The Shadow Queen (Ravenspire #1) by C.J. Redwine - Restarting October 12th 2020

[Nicole's Book Diaries]

siobhan wrote: "Melanie wrote: "2%

[spoilers removed]"
[spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[ If only it stayed that way... (hide spoiler)]

[Siobhan]

chapter 30 (view spoiler)[ okay it is getting much better and i think if half the book was cut it would be a 5 star read so much is repeated over and over its getting annoying (hide spoiler)]

[Tati]

I finished it yesterday, but I'll still discuss it

[Siobhan]

Nicole wrote: "Chapter 31: [spoilers removed]

Chapter 34: [spoilers removed]"
about chapter 31 (view spoiler)[ i think he married her after her sister died as either a way to have a piece of her sister or maybe it was to keep the peace (hide spoiler)]

[Nicole's Book Diaries]

I don't get why there's no reply button on the GR app.

@Siobhan (view spoiler)[ There were a lot of uneccessary dialogue. Like the court manners ones. I was really mad about that. It only took away from Lorelai's personality. She's supposed to be fierce and unstoppable. She can be but the moment she shows signs of it, scenes like that interfere or the romance comes in. (hide spoiler)]

[Siobhan]

@nicole (view spoiler)[ its like the author didn't want a female lead who was kick ass. She seemed to do everything in her power to create a weak girl. But lorelai was so much more then her manners or her love interest and she could have been an amazing character if only we were allowed to see more of her (hide spoiler)]

[Nicole's Book Diaries]

siobhan wrote: "@nicole [spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[ The plot summary said she was supposed to be that kind of girl and she had every potential to be. The author just didn't provide much example of it and when she did, it was overcome by cliche scenes and lines. (hide spoiler)]

[Melanie]

5%

(view spoiler)[I think her being able to communicate with the bird is strange... (hide spoiler)]

[Nicole's Book Diaries]

Melanie wrote: "5%

[spoilers removed]"

You're gonna love that bird later on.

[Siobhan]

Melanie wrote: "5%

[spoilers removed]" that bird lol she's so funny

[Melanie]

I just am not into this story. Going to put it aside for a little bit. Might pick it up again later this month if I have the time.

[Siobhan]

yeah o really struggled with it so i dont blame you :)

[Nicole's Book Diaries]

I was going to that but I just wanted to get it over it.

[Abi]

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Reading from May 9th 2016

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[Sibil]

I've just started it! :) I hope that it would be a good reading! :)

prologue (view spoiler)[This chapter was demotivating. Maybe it's because I'm not in the right mood, but I hope that the next chapters would be good because I'm not impressed at the moment. (But it's just the first chapters so it's really too soon to say!) (hide spoiler)]

[Sibil]

chapters 1-4 (view spoiler)[These chapters are better, yay! I like Lorelei and his brother (Leo is funny and has a lot of potential!). And there are dragons, too, yay again! (hide spoiler)]

[Helen 2.0]

I lost my copy somehow D: don't know how that happened
Give me a day or so while I scramble to get another one

[Sibil]

Ok, there's no problem! :)

[Karen]

Finally started! Only done first chapter (busy with work) but love the idea.

[Helen 2.0]

There's forty chapters all in all. Can we read maybe 8 chapters a day?

[Sibil]

I do not know if I can keep up but I can try :)
Have you get your copy?

[Helen 2.0]

You're ahead of us already! I gave up on trying to find my hardcover copy and bought a kindle one instead ^^

[Sibil]

Well I've started before all of you! :)
Oh, I'm sorry that you had to buy a new one!!!

[Karen]

Chapters 1-4. A King who can turn into a dragon must be useful! The rightful heirs to the throne are not getting very far with their plan. An intriguing idea.

