Brambles by Intisar Khanani -> Starting December 1st, 2020

[Alaina]

In the kingdom of Adania, everyone knows what Princess Alyrra did to earn the court's contempt, her mother's disdain, and her brother's hatred.

She betrayed her own.

Yet, the truth hides another story, one of honor and honesty, of a princess gambling her own life for another's. It's a tale of courage and consequences, and a choice that can never be undone.

A short story prequel to her multi-starred fantasy, Thorn, Intisar Khanani's "Brambles" gives Alyrra's account of what really happened all those years ago, and how a few critical days turned her life into a daily fight for survival.

[Ruthie]

So since this is a prequel we don't have to know everything right? Or should I read the whole series before this? lol

[Alaina]

Ruthie wrote: "So since this is a prequel we don't have to know everything right? Or should I read the whole series before this? lol"

I don't think we are supposed to know everything lol

[Ruthie]

so have you read the series that comes after the prequel? Or are you going into it blind?

[Alaina]

Ruthie wrote: "so have you read the series that comes after the prequel? Or are you going into it blind?"

Going into it blind. If I like the prequel, I'll probably go into the series.

[Ruthie]

Alaina wrote: "Ruthie wrote: "so have you read the series that comes after the prequel? Or are you going into it blind?"

Going into it blind. If I like the prequel, I'll probably go into the series."

OK cool I'll do the same

[Alaina]

Since this is pretty short, I'm going to dive into this before Blood Sworn.

[Alaina]

Ch 1: (view spoiler)[Yikes, I do not like Valka and Alyrra's brother. I wouldn't even consider that teasing.. more like manipulation. Poor girl. (hide spoiler)]

[Alaina]

Ch 2: (view spoiler)[Alyrra is probably most like her mother. For example, she's constantly underestimated and I'm sure she's going to prove everyone wrong. I like her and since I've never read the series before I hope the books are about her and not Valka.. (hide spoiler)]

[Alaina]

Ch 3: (view spoiler)[ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh shit, get it girl! I feel like this is going to backfire because of her brother being a little shit. Valka too. BUT I am so proud of her speaking out! (hide spoiler)]

[Alaina]

Ch 4: (view spoiler)[Yeah, I hate her family. I thought her mom was going to be on her side.. or support her but nope. Disappointed in everyone right now. (hide spoiler)]

[Alaina]

Finished: (view spoiler)[Yeah, eat that damn honey cake. Your mom sucks and so does your brother. Okay, if she's the MC in this series then I can definitely see myself diving into book 1! (hide spoiler)]

[Ruthie]

awesome! how long did it take you to read it? I haven't started yet

[Alaina]

Ruthie wrote: "awesome! how long did it take you to read it? I haven't started yet"

Oh, for me - about an hour but I was working and had to drive my brother to work lol. If I didn't have to do any of that, it would've been WAY less.

[Kelly]

Are you planning on reading the rest of the series? I have the other books so I should probably start with this one

[Alaina]

Kelly wrote: "Are you planning on reading the rest of the series? I have the other books so I should probably start with this one"

YES! I think Aly and I so far planned the first book lol. I think?

[Alaina]

It looks like we talked about BRing the first book on my review but she doesn't have it yet. So I think I'm waiting for her to get it. If you want, we can move it to a series thread :) Just in case.

[Kelly]

Sure :) That would be good.

[Aly]

Hello I'm here! I really liked this one and I'm excited to read the first full novel. It's weird that the first book came out 8 years ago, then nothing for all this time

[Aly]

ch 1 (view spoiler)[ If her brother and that girl end up ruling, the country is in trouble (hide spoiler)]
ch 3 (view spoiler)[ I'm glad Alyrra stood up to Valka, that girl is a bitch (hide spoiler)]
ch 4 (view spoiler)[ Wow her mom is even awful. Poor Alyrra, her family blows (hide spoiler)]
Finished (view spoiler)[ I'm glad she has allies among the servants and I hope she can avoid her brother for the most part. (hide spoiler)]

[Aly]

Alaina wrote: "Finished: [spoilers removed]"

LOL yes exactly!

[Alaina]

Aly wrote: "ch 1 [spoilers removed]
ch 3 [spoilers removed]
ch 4 [spoilers removed]
Finished [spoilers removed]"

Comment @ ch1, lmao - yes. it would be HORRIBLE. Like 2020..

