Challenge Corner discussion

OND ELDR. BREATHE FIRE.

Raised to be a warrior, seventeen-year-old Eelyn fights alongside her Aska clansmen in an ancient rivalry against the Riki clan. Her life is brutal but simple: fight and survive. Until the day she sees the impossible on the battlefield — her brother, fighting with the enemy — the brother she watched die five years ago.

Faced with her brother's betrayal, she must survive the winter in the mountains with the Riki, in a village where every neighbor is an enemy, every battle scar possibly one she delivered. But when the Riki village is raided by a ruthless clan thought to be a legend, Eelyn is even more desperate to get back to her beloved family.

She is given no choice but to trust Fiske, her brother’s friend, who sees her as a threat. They must do the impossible: unite the clans to fight together, or risk being slaughtered one by one. Driven by a love for her clan and her growing love for Fiske, Eelyn must confront her own definition of loyalty and family while daring to put her faith in the people she’s spent her life hating.

Ch. 8 (view spoiler)[ So far I feel like I don't know much about the characters besides that they are warriors and the Riki and Aska don't like each other. How is her brother alive? And why is he keeping her prison? I like the worldbuilding so far, it's very well done. And the short chapters are amazing!! (hide spoiler)]

Ch. 26 (view spoiler)[ FINALLY SOMETHING INTERESTING HAPPENED!! Besides Fiske totally falling in love with her, the plot was so boring. But now there was a Herja raid and Halvard was taken. Eelyn is slowing coming to feel something for these people. I loved seeing her fight again. I'm really glad she didn't die attached to that tree. (hide spoiler)]

Ch. 33 (view spoiler)[ I loved seeing Eelyn and Fiske work together to rescue Halvard. I'm glad Eelyn rescued the Tala as well, I might've left her there. I'm feeling vindictive and petty towards her so... Fiske is so clearly in love with Eelyn, I can't believe she doesn't see it. I like that there haven't been any love declaration yet tho. I wonder if they'll be able to unite the Aska and Riki against the Herja. (hide spoiler)]

Finally fucking finished argh (view spoiler)[ The pacing for this book was all over the place. I liked the story, but god it was so slow for the first half and too rushed for the last half. Also that last battle didn't feel very realistic, someone Eelyn loved should've died like Myra or Iri or her father. The ending was cute though-I definitely shipped Fiske and Eelyn (hide spoiler)]

Chapters 1-12 (view spoiler)[ Even though I get that there's obviously more to the story, I am totally on Eelyn's side about her brother being a traitor. That would be awful. You see your brother dead then one day he's fighting with your enemies and killing your people. And then he takes you to his village where you're made into a slave. Wow, poor girl. I'm excited to learn more about what happened with Iri. Also, I wonder if Eelyn will fall for Fiske? (hide spoiler)]

Chapters 13-24 (view spoiler)[ So now we know why Iri stayed with the Riki, but I still feel for Eelyn. I was really worried that man was going to rape her and I'm so glad he didn't, that would be terrible. I can see Eelyn getting closer to Fiske, which I like. But then she'll be in the same spot as her brother. It's not black and white, I wonder if somehow they can unite their people against the Herja. (hide spoiler)]

Chapters 25-36 (view spoiler)[ I'm so happy that Eelyn and Fiske kissed! It's going to be difficult to explain to her father and people, they'll probably think she's a traitor like her brother. I hope they can unite over the common enemy and eventually get along. I really like this so far. (hide spoiler)]

Finished I really liked this book! I read it all at once and was sucked in from the first battle. (view spoiler)[ I'm so happy that Eelyn and Fiske and Iri and Myra all made it out. And now hopefully the clans will continue mixing and their people can become one. (hide spoiler)] great story!

Andrea wrote: "Finally fucking finished argh [spoilers removed]"

I really liked it, but I get what you mean. (view spoiler)[ I was also expecting Myra or her father not to make it out of the battle. Fiske and Eelyn are super cute together. (hide spoiler)]

Aly wrote: "Andrea wrote: "Finally fucking finished argh [spoilers removed]"

I really liked it, but I get what you mean. [spoilers removed]"

I guess I found it extra strange since (view spoiler)[ there was plenty of death when the Herja attacked and since the Aska and Riki fought so often. (hide spoiler)]

Ch1 (view spoiler)[Okay, that was a pretty intriguing first chapter. I love that the men and women fight together, and that the females aren’t left behind to tend the home while the men go to war 💕

Also, did her brother really die, or was he just in a near death state? I don’t know whether this story has magic or anything at this stage so I have no idea 8’D

Really interesting having her ‘dead’ brother save HER from death while in the middle of a battle... (hide spoiler)]

A little late but starting this one tonight!

