July 2024 Not First in a Series BOTM - The Darkness Within Us, by Tricia Levenseller

[Alaina]

Chrysantha Stathos has won.

By hiding her intelligence and ambition behind the mask of a beautiful air-headed girl, she has gathered important secrets, earned her father’s constant care, and become a wealthy duchess—all by age nineteen. Now, she is only one elderly, dying duke away from having all the freedom, money, and safety she’s ever wanted.

Or so she thought.

Turns out her little sister somehow snatched the true victory away from her: Alessandra is wedding the Shadow King, the most powerful man in the world. Meanwhile, after the death of Chrysantha’s no-good, lecherous husband, a man claiming to be the duke’s estranged grandson turns up to inherit everything that should be hers.

Chrysantha is enraged. There is no way that she’s going to let some man take everything from her. Never mind that he’s extremely handsome and secretive and alluring with mysterious powers… No, Chrysantha wants Eryx Demos dead, and in the end, a Stathos girl always gets what she wants.

**This BOTM thread will be open until August 5th @ Midnight (in your time zone)**

[Megan]

Up to Chapter 6
(view spoiler)[
I recently read the other book in the companion series and I really like her sister. I think shes quite a fun character and I just found myself liking her.
I'm curious how the author is going to change my opinion of her sister who from that book I was disliking.
So far with the dukes unexpected grandson making an appearance, I can feel her dislike of him and he dislikes her.
Also the scene where she employs lovers was very entertaining.
(hide spoiler)]

[Megan]

Up to Chapter 11
(view spoiler)[
What is he hiding?!
Hes desperate to get her out of the house and manor made me question why. Wonder why he fired half the staff also. Very suspicious
(hide spoiler)]

[Megan]

Up to Chapter 17
(view spoiler)[
Oooh I didn't expect her to apologise to her sister.
I'm not entirely sure what he is. Is he a beast? A vampire? A were of some sort?
(hide spoiler)]

[Megan]

Finished
(view spoiler)[
I really enjoyed this.
I just found myself smiling reading this and theres not really any reason why the book was just a good read for me. Its fun and almost fairytale like but modern twist. I liked the feminist undertone to this.
Also I'm so pleased the sisters made up.
(hide spoiler)]

[Ashlyn]

Chapters 1-5 (view spoiler)[So far I’m really enjoying this more than I thought I would. It’s interesting how she killed her husband and now has to deal with someone else trying to take her money and house from her. I really don’t trust that one guy at all. I feel like he made up the “most recent will.” Also excited about this close proximity these two will be having now by living together. (hide spoiler)]

[Jessica]

Chapters 1-6
(view spoiler)[When I saw this was Crysantha I was nervous but I've loved learning the truth about her. This has to be a con as if the will was amended. She would have known. It won't end up mattering since she's going to fall in love with the con artist but still there's no way. (hide spoiler)]

[Alaina]

Today is the last day to add comments for BOTM points!

[Ashlyn]

Chapters 6-10 (view spoiler)[Im really liking their banter and these moments they are having with each other. It’s very clear that they are attracted to one another. The lessons are an interesting spin on this too. (hide spoiler)]

[Jessica]

Whoops totally forgot to update here.

Chapters 7-16

(view spoiler)[ When she had the dream that he was a monster I was like this is real, they are both there, but he can't be a monster. I should have known better lol. Eryx needs to learn to listen to Crysantha about men, that dance situation could have easily been avoided. I also really enjoyed the pettiness of wearing white to her sister's wedding. I'm glad they are starting to turn over a new lead and I'm very intrigued by this last line about the king and Eryx. (hide spoiler)]

[Jessica]

Chapters 17-23
(view spoiler)[ So this got real fun. Love this new way of bringing out the monster. Also love that she and Alessandra are corresponding and being real with each other. It was interesting to learn how he was created and about his mother. Poor him, he deserved better. I'm glad he has Crysantha. But uh oh bad that they got spotted this won't end well. (hide spoiler)]

Finished
(view spoiler)[ I had half forgotten about him being a fake. I'm glad he admitted it and also that Kallias was willing to call it off. I quite enjoyed Crysantha’s solution here, just bang out his rage 😂. This was really fun. I quite enjoy her style and I'm going to need to read her other books as well. (hide spoiler)]

[Ashlyn]

Chapters 11-18 (view spoiler)[Really enjoying this one now! I wasn’t expecting him to not be human. Also it’s so interesting to see how she sees loves as a weakness instead of a strength. Hope that her relationship with her sister can be repaired. (hide spoiler)]

[Ashlyn]

Finished (view spoiler)[Not sure how I feel about her actually going to the king and telling his secrets, but I’m glad everything worked out at the end. (hide spoiler)]