"The Shadows Between Us" Week Two

Now we're starting to get some answers, but at the same time, more question emerge.

Ch. 7: This chapter adds a few more nuggets of information to the story. During an exchange of letters between Alessandra and Kallias, we learn about a Robin Hood-like figure (referred to as the bandit), who is stealing from the rich and giving to the poor. Other than that, the chapter doesn't really have much substance. At a private dinner that night between the two, Kallias tells Alessandra the details of his parents' murders, and how it happened during a riot that stormed the castle. Kallias was in another safe room with the other nobles' sons (he doesn't give specific names), while his parents were in a safe room with the other nobles. Kallias says that he doesn't know who killed them, how many were involved, and that it could have been anyone within the palace. The information is helpful, but not at the same time. However, it is still early in the story, so there is plenty of time for more information.

Ch. 8: People are looking for Hektor and I'm finding this hilarious because of how sure Alessandra is that she won't be caught. At first, she has a complete inner freakout and we get a flashback of how she disposed of Hektor's body. She ends up deciding not to worry about the investigation and go about her day. While in the queen's sitting room, Alessandra gets a gift from Kallias: a bejeweled rose pendent necklace. She then brags about how Kallias is in private, which are partial lies that end up getting back to Kallias. He ends up visiting her room later that night to confront her. They fight and he leaves, telling her that he can't get close to her. I can see both sides of the argument and I think that they should have definitely communicated how they were going to pull of this ruse from the very beginning. If they had laid out an actual plan, then they wouldn't be arguing. However, I love the sexual tension between the two as they fight while Alessandra is only in a neglige.

Ch. 9: It's the morning after the fight, and Kallias decides to apologize by having breakfast with Alessandra in her rooms and gives her an expensive piece of jewelry. I like the fact that he apologizes for his behavior and acknowledges what he did wrong. However, I do wish that Alessandra would do the same because she did spread lies, even if they were for their own benefit. The chapter then cuts to Alessandra being scared by Myron hiding in her room as she heads to bed. They argue until Myron reveals that Alessandra has nothing on him anymore due to his father's passing and his older brother's love for him. Since she has nothing against him, he is now blackmailing her into helping him elevate his status, otherwise he will reveal their sexual relationship. Alessandra is fuming when he leaves, and starts plotting a way to get rid of him. The following night at dinner, Alessandra is placed between Myron and Orrin, but sits next to Kallias once he arrives. Kallias tells her about the rebels in Pagis (a land he conquered recently), and she tells him to win the people's trust then crush them when they least expect it. Kallias admits that he likes her sadistic side, which makes her smile.

Ch. 10: Alessandra goes to the play at a Viscount's house, escorted by Myron. She gets rid of him by pointing out a duke for him to make connections with. Leandros sits with Alessandra, Rhoda, and Hestia, and points out Lady Zervas, who the late king courted but threw away for his later queen. This information makes her suspect in the former king and queen's murders. Alessandra has a secret plan for Myron, but puts it off to visit Kallias during his council meetings (without him knowing beforehand) in order to keep up their ruse. Leandros escorts her and he is just a well of information about Kallias. Although Leandros informs Alessandra that Kallias had an older brother, Xanathos, who was killed in a carriage accident. The fact that Alessandra had no knowledge of this kind of annoys me. He died before she was born, but wouldn't the incident be common knowledge amongst the nobility? Anyway, Leandros is also very flirty with Alessandra, which makes me suspicious of him. A good friend wouldn't hit on his best friend's girl. Meanwhile at the meeting, Kallias lets Alessandra offer advice on the issue with the bandit, and her plan (creating fake coins with a special seals, so that when they are stolen, the royal guards can trace the coins back to him) is well-liked and agreed to by Kallias before he kicks her out of the room.