[Helen 2.0]

Chapters 1-8: (view spoiler)[ Loving the book so far! It's not a downer, luckily, despite the awful situation all of Ravenspire is in right now. Leo and Kol are hilarious :D
I like Kol, he's a party guy but has common sense. And his people can turn into dragons at will! How cool is that! I love any and all fiction involving dragons as sentient beings.
The book is a new take on Snow White, with the fairy tale kingdoms, magic, and the ironic poison apples... but Lorelai is no damsel in distress. I admire her. (hide spoiler)]

[Karen]

Chapters 5-9. Seems like Lorelai has fallen for the King...surprise! The Queen is getting desperate.

[Karen]

Chapters 10-19. Plenty of exciting things here. Lorelai is good, in spite of all the awful things that have happened to her. I really hope something truly horrible happens to Irina!

[Sibil]

Helen 2.0 wrote: "Chapters 1-8: Loving the book so far! It's not a downer, luckily, despite the awful situation all of Ravenspire is in right now. Leo and Kol are hilarious :D
I like Kol, he's a party guy but has c..."

I agree! (view spoiler)[I love Leo and Kol. They are great characters, and Lorelei sure is not a damsel in distress, yay! (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 8 (view spoiler)[the first meeting between Kol and Lorerelei is intersting but I really hope that Gabril would survive it! (hide spoiler)]

[Sibil]

chapters 9-12 (view spoiler)[I can't believe that she kills Leo! He was the best character!!! And with "she" I don't mean Irina but the author!!!!! (hide spoiler)]

[Karen]

Chapters 20-28. Irina should give up-she's clinging to power and I really hope they defeat her without too many innocents suffering.

[Karen]

Finished. Rated 3 stars. Not quite as good as I'd hoped, though there were some good bits. I liked Sasha the bird, and the battle scene between Irina and Lorelai was well-described. The whole part-human/dragon thing and the boyfriend with a collar was a bit much to take.

[Helen 2.0]

I just found my hardcover copy! After spending $12 on a new Kindle copy, goddammit!

I only have myself to blame.

[Karen]

Ouch, Helen. Can you sell it on?

[Helen 2.0]

No, I promised my library that I'd give them my copy when I was done... So it's a good thing I found it. But still, hurts.

[Sibil]

Oh, I'm sorry!!!!!!

And I'm behind with the reading, I'm not near the half... sorry!!

chapter 13-16(view spoiler)[Irina really is despicable! And even if we can see that she had feeling that were hurt in the past I really can't feel pity for her (hide spoiler)]

I like Sasha too :)

[Helen 2.0]

I'm a little behind too.
Chapter 16: (view spoiler)[ Poor Leo D: I didn't think the author would kill him off! She really doesn't pull her punches.
All these chapters from Irina's point of view aren't helping my opinion of her. Basically I agree with what you said Sibil. I don't care if Lorelai's father picked Irina's sister instead of her, or if Irina wasn't her daddy's favorite girl. None of that justifies Irina's behavior in any way. It only makes me wonder what Viktor sees in her - he seems like such a sweetheart.
(hide spoiler)]

[Helen 2.0]

Chapter 16-24: (view spoiler)[ Lorelai is turning out to be such a Mary Sue. So many characters, especially Gabril and Kol, are always mentally and/or verbally rambling on about how brave and skilled and kind-hearted and amazing Lorelai is. It really annoys me how Kol seems to be in awe of her so often. He's a king too - since Lorelai is not even a queen yet, she should be the one respecting him. I don't like reading about perfect characters like Lorelai, because how can she have character development if she's already the whole package? (hide spoiler)]

[Sibil]

Helen 2.0 wrote: "I'm a little behind too.
Chapter 16: Poor Leo D: I didn't think the author would kill him off! She really doesn't pull her punches.
All these chapters from Irina's point of view aren't helping my..."

