Where Dreams Descend (Kingdom of Cards #1), by Janella Angeles ~ 4.0 Stars

Tags

Fantasy, Mystery, Romance, YA Fiction

Thanks to NetGalley and Wednesday Books for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Release Date: August 25th, 2020

464 Pages

Synopsis: In a city covered in ice and ruin, a group of magicians face off in a daring game of magical feats to find the next headliner in the Conquering Circus, only to find themselves under the threat of an unseen danger striking behind the scenes.

As each act becomes more and more risky and the number of missing magicians piles up, three are forced to reckon with their secrets before the darkness comes for them next.

The Star: Kallia, a powerful showgirl out to prove she’s the best no matter the cost.

The Master: Jack, the enigmatic keeper of the club, and more than one lie told.

The Magician: Demarco, the brooding judge with a dark past he can no longer hide.

Where Dreams Descend is the startling and romantic first book in Janella Angeles’ debut Kingdom of Cards duology where magic is both celebrated and feared, and no heart is left unscathed.

A blend of Phantom of the Opera, Moulin Rouge, Erin Morgernstern’s The Night Circus, and Christopher Nolan’s The Prestige, Where Dreams Descend will definitely appeal to a wide audience of dark fantasy lovers. The plot and world building are the book’s strengths and kept me turning the pages over the three nights it took me to read it, although I do think the storyline could have been edited a little and the narrative tightened. The three main characters, I have more mixed feelings toward. They’re very colorfully written, yet at times come across as extremely immature even for a YA novel. Out of the three, the enigmatic and manipulative Jack was my favorite and I kept picturing Tom Ellis as Lucifer Morningstar in the Lucifer tv series. Despite the issues I had with character development, I very much enjoyed this first book in the Kingdom of Cards duology, and I’m eagerly looking forward to the sequel. Where Dreams Descend is a glittering, magical and enjoyable debut by Janella Angeles who is an exciting new voice in YA fiction.

Glass Town Wars, by Celia Rees ~ 2.0 Stars

Tags

Fantasy, Science Fiction, YA Fiction

Thanks to NetGalley and Pushkin Children’s Books for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Release Date: September 8th, 2020

320 Pages

Synopsis: Tom and Augusta are from different places and different times, but they meet in the virtual world to combine forces in battle, to save a kingdom, escape a web of deceit and to find love. In a place where fictions can be truths and truths fictions, learning who to trust is more than friendship, it is about survival.

Glass Town Wars inspired by the early writings of the Brontës, is a captivating, magical novel by the renowned Celia Rees.

I’m going to start with something positive: Isn’t this an eye-catching cover? I love the colors, imagery, and ominous caption. Unfortunately, once I started reading Glass Town Wars, things went downhill pretty quickly.

I don’t know if it’s just me, but I was thoroughly confused for the first 1/4 of the book. I think part of the problem was the plot didn’t really match the synopsis. I thought the setting had potential, but it’s not developed fully. The characters are bland and weak and I never connected with them. And finally, my attention was initially captured by the mention of the story being inspired by the Brontës works, but as this aspect isn’t really explored until the latter half of the book, it wasn’t enough to save the story for me.

To sum things up, Glass Town Wars will most likely be on the list of my biggest disappointments of 2020. Celia Rees is a well-respected author and I’ve enjoyed her previous books. This, while imaginative and original, ultimately fails to live up to the potential that you get all too infrequent tantalizing glimpses of. It left me confused, let down, and quite frustrated, so sadly I can’t bring myself to recommend it. However, mine is simply one opinion, so as always, if you’re intrigued by the sounds of this, I encourage you to read other reviews on sites such as Goodreads.

 

 

Or What You Will, by Jo Walton ~ 4.5 Stars

Tags

Adult Fiction, Fantasy, Florence, Metafiction, Shakespeare

Thanks to NetGalley and Tor Books for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Release Date: July 7, 2020

320 Pages

Synopsis: From the Hugo, Nebula, and World Fantasy Award-winning author of Among Others, an utterly original novel about how stories are brought forth.

He has been too many things to count. He has been a dragon with a boy on his back. He has been a scholar, a warrior, a lover, and a thief. He has been dream and dreamer. He has been a god.

But “he” is in fact nothing more than a spark of an idea, a character in the mind of Sylvia Harrison, 73, award-winning author of thirty novels over forty years. He has played a part in most of novels, and in the recesses of her mind, Sylvia has conversed with him for years.

