The Malediction Trilogy #2, Hidden Huntress by Danielle L. Jensen, Start Date: March 18th, 2015

[Rachmi]

Sometimes, one must accomplish the impossible.

Beneath the mountain, the king’s reign of tyranny is absolute; the one troll with the capacity to challenge him is imprisoned for treason. Cécile has escaped the darkness of Trollus, but she learns all too quickly that she is not beyond the reach of the king’s power. Or his manipulation.

Recovered from her injuries, she now lives with her mother in Trianon and graces the opera stage every night. But by day she searches for the witch who has eluded the trolls for five hundred years. Whether she succeeds or fails, the costs to those she cares about will be high.

To find Anushka, she must delve into magic that is both dark and deadly. But the witch is a clever creature. And Cécile might not just be the hunter. She might also be the hunted…

Everyone is welcome to join Tati and I on March 18th. It's an eARC but you can request it on NetGalley https://www.netgalley.com/catalog/sho...

[Tati]

Excited for this!!!

[Rachmi]

Me too! I think I'm gonna put on hold my currently reading and pick this book up now :) I'm not gonna read much, though. It's already 8 pm here and am so tired I might sleep way earlier.

[Tati]

I just have to finish what I'm reading now, which should be later today (it's still 10 AM here), and then I'll pick this up

[Rachmi]

That's okay. The reason why I put on hold my currently reading is because I'm still in early chapters so I'm not gonna lose my mood once I pick it up again :D

I'm reading this book now. The writing is still as good as I remember in Stolen Songbird.

[Rachmi]

Chapter 5, 10% (view spoiler)[I don't believe in Cécile's mother and I think she uses magic to make Cécile tells her about the troll and Trollus. (hide spoiler)]

[Rachmi]

Chapter 6, 12% (view spoiler)[Does it mean that Anaïs is dead? (hide spoiler)]

[Tati]

8%

(view spoiler)[ What is Tristan's dad scheming? It can't be good... And what is the loophole??

I have to say I don't remember much of Stolen Songbird, such as the curse... (hide spoiler)]

[Rachmi]

Me neither, but I can still follow the story. If it become confusing, I might reread Stolen Songbird in-between my reading Hidden Huntress.

(view spoiler)[I believe there's a loophole in Cecile promise to Tristan's dad. I just don't know what it is, though. We may find out later along the story. (hide spoiler)]

[Rachmi]

Chapter 11, 22% (view spoiler)[[...]I'd undone the power of any commands uttered in the past.

How can it be possible? So it's like his power in the past is never exist. (hide spoiler)]

[Rachmi]

Chapter 15, (view spoiler)[I didn't remember things about Lessa. I guess now it's the time to reread Stolen Songbird, or maybe just a skimming so that I know who she really is. (hide spoiler)]

[Tati]

I'm at 22%

(view spoiler)[ I don't trust Cecile's mother, and it wouldn't surprise me (though it would be too obvious) if she turned out to be the witch. (hide spoiler)]

[Tati]

Chapter 15

(view spoiler)[ I'm hoping there'll be more said about her in this book! And I don't know how Cecily concluded that the queen is the witch. (hide spoiler)]

[Tati]

Chapter 18

(view spoiler)[ I'm not sure I quite followed Tristan's conversation with his aunt during the game. Is Roland also an impostor? (hide spoiler)]

[Rachmi]

Tati wrote: "Chapter 18

[spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[Yes, I think Roland is also an impostor. I like this conversation. I think it's clever for his aunt to tell him about strategies and all through the game. (hide spoiler)]

[Rachmi]

So you've finished it? I even haven't reach half of the book :( I don't have much time to read it, so it's only few chapters a day.

[Tati]

Yeah, I finished it, sneaking some chapters here and there at work.

(view spoiler)[ I knew it was her mother! And I love Cecile and Tristan together, they're so sweet! And that endiiiiiing!! Now all hell will break loose in the next book. (hide spoiler)]

[Rachmi]

Tati wrote: "Yeah, I finished it, sneaking some chapters here and there at work.

