Even the Darkest Stars (Even the Darkest Stars #1) by Heather Fawcett - Restarting February 5th 2019

[Ashley]

Kamzin has always dreamed of becoming one of the Emperor’s royal explorers, the elite climbers tasked with mapping the wintry, mountainous Empire and spying on its enemies. She knows she could be the best in the world, if only someone would give her a chance.

But everything changes when the mysterious and eccentric River Shara, the greatest explorer ever known, arrives in her village and demands to hire Kamzin—not her older sister Lusha, as everyone had expected—for his next expedition. This is Kamzin’s chance to prove herself—even though River’s mission to retrieve a rare talisman for the emperor means climbing Raksha, the tallest and deadliest mountain in the Aryas. Then Lusha sets off on her own mission to Raksha with a rival explorer who is determined to best River, and Kamzin must decide what’s most important to her: protecting her sister from the countless perils of the climb or beating her to the summit.

The challenges of climbing Raksha are unlike anything Kamzin expected—or prepared for—with avalanches, ice chasms, ghosts, and even worse at every turn. And as dark secrets are revealed, Kamzin must unravel the truth of their mission and of her companions—while surviving the deadliest climb she has ever faced.

[Cindee]

I am 105 pages into this book it is interesting so far it is a great fantasy I like what I have read so far. I like the characters especially Kamzin and River they are interesting and well-written characters. I really like the story so far with Kamzin guiding River on his expedition and all the interesting things about that.

[Cindee]

I am 205 pages into this book so far so good I like th characters more they are interesting to read about I like the slowish romance of Kamzin and River it is moving at a good pace not too fast or slow. I like the story with the exploration and the magic I like the fact the magic is different than other kinds of magic I have read about.

[Cindee]

I am 315 pages into this book it just keeps getting more and more exciting. The story is so interesting I like (view spoiler)[They have gotten to the mountain a few people have died I like how the romance is developing it has been so very interesting at this point (hide spoiler)] the story and characters are so very likable will finish this book soon.

[Cindee]

I have finished this book I liked it whole lot even with the (view spoiler)[revalation of what River is I still loved the romance between them I am hoping Kamzin sees him again in the sequel (hide spoiler)]I loved the story and the characters very much. I really want that sequel this just feels so incomplete like there is something missing.

[Sarah Elizabeth]

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Date changed. Restarting February 5th 2019. Happy Reading ☺

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[Tiera]

This isn't showing up on the calendar view of the planned BR thread so I almost forgot about it!

[Tiera]

I might get to start it tonight once I finish up some stuff.. If not it will be tomorrow morning.

[These Violent Delights]

Tiera wrote: "I might get to start it tonight once I finish up some stuff.. If not it will be tomorrow morning."

Okay :) I'm just starting it now.

[These Violent Delights]

Chapter 1

(view spoiler)[ I'm feeling like there might be a love triangle forming.. I pretty sure Tem has a crush on Kamzin. Kamzin clearly doesn't know it yet. I mean, I could be wrong of course. I have a theory that Kamzin & River will have some kind of romance in the future. But, of course we haven't officially met him yet, so I could be wrong.

I absolutely love that there are Dragons in this book, don't know why I didn't know that before, hope we see more of them. (hide spoiler)]

[These Violent Delights]

Chapters 2, 3, & 4

(view spoiler)[ Wow, Kamzin's family sucks. I really don't like Mara..

The dragons are pretty cool. I can't believe that River took all the credit for saving Tem! Wow.. and to think I was just starting to like him. (hide spoiler)]

[These Violent Delights]

Chapters 5, 6, & 7

(view spoiler)[ WTF Lusha & Mara are absolutely horrible. That was just a messed up thing to do, steal most of River's supplies & f him over like that. River is starting to be insufferable. I definitely didn't like that he was bossing Kamzin around like that & assuming she'd just be ok with it.

Wow, Yonden's pretty weird. Seems like he and Lusha might have been romantic.. IDK though. The Fire Demon seems horrible. At least Kamzin has a map now, that'll make things easier.

