One Dark Throne and the rest of the series

[Brittany]

Kay and I are going to be reading this one right now so making a place for us to talk about it. Anyone else in?

[Brittany]

Part 1 - start of Wolfspring
(view spoiler)[ What all happened to Katharine to make her so changed? Has she really become more immune to the poisons? Why keep Peter's betrayal a secret? What does she have in mind there?
2 of the suitors chose Arsenoi to start with, I wonder what swayed them there? Was it seeing the bear? How will she deal with the fact that she doesn't actually have the bear?

Very happy to return to this world. (hide spoiler)]

[Brittany]

Part 3- midway Wolfspring
(view spoiler)[ So Jules is legion cursed. Her dual gift sounds very interesting. Why do dual gifts make people mad? Still love her character. And still cannot stand Joseph. He is not worth forgiving at this point.
Arsenoi and her bear, she seems to have a decent grasp on him now even though its still just a low magic bond not a familiar. She needs to learn to use her poisoners gift, and really how did that ever get missed before? And to not accidentally poison more people...

Mirabella now knows that Arsenoi did not send the bear to kill her, how is she ever going to attempt to murder her sister now? What is going to happen with the 3 of them in the same place for the festival? Will they figure out a way around the ascension year?

Katherine, and her want for bloodshed is kind of creepy at this point. The suitor with her is a good match as he loves it just as much. Peter's return was more anticlimatic than I hoped for. She didn't really rage at him or fake still being in love with him. It just kind of happened. (hide spoiler)]

[Kayleigh {K-Books}, YA Fantasy Fan]

I'm about 50 pages in so far and I'm enjoying being back in this world. Hoping to get more read today and tomorrow so I will update with my thoughts when I'm a bit further through.

[Brittany]

Part 7 - The title could almost be considered a spoiler (view spoiler)[ The Queen's Duel (hide spoiler)]
There is much going on. (view spoiler)[ Why would the previous Queen have purposely set things up this way? I guess that means Katherine is a naturalist?! Makes some sense with how horses and the like listen to her.
I'm looking forward to the Duel and seeing Jules use her war gift from afar.
Do you think Billy knew about the poison his father was going to use on Mira? I didn't think so but maybe he is just that good an actor?

I quite like Cara and I thought Willow was a neat character who I hope we get to see again.

What about the dead queens that are possibly inside Katherine? How the heck does that work? And will Peter get out of the hole? (hide spoiler)]

[Kayleigh {K-Books}, YA Fantasy Fan]

I’m not sure what part I’m on as the physical book doesn’t have part numbers but I’m definitely behind where you are Britt.
(view spoiler)[ is it wrong I’m totally heartbroken that Billy has agreed to be king consort to mirabella!! I want him to know that arsinoe is still alive. I can’t wait to see what happens when they find out that she is still alive. (hide spoiler)]

[Kayleigh {K-Books}, YA Fantasy Fan]

I've had such a great reading day today. I've finished it.
(view spoiler)[ I liked this one so much better than the first book. I felt like the first book had some pacing issues and I got a bit bored in the middle but with this one I couldn't put it down.
I'm really intrigued by what is going to happen with Katherine on the throne and Arsinoe and Mirabella escaped Fennbirn. I'm certain that they will go back (especially since there's two more books) but I can't wait to see what will cause that.
I have such mixed feelings about the boys in this series. I love Billy. He's just absolutely adorable and I was so happy to see him and Arsinoe finally together at the end. I didn't like Joseph because of the cheating but at the same time I was really sad to see him die. However, I feel like his death was done so strangely. Like there was no oomfh he's dead it was just oh yeah the storm killed one of them. I expected a bit more of a dramatic death considering how much of a main character he was. Also Petyr... I just don't know about him. I feel like there was more of a reason why he pushed Katherine that has been explained. It's just... odd. And I'm intrigued what effects him going down the hole will have done to him as well. (hide spoiler)]

I've just downloaded the two prequel novellas so I'm going to read those next.

[Brittany]

Yes yes yes! I finished today too. Loved this one so much more than the first as well. So rare that a 2nd book is this good.


