YA Buddy Readers' Corner ♥ discussion

From the author of Mask of Shadows comes a dark and intricate story of a girl who must tether herself to a violent ruler to save her crumbling world.

Lorena Adler has a secret—she holds the power of the banished gods, the Noble and the Vile, inside her. She has spent her entire life hiding from the world and her past. She’s content to spend her days as an undertaker in a small town, marry her best friend, Julian, and live an unfulfilling life so long as no one uncovers her true nature.

But when the notoriously bloodthirsty and equally Vile crown prince comes to arrest Julian’s father, he immediately recognizes Lorena for what she is. So she makes a deal—a fair trial for her betrothed’s father in exchange for her service to the crown.

The prince is desperate for her help. He’s spent years trying to repair the weakening Door that holds back the Vile…and he’s losing the battle. As Lorena learns more about the Door and the horrifying price it takes to keep it closed, she’ll have to embrace both parts of herself to survive.

Starting now!

39%
(view spoiler)[While I am enjoying this, I am a bit confused...is this gearing up for a romance between the prince and Lore or not? And why has the prince turned into this wimpy lovesick fool!? He was this badass dark character who was like this bloodthirsty so called villain, but now there's nothing of that!? I'm just hoping that all this is an act to get her guard down, and both of them are trying to manipulate and double cross each other. (hide spoiler)]

53%
(view spoiler)[Okay, so I'm a bit confused, when they sacrifice something like fear or anxiety, i.e. feelings, do they lose those feelings forever, or only in that moment!? Is the prince apathetic because he has permanently lost those feelings and just cannot feel it, or because he chooses not to? (hide spoiler)]

57%
(view spoiler)[I am very much not liking the way this guy is getting manipulated so easily. Also, I thought this betrayal and assassination would come on later on in the book? But then, maybe this is a standalone. Just a bit disappointed by the way from the beginning when he threatened her for taking the memory of her mother away from him we got this pretty dangerous character, but now he's this wimpy (i don't know what other word fits my mental image right now) and easily manipulated character and I don't like it. (hide spoiler)]

61%
(view spoiler)[So if Hana's voice was sacrificed, it will come back in a while. Why then hasn't Lore's ability to lie come back? Or maybe it has and she isn't telling anyone, though that would be hard in first person. (hide spoiler)]

75%
(view spoiler)[I was going to write this again, but because I already summarised what I had to say in a status update, I'm going to copy paste it here

This is slightly disappointing. She's willing to make a 'necessary sacrifice' but then looks down on anyone else doing the same thing, albeit when it benefits the poor more than it does the rich. This is how you sort bullshit; you're supposed to turn it on itself.
People who are ready to sacrifice rich people are alright, but it's not okay when it's the poor. Isn't everyone supposed to get equal right or something!?

(hide spoiler)]

100%
(view spoiler)[I actually finished this yesterday evening, but I just couldn't deal with it then. I have so many feelings to unpack, and I'm still pretty shocked by the direction this ended up taking. I can't believe Alistair died, first of all, I'm so angry that he did. the one guy who actually understood her, didn't really love her, and nor did she, but they UNDERSTOOD EACH OTHER, and now HE's DEAD!?!?!? I am still angry and sad, and GOD did he have to die!??!

And Lore, she really has the worst punishment, living with her mistakes, living with the aftermath. I thought the worst thing that would happen in this book would be that both her and Alistair would die by the end, but this is even worse. I LIKED HIM. GOD, I liked him.

What my most pressing question is at this point is whether or not there will be a sequel. While this does tie up well, I definitely think there's scope for expansion. And maybe bringing Alistair back from the dead somehow. Or maybe he didn't die. PLEASE TELL ME HE DIDN'T DIE. I just hope that if he is brought back, there is no Enzo stuff like in Midnight Star (if you know what I mean) (hide spoiler)]

Started a little bit ago!

10% (view spoiler)[ So I was a little nervous bc id heard that the pacing was slow, but i feel like it's been well paced so far. There are some real dark vibes and an interesting magic system. Im really intrigued by the Noblewrought and the vilewrought..kinda reminds me of an angel and devil on the shoulder. (hide spoiler)]

39% (view spoiler)[ Enjoying the magic system and its definitely a cool dark read. But i feel like not much has actually happened yet. (hide spoiler)]

67% (view spoiler)[ So im a little more than halfway through and I really love the magic system and world building. But the character development isnt great. I don't feel connected to any of the characters.

It does read pretty quick though and the concepts are really cool. The plot is captivating and it's definitely dark. It just feels as if the characters are lacking emotion. Like when Creek died i feel like no one actually grieved!!

I do feel like at times Allister comes across as a psychopath. Like here -- "I cant afford to care about who I kill, or I would never stop caring." said the Heir. "I'm not like you. I don't think I care about people dying when the door opens. I just want to understand how it works and why."

I feel like theres a lot of back and forth with a potential romance too. Like at times i feel like she likes Alister and then im like, does she? And i feel like she doesnt truly like Julian.. idk...

The plot is getting interesting and the magic system is so cool. There have been some really great lines and raw moments too.. definitely mixed feelings on this one!.


