Year of the Reaper by Makiia Lucier -> Restarting April 8th, 2024

[Alaina]

The past never forgets...

Before an ambush by enemy soldiers, Lord Cassia was an engineer's apprentice on a mission entrusted by the king. But when plague sweeps over the land, leaving countless dead and devastating the kingdom, even Cas’ title cannot save him from a rotting prison cell and a merciless sickness.

Three years later, Cas wants only to return to his home in the mountains and forget past horrors. But home is not what he remembers. His castle has become a refuge for the royal court. And they have brought their enemies with them.

When an assassin targets those closest to the queen, Cas is drawn into a search for a killer… one that leads him to form an unexpected bond with a brilliant young historian named Lena. Cas and Lena soon realize that who is behind the attacks is far less important than why. They must look to the past, following the trail of a terrible secret—one that could threaten the kingdom’s newfound peace and plunge it back into war.

[Kira]

I am joining this buddy read!! I've read 60% of the book today already and I'll be finishing up tomorrow

So far
(view spoiler)[ I am leaning more and more towards Mari being the assassin. I feel like Queen Jehan is somehow involved as well although to think that she'd be complicit in harming her own child is debatable. But I am sure she is not happy with her marriage to the King. Mari may very well be taking revenge for her father's death and her abandonment. (hide spoiler)]

I am really enjoying the story so far and am excited to read further!

[Alaina]

Might be a Wednesday or Thursday book!

[Alaina]

Starting this now!

[Alaina]

Prologue: (view spoiler)[Okay, an interesting start to this. Kind of wished I grabbed my physical copy but I'm okay with the audio (for now). (hide spoiler)]

[Dr. Andy]

ch 5 (view spoiler)[where the heck did the plague come from? Is it like bubonic plague? Bc that’s what it sounds like so far. How the heck did Cas not die then if he had the pustules? I have a feeling that horse thief was the one who shot the arrow. (hide spoiler)]

Ch 21 (view spoiler)[now we’re running around chasing the supposed murderer 🧐 or was there another reason Cas left the city? Already forgot. I’m curious about his brothers bond to his childhood friend. Were they lovers 👀 (hide spoiler)]

[Dr. Andy]

Finished (view spoiler)[ This was enjoyable, but I lost the thread of things in the middle. Also there was zero talk of reapers so this title is really confusing me and pulling me out of the story. Idk I want it to match and it doesn't feel like it does at all. The ending was good and I didn't think Ventilus was involved at all! (hide spoiler)]

[Dr. Andy]

Alaina wrote: "Prologue: [spoilers removed]"

Grab and spell people's names for me lmao

[Alaina]

Andy wrote: "Alaina wrote: "Prologue: [spoilers removed]"

Grab and spell people's names for me lmao"

LOL I don't have it with me but I could probably tell you later tonight. If I remember.

[Dr. Andy]

Alaina wrote: "Andy wrote: "Alaina wrote: "Prologue: [spoilers removed]"

Grab and spell people's names for me lmao"

LOL I don't have it with me but I could probably tell you later tonight. If I remember."

Same! I'll try lol

[Alaina]

Ch 1-10: (view spoiler)[Okay, I had lots of questions in the beginning. Mostly around the ghost thing. Also, who attempted the kill the baby again? Did we find that out or am I supposed to be suspicious of everyone still? (hide spoiler)]

[Dr. Andy]

Alaina wrote: "Ch 1-10: [spoilers removed]"

be suspicious of everyone

[Alaina]

Andy wrote: "Alaina wrote: "Ch 1-10: [spoilers removed]"

be suspicious of everyone"

[Alaina]

Ch 11-20: (view spoiler)[Following Andy's advice and I'm suspicious of every person now. Not sure who is behind it all but a girl being the archer sounds interesting. Again, not sure who it would be but details. Not a huge fan of Lady Rondilla (is the spelling correct? do I care?) and kind of hoping she's the main suspect lol. (hide spoiler)]

[Alaina]

Ch 21-30: (view spoiler)[Well, shit. I wasn't expecting these twists and betrayals. I'm definitely angry at Lena right now. (hide spoiler)]

[Dr. Andy]

Alaina wrote: "Ch 21-30: [spoilers removed]"

Me to that character:

[Alaina]

Ch 31-Finish: (view spoiler)[Wow, that ending was pretty good. Still confused on some things though. It's weird how things were explained and not really explained at the same time. Yeah, it was interesting. (hide spoiler)]

[Alaina]

Andy wrote: "Alaina wrote: "Ch 21-30: [spoilers removed]"

Me to that character:

"

Yeah, we need to clear ANY confusion.

