The Challenge Factory discussion

Erin and Trea - Red Queen and Series?

Series:
Queen Song
Steel Scars
The above books are combined in Cruel Crown
Red Queen
Glass Sword
King's Cage
Untitled

I added the option to read the entire series as a buddy read, if you're interested.

Have you read the prequel novellas? I did, and didn't think they were that great. I'm interested to see how Red Queen turns out!

Also, how far have you gotten in Red Queen?

I didn't realize there were prequels, so I haven't read them. If I like Red Queen, I'll read them afterward.
I'm in the middle of chapter 4 right now. At this point, I don't love it, but I don't hate it. I like the storyline so far, but there are certain elements that are just very weird to me. It got such good reviews though so I'm hoping it'll get better.

Erin wrote: "I didn't realize there were prequels, so I haven't read them. If I like Red Queen, I'll read them afterward.
I'm in the middle of chapter 4 right now. At this point, I don't love it, but I don't ha..."

Ah, ok!

I've got to get dinner going for my family, but afterwords I'll sit down and start this one!

I won't be getting through it too fast. This is the ebook I'll be reading bits of here and there throughout the day. I've got two other books in hard copy I'll be reading at night after my son goes to bed - when I'm not busy baking Christmas cookies :-P

Erin wrote: "I won't be getting through it too fast. This is the ebook I'll be reading bits of here and there throughout the day. I've got two other books in hard copy I'll be reading at night after my son goes..."

That actually works for me! I just got a digital library loan that I have to get through fairly quickly because the following book is due back in less than two weeks! I'll see how far I get tonight, then plan from there.

Well, I never actually got any reading done on Sunday night or Monday, but I did get a chance to sit down with it last night. I'm at the beginning of Chapter 14, and I'm agreeing with you: I don't love it, but it doesn't suck either.

My plan is to get to the end of Chapter 16 today, then read about 4 chapters a day until it is done.

Wow, you've blown way past me :-P
I'm on chapter 8 right now. I'll try to devote some extra time to this one now since I'm also reading a book I own (no time restraints to finish) and one that's not due back until the end of the month (with multiple copies still available so I will probably be able to renew it).

Erin wrote: "Wow, you've blown way past me :-P
I'm on chapter 8 right now. I'll try to devote some extra time to this one now since I'm also reading a book I own (no time restraints to finish) and one that's no..."

Eh, no rush. I haven't been reading this one this morning (tis my day off), so I went and focused on the digital library loan that I got the other day.

Well, I never ended up sitting down with this on the 7th, and instead sat down last night with it, still on Chapter 14. Things started really picking up in it, and I had a difficult time putting it down! I wound up finishing it, though, so I'll wait to discuss until you finish it.

Oh wow! I'm glad to hear it does get better. I fell asleep in the middle of chapter 15 last night still thinking the book was only ok and wondering how it got such good reviews. Though, with such a slow start, I'm still not convinced it could deserve the 4 stars it has.

I'm getting through slowly but surely! This time of year is so busy with buying/wrapping/mailing presents, baking, doing Christmas cards. And I have a 1 year old which doesn't help :-P
I'm not even doing any decorating aside from the tree and hanging stockings!

Erin wrote: "Oh wow! I'm glad to hear it does get better. I fell asleep in the middle of chapter 15 last night still thinking the book was only ok and wondering how it got such good reviews. Though, with such a slow start, I'm still not convinced it could deserve the 4 stars it has.

I'm getting through slowly but surely! This time of year is so busy with buying/wrapping/mailing presents, baking, doing Christmas cards. And I have a 1 year old which doesn't help :-P
I'm not even doing any decorating aside from the tree and hanging stockings!"

I'm only going to give it 3 stars when I review it...it is definitely not worth 4! It reminds me a lot of The Jewel, but is a bit better than that story.

I understand about it being busy! I only have half my gifts wrapped, though I did get all my cards sent out! My son is 7, and homeschooled, so it doesn't give me much opportunity to do so!

We've got a small apartment, only half a duplex, so all the decorating we do is a wreath on the door, a very small tree, and stockings. Any cards we get go in a card holder on the back of the door.

I made it to chapter 19 today and I do find the story picking up some. At this point, Mare has just kissed Cal which I was pretty surprised by. I was hoping that maybe she and Maven would click (though I also wish she could end up with Kilorn)... I'm relating this to The Hunger Games, wondering if she'll end up with Kilorn (Gale) or Maven (Peeta).

Since the title is "Red Queen," I thought perhaps Cal would end up dying in battle when he goes off to fight thus making Maven next in line to be king which would make Mare the queen. But... Julian despises Maven and states that he's just like his mother, which makes me wonder if maybe he's just trying to infiltrate the Red Guard to take them down from the inside.

Of course, you've finished the book so you know what happens... Just putting my thoughts out there...