I am really starting to like Aimo. Norbu doesn't seem too bad. Dargye is frustrating. Yay Ragtooth is back, knew he would follow Kamzin! Why is Tem acting distant? Is it just because he has crush on her? Ugh (hide spoiler)]

[Tiera]

1st sentence: Well I'm already hooked lol.
18% (view spoiler)[ as much as I'm not a fan of Lusha.. I really feel like her setting out early had nothing to do with the dude and much more to do with her star charts. I feel like she is going for herself only... (hide spoiler)]
32% (view spoiler)[ What is up with River... coming out of nowhere with some awesome snow man magic... I feel like he is hiding a really deep dark secret? Maybe he is a descendant of the witches.. or maybe he is the freaking emperor and he is in disguise... he said his mother was very "respected" (hide spoiler)]

[Tiera]

40% (view spoiler)[ I really think Kam is setting herself up for some failure with this hero worship she is giving river.. Hero's rarely live up to others expectations and not only is she dooming herself by wanting to do everything he does but shes setting herself up for major disappointment as soon as she realizes her expectations don't match up with reality. (hide spoiler)]
51% (view spoiler)[ Well well, introducing the fire demon... I was expecting it to approach Kam in her time of need with an offer, not already be bound to river.. (hide spoiler)]
86% (view spoiler)[ I FREAKING CALLED IT!!! The shadow empress is his mom.. and yes he is a witch! I love it when I'm right. Dang and I hate it at the same time. Even though River has been revealed as the enemy I really don't think he is bad.. he must have a super good reason to be doing this! (hide spoiler)]
Finished: This was an awesome read! I felt that the characters were well rounded and the story was captivating. If I had to complain about anything I would say the plot moved a little slowly.. maybe? Honestly not even that, maybe more that it lacked action in some parts that made it seem to move more slowly.

[These Violent Delights]

Chapters 8, 9, & 10

(view spoiler)[ Is River a shapeshifter? He's covering up those tracks for a reason. Well, clearly River is interested in Kamzin! Asking if Tem and her were/are a thing LOL. Obvious much? Wow, everyone sucks. They should've listened to Kamzin about the storm. So, River is definitely hiding something... hmm. Norbu is going to get someone hurt or worse killed.

River is starting to seem more and more like a mad man. Lusha appears to still be alive, that's good. My favorite part so far is that Ragtooth is back! (hide spoiler)]


Chapters 11, 12, & 13

(view spoiler)[Poor Aimo, it's going to be heartbreaking when she finally acknowledges the truth about her family. Ha, I knew it! River does have a thing for Kamzin. (hide spoiler)]

Chapters 14, 15, & 16

(view spoiler)[ Damn, I knew something was up with River. The fire demon is pretty cool though, soul eating aside. Oh no! Not Aimo! That was pretty sad. Norbu's gone... kinda saw that one coming (kinda like the Walkers from The Walking Dead or the Dead from Game of Thrones lol). I hope Ragtooth is all right. (hide spoiler)]

[These Violent Delights]

Chapters 17, 18, & 19

(view spoiler)[ Aww, Kamzin left Tem behind, but that really wasn't all that surprising. That was a close one. Also, Ragtooth for the win. LOL. (hide spoiler)]

Chapters 20, 21, & 22

(view spoiler)[ Damn those ghosts were freaky, glad Kamzin was saved and that Ragtooth seems to be fine. Why do I have this nagging feeling that River is going to betray/ break Kamzin's heart? Great Mara is back. (hide spoiler)]

[These Violent Delights]

Chapters 23- Finish

(view spoiler)[ Wow.. well that was something. I still don't like Mara, he's just really annoying to me. I still don't like the way Lusha treats Kamzin, though at the end when she let her go after Kamzin was pretty good of her.

I feel like there's something up with Tem.. like is Kamzin going to get back to camp and find him healed cause maybe he's half witch because maybe his mother was a witch???? That could maybe explain his cough/ bad breathing. IDK LOL. I really freaking hope Ragtooth can be saved, cause I love that little guy.

Ugh... River... don't know how I feel about him. (hide spoiler)]