(view spoiler)[ I agree Joseph's death was so anticlimactic. But I wasn't saddened by it. I think it gives Jules her life back. He was never going to be good enough for her. Plus now we will get to see her learn more about her war gift!! I'm excited for her return to the red caped warrior.s

Katherine, who can never bear the triplets, being the queen is interesting. I'd like the weirdness of the her and the dead queens to be better explained. She has moments where she is almost herself then the crazy takes back over. How are they going to hide the dead consort for long enough for her official crowning?

Peter, I just don't know. There had to be more reason for his attempting to kill Kat. And she never gave me all the anger there that I hoped for. She forgave him too easily.

I love Billy, I am so happy that he wasn't just a good actor and that him and arsenoe got together.

Arsenoe and Mirabella are now free of the island but for how long? What are they going to do on the mainland? Will Billy's family accept the fallen queens? When will Billy find out about his father's treachery and death? And yes most of all, what will send the 2 queens back to the island? (hide spoiler)]

[Brittany]

I'm on hold for the prequels. I'll have to buy the other two books as I want to keep listening to them, the audio is very well done. I have another book to listen to first then I'll head back to this world. Shall we continue our discussion here or should I start a new thread?

[Kayleigh {K-Books}, YA Fantasy Fan]

We can continue discussing here. Also I’m happy to wait for you so we can buddy read the other 2 at the same time as well. I’m just behind on my reading challenge so the prequels will boost my challenge lol.

[Brittany]

lol fair! I'll let you know when I am ready to start the next one :)

[Kayleigh {K-Books}, YA Fantasy Fan]

Fab. Can’t wait.

[Kayleigh {K-Books}, YA Fantasy Fan]

I’ve finished the two novellas. They were pretty good. Gives
You a good insight into what happened ‘before’

My book 3 and 4 got delivered today so I’m ready to continue whenever you are :)

[Brittany]

Sounds good! It should be by the end of the week.

[Brittany]

Starting Two Dark Reigns now!

[Kayleigh {K-Books}, YA Fantasy Fan]

Woop! I have about 200 pages of my current read left and then I'm starting :)

[Brittany]

Woo! Awesome.
Chapter 9 (view spoiler)[ The prophesy thing for Jules "You were once a Queen and may be again" so neat. Wondering when and how Jules will come to terms with that.
Also Arsenoi's weird dreams of the past. Who's the girl with the black eyes?! How did a Queen end up orphaned off the island?
Billy is annoying me, which is sad because I was loving his courageousness at the end of the last book. (hide spoiler)]

I just got the 1st novella from the library as well and am going to try and read that quickly at some point once i finish my current ebook read

[Kayleigh {K-Books}, YA Fantasy Fan]

I really liked the novellas. They were really interesting. I’m starting it now :)

[Kayleigh {K-Books}, YA Fantasy Fan]

I'm just over 100 pages in and really enjoying it so far. I can't really say which chapter though as there's no chapter numbers in the paperback. It's quite annoying actually lol

[Brittany]

lol that is annoying. Even the differences in the way the
"chapters" are done on various types of audio is different.

Hmm... this will make talking about it harder.

[Kayleigh {K-Books}, YA Fantasy Fan]

It really will. I don’t know whether I dare say anything haha.

I’m on page 155 so I’m about 70 pages short of being half way through.

[Brittany]

I'm about a quarter of the way through the audio, so probably about 120 pages in?

(view spoiler)[ The mist brought Kat the dead bodies of the search party. That was ominous.
Arsenoi is having more past vision dreams. Why?? And what does the blue queen want with her? This Daphni seems like a really neat character though! I still want to know how she ended up in Centra!
Billy is still annoying me, he needs to figure out what he wants and do it. I also wonder when they will find that his father is dead.
I want to know what Mira and Arsenoi are going to do with these dreams!! (hide spoiler)]

[Kayleigh {K-Books}, YA Fantasy Fan]

Oh yes. I'm a little bit passed this.

