YA Buddy Readers' Corner ♥ discussion

In a star system dominated by the brutal Vathek empire, eighteen-year-old Amani is a dreamer. She dreams of what life was like before the occupation; she dreams of writing poetry like the old-world poems she adores; she dreams of receiving a sign from Dihya that one day, she, too, will have adventure, and travel beyond her isolated moon.

But when adventure comes for Amani, it is not what she expects: she is kidnapped by the regime and taken in secret to the royal palace, where she discovers that she is nearly identical to the cruel half-Vathek Princess Maram. The princess is so hated by her conquered people that she requires a body double, someone to appear in public as Maram, ready to die in her place.

As Amani is forced into her new role, she can’t help but enjoy the palace’s beauty—and her time with the princess’ fiancé, Idris. But the glitter of the royal court belies a world of violence and fear. If Amani ever wishes to see her family again, she must play the princess to perfection...because one wrong move could lead to her death

Thanks.

Chapters 1 (view spoiler)[ Just finished another book about finding ancestors so it's fitting this one starts off with telling about the feather and how it was once used. (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 3 (view spoiler)[ You can tell I've seen Star Wars one too many times, the droids are scanning everyone and I'm just thinking do some Jedi mind tricks and tell the droids your not the one they are looking for..... (hide spoiler)]

Who knows when I'll read this XD

Maddison wrote: "Who knows when I'll read this XD"

It got bumped around our board so I wasn't sure i'd be able to unless we got through the first 100 but finally figured out a spot so I'm squeezing it in. :)

Chapter 5 (view spoiler)[ Curious as to why if you want a body double would you start out by causing serious injuries... guess they must heal better or faster so it won't be an issue. (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 17 (view spoiler)[ Not sure how I'll end up feeling about this one just yet. It's not bad really but I'm constantly thinking of other books, movies or TV shows and comparing. Already had the Star Wars thoughts of course but for a minute I thought it was going to be like Once Upon a Time and Prince Charming with them being twins one a royal and one growing up on the farm. But when that didn't happen it was kind of reminding me of The Diabolic with Nemisis pretending to be the Princess and someone noticing but going along with it, of course she volunteered instead of being forced. But anyway now it's every mention of "Idris" and talking about marks I think Shadowhunters.... will I ever stop and just pay attention to this story is the real question. (hide spoiler)]

End of chapter 8(view spoiler)[ This is really cool so far. I guess from the title I should've assumed it would be something like this. (hide spoiler)]

End of chapter 9 (view spoiler)[ Wow. What a performance. Although, if my life depended on emulating someone else, I would try my very best. (hide spoiler)]

End of 16 (view spoiler)[ Wow. I thought he might be kind and down to earth, but this is true kindness and compassion. (hide spoiler)]

End of 17(view spoiler)[ what a beautiful and intimate moment. So touching. (hide spoiler)]

End of 31 (view spoiler)[ A love so fierce, and so doomed. (hide spoiler)]

End of 34 (view spoiler)[ Holy shit. I'm so glad their relationship grew. It was clear that Amani's personality wound up getting to the real Maram. The Maram who is a scared girl and has been raised from terrible circumstances. Amani could be so compassionate to a girl who had her bloodied by a hunting bird like that. I hated Maram at the beginning of the book. But the more I understood her the more I liked her. Amani uncovered the truth and was so brave to go in her place when she knew what was at risk. She truly does treat her as a sister. I fear Maram will hate her over Idris though. I hope the truth about her helping the rebels never comes out and Maram can rule as queen. (hide spoiler)]

Carrie wrote: "Chapter 17 [spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[I didn't think of the comparison to Diabolic until you said that. I feel like with the culture and everything this one was just so original. (hide spoiler)]

Amanda wrote: "Carrie wrote: "Chapter 17 [spoilers removed]"

[spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[ Here I was constantly reminded of others. LOL Her writing is good though and it really picked up there at the end so I'm interested in seeing what "rebel" Amani will do in book two. (hide spoiler)]

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Date changed. Restarting August 28th 2018. Happy Reading ☺

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Chapter 8 (view spoiler)[ Oddly enough the setting doesn't bother me. I thought the odd combination of futuristic and cultural setting would be off putting but it's really interesting. Maram's abuse of Amani is actually pretty vivid. I really hate her too. (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 16 (view spoiler)[ Is it wise for him to call her by her name? What if someone overhears them. I suspected that the prince might figure it out. That's good . He's clever. Not just a prince. Hopefully with more compassion than Maram. (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 22 (view spoiler)[ Hmm the romance is ok. It's sweet and cute but to be honest, I'm more interested in the story! Usually I'm invested in most but my goodness! They keep the stakes high in this one. I'm really curious to see how Amani's going to survive this. Now that she's a spy, she has to not get assassinated by rebels, not get caught as a spy and put up with Maram's crap. Soo yeah girl, you ain't got time for romance. (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 28 (view spoiler)[ Hmm interesting Maram's not as bad as she was before. I still hate her for what she did in the beginning but she's actually more human. A super spoiled and cruel human but human. I hate to say it but I'm liking the friendship developing between Maram and Amani. (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 33 (view spoiler)[ Aww that's so sweet! I really like Amani and Maram's relationship now. I don't what Amani's going to do with everything going on. She developed a friendship with Maram and yet she's a spy for the other side. This is so nerve wrecking! (hide spoiler)]

Finished! (view spoiler)[ That was a bittersweet ending but of course it's not over. I was a bit disappointed in the end. I just felt like the ending needed to be more epic? There was so much built up and tension over all the politics happening around Amani. It felt like there should have been more at the end. But it was still a really good book. (hide spoiler)]

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Reading from the 5th of September 2018

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Nicole's Book Diaries wrote: "Chapter 8 [spoilers removed]"

It threw me off. I got lost quite a bit. :S

Nicole's Book Diaries wrote: "Chapter 22 [spoilers removed]"

She really doesn't. She has her fingers in a lot of pies!