[Alaina]

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RESTARTING APRIL 8TH, 2024


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[Sibil]

25%
(view spoiler)[25% I am loving this one! I am invested in the story and the characters, and this first quarter of the book flew by! I want to know more about Lena, she seems interesting and quite a capable and strong-willed character! While I am feeling for Cas. Let alone that his full name is unfortunate, to be kind about it, but his return to home is bittersweet (and I am not even talking about the betrayal!), I mean, all he wanted was to go back to his family, and luckily his brother is alive and in good health (yay!) but his home is "invaded" by guests, and one of them is from the reign that kept him prisoner and abused him. Not the best home coming, for sure.
And the betrayal!! It hurts so much that it was such a stupid thing like that! It made me so mad!! (hide spoiler)]

[Ela (Mouse333)]

Prologue - Chapter 9

(view spoiler)[ I'm liking the book so far. I like Cas and the other characters that have been shown (Lena and Ventillas, and I think Bittor is going to play a bigger role).

I'm a bit unsure where the book is going though. Is Cas, his brother and a few others going to be escorting the queen back to the palace? Or is something going to happen with the plague? Or maybe they're going to be helping Lena with the history?

I'm excited to continue.
(hide spoiler)]

[Ela (Mouse333)]

Sibil wrote: "25%..."

(view spoiler)[ I completely agree - it's very easy to get through and I can't wait to see what else is going to happen. Also, I just really want to see more of the characters interacting, since Cas has just returned.

Yeah, the homecoming was tough. I wasn't expecting the part about there being a ransom letter and Faro destroying it. I definitely agreed with Ventillas that he needed to suffer more. I didn't like Sorne - her reaction to seeing Cas again and to Faro's betrayal made it all about her.
(hide spoiler)]

[Ela (Mouse333)]

Chapters 10 - 18

(view spoiler)[ I love the idea of the lynx, although I wish they had bigger roles in the story.

I wasn’t expecting a fantasy to be more of an investigation story, but I’m really liking it.

Cas and Lena are great, and I like King Rayan and Ventillas. I don’t know what it is and I know that they have a treaty, but I’m not a big fan of Jehan. I don’t necessarily dislike her, but I prefer seeing the other characters.

I’m curious to see if it is actually Mari and if it’s because they left her behind.
(hide spoiler)]

[Ela (Mouse333)]

Chapters 18 - 29

(view spoiler)[ I wasn’t expecting that. Mari pretending to be Jehan, while the real Jehan is getting revenge. The whole thing with the doctor was shocking. Still, as it’s been pointed out, I don’t understand how they thought they could keep the truth hidden when people from Brisa came.

While I understand that Lena is hurt, I absolutely do not agree with how the situation is being dealt with. Cas was the one who was hit on the head and chained, and yet the few rude words he said to Lena when she came to him are deemed worse and it seems like everyone expects him to be asking for forgiveness.

As a side note, I don’t understand why Amador still has a high position when it’s obvious that he can’t be trusted.
(hide spoiler)]

[Sibil]

Ela (Mouse333) wrote: "Prologue - Chapter 9
"

(view spoiler)[It is pretty hard to see where things are going in the beginning, but I enjoyed discovering where the author was going! (hide spoiler)]

[Sibil]

Ela (Mouse333) wrote: "Sibil wrote: "25%..."
"

(view spoiler)[I so agree with you about Sorne. Her reaction was so self-centered!! (hide spoiler)]

[Sibil]

Ela (Mouse333) wrote: "Chapters 10 - 18
..."

(view spoiler)[Ohh, the lynx!! They are amazing! And I would have loved to see more of them around.
The scene with the lynx and the ghost was so sweet!!

And I prefer other characters to Jehan too, but I think that she can be an amazing character too, it's like she has some surprise or something that we are not yet seeing. And I think that she may seem more cold or less nice than other characters, but I think that she is not a bad person, she sounds nice from what we see, and I hope to see her in a more central role in the story. Like a character with some hidden depths! (hide spoiler)]

[Sibil]

44%
(view spoiler)[It is pretty hard to put down, and I had to stop reading on a sort of cliffhanger, since they just discovered the origin of the strange coin the assassin left behind, and I need to know why the Queen lied! Or maybe she didn't lie, and there is something else going on here... But still! I need to know!!
And this book is different from what I was expecting but in the best possible way! I was expecting something grim and well, sure, we have a plague, the theme of loss and trauma, and all that, but still, the book is not bleak. And we have a mystery that just started going, but so far it was more concentrated on relationships between the characters. And it is good!
I love the relationship between Cas and his brother, and I also love the relationship between Cas and the Queen! (hide spoiler)]

[Ela (Mouse333)]

Chapters 30 - 37

(view spoiler)[ I liked this book, but I didn't like how Cas and Lena separate for some months, and then reunite at the very end.

