Ilsen’s Comments (group member since Jan 12, 2019)

Ilsen’s comments from the Read with a Friend group.

Until the End

(view spoiler)[ Now everything is falling into place in my memory. I was missing certain pieces and such. But it was a really thrilling read and I want the sequel so badly!! In the meantime, I will get the novella to quell my hunger for the sequel.

So Jude asked some questions to Cardan about what happened with Locke and his feelings for her. Again, Locke is an asshole. He didn’t lie per se but he still tricked her. He doesn’t love anybody. He just wants to play with everyone and he even played Nicasia. I feel bad for Cardan a little for that. I want to see Taryn’s perspective on this “relationship” more like a strategy. Even though I don’t like her, I will feel like the novella will provide some insight on that.

Now to talk about the “romance” between Cardan and Jude. When I first read it I was furious that people were shipping it because I felt like it was trending that “Oh he treats you badly but I like him anyways”. You know, the abusive bad boy type in YA that is terrible and problematic. Now that I reread it, it’s not really like that. It’s not like how Valerian treated her who pretty much wanted to kill her (also when Cardan finds out that Jude isn’t heartless and didn’t just kill him just because she can). He has tried to help her when things gotten too far. I’m not sold on the romance but I don’t think he should just die. Maybe it would be best for them to be companions. I hope things will develop more in the sequel.

So there is this whole scheme to have Oak not to be High King immediately but to live in the mortal world until he grows up and is ready to take the crown. We are led to believe at first that she will go with the original plan: to have Oak be the High King in exile and then possibly fight for the throne when he comes back. But that ends up not happening. Instead, Jude makes the smarter decision by Cardan swearing himself to Jude and making Cardan the High King until Oak grows up. And now the other titles make sense. The Wicked King referring to Cardan and The Queen of Nothing referring to Jude. Jude does all the political games that she knows of by being Prince Dain’s spy and Cardan is just used as the face of the kingdom of Elfhame but not actually doing anything other than bothering Jude.

Looking at my thoughts back then, I said that Jude was arrogant but I don’t think that’s the case. Jude is doing what she can to survive and make her place in Faerie. She can be overly ambitious but that ambition gives her the drive to manage the convoluted Faerie politics. I think that she is definitely a strong character with flaws but I’m so excited for the next one! I also want to see what is going to be her interaction with Madoc now that she betrayed him. I am also very excited to see if Vivi will be in the next one. This series has the potential to be one of my favorites if the romance can either disappear or be well developed and not be because of their last encounters. (hide spoiler)]

Mary-Jane wrote: "Ilsen wrote: " Until Chapter 18

I do feel that Jude is being kinda careless. She is a spy for the court and here she is partying with Locke and then going to Prince Balekin’s palace on a hunch. ..."

This book really makes you not trust other people. Madoc is a very interesting character. He loves the girls but at the same time, he holds war and power to the highest regard but he also loves family. He’s very complex and is not the usual antagonist. And you will need the sequel ASAP. I’m constantly thinking about the story so I will want to get on it super quickly. I don’t know about the romance. I don’t even think it’s in that level. I see them as forced acquaintances almost.

Mary-Jane wrote: "Ilsen wrote: " Until Chapter 18

I do feel that Jude is being kinda careless. She is a spy for the court and here she is partying with Locke and then going to Prince Balekin’s palace on a hunch. ..."

This book really makes you not trust other people. I think that Vivi is very trustworthy. She doesn’t even like the Faerie Courts. She just wants to go back to the mortal world. Prince Dain just gets worse. Like he’s pretty terrible. The only one that seems pretty ok from the royal family is Princess Rhyia, Vivi’s only friend from Faerie. Valerian did try to kill her and he was pretty terrible, but I guess it shows that Jude is a completely different person due to her experience in the Court of Shadows. It does get really good in the next chapters! I have so much to talk about and need to get my hands on The Wicked King!

Until Chapter 24

(view spoiler)[ Omg wow so many things happened that I have to write it down immediately. Well first, Taryn completely betrayed Jude by getting with Locke. Locke tricked her which was one of the things I remembered in my reread. Locke is just an asshole breaking up sisters and he just does it for a game with Taryn being just like “I want to be like them without defying them” which is it’s own brand of cowardice. I don’t know. I really don’t like Taryn.