Me too. (view spoiler)[Maram is definitely growing and showing her softer side now. (hide spoiler)] I almost don't trust it though.

Nicole's Book Diaries wrote: "Chapter 33 [spoilers removed]"

I would die from a heart attack with all the stress. I don't know why she put herself in this position.

Nicole's Book Diaries wrote: "Finished! [spoilers removed]"

I didn't like it much. :S

Oh you finished it.. I didn't realise you'd started. Thought you said you'd message me when you did XD

Maddison wrote: "Oh you finished it.. I didn't realise you'd started. Thought you said you'd message me when you did XD"

I started it like the 4th and then just recently picked it back up. I just needed to get it done. Sorry forgot about the message thing. :(

Chapter 17: (view spoiler)[ It's starting to get a bit more interesting, I really like both Amani and Idris as characters. I thought that the princess herself would feature more prominently as a character, but I don't like Maram anyway so I'm glad. I'm really enjoying it so far!! (hide spoiler)]

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Date changed. Restarting April 4th 2020. Happy Reading ☺

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So I’m 24% through (view spoiler)[ and it If I’m being honest I went Into this book not knowing what it’s about really. But I’m happy. I’m intrigued with the premise how Amani is pretending to be the princess instead of Maram. There does seem to be a lot going on and I would like to know more about the ritual that maram had at the beginning of the book and what happened to her brother. Was he killed or did he just get injured? (hide spoiler)]

So now at 41% (view spoiler)[ her secrets out!! I was wondering whether she would break the secret or he would find out first but it was him! I can’t wait to see what happens between the two! I’m not liking Maram that much! She seems quite bitchy! (hide spoiler)]

Starting now

25% finished:
(view spoiler)[ So far I really enjoy the atmosphere of this book. I tend to really enjoy Indian culture books and this one is holding up to my expectations. The training to become an adult though is quite rigorous and to an extent abusive. I can’t believe they really hit you across the ankles if they aren’t standing up straight or hit you across the knuckles with a knife. I’m so excited to continue this and see where it goes from here. (hide spoiler)]

Heather wrote: "25% finished:
[spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[ I agree i did think it was quite harsh with the training but then it adds more to the book. Im loving the atmosphere and the plot (hide spoiler)]

50% finished:
(view spoiler)[ As I get further along into the book I’m loving the characters even more. I kind of became confused in chapter 18 when they mentioned aliens though. I’m trying to piece together if aliens are supposed to be taking over their land or what exactly they have to do with it. I know when the main character mentioned slavery she said that nothing was free and she knew that and then started talking about war. Hopefully once I continue reading it will become more clear to me. (hide spoiler)]

75% finished:
(view spoiler)[ Now that I’ve read further into the book I understand the atmosphere a lot more and the characters are really starting to tug at my heart with everything that’s going on. I can’t believe all of the war talk and action getting ready is happening so close to the end of the book though. (hide spoiler)]

Tiffany wrote: "Heather wrote: "25% finished:
[spoilers removed]"

[spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[ I’m glad that they put this scene in there because we wouldn’t 100% understand the whole atmosphere that the storyline is set in. (hide spoiler)]

Finished:
(view spoiler)[ Overall I really enjoyed every bit of this novel. I feel like it was written very well and once the action got started you honestly had no idea what may happen to the main characters next. I liked the romance aspect too because it was there but, it wasn’t the main focus of the entire book. I really liked the main character and felt as if she was written very well. You could actually feel emotions towards the characters in this book and I feel like that is something that needs to be felt to say hey this is an amazing book. I will definitely read the sequel when it’s published. (hide spoiler)]

Heather wrote: "50% finished:
[spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[ Yes i love the characters. All of them. there wasnt a character that i didnt like. Yeah that confused me too (hide spoiler)]

Heather wrote: "75% finished:
[spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[ I liked that Amani was able her trueself when away from maram most of the time and how welcoming others were about it. i was intrigued by the war chat and how she was going behing marams back to help the rebellion. (hide spoiler)]

Heather wrote: "Finished:
[spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[ The romance was probably one of my favourite things about the book but thats just me, cause i love romance in any book! but i also liked the action and felt it was definitley needed. i did feel at times it changed scenes quite quickly but come the end i got used to it, just had to pay close attention. (hide spoiler)]

Wow you both loved it! Gives me some hope!

Maddie wrote: "Wow you both loved it! Gives me some hope!"

Yes Maddie! I think you would love this book too!

I know I'd love it :p But when will I read it? Who bloody knows :p

Maddie wrote: "I know I'd love it :p But when will I read it? Who bloody knows :p"

You wil fly through it!

When I read it :p