YA Buddy Readers' Corner ♥ discussion

From NEW YORK TIMES bestselling author Mary E. Pearson comes a thrilling romantic fantasy full of dangerous fae, dark secrets, and addictive romance-- the first book in a duology.

After losing both their parents, Bristol Keats and her sisters struggle to stay afloat in their small, quiet town of Bowskeep. When Bristol begins to receive letters from an “aunt” she’s never heard of who promises she can help, she reluctantly agrees to meet—and discovers that everything she thought she knew about her family is a lie. Even her father might still be alive, not killed but kidnapped by terrifying creatures to a whole other realm—the one he is from.

Desperate to save her father and find the truth, Bristol journeys to a land of gods and fae and monsters. Pulled into a dangerous world of magic and intrigue, she makes a deadly bargain with the fae king, Tyghan. But what she doesn't know is that he's the one who drove her parents to live a life on the run. And he is just as determined as she is to find her father—dead or alive.

Hi thanks!

38%
So this is definitely what ACOTAR should have been (or I wish had been) and wasnt. Definitely gives beauty and the beast vibes and I am here for it. (view spoiler)[I absolutely keep singing "theres something there that wasnt there before" in my head as Im reading. I also love that we got a little sneak of her fathers POV (hide spoiler)]

Ohhh wow that's a good call! Definitely got me excited for it

63%
(view spoiler)[1. My recruit. yes please
2. total missed opportunity with chapter 68 not being chapter 69
3. I am so here for these scenes with her fathers POV. I am so curious to learn more about her parents (hide spoiler)]

I'd still love to get to this but I'm thinking it'll realistically be next month.

No worries! :) Im just plugging away at it. Ill probably finish this week, maybe even the next couple of days

Okay cool! If I start it on the first of Jan then I can still do the buddy read!

If you aren't too far, I would jump in around next week.

Jump in Kay!

Yay! :)

79% (view spoiler)[I was driving earlier so I dont really remember all of my thoughts but I was really disappointed when they said I love you and he didnt tell her the truth. Its going to make it sooooo much worse when she does eventually find out. And now Kormick has her?? Well this will definitely be setting up for an explosive ending! (hide spoiler)] I keep thinking that I already dont want to wait for the next one lol

95% (view spoiler)[I'm so glad Bri wasnt kidnapped at the ball. I feel like thats so cliche and over done and I love how she got out of that.
The pacing in this book is so good. I also love a good misunderstanding, and I feel like both sides in this (minus Kormick) are so valid for their actions. I do wish Tyghan would just listen. I feel so terrible for her mother, I hope they are able to save her (hide spoiler)]

Ohh I hope you liked it!

Finished!! LOL at the ending. (view spoiler)[I was listening to the audiobook while baking cookies, no idea its about to end with them literally fucking. I laughed out loud (hide spoiler)] I freaking loved this book though. Definitely better than acotar... very close to FW.

Ohhh wow! I'm going in with no expectations lol I got no idea what to expect

I also went in with no expectations, I knew that it was fantasy and thats about it lol.

Brianna wrote: "I also went in with no expectations, I knew that it was fantasy and thats about it lol."

Yep same haha

I might jump in if I can get this from the library. Brianna I'm glad you liked it, I loved ACOTAR and Julie Kagawa's The Iron Fey series so I am nervous to give this one a shot but if you're saying it's awesome I'll try it.

oh but honestly I really HATED The Kiss of Deception by the same author so... maybe this is her chance to redeem herself?

What's FW?

MelanieJoy wrote: "I might jump in if I can get this from the library. Brianna I'm glad you liked it, I loved ACOTAR and Julie Kagawa's The Iron Fey series so I am nervous to give this one a shot but if you're saying..."

I would definitely recommend it. I do think you'll like it if you enjoyed acotar, but I only read the first 2 of that series. I actually preferred the throne of glass series by SJM, and enjoyed acotar to a degree but there were a lot of things I dont like about it as well.

I havent read the kiss of deception but its been on my list for ages! I wonder if I would like it. The premise intrigues me. I also listened to the audiobook for this one which tends to be a very different reading experience. But everyone has their owns tastes right and I dont expect anyone else to share my opinion. I'd love to hear your thoughts if you read it, good or bad!
Comparing this to acotar I feel like I enjoyed the characters and the romance more, I think the pacing was more my style, and I loved that there are growing friendships, not just romance. I think they could have spent more time on this but there really is a lot going on in this book and some people may not like that.

FW=Fourth Wing which if you are a fan of romantasy and havent read this you should definitely get on it lol. Although it is very hyped.

Bri, how come you think the audio and physical are different? I tend to do both at the same time so I'll be hybrid reading.

I think that physically reading the book, especially for the first time, you get to interpret it in your own way 100%. Whereas with an audiobook the narrator will have their own tone and interpretations that are put into the story.
I also feel (for myself at least) that I absorb a little more of the story by physically reading or tandem reading, because I do that as well when I can. But audio is so convenient especially being busy with work and other priorities. I love being able to listen while I drive or do chores :)

well i just checked my library and this book is on hold for like 5 weeks in both audio and ebook formats so i guess i'll wait.