[spoilers removed]"

Same here, it's kinda obvious, actually, moreover after (view spoiler)[that necklace explanation. (hide spoiler)]

[Marga]

Hi guys. I just finished Stolen Songbird and with that ending, how can I not start this?? I basically loved everything about it though I think it felt particularly long sometimes. :)

[Marga]

Chapter 2 - (view spoiler)[ Oh man. That kid is awfully crazy. And how the hell can the king hurt his only heir like this? i mean he doesn't even consider the younger brother worthy for the throne. (hide spoiler)]

[Sara]

Stolen Songbird was my favorite debut of last year- I literally cried when I was approved for Hidden Huntress on Netgalley.

My thoughts:

(view spoiler)[
1. Tristan. Wow. Such character development, I can't say "character growth" because reading about him outside of Trollus kind of changed him for me. He wasn't the confident, cocky character I knew from book one. My heart broke for everything he endured. I was shocked when at one point I read him thinking he hated Cecile as much as he loved her.I feel like Tristan doesn't know who he is anymore since he was freed from he curse. But I really hope to see the "growth" part of him as a character in book 3.

2. I just feel like an ox seems like it shouldn't have been enough of a sacrifice to free Tristan o.o

3. This book was very dark and sad. I really need more tender moments in the last installment. Yes, the DEED was finally done (; but we didn't even get a tender scene the morning after and I need that! It just hopped right into the next dire plot predicament. And I get that. The book is DARK. I just need more love! xD

4. I loved everything about Tristan's true name and how it tied into the dream Cecile had in SS. (hide spoiler)]

I'll be rating it a 4/5

[Rachmi]

Marga wrote: "Chapter 2 - [spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[King Thibault is so crazy! I love the way he manipulates Tristan and Cecile, though :D Now I sound weird, lol (hide spoiler)]

How far are you now, Marga?

[Rachmi]

Sara wrote: "Stolen Songbird was my favorite debut of last year- I literally cried when I was approved for Hidden Huntress on Netgalley.

My thoughts:


1. Tristan. Wow. Such character development, I can't say..."

(view spoiler)[1. When Tristan is still in Trollus, he's still an arrogant prince. There was a time when I didn't quite like him, with what he did to Marc and other half-bloods, though I understand why he did it. But I agree with you, Tristan in Triannon is like the new Tristan, it makes sense, though. He never sees the world outside Trollus. And yes, I didn't quite like him being angry with Cecile, blame her for "summon" him when he has promise he needs to fulfill in Trollus. But again, I can understand it perfectly. And what so good with it is it makes sense for me.

2. Haha, true! in fact, most of everything that Cecile does regarding with magic feel too easy for her, just because she has magic! I was so angry when she sold her necklace, though. It was just a reckless thing she did. I think she did reckless things too many times.

3. Don't we all want tender moments between Cecile and Tristan? ;) When it finally happened I felt like I want to clap my hand and shout "finally!", lol.

4. I found Tristan's true name is quite weird :D though I also have to say that it indeed tied well with what happened in Stolen Songbird. (hide spoiler)]

[Marga]

Chapter 18 - (view spoiler)[Woah. It feels like you don't even know who to trust.

Anyway, I loved the Guerre. It was very clever. (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 24 - (view spoiler)[Huh. I wondered whose behind that betrothal. I mean technically Anais is Lessa so that'll make her a sister of Roland. (hide spoiler)]

[Marga]

Chapter 29 - (view spoiler)[Woah things are really getting Interesting so far. I can't help but think that Cecile's mother knows more about trolls than she was letting on. Maybe she was even Anushka. But I'm still not sure. (hide spoiler)]

[Marga]

Chapter 43 - (view spoiler)[Honestly, this is dragging. As much as I love the character developments, I doubt I'll give this 5 stars. WHY DO I THINK THAT I KNOW WHO IS ANUSHKA? (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 44 - (view spoiler)[*facepalm* My screaming did no good. Cecile why can't you just ughhhhh (hide spoiler)]

[Marga]

Chapter 52 - (view spoiler)[well I freaking knew it. -_- (hide spoiler)]