(view spoiler)[ Yes, it was so ominous when the bodies arrived. It was very strange.
I really like the story of Daphne and I am so curious about how she ended up in Centra too. I can't wait to find out more. I'm finding I am enjoying the points of view of Mirabella, Arsinoe and Jules much more than Katherine. I'm not a huge lover of Katherine to be honest.
I'm aiming to read some more tomorrow. (hide spoiler)]

[Brittany]

7:40/12:16 so about 60% finished approx page 282

(view spoiler)[ I'm surprised Bree said there is only one side to take and that is Katherines. I wouldve thought she would be a bit more bitter about her in general and more willing to take Jules' side.
Curious what boat Arsenoi is going to commandeer to take her home and what Billy and Mira will do about it. How can they not believe that these are actually real dreams/visions/pieces of the past at this point I do not understand. They all saw the Blue Queen standing atop her. Although is it really the Blue Queen or Daphne? What the heck happened in the past. That is actually the story line I am most invested in. And why was the mist made in the first place?!?

I like Kat, but I haven't loved her in this book. After everything that has happened, she is still somehow naive? Not sure if that's the best choice of words but its what I've got. Her and Peter drive me crazy. I do still want to know more about the dead queens inside her. I also hope she chooses to not kill the oracle but I believe she is about to give her the potion to make her talk. Even though I doubt that will do much good. (hide spoiler)]

[Brittany]

Kay!!! I finished it!! WTF was that ending?!?!?!

(view spoiler)[ that ending, not okay. What is Mira going to do headed to the capitol to meet with Katherine.
Jules is now insane, the binding breaking so violently has brought out the worst of the curse. I cannot believe she hurt Camden. Give me my Jules back!!!
Arsenoi and her embracing her poisoner gift was lovely. Her secret keeping is frustrating and was throughout the book. She should've told Mira what Daphne showed her.
Speaking of Daphne, so I still want to know how she survived and ended up in Centra in the first place! Also her sister the actual Blue Queen died to create the mist? Thats so... creepy? How did Henry feel about marrying his beloved and her actually being a Queen? And the ominous sisters cannot be friends, we tried and look what happened. I still want more from her time.
Katherine, you are crazy. Did she kill Peter? Is she still in there? Or have the dead queens completely taken over? She wants to be this sweet girl but never quite gets there. I still feel she is somehow naive about the world. And with the dead queens able to take over from her and kill people she sure isnt a fit ruler of any kind.
(hide spoiler)]
So yeah, I have a book from the library I've been waiting on awhile to listen to next then I'll go back and listen to the last one.

[Kayleigh {K-Books}, YA Fantasy Fan]

I haven’t finished it yet. I’m hoping to finish this weekend. I’m about half way.
I have a review book that I have to read in the middle as well so I’ll be reading that before book 4. I can’t wait to talk to you about it
(view spoiler)[ so at the moment I’m thinking what if Jules is a blue queen and that’s actually why the blue queen is haunting them? I have so many crazy thoughts going through my head right now (hide spoiler)]

[Brittany]

I had that thought too Kay! Its so crazy! Cannot wait for you to finish so we can talk about it

[Kayleigh {K-Books}, YA Fantasy Fan]

I have just under 200 pages left so should finish it today.

[Brittany]

I just started Five Dark Fates yesterday. I only got a little ways in, I'm at Greavesdrake Manor like 23 minutes in on the audio (view spoiler)[ So Arsenoi and Billy found out that Mira has left. Jules is still crazed and being kept safe by tonics.
More interesting is Kats getting the healers to try and fix Peter and how disturbed she is after the dead queens almost killed him and nobody can figure out what has happened. Just got her reaction at Mira being there and looking forward to seeing what happens when they meet again under the guise of a truce. (hide spoiler)]

[Kayleigh {K-Books}, YA Fantasy Fan]

I haven’t started yet just finishing my review book but will be starting maybe Tuesday. I’m at the theatre Monday after work so won’t get much time to read until Tuesday

[Brittany]

No worries, I'm driving a lot this weekend but with others in my car so I wont get much listening done til Tuesday either.

[Kayleigh {K-Books}, YA Fantasy Fan]

I haven’t managed to read much but hoping to get a couple of hundred pages read today. Fingers crossed.