I totally agree with you about Victor! Also I'm sorry to have disappeared briefly but I couldn't use the pc in the last days. And with this book I have some problem: when I'm reading it I'm enjoying it (ok, it's not the best book ever, but it's not so bad!) but when I put it down I do not want to pick it up anymore!!!

chapters 16 (view spoiler)[I was really hoping that Kol and Lorelai could deceive Irina!!!! (hide spoiler)]

[Sibil]

Helen 2.0 wrote: "Chapter 16-24: [spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[I agree with you, in part. usually I'm not too fond of perfect characters, and Lorelei is on a tight line but for now I like her... hmm, it's not like-like, she's not the best character ever and she doesn't come near it, even, but I do not dislike her, at least for now. :9 (hide spoiler)]

Chapters 17-26 (view spoiler)[But where are the other 2 dragons? It seems that the author completely forgot about them. It's not the right way to do! But I'm happy that Lorelei coul defeat Irina on the battle for Kol. (hide spoiler)]

[Helen 2.0]

Sibil wrote: "Helen 2.0 wrote: "Chapter 16-24: [spoilers removed]"

[spoilers removed]

Chapters 17-26 [spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[Is it just me or are the mardushka ridiculously overpowered? Lorelai alone was able to decide the outcome of the Eldr ogre war. That's huge! And Irina can take over a kingdom using nothing but her power. No wonder the king of the mardushka kingdom banned his citizens from using most of their power. It seems like just a few of them together could break apart the whole world. (hide spoiler)]

[Sibil]

Helen 2.0 wrote: "Sibil wrote: "Helen 2.0 wrote: "Chapter 16-24: [spoilers removed]"

[spoilers removed]

Chapters 17-26 [spoilers removed]"

[spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[I was wondering the same thing. And if there is an entire nation of mardushka why aren't they ruling the world? I mean, ok the King limited they powers, but normally not all the people listen to the King! (hide spoiler)]

[Helen 2.0]

Done. I really liked it at first but honestly, after about halfway it just dragged out into one long letdown. I think authors have to be especially creative to make a rebelling work, and that wasn't the case in Shadow Queen.

[Sibil]

I'm done too. I didn't think it was a bad book, but I not fall in love with it. I loved that this is a stand-alone, but for the rest it was not so bad but not so good either.

Thanks for the buddy read! :)

[Helen 2.0]

The buddy read was fun despite the book. I'll check for your review ^^

[Ashley W]

Nicole wrote: "Chapter 1& 2 [spoilers removed]

Chapter 4 [spoilers removed]

Chapter 7 [spoilers removed]

Chapter 9: [spoilers removed]"

Chapter 4
(view spoiler)[ I was sort of mixed about him being a dragon. I imagine dragons as being great giant things, but these sound kind of small-ish (for dragons). (hide spoiler)]

[Ashley W]

Nicole wrote: "Chapter 31: [spoilers removed]

Chapter 34: [spoilers removed]"

Chapter 34
(view spoiler)[ Yes! The heart thing gives it away. Plus Lorelei reminds me so much of Snow when she meets Charming out in the woods at the very beginning. (hide spoiler)]

[Ashley W]

Nicole wrote: "Chapter 12: [spoilers removed]

Chapter 13: [spoilers removed]

Chapter 17: [spoilers removed]

Chapter 23: "Either Lorelai had been practicing, training with a rogue mardushka, or the princess ha..."

(view spoiler)[ I don't get how Lorelei knows how to use the magic if she hasn't been trained. I can get on board with her being more powerful. That sounds like a natural thing. But how does she know how to use the power that she has? (hide spoiler)]

[Ashley W]

Final thoughts
(view spoiler)[ This reminded me a lot of Once Upon a Time, mostly with the heart thing. The insta-love between Kol and Lorelei got on my nerves. It wasn't really dramatic at first, but I hate when it's like, "Their eyes meant and...". Whatever. I just don't buy it. This is one of those stories where I liked the villain more. I just think Irina had a more interesting story to tell. (hide spoiler)]

[Brooke]

18%
(view spoiler)[ and our characters meet. $10 they fall for each other. I like the added character of her brother, and this other guy who helps them. (hide spoiler)]

[Brooke]

32%
(view spoiler)[ leo :( well that was short lived :( (hide spoiler)]