So to the actual political plot of the story, the lay down is that the messenger that they were sent out to kill was one of Madoc’s spies. But Balekin and Madoc had an agreement, I guess you can say, to not let Prince Dain be king. Because it turns out he was just as bad as Balekin but more on that later. So Balekin has a plan to kill the more elder siblings of the High King so he has better chance of becoming king and so Eldren has no choice but to crown him. Except he doesn’t so he just starts killing his family left and right until he finds someone to crown him king because he can’t do it himself or he’s cursed. The only one left out of the family is Cardan because he got too drunk.

So more on the political drama, Oriana (Madoc’s wife) and Liriope (Locke’s mother) were both king consorts. Liriope was the consort for Eldred and Prince Dain. Just for fun. Oriana and Liriope were friends. So when Liriope was pregnant, she had the child and Prince Dain poisoned her just to keep her and the child from getting the crown. We learn from Cardan this information while getting him out of the mess that is the coronation with no real king as of yet because no one wants to pledge to murderer Balekin and now the other courts see it as free for all to do as they please. But anyways we learn from Cardan that Prince Dain is worse than he appears. He made it out to be that his other elder siblings were not made for the throne. He even poisoned Eldred a bit just to get him away from the crown.

So Prince Dain killed his child because he saw a fate where it said “If the boy is born, Prince Dain will never be king”. And so he made sure he did everything in his power to become king. Except that it didn’t work. He poisoned Liriope but she told her friend to take him from her and keep him safe from the courts. Oriana took Oak and got protection from Madoc. And that is connected to the golden acorn that Jude found. And now we know Madoc’s reasoning for betraying Dain. Oak is royal family. Since he is too young to be king, Madoc could become regent. But it’s also about family.

What’s going to happen to Oak? Also what about the plan to go to the mortal world with Vivi? I would like to see her go but also she plays a part in knowing political standpoints of everyone. She’s the only one that knows of Oak. This is so much. Like we need a reality TV show of just faeries. But obviously I’m really invested in the story! I don’t think Balekin would be king and Madoc is just using him as a pawn. As with Jude and Cardan, I’m starting to like him a slight better. But it’s not that bad. I was just angry at the ship for some reason when I first read it. It’s really good though. (hide spoiler)]

Mary-Jane wrote: "Ilsen wrote: " Until Chapter 12

So here is where the action starts. Prince Dain offers Jude the position to be a spy hence we will know a lot more about the politics in Faerieland. Locke helps J..."

I mean I think that Jude was thinking this was her only shot in being accepted. While it’s not the traditional way, it’s better than nothing. I don’t trust Cardan either. He can maybe turn around but I don’t think by much. He’s still a Faerie Prince and she’s just a human.

Yes I love the bi rep with Vivi as well especially they don’t try very hard to show it! Like it’s subtle and it doesn’t become the whole focus of the story and it’s just normal. Especially how in this climate right now, in Pride month, some people don’t think it’s normal.

I also felt sad for Jude when she felt like she didn’t belong in her original world and Faerie world was not her original world so she doesn’t belong in that either. I hope she finds her way soon.

Until Chapter 18

(view spoiler)[ I do feel that Jude is being kinda careless. She is a spy for the court and here she is partying with Locke and then going to Prince Balekin’s palace on a hunch. It was terrible what really happened to Sophie but I don’t feel like she will have a life to come back to almost. Especially if she’s haunted by faeries but it was still terrible.

I mean all the court is terrible and corrupt. Prince Dain is not in any way trying to help Jude. He just wants to use her for his own personal gain. Who knows if afterwards Jude will be discarded from Court of Shadows? I don’t know but she is starting to realize that all of the courts have their dirty little secrets.

I don’t like Locke. I don’t trust him. Although what happened with his mother is going to have a bigger part of the story. I mean Oriana already knows about it even without naming her. There is something about to be revealed later.

Right now Jude is going into her descent of what she just gotten herself into. She may have wanted to be accepted into Faerie World but she also has to give up a part of herself. I mean she just killed Valerian!! She doesn’t feel that much remorse because he has tried to kill her twice already but it is still horrifying to see someone like that and pretend everything is ok.

