Violet Made of Thorns (Violet Made of Thorns #1) by Gina Chen - Restarting February 3rd, 2023

[Vanessa Gayle ⚔️]

Alexandra wrote: "I've read up to Chapter 8 because I'm trying to get ahead of my TBR.

[spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[I agree. Violet definitely seems different from many lead characters I've read before. And she and Cyrus definitely have a strained relationship. But it does seem like there is more than hate under the surface. More like there is the opposite of hate and they hate that they feel that way about the other. I also really love all of the world-building. It's so interesting. (hide spoiler)]

[Vanessa Gayle ⚔️]

Danique wrote: "Ch 5."

(view spoiler)[I also felt like the prince was in love with her from the start. I also remember his comment about hot choosing who you love. I think that something happened in the past that strained their relationship to make them have this strange hateful relationship. But deep down I am certain that they are into each other and are trying to hide it. (hide spoiler)]

[Vanessa Gayle ⚔️]

Danique wrote: "Ch 10"

(view spoiler)[I also thought that there were a lot of Cinderella references in the story. I can see Beauty and the Beast inspirations as well.

I am also really wary of the other girl. Where did she even come from? (hide spoiler)]

[Vanessa Gayle ⚔️]

Danique wrote: "Ch 14"

(view spoiler)[The kiss was great but Cyrus really was a dick afterward. I think that Violet was right in telling him that he was a coward to send her away because of feelings for her that he couldn't control.

I am really curious about who Raya is as well. She is very suspicious. The fate told Violet that she wasn't really Raya but then again I don't trust the fates at this point either. Things just arne't adding up. (hide spoiler)]

[Vanessa Gayle ⚔️]

55%

(view spoiler)[So Raya isn't really Raya but some sort of lady's maid that a witch blackmailed into playing the part of Raya. And the witch killed Raya. So this witch is just another seer like Violet? What does she want exactly? And what is the thing that Dante told Cyrus that he should have told Violet before the engagement? That seemed important but was never revealed. (hide spoiler)]

[Vanessa Gayle ⚔️]

Danique wrote: "Ch 19"

(view spoiler)[I agree about the necklace. She assumed that Camilla left it for her but why didn't she take it off when Camilla confirmed that it wasn't her that left it? Especially with all the weird things going on lately. It seems careless of her.

I wonder who walked in on them as well. It could have been Camilla but maybe it wasn't? Camilla certainly knew that they had been together twice. How she knew that, I have no clue though. (hide spoiler)]

[Vanessa Gayle ⚔️]

Alexandra wrote: "chapter 17
[spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[I didn't catch on to Raya being a totally different person either. And the king is very suspicious. (hide spoiler)]

[Vanessa Gayle ⚔️]

Finished!

(view spoiler)[Okay, I am not sure what exactly I just read. I mean, yeah I do, but at the same time, I feel like I don't. Haha.

I still can't believe that Violet stabbed Cyrus like that. Did she only do it because she felt like he betrayed her at the wedding when he said those things about her? Did she just give in to the witch's and the fates' influence?

I wasn't surprised that Dante was a spy or that he killed the king. He wouldn't let Violet read his future so he was always a little suspicious. I wonder where he is now? And did I miss something or was Dante working WITH Cyrus as a spy for a better outcome? I wonder what Dante's role with be in the next book.

I am still not entirely sure what the witch or Violet really are. They are like seers but they are also more? It sounded like the witch said that they were basically fates that went to live with mortals or descendants of fates that went to live with mortals. Is that right? It wasn't quite clear to me. I wonder what the witch's endgame is. It sounded like she wanted to please the fates with war and bloodshed so that she could join the fates. I also keep wondering about the witch's true identity. She said that she never gave herself a name. I wondered if she was Violet's birth mother? I also contemplated her being the previous seer that the king had before Violet. They said that she died but maybe she didn't? I thought that maybe she didn't agree with the king's methods and so he had her killed but maybe she survived?

So I guess Violet and Cyrus get married although it didn't show it with only that fairytale story at the end. I suppose she would have to be there to give him her blood so her doesn't change into the beast. I wonder if there is a cure for that or not?

I wish that the story explained the fairies a little more. They don't get along with the fates or their magic doesn't but I wanted to know more about them and the history of the fates and the fairies.

Overall, I liked this story but I am still so curious about a lot of things. I don't feel like I got much closure but then there is another book slated to release at some point. (hide spoiler)]

[Vanessa Gayle ⚔️]

Danique wrote: "Finished"

(view spoiler)[Yeah, I had a feeling about the king too.

I also can't believe that she stabbed him! I think that maybe she just gave in to all the talking in her head after he betrayed her at the wedding.

I knew that there was something up with Dante. I wonder where he is now.

I kind of feel the same. I wouldn't say that I am unsatisfied but I am just still really curious about a lot of things. It feels like there should be more to the story. (hide spoiler)]

[Vanessa Gayle ⚔️]

Alexandra wrote: "I also finished!"

(view spoiler)[I pretty much felt the same about the book. A lot of confusion. It's like some things make perfect sense and then something happens that will make you question everything. (hide spoiler)]