Challenge Corner discussion

The brilliant detective Ana Dolabra may have finally met her match in the gripping sequel to The Tainted Cup—from the bestselling author of The Founders Trilogy.

In the canton of Yarrowdale, at the very edge of the Empire’s reach, an impossible crime has occurred. A Treasury officer has disappeared into thin air—abducted from his quarters while the door and windows remained locked from the inside, in a building whose entrances and exits are all under constant guard.

To solve the case, the Empire calls on its most brilliant and mercurial investigator, the great Ana Dolabra. At her side, as always, is her bemused assistant Dinios Kol.

Before long, Ana’s discovered that they’re not investigating a disappearance, but a murder—and that the killing was just the first chess move by an adversary who seems to be able to pass through warded doors like a ghost, and who can predict every one of Ana’s moves as though they can see the future.

Worse still, the killer seems to be targeting the high-security compound known as the Shroud. Here, the Empire's greatest minds dissect fallen Titans to harness the volatile magic found in their blood. Should it fall, the destruction would be terrible indeed—and the Empire itself will grind to a halt, robbed of the magic that allows its wheels of power to turn.

Din has seen Ana solve impossible cases before. But this time, with the stakes higher than ever and Ana seemingly a step behind their adversary at every turn, he fears that his superior has finally met an enemy she can’t defeat.

I need to read book 1 before I get to this one and I have it from the library, so I'll get to it soon.

I'm going to be starting a day late! Definitely tomorrow!!

I'll be starting this one no later than Saturday! Sooooo freaking excited!!

Starting this one today.

Update: I meant to say that I was starting book 1. I only got through 14 pages yesterday because I was updating things on GR all day, then hubby got home and blah blah blah. So I'll be finishing book 1 today, and then I'll start on this one. lol

that's perfect! lol because OF COURSE I was so on top of things. . .and then I got behind!!

I'll catch up tomorrow!

Starting this now!

Part 1: (view spoiler)[My goodness! So much has happened already. Ana and Din have a lot to deal with. I was not expecting a head to be in the vault! Then with Ghrelin, is he the guy behind it all? Or someone that he works with? Or a family member? The finger tapping is something but could also be misleading me.

I can't wait to see what Ana thinks about this! (hide spoiler)]

Still planning to start soon...hopefully...LOL

Part 2: (view spoiler)[My god. Okay, I knew Ana was going to be her amazing self and pick up on things. I love when she does her predatory smile while asking the simplest and craziest questions to people. I so want to know what alterations she has had done, and it's very interesting no one else knows about it. As for these experiments, man... things are just getting crazier and crazier. That camp scene was wild. I can't wait for Din to relay it all back to her to see what else she picks up.

OH, and what did she tap back to Ghrelin? I just need to know! (hide spoiler)]

Part 3: (view spoiler)[The way Ana's mind works is just a marvelous sight. I seriously love it. I also had a feeling it was going to be the King... but now I'm just so intrigued. Who did it? Who is behind it? Is it one of the guys Din met when he was at the prison? Was it the guy who gave him the coin physically or the one who said he could have it? Or were they the same person? Oh, my brain hurts. (hide spoiler)]

Part 4: (view spoiler)[Oh, I do hope we got more of Malo. I would like this trio working together some more, but it's okay if we don't. I'll just be sad. A lot has happened in such a short amount of time. I know they mentioned this family line of the king's; they are known to have twins and triplets. That means the prince, whom they still call prince and not king, is a twin or triplet? Could this shadow of a villain be related to him?

I just have so many questions and want to know. I'm also very excited for Din to be inside the Shroud. (hide spoiler)]

Part 5: (view spoiler)[OH MY GOD. Ana, you goddess. Oh Din, now that you are piecing it all together... are you still going to leave? I have a feeling Ana is going to fix everything (eventually) but my god. The clues make sense!!

Also, I had a feeling the prince wasn't a prince and that they were twins. Now I just want to see how this is all going to end!! (hide spoiler)]

Epilogue: (view spoiler)[I had a feeling he was going to stay. Yay, that makes me happy. I'm also happy that she is going to give Malo a new opportunity too. I think she will kill it being an assistant. I also truly want them to be reunited. I'll miss Malo so much. (hide spoiler)]

YAY! 5 stars! I just knew this one would be good!! starting now!

Part 1

(view spoiler)[ wow, crazy murder. I love Ana and the way she breaks down what she suspected. I, too, thought it wasn't actually the right man - he'd dodged too many people when he got there

but why the tapping and then the man with the actual box also tapping. Is there something to that or is it the same man?

and what was stolen?

I do like this new area - Yarrow - it sounds rough but Din seems to find his way no matter where. I like Malo too! (hide spoiler)]

it's so good to be back with Ana and Din! I love this duo!

Trisha wrote: "Part 1 ..."

Yes! I was so happy to see Ana and Din again! MALO IS AMAZING! Also, stick with the tapping!!!

Part 2

holy overgrown forest!
(view spoiler)[ that scene WAS wild! I can't even imagine seeing those things in real life. I'm glad Din was able to shut down the craziness and focus - lock in. He got some good details and was able to analyze a lot. But yes, burn. it. down. Ugh

and then the second spot - the coin again. so wild that the one noble gave it away so freely - and with such pretty words
and why was he meeting with someone who manipulates emotions? Is HE behind it all? Is he manipulating someone to sabotage their negotiations? is he tired of being put off for 2 years?

so many possibilities. I can't wait for Ana to learn all that happened!

oh and the tapping. What an amazing thing to learn - that it's, of course, a language tied to mute monks. I love that Ana picked it up so quick! (hide spoiler)]

Part 3

oooh it's gearing up

(view spoiler)[ HOLY MOLY~ the King?! wow, that is high ambition!

no closer to me knowing who though
and wow, all the lies around those 2 and the shroud. now we know why everyone was stalling them

but who in their inner circle would he have infiltrated?