I don’t know what Cardan’s deal is. Don’t get me wrong, he is still abusive and terrible but he doesn’t seem as bad as I remembered. He just looks at Jude with contempt and Jude is sorta afraid of him but also extremely hates him. But he didn’t order Valerian to be cruel to Jude and he said that the wound was what he deserved. I just hope more things are revealed soon.

As for the sisters, Taryn is getting farther and farther away. She just seems annoying to me. But I love Vivi and Jude interacting together. They are the real sisters unlike Taryn who at this point just scolds her for everything. I am interested to read the novella after this. And Oak is cute and I like him. So far I really like the book. (hide spoiler)]

Right?? The book is just so engaging! And don’t worry. Just let me know if you fall too far behind.

Until Chapter 12

(view spoiler)[ So here is where the action starts. Prince Dain offers Jude the position to be a spy hence we will know a lot more about the politics in Faerieland. Locke helps Jude when she takes faerie fruit and is under the spell. I mean I think Cardan gives her some kindness by pinching her thumb so she can suck the blood. I still don’t like Cardan though. Or Locke.

I know we are supposed to feel bad for Cardan and I do kinda for the treatment he receives from Prince Balekin but that doesn’t mean it gives him any redemption. He is still a terrible person who treats Jude terribly. Sure they would treat any mortal terribly in the land of Fae, one can argue but he continues to use his power against other faeries because he’s a prince. Even though he himself has went through abuse, that doesn’t excuse him for being abusive to others.

As for Vivi, I liked that she defies Madoc and goes to the human world. I love how being bisexual or any part of the LGBTQ+ doesn’t matter to the fae. Jude just standing out from the human world. She feels the human world is alien but she also doesn’t fit into the faerie world, even though she wants to. I would like to see Jude’s progression. And Taryn is getting farther away from Jude and that’s just sad. Sisters should stay together. (hide spoiler)]

Until Chapter 6

(view spoiler)[ Even with the map, I still get confused by the setting. The faeries are intriguing but terrifying. I feel drawn to them just as Jude would. I admire Jude to be seen as a knight and be recognized by the Faerie court but I can also see why Taryn has a point. They should be more careful and not defy the Faerie court because they are not Faeries. This is only the introduction so I’m excited to see the political intrigue start with The Summer Tournament. (hide spoiler)]

The Cruel Prince:

June 16th: Until Chapter 6
June 18th: Until Chapter 12
June 20th: Until Chapter 18
June 22nd: Until Chapter 24
June 24th: Until The End

Let me know if you think it’s good or if you want a different schedule.

Schedule will be coming soon and it will start on June 15th

Oh no it’s ok. I’m sorry that the book bored you so much. It’s ok. I’ve been very busy as well but I hope you’re reading something good!

Wow I am so sorry. I have been so busy with everything but I still want to know your thoughts!

(view spoiler)[ OMG ME TOO. When they were doing the flirting, I was like “WAIT HUH” but then I realized they were older and I’m like “Oh ok but still”. They do have such a strong bond. I love their relationship.

His mom just gets worse unfortunately. And Deidameia is just so annoying ugh I couldn’t stand her. But I feel bad for Lycomedes. (hide spoiler)]

Oh don’t worry about it! Just take the time you need! I would still love to discuss. There’s also other discussion questions that they have that we can do as well!

Until the end

(view spoiler)[ Those last three chapters were the most beautiful chapters. Even though Patroclus is dead physically, his voice is still alive as it takes a while for him to fully rest. Achilles is on the hunt for Hector and he finds no more will to live after he finds out Patroclus’ death. He realized the error of his ways but way too late. In return, he didn’t care about honor.

In a way, it is Thetis’ own fault for making honor and glory such a big deal. And Patroclus was right. Yea he got glory for killing a lot of people and is that really glory? Patroclus remembered him for all the good deeds he had done and that’s what makes people honor and respect him. Pyrrhus was feared but he died quickly because he showed no remorse for anyone. Thetis realized that Achilles having humanity was better and then had Patroclus and Achilles reunited in the underworld. It was beautiful. Although very tragic as well. (hide spoiler)]

I will not start Circe until you are finished with this and plus I really want to discuss with you further so don’t worry about the schedule! I’ll just change the dates.