I never read fourth wing but I do like that genre. I loved Throne of Glass, although I still haven't found it in me to finish the series with the last book, lol.

MelanieJoy wrote: "well i just checked my library and this book is on hold for like 5 weeks in both audio and ebook formats so i guess i'll wait.

I never read fourth wing but I do like that genre. I loved Throne of ..."

Lol, it honestly took me 2 years to get through kingdom of ash. I was so over aelin and rowan at that point and just wanted them deleted from the book. Otherwise it was good lol. Im glad I read it, but man did I want to put my head through a wall at times

Brianna wrote: "I think that physically reading the book, especially for the first time, you get to interpret it in your own way 100%. Whereas with an audiobook the narrator will have their own tone and interpreta..."

Oh yes. I don't do fantasy books purely on audio or while I'm doing other things because I get distracted. I only like to listen while I follow along with my eyes.

MelanieJoy wrote: "well i just checked my library and this book is on hold for like 5 weeks in both audio and ebook formats so i guess i'll wait.

I never read fourth wing but I do like that genre. I loved Throne of ..."

Yeah this is a popular release

I need to get a re-read of ToG in sometime.

Maddie wrote: "Brianna wrote: "I think that physically reading the book, especially for the first time, you get to interpret it in your own way 100%. Whereas with an audiobook the narrator will have their own ton..."

most of the books i read, i'll try to borrow both formats from the library and do whichever one makes sense. if i'm walking around doing tasks, i'll listen. if i get to just sit for a minute, i'll put the ebook version. sometime i'm stuck with one version but having both means i finish the book faster.

Yes, I agree. I definitely want to rr ToG. One of the girls in my book club is reading it for the first time and I so wanted to read it with her. But I have so many other priorities, Im not sure when I'll get to it but hopefully in 2025.

Brianna wrote: "Yes, I agree. I definitely want to rr ToG. One of the girls in my book club is reading it for the first time and I so wanted to read it with her. But I have so many other priorities, Im not sure wh..."

Yeah exactly, we just don't make time for re-reads

Maddie wrote: "Brianna wrote: "Yes, I agree. I definitely want to rr ToG. One of the girls in my book club is reading it for the first time and I so wanted to read it with her. But I have so many other priorities..."

Right? If a BR comes up at the right time I will def join. But the audio also arent available at my library :(

Oh nooo I own the audios and ebooks and physicals lol oops

Maddie wrote: "Oh nooo I own the audios and ebooks and physicals lol oops"

Haha, I have ebooks and physical but no audio. I will probably end up just getting them on audible

Yeah it's the same narrator as her other series so it's slightly jarring

Ah, I physically read acotar as well, but also feel like I need to re-read since I only actually read the first 2

I just did the graphic audio for acotar 1 and I didn't really enjoy it much. Won't be continuing with the other graphic audios. I felt like I missed a lot

I really cant with graphic audio lol. Its too much. A friend of mine did the graphic audio for fourth wing and just sent our group clips of all the sex scenes 😂all the panting and breathing, I cant lol

Yeah exactly hahaha and the kissy noises

Brianna wrote: "I really cant with graphic audio lol. Its too much. A friend of mine did the graphic audio for fourth wing and just sent our group clips of all the sex scenes 😂all the panting and breathing, I cant..."

HAHAHA that's hilarious!!!

Started this yesterday

Chapter 12
(view spoiler)[ Seelies being friendly and helpful
Every Cassandra Clare fan: (hide spoiler)]

Kay-Mika wrote: "Chapter 12
Seelies being friendly and helpful
Every Cassandra Clare fan: "

LOL

Chapter 38
(view spoiler)[ Sorry, but I don't feel the love/sexual attraction (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 62
(view spoiler)[ I can't stand Sloan. And also that one healer and that other female knight (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 88
(view spoiler)[ Mick is Kormack. Too bad that it is only revealed now. (hide spoiler)]

Finished
(view spoiler)[ It was nice, but nothing more.
Surprisingly I liked Bristol, but...
I think the idea behind the love story is interesting, but i don't know, I didn't feel it.
Also I wished the sisters played a bigger role in this.
Besides , I am not really curious how it continues. (hide spoiler)]

Brianna wrote: "Finished!! LOL at the ending. [spoilers removed] I freaking loved this book though. Definitely better than acotar... very close to FW."

If this is close to Fourth Wing, I am not going to read it.

Brianna wrote: "79% [spoilers removed] I keep thinking that I already dont want to wait for the next one lol"

I wish it would have.
Where was the courting anyways?

Brianna wrote: "38%
So this is definitely what ACOTAR should have been (or I wish had been) and wasnt. Definitely gives beauty and the beast vibes and I am here for it. [spoilers removed]"

At least Bristol's reason to travel to Fae is understandable while Freye-something or other ( I really should stop calling her Fried Chicken) wasn't. Like she killed a fae and gets a reward from a fae? Häh?