Chapters 1-7: (view spoiler)[ man what a way to start! Poor Eelyn! To mourn your dead brother only to find him before you in battle. I really hope we get his story about how he came to be with the Riki. Also curious about Fiske and his relationship wkth Iri. So many questi
ons!! (hide spoiler)]

Chapters 8-15: (view spoiler)[ this is really good. I am loving it so far. I really feel for Eelyn. Not only is she prisoner but she has to watch her brother be part of another clan basically turning his back on all that je knows. I want to know what happened to him so bad. And this Fiske character - im sensing a love interest and i ship it lol. (hide spoiler)]

Chapters 16-26: (view spoiler)[ if these Herja hurt Halvard there will be hell to pay. Also it looks like someone is finding her place in this new clan even if not all accept her. I still ship her and Fiske. (hide spoiler)]

Chapters 27-42: (view spoiler)[ shes totally going to choose Fiske. I am loving this and was trying to see how this would all end. A coming together is the only likely solution as long as past grievances can be put aside. Oh man but when her father saw Iri...yeah there were tears (hide spoiler)]

Finished: (view spoiler)[ i loved this a lot more than i thought i would. While i think that the final battle felt rushed I'm happy that everyone made it safely and that they are all building a new life for themselves my merging the clans. And i adore Eelyn and Fiske (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 15: (view spoiler)[Good on her for taking the knife of the guy who may have just sexually assault Ed her and using it against him... of course considering her situation at present there’s not really much she can do either way 8’D

Curious to see where this goes actually... with her brother in love with a Riki girl are they going to somehow combine the Aska and Riki into one tribe? O.o (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 28 (view spoiler)[How many of these Herja people ARE there? Holy crap! Seems like the Riki and the Aska may need to join forces against a greater evil o.O

I’m just glad that they were able to save Halvard from slavery and/or being sacrificed. DONT TAKE THE KIDS DAMMIT. (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 45: (view spoiler)[Looks like we’re finally going to reach the crescendo of this novel! I love that the Aska and Riki are working together against the greater enemy - though I’m still really hoping for some kind of explanation regarding the Herja and exactly who or what they are...

I’m glad they managed to do a sneak attack in the wee hours of the morning in order to try and get the number of enemies down so that they might have a better chance of winning in the greater battle...

I’m also curious to know whether they will be able to save any of those that were taken or whether they’ve all been sacrificed at this stage... (hide spoiler)]

Finished! (view spoiler)[And I’m definitely disappointed that the Herja weren’t properly explained >.> They were just defeated and so they went back to where they came from and their god just went back to the darkness? What. No. EXPLANATIONS WANTED.

I’m glad that they were able to free the (still living) Riki and Aska that had been captured though c: (hide spoiler)]

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RESTARTING MARCH 9TH, 2022

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Andy wrote: "Ch. 8 [spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[

Yes, we don't know much about the characters yet. But I kinda like this style of world-building where you are just thrown into the fray as they are in the middle of an action scene and you have to just glean information about them and the world by continuing. This style beats the long monologue style world-building for sure.

I am surprised that they didn't try to make sure her brother was dead before just leaving him at the bottom of that ravine. I feel like you need to be sure. So this makes the dad sus in my opinion. (hide spoiler)]

Aly wrote: "Chapters 1-12 [spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[

For sure, it would be completely awful. But, I can see why he's grateful they saved him because his people left him for dead. But, I don't get killing the people you came from and grew up with. (hide spoiler)]

Jenn wrote: "Chapters 8-15: [spoilers removed]"

Totally agree!

30%(view spoiler)[ I am liking this book so far certain characters are not endearing themselves to me it is very Viking like in many ways I do like Eelyn though a strong willed and strong female character that I can root for. I like the characters especially Eelyn a strong character who feels very betrayed at the moment because her brother is with the enemy and she has been treated not very well at all. I am liking the plot it starts in the thick of battle where Eeyln seeing her brother whom she thought was dead so after awhile she sees him again tries to get him to go back gets captured and many not so nice things happen so the only character I like is the MC so far that main change. (hide spoiler)]

59%(view spoiler)[ This book is really good the further I get the better it is. I really like Eelyn she is strong in many ways but she does have her breaking point being attacked and left to freeze to death is definitely it I am starting to like Fiske and understand him more so things have happened and they will soon set out to find if any of her people are alive. (hide spoiler)]

85%(view spoiler)[ I am loving this book so much I really like that Eelyn and Fiske have gotten closer in a few ways on their way to find her people to defeat the threat that is affecting both clans. I really love the characters all of them were interesting to read about. I am loving the plot so far Eelyn and Fiske start out by looking for her clan and finding so much devastation they get closer looking forward to where that goes they find her clan there is conflict after awhile they agree to go back to Fiske's home to discuss what to do looking forward to finishing this book. (hide spoiler)]

100%(view spoiler)[ I loved this book so much it had an amazing ending along with an equally amazing romance that came full circle by the end. The characters were amazing they all were so interesting to read about I especially loved Eelyn and Fiske their romance was gradual and so very worth reading about two strong and interesting characters. I loved the plot what happened at the end was just Eelyn and Fiske solidifying their relationship a battle is won but with many loses with a wonderfully happy ending by the end. (hide spoiler)]

Cindee wrote: "85%[spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[

I agree, I liked that Eelyn and Fiske got closer! (hide spoiler)]

Cindee wrote: "100%[spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[
I really liked it but I don't know if I loved it. I do agree about the Eelyn and Fiske romance and how it was gradual and worth reading like you said.

I feel this book will be forgettable for me though. It's already been a week or so since I finished it an now typing these notes and I've already forgotten a lot about what happened. I don't know if I want to continue the series

I definitely enjoyed the Fable series more by this author and I remember more about it even though it's probably been a year or so since I read it (hide spoiler)]

Starting this one soon!