But Sylvia won’t live forever, any more than any human does. And he’s trapped inside her cave of bone, her hollow of skull. When she dies, so will he.

Now Sylvia is starting a new novel, a fantasy for adult readers, set in Thalia, the Florence-resembling imaginary city that was the setting for a successful YA trilogy she published decades before. Of course he’s got a part in it. But he also has a notion. He thinks he knows how he and Sylvia can step off the wheel of immortality altogether. All he has to do is convince her.

I absolutely LOVED Or What You Will, but I have to caution that this isn’t a book for everyone. If I say this is a book for serious readers who live and breathe books, I hope I’m not coming off as a condescending, pretentious snoot. It’s just that you’re not a big time reader, particularly of the fantasy genre, there’s a lot that will just fly by you. Also, if you’re not familiar with Shakespeare’s The Tempest and Twelfth Night, there’s going to be even more you’ll miss out on. Even Walton’s title harkens back to the full title of Twelfth Night which was Twelfth Night, Or What You Will.

The novel is really two stories woven together. There’s Sylvia’s story, where we learn everything about her from her childhood, her marriages, and her time in Florence. The second is the new story she’s working on which is a fantasy version of Florence called Illyria, and it’s where Shakespeare’s characters come into play. While I enjoyed the imaginative world building of Sylvia’s new creation, my favorite chapters are the ones featuring the unnamed Narrator who began as Sylvia’s childhood imaginary friend, and is now her muse as well as the starring character in all her novels. Their discussions are intimate, playful, and utterly fascinating and I felt as though he knew her better than she knew herself at times. Whenever the book moved back to Illyria, I found myself impatiently wanting to get back to the Narrator and Sylvia.

In the end, Or What You Will is one of the most meta of meta fiction novels I’ve ever read. It’s a sumptuous ode to readers and writers, Shakespeare, and the beautiful city of Florence. It’s a tale with characters I will not forget anytime soon. This is my first book by Jo Walton, but it’s apparent to me that she is a consummate storyteller and I’m looking forward to reading her other books. I’m just going to finish by saying that if you choose to pick this up, be prepared for a reading experience quite unlike any you’ve had before.

Hush (Hush #1), by Dylan Farrow ~ 4.0 Stars

Tags

Diversity, Dystopian?, Fantasy, Suspense, YA Fiction

Thanks to NetGalley and Wednesday Books for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Release Date: October 6th, 2020

384 Pages

Synopsis: How do you speak up in a world where propaganda is a twisted form of magic?

In the land of Montane, language is literal magic to the select few who possess the gift of Telling. This power is reserved for the Bards, and, as everyone knows, the Bards have almost always been men.

Seventeen-year-old Shae has lived her entire life in awe of the Bards—and afraid of the Blot, a deadly disease spread by ink, which took the life of her younger brother, five years ago. Ever since, Shae fears she’s cursed. But when tragedy strikes again and her mother is found murdered with a golden dagger—a weapon used only by the Bards—Shae is forced to act.

With a heart set on justice Shae journeys to High House in search of answers. But when the kind, fatherly Cathal, the High Lord of Montane, makes Shae an undeniable offer to stay and train as a Bard, Shae can’t refuse.

Through this twisty tale, Shae endures backbreaking training from a ruthless female Bard, tentative and highly forbidden feelings for a male Bard with a dark past, and a castle filled with dangerous illusions bent on keeping its  secrets buried.

But sometimes the truth is closer than we think. We just have to learn to listen.

A stunning and timely debut from activist Dylan Farrow, HUSH is a powerful feminist fantasy full of surprising insights, that casts a ray of light into the shadows of a society based on silencing and lies.

But that’s the thing about words. Once you’ve read them, there’s no going back.

~ Dylan Farrow, Hush ~

I was so excited when I learned that Dylan Farrow was coming out with a YA feminist fantasy. And when I read the premise for Hush and saw the exquisite cover, my excitement only grew. After finishing this last night, I can honestly say that while it’s a little rough around the edges, Farrow’s debut is an entertaining and thoughtful read.

There is so much I loved about this.  Shae is a likable, unreliable character (my favorite kind), who is passionate and impulsive, and embarks upon a fascinating journey of self-discovery in this first book in a planned series. The secondary cast is a mixed bag with some being wonderfully drawn like the servant Imogen, but others such as Shae’s best friend Fiona, needing a little more fleshing out. I liked Shae’s love interest, Mads, but I felt the chemistry between them a little lacking.

