The Procrastinators Book Club discussion

Welcome to the The Serpent and the Wings of Night Buddy Read Discussion thread! This thread officially opens on September 1st and anyone can join at any time. Please keep in mind that spoilers are allowed in this thread but only up to the group's current reading place. Do not spoil the book if you've read further than the group. Any extra days can be used to catch up!

Each day we will be reading by chapters or page numbers. Page numbers are an approximation based on the hardcover or paperback that is the default on Goodreads. The suggested Buddy Read discussion schedule is as follows:


Week of 09/01
01: Prologue-chapter 3
02: Chapters 4-7
03: Chapters 8-13
04: Chapters 14-17
05: Chapters 18-21
06: Chapters 22-25
07: Chapters 26-28

Week of /08
08: Chapters 29-32
09: Chapters 33-35
10: Chapters 36-38
11: Chapters 39-42
12: Chapters 43-45
13: Chapters 46-51
14: Rest

PARTICIPANTS
~ Giulia
~ Mina

Through end of chapter 3:
This was certainly an intriguing start to the story. I always love it when a story is embedded into the context of legends. It makes the foreshadowing so much more intriguing.
At first I thought Oraya's relationship with her adoptive father would similar as to the one in The Cruel Prince but I don't believe it is. It was kind of hinted at that love would be the downfall of vampires. Is it romantic love? Or maybe familial? I guess we'll see.
Anyway, I always enjoy reading about competitions or different tasks so this will probably be quite exciting.

I just want to jump in to say that I started it, I got to read only 2 chapters, that's why I didn't comment anything. Sadly I didn't have time to read yesterday or today, hopefully tomorrow will be another story so that I could continue reading it.

Hey! No worries! I didn‘t have much time either so I’ll be taking it easy. Don’t feel like you need to rush. :)

Through the end of chapter 7:
Things are getting started! Of course, the love interest has already been introduced and he seems like fun: kind of reckless, a rival but seemingly willing to help her out. The meet-cute was more on the stabby side, but apparently Raihn isn’t taking it personally. I wonder what’s the deal with the female contestant, though, who has talked to Oraya.

Through the end of chapter 12:
Not accepting that alliance when Raihn offered it seems really foolish. I don't really get Oraya's stubbornness. I mean, she knows that - in her current state - she doesn't have much of a chance to survive and Raihn's arguments seemed to be reasonable. I guess she's just one of those protagonists. So, had she accepted right away she might have not have to deal with some additional injuries.

Through the end of chapter 13:
Just have to say that I really like Mische. She reminds me of Alice Cullen :)

Through the end of chapter 17

“‘She should be able to take it.’ ‘That was her taking it.’ Well… not like that. Not taking it by throwing me out a fucking window.’ ‘And was that you taking it, idiot?’”

I don’t get what they are talking about here. Were they planning on working with her and are testing her abilities/toughness?
Also, what was up with the guy with the cigarillo? I feel like he will be more important later on.

I read it a few years ago and really enjoyed it. Have fun!!

Through the end of chapter 21
Two things I‘d like to comment on:
1. I love that the trials of the Kejari mirror their goddess‘ path.
2. I know it’s to be expected in a Romantasy novel but I was very pleased that Raihn is quite decent and actually saved that little girl. And then I was even more surprised about the reason why. I totally forgot that there was a distinction between born and made vampires in this world.

I'm sorry I'm failing at this buddy read, I was lacking free time to read read, since I can't get the audiobook.

Finally finished the first 3 chapters, and I although I don't have comments, I have to say that I like the vibe of the story, so far I don't know to pinpoint what exactly gives me that vibe but it's a good start.
Also, it's maybe because I picked up the book so many times, sometimes only to read a page or two, but I have no idea what all the names of the vampires, types or whatever are. Rishan, Hiaj. I know there are three vampire courts, but I don't know which is which and their characteristics, hopefully as I read I'll understand it.

Finished chapter 7.
I knew it.. the dude looking the picture and the one warning her were the same. He has the same power as Vincent, or is Asteris something else?

I haven't made a huge progress today, I got to chapter 11. I'm off work two days hopefully other things won't take too much of my time so that I can catch up.

So far I really like it. The first trial was... interesting, although I think I maybe expected more than that. Not that it was easy but it flew by fast. Maybe the other trials will take more time as I expect them to be harder.

mina wrote: "I'm sorry I'm failing at this buddy read, I was lacking free time to read read, since I can't get the audiobook."

Hey, don't worry about it. I mean, this is a free time activity. And if you lack the time to read that's just how it goes. For me, work starts again next week so I'll probably not have as much time then as well. I just hope that it doesn't bother you that I keep going. I really like it so far!

