Addicted to YA discussion

This discussion will be lead by Ellie. The discussion leader will be here to help keep the conversation going. Look out for comments and questions the discussion leader might make and respond back to them!

I've just managed to get hold of this book. The blurb looks interesting, so I'm looking forward to beginning this book.

me too! i haven't picked it up from the library yet, but i've heard a lot of good things.

I'm only on chapter 8, but already this book has made me cry and laugh out loud. So, I'd say it is off to a good start.

It has way too many info-dumps that disrupt the story, but it's pretty good otherwise. I'm on chapter 9, and Val and Tristan are my favorites.

I’m on chapter 2. I probably won’t understand anything that’s happening until chapter 5

@Hailey
I didn't really mind the info dumps. I've read other fantasy books which are way worse on the info dumping. I think Val is an interesting character, but I do not like the person she is. I liked Tristan in Chapter 9, but after that he acted like a spoilt brat.
I'm on Chapter 16, and I see we're using that old trope of a girl pretending to be a boy. I'm not sure how I feel about that, because it has been done so many times before.
I like Sev, and the set of characters that are around him, especially old Trix.

@Ellie
It does take a few chapters to set up the world and the characters. But, once that is done, it is pretty easy reading. :)

Kathryn wrote: "@Ellie
It does take a few chapters to set up the world and the characters. But, once that is done, it is pretty easy reading. :)"

yah i'm on chapter 15 and there is SO MUCH world building.

Kathryn wrote: "@Hailey
I didn't really mind the info dumps. I've read other fantasy books which are way worse on the info dumping. I think Val is an interesting character, but I do not like the person she is. I l..."

Yeah, Val isn't a good person, I just like analyzing characters like her.

@Hailey
I get where you're coming from.
I'm on Chapter 30 now, and have come to really like Tristan.
How far are you?

Kathryn wrote: "@Hailey
I get where you're coming from.
I'm on Chapter 30 now, and have come to really like Tristan.
How far are you?"

I'm on chapter 13, so I'm pretty behind lol.

My best friend and I just joined this group and monthly read - looking forward to it!

I’m on chapter 15. I have to tell you guys, I’m heartbroken and want to kick Val in the teeth. She broke my heart and I want vengeance!!! Like, so much VENGEANCE!!!

@Kayla
I totally agree with you. What she did in Chapter 8 had me crying. She is a horrible person.

Well, I've finished the book. The twist at the end was good. But I struggled a bit with getting through the book. Chapter 1 to around 15 was good, but then I had to force myself to continue reading. Then around Chapter 34 it got really good again and it was easy to read.
I won't give away any spoilers. I'll just wait for you guys to finish before discussing anything important.

cool :)

Just got this one from the library, starting it now!

Okay, I’ve read the first two chapters so far. It definitely reads like a Greek epic. So far both Veronyka and Val are super interesting characters, but I’m already terrified of Val. (view spoiler)[When Ver wakes up to Val holding an ax, I straight up thought she was gonna kill the phoenix - holy crap (hide spoiler)] I’m excited to get to the other characters’ POVs as well.

Unfortunately I decided to put this one down because it is just too dense of a fantasy for my taste, so I wasn't really enjoying it.

Rebecca wrote: "Unfortunately I decided to put this one down because it is just too dense of a fantasy for my taste, so I wasn't really enjoying it."

That's fair, it is so longgggggggggggggg. Thankfully I'm liking it a bit.

Hailey wrote: "Rebecca wrote: "Unfortunately I decided to put this one down because it is just too dense of a fantasy for my taste, so I wasn't really enjoying it."

That's fair, it is so longgggggggggggggg. Than..."

It's not that is was bad, like there were quite a few scenes were I laughed, like any scene with Sparrow...I just wasn't connected enough to the story to push forward. Based on what I read, my least favorite character was Val and my favorite was Sev.

@Rebecca
I'm sorry you found it a bit too fantasy dense, because the ending has a real good twist. Lol, just warning you, if you found this dense, don't ever read any Brandon Sanderson. :D
I also liked Sev. He has a wonderful character arc.
Hopefully you enjoy the next book you pick up a lot more. :)

sorry guys, i just didn't enjoy this book. it was wayyy too long and there was too much thinking and world building and not enough talking.

Ellie wrote: "sorry guys, i just didn't enjoy this book. it was wayyy too long and there was too much thinking and world building and not enough talking."

Oh no, I'm only 100 pages in (I took a break for another book club), and I want to enjoy it so badly since I have a signed copy, and I already bought the whole series.