I didn't expect to like this book as much as I did and I definitely wasn't expecting some of the twists.

I did wish that the side characters (Master Jacomel, Bittor, Esti, King Rayan) were shown a bit more though, especially when Cas finally goes back home and his life there.

I don't usually like ghosts in books, but I liked how they were shown in this one and I kind of wish that they played bigger roles, alongside the lynx.

I think the situation with the commander was predictable, but I still liked reading how they were able to get away.
(hide spoiler)]

[Ela (Mouse333)]

Sibil wrote: "Ela (Mouse333) wrote: "Chapters 10 - 18
..."..."

(view spoiler)[ I know! It made me want to see more of the boy ghost.
(hide spoiler)]

[Ela (Mouse333)]

Sibil wrote: "44% ..."

(view spoiler)[ I definitely wasn't expecting this when I started the book either, but I really like the mystery and Cas.

I completely agree about the relationship between Cas and Ventillas, and I think it's interesting to see the interactions between Cas and Jehan.
(hide spoiler)]

[Sibil]

Ela (Mouse333) wrote: "Chapters 18 - 29
..."

(view spoiler)[Amador confuse the heck out of me. He can't be trusted, he doesn't really seem to be so useful and his sister is just the worst (I think Lady Rondilla is his sister, if I am not mistaken)!

And yeah, I guess there really was something that Jehan was hiding something, namely that she is not Jehan. And I didn't see this coming! Also, the part of the story with the doctor was shocking, and so hurtful!!

And I agree with you about Cas treatment. After his being held prisoner for so long, and being abused, they chained him again and he is the bad one for some harsh words! He was so unjust!!
(hide spoiler)]

[Sibil]

72%
(view spoiler)[ It was really nice to see that Cas is so well-loved by the people of his city (town, reign, whatever!). It is a nice change

And I am really enjoying this book but I think that it wanted to be too many things at the same time. I mean, I love the relationships in there, I love that we have a mystery, and I love all the things that we have going, but maybe a series would have worked way better. For example, the dead. They are a great way for the author to make the story move, sure, but it would have been so interesting to see more of this part of the story!
And also, all these relationships that are getting stronger and deeper (and I am not only talking about Cas and Lena, even if I ship them so much! But also between Cas and Ventillas, and their place in their reign, the nobles, and all that) have consequences on the politics and on the story, and I would love to see all their ramifications but I don't think I will get it, because the book is almost at its end, and it is a standalone.
It's not that I am complaining, because I am having so much fun with it, and it is really hard to put it down, but... I want more! (hide spoiler)]

[Sibil]

Finished
(view spoiler)[I really enjoyed this one! I think that it should not have worked so well, because a lot of things are there only as a way for the author to justify his story (obviously is like that for all books, it is like it works but usually things are a little more cohesive than there, they have a little bit more weight for the story in general), like the dead and the part about the doctor, and yet I had an amazing time with this book and I didn't want to put it down!
I loved Cas, and Lena, and all the other characters (aside from Lady Rondilla and Amador, they were the worst!), and there were a lot of things that I found refreshing, like the good relationship between Cas and Ventillas, or like the fact that the royal here are pretty decent people, and all that.
I am really happy to have read it!! (hide spoiler)]

[Sibil]

Ela (Mouse333) wrote: "Chapters 30 - 37
."

(view spoiler)[I liked that Cas and Lena spent some months separated, it made sense, at least to me. But I would have loved to see how they spent these months, especially Cas, since this was his true home coming! (hide spoiler)]

[Ela (Mouse333)]

Sibil wrote: "72%..."

(view spoiler)[I completely agree! There were so many good things about this book, that there wasn't enough time spent on each one of them.
(hide spoiler)]

[Sibil]

Ela (Mouse333) wrote: "Sibil wrote: "72%..."
"

(view spoiler)[I think that a series would have been better than a standalone. But still... the book was so good! *_*
Thanks for the buddy read! (And I hope that our next book will be at least as good!!!) (hide spoiler)]

[Ela (Mouse333)]

Sibil wrote: "Finished..."

(view spoiler)[ It was definitely different to a lot of books where the royals are evil or selfish. I did really like King Rayan and the situation he found himself in with Mari/not real Jehan was something that I wanted to see more about. I get that he has feelings for her, but the fact is that she lied and now the treaty is basically invalid as soon as someone from Brisa comes.
(hide spoiler)]

Sibil wrote: "Ela (Mouse333) wrote: "Sibil wrote: "72%..."
"..."

(view spoiler)[ I haven't thought about that, but I have to agree - a series would have been better because then you could see everything in more detail.

I'm really excited for our next book!
(hide spoiler)]