not being checked and followed. So far we've already witnessed A LOT of jumps

Interesting how they got the cousin in the fight
interesting that they are trying to kill kings

is this illness and the salute from the enemy, are these just red herrings from someone or are they ALSO a party to these games? (hide spoiler)]

11 chapters

Meh, just okay
(view spoiler)[ I can't believe he took her watchband thing. glad she got it back
interesting that they are teaming up, I wonder how this will play out.

and is he really going to kill the girl his childhood mate has been keeping alive this whole time?!?!? August is definitely not a good guy if so.

still just sailing along to see where this is going. (hide spoiler)]

20 chapters

wow, not a twist I saw coming
(view spoiler)[ wow, I didn't anticipate THAT reveal - that Calla isn't Calla but someone else in there. wow, for 15 years she's taken her life
I guess she hoped it be more than it is - since she hasn't really gotten to be a princess . .

but I'm still disappointed with this one. I just can't get over the havoc and chaos that jumping in to other bodies and constantly killing them would do to families and societies. Anton's been doing this for years. . .creating this chaos of taking over people's lives for a few days. We've seen hundreds of jumps now. I just don't see how a society can function this way. and the cameras don't pick it up? this doesn't make any sense (hide spoiler)]

I'm done

(view spoiler)[ and I ended up really liking Calla and Makusa. I liked their story, their working together and then not. I love that he jumped, for some reason I really thought he was gone

I can't believe the sister woke, what did that have to do with the king being dead? why then?

but I definitely won't be reading more of this one. although I liked the story of the 2 main characters, I did not like the jumping, the lack of explanation, the lack of maps or details about the surrounding area and many other parts. it felt underdevleoped and under explained. (hide spoiler)]