Kathryn wrote: "@Rebecca
I'm sorry you found it a bit too fantasy dense, because the ending has a real good twist. Lol, just warning you, if you found this dense, don't ever read any Brandon Sanderson. :D
I also ..."

I believe I know what twist you’re talking about because I had a suspicion based on what I read, and I ended up googling it. I’ve never read any Sanderson but it’s not that I dislike dense fantasy, it just can’t be dense while also being kinda boring with characters I don’t like too much. I’m willing to give Sanderson a go, but right now I’ve got a loooooooooong TBR so probably not any time soon!

Hailey wrote: "Ellie wrote: "sorry guys, i just didn't enjoy this book. it was wayyy too long and there was too much thinking and world building and not enough talking."

Oh no, I'm only 100 pages in (I took a br..."

That’s where I stopped and put it down, but if you guys end up really liking it, maybe I’ll give it another chance.

I admit, I’ve been reading this book on and off for about a year and a half. I have the whole series and I am dying to continue reading it. I love the story so far and I intend to read more soon. I want to finally finish it, but I’m also super nervous about what’s going to happen next. (I have 9 books from my library right now, most of which are Jennifer L. Armentrout, so I’m working through those as well)

@ Ellie
I'm sorry you didn't enjoy it and couldn't finish it. For me it was a solid 3 star. But, it gave me just enough to want to read the rest of the series. But, I hope you enjoy your next read a lot more. :)

@Hailey
Don't worry, I enjoyed it. Yes, there were some boring parts, but if you can just push through those, then especially the last 15 Chapters are really good. :)

@Rebecca
I totally get what you're saying. And I admit that the middle of this book is boring. It is the end that is so good. When you googled the twist, did you think it was a good one?
If you want to read Sanderson I recommend reading Elantris first. I'm not sure if you enjoy Scifi, but if you do then read his Skyward series. I don't like scifi, but even I enjoyed it and gave it 5 stars.
What ever you decide to read next though, I hope you enjoy it more than this book. :)

@Kayla
I hope you continue the book. And don't worry, the ending is good, and makes you want to read the next book in the series. :)

Kathryn wrote: "@Rebecca
I totally get what you're saying. And I admit that the middle of this book is boring. It is the end that is so good. When you googled the twist, did you think it was a good one?
If you wan..."

Yeah, I think it is a good one but I figured it out in less than 100 pages, (view spoiler)[We are talking about Val being Avalkyra, right? (hide spoiler)]. It just seems like this entire series is based on what wrongs she does, even when it comes to Veronyka. I'm sure it was a good set up for the rest of the series, but honestly Val is the biggest reason why I just can't keep going with this book/series.

@Rebecca
Yes we're talking about what you wrote in your spoiler. I'm seriously impressed that you figured it out so soon. :) You are right though, we are only made to see the bad side of Val and never any good she may have done. I hope that changes in the rest of the series.

Kathryn wrote: "@Rebecca
Yes we're talking about what you wrote in your spoiler. I'm seriously impressed that you figured it out so soon. :) You are right though, we are only made to see the bad side of Val and ne..."

I'm just going to put this whole comment in a spoiler
@ everyone else, don't read this if you haven't finished lol

(view spoiler)[So I figured it out because Val/Avalkyra are basically just the same name, and it would be easy for Veronkya to have no idea since she was 1 when her family died. My biggest hint is no one in the universe has a one syllable name, except for Kade, but we are not sure of his full name. But overall Val just seemed older and crueler than the average "17 year old" and she was always so adamant that Avalkrya/Phoenix Riders weren't coming - like she knew they weren't there anymore having been 1/2 of the Blood War. (hide spoiler)]

@Rebecca
Oh wow! When you lay it all like that, it is blatantly obvious. I repeat, I'm seriously impressed. :) What are you planning on reading next?

Kathryn wrote: "@Rebecca
Oh wow! When you lay it all like that, it is blatantly obvious. I repeat, I'm seriously impressed. :) What are you planning on reading next?"

I just read Hani and Ishu's Guide to Fake Dating which I LOVED. I think next will be Piranesi which has been on my TBR for ages.

I'll be honest, I didn't see the twist coming. I actually thought Trix was going to be Avalkyra. I enjoyed the book and will definitely continue the series (once I get through my TBR lol)

I finished this book last second. Only about mid-way through the book did I get really hooked. I'm only posting it now since I didn't have internet for a while