June Buddy Read - Shadow Heir by Richelle Mead

[Lauren]

Any preferences on when to start ?

[Sarah]

The end of May gets a little hectic for me, how about May 10th?

[Lauren]

May 10th is perfect for me - gives me a chance to finish my current audiobook :0)

[Lauren]

Started this one today and am currently on chapter 8.

I know this is weird but Jasmine is actually starting to grow on me, lol! She is a typical obnoxious teen rebelling against authority and wanting to get her own way all the time. Unfortunately, she is also Gentry which makes her tantrums really problematic.

Kiyo is such an ass-hat! He seriously thinks that Eugenie should (view spoiler)[make peace with the woman whose son raped her not to mention be a brood mare for one of her relatives! (hide spoiler)]

I'm also annoyed with Eugenie's (view spoiler)[mother and Roland. Now that Eugenie is spending more time in the Otherworld, Roland has basically disowned her. I guess his love is conditional and only given when she lives up to his expectations. Her mother is not standing up for her and seems to be choosing her husband over her daughter - this is irritating! (hide spoiler)]

Tim's Indian act is also starting get on my nerves - he really needs to grow up and get a life *sigh* That said (view spoiler)[he and Lara have finally met in person and their interaction is quite funny (hide spoiler)]

[Lauren]

On Chapter 13

Well, I've been on the fence about Eugenie and now it is safe to say that I actively dislike her.

Reason #1: (view spoiler)[She made a promise to Deanna and is dragging her feet on keeping it. It also annoyed me that she wasn't willing to help her without getting something in return - very selfish. (hide spoiler)]

Reason #2: (view spoiler)[I don't care what Dorian did - cheating is cheating and there is NO justification. (hide spoiler)]

[Lauren]

No worries Lauri. Real life has that really bad habit of getting in the way :0)

[Lauren]

That sums it up exactly, Lauri.
Eugenie is great as an action heroine but when it comes to the romance she is very weak.

I did enjoy the last few chapters - lots of exciting action and I think that Eugenie has finally seen the light when it comes to (view spoiler)[Kiyo (hide spoiler)] - at least I hope so :0(

Re her love interests, I wasn't sold on either one of them in book #1 but Dorian slowly grew on me in book #2 while Kiyo became more and more slimey. There is something icky about his relationship with Maiwen and by the end of this one, it is obvious that the man is (view spoiler)[simply rabid - he would actually kill Eugenie to stop her from having the babies (hide spoiler)]

[Sarah]

No worries Lauri. I had to start late too. I'm on Chapter 4 so I'm not able to look at the spoilers yet! But I do see Jasmine beginning to grow on me as well.

[Lauren]

Sarah wrote: "No worries Lauri. I had to start late too. I'm on Chapter 4 so I'm not able to look at the spoilers yet! But I do see Jasmine beginning to grow on me as well."

Hey Sarah!

Yes, do avoid the spoilers as there are a lot of exciting twists and turns in the plot :0)

[Sarah]

Finally made it through Chapter 8.

Some of the things Eugenie does are really starting to rub me the wrong way, like when the seeress was telling her about the Iron Crown, she had an attitude and just the way she was talking kind of irked me.

I usually don't mind sex in Urban Fantasies but this series has a lot more than I expected or remembered. I'm wondering if this is being miss-labeled and should really be a PNR series. It's not that I don't like the scenes I'm just finding them a bit redundant and overdone. Like really do Eugenie and Dorian have to go at it every time they see each other, and does it have to be five pages long?

I agree about Kiyo! Seriously! (view spoiler)[ Dorian's suggestion that Kiyo go with Eugenie was so surprising! But I'm wondering if it's just a plot device to stir the pot between Dorian and Eugenie since things are going well. Oh, and her outbursts at Dorian when they're alone kind of bug me too. The whole under the table incident could have been prevented if she had said no or moved his hand. She was fine with it, and I was surprised when she started yelling at him about it. (hide spoiler)]

I'm definitely starting to like Jasmine more, but I don't know how it's going to play out. I don't see her just sitting back and allowing Eugenie to continually treat her like a prisoner.