Until Chapter 30

(view spoiler)[ So of course Agamemnon messes things up with his pride. He wanted a girl that happens to be the daughter of a priest of Apollo. The priest wishes bad on the army that refuses to give her daughter back. The plague comes upon them. Agamemnon still refuses and Achilles says his pride is killing the army. Which is true. The biggest of ironies is that Achilles starts to be swept up of honor and pride.

He starts to go mad with it and Patroclus just stands by and watches the boy he loved disappear. Achilles is saying is because of Agamemnon but soon it’s because of his own pride that he is willing for everyone to die just for people to bow at your feet. It is greed for power and Achilles becomes the very thing he despises. Gives up on his own morals and ethics just for the sake of reputation and pride which is something that Patroclus notices. The fact that Patroclus has to appeal to that prideful side to just help just shows how deep the root of the problem is.

And then Patroclus dies which I mention I thought it was Patroclus’ POV the whole time because I thought Achilles would die. But no of course he wouldn’t kill Hector unless he did anything to him. And he killed his true love. Patroclus’ last thought was Achilles. Even when he cared for Briseis, he still thought about Achilles even though he was becoming arrogant and completely different from the boy he knew. UGH ACHILLES! Stop letting your stupid pride in the way. We know that Achilles would die but honestly it was at the loss of so many others so that is karma. Maybe he will have the realization that he was being stupid. Or not. Let us see. (hide spoiler)]

Until Chapter 3

(view spoiler)[ Oh yea toxic masculinity. Something that existed in that time unfortunately. I have a feeling it will be more challenged in Circe but since there isn’t many female protagonists here, it’s not as challenged. Although not everyone has toxic masculinity.

Yea Patroclus really meant no harm at all! But without Patroclus, I don’t think the story would have been the same. (hide spoiler)]

Until Chapter 24

(view spoiler)[ Poor Achilles feels so guilty when the girl dies and is starting to ask Patroclus about what happened when he was exiled. But then right afterwards, he starts killing for the war. The difference between Patroclus and Achilles is that Patroclus feels remorse and not saying that Achilles doesn’t, but Achilles was made for war. Even here, in the upcoming chapters, Patroclus is shown to be better as a healer than a fighter and Achilles was born to fight. You can also see how much of his character is changing.

As the war keeps fighting on, he has started to get used to killing people and raiding the villages even though it is such a monstrous act. And that’s why this book is in Patroclus’s POV. One reader can say it’s obvious that Achilles will die because of his lack of POV but I say it’s more that if we had the war in Achilles’ perspective, you will start to normalize war and that is not the point of this book. You are supposed to see the horrors of the war and how Achilles is slowly changing because of him getting used to the war. If it was done in his perspective, it would have been written off as normal but since Patroclus is not a fighter and is just normal in the sense that he doesn’t want to fight for anything, you are exposed to how truly horrible war is and the effect it can have people whether it be greed from Agamemnon, savagery from Diomedes, trickery from Odysseus, or the price of glory and sacrifice from Achilles. You can only get the full picture from Patroclus.

The soldiers are also rioting from how long the war is and you see that more of Agamemnon’s greediness as he killed a soldier because they wanted to go home after four years of just stalemate. Nothing was happening. Achilles stepped up to the plate and told them to stay even though we all know the actual war will last even longer. It also introduces the mob mentality of the soldier and how easy it is to persuade them with just Achilles’ word and how much power he holds over the soldiers. Who knows if the power actually gets to his head? It may actually already happened as Patroclus takes up the healing position and knows all the soldier’s names whereas Achilles says “I rather all of them remember me” which just shows he already feels as if he is superior to all of them. In terms of physical terms, he technically is but that does not mean to treat others as such. But the point is that the mob mentality is definitely taking place with the soldiers as they stop their rioting and consider the soldier as just another body again. Remorse and anger gone in minutes due to Achilles’ words and the horror displayed in Patroclus’ eyes.

As in terms of their bond, you can see they start to grow distant with their different views. Patroclus the healer and Achilles the fighter. Their love for each other is still strong but now with the addition of Briseis, he is starting to question whether he wants children as he is now 20 years old. It’s super weird to see how the book progresses and as the war goes on, the time lapse is longer. I do not know how their love will end up but I have a feeling Briseis is starting to get more prominent in the story. Although Patroclus’ saving of the women is definitely a heroic act through all the terrors of the war which it does show how terribly treated the women are by the Greeks.

