Challenge Corner discussion

Bound by blood.
Tempted by desire.
Unleashed by destiny.

Bryce Quinlan had the perfect life—working hard all day and partying all night—until a demon murdered her closest friends, leaving her bereft, wounded, and alone. When the accused is behind bars but the crimes start up again, Bryce finds herself at the heart of the investigation. She’ll do whatever it takes to avenge their deaths.

Hunt Athalar is a notorious Fallen angel, now enslaved to the Archangels he once attempted to overthrow. His brutal skills and incredible strength have been set to one purpose—to assassinate his boss’s enemies, no questions asked. But with a demon wreaking havoc in the city, he’s offered an irresistible deal: help Bryce find the murderer, and his freedom will be within reach.

As Bryce and Hunt dig deep into Crescent City’s underbelly, they discover a dark power that threatens everything and everyone they hold dear, and they find, in each other, a blazing passion—one that could set them both free, if they’d only let it.

With unforgettable characters, sizzling romance, and page-turning suspense, this richly inventive new fantasy series by #1 New York Times bestselling author Sarah J. Maas delves into the heartache of loss, the price of freedom—and the power of love.

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

Chapters 1-6 (view spoiler)[ well that took a turn I didn’t expect! I was super excited for Bryce to go on a date with Cooper. He seemed sweet but Alpha. And Danika sounded like a badass bestie. How rude! (view spoiler)[ (hide spoiler)] (hide spoiler)]

Chapters 7-20 (view spoiler)[ for as many chapters as have passed I thought more would’ve happened. I was intrigued by how Bryce and Hunt would get along but that’s falling into a rhythm I pleasantly expected. Viper Queen seems like a badass bitch to know! Lastly I wonder what the Horn has to do with all of this…(view spoiler)[ (hide spoiler)] (hide spoiler)]

I'm joining btw - I got the audio to listen to so I can read the second :) So it's my second read - looking forward to it, probably next week?

Chapters 20-68 when I first started posting I didn’t realize there were so many chapters haha
(view spoiler)[ I feel like there was a lot of good stuff going on. Tension, bonding, fight scenes, the black market. All of it was really cool. Until that last chapter which messed me up something fierce. Idk where Maas is going with this but here go! (view spoiler)[ (hide spoiler)] (hide spoiler)]

Finished (view spoiler)[ I cried when Lele died, I won’t hide it. I really really liked the end fight. Bryce went hardcore into the city, protecting the humans. All the while those dingbats just sat at Summit watching through camera footage. Danika supporting her at the end was beautiful and a bit heart twisting. Of course, I adore Hunt and Bryce together so that part ended well for me too. (view spoiler)[ (hide spoiler)] (hide spoiler)]

Kim wrote: "Chapters 1-6 [spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[ i really wanted to see the relationship with cooper explored more too! I really felt like there could be something more (hide spoiler)]

Part 1: (view spoiler)[ dang i had forgotten how brutal the beginning of this book was. That murder scene was just horrendous. I cant even imagine finding your best friend like that. The part where she mentioned cooper having gone down protecting danika kind of broke my heart a bit. I really wished we could have gotten more of him. (hide spoiler)]

Diving into this over the weekend! I got the sequel in the mail yesterday and I'm soooooo excited to read it.

Mine arrived damaged in the mail :( They sent me another one but I was like WTF!

Jenn wrote: "Mine arrived damaged in the mail :( They sent me another one but I was like WTF!"

Oh no! I honestly wasn't even expecting it in my mailbox yesterday. The tracker told me it was coming next week. So, that was a nice surprise.

I should be getting the second book this week-end so I'm going to start this one soon. I've never read it before so I'm excited!

I'm enjoying it more the second time around. I wish I just had the time to sit and do nothing but read!

Kelly wrote: "I should be getting the second book this week-end so I'm going to start this one soon. I've never read it before so I'm excited!"

Woohoo! I hope you like it!

Jenn wrote: "I'm enjoying it more the second time around. I wish I just had the time to sit and do nothing but read!"

This just makes me even more excited to jump back into this book.

Part 2: (view spoiler)[ i feel like im reading this book for the first time lol. So much shady shit around the strealing of lunas horn. Im thinking danika took it and sabine is covering it up for some reason. On a different note, i really like ruhn. Hes trying so hard to be better than his father and he wants a relationship with bryce (hide spoiler)]

Finally started - I'm getting into it so much faster this time round :) I remembered it being hard to get into for some reason - but I'm already on chapter fifteen this evening. Really enjoying it :D

Ellen-Arwen wrote: "Finally started - I'm getting into it so much faster this time round :) I remembered it being hard to get into for some reason - but I'm already on chapter fifteen this evening. Really enjoying it :D"

I felt the same way

Part 3: (view spoiler)[ ugh i wish i could remember what happens lol. I dont believe Hunt is who theyre making him out to be and i dont believe that danika killed her own pack. I mean, i could be wrong but theres something off here. (hide spoiler)]

Finished: (view spoiler)[ ok this one hit wayyyyy harder the second time around. Danika coming back to make the drop with Bryce, Ithan coming to help, seeing Connor...all of it just hit me and i was a blubbering mess. (hide spoiler)]

Jenn wrote: "Part 1: [spoilers removed]"

Same! I forgot all that happened so early on!

