2025 Reading Challenge discussion

This is where we will discuss the book after we start reading it in July.

Here are some discussion questions for the first half of the book. The questions themselves contain spoilers for at least the first 8 chapters, so be careful and please remember to use spoiler tags in your answers!
I'll post some questions for the rest of the book later this month!

(view spoiler)[ Chapter 3: Mare is fearful about Kilorn's upcoming conscription. How does Kilorn's potential conscription set the events of this novel into play?

Chapter 4: After the news story of the Scarlet Guard, Gisa and Mare decide to flee. On their way out, Gisa picks a pocket and gets caught. Why do you think she decided to steal?
Does Gisa's decision to steal affect the plot of the novel?

Chapter 5: Mare meets Cal while fleeing the bar after the terrorist attack is reported on the news. Do you think that Cal sets out to meet Mare or does their meeting happen by chance?

Chapter 8: It is revealed that the Silvers are aware of some Reds having powers. Do you think that the Silver know about Mare's powers before she discovers them? Why or why not? (hide spoiler)]

I am finishing off my current (long read) and then so excited to dive into this one!

Started yesterday and read a little over half of it. I am really enjoying it. I will more than likely finishing it today.

It is great to see that you are enjoying the book! Don't pay attention to my 1 star rating, haha. I read it 7 years ago and it probably wasn't for me at the time. I might give it another try this month!

I started this book yesterday and already I am 100 pages in.
Chapter 4: I think the decision Gisa made to steal had a huge impact on the novel. (view spoiler)[ If she had not have tried to steal she would not have had her hand broken and Mara would not have felt guilty and went to the bar. This seemed to set in motion events that led to Mara being at the palace in the first place.
chapter 5: When Cal was introduced I already predicted he was silver and the heat she felt from him was his power. I also felt like him being there was not a coincidence by the way he just calmly stood looking at the sky where she stood.
chapter 8: I didn't see where the Silvers are aware of some Reds having power however(view spoiler)[ I wonder what the king is hiding about Farley and the Scarlet Guard and if there are some Silver's who don't agree with the way Reds are treated. (hide spoiler)] (hide spoiler)]

Up to chapter 2: I wasn't expecting (view spoiler)[this world to have things like electricity and batteries and what seems to be planes etc. I am a big fantasy reader but if I see a title with Queen in it I do immediately go to straight up medieval haha! Not sure how I feel about that aspect yet, as it's different. (hide spoiler)]

Just finished chapter seven and really enjoying this book so far. I had never heard of it and wasn’t sure about it by the description, but it’s exceeded my expectations so far. It reads to me like a cross between The Hunger Games and Game of Thrones.

Just finished chapter 8 and in response to the discussion questions:

(view spoiler)[Chapter 3: I think his conscription does set events into play, because had he not said that she wouldn't have come up with the idea to try and escape, which wouldn't have introduced her to the Scarlet Guard or Cal I don't think!

Chapter 5: Cal strikes me as the prince who hates how things are. I'm not sure he set out to meet HER but just to see how things are in general. He seemed rather upset by the poverty in the Stilts. I think Cal will be a big help in future chapters. (hide spoiler)]

I've read through chapter 17 and I'm enjoying it. I like the world building. I've read where a lot of people thought the main character was whiny but I'm not feeling that yet.

(view spoiler)[ Chapter 3: Mare is fearful about Kilorn's upcoming conscription. How does Kilorn's potential conscription set the events of this novel into play? -

I think this is the basis for the story or for the change that happens in her life. She was concentrating on how to get him out of conscription when she fell into trouble.

Chapter 4: After the news story of the Scarlet Guard, Gisa and Mare decide to flee. On their way out, Gisa picks a pocket and gets caught. Why do you think she decided to steal?
Does Gisa's decision to steal affect the plot of the novel?

It definitely affects the plot. Maybe secretly Gisa wanted to not be the "good" sister and that is why she pickpocketed.

Chapter 5: Mare meets Cal while fleeing the bar after the terrorist attack is reported on the news. Do you think that Cal sets out to meet Mare or does their meeting happen by chance?

I didn't originally give a thought to that it was planned. Now I'm not sure.

Chapter 8: It is revealed that the Silvers are aware of some Reds having powers. Do you think that the Silver know about Mare's powers before she discovers them? Why or why not?

I'm not sure about this either. I didn't think of it that way. Now I'll be looking for it. I guess they could have been suppressing the powers of the Reds and killing them or taking them into their world to hide the Reds abilities.

(hide spoiler)]

Joan wrote: "I've read through chapter 17 and I'm enjoying it. I like the world building. I've read where a lot of people thought the main character was whiny but I'm not feeling that yet.

Chapter 3: Mare is ..."

