Violet Made of Thorns (October 2022) Buddy Read Discussion - Bopeep & Leslie, Laura

[mina, Group/Buddy Reads Procrastinator]

Welcome to the Violet Made of Thorns Buddy Read Discussion thread! This thread officially opens on October 1st and anyone can join at any time. Please keep in mind that spoilers are allowed in this thread but only up to the group's current reading place. Do not spoil the book if you've read further than the group. Any extra days can be used to catch up!

Each day we will be reading by chapters or page numbers. Page numbers are an approximation based on the hardcover or paperback that is the default on Goodreads. The suggested Buddy Read discussion schedule is as follows:

Week of 10/01
October 1st: Ch. 1-5
October 2nd: Ch. 6-10

Week of 10/03
October 3rd: Ch. 11-15
October 4th: Ch. 16-20
October 5th: Ch. 21-25
October 6th: Ch. 26-28/end

PARTICIPANTS
~ Bopeep
~ Leslie
~ Laura

[mina, Group/Buddy Reads Procrastinator]

Must be active in the buddy discussion to count for the points. Minimum of two comments talking about the contents of the book, not only "It's good, I like this/that."

[Bopeep]

Thanks @Mina!

I'm so hyped by this!!

[Laura ☾]

Up to Chapter 5

So far I'm not a huge fan of Violet's character to be honest somehow? She seems a little annoying

(view spoiler)[ Also why do I have a feeling that her and Cyrus will somehow end up together? (hide spoiler)]

[Bopeep]

Up to chapter 4

Oh, I do like her! I love that he lives telling lies, and that it will have consequences.
I loved chapter 4, when all the girls go to see her, and how she criticizes them (though maybe that's a bit misogynistic?). And I want to learn more about Dante and Camila, they seem nice~

(view spoiler)[I have the same feeling haha When the king asked to tell the prince that a woman with this and that attributes will appear, I thought she had to dress as her x'D (hide spoiler)]

[Laura ☾]

Up to Chapter 10

I'm warming to Violet a little, and definitely curious as to where this will go.

Dante and Camila are definitely interesting side characters so far!

(view spoiler)[ The whole vengeful gods thing is reminding me a little of Shadow and Bone and of Wicked Saints? (hide spoiler)]

[Bopeep]

Up to chapter 10

I really like Violet~ and her dreams too. They are weird, perfect for spooky season haha

(view spoiler)[Wll, a you said, they were for each other. We knew about Violet, since every time she saw him, she commented how handsome he was. (Even if she said it was what everyone thought). And I started suspected about him when they were together on the carriage and he blushed after being conscious he was half nakes.
And about that! I pitied him a lot hahaha All those fangirls chasing him everywhere he went... but I laughed anyway hahaha

And know the interesting part. The mysterious girl! We knew she was someone mportant, but what about those five fairies? And then the monsters? O.o I didn't expect the monsters to appear at all.

To me, it seems like a remix retelling. We had the prince as a beast (Beauty and the Beast), when Violet and the myserious girl run away (Cinderella), the monster/wolves (Little Red Riding Hood, maybe?). I love retellings, so I want to know how many appear! ^^ (hide spoiler)]

[Laura ☾]

The dreams are definitely something, and as I said that aspect kind of reminded me of the Grishaverse and Wicked Saints for some reason.

And I definitely see what you mean by the mixed retellings! But I personally wouldn't really classify this is a retelling, it just has certain elements of classic stories.

Up to Chapter 15

(view spoiler)[ I definitely feel like there's more to Raya, and she will play a bigger part later on.

So far somehow I'm not really feeling that the relationship between Cyrus and Violet is any more than physical attraction.

It would be interesting if she goes through with it and does kill him. (hide spoiler)]

[Laura ☾]

Up to Chapter 20 - I might actually finish this today as I want to see where it goes!