I do really like how everyone is manipulating every one. Like the Crown has her own motives and is trying to get her way and doesnt want the heir to open the door. The Heir manipulated Lorena into working with him and has his own motives bc he wants to open the door but why he really wants to do that is kinda unclear. Will was totally guilty and wants the door to open so he and his rich friends can rule over whatevers left. Its like you cant trust ANYONE at all bc everyones out for themselves and will backstab you at the first chance.

Also i am rooting for a romance btwn the heir and lorena, im not a big fan of julian. Some of the stuff he says to lorena is just not cool (hide spoiler)]

Trisha wrote: "57%
[spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[ Yeah the Heir is very back and forth. Like sometimes i feel like hes a psycho and other times i just feel hes morally grey. Like he took away the will of all these people, but hes trying to stop the door from opening. I feel like its a bit inconsistent. (hide spoiler)]

68% (view spoiler)[

My memories of my mother were an empty room and a door with nothing behind it. No voice. No face. No tender hands. I had given it all up to save her and then to save the dying folks of Felhollow. I had given up everything for Will. This was my repayment? “I’ve sacrificed worse things than you can imagine,” I hissed. Creek’s blood had been so warm on my hands, and even now I could feel the heat of it burning in me. A lit coal that I could never put out. He scoffed. “Like what? Your desire?”


Oh no he didnt. See i knew i didnt like julian. (hide spoiler)]

85% (view spoiler)[ I have a lot of mixed feelings about this one so far. I dont feel connected to the characters but i love the magic system and it's been a pretty easy fast read. Some moments are really raw and the writing can be so wonderful.


I love the themes of sacrifice explored in the book. I also love Lorena and how she would do anything for those she cares about, but then she realized that Will and Julian wouldnt do the same for her.

I can really relate to that because im a really good and loyal person like Lorena and i will do anything for those i care about but in the past ive really gotten burned because of friends that took advantage and wouldnt go to half the lengths that id go to for them.

I feel like this book could have been better but its still pretty good. (hide spoiler)]

Trisha wrote: "75%

(view spoiler)[ i think the difference is that Lorena is willing to sacrifice for the good of everyone where the poor getting sacrificed is for the rich to take advantage and theyre just out for themselves. Its all about motives tbh. I really do love the way this book explores morality and sacrifice. There were some chapters that just hit so hard. Like Lorena was willing to give up all her precious memories of her mother for Julian and Will and shes really done a lot for people she cares for. Julian does NOT deserve her one bit. And that comment about her giving up her desire... i was a bit confused. Is she asexual or did she actually sacrifice her desire? Either way she is way too good for him. Shes definitely morally grey but her motives are pure which makes her such an interesting and complex character. Where as Allisters motives are more murky. Like him saying he just wants to know how the door works. Like then why work so hard to get rid of it? His motives dont entirely make sense to me. (hide spoiler)]

100% (view spoiler)[ Okay so i have a lot of mixed feelings on this one. It had some really excellent moments but i feel like the character development was lacking and there were some inconsistencies. I did love the way it ended.

I am sad that Allister died but at the same time it felt fitting for this brutal book. Overall im pleased i read it. Im also wondering if there will be a sequel because the way it ends it feels like there is possibility for more, but at the same tine it does feel like it could just end there. (hide spoiler)]

Amanda wrote: "Started a little bit ago!

10% [spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[Ooh, I hadn't thought of it that way, but now that you say it, I can definitely see them as the inspiration for this! (hide spoiler)]

Amanda wrote: "67% So im a little more than halfway through and I really love the magic system and world building. But the character development isnt great. I don't feel connected to any of the characters.

It ..."

(view spoiler)[I think most of the characters turn out to be apathetic here, and not just the heir.

Same, I read Dark Apprentice recently which actually had a psychopath as one of the MCs, and Alistair's POV would remind me of him a lot!

I know right!?!? I desperately wanted a romance with Alistair, and definitely not one with Julian, but it didn't really go anywhere....
And Lore would really confuse me with whether or not she was actually even interested in the heir.

Absolutely, that was the best part of this book, the manipulation and hidden workings of several different plots and subplots!

I hated Julian and they way he would completely negate Lore's feelings on whether or not she liked sex. (hide spoiler)]

Amanda wrote: "Trisha wrote: "57%
[spoilers removed]"

[spoilers removed]"

Same, I would end up very confused in those scenes, and I would have liked more forthcoming lines to tell me what exactly was going on with him.

Amanda wrote: "68%

."

(view spoiler)[WE HATE JULIAN FOREVER (hide spoiler)]

Amanda wrote: "85% I have a lot of mixed feelings about this one so far. I dont feel connected to the characters but i love the magic system and it's been a pretty easy fast read. Some moments are really raw and..."

(view spoiler)[ I felt more or less the same, the world and magic system was amazing, but I could never completely 'get' any of the characters other than Lore, and that was only because we were in 1st person. (hide spoiler)]

Amanda wrote: "Trisha wrote: "75%

[spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[The whole of this book, Alistair's motives were supposed to be curiosity, but then it didn't completely make sense for him to want to save anyone anyway...so maybe they were a combination of curiosity and wanting to be loved?