I, too, am annoyed with Roland.

I'm liking where the story is headed so far. But we'll see. I haven't read very many good reviews on it, and I think the story has so much potential.

What's weird is that I love Richelle Mead's Vampire Academy series, but this writing is completely different. I'm not sure if it's totally because it's a different genre or if it's because she wasn't as much of an experienced writer while writing these as she was writing Vampire Academy. I've also read the first to books of her Georgina Kincaid series and they're better than these also, at least in my opinion.

[Lauren]

Sarah wrote: "like when the seeress was telling her about the Iron Crown, she had an attitude and just the way she was talking kind of irked me. "

I really don't like the way that Eugenie talks to people. She is very condescending and dismissive of others. It is like only her opinions matter and everyone else can go to hell!

I agree about the sex scenes. There are too many and it starts to get tedious after a while.

I'm really enjoying the overall plot of this series but the characters leave much to be desired (although Dorian is becoming a favorite). Its good to know that the Georgina Kincaid series is better because I have the first book in audio.

[Sarah]

I really like the plot and the story, but I agree about the characters. Although, I sort of like Dorian. He's really only himself. Eugenie can't seem to make up her own mind even though she claims independence and doesn't want help.

I just finished Chapter 12. OMG! I really dislike Kiyo, and Eugenie right now. No matter what suspicions Eugenie has, it's not fair to act like that out of anger without talking to Dorian first. Even if she believes anything he says or not. It's not fair, or right.

Getting the crown seemed a little anti-climactic even though Kiyo does point out that Eugenie is resistant to Iron.

I feel bad for Deanna too. She just wants some help, and I think Eugenie is being selfish.

[Sarah]

I gotta say Richelle Mead really knows how to end a book. Am I completely surprised? No, I can't say that I am, but I feel justified in my hatred for Kiyo now. I still prefer Dorian.

I'm actually excited to see how Mead ends the series.

[Lauren]

My dislike of Kiyo began in the first book when his relationship with Maiwen was revealed - I don't care what he says, there is something going on with them. His actions at the end of this one only reinforced my original opinion of him - I feel vindicated, lol!

I agree with you about Kiyo and Eugenie. I don't care what justification Eugenie uses to excuse her behavior - it was cheating plain and simple. You don't have sex with your ex before breaking up with your current boyfriend!

[Lauren]

So, June or July for the last book?

[Sarah]

I'm good with June if ya'll are ok with June.

[Lauren]

Sarah wrote: "I'm good with June if ya'll are ok with June."

June's good for me. If Lauri's OK with it then we can decide on a date. I'm partial to the middle of the month because I have a buddy read of Skin Game at the beginning of the month.

[Sarah]

Mid June is good for me too :)

[Lauren]

Great. Lets aim for the 15th give or take a day or two.

[Sarah]

sounds good :)

[Lauren]

Started . Comments up to chapter 5 (including):

Poor Pagiel! (view spoiler)[I feel sorry for him having a mother and grandmother like that. I wouldn’t be surprised if his father left just to get away from them. (hide spoiler)]

What about Eugenie’s insistence on (view spoiler)[going to human doctors despite the dangers of going into the human world? Is she right or just being stubborn? (hide spoiler)]

The Yewland’s (view spoiler)[offer of sanctuary is interesting. Not sure if they can be trusted as I’m sure they have their own agenda. (hide spoiler)]

So Volusion is from the (view spoiler)[Yewland. There is obviously some history there and I hope we get more of it and what he did to deserve his punishment. (hide spoiler)]

Roland seems to (view spoiler)[have come to terms with Eugenie being in the Otherworld. It looks like he and Dorian respect each other at least. (hide spoiler)]