Ch. 11: Alessandra visits Leandros and the boys to talk to Rhouben about helping her get rid of Myron, in exchange for helping Rhouben get rid of his fiancé, Melita (which would also get rid of Orrin). All she needs is 5,000 necks, which Rhouben agrees to get her. Kallias keeps sending Alessandra gifts to keep up the ruse, but Alessandra just gets annoyed they aren't spending any time together. Orrin sends her a love letter, which she thinks will help her with her plans with Rhouben. The rest of the chapter is at a ball thrown by a duke for his daughter's birthday. Lady Zervas talks to Alessandra and tells her that her relationship with the king will only end with her being unhappy. She also shows a cruel streak (not unlike Alessandra's own) when she states that seeing the late king with another woman was worse than him being dead. Alessandra thinks Lady Zervas is a horrible woman, but that's rich coming from a girl who killed a guy for breaking up with her for another. However, Alessandra's ego makes it difficult for her to see her own wrongdoings.

Ch. 12: So we finally know the plan that Alessandra is cooking up with Rhouben. Petros forges Orrin's handwriting and signature to write a fake love letter to Melita, telling her to meet him and immediately kiss him upon sight. They have it set up for Rhouben's father to catch them, which will cause him to end the engagement due to Melita's infidelity. Alessandra uses the money to pay off Myron's debts, making him indebted to her. She blackmails him into leaving the palace. Lord Vasco starts questioning the relationship between Alessandra and Kallias. So does Alessandra's father, who tells her that he is setting up an engagement between her and Orrin. Alessandra and her father fight, and it ends with him threatening to disinherit her, which she calls his bluff on. He stands strong and leaves, telling her to be ready to leave soon. Alessandra visits Kallias to complain about the ruse, Lord Vasco, and her father. She wants him to participate more, which he says "no" to before dismissing her. In the last part of the chapter, Alessandra getting a letter from her sister, who informs her that she was questioned about Alessandra's relationship with Hektor. Her sister told the investigator about Alessandra's sexual relationship with Hektor, which both scares and pisses off Alessandra. The chapter ends with Alessandra getting a letter from Leandros, who asks her to go out with him that night, which she agrees to.

Ch. 13: Alessandra and Leandros go on an adventure! I like seeing Alessandra outside of the palace and the nobility scene. Leandros forces Alessandra into a peasant dress, much to her disgust. However, she puts it on to see where Leandros plans to take her. They end up at a nondescript building in the poorer part of the city. Inside is a fighting ring, alcohol, and gambling. The two drink ale and watch the men fighting, betting with each other on who would win. Alessandra, who is good at observing the fights, wins each bet. However, she continues to drink the strong ale and starts to become drunk. As the alcohol hits her, the women fights start and the announcer asks if anyone in the audience would like to try against the Viper, the women's champion. Alessandra stupidly, and to Leandros's distraught, volunteers and holds her own pretty well for a drunk girl. However, she ends up getting a hard punch to the face, which knocks her out, ending the chapter. Alessandra in the peasant world was interesting to witness, and the chapter also sheds some new light on Leandros. I wonder if he's the bandit, since he spends time amongst the lower classes.

Final Thoughts: I enjoyed reading these chapters! The new information adds more to the mystery, which gets more and more complicated. I also enjoyed seeing a different side of Kallias, as well as learn more about him on a personal level. I will admit that I am suspicious of everyone, especially Lady Zervas and Lord Vasco. I also suspect that either Orrin or Leandros are the bandit, as they both want to help the lower class. Leandros is also suspicious because of how he acts around Alessandra, despite claiming to be Kallias's best friend. It just rubs me the wrong way.

Anyway, I'm so sorry that I haven't posted in a while! Life has been a little hectic for myself and my family. I have finished the book, but I need to go through the book again and make notes. We've also started our next book, "Six of Crows" by Leigh Bardugo. I'm also currently reading "The Witching Hour" by Anne Rice on my own because of Halloween! I don't think I'll be writing a review of that because it isn't YA, which is what this blog is mainly about. Let me know in the comments if you want to read a review about it!

See ya soon!