Also, to point out, I’m not sure how the prophecy will change. I’m still kinda confused on that front. Hopefully everything will pan out in these next couple of chapters. (hide spoiler)]

Until Chapter 18

(view spoiler)[ Yo Patroclus why??? Why did you have to go have sex with Deidameia? Infidelity may not be a big deal to the Greeks and I know it won’t matter but just ughhhh.. I feel guilty. Also, this totally hints that Patroclus is bisexual because he liked it and Achilles did not. Also Deidameia clearly was just feeling like crap and low self esteem. Just ugh.

Thetis really did Deidameia and Lycomedes dirty. First, she lied to Lycomedes and had Achilles as Pyrra and then had Deidameia marry him and make it seem like he loves her when he doesn’t. He only did it so Patroclus can know where he is. And then it turns out that now Thetis wants to claim Achilles and Deidameia’s child for her god and Deidameia is left all alone. And poor Lycomedes is just left with tragedy and Achilles is off to be a hero.

Will the prophecy come to fruition? Probably but it is something I don’t want to happen. Also Odysseus is a prick but I already knew this from reading the tale of Odysseus in school. I mean he cheated on his so called “lovely” wife Penélope with sirens while Penélope stayed faithful. But in this reimagining, he is still terrible.

The whole scene of how Agamemnon (also an asshole) was setting up his daughter to get married with Achilles and instead murders her to have the goddess appeased. Human sacrifice is even said to be frowned upon to everyone else and they are fooling everyone. While Achilles likes the fame, will he really be able to live up to it? It was his first death and that is so traumatizing and even worse when it’s blindsided. I do want to see what happens but my lord, this is probably going to get life brutal. (hide spoiler)]

It’s ok. I’m also really behind as well. I just got to Chapter 12. I’m hoping to get as much as I can today before I have to do chores.

Until Chapter 12

(view spoiler)[ So much has happened since Chapter 6. I think things are really starting to pick up. The first part was just to introduce Achilles and Patroclus and how they grew closer together. What developed afterwards was such a chain of events that wow I can’t believe that just happened.

Awww Patroclus really liked him and went to kiss him. Of course I knew that Achilles liked him back. Like they both nuzzled each other good morning and was flirting with each other. But obviously Achilles was scared of his mom reacting which omg his mom is definitely not someone you want to mess with. I knew nothing was going to happen to him but I was scared for him.

So Achilles has to go become a God to appeal to his mom. And he wants Patroclus to go but he doesn’t make it obvious but the bond is so strong that he goes with him. I also really like Chiron as well and he lets Patroclus stay even though he wasn’t allowed to. They really bonded more and then Achilles and Patroclus got together and acknowledged their feelings together and the scene that happened between them was very passionate. Like damnnn Achilles! Chiron is teaching them how to be peaceful and Patroclus grows and is more brave in what he wants.

So then Achilles is called to go to war and to lead the war and he doesn’t want to do it. But then something interesting comes up in the beginning when Menoitius wanted “Patroclus” to marry Helen so he could get the riches. It didn’t work but they all took an oath to defend the husband of Helen if she were to be taken. Patroclus was so young and he thought it was all a dream. And I just reread the scene and even though he was young and it was under his father’s name, he still has to fight I think. And Achilles wants to try to stop him.

There’s even more. Achilles was asked to lead but his mom did not want to do it so he kidnapped him and took him to the land of Sycros where he had to pretend to be a girl and marry Deidameia because he thought Thetis would tell Patroclus where he was if he did. Which obviously that did not happen. He had to find him himself and asked Peleus to tell him where he is because he refused to lose Achilles. But this whole plot just to get him away from the war and even then it’s only because he’s too young?? And then you realize how naive Achilles is because he thinks that his mom who hates Patroclus would tell him where he is. Also Deidameia is ughh. I don’t know even know what she’s going to do with the baby. Ugh what a mess. I want to know what happens. Patroclus forgives Achilles but I wonder if the dynamic of their relationship will change. And obviously they will go to the war but when exactly? I definitely want to keep reading to find out! (hide spoiler)]