Challenge Corner discussion

From the number one bestselling author Catherine Doyle comes the most fiery enemies-to-lovers romantasy of the year. Perfect for fans of Sarah J. Maas, Leigh Bardugo and Stephanie Garber.

In the dark underbelly of a beautiful city, two rival assassins are pitted against each other in a deadly game of revenge, where the most dangerous mistake of all is falling in love…

In Fantome, a kingdom of cobbled streets, flickering lamplight, beautiful buildings, and secret catacombs, Shade-magic is a scarce and deadly commodity controlled by two enemy the Cloaks and the Daggers – the thieves and the assassins. On the night of her mother’s murder, 17-year-old Seraphine runs for her life. Seeking sanctuary with the Cloaks, Sera’s heart is set on revenge. But are her secret abilities a match for the dark-haired boy whose quicksilver eyes follow her around the city?

Nothing can prepare Sera for the moment she finally comes face-to-face with Ransom, heir to the Order of Daggers. And Ransom is shocked to discover that this unassuming farmgirl wields a strange and blazing magic he has never seen before… Among rumours of monsters stalking the streets and the rival guilds grappling for control of Fantome’s underworld, Sera and Ransom are drawn together by something more than just magic and must face a deadly choice - forgiveness or vengeance? Kiss or kill? Dagger or Flame?

Part 1

first chapter (view spoiler)[ I was really worried for a moment there!! Poor Fig! I hope we see him again and that he's okay - and becomes a friendly beast (hide spoiler)]

Started this one today !

Part 1 (view spoiler)[I can’t help but feel like I’m reading These Violent Delights especially with the part with a beast coming out of the water… trying to look past it.

First attempt at Sera’s death failed thank goodness. I want to know more about her powers. To think Ransom under estimated her *thankfully*, hoping he finds the courage to question and stand up next to Sera in the next part.


(hide spoiler)]

Getting ready to start but I'm also leaving in 30 minutes to pick up my grandkids from school and watch them until my SIL gets home, so not sure how much I'll get read. How is is so far?

Not the biggest fan, but I think it’s because I’m listening to the audiobook so going to switch to the physical book & see if I connect with the characters more :)

I didn't get it started yet, but I AM starting it here shortly in a few. I've reviewed the map and perused the List of Players in hopes to have them somewhere in my mind. lol It takes me a while in general with books like this to grasp who's who and (hopefully) keep it in my head.

Part 1

first chapter (view spoiler)[ I know but it didn't seem like Sylvie liked Fig. But Fig and Pippin are so cute...an old 3-legged dog. I hope Fig is OK and returns too. I hadn't though of it becoming a friendly beast. Must've missed that.

It's a quick start with her mom already being killed by a Dagger and now she has to look over her shoulder. I like it so far. Easy enough to read. (hide spoiler)]

Through Part 1
and I agree, not loving this one

good gods it is so wordy and descriptive! lol

(view spoiler)[ meh. I'm just okay with Seraphine. I like her mom and her cool shade eating necklace

but the "monster" killing everything (and running through daggers?) is a. . .shade cat? So confused here

and who is killing the daggers and the cloaks? someone is trying to get them to war? Could it be Lark?
someone is trying to destroy what is currently the power structure

and I like Ransom- super glad he didn't kill Seraphine and/or also die! lol that stab sounded awful and I wasn't so sure he'd survive

I like Val and Bibi but Theo is not appealing

love the little doggie too (hide spoiler)]

I'm barely in chapter 2 but I liked chapter 1.

Through Part 1

(view spoiler)[Well, I was liking it through the 1st chapter and I still like it but not as much as I thought I was going to at that point. Guess the rest of the story will tell.

My favorite characters are Pippin, Bibi and Val. I'm still hoping Fig comes back and has more of a role.

I thought Ransom would end up just not killing her, but he tried. So that surprised me a little bit. I'm glad that she didn't die but I wonder if it's really her mother's necklace that repels Daggers and yet draws monsters. That would be bad!

I was cracking up that Ransom was shocked she didn't die AND she gutted him with a letter opener? lol Oh boy! I still like him even though he tried to kill her and I have to agree about Theo. He's kind of a jerk. I don't care for him. And for some reason Sera is getting on my last nerve. (hide spoiler)]

Through Ch. 23

(view spoiler)[Theo redeemed himself a little bit by saving Sera when Ransom had her and could've killed her. I think Ransom is backing off now though because he could've easily killed her and Pippin but he saved her dog, so he's getting feelings for her I'm sure.

All the monsters are awful. But it looks like the Daggers and the Cloaks are going to come together now with their truce and kill the monsters. Ironic that, if Lorenzo was telling the truth, her mother made the monster(s).

