2025 Reading Challenge discussion

This thread is to discuss A Vow So Bold and Deadly, the third book in the Cursebreakers series by Brigid Kemmerer.


Pages: 416 pages


Length: 1 Month (February)


Participants: Dikshita, Ruthie, SarahKat, Alison, Allie, Laura .


Everyone reads at their own pace during a Buddy Read. Because participants can be at different parts of the book at different times, it is extremely important to mark spoilers so that the book is not ruined for someone who is not as far along as others!!!


Mark spoilers by placing {spoiler} before the text and {/spoiler} after the text but use the < and > instead of the { and }.

Ooh I'd like to join this please!

As I understand it, anyone can join at any time. So, welcome, Laura. :)

I’m excited for the end of this trilogy! I admit A Heart So Fierce and Broken was only a 3-star read for me, but I have high hopes for the finale.

Yes welcome Laura!

I have a hold of both the digital and physical copy of this through the library. Hopefully one will come through quickly!

Allie, I did like the second book less than the first, but the ending was really good so I'm hoping this will be a great conclusion!

I am looking forward to the conclusion of the series too...except the details of book 2 are a little fuzzy (it has been a while since I read the second book :) I do remember whom I didn't like, however (but I felt a tad sorry for...but only a tad)...and whom my favorite character is! ;)

Hey you guys. I am joining a buddy read after a loooong looong break. So happy that it is gonna begin with the series we discussed so fiercely last time.
Looking forward to discussing it.

Good to see you again Dikshita!

The library hold came through today so I'm starting now!

I have read about 20% (starting Chapter 11 today) and I just have to say that I like that we are getting everyone’s point of view in this book! I will read more today before writing down my thoughts...

I agree Alison! I like that we understand the decisions people are making better. Everyone seems stuck between a rock and a hard place. I don't have the book in front of me but I'll try to post an update later today when I know exactly what chapter I'm on.

Through Chapter 16: (view spoiler)[So far I am liking this one better than the second, and not as much as the first. Like I said above I'm glad we get everyone's perspective on this. I hated Rhen in the last book until you find out that Lilith is back at the very end. This time I really feel bad for everyone. No one really has great choices in front of them.

Lia Mara and Grey's struggle to be respected is interesting. Grey punishing that one guy (Stolt?) by just making him run the same drill over and over again was pretty intense.

Harper just straight up attacking Lilith was great! Thought I'm not sure it was the smartest move.

I'm not sure how this will end. Lia Mara/Grey and Rhen/Harper ruling the 2 countries side-by-side? (hide spoiler)]

I finished this book yesterday...I enjoyed it more than the second but not as much as the first...here are my thoughts:
(view spoiler)[ I gave this book 4 stars but the more I think about it, I may round down to 3.5 stars :( First of all...I am so Frustrated(!!) with the ending for 3 reasons:
(1) the final storyline for Rhen!! This really doesn't seem like it is the ending of a trilogy. The Author kind of left the Rhen/Harper storyline hanging (it just fizzled out) and I was left scratching my head! Here I Loved Rhen in the first book, hated him until the ending of the second book (when Lilith reappeared) and then was really rooting for him in the third book and the ending just left me wanting more for his storyline! I wanted a stronger conclusion for him but could see him being a strong advisor to Grey and helping to quash the unrest brewing in Shyl Shallow.
(2) there were some rumblings about how there was resistance in Shyl Shallow and Grey didn't want to take a pregnant Lia Mara back to the city...are you just going to end the trilogy with resistance forming and not getting quashed/everyone living peacefully??
(3) The fact that Iisak died and we met his son who was controlled by Lilith...the son is healed by Grey and then there is no more about the son (I forget his name)...he just takes off in the sky all mad and disappears! I don't think this is a good conclusion for Iisak's storyline...and I loved Iisak's character!!

I found that in the beginning, I was a bit bored...everyone was at a bit of a standstill but I think the story was just getting going :) I did enjoy reading the story from everyone's different viewpoint! Lia Mara was figuring out how to rule, Grey was figuring out how to support her and earn the support of her country/soldiers, etc. The only clear connection I had in the beginning was with Rhen/Harper and their battle against Lilith! Then around the last third of the book, things got going and I enjoyed the action/defeat of Lilith!!
sigh...I guess this book just left me wanting more but I enjoyed reading it....
(hide spoiler)]

I'll be starting this today

Through chapter 35: (view spoiler)[Honestly, I did not see Lilith killing everyone in the castle AGAIN coming. It's not surprising but at the same time I was taken aback a bit.

I'm very annoyed with Harper right now because I don't think she's properly explained the whole situation to Grey. She said he's injured and that Lilith killed everyone and that Rhen wants peace, yes. But she hasn't really said that Lilith was the one forcing his hand in the first place, and that she went on the murderous rampage because Rhen decided to go for peace. I feel like that may sway a little more good feelings their way.

I should finish today or tomorrow. I can't believe there's only 50ish pages left. Doesn't seem like enough time for everything to get resolved! I am hoping Iisak gets an ending, or we get a spinoff of him. (hide spoiler)]

Up to chapter 6.

I was finally able to start today. Although I was worried that I wouldn't remember much from book 2 and feel lost, it feels like I've jumped back into the story already. It's a credit to Kemmerer that she can remind me of who's who and what's what without it feeling like a "Last time on Cursebreakers" intro.

I finished it!

(view spoiler)[
I only gave it 2 stars, I'm super disappointed. It felt like most of the book we were just waiting around then the conclusion and final "battle" was so fast. It's just so sad because I loved the first one and the second one was not as great to me but I still enjoyed it and wanted to find out what would happen in this one. It's way too short for a finale as well.

Alison I really agree with your notes about the Rhen/Harper storyline hanging and wanting a stronger conclusion for him

I know!!! Part of the book could have covered the resistance getting quashed/everyone living peacefully

it wasn't a good conclusion for Iisak's storyline and I agree I also loved Iisak's character

I was also bored for much of the book and then it wasn't even a satisfying pay off for all of our reading of the boring parts (hide spoiler)]

I finished too. I don't have time to respond to other thoughts right now but I had similar feelings as Alison and Ruthie.

Here's the review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

(view spoiler)[

Its so sad because the first one was so good (hide spoiler)]

I like your review SarahKat and you made a good point

(view spoiler)[
About how this book would have been better and I would have received it better if there was still another one coming to tie up everything or explore more of what they were saying about rebellion and things in dissarray (hide spoiler)]

Finished.

(view spoiler)[ I'm not even sure how I want to review this. I'm in the weird position of feeling that I liked it while feeling unhappy with it at the same time. I need to think about it for a day or two.

I'm glad to see I'm not the only one who thinks it doesn't read like the end of a trilogy. So many loose ends! It makes me wonder if she's planning a spin-off or even a fourth book. (hide spoiler)]