Part 1: (view spoiler)[I love her friendships with these girls and how she was part of the pack. It’s sad that they are dead though and I’m not a fan of Sabine. Something is off and fishy right now. Did Briggs do this or someone else? I have questions and I don’t remember it all. (hide spoiler)]

Alaina wrote: "Part 1: [spoilers removed]"

Haha i was the same way. Just had no memory of things happening

Kim wrote: "Chapters 1-6 [spoilers removed]"

Yes! How rude!

Jenn wrote: "Alaina wrote: "Part 1: [spoilers removed]"

Haha i was the same way. Just had no memory of things happening"

Haha well let’s see what else I don’t remember 🤣🤣

Up to End of Part 3(oops I got carried away reading/listening)

(view spoiler)[
Like everyone else it seems, I feel like I'm reading this for the first time lol - I don't think that Danna killed herself and the pack of devils high on synth, and Hunt CAN'T have completely betrayed Bryce...
I'm enjoying it so much more second time round - I think I read it really fast first go because I was worried about being spoiled, but I've been quite leisurely this time (mainly because of work but whatever)
I'd forgotten the cute little otter!
But the most dramatic stuff I'd forgotten all happened at the end of part three - what?! I'm sure this isn't how it ends up... is it?

I'd forgotten how steamy it is - particularly in the shower scene ;) Steamy isn't really my thing but I am actually reading it this time rather than skimming it and I'm not squirming too much!

I remember being confused by the cast of characters last time, but it's fine this time through - maybe I forgot the plot but remembered the characters somehow? Anyway, MUCH better as a reread. (hide spoiler)]

Alaina wrote: "Jenn wrote: "Alaina wrote: "Part 1: [spoilers removed]"

Haha i was the same way. Just had no memory of things happening"

Haha well let’s see what else I don’t remember 🤣🤣"

I've been EXACTLY the same lol

Part 2: (view spoiler)[I love the banter and tension between Bryce and hunt. I seriously need them together and now. I’m also wondering why Sabine altered the footage? Maybe she knows what happened to the horn? 🤷🏻‍♀️ I need answers. (hide spoiler)]

Kim wrote: "Chapters 7-20 [spoilers removed]"

Love the viper queen! Total badass

Jenn wrote: "Part 2: [spoilers removed]"

RIGHT? I feel like a new born baby with this reread but it’s all good. I’m enjoying everything all over again. I’m also thinking the same thing about Sabine! Maybe her brother can redeem himself? Maybe? Idk.

Kim wrote: "Chapters 20-68 when I first started posting I didn’t realize there were so many chapters haha
[spoilers removed]"

So much has happened! It’s insane!

Jenn wrote: "Part 3: [spoilers removed]"

For some reason, I don’t see that happening either. Right now I feel like it could be her ex boyfriend? Like the guy she dumped but I could be completely wrong right now.

Part 3: (view spoiler)[this reread is insane. I don’t remember a whole lot but things seem oddly suspicious. Like too pretty to be true. Maybe the other two wanted to rebel and hunt didn’t want to do it. I feel like his feels for Bryce are true but now things are messy. I also don’t think Danika took the drug. It had to be a human but I’m basing that off of the video. (hide spoiler)]

Kim wrote: "Finished [spoilers removed]"

That ending 😭

Jenn wrote: "Finished: [spoilers removed]"

I know 😭😭

Ellen-Arwen wrote: "Up to End of Part 3(oops I got carried away reading/listening)


Like everyone else it seems, I feel like I'm reading this for the first time lol - I don't think that Danna killed herself and the p..."

Yeah my head was like this 🤯

Part 4/Finished: (view spoiler)[HOLY SHIT 😳 I cried. Yes. Tears were shed. Danika, the truth about Bryce, and hunt being a bad ass was so much. Probably too much for me to handle. Meanwhile everyone is sitting real pretty at the summit when they should have left to protect their people. A bunch of assholes if you ask me. (hide spoiler)]

Today is the last day to post on this thread! Tomorrow it will be closed.

Finished (forgot to post anything!)

(view spoiler)[ I'd forgotten how much I genuinely enjoyed this book and how fricking EPIC it is! I didn't cry this time round, but was definitely close to it. Agree with Alaina - how come they were just SAT there when all the shit was going down? Definitely assholes.

I'd forgotten, literally, the whole plot - so it was like reading it anew. Bryce's revelation and how - beautiful I guess. I loved the description of the drop and the starlight. And I was really emotional to meet Danika not in a flashback.

Looking forward to the next one! Hoping someone might buddy it with me soon (I know I missed the main buddy read last month when it actually came out lol), (hide spoiler)]