Ana is just so good - but what was with eating all that scary food? I love that she can taste where things have been and learn about the area around them - like when she was eating the oysters

(hide spoiler)]

Part 4

oooh
(view spoiler)[ what could the prophecy mean that Ana just gave?
is she (or someone) going to pay off his debt? leaving him free to choose where he goes?

and will someone close to him end up being the bad guy? I'm really hoping not Malo
I agree, it feels like this could be a fight for the crown, right? or at least a fight to try to put someone else at the crown and in control
so who could do that other than someone who is a twin or triplet and has a right or fight for the crown.

hmmmm. . .who could it be. . . (hide spoiler)]

and I'm done

OMG that was So good
(view spoiler)[ wow, I wondered if someone had been replaced but I'd hoped it was actually the prince, the next one to rule!

and WOW! Ana gave Din so many clues and hints. wild, she is one of the old reborn. I love that she trusted him so much!

and yay! Ana found Malo a placement - and hopefully we will see her again the next book! her skills were such a good fit! (hide spoiler)]

I am not a series girl so when I find one I love this much, I never want it to end! I hope hope hope we get a book 3!! 🤞🏼🤞🏼

I read the book and LOVED IT, but I am having issues with my hands being swollen and in a lot of pain (left hand) and my left hand ring finger is in pain. UGH Hoping they get better before end of month so I can post comments using more than 1 finger!

I finally started tonight! I have the audiobook and made it to Ch 17, which I think is in Part II.

I'm soooooo happy to be back with these characters. I love Ana so much, and I'm also very intrigued by this mystery. (view spoiler)[What's not to be intrigued about a desiccated head in a safety deposit box? I love Ana being super involved in this investigation, and of course Din is so great. I'm also liking the person he met upon first arriving in Yarrow, who sort of walked him through what was going on. Is that Malo? I can see them becoming a recurring character. (hide spoiler)]

I'm very excited to get further tomorrow!

Vicki wrote: "I read the book and LOVED IT, but I am having issues with my hands being swollen and in a lot of pain (left hand) and my left hand ring finger is in pain. UGH Hoping they get better before end of m..."

Oh, geez, Vicki! I sure hope so! That sounds awful.

To Ch 29, no clue what Part I am in. I am still loving this. There is so much happening constantly. I am growing to love Ana more and more. It's cool they're uncovering (view spoiler)[some sort of vast conspiracy. I like how we are learning a little more about the leviathans in this one, and a bit more about the set-up of the world. (hide spoiler)]

megs_bookrack wrote: "Vicki wrote: "I read the book and LOVED IT, but I am having issues with my hands being swollen and in a lot of pain (left hand) and my left hand ring finger is in pain. UGH Hoping they get better b..."

I had x-rays and labs done to rule out things like lupus and gout and some others that I can't recall. It appears that I have osteoarthritis that is exacerbated by such things as gripping (holding books, iPhone to read an ebook, etc.). I am better but not 100% yet. At least I am able to type with both hands as of today but I'm not going to push it! Thanks for your concern. :)

Through Part 1

(view spoiler)[I don't know why but when I read about heads or heads rolling and those types of things in books it makes me laugh and think it's silly. In a movie though, it's creepy and I can't look. Anyway, I sure as heck wasn't expecting anything like that.

I'm done with the book as noted previously but going to try to make some brief comments as my left hand is still not 100% but it is better, thankfully! (hide spoiler)]

Through Part 2

(view spoiler)[ I hadn't given much thought to that smile of Ana's that Alaina mentioned, but I have to agree when I think about it. Almost wicked. lol And the experiments were insane! I wasn't expecting anything of what I got but I loved it all, even the craziness of it. I just love her and Din's relationship. (hide spoiler)]

Through Part 3

(view spoiler)[So weird and yet cool how Ana can taste where things have been. lol I would love that ability to make my eating more interesting. lol (hide spoiler)]

Through Part 5

(view spoiler)[OMG I love how smart and intuitive Ana is! The clues she gave Din were so spot on and logical in a weird way. lol

I loved Malo in this book and how well Din and Ana complemented each other. I'm looking forward to book 3 for sure! (hide spoiler)]

Vicki wrote: "megs_bookrack wrote: "Vicki wrote: "I read the book and LOVED IT, but I am having issues with my hands being swollen and in a lot of pain (left hand) and my left hand ring finger is in pain. UGH Ho..."

Oofhhh, that's tough. I'm glad you were able to rule out some things, but it's still a very tough issue to have to deal with. Definitely wishing you the best moving forward.

I'm at 67% in the audiobook. I have no idea what Part or Chapter, I could check I guess, but my phone is all the way downstairs and I am all the way upstairs and I can't be bothered.

One thing I've enjoyed about this one, is getting to know a bit more about the world and the way the society functions. That was one thing I mentioned about the 1st-book, was wanting to know a little more about that. Like the Leviathans, for example, and while I still don't know a ton, I still know more than I did in the 1st-book.

Does anyone know how many books are slated to be in this series?

DONE! I loved this too! This world is so interesting and love Ana and Din so much. (view spoiler)[Also, super stoked that Din told Ana he wasn't interested in changing his position after all, so he'll be sticking with her, and Ana was able to get Malo a placement with them, so hopefully, we'll be seeing more of her. There's definitely going to be a Book #3 after this and I can't wait!!! More attached to these characters now than ever. This one was so clever, with the body switching to drive people off his trail. Fantastic! (hide spoiler)]