Challenge Corner discussion

Paedyn and Kai are reunited but face a terrible decision in this thrilling conclusion to the New York Times bestselling romantic fantasy trilogy perfect for fans of Sarah J. Maas and The Red Queen.

Paedyn Gray and Kai Azer return to the Kingdom of Ilya…

And Paedyn has a life-altering choice to make. Whatever she decides will determine her fate—and the fate of those around her—forever.

In the ultimate battle of love and loyalty, who wins?

Jumping into this one today! Planning to listen mostly. Chase Brown narrating...yes!

Jumping in too!

End of Chapter 12
(view spoiler)[I'm having some seriously conflicting feelings about Kitt and what his plans are. He claims to have seen this as the only way for Paedyn not to die. I can see it but I think he has other motives. He clearly has feelings for her.

I'm glad they seem to be moving in the right direction, allowing the ordinaries to live amongst the elites. Something just doesn't seem right though. He's now asked Kai to train the ordinaries that he had captured. For some reason, things just feel off.

Also, I feel like we're just reliving the first book now. I understand that she needs to prove herself, strong enough to be the new queen but what?! We're going through another round of trials? I'm struggling to see where this story is heading. What are the end goals?

I'm enjoying reading it but it feels repetitive once again and as if the story isn't progressing. (hide spoiler)]

Beginning of Chapter 21 - After Edric's Part
(view spoiler)[OK...WHAT?!

So Paedyn was Queen Iris's daughter?! And this makes her and Kitt half-siblings? Yes? But Kai is not related to them, correct?! I believe I have this right, but my goodness. What in the good sweet fuck is happening?

I feel like this is such a weird turn to take with Kitt having feelings for her. It's just odd.

Anyways...we're running with it and we'll see where this goes. I presume they will not be getting married and perhaps this knowledge comes out one way or another. I guess this is the out I didn't see coming. (hide spoiler)]

chp 1
(view spoiler)[I thought Calum was a traitor to the Resistance.
I still don't believe him. But oh well. (hide spoiler)]

chp 5
(view spoiler)[um the Kitt from book 2 is completely different from book 3....
even in his own POVs he was not healing and growing and learning.
And no one just suddenly stops seeking and wanting approval from someone else, especially if that person passed....
I think this is dropping a character development without taking the character through his arc. (hide spoiler)]

chp 10
(view spoiler)[I feel like an important factor, that Kai actually killed Pae's father, is completely put past us.....

also, I am not captivated yet.
And I can see why you feel it's a repetition of book 1 (hide spoiler)]

Brittni wrote: "End of Chapter 12..."

Agree
Agree
Agree
Agree

Was "death" that prominent in Paedyn's internal dialogue before?

Grace wrote: "Was "death" that prominent in Paedyn's internal dialogue before?"

Interesting. This isn't really something I've noticed but it has most certainly come up.

I've noticed it in Pae and Kai internal dialogue in this book
but I don't remember it in the others

End of Chapter 41

(view spoiler)[So I felt this several chapters ago, but can't remember exactly when. There's something wrong with Kitt. He's talking to himself and hasn't been sleeping. At this point, I'm thinking he's going to die, I just don't know how or why. They must find out who her mother is sometime soon as well.

Paedyn is annoying me. She's going back and forth between the brothers, and it's irritating me. She wants to "fix" things between her and Kitt because they're supposed to spend the rest of their lives together, but she's lying to him. Then she's trying to tell Kai that they can't spend time together anymore, but shares a room/bed with him on multiple occasions. Girl, just be honest. Kitt knows, and I think it's making the situation worse by tagging him along like this.

The shallows were interesting. I liked the queen we met on the other side, but it felt random. Is she going to come back into the picture at some point? I kind of hope so. What's the point of introducing new areas and queens when this is the last book? I also didn't understand how that was a trial. I know they had to cross the shallows and live through the monster attack, but she had a whole crew. Also, the slaying of the monster felt so quick. Just stabs him and he's gone. I don't know, the whole thing was underwhelming.

I'm intrigued enough to continue, but also not sure where we're going here. I suppose the whole goal is to get the ordinaries to live amongst the elites, and bring trade back to all the lands. I think I just wanted more from it. (hide spoiler)]

I am in Edric POV after chp 20

(view spoiler)[
I swear, is that supposed to be Paedyn?
And anyway, didn't we learn in book 2 that if a child is born from 2 parents and 1 is powerless then the child will be like a hybrid? They still have power but it's not clean or strong?

So assuming this is the king and queen's daughter, who also gave birth to Kitt or Kai (who have exceptional powers) how is their child powerless?
Make it make sense. (hide spoiler)]

Starting this today…

waiting for you to either join the rant or raise anarchy on Brittni and me 😂

Chp 24
(view spoiler)[
"Kitt, I wish it was you coming with me."
"Another moment of pretend"

THIS IS NOT PRETEND!
This is her lying and manipulating both of them!!! (hide spoiler)]

Edric chp after chp 27
(view spoiler)[I am thinking that maybe the queen was an ordinary based on that description? That she can sense and manipulate emotions and stuff.
He didn't know anyone with her power before.
And I'm thinking that the happiness is because it was her and he was in love.

But why hide his queen for 2 years?

I'm also assuming the Mind Reader is Callum? (hide spoiler)]

Oh wait
Chp 28
(view spoiler)[Shadow and Soul is the name of rhe story
And people can steal the power of the shadow.

So if her mom was a Soul.
Then she can be a shadow. And her power is different than what they know....

I would face palm if that's the case, but I mean it's staring at me I can't look away. (hide spoiler)]

Grace wrote: "waiting for you to either join the rant or raise anarchy on Brittni and me 😂"

Hahahaha. It will certainly be one of the two.

Grace wrote: "Chp 24
"

I KNOW!!! It's driving me nuts and it's CONSTANT!

Chapter 43
(view spoiler)[Welp...we're in the pitt again. It's another battle to the death between Kai and Paedyn. (hide spoiler)]

I don’t know why am having hard time to finish this book, it’s so boring. And why the hell do we have Edric POV ????

Chapter 1-9 (view spoiler)[ nothing interesting really, hope Pae won’t cheat and come to her senses soon, and why not kai talk to his brother about her. And enough with the “pretend” thing. (hide spoiler)]

Joud wrote: "I don’t know why am having hard time to finish this book, it’s so boring. And why the hell do we have Edric POV ????

Chapter 1-9 [spoilers removed]"

YES! (view spoiler)[The Edric POV will make sense eventually.

The book was boring for me because it was a repeat of the other two books basically.

I was SOOOOO over the "pretend" nonsense. We get it! I was over it in the second book by the time I got to the end. I was disappointed to see it back. (hide spoiler)]