Also, I get what you mean that the rich are taking advantage, but if you think for a second that if we had even one character of the rich, who was actually working with these people and helping them, then this book would have gone down the 'not all the rich are bad' kind of thing....and it's not like all the poor are being taken advantage of in the same way, and I would expect that not all the rich are assholes.

I felt that one of the messages this book was trying to impart was that people cannot be put into boxes, and all are different, why then are all the rich villains and all the poor victims? Not all the poor can be the poorest, so I expect someone somewhere in the higher levels than most of the poor must have been taking advantage of those poorer than them, the same way I expect someone somewhere of the rich must be helping the poor because isn't everyone different? (hide spoiler)]

Amanda wrote: "100% Okay so i have a lot of mixed feelings on this one. It had some really excellent moments but i feel like the character development was lacking and there were some inconsistencies. I did love ..."

(view spoiler)[I feel the same, and I think there were quite a lot of inconsistencies, right? Yes, while it fits with the theme of this book, I still wish he wouldn't have died, or at least that Lore would have died with him. Same, I would live a sequel, but it can also end here! (hide spoiler)]

Trisha wrote: "Amanda wrote: "67% So im a little more than halfway through and I really love the magic system and world building. But the character development isnt great. I don't feel connected to any of the cha..."

(view spoiler)[ it felt like there should have been a romance. She was always touching him and running her fingers through his hair and stuff!

Oh and i thought the plot was pretty cool and loved the manipulative characters, but my favorite aspect was the magic system.

And Julian was an absolute shit. He was horrible. Idk if we're getting a skewed view of him bc Lore lost all her positive memories of him, but based on what he said and did i can say that she deserved way better. (hide spoiler)]

Trisha wrote: "Amanda wrote: "Trisha wrote: "75%

[spoilers removed]"

The whole of this book, Alistair's motives were supposed to be curiosity, but then it didn't completely make sense for him to want to save an..."

(view spoiler)[ i totally agree. His motives were the only ones that just didnt make complete sense to me.

And also I agree that its about not fitting into boxes and that there are shades of grey in everyone. But i also loved the themes of sacrifice and morality. I felt like some of the discussions of sacrifice were so raw. I loved Lore bc she was so loyal and willing to give up everything for the good of other people and for those she loved. But she did some really messed up things. It got me thinking about if the difference between good and bad is just motivations... it was definitely a good read and its a shame that i didnt feel emotionally connected to the characters bc if i did it would have made this book so much better. There were parts that could have brought me to tears but didnt bc they fell emotionally flat. All in all i definitely liked it and will be checking out Linsey Millers other books!! (hide spoiler)]

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Date changed. Restarting August 1st 2021. Happy Reading ☺

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ch 11 (view spoiler)[so I don’t really get what’s happening 🤣 but I love that the MC is confirmed asexual on page even if the word wasn’t used. I’m definitely enjoying the dark atmosphere. All this talk of a door tho makes me think of beyond the black door which I’m starting tonight 🤣 (hide spoiler)]

Ch 22 (view spoiler)[okay this shit is wild!! Like the queen took away her ability to lie. Rude of her really. Tho I’m glad she and Alistair can better understand each other from it. I’m really curious to see where this is gonna go. All the experiments on the door particles are fascinating 👀 (hide spoiler)]

Ch 36 (view spoiler)[I didn’t think they’d actually kill the queen!! I loved the word play Lorena and the queen had going on. I can’t help but think when she told Alistair she didn’t want him to die doesn’t mean she won’t kill him or arrange for his death 🌚 (hide spoiler)]

Finished (view spoiler)[ I think I'm still a little confused as to what happened here?? I think I'll reread the last chapter or two just for clarification, but damn did Alistair really DIE!? ://// (hide spoiler)]

Andy wrote: "Ch 36 [spoilers removed]

Finished [spoilers removed]"

Not really part of this BR, but I just had to jump in for the finished comment (view spoiler)[Yes, sadly, Alistair did die. I was so angry and sad at the same time (hide spoiler)]

Andy wrote: "ch 11 [spoilers removed]
(view spoiler)[ Lmao I love it! It is taking me a little bit to understand the wrights and wroughts and such! And agreed with the Beyond the Black Door Thing! (hide spoiler)]
Ch 22 [spoilers removed]"
(view spoiler)[ I love the experiments and all the noble and vile wroughts! I love that the Lorena is dualwrought just like the queen! The lie ability was so interesting. Can't help but wonder though, couldn't she create an ability to lie for herself using her noblewrought? (hide spoiler)]

Ch 36 (view spoiler)[ Omg yes! All the like...talking around lies is such faerie shit lmao. I love it! The ending of part 1 had me reeling!!! (hide spoiler)]

Finished (view spoiler)[ Holy crap I loved this! If you were confused by the ending, you should do a physical reread of the last few chapters because they are wild! I can't believe all the plans Lorena came up with! And yes, he's dead. I cry because I loved him. I love the fact that Lorena's sacrifice is having to live with herself instead of dying! GOODDD I loved this! (hide spoiler)]!!!!