Challenge Corner discussion

Kell is one of the last Antari, a rare magician who can travel between parallel worlds: hopping from Grey London — dirty, boring, lacking magic, and ruled by mad King George — to Red London — where life and magic are revered, and the Maresh Dynasty presides over a flourishing empire — to White London — ruled by whoever has murdered their way to the throne, where people fight to control magic, and the magic fights back — and back, but never Black London, because traveling to Black London is forbidden and no one speaks of it now.

Officially, Kell is the personal ambassador and adopted Prince of Red London, carrying the monthly correspondences between the royals of each London. Unofficially, Kell smuggles for those willing to pay for even a glimpse of a world they’ll never see, and it is this dangerous hobby that sets him up for accidental treason. Fleeing into Grey London, Kell runs afoul of Delilah Bard, a cut-purse with lofty aspirations. She robs him, saves him from a dangerous enemy, then forces him to take her with him for her proper adventure.

But perilous magic is afoot, and treachery lurks at every turn. To save both his London and the others, Kell and Lila will first need to stay alive — a feat trickier than they hoped.

Victoria and Kylara will be starting this on May 9, 2016. Feel free to join at any point throughout the month. As always, be sure to hide spoilers.

Yay, fun!

I'm excited to start this. I brought it as my lunch book, so I'll be starting it this afternoon :)

Read Part I through pg 35: I'm excited to see where this goes. I really like the style of writing. There's like this humorous narrator thing going on, reminiscent of Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman.

I was surprised that the MC Kell is a guy not a girl.

I'm enjoying the world building and I liked the way it's introduced to us without an infodump .

Through page 75: Really enjoying this so far. I love the way it's written.

I met Lila and she should be an interesting character.

Through pg 140

OMG THings are getting exciting!!

(view spoiler)[ What is the deal with the stone? Yay, Kell and Lila met!!! And a trip through all the Londons to Black London? I'm excited for the rest of the book. And I want to see more of Rhys!! (hide spoiler)]

I'm so sorry, but life has got completely hectic and I haven't been able to start this! Hopefully I'll be able to later on in the month, but if I can't I'm really sorry

Gonna be starting this today!

Awesome! :D I started yesterday but didn't get too far

So chapter are weird in this book

So I'm on part 2 chapter 2.... so far interesting, not much has yet happened, just getting to know the world I guess

End of part 3.... met Lila, interested in seeing what her role in this story will be. So far it Mainly been world building and introducing characters. Interested in seeing where this will go

Part 4 chapter 5.... White London is just.... creepy. Sounds like a really creepy but sad place, with a lot death there. I don't like White London. I feel bad for Holland :(

Grey London, Red London, and White London.... I wonder if some how we get to see Black London

Part 8... Things are definitely starting to get exciting!

"There's Dull London, Kell London, Creepy London, and Dead London" 😂 I think I like these names more

Part 12
(view spoiler)[I wonder when they are going to realize that the magic from the stone is spreading from person to person, and claiming people's bodies throughout the city (hide spoiler)]

Part 14
(view spoiler)[wait! Omg omg omg, is Lila Antari?!?!? Thats probably why she has a fake eye! (hide spoiler)]

I never finished this book, but I might go back and do that. I loved the writing style and the story!

RainySun wrote: "Part 8... Things are definitely starting to get exciting!

"There's Dull London, Kell London, Creepy London, and Dead London" 😂 I think I like these names more"

I thought Lila was hilarious!

RainySun wrote: "Part 14
[spoilers removed]"

Oh I like your thinking.

Parts 1-4: I was a little confused at the beginning of this. But I think it is starting to make a little more sense now. I think that it has gotten off to a slow start but seems like it may be picking up soon. I do not like Astrid and Athos.

Parts 5-7: Alright it's starting to pick up a little bit. (view spoiler)[I wonder who gave Kell the stone? My guess is on the Danes. And because Holland has to obey whatever the Danes says, well Holland is doing the dirty work. But why? Interested to learn more. (hide spoiler)]

Parts 8-10: Alrighty so this has definitely picked up. And it's starting to get really really interesting and good. (view spoiler)[So I thought maybe Holland was good but he has to obey the Dane Twins, which made him do terrible things, buuuut it seems that Holland himself is bad and has zero remorse for the things that he has done. I hope he redeems himself. (hide spoiler)]

Parts 11-13: I don't know what it is, but I'm not really into this. While I'm reading the book I'm enjoying it, but I kinda have to force myself to read it. So I don't know if I'm just not in the mood or whether I truly am not a fan of the book. I do think I'm going to finish it though, just 'cause I'm so close to the ending and who knows what could happen. (view spoiler)[I'm also a little confused as to how Astrid (is that her name?) Dane was able to come into Red London and control Rhy? I'm also happy Holland is put out of his misery. But to be honest, I don't think he's actually dead/going to die. 'Cause in books/movies you always gotta expect the unexpected. (hide spoiler)]

End: Okay so this ended pretty okay. It ended in a way that makes it seem like the series is done. However, seeing as this is only the first book in the trilogy, I am curious to find out what happens in the other two books. I think that I probably will continue this series, but I'm not in any rush to get my hands on the second book.

