Books & Bites Book Club discussion

*SPOILER ALERT*
Please be aware that this thread is a spoiler-welcome zone. If you haven't finished the book and don't want to be spoiled, please wait to read this thread.

Our May book in 2020 was The Beholder by Anna Bright!

In a comment below tell us what you thought about the book!
Overall, how did you like/dislike the book?
How did you feel about Selah?
What man do you think she should pick?
Was there anything you would change?
What rating would you give this book out of 5?
Are you reading the next book in the series?

Interaction is highly encouraged. Feel free to respond to what other's are saying and create bigger conversations!

I remember reading this the first time and thinking Selah was a spoiled child, Reading it the second time I realize I couldn't have been more wrong.
The entire book to me was very Selection meets Cinderella just with shipmates instead of animals, I seriously saw Aleksi as Anastasia lol.
The idea of having to marry someone to be able to take your rightful place is one that's been done over and over but this time it felt like a fresh take, the suitors were written really well and each one both Bear and Torden were very likely matches for her, in spite of her step-mothers plotting.
I have to say I'm totally team Torden, but there's something about Bear that pulls my heartstrings, I understand he lied to her, and it was a huge lie but she knows her step-mother, if anyone should understand wanting to be sure where she's concerned it should be Selah.
Finding out the crew had their own agenda was a surprise, I really didn't see that one coming the way that it did, I had a feeling they were up to something but it went in a different direction than my brain took it.
What would it be like to have the Norde King as a father in law, how would she ever find her place there in a land where she doesn't even speak the language, is she going to fall in love again or is it truly Torden, and what was that transmission she heard when she was trying to talk to Althea, those are the questions I want answers to in the next book.
So in short I guess that's my final thought, it left me with a list of questions and wanting more, I think that's the mark of a good book, and a great story teller, I'm hoping to read alot more by Anna Bright.
Sorry for the rambling I may go in and update this later lol.

ok so i just finished the book yesterday and before i forget all the details i must right it down.

slightly off topic i would like to say that that this audio book was a bit off for me. i felt that on several occasions the narrator said the names differently so i kept thinking there were even more characters then there really were, i realize that having the accents didn't help or having such unusual names either. just thought i should mention this and see if i was the only one having issues, it's ok if i am ....lol

ok so first thoughts after reading it.....HOLY CRAP CLIFFHANGERS BATMAN !!!!!! i got more questions then when i started ! here are just a few:

* Who is Hansel and Gretel ? the radio people
* Is lang good or bad.....or a combo?
* Same for Bear......more on him later
*Torden......ahhhhh why didn't u jump on the boat too with Selah?
* Why didn't Torden leave he has gobs of siblings let, whey not let them grow up and take lead and you help Selah ! She has no one to help her but the godmother lady.
* Will the evil lady Imperiya Yotne from the other land catch up with them, learn of what happens and not let the children pass like in the story ?
* is this all a going to end up a story book like land or real?
* is Torden's dad going to take his anger out on Torden or other brothers
* is Alex/lexis ( again spelliing) up to something ?
*** Most important question is the next book going to be on audio right away from the library so i can hopefully get these answers, cause as much as i was tricked by the audio, you all know i not likely to actually read the book right ?

Ok so here is what i think..... Loved the book. i thought it got a bit political/ weird geography for me. Too many made up lands and wars and i got lost in that.....just tell me which group of peeps are good and bad and leave the made up wars, boundaries, fights, lineage out of it. There were alot of characters in this book which was sometime fun and sometimes hard to understand, because we didn't really get to know most of them too well. i was constantly shocked and surprised by what they would do and in most of them in a good way. I under stand why bear did what he did, but i can't fault Selah for her reaction either. if she goes whit him she will be know for all times as the foolish, naive, rule breaking player. No one will take her seriously or as smart leader. But Bear and his people owe her and i hope she uses them to help her cause in book two. maybe then i can like him again.

#2,, Torden has his own issues one of the biggest ones is his dad and his old way of thinking. but really Torden should of left with her, came to her homeland for a bit to show his dad how serious he was to make this work and used that as a bargaining chip to brige the gap ! the complete each other so well and i finally felt Selah could be happy. Also i think they should have turned around and sent the Godmother a radio message about the poisoning theory before going to suitor #3.

Speaking of which that evil stepmom has got to go! Selah needs to take her step sibling once born and raise it as her own and get rid of the wicked lady! i also think the stepmom is going to end up being a sibling or daughter of the evil Imperiya Yotne like the witches in the wizard of oz.......

Also i didn't find Selah annoying or spoiled. I did think she was a bit out of touch with reality and bit too gullible. but this is often the case in "princess". they all seem to be a bit to sheltered from the real world until they have to live with other not like themselves. It's always some kind of crash course lesson.

Book #2 better have answers! and good ones ! But i thinking it's going to get even more cra-cra before it does. and yes i will most likely listen to it. i give this one 4.5 out of 5. ( on goodreads i gave it 4) Don't worry ann about rambling i think i got u beat......lol