August 2024 Not First in a Series BOTM - Reckless, by Lauren Roberts

[Alaina]

The kingdom of Ilya is in turmoil…

After surviving the Purging Trials, Ordinary-born Paedyn Gray has killed the King, and kickstarted a Resistance throughout the land. Now she’s running from the one person she had wanted to run to.

Kai Azer is now Ilya’s Enforcer, loyal to his brother Kitt, the new King. He has vowed to find Paedyn and bring her to justice.

Across the deadly Scorches, and deep into the hostile city of Dor, Kai pursues the one person he wishes he didn’t have to. But in a city without Elites, the balance between the hunter and hunted shifts – and the battle between duty and desire is deadly.

Be swept away by this kiss-or-kill romantasy trilogy taking the world by storm.

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

[Brittni]

So excited to get into this book. I loved Powerless and enjoyed Powerful as well.

8% in

(view spoiler)[I'm a little nervous about the way Kitt is behaving. He seems so kind-hearted in the first book. I know Paedyn killed his dad and betrayed him but he seems to be taking the role of king very seriously and there's no leniency given to Paedyn. He wants her dead!

I assume Kai's inability to kill her this time is a clue of what's to come in this book. They both keep saying they won't hesitate next time but I have a feeling they will. (hide spoiler)]

[Brittni]

Up to Chapter 19

(view spoiler)[Kind of surprised he already got her and was able to get her to come back. Curious to see where the story goes from here. (hide spoiler)]

[Brittni]

End of Chapter 35

(view spoiler)[Loved hearing about his sister. It was such a sad story and wondering if it plays into the banishment of the ordinaries.

I’ve been waiting to hear something about her power! If she’s mixed then she may have a weak version of something. Wondering if this is like other romantasy style books I've read and she has some super rare ability.

I’m so confused about where this is going to go. Kai just said Pae was giving Kitt a look that she never gives to him. Pitty? Sadness? I don’t think she’s interested in him and was just using him but it seems Kitt was really interested in her.

Kissing her thumbs! So darn cute. (hide spoiler)]

[Brittni]

End of Chapter 37

(view spoiler)[The velvet box I assume is a ring?! He needs to be married I think.

I’m really enjoying getting Kitt’s point of view in the book. (hide spoiler)]

[Brittni]

End of Chapter 39

(view spoiler)[Ok. Well, not a surprise that the disease is a lie. I assumed that. However, I did not expect her father to not be her father but it does explain the lack of powers for her.

I'm not too far away from finishing and I'm finding it to be quite repetitive. Kind of wondering when they're going to make it back to the castle and Kitt. Seems like it's going to happen towards the end of the book. So curious to see what Kitt thinks about the journal. I'm assuming he won't believe them and what he's going to do with her. (hide spoiler)]

[Brittni]

Finished

(view spoiler)[They finally made it to the castle. Took the whole book but we made it haha. Gave me more romance vibes than the epic fantasy that I got from the first book. I did enjoy the banter!

But what the fuck happened at the end! She's going to marry him?! I assume this is why Kitt asked them if anything happened between the two of them. So insane. I immediately need the next book but I have to wait until APRIL?!

I think the first and second books are just different. I've enjoyed them for different reasons. While I didn't enjoy the second as much, I think I liked the romantic vibe of it and I still flew through it. (hide spoiler)]

[Grace]

Going to go read Powerful and then come back here 😊

[Grace]

I just started and I already want to cry.

[Grace]

Ughh the book says "it's been" 3 days
Pae's POV in the audibook says 4 days
Kai's POV in the audibook says 5 days
Figure it out

[Brittni]

Oh no. That’s frustrating!

[Grace]

Brittni wrote: "So excited to get into this book. I loved Powerless and enjoyed Powerful as well.

8% in

I'm a little nervous about ..."

I have the same concerns
Add to them: (view spoiler)[supposedly this was intended as a love triangle, tho I don't see it since Pae never showed any romantic feelings for Kitt.
Now I am worried how much Kai will sacrifice for Kitt, what he is willing to sacrifice. The love triangle will continue and I dread what's to come since Kitt is adamant on getting her ALIVE. (hide spoiler)]

I do feel a bit more style maturity in this one.
I hope it continues and it surprises me.

[Grace]

Euuuu what? - beginning of chp 12
(view spoiler)[ Just got to chp 12 from Kitt POV
What I am reading is shocking. But the most shocking is this "Father and his subtle encouragement to spend time with her."
What the hell was the king playing at??
I swear I am convinced he wanted to sabotage both his sons.

I already think that the king not only didn't want Pae to win Bcz he knew she'd never kill her best friend, But also he wanted her to hate Kai. He expected Kai to want to win and to kill Adena. Maybe he thought he didn't know who she was and Kai would only find out after killing her that she's Pae's best friend
(hide spoiler)]

[Grace]

There are some inconsistencies I am noticing.

Her age for example, wasn't she eighteen coming on nineteen?
And didn't she ride a horse with Kitt in Powerless when they visited Loot? Why is she now afraid of horses?
Also, doesn't she hate the expression Plagues and doesn't use it? Why is she using it now - so consistently?

[Grace]

Brittni wrote: "Up to Chapter 19

[spoilers removed]"

Yeah I was wondering that it shouldn't have been that early in the book.
Now reaching chp 21 I understand why, though I expected that.

I do wonder if we will have a Mak-Pae meeting.

[Grace]

=> chp 24
Oh no....
(view spoiler)[Kitt is going to decide to marry her isn't he? The box has a ring yeah? Ughhhh (hide spoiler)]

[Grace]

=> chp 37

(view spoiler)[Pae and Kai really want to be together. I am liking the banter even if it's becoming a bit repetitive.