Chapter 16 (view spoiler)[ Ok the real Raya is dead and this is an imposter ... interesting.. so who is controlling her (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 17 (view spoiler)[ The Fates are definitely evil (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 20 (view spoiler)[ It seems likely that this Witch is exactly like Violet, and she listened to the voices corrupting her? (hide spoiler)]

[Laura ☾]

Chapter 21 (view spoiler)[ I'm still not buying the chemistry between these two somehow (hide spoiler)]


Chapter 23 (view spoiler)[Well that did not go as planned... (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 25 (view spoiler)[ Okay so it is the witch talking to her! and the thorn did not kill him but rather transformed him... Interesting (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 26 (view spoiler)[ That seemed like a very easy fix for Cyrus? (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 27 (view spoiler)[ Well it's not surprising that war is on the Horizon (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 28 (view spoiler)[ I figured the solution for Cyrus was a bit too easy (hide spoiler)]

Ok I'm done - overall I thought that it was just alright- the pacing was a little slow, and I didn't really feel the chemistry between our MCs, but the premise was an interesting one.

[Bopeep]

Oooh, congrats on reading it! 👏 I was thinking about going slower since I forgot I've got a superimportant exam on Friday haha so I will probably read the book after that, now that you've finished and we have no news from Leslie.

Omg... I've totally forgot about the dreams on Shadow and Bone.
I won't classify as a retelling... yet. But I love those references ^^

[Leslie]

I'm sorry. I'm here - just caught in my month-end closing (work) which just finished midday. I'm a smidge behind (at chapter 15) but planning to get caught up tonight.

I agree with the thoughts of other retellings, particularly that of Cinderella (so many elements there) with the masquerade/ball. I have a theory on the various characters, particularly Dante, that they are not quite what they seem. Call it cynical, maybe. I'm not looking at Laura's spoilers in messages 9 and 10, until I'm past those chapters, to find out if I'm right about my theories...

Now that I am fully invested in the story (and the close at work is over), I expect I will finish the book tomorrow.

[Bopeep]

Well I haven't read chapter 15 yet, I'll go slowly with this book and I don't know why?

Yeah, I thought about Cidnerella too, but it was a little and unimportant moment. Oh, I would love to have more story about Dante, because I like him a lot.
Have you finished yet, Leslie? Did you like it?

[Leslie]

Yes, Bopeep, I did finish it and enjoyed it. I'm wondering what direction the next book will have (though I don't see an ETA on when that will come out).
And be careful what you wish for on Dante. My theory on him was partially correct....

(view spoiler)[So now we not only have Cinderella, Beauty and the Beast, but also vampirism with the beasts. And I had a feeling Dante was working for Balica, though not exactly in the manner I had thought. I thought he would be the one to coordinate bringing in Raya/Nadiya in addition to spying. Didn't expect him to kill the king though.
I am not convinced the witch is dead or gone. And there are questions left as to what else Violet can do and why she has these powers. There is more behind the scenes I suspect. Maybe that will be investigated in the next book? (hide spoiler)]
My only real negative feeling was the incompleteness of the ending. So many threads left hanging....

[Laura ☾]

Yeah I’m with you on that - it didn’t feel like much was wrapped up at all!

[Bopeep]

I've done it! It was slooow, but it was good. I loved the little story at the end, as we know what to expect on the next book.

I think Cyrus liked Violet since he was little, but she didn't have any interest in him except his handsomeness.
I don't think they love each other, and it's nice to see other kind of relationships on Ya books too.

I thought the transformation was so cool! I've never read about beast with horns and roses and bark and fur, and I love that aesthetic.

I could expect some betrayal from Dante, and since you said something, I expected it o be an ally of the witch, but I'm glad he's not. Just worried about how to avoid a ruel war in Emilius hands.

And what happened to Nadiya ? I thought maybe she was the witch, or at least some minion. I'm sure she will appear later.

But my favorite character was Camilla . I have a thing for sword fighting lesbian princesses, and she had them all .


After Cyrus transformed I though t the next book would be Violet and Cyrus adventuring the world for a cure lol