Starting this tonight one chapter read. I'm on a roll

I'm at Section Five "Black Stone" just have to say that Kell reminds me of Howl from "Howl's Moving Castle" wearing cloaks, passing thru alternate realms. Loving it so far.

I've gotten to page 164, I'm slowly getting thru it. Still enthralled with Kell.

I've realized I'm a real slow reader on this book and not for the common reason of "I can't get through it because it's so boring" but because I don't want it to end. I did this exact same thing with Lord Valentines castle did not want it to end so never finished it. Scout's honor...I will finish this book.

I need to finish this book. I read about 150 pages and never finished it but I LOVED it

Kylara wrote: "I need to finish this book. I read about 150 pages and never finished it but I LOVED it"

Yep it's odd when you love a book and don't want to finish it.
So now I'm sad...I've just finished I know there are two more out there but what comes next.

Anyway I've finished and enjoyed to so much!!!

**********Restarting March 18th 2018**********

Ok I am just starting, but even that coat was enough for me to smile... this is promising!

My audiobook is weirdly formatted and doesn't really give percentages but I'm at Ch 11 of 60, the last chapter heading I remember is the White Throne (view spoiler)[ So Kell is a blood magician but Lila is a thief. She also has this strange map, I feel like it will be important, and so will the watch. Maybe they'll meet up and have to find something together?? Anyway I like all the characters so far, but I'm really curious about the memory mark Kell has and I hope we find out what it's about. (hide spoiler)]

Up to Part 8 I think (view spoiler)[ This world is very interesting, tho I don't think I completely understand the differences between each/why they got that way. I know it has something to do with Black london, but that's about it. My concentration has been all over the place whoops.

I like Lila and I'm excited to see her and Kell work together. But honestly the girl was so stupid when she was handling that strange stone thing. Like come on Lila. Also I hate Holland. I wanted him to be free of the twins, but now I just hate him and wish he and the twins were dead. Ugh Evil bastards (hide spoiler)]

Up to Part 10 (view spoiler)[ Ugh stupid Holland. I want him to be dead dammit. I don't think Kell is going to be able to get rid of Lila before he goes to White London. I like the random perspectives of other people. Also Rye totally knows Lila was brought to Red London by Kell. I'm really starting to not trust the magic from the stone thing. (hide spoiler)]

Part 12 (view spoiler)[ Man Parrish didn't deserve to die like that. I'm sad for him. Freaking Astrid (?) and her stupid brother. Ugh I hope they die. I was kinda disappointed that Lila didn't find a way to kill Astrid and save Rhys at the same time. But at least Kell isn't dead. I don't know how this soul brand thing will work out since Kell is planning on going to the Black London world and never coming back. Guess we'll just have to see. (hide spoiler)]

Finished ADSOM (view spoiler)[ I'm so glad Kell didn't die!! And his brother is good too. Man I was so satisfied when those bitch twins died. And they managed to destroy that stone, good. I wonder if Kell's mysterious path will ever be discussed. (hide spoiler)]

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RESTARTING NOVEMBER 20TH, 2023

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Part 3 (view spoiler)[ i am so confused on what is going on lol have met a few characters but not sure what the story will really be about. I am not a fan of the writing style, kinda older century style (hide spoiler)]

Part 7 (view spoiler)[ okay it's starting to come together although im still not really enjoying it. I do like lila and thinks shes a bit comical. I dont like holland (hide spoiler)]

Part 11 (view spoiler)[ im starting to like Lila even more. She cant go long without making bad choices lmao i wonder how kell became owned by the royals. Whos the 'guards' and are they really sent from the royals or did they do this differently bc they aren't truly from the king. Is Rhy going dark? (hide spoiler)]

finished (view spoiler)[ I dont really like the ending. tbh i didnt care for almost the entire book. I am glad that they got everything sorted out but...it was kinda lame (hide spoiler)]

1-2 (view spoiler)[Lila killing Powell was unexpected but he should not have gone after her like that. (hide spoiler)]

3-5 (view spoiler)[Well now they know Lila is a girl. And Kell losing the stone probably isn't good, but maybe now Lila and Kell will actually meet. (hide spoiler)]

6-9 (view spoiler)[I seriously hate Holland. He was so cruel talkijng about the fire and how everyone screamed. Then with the watch. (hide spoiler)]

10-12 (view spoiler)[Okay, I was NOT expecting Kell to tie Rhy's life to his. But also he wasn't planning on coming back reveal to Lila makes me sad because they are growing closer to each other. (hide spoiler)]

Finished (view spoiler)[Okay well Lila seems like she will become the villian now. Not sure how i feel about that. I did really like this one though. (hide spoiler)]