The SASSy Book Club discussion

Discuss all your thoughts here from chapter 21 to chapter 30!

So! I'm up to chapter 36 so far, so hopefully won't mention anything from 30-36, but i'm loving this book so far!
I'm flying through it, which i was worried it would drag for some reason.
I'm really loving the trials that the characters are having to undertake, and like Elias' struggle with whether he's going to be emperor and Helene to be blood strike, or vice versa. I'm not really sure where i see it going, but in my gut i feel he should be emperor and then the way he can free himself, is my ordering the change of his land, so no more killing etc. I don't see it really happening though that could be a good second book if people are trying to revolt?
Helene seems an unusual character to me. I do love the fact they've got one kick ass girl in the book (even though Laia is sort of strong character too), and i'd particularly like it if she ended up emperor!
What has confused me is how the augurs (?) have said Elias will end up evil if he runs away. From the way he's been described so far i just can't imagine him turning evil, though i'm really interested in why his mum seems to hate him. That's one question i want answering. All i can think of is she hates his father (whoever that might be) so much she can't look at him. Particularly as he doesn't seem to look like her, maybe he looks like him?

I'm loving Izzy! Bless her. Though i do find it slightly unbelievable her sudden change in personality. She's previously been so shy, not wanting to talk to anyone. She's been there since she was at least 5, so her personality would be shaped mainly from this awful treatment and fear she's had. I can't see why Laia coming along would undo 10(?) years of fear for her to suddenly be acting a lot more freer, willing to be friends, willing to take risk. 10 years of fear would have shaped her so much that this part i'm finding hard to accept. I feel she would be more like cook, if not more strict and stressed. Cook at least has had a period of hope and has already developed her personality whereas Izzy's is all based in this tortuous environment. It's similar to children that have been abducted but then found years later. As they've grown up in an unhealthy/stressful environment they haven't developed resilience or awareness of the outside world as such. Sorry that's a weird ramble!

I'm finding Marcus' character a bit strange. I'm unsure why he seems to have an effect on Helene with the things he says, and why she doesn't just dismiss them. I'm hoping that will become a bit clearer later on!

Loving the book though! A lot of excitement and i genuinely not really sure which way things will go! Loving the sort of love triangle that's being set up! :)

This book is becoming really engrossing! I think the stakes are exactly right. The book has hit a good balance between foreshadowing not giving too much away. I do not know what will happen, but I am driven to keep reading more. Also, this may be one of the rare times when the love triangle-y angst is not making me crazy.