September 2024 Not First in a Series BOTM - A Queen of Thieves & Chaos, by K.A. Tucker

[Alaina]

From internationally bestselling author K.A. Tucker comes the third novel in her Fate and Flame series, an adult fantasy novel that should be read in series order.

"You betrayed your brother to steal a broken crown."

The kingdom stands on the brink of chaos. Atticus' grip on the realm is faltering, and as threats arise ever closer to home he is driven to increasingly desperate acts to hold onto power.

With Islor's fate now in the balance, Zander stands to defend the Rift from the oncoming Ybarisan army. With the king's forces scattered, he must risk unlikely new alliances.

And behind the walls of Ulysede, secrets wait for its new queen. Romeria knows that the paths of the hidden city will lead her to answers. But will they be enough to save the realm – or is their fate already sealed?

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

[Grace]

I'm here for this and book 4 when it comes out next week (if I finally manage to order it) :D

[Jamie]

I'm so excited to read this one!

[Jamie]

I think I'm ready to start this one.

[Grace]

Jamie I am waiting for your updates!

[Jamie]

I'm paused at chapter 5. I realized I would get hooked quickly, and I needed to finish up a couple of books. I'm finishing up the last one now, so I'll be back on this one in a couple of hours.

[Grace]

I'll be done with Broken Fae today, so I might join you for this tomorrow or till next Wednesday.

[Jamie]

Chapters 1-11 => I'm so glad to be back in this world. I just love Romeria, Zander, Elisaf and so many more. What's surprising to me is (view spoiler)[I'm finding I like Atticus as well. I really thought he would be an enemy, but something about him has me thinking it's a front and he's going to actually help Zander take back the throne. Maybe I'm wrong on that, but I don't think he will end up being bad. I love the connection that I think might be brewing between him and Gracen.

I also glad that Zander and Romeria are still together right now. These two are so great when they are able to work together.

Romeria is definitely shaping up to be a good Queen, though. She thinks outside the box when she is forced to and I'm here for her growth.

I also like how her and Jarek's relationship is growing.

I'm also really loving all the different POV's. I feel like it's bringing the story together so much more. So far we have had chapters in Sofie (only one), Romeria, Agatha (only one), Gracen, and Zander POVs. (hide spoiler)]

[Jamie]

Chapters 12-22 => (view spoiler)[I'm finding myself wanting more of Atticus's and Gracen's POV. I just love these two. And it's very clear something is brewing between these two. I'm also really surprised how much I'm loving Atticus. I think that he truly loves his brother and he won't actually harm him. I really hope Zander and Atticus end up working together to bring down everyone. (hide spoiler)]

[Jamie]

Chapters 23-34 => (view spoiler)[I'm getting hooked in. There is so much going on right now. Zander just left to help fight the war. Romeria is learning about her powers, Atticus was just pretty bad ass, and so much more!! (hide spoiler)]

[Jamie]

Chapters 25-44 => (view spoiler)[ We are basically following story lines right now. Atticus and Gracen at the castle, Zander is setting up with Radomir, Kienen, and Telor, and then Romeria and Jarek.

I'm not sure where Atticus's head is at, but I have a feeling that he's believing the letter from Romeria and Zander more and more. I also love the romance that is budding between him and Gracen. He's so good with her son Mika.

These secondary characters are great. Kazimir is quickly becoming a favorite of mine. Jarek is another one that I'm loving this book. I also wasn't sure what I would think of Radomir, but I'm really liking him too. Gracen is a gem and I'm so hoping she gets an amazing happy ending (preferably with Atticus). I wasn't sure about Lucretia, but she is turning into one I like too. I love her interactions with Romeria. I'm still not entirely sure if she's good or bad, but so far everything has been good.

They are all trying to gather allies and find out information. Queen Neilina is getting ready to go off to war to battle Islor. I'm guessing we won't get much on this fight in this book, but I could be wrong. I'm at 71%.

(hide spoiler)]

[Jamie]

Chapters 45-end => (view spoiler)[ So much happened in this last portion, I couldn't put it down. I love how Romeria starts to come into her own and trust her opinion. She's been spot on so far. I also love her relationship with Jarek. Their friendship is so special and it keeps growing.

I also loved how Zander grew in this one. He starts trusting Romeria more. He also realizes she's making the right decisions when she goes against what he thinks should happen. Their relationship is great for me and while we don't see a lot of romance in this one, what we do see with these two, I love. It's so them and just perfect.

The ending again, sets up the next book. I'm a little worried about what happens with Atticus. His last chapter makes it seem like he's going to die. And what Bexley says makes it seem like that as well. I cried. But I'm choosing to believe he will be in the next book, because I didn't start liking him just for him to have something really bad happen to him. He and Zander need an opportunity to heal things between them. (hide spoiler)]

[Grace]

Starting now
I should have gathered my theories somewhere, it's been some time since books 1 and 2 and I need a refresher.

[Jamie]

Grace wrote: "Starting now
I should have gathered my theories somewhere, it's been some time since books 1 and 2 and I need a refresher."

I struggled to get back into it too at first Grace, but after a couple of chapters, I was back in it without any issues.

[Grace]

Halfway in chp 2
(view spoiler)[This is starting really heavy on politics.
K.A. Tucker is summarising easily what happened before, I really enjoy her style ans how she can give information without making it feel like a dump.

