A Poison Dark and Drowning (Kingdom on Fire #2) by Jessica Cluess - Starting December 8th 2017

[Anna 'Bookbuyer']

The magicians want her to lead.
The sorcerers want her to lie.
The demons want her blood.
Henrietta wants to save the one she loves.
But will his dark magic be her undoing?

In this seductive and explosive second book in the Kingdom on Fire series, Jessica Cluess delivers her signature mix of magic, passion, and teen warriors fighting for survival. Hand to fans of Victoria Aveyard, Sarah J. Maas, and Kiersten White.

Henrietta doesn’t need a prophecy to know that she’s in danger. She came to London to be named the chosen one, the first female sorcerer in centuries, the one who would defeat the Ancients. Instead, she discovered a city ruled by secrets. And the biggest secret of all: Henrietta is not the chosen one.

Still, she must play the role in order to keep herself and Rook, her best friend and childhood love, safe. But can she truly save him? The poison in Rook’s system is transforming him into something monstrous as he begins to master dark powers of his own. So when Henrietta finds a clue to the Ancients’ past that could turn the tide of the war, she persuades Blackwood, the mysterious Earl of Sorrow-Fell, to travel up the coast to seek out strange new weapons. And Magnus, the brave, reckless flirt who wants to win back her favor, is assigned to their mission. Together, they will face monsters, meet powerful new allies, and uncover the most devastating weapon of all: the truth.

[Anna 'Bookbuyer']

I've started but I'm only a few pages in. Will comment when I get to about 25%. :)

[T.J.]

Would you like to restart this buddy read in November? I'm looking forward to hearing your thoughts.

[Sarah Elizabeth]

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Date changed. Restarting December 8th 2017. Happy Reading ☺

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[T.J.]

Chapter 1 (5%)
(view spoiler)[
Ooooooh, chilling. I wonder why R'hlem wants Henrietta. Not good.
(hide spoiler)]

[T.J.]

Here are the unanswered questions I had at the end of A Shadow Bright and Burning:

Despite an exciting and thoroughly satisfying climax, still many unanswered questions remain.
(view spoiler)[
I'm still expecting Henrietta to be connected to the Blackwoods (because of her memories of the Blackwood house) -- maybe through her mother's side.

I suspected that Henrietta's aunt gave her up to protect her, and Hargrove's statement that it wasn't her aunt's fault confirms my suspicions. But where is she now?

So Henrietta's father didn't drown? Is he still alive? (I've been expecting that for a while now). Is he someone we know? And what was Hargrove going to tell Henrietta about her father? I am sooo curious! "He wasn't..." What?! Dang that Blackwood for his bad timing... ;)
(hide spoiler)]

[T.J.]

Chapter 3 (10%)
(view spoiler)[
I feel for Rook. He wants to help Henrietta. He wants to be an equal partner to her, but I am very worried about the increasing takeover of his shadow powers.
(hide spoiler)]

[T.J.]

Chapter 9 (29%)
(view spoiler)[
I am enjoying this book even more than the first. There is action a-plenty, but there is also depth of character. We are getting to know Blackwood and Magnus in much more depth. I am growing to appreciate each of them better as I get to know them better.

I also find the addition of Maria as a new character refreshing -- I find her fascinating and entertaining.
(hide spoiler)]

[T.J.]

Chapter 11 (33%)
(view spoiler)[
I wonder what Mab took from Magnus.

I like that we are getting more depth into Magnus's personality. I continue to like him more and more. I liked him from the start for all his charm, but I like him even more for his vulnerability. And for his strength. Witnessing him in his family setting was an eye-opener into his deeper personality, and I like what I see.

Blackwood is also becoming more intriguing and I like the dynamic between Henrietta and Blackwood.

Even Henrietta is gaining points in my book. Her character was a bit shallow for me in the first book, but I am beginning to identify with her more in this second.
(hide spoiler)]

[T.J.]

Chapter 15 (46%)
(view spoiler)[
There may be a future for Magnus and Henrietta after all. Either a deep friendship or more. Magnus has so much more depth than Henrietta originally suspected, and we get a glimpse into his unguarded self.
(hide spoiler)]

[T.J.]