[Brittany]

I'm 3 hours and 18 minutes in. Will likely get some more listened to tomorrow. Not sure what to say about it right now...

[Kayleigh {K-Books}, YA Fantasy Fan]

Oh no that doesn’t sound good 🙈

[Brittany]

I'm about 30% in or 139ish pages and its good and all but well I'll let you read more and then we can talk. I don't even know what to write in a spoiler right now

[Kayleigh {K-Books}, YA Fantasy Fan]

I’m almost 200 pages in now. Things are getting really intriguing now

[Brittany]

That's good to hear!

[Kayleigh {K-Books}, YA Fantasy Fan]

I’ve got just over 100 pages left so should finish today. I’ve been ill today so have done nothing but sit and read while under a blanket haha. I cannot believe what just happened

[Brittany]

Add some thoughts!! I haven't got any more read yet. I may listen for a bit today, but I dont feel like doing any chores so I might not!

Sorry you're ill! That seems to be going around all over the place

[Kayleigh {K-Books}, YA Fantasy Fan]

Illness definitely is going around lately.
I finished it and I loved it. It was a 5 star read. I don't wanna spoil anythig so let me know where you're up to first.

[Brittany]

Good to know it was a 5 star read for you! I'm still about the same, haven't had any listening time yet.

[Brittany]

I'm 48% or so in (~220 pages) (view spoiler)[ Billy is captured. And being hypocritical. They are all murdering terrible people! Uh Billy, your father started it by murdering Natalia. He had to die, be happy he didn't suffer horribly like Katerine would have liked. I get it your angry but you are a captive, you're gonna have to be smarter than that.
Mira, why didn't you tell Arsenoi your suspicions so she would know why you are really there. And Arsenoi why haven't you told Mira her part in Daphne's plan? Communication ladies! Come on!
Curious what is going to happen with the comatose Peter. How is Mira going to find out what really is going on with Kat?
Speaking of Kat, giving the dead queens temporarily to Ro is both genius and moronic. Wonder what the damage will be to Ro in the long term from housing them in her head. (hide spoiler)]

[Brittany]

Just past where (view spoiler)[ Kat kills Mira. That makes me sad, I wanted her to be able to survive. Now Luca has freed Billi and he is arriving at Sun Pool at the same time as Jules returning from the massacre at Bastion city.
What all can that vision from the First Temple mean? (hide spoiler)]

[Kayleigh {K-Books}, YA Fantasy Fan]

That part absolutely killed me. I was so so sad. Keep going, I really liked the ending.

[Brittany]

I'm finished. For the most part I enjoyed the way this book ended the series. I did find the pacing more off on this one though. And here's a bunch of thoughts/questions I am left with. (view spoiler)[ First and foremost, the whole thing with Jules and her she was a queen and may be again thing, I realize she looks like the first queen who was also a legion queen but otherwise I don't feel that her connection was ever explained enough. Also on Jules, what happened to her curse? How did it just poof disappear? Oh, and now how are they going to determine the next queen?

Arsenoi and Billy I guess get satisfying enough endings with his returning home and their going to ask him to be their liaison allowing them both to go back and forth together. But I just don't love her the same at this point. Her being a poisoner with innate abilities and her love of low magic I don't know. Also she never really suffered the effects of her overusage of the low magic. Yes the people around her died but never anything to her.

The mist and the whole fascinating story with Daphne, why now? Why was this to be the end of Fenburn as they know it? How was Mira's death supposed to get rid of the mist before she was killed at Kat's hand? Or was she always supposed to die there? I would've liked an end scene with the blue queen and Daphne, or something to tie their ending together a little further.

Kat, while I expected her to die I really didn't want her to. I felt for her broken character. She annoyed me for awhile and I didn't love everything she did but she was a fighter and sweet under all the dead. Oh! And how did the mist eat something that was dead? Where did the mist and all the dead queens go?

Peter now has to cope with having watched his beloved once again going over the edge of something to her death. He gets his council seat but otherwise kind of a sad ending for such a strange character.

Also curious how Fenburn will get on without its protection from the outside world. Will they lose what makes them unique with their gifts and women at the top society and conform to the outside world? (hide spoiler)]