A few other things I've been thinking:
*The names for the different abilities annoy me. I mean, some of them aren't so bad, but others are just awful. Telky?!? I can't stand it! I wish the author had been a bit more creative here.
*In the same vein... How some of the Silvers use their abilities is just a little too outlandish for my taste (obviously this isn't a realistic story, but I still have trouble with it nonetheless).
*Rane Arven = Violetta from The Young Elites = Setrakus Ra from the Lorien Legacies series :-P
*I did think it was strange that Rane was able to take away Mare's abilities since she's not a Silver and her power works differently than theirs do... Do we find out how/why Mare has abilities? (that's rhetorical - I'll find out soon enough).

I've never read The Jewel, but if this is better than that, I don't think it's worth adding to my TBR list... That list is already pretty long!

I'm jealous you got your cards out! I just ordered mine a couple days ago (and felt rushed because I was running out of time so I now regret the photo I chose for the card, smh...) I'm now waiting for them to arrive so I can get them out. Next year I seriously need to start thinking about the Christmas card photo as soon as November hits. It's just too stressful. (But hopefully a 2 year old will be more cooperative than a 1 year old?)

Erin wrote: "I made it to chapter 19 today and I do find the story picking up some. At this point, Mare has just kissed Cal which I was pretty surprised by. I was hoping that maybe she and Maven would click (th..."

I was seeing the triangle as more between Maven and Cal rather than Kilorn, simply because I could tell that she only saw Kilorn as someone to take care of, not someone that she could build a life with. Knowing the end as I do, Maven is most assuredly NOT Peeta! Cal is more Peeta than anything else, but I think Cal is actually Gale and Peeta both.

When I had gotten to where you are, I was thinking that Cal would die too, but there's another way Mare could become the Red Queen...and it isn't a pleasant one! Trust your instincts though about Maven's reasons for infiltrating the Scarlet Guard.

About your other points mentioned:
**Yeah, the naming thing was annoying, but I think that the author did it to show the Reds' disdain for the Silvers and their abilities. It's the only way the Reds can humiliate them, as they have been humiliated. (And yeah, the ways the abilities have been used have been over the top, especially in the ending chapters!)

**I haven't read either of those series that you mention about Rane, so I'm not understanding the reference. And, yeah, it is very odd that he's able to shut down Mare like he is, especially with what you will learn about why she has abilities. All I have to say is that she's not alone...

**I read the prequels for The Jewel, and kinda enjoyed them, but the first book was just not up to that standard! I might read the rest of the series, but I'm not eager to do so.

**((laughs)) I'm going to hazard a guess and say your little one will be worse when they're two not better, if mine was anything to measure by!

I did see Cal in the triangle somewhat, but he was the most minor component. Mainly, this is because after Mare is chosen for Maven, she thinks about the life that could have been:

"Conscription. Survival. Green-eyed children with my quick feet and Kilorn's last name. That future was almost impossible before; now it's nonexistent."

Prior to this, I didn't really see Kilorn as a love interest. But this reveals that she did expect to end up with him if they survived conscription.

*I like the idea of Reds using dumb names for the abilities as a way to humiliate the Silvers, as they have been humiliated... But don't the Silvers use those terms for each other as well? I would think they would have more "proper" names for them.

*The series I referenced also involve individuals with abilities/powers...
~The Lorien Legacies is about alien children who escape to Earth when their planet is destroyed by the Mogadorians. They all have powers (as is the norm on their planet). I really liked the series, despite the fact that there were some discrepancies throughout (I read the main books as well as all of the supplemental "Lost Files").
~The Young Elites is somewhat similar to Red Queen. Except, it's those with the abilities (which manifested in children who survived the "blood fever" that swept the nation) who are suppressed. The first book wasn't fantastic, but I somewhat enjoyed it and may pick up the next book in the series sometime.
~I won't elaborate on the comparison I made in case you decide to read either series...

*And darn! I'm still hoping that he'll understand more when he's 2 so when I say, "Sit still!" he'll sit for at least 30 seconds so I can get a picture. (And if he wants to be uncooperative, I was planning to try, "Sit still and I'll give you a cookie!") Right now, he knows "choo-choo" and "socks" but he doesn't understand much else.

Erin wrote: "I did see Cal in the triangle somewhat, but he was the most minor component. Mainly, this is because after Mare is chosen for Maven, she thinks about the life that could have been:

"Conscription. ..."

I totally forgot about this line! Yeah, I could see how he would be a love interest after reading this again.

I don't remember the Silvers ever using the terms about themselves, I think it was always Mare or the Scarlet Guard that used those terms, as far as I can remember, the Silvers never referred to their abilities.

I have the first book of The Young Elites in my TBR, but haven't gotten to it yet.

My son is 7, and he still hasn't gotten the sit still part down yet! You might try having a favorite toy handy, and hold it right next to the camera, so your little one focuses on it rather than trying to move out of someone's arms or his chair. That worked a bit for my son!