At first I was confused by all the different subcategories of vampires as well but it's getting a little bit less confusing with time.
I have actually not quite managed to understand what Asteris does. I guess we'll find out before the book is over.
I also thought that the trials would be more central to the story and I still wonder what Oraya is going to wish for if she wins. Was it already mentioned? I may have forgotten it.

Through the end of chapter 25:

There are so many things happening at once that I'm getting a bit confused. In the beginning I thought that the contestants would be locked in the Moon Palace for the duration of the Kejari but that doesn't seem to be the case. So, does everyone leave it whenever they feel like it or is it just Oraya and Raihn? And I feel like Oraya has a weird advantage getting to meet up with Vincent regularly (even though he seems to have different priorities). I'm really worried that sth. will happen regarding Vincent and Oraya's relationship. What if he starts seeing her as a rival later on? I mean, in this chapter it was mentioned that Vincent really wanted war and may not shy back from sth. as "trivial" as hurting his family.
Speaking about worried: I hope Mische will be fine.

Yes it's a free time activity, but I also made plans to read it and discuss it with you. But like I said off days, and tomorrow I don't plan on going out of the house.

It was mentioned what her wish will be. She wants to be Vincent's something, I don't remember what it's called even less how to write it. Basically he'll share his power with her so she won't be a human, and also that way he can be sure the winner won't try killing him and taking his throne or whatever.

I agree, the cigarillo dude must be of some importance. Is he human? Is he a possible love interest...

Finished chapter 20. Don't have any thoughts to add, maybe tomorrow when I continue reading.

Caught up to you.

* As we go I think Oraya's view of the world will change, which is not surprising considering that she now has contact with others to see for herself how other's are like Raihn and Mische and not only what Vincent told her. Although, from the interlude we saw she had her own bad experience with some vampire boy, which would only give more weight to Vincent's warnings and other advice.

Vincent may have been good to her, and even loved her in his way, but I think we need to take in account that we only see him from her point of view. Who knows who he really is, like we saw in ch.25 when they flew over and Oraya saw him that "he emanated death". I think she'll find out that he's not the thing she's been growing up with, that it was a good mask he was putting on, and I think he might have more ulterior motives than teaching her to survive to win the trial.

What motive? I don't know, but I think it has to do something with her magic. I don't know if you noticed but when she was telling him about the burst of power besides not being that surprised with it he said something like "We already knew you had power". I suspect he's not saying we as him and Oraya, but him and who knows who. Because if Mische can feel the power in her, not just a spark that Oraya can sometimes summon but the big boom, then WHY wouldn't Vincent one of the most powerful vampires right when he found her as a child.

OMG -- My mind is just trying to figure stuff and connect maybe non-existing stuff -- WHAT IF the attack that happened when she was a child wasn't a war thing, but a planned thing? Like, what if he could feel the power and went after her, to kill her or...well probably to kill her, but when he saw how feisty she is, he made a full on plan to use her and win the war (according to ch25 he's been waiting for it for a looong time), and then all the manipulation came to play.

I'm preeeeety much invested in how this is going to go.

Wow, your theory sounds plausible!
I'm glad that I'm not the only one who was getting weird vibes from Vincent. From Oraya's perspective their relationship sounded too good to be true and the fact that he might have groomed her to later use her feels like something a warlord would do. Thinking farther, I agree with you that Oraya will develop a new perspective on things, especially if she starts trusting Raihn more. Maybe he will explain what the "rebels" are fighting for and maybe Oraya might even come to agree with them somewhat. I mean, in the beginning it was already mentioned that love is dangerous and will lead to the end of an era. And I'm starting to feel more secure in my theory that it will be something about the love between Oraya and Vincent instead of romantic love... or maybe she will have to choose between Raihn and Vincent which will lead to a whole new set of problems because I don't think Vincent will let it go that far - he does seem rather ruthless. If you're right and he took her in because of her magic/power he's not going to let that be turned against himself.

Yeah, the love from the beginning is something about Oraya and Vincent, and thankfully it's not a romantic love because if it was I think I would've just dropped the book.

V does seem ruthless, probably is, but I don't know.. I'm still on the part that he's using her, however it would appear that he REALLY cares about her, even loves, which is throwing me off a bit, it doesn't go with the ruthless ruler.. but again, he too can have different personalities with different people.. Idk, it just stands out and it may not be anything bad but it feels like a thing that doesn't belong.

Finished chapter 33
I like the relationship that is forming, and like you mentioned in the beginning I like that Raihn is a decent character. The trials are interesting, however we are more concentrating on Oraya figuring stuff about her, and Raihn, than the fights that are a chapter or two. Don't get me wrong, I don't mind it, I like their interactions, just I'm maybe a little surprised with the lack of something that I thought would take a big part of the book. And then we have the whole thing with the rebellion, if it's actually a rebellion and not maybe Vincent starting a war just to conquer more..