Challenge Corner discussion

Sometimes it takes death to show you how to live.

I know many things. What I am capable of, what I will change, what I will become. But there is one thing I will never know...

The veil I've worn from birth carries with it a terrible loneliness; a suppression I cannot imagine being free of.

Some things never change...

My mother will always hate me. Her court will always shun me.

...Until they do.

When the peace delegation arrives from the savage world of Glacium, my life is shoved wildly out of control by the handsome Prince Kedrick who, for unfathomable reasons, shows me kindness.

And the harshest lessons are learned.

Sometimes it takes the world bringing you to your knees to find that spark you thought forever lost.

Sometimes it takes death to show you how to live.

(Warning: Cliff-hanger ending. Suitable for mature young adult readers due to swearing.)

Chapters 1 - 9

(view spoiler)[ I’m liking this book so far. The norm with the names (adding o or a) is fun and I like seeing the differences in their culture. I like Olina and the scenes with her training with Aquin. I like Kedrick, but I’m kind of hoping he’s not going to be the MMC, mostly because their relationship developed before this book even started.

I’m curious about the purpose of the veil. Olina and her brothers’ father hasn’t been mentioned (if they all have the same one) so could Olina be proof of cheating? Is the veil hiding a mark/sign that’s mentioned in a prophecy? Or which signifies magic of some sort? Maybe Olina isn’t the Tatum’s daughter and was kidnapped? Either way, it seems like it’s going to be revealed soon.
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Chapters 10 - 16

(view spoiler)[ Even though I’m not sure how Olina wants to investigate who shot Kedrick since she didn’t try to figure it out during the journey, I really liked how the travel was described - enough details, but not too many to make it drag.

I was wondering if maybe Olina has a curse on her and that’s the reason for her veil, but now that it seems a delegate was responsible for killing Kedrick, I’m wondering how the archer knew about their meeting and his motive.

I’m having trouble imagining what their kingdoms look like, especially with understanding how the sectors work.

I’m really curious to see how the King is going to decide to proceed.
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Chapters 17 - 21

(view spoiler)[ Even though there is a lot of time passing by which I don’t love, I still liked seeing Olina interacting with the delegates and learning about the place.

Plot wise, I wish there was a bit more happening. The King has seen Olina without her veil, so I’m assuming it’s her eyes that are different. Magic hasn’t been mentioned so I’m not sure if it exists in this world. The communication with the Tatum hasn’t been mentioned, and there is no investigation into Kedrick’s death.

I’m still enjoying the book though.
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Chapters 22 - 30

(view spoiler)[ Could Roscoe be Olina's father? Or was it someone else from his delegation?

I'm not sure if I believe that the King is doing something that would harm Olina. Maybe he's looking for her biological father? I wish there was some way to know what was in the letters between him and the Tatum.

The plot when it comes to Kedrick's death hasn't really progressed, but I'm not too bothered because I liked reading about Olina with the delegates. I'm really curious about what's going to happen now that she's going to be in the fighting competitions and not with the King.

I'm still not sure if I understand the world. Do entire cities move to the different sectors every few months?

I was hoping there would be a change in the writing after Olina loses her veil (since she can see clearly now), but it didn't happen.

Even though there hasn't been much of a romance, I'm really liking this book and I can't wait to continue.
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Chapters 1 - 7

(view spoiler)[ I was hoping the books would improve as the series went on and that the plot would be stronger but that doesn’t seem like it’s going to happen. Even though I don’t think it’s possible for this to become a favourite series, I’m still enjoying reading about Olina. I think it’s because while there’s no detailed development in the plot or character relationships, there’s more showing than telling.

Olina’s commitment to finding Kedrick’s killer is exaggerated because she mentions it, but there’s not much of a plan or action to make it happen.

I know that Olina trained to fight before this, but her becoming the best happened a bit quickly.

I like the group she’s living with and even though I thought their relationship developments could have been shown more, I like reading about their interactions.

How does Alzona know Blaine? To be honest, I forgot about him.
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Chapters 8 - 14

(view spoiler)[ Plot hasn’t improved and I’m curious if Kedrick’s death is going to be the only plot point throughout this whole series. Could it have been Olina’s mother who ordered her death?

Was Sanjay’s wandering, and Blaine and Ashawn’s presence part of the operation? There hasn’t really been any scenes to show Ashawn’s character when he’s not letting his grief cloud his mind so I’m not sure if he’s capable of betraying Jovan.