I'm enjoying this side od Jarek too.

But there's a lot of mistrust towards Gesine, and I really don't know who to trust. (hide spoiler)]

[Grace]

Why do we have so many POVs from people who I didn't guess would be important enough to have a chapter?
I mean I get Atticus, but Agatha and Gracen?

[Jamie]

Just wait...it will make sense.

And you'll be grateful you get Gracen's :)

[Grace]

Jamie wrote: "Just wait...it will make sense.

And you'll be grateful you get Gracen's :)"

I got to (view spoiler)[Atticus POV in chp 7.... Is he fond of Gracen? Will something happen between them??

Update:
I reached chp 8 and Gracen POV.
This will end so so so badly.... Gracen is so loyal to Romy.... He can't start something with her.... (hide spoiler)]

[Grace]

Jamie wrote: "Chapters 1-11 => I'm so glad to be back in this world. I just love Romeria, Zander, Elisaf and so many more. What's surprising to me is I'm finding [hidden spoiler]..."

=> Chp 14

I echo this!
I just really, really wish there was a glossary...

(view spoiler)[When I first read this update (before I started reading the book) I found it weird that you liked Atticus after everything that happened.
But I am liking him too honestly.
Part of me is rooting for him and Gracen.
But another part is TERRIFIED. I guess we will see how he will handle Sabrina to know how he might handle what might come... cz with this vial that Mika found, and knowing that it was Soarise's vial.... I don't know if he will protect Gracen and her family or even believe her...

I don't think he'll end up being bad, but I also don't think he will help Zander.
Maybe at some point, they will fight next to each other, maybe in A Dawn of Gods & Fury, but I don't think that will be the case in this book.

I look forward to seeing how Mordain will be divided and how this continental realm war is going to go.
And now I appreciate the multiple POVs because I am guessing this is what will happen. I was too quick to ask why we had that.

I am SO glad that Zander is not leaving. I need to see this power couple because they're so good together and last book really pushed them to manifest into being real Queen and King and grow in character and in these roles. (hide spoiler)]

[Jamie]

I didn't miss the glossary in this one really. I mean, it might've helped a little with refreshing myself in this world though.

[Grace]

Jamie wrote: "Chapters 23-34 => [spoilers removed]"

=> Chp 36

I love that there is no dull moment.
I also love that K.A. Tucker delivers plot twists so swifty and so early, makes me wonder of what else is to come.
I am loving every moment of this and I am so hooked.

(view spoiler)[
Cahill is a key caster isn't he? That's why she's hiding him, because he can give birth to other casters.

And it seems that Little Romeria/Suri is also a caster, though not sure how many affinities she has. Though the look of "shock" suggests more than 1 affinity.

I wonder if we will get to see all the tokens from the fates that Lucretia showed Romy at play.

And is the antler around Queen Neilina's neck from Aoife... does it have any power? Will it protect her from harm when they come to kill her?

Atticus is making some interesting choices as king. I'm very worried of what will happen between him and Gracen, for some reason I don't think anything good will. But I am digging them together so much.

I cannot remember if Romy drew her human face in book 1 and if Zander kept it somewhere in the castle. If Atticus will find it and after she comes to see the castle (because we know she will use her human face duh) if he will catch her.

Gesine and Zorya I did not expect. Wasn't Gesine in love with Ianca and attached?

Haven't heard from Sophie in a while...

And last, didn't book 2 end with a letter from Ulysede to Atticus? So why is the letter they sent in this book seem to be the first Atticus receives? (hide spoiler)]

[Grace]

=> Chp 50
DID BEXLEY (view spoiler)[have anything to do with the attack on Atticus???
At first, I thought when she said "it was mildly pleasant knowing you" she was changing affiliations, but then the attack!!! (hide spoiler)]

Will come back for more thoughts but this just clicked

[Grace]

😮😮😮😮😮😮😮😮
(view spoiler)[CAINDRA IS BEXLEY??? (hide spoiler)]

[Jamie]

Grace wrote: "😮😮😮😮😮😮😮😮
[spoilers removed]"

I was waiting for your reaction...I died when I found this out! This was the shock of the whole series for me. Never would've guessed it.

[Grace]

Jamie wrote: "Grace wrote: "😮😮😮😮😮😮😮😮
[spoilers removed]"

I was waiting for your reaction...I died when I found this out! This was the shock of the whole series for me. Never would've guessed it."

I did not see that coming and I was sooo happy with it.
I guess to answer my previous question, (view spoiler)[she was saying goodbye because she was leaving, not because she was conspiring against him. (hide spoiler)]

[Grace]

Jamie wrote: "Chapters 45-end => So much happened in this last portion, I couldn't put it down. [spoilers hidden]..."

I share the sentiment on all those and add:
(view spoiler)[I missed the Elisaf-Romeria friendship. I don't like that it wasn't there in the book, they barely had 1 moment.
I hope that we will get that in the last book though.

I am very curious about the dreams Jarek has been having about Romy...

Do we expect an enemies to lovers for Tyree and Annika?

I wanted a battle still.... Neilina died too easily, almost too easily to believe had we not known what was in the rift and what Romy's powers. And we didn't know what that Aoife token was.... I don't think it is done honestly. I think that helps revive her or keep her alive and she's not done yet.
(hide spoiler)]

[Alaina]

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