So Lorenzo saw Dufort coming for Sylvie to kill her and ran like a coward. His telling Sera confirmed my suspicions - Ransom didn't kill her mother. I just knew he was innocent of her death. (hide spoiler)]

Through Part 2

(view spoiler)[
eh, still not really liking it. The banter, at times, makes me roll my eyes. Just ugh

well, I thought the monsters were going to be animals that had gotten into the shade but I didn't anticipate them being people!

and wow, now her necklace has broken - can she figure out to harness the magic (I mean, of course she will. AND she will save Ransom even though, for now, she says she can't)

I still really like her dog and I was glad when he didn't hurt him..

I like that she is the antidote

I thought it being as simple as changing one ingredient and adding the shade to wine as something that was killing the whole town - it seems a little easy, doesn't it? I kind of hoped it would be a bit more complex, otherwise, why hasn't someone done this already?! lol (hide spoiler)]

Through Ch. 37

(view spoiler)[Wow! I'm a little worried about Sera now. So it would appear that they have Lightfire and are ready to attack the monsters and Dufort, but if anything goes awry it could go very badly. Theo has gotten a little more favor in my eyes the way he's helped her get Lightfire done.

And Nadia is on to Ransom and how he feels about Sera. The night at the fountain was rather special. She worries me too that she will discover something that can get him in trouble. Obviously Dufort would likely kill him if he finds out he's betrayed him.

I think it's so cool that they found Lilians's journal. Sylvie's words to Sera that have been repeated look like they're a prophecy about to come true. (hide spoiler)]

Ch. 38

HOLY MOLY! (view spoiler)[I never guessed that or did I miss it at some point? I didn't know Dufort was her father!! (hide spoiler)]

Finished

(view spoiler)[Wow! From Chapter 38 on it was so intense and full of action. She confessed to Ransom about Dufort being her father so I guess it didn't ever mention it before but was supposed to be a shock. I understand why Sylvie was creating monsters now and why she instructed Sera so she'd know exactly what to do. How horrible to have a father like him!

I knew Lark would get Sera at some point. And he and Nadia were a thing? Never guessed that one either. lol (hide spoiler)]

I'm so glad you like this one
I don't think I could have liked it less

(view spoiler)[
I kind of felt like him being her dad was going to come out - the only reason he'd want them dead

and then Lark - didn't shock me because I figured he was doing something shady
but for Nadia to then twist was eye-rolling and awful.

and poor, martyr Bastian had to shove her away. Ugh. I was not a fan (hide spoiler)]

I’m sorry you didn’t like it, Trisha.

awe, thanks! I know, I wish I'd liked it more.

It was definitely too long and wordy as you said in your review, but I didn't dislike it the way you did. Hopefully our next buddy read we'll both love!

hoping to finish this one tonight, not sure why I had a crazy idea to read two 500+ pages at the same time. Although seeing what you both rated it, notttt expecting my feelings to change too much about it

oh no!! 2 over 500 page books?!!

I hope the other one is better than this one OR that you love them both!

Haley wrote: "hoping to finish this one tonight, not sure why I had a crazy idea to read two 500+ pages at the same time. Although seeing what you both rated it, notttt expecting my feelings to change too much a..."

Usually Trisha and I either rate it the same, close to the same, or she rates it a 1 and I give it a 3. Not always, but I'm trying to be less generous with my ratings this year only because I think I got too lenient. lol I hope you at least like it overall. I seriously thought the last 25% was the part that got me interested certainly more than the rest.

Realized I never responded!! I'm not blaming this book (lol) but my reading has slowed down after finishing it

The other 500 page one was SO SO SO GOOD, this one I found myself between both of your ratings at 2 stars...

(view spoiler)[ like really it was lark this entire time that was behind it all? I'd like to say I was surprised to find out that Dufort was her father but it wasn't as much of a shock as I was hoping for. It would have been nice for Ransom to be sneaky and plotting his revenge (hide spoiler)]

Vicki wrote: "Haley wrote: "hoping to finish this one tonight, not sure why I had a crazy idea to read two 500+ pages at the same time. Although seeing what you both rated it, notttt expecting my feelings to cha..."

honesty I agree the last 25% probably made the entirety of the book.. I could have skipped the first part honesty, didn't feel it was needed

ending (view spoiler)[ It was nice how they threw the ending with that little bit of info of the gang all moving together and not leaving each other behind. like really ransom HAD to be the one leading?? he couldn't follow along, smh she's going to be tracked either way. (hide spoiler)]

won't be continuing with this series.