Your response to chapter 8 has me wondering - (view spoiler)[maybe they are suppressing the Reds because maybe way back when the Reds proved to be more powerful than the Silvers and some Silvers from way back took offence to that so found a way to suppress their powers? It seems that Mare is able.to harness her ability with training, but it comes naturally with emotions. Maybe no one has found the moment for their Powers to come through or maybe the Silvers have found an actual way to stop it! Maybe some power in the villages where they live.

I could be very wrong! Just a thought I had! (hide spoiler)]

Joan wrote: "I've read through chapter 17 and I'm enjoying it. I like the world building. I've read where a lot of people thought the main character was whiny but I'm not feeling that yet.

Chapter 3: Mare is ..."

Your response to chapter 8 has me wondering - (view spoiler)[maybe they are suppressing the Reds because maybe way back when the Reds proved to be more powerful than the Silvers and some Silvers from way back took offence to that so found a way to suppress their powers? It seems that Mare is able.to harness her ability with training, but it comes naturally with emotions. Maybe no one has found the moment for their Powers to come through or maybe the Silvers have found an actual way to stop it! Maybe some power in the villages where they live.

I could be very wrong! Just a thought I had! (hide spoiler)]

I just finished it.

I liked it. I also mostly liked the characters.

(view spoiler)[ There was something about a list of reds with special powers so I guess I guessed right about that. I didn't see Maven betraying anyone. I don't know how I didn't see that. I thought Cal was going to do something extra but looking back I guess you could see how Maven was setting them up. (hide spoiler)]

I'm probably going to get the next book on Amazon now. It wasn't a planned read for this year but I'm kind of invested in the series now. I rated it 3 stars. Normally about two thirds through the book I fall off and I kind of did that here also. I get bored with the fight scenes and what not. Most people find that stuff interesting. I just kind of get bored with it for whatever reason.

At the end of chapter 26: (view spoiler)[I definitely started to suspect that Maven was playing her earlier on but I feel sad about it because I genuinely liked him 😭 (hide spoiler)]

I ended up finishing this yesterday! I gave it 4 stars. I quite liked it! Will leave a proper review later :)

Joan wrote: "I just finished it.

I liked it. I also mostly liked the characters.

[spoilers removed]

I'm probably going to get the next book on Amazon now. It wasn't a planned read for this year but I'm kind ..."

(view spoiler)[I started to suspect that Maven wasn't as he said, but not in a way I was confident in that suspicion. There was nothing in the book that led me to believe that, but more that he felt too good to be true 😅 (hide spoiler)]

For those of you who have finished the book, here are some more discussion questions.

(view spoiler)[
Mare is betrothed to marry Maven but is also attracted to Cal. Why does Mare have trouble choosing between Maven and Cal?

The Scarlet Guard help Cal and Mare escape from prison and the city. Do you think Queen Elara and Maven know that Cal and Mare have escaped? If so, what do you think they will do to stop them? If not, do you think they will find out?

Mare and Cal are on a mission to kill Maven because of his betrayal. Do you think that Mare and Cal will be able to find and kill Maven?
(hide spoiler)]

I started reading this. Not sure what to make of it so far though.

I just finished this the other day so I'll answer the discussion questions below!

(view spoiler)[1. Mare is betrothed to marry Maven but is also attracted to Cal. Why does Mare have trouble choosing between Maven and Cal?
Mare talked a lot about how she thought Maven was different from the other silvers she knew and how his heart was pure (or something along those lines). So I think she loved that version of him that she believed to be true. And the fact that they were in an arranged engagement made her have reason to try and find reasons to love him since she assumed she'd be married to him. Cal, on the other hand, was kind to her from the beginning and saved her life so I think that plays a part in her attraction to him. Then when she starts seeing more of him in training and his role as a prince she remembers how dangerous he is and that she should still be wary of him.

2. The Scarlet Guard help Cal and Mare escape from prison and the city. Do you think Queen Elara and Maven know that Cal and Mare have escaped? If so, what do you think they will do to stop them? If not, do you think they will find out?
If they don't already know at the end of the book, I think they will figure it out soon in the next one. The queen especially will not stop until they are found because they threaten her plans. I imagine she'll have people out looking for them at all times and put the whole city(?)/country(?) on some sort of lockdown so it's more difficult for them to travel.

3. Mare and Cal are on a mission to kill Maven because of his betrayal. Do you think that Mare and Cal will be able to find and kill Maven?
I don't think either of them will be able to kill Maven. He is still Cal's brother and I think deep down Mare still has hope for the Maven she thought she knew. They may be able to find him but I don't think they'll be able to follow through with the plan. My best guess is that one of the Scarlet Guard will do it for them instead. (hide spoiler)]