I really like Frost’s group and I can’t wait to see what’s going to happen next. Are her two friend groups going to interact? Who’s going to figure it out first (other than Rhone)?
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Chapters 15 - 20

(view spoiler)[ Another reveal/change out of nowhere, although I guess it was highly unlikely that she was the only mixed person and they did have to live somewhere.

Olina running away is stupid and the fact that she’s adapted so quickly is slightly annoying because of the lack of details but I’m hoping that she’s not going to stay there for long so it won’t really matter.

I kind of want her to just go back to the castle and wait for the others to figure out who she is.

The title makes sense and it’s making me wonder if she’s going to go back to Osolis in her veil in the next book.
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Chapters 21 - 26

(view spoiler)[ While I like the idea of the flying, that whole part (the learning, the community, the characters) was too quick.

The Tatum is invading and I’m wondering how the solution is going to take two books.

I want to go back to having scenes with all the side characters. I’m sure they’re going to appear again, but I want their reactions to Olina’s identity as well as each other in detail, which I know isn’t going to happen.
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Chapters 1 - 6

(view spoiler)[ I don’t know what I was expecting to hear about Alzona’s past.

Also, I thought Olina was going to reveal her identity but maybe that’s what’s going to happen in three days time.

I really like all the side characters apart from Hamish. His character appears with even less on page time than the rest and yet apparently there’s history that needs to be explained between them. It also felt like a forced attempt at a love triangle.
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Chapters 7 - 12

(view spoiler)[ I guess Jovan’s blindness when it comes to Blaine is needed to extend the story.

Frost is fun to read about. Is Olina going to be revealed as Frost in the last book?

I didn’t like Jacky’s reaction and I feel like she’s going to betray the secret. Although, she’s known since the Dome so maybe she won’t tell anyone if she still hasn’t. Could the same person who killed her mother have killed Kedrick? Or would that be too big of a coincidence?
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Chapters 13 - 18

(view spoiler)[ Blaine’s finally dead.

I’m wondering who’s in the Solati army and if they would be quick to surrender if Olina’s uncle is killed and Olina reveals her eyes.

Since there’s one more book, is Olina going to be captured by her mother? Or is it going to be Olina and Jovan trying to figure out their relationship?
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Chapters 19 - 24

(view spoiler)[ I’m curious how things are going to happen. I think Olina is going to rule Glacium with Jovan and Olandon is going to rule Osolis, but how is that going to happen? Also, who has Olandon been seeing?
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Chapters 1 - 10

(view spoiler)[ I don’t really care about the assassin anymore, but Olina thought there was something familiar about him so could he be her father? Or there was a moment where Roscoe and Adnan were a bit weird.

I know this is probably going to be an issue but Olina’s life is in Glacium and I’m sure that Olandon will eventually be a good ruler. Maybe it’s just because of the lack of details, but Osolis seems much more judgemental and she doesn’t really have any connection there apart from her brothers.
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Chapters 11 - 18

(view spoiler)[ I really want to see a torture scene with Cassius finally getting what he deserves, but I doubt that’s going to happen.

Is the final solution going to be Olina and Jovan spending half their time in Glacium and the other half in Osolis? Other than that, the only solution I can think of is if they don’t stay together.

So, is Roscoe Olina’s father? Again, I doubt there’s going to be a detailed scene about that.
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Chapters 19 - 28

(view spoiler)[ There are moments in this book that show great ideas for the story, but they needed to be explored in more detail to have a bigger impact.

Where is the army and what other trap is there going to be?

While I get the context of Aquin telling Olina that her mother wasn’t always the way she was, it doesn’t change anything in my opinion.
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Chapter 29 - Epilogue

(view spoiler)[ I liked the series, although I think I preferred the first two books (in particular before the flying because i think that was the most rushed part of the series). There were some good ideas, but the books should have been longer with more development. I still really liked the characters and seeing their interactions.

I liked how the book ended, especially with the uniqueness of the pregnancy reveal.

I'm probably not going to read the novellas, but I might try other books by this author because the ideas were there, I just needed more development.
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I'll be back for this one too. I've had it on my TBR for forever.

I went to start this today with the audio, but it doesn't match the book, ugh...

I'll be back to this one soon.

Still going to read...

keeping alive...

keeping alive...

keeping alive...