Ava's story is amazing. And the thumbs kiss and hair braiding 🥺🥺

Between us, I don't want Paedyn to have any powers, I want her to be ordinary. I feel it undermines the story if she does. We don't need to fix everything in fantasy, and having super rare abilities is becoming a lame plot twist in fantasy.

Chp 37 is the first time Kitt's POV brings me tears and not disappointment or sympathy. He's realising what a let down he has been to Kai. And I hope he realises that he will hurt him so much with whatever plans he has for her.

And yes, I never once saw any romantic interest from Pae to Kitt. She was a friend. So I also didn't understand the "you give him this look".

I kinda want her to tell Kai that she never knew about the resistance before. I want him to know her full truth. I don't know what future they have or how this will get solved especially if my suspicions for Kitt's plans are true. (hide spoiler)]

[Grace]

How does chp 39 (view spoiler)[NOT CHANGE EVERYTHING ???
I am so sad cz I know it that Kai will just end up taking her back to Kitt, but hell, how could he??

And since when is Calumn Kitt's advisor? I saw the name but I skipped through bcz I was like maybe that's not accurate or whatever... but how? What? And now I am certain of my suspicion.
How could they all do this to her? (hide spoiler)]

[Brittni]

Grace wrote: "=> chp 37

Pae and Kai really want to be together. I am liking the banter even if it's becoming a bit repetitive."

(view spoiler)[The thumb kisses and hair braiding is just soooo darn cute! I loved it! I was so happy to get Ava's story.

I completely understand where you're coming from with the powers. I agree. Every book seems to be doing this in fantasy right now. The mortal/ordinary comes out of no where and is somehow the most powerful being every seen haha. It's certainly becoming predictable.

It was great getting Kitt's POV's in this book.

I didn't understand the "look" either. There was never any romance vibes other than her trying to use Kitt essentially in the first book. But when he says "this look" it makes it seem like she was looking at him in some romantic longing type of way. (hide spoiler)]

[Brittni]

Grace wrote: "How does chp 39 NOT CHANGE EVERYTHING ???
I am so sad ..."

(view spoiler)[I know! It's horrible. He's taking her back and why?! I think Kai just wants to believe the best in Kitt. (hide spoiler)]

[Grace]

part of me doesn't want to finish this book

another part wants the King's POV in chapters, he has some explaining to do for what was happening in book 1 and what he was playing at.

[Grace]

Finished...

(view spoiler)[I am so pissed at them.
Like you guys spent an entire book together, spent an entire book kissing and dancing and saying pretend, an entire book making tiny confessions to each other, and you decide to confess your love and you have to run when you reach the castle? Seriously?

I hate that Kitt was made a villain. As if the story needed a villain and Lauren didn't know who to make so she made Kitt.
And he knows he's hurting Kai. He asked him in front of everyone while talking to him as his king not as his brother. Of course he's not going to tell you "I brought her back but I didn't want to and I realised I am in love with her and our entire life has been a lie because of what our father told us" in front of the entire kingdom!
I hate this. And I hate that he knows this will kill Kai and he is torturing him but still don't care. And I know for sure that in book 3 he's going to justify it as "he's doing this out of duty and for his kingdom". Ughh

And since when or how or why is Calumn Kitt's advisor and why didn't we learn anything at all about that after that small encounter?

The 3 books are indeed different. This one was the most Lauren style but I feel she can grow a lot still.
I didn't love it but I didn't hate it. I am neutral.

Could I live without reading book 3? Easily. Will I read it nevertheless? Aha yes. (hide spoiler)]

[Alaina]

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

[Alaina]

Brittni wrote: "So excited to get into this book. I loved Powerless and enjoyed Powerful as well.

8% in .."

Yeah, not fan of him acting this way

[Alaina]

Grace wrote: "Euuuu what? - beginning of chp 12
Just got to ."

Yeah, I was not prepared!

[Alaina]

Ch 1-18: (view spoiler)[I don't know whether to cry, hug someone, or slap someone right now. I don't like how a certain someone is acting right now. Am I emotionally prepared for this book? Probably not. I need some happiness for sure. (view spoiler)[ (hide spoiler)] (hide spoiler)]

[Alaina]

Brittni wrote: "Up to Chapter 19

[spoilers removed]"

RIGHT?

[Alaina]

Ch 19-26: (view spoiler)[Possibly dying in a sewer? Embarrassing - BUT THEN THEY KISSED AND I'M SO HAPPY. (hide spoiler)]

[Alaina]

Ch 27-31: (view spoiler)[I mean.. is it wrong for me to hope they never go back to Kitt?!?! He needs to work on himself first. I also really need Kai and Pae to be together, and I will riot if that doesn't happen. (hide spoiler)]

[Alaina]

Ch 32-39: (view spoiler)[I really don't want her to be brought to Kitt. I need Kai to be selfish and think about himself and his happiness. (hide spoiler)]

[Alaina]

Brittni wrote: "End of Chapter 35.."

I loved hearing about his sister! I also feel like he's misreading the look too. I just need them to be together.

[Alaina]

Brittni wrote: "End of Chapter 37"

I also like his POV but I really don't want him and Pae to end up together.

[Alaina]

Brittni wrote: "End of Chapter 39'..."

I was happy that we were learning more about her though!

[Alaina]

Grace wrote: "=> chp 37..."

10000000000% agree

[Alaina]

Ch 40-45: (view spoiler)[😭😭😭I NEED THEM TO REALIZE THAT THEY ARE ENOUGH FOR EACH OTHER. Run away and be together pretty please. (hide spoiler)]

[Alaina]

Ch 46-Finish: (view spoiler)[THAT IS HOW YOU ARE GOING TO END THIS?!?!? HOW CAN I SIT AND ACCEPT THAT KIND OF ENDING? SHE BETTER SAY NO. (hide spoiler)]