Maiwen and Kiyo (view spoiler)[attacking girls that look like Eugenie. They are such hypocrites… justifying their evil actions by saying they are protecting humans from the possibility that an unborn child might attempt to conquer them. I really hope they get whats coming to them! (hide spoiler)]

Eugenie’s (view spoiler)[pacifism is annoying - she is all about turning the other cheek because she doesn’t want to go to war?! She is already at war and allowing the enemy to walk all over you is just plain stupid! (hide spoiler)]

Hmm . . . (view spoiler)[Can Jasmine be trusted? I think that she has changed and truly cares for Eugenie now. (hide spoiler)]

[Lauren]

Just realized I started this one early. Thought we had agreed on the 10th but now I remember that was for . Oops!

[Sarah]

It's ok! :) You can keep reading if you'd like. I probably won't start until the 15th though.

[Lauren]

I'm not that far in so I think I'll read something else now and get back to this when you and the others are reading it.

[Sarah]

Hi ladies! I know today is the start date for the buddy read, but it might take me a few days to begin, but I will be beginning it very soon! I know Lauren is already part of the way in, so as soon as I get to it, I'll leave me comments! :D

[Lauren]

Up to chapter 12

Isn't Eugenie a bit self-righteous about (view spoiler)[Slavery considering that she keeps Volushion on a tight leash? This has always been something that bothered me about her. (hide spoiler)]

Evan - (view spoiler)[I really hope there is no romance brewing with him. The love triangle with Kiyo and Dorian was bad enough, we don't need a quartet! (hide spoiler)]

Huntsville -(view spoiler)[this entire section reads more like women's fiction than UF. It's tedious and drawn out. (hide spoiler)]

Yewland - (view spoiler)[I knew there was something off about them. The perpetual winter reminds me of the Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. All we are missing is Mr. Tumnus :0) (hide spoiler)]

I love (view spoiler)[Volusion's passive/aggressive resistance to Eugenie! (hide spoiler)]

[Lauren]

Lauri wrote: "Up to chapter 15... Sorry I've been a little slow getting into the story this time."

You're not the only one. This book is so slow... nothing much happens for 50% of the book.

I'm currently on chapter 18 and I can't wait for Eugenie and company to finally get to (view spoiler)[the Yewland so that they can start kicking a little ass! (hide spoiler)]

I cannot believe that Dorian (view spoiler)[actually encouraged Kiyo to accompany them to the Yewland. I really wanted Eugenie to just let him die from the Dryad magic :0( (hide spoiler)]

Kiyo (view spoiler)[has such nerve criticizing Eugenie and Dorian's relationship. The jerk is willing to kill BABIES for god-sake and he thinks Dorian doesn't have Eugenie's best interests at heart?! What a shmuck! (hide spoiler)]

So the Dryads (view spoiler)[really don't like men much, do they? Lol! I liked the the scene were Eugenie is trying to convince Dorian to wake up. She's finally truthful with him and herself. (hide spoiler)]

[Lauren]

@Lauri

Re Eugenie (view spoiler)[giving birth early and leaving the twins - yes, there is something weird about that. I'm beginning to think that motherhood is NOT Eugenie's calling in life (hide spoiler)]

Evan - yes, based on (view spoiler)[Eugenie's history with men there MUST be something wrong with him! (hide spoiler)]

[Lauren]

I didn't get that much listening time in today so I'll probably finish tomorrow.

I'm on chapter 22 now.

[Lauren]

I'm done!

Re the ending (view spoiler)[while I don't agree with or like Eugenie's decision not to tell Dorian about the twins, I do understand her reasoning. She is determined not only to keep them safe but to allow them to have normal childhoods - I do wonder how long she will be able to keep it from him though because it is implied that she won't be able to hold out for long (hide spoiler)]

Re Storm King's heir (view spoiler)[I sort of realized it wasn't Isaac but I didn't think it was Pagiel - should have though as there were enough hints with the similarities between Eugenie and Isabel (hide spoiler)]