[Alaina]

Aly wrote: "ch 1 [spoilers removed]
ch 3 [spoilers removed]
ch 4 [spoilers removed]
Finished [spoilers removed]"

Comment @ ch3, yeah - fuck her.

[Alaina]

Aly wrote: "ch 1 [spoilers removed]
ch 3 [spoilers removed]
ch 4 [spoilers removed]
Finished [spoilers removed]"

Comment @ ch4, don't get me started on that horrible queen.. I hated her.

[Alaina]

Aly wrote: "ch 1 [spoilers removed]
ch 3 [spoilers removed]
ch 4 [spoilers removed]
Finished [spoilers removed]"

Comment @ finished, yeah.. like help her disappear from the entire kingdom. So that she can safely watch it crash and burn from a distance.

[Ruthie]

I'm hoping to read this later this week !

[Aly]

It's like 40 pages so super quick. As soon as my hold on book 1 comes in I'm planning on continuing this series

[Kelly]

Ch 1 - (view spoiler)[I hope they won't end up King and Queen. Poor Valka they walk all over her (hide spoiler)]
Ch 3 - (view spoiler)[ I'm so happy she stood up to them for that servant but it's too good to be true, you know? (hide spoiler)]
Ch 4 - (view spoiler)[What a nice, sweet family... (hide spoiler)]
Finished - (view spoiler)[I have no idea what's going to happen in the first book but I want to know (hide spoiler)]

[Aly]

I'm so excited to start the next book, still waiting for the library ugh

[Ruthie]

I finished it and I agree with all your comments. It was a great preview. I wish more series would do a preview like this especially long ones where its like...do I want to dive in? The answer to this one is definitely yes!

(view spoiler)[

Also the will o the wisps type things have me excited about the magic system (hide spoiler)]

[Ruthie]

Also, at the back of the book you can sign up to get emails from the author when her new books come out and then it gives her email too and I emailed her and she sent me two other books she's written from a different series that I posted on the let's buddy up ARC's thread

[Alaina]

Kelly wrote: "
Ch 1 - [spoilers removed]
Ch 3 - [spoilers removed]
Ch 4 - [spoilers removed]
Finished - [spoilers removed]"

Comment @ Ch 1, yeah I didn't like her ONE bit.

[Alaina]

Kelly wrote: "
Ch 1 - [spoilers removed]
Ch 3 - [spoilers removed]
Ch 4 - [spoilers removed]
Finished - [spoilers removed]"

Comment @ Ch 3, yeahh just waiting for the other shoe to drop. Boy... did it drop.

[Alaina]

Kelly wrote: "
Ch 1 - [spoilers removed]
Ch 3 - [spoilers removed]
Ch 4 - [spoilers removed]
Finished - [spoilers removed]"

Comment @ Ch 4, LOL

[Alaina]

Kelly wrote: "
Ch 1 - [spoilers removed]
Ch 3 - [spoilers removed]
Ch 4 - [spoilers removed]
Finished - [spoilers removed]"

Comment @ Finished, OMG YES!

[Alaina]

I have the first book, audio, from my library! I hope it's good even though I kind of want to find the ebook of it just in case. Anyone else have it?

[Alaina]

Ruthie wrote: "I finished it and I agree with all your comments. It was a great preview. I wish more series would do a preview like this especially long ones where its like...do I want to dive in? The answer to t..."

The wisps kind of remind me of 'Brave' the movie lol. Not sure why, but going with it.

[Aly]

Mine still hasn't come in and I'm sick of waiting. If you want to start this week, that's fine. I'll buy it. I'm still number 2 in line so who knows how long it will be from the library

[Ruthie]

Yes they do remind me of Brave. which makes me excited to see it again and hope magic is a large part of the story. I got Thorn from library whenever y'all are ready to start

[Aly]

I got Thorn from the library yay! When do you guys want to read it?

[Alaina]

YAY! Hmm... this month? The 20th? 26th? Now? lol

[Aly]

The 20th works for me!

[Alaina]

Aly wrote: "The 20th works for me!"

Woohoo! Okay!

[Alaina]

Here it is: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

[Ruthie]

great!!