Chapter 16 (49%)
(view spoiler)[
Oh, man. It's not looking good for Rook. Now that Henrietta and Rook has expressed their love for one another, I see this ending in tragedy... :(
(hide spoiler)]

[T.J.]

Chapter 18 (54%)
(view spoiler)[
"Lovely day for possible death and dismemberment," Magnus said conversationally.

Ha! That Magnus cracks me up!
(hide spoiler)]

[T.J.]

Chapter 19 (57%)
(view spoiler)[
Oooh. Blackwood and Henrietta. Intriguing.

I half-imagined he could see into the hidden compartments of my soul... Fanciful talk, that. Clearly I'd had too much to drink.

Ha! This is good stuff.

...and Magnus is jealous. Doubly intriguing.
(hide spoiler)]

[T.J.]

58%
(view spoiler)[
Oh. Man. R'hlem "ignited into blue flame." And he know Mickelmas and that Henrietta is the daughter of a magician. And Mickelmas did something to him. He was once human. I have a wildly outrageous suspicion: R'hlem is/was Henrietta's father.
(hide spoiler)]

[T.J.]

Chapter 20 (61%)
(view spoiler)[
That's why Mickelmas, Mary Willoghby opened the door to the other realm -- they were trying to save William, Henrietta's dad.

I had suspicions about R'hlem being Henrietta's father prior to his igniting into fire. While Mickelmas and Henrietta were talking about whether her father would be proud of the person she's become -- I thought about R'hlem and why he specifically asked for Henrietta.
(hide spoiler)]

[T.J.]

Chapter 22 (65%)
(view spoiler)[
Awesome! A true friendship! I trust Maria. And I think she's the chosen one.
(hide spoiler)]

[T.J.]

Chapter 23 (68%)
(view spoiler)[
Blackwood is getting out of hand. Too ambitious. To power-hungry.
(hide spoiler)]

[T.J.]

Chapter 24 (71%)
(view spoiler)[
Not exactly the most romantic proposal, Blackwood. I say... no.

I'm leaning toward Magnus for Henrietta. I know I was on the Rook-team all through the first book, but I'm afraid he's changed too much and I don't like the change. But if he could be saved...
(hide spoiler)]

[T.J.]

Chapter 25 (73%)
(view spoiler)[
I think that Blackood really has strong feelings and respect for Henrietta, but I think his feelings are based on his desire for power.

I didn't at all like Blackwood's critical comments about Rook, and about Henrietta having to obey her husband, and his obvious disposition that wealth should give him the advantage.

He clearly doesn't know Henrietta as well as he thinks he does.

(hide spoiler)]

[T.J.]

Chapter 26 (76%)
(view spoiler)[
Oh shit. Oh, poor Fanny. And Magnus. And Rook. And Henrietta.
(hide spoiler)]

[T.J.]

Chapter 27 (78%)
(view spoiler)[
Oh, sweet. Wolff and Lambe are a couple. And Henrietta's reaction at this discovery is quite progressive for her time. But she's quite right: "love was too rare to squander."
(hide spoiler)]

[T.J.]

Chapter 29 (81%)
(view spoiler)[
Rook had been healing? And Fenswick had poisoned him? Noooooo!
(hide spoiler)]

[T.J.]

Chapter 31 (87%)
(view spoiler)[
Bingo! Maria is the chosen one! And what an exciting scene, by the way...
(hide spoiler)]

[T.J.]

Chapter 33 (91%)
(view spoiler)[
Yowsi!

What did the sorcerers do to William's brother, Henry? And to Helen?


(hide spoiler)]

[T.J.]

Chapter 34 (92%)
(view spoiler)[
Why are there threads of black twisting in the blue flame? Because Henrietta was bitten by Rook and is now "unclean"?

And I feel for Rook and what he's become. I even have sympathy for R'hlem, believe it or not.

Why did it not surprise me that Blackwood is now the Imperator?

(hide spoiler)]

[T.J.]

Chapter 35 (96%)
(view spoiler)[
How manipulative of Blackwell! Forcing Henrietta into an engagement. Although I understand why she is not objecting just yet and taking advantage of the situation, I direly hope she will not go through with the marriage.
(hide spoiler)]

[T.J.]

Finished
(view spoiler)[
Darned exciting! So much action! So much depth of character! Fantastic!
(hide spoiler)]