I'll try to pay close attention when I'm reading to see if a Silver uses one of the lame names for an ability :-P
I thought maybe they had when Mare was being trained...

Erin wrote: "I'll try to pay close attention when I'm reading to see if a Silver uses one of the lame names for an ability :-P
I thought maybe they had when Mare was being trained..."

I think that was just Mare's internal dialogue, but I could be wrong...

Well, I've got 3 chapters and the epilogue left and this book just isn't doing much for me.

I have noted that the Silvers themselves don't use the "names" for their abilities much. Julian does use the term "singer" to identify his and his sister's power. His sister was known as the "Singer Queen." And Cal instructs, "Put nymphs on the other side," after the bridge is blown up. I suppose those aren't nearly as lame as "telky" so I'll make my peace with that.

But something else that bothers me a lot are the seemingly constant overreactions of the characters. I noted it awhile ago, but the most recent example I can give occurs after Mare and Maven travel to Naercey... Maven willingly went along with the plan to execute the 4 Silvers whose names he gave up. Yet, when Farley brings up the Measures that were created as a result of the attack at the ball, Maven gets angry, slams the table, and snaps "Now they're hunting you." I just don't get it.

Maybe I'm too old or something, but I'm finding that I can't relate to any of the characters at all. None of them act or respond to things the way that I would.

Erin wrote: "Well, I've got 3 chapters and the epilogue left and this book just isn't doing much for me. ...

Maybe I'm too old or something, but I'm finding that I can't relate to any of the characters at all. None of them act or respond to things the way that I would. "

I agree! The book was ok, but I'm in no hurry to read the follow up, if at all!

You've probably already seen what Maven is up to by now...and I think he's a total jerk, and maybe more than somewhat crazy!

Just finished... and I really wasn't impressed. I didn't hate it, but I really didn't like it and have no desire to read any more of the series. I'm seriously baffled by the rating on here!

I definitely liked The Young Elites more and I'd much rather continue that series than this one.

Erin wrote: "Just finished... and I really wasn't impressed. I didn't hate it, but I really didn't like it and have no desire to read any more of the series. I'm seriously baffled by the rating on here!

I definitely liked The Young Elites more and I'd much rather continue that series than this one."

Understandable...and I'll probably just read it at some point, if I don't outright just abandon it.

How far have you gotten in the Young Elites series? I'd be willing to buddy read it with you and try to catch up real quick, if you want to read it together?

A buddy read for Young Elites would be fun. I've only read the first book so far and I probably won't be able to pick up the second one until the end of January at the earliest. So there's no big rush for you to read the first one.

Have you read Red Rising? I saw a few people compare this series to that one in reviews and that one is on my tbr list. I'm just wondering if that one is actually better as people seem to think...

Erin wrote: "A buddy read for Young Elites would be fun. I've only read the first book so far and I probably won't be able to pick up the second one until the end of January at the earliest. So there's no big r..."

That works, because I wouldn't be able to get it until early February anyway!

I haven't read Red Rising, but I do own a copy of it, so I'd be willing to do a buddy read on it too at some point!

I'm going to send you a friend request, see if you want to coordinate some of these in 2017.

February sounds good for Young Elites :-)

I've been trying to finish The Name of the Wind since October and it keeps getting pushed aside for various reasons, though I am liking it so far. I'm determined to tackle it in January!

And yeah, I'd like to read Red Rising at some point. Perhaps when we finish Young Elites we can move on to that one...

Erin wrote: "February sounds good for Young Elites :-)

...

And yeah, I'd like to read Red Rising at some point. Perhaps when we finish Young Elites we can move on to that one... "

Sounds like a plan to me! I'll add it to my template for sign ups!

I'm trying to be productive and plan out my reading for later on in the year, Erin, and wanted to check in with you. Are you interested in reading the rest of the series, say in April or so? Totally cool if you're not, I just thought I'd ask.

Also, we mentioned reading Red Rising in this thread, are you still interested in doing that?

I'll pass on the rest of this series. I've got a lot of books lined up that I'm very eager to read, and this one didn't do much for me. So many books, so little time!
I would like to read Red Rising, but I'm getting backed up on my reading plan, so I don't think I'll get around to it until later in the year. This month was full and then hubby decided he was ready to read The Bourne Identity with me - another almost 600 pages! :-P
If you're eager to read Red Rising, you don't need to wait for me. I won't be offended in the least!

Erin wrote: "I'll pass on the rest of this series. I've got a lot of books lined up that I'm very eager to read, and this one didn't do much for me. So many books, so little time!
I would like to read Red Risin..."

Ha, you sound like me! I'm backed up on my reading plan too, and am in no rush for Red Rising, and am more than willing to hold off until you're ready to read it. Just give me a shout a month ahead of time and I'll definitely Buddy Read it with you!

Alright! Will do! :-)