The world building is gorgeously visual and detailed, although there are times the volume of descriptive language overwhelmed the story and made it a bit disjointed. Aster, Montane, and High House are all brought vividly to life. The story itself is a mix of slow and fast moments, but for the most part I remained thoroughly engrossed.

I think if Hush was a stand-alone, I’d probably be giving it only 3 1/2 stars, but it holds so much promise, and I can see this developing into a truly epic series. Farrow’s longtime activist roots are definitely on display here, but what’s so impressive is how original, insightful, and creative this is. Honestly, I will be shocked if this isn’t optioned by Hollywood. The sequel isn’t coming out until 2021, but there’s no doubt in my mind that I’ll be reading it.

 

 

 

 

Angel of the Crows, by Katherine Addison ~ 3.5 Stars

Tags

Adult Fiction, Fantasy, Historical Fiction, LGBTQ, Mystery, Steampunk, Supernatural

Thanks to NetGalley and Tor Books for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Release Date: June 23rd, 2020

432 Pages

Synopsis: Katherine Addison, author of The Goblin Emperor, returns with The Angel of the Crows, a fantasy novel of alternate 1880s London, where killers stalk the night and the ultimate power is naming.

This is not the story you think it is. These are not the characters you think they are. This is not the book you are expecting.

In an alternate 1880s London, angels inhabit every public building, and vampires and werewolves walk the streets with human beings in a well-regulated truce. A fantastic utopia, except for a few things: Angels can Fall and that Fall is like a nuclear bomb in both the physical and metaphysical world. And human beings remain human with all their kindness and greed and passions and murderous intent.

Jack the Ripper stalks the streets of this London too. But this London has an Angel. The Angel of the Crows.

Being a Sherlock Holmes fan, I was immediately intrigued by Angel of the Crows which began as fanfic. It’s not bad, but it could have used some more originality.

For the most part, what Katherine Addison has done, is taken some of Arthur Conan Doyle’s stories (A Study in Scarlet, The Adventure of the Copper Beeches, The Hound of the Baskervilles, and The Speckled Band), thrown in the Whitechapel murders by Jack the Ripper in the background, and added fantasy, dystopian, and steampunk elements. The problem is, despite these different themes the characters and stories don’t really divert much from the original source material. Some of the dialogue is even remarkably similar to BBCs Sherlock Holmes series.

For the first half of the book I was also a bit confused much of the time in regards to this alternate London. It took me a while to understand the difference between angels and their roles. I felt as though I had just been dropped and left to make my own way through this murky world.

Despite these issues, I did find much to enjoy in this rather curious tale. I did like Crow (Sherlock), and Doyle (Watson), and as much as I love ACD’s original stories, it must be admitted that some had racist and sexist connotations. Addison deftly removed these without taking anything away from the story. I also liked the addition of Dr. Doyle’s secrets that he’s hiding. They’re creatively done yet perfectly fit in with his personality. The story is also quite fast-paced and I never found myself bored.

Overall, while not perfect, Angel of the Crows is an entertaining journey back to Victorian London with English literature’s most endearing odd couple. I can easily see this being turned into a tv series like Showtime’s Penny Dreadful. For fans of the original Sherlock series, think of this as a nice reread with some interesting fantastical additions. If you’re not familiar with the four stories I mentioned, you may actually enjoy this even more.

 

Chosen Ones (The Chosen Ones #1), by Veronica Roth ~ 4.0 Stars

Tags

Adult Fiction, Dystopian Fiction, Fantasy, Mental Health, Suicide

Thanks to Edelweiss and John Joseph Adams/Houghton Mifflin for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Release Date: April 7th, 2020

432 Pages

Synopsis: The first novel written for an adult audience, by the mega-selling author of the Divergence franchise; five twenty-something heroes famous for saving the world when they were teenagers must face even greater demons—and reconsider what it means to be a hero…by destiny or choice.

A decade ago near Chicago, five teenagers defeated the otherworldly enemy known as the Dark One, whose reign of terror brought widespread destruction and death. The seemingly un-extraordinary teens—Sloane, Matt, Ines, Albie, and Esther—had been brought together by a clandestine government agency because one of them was fated to become the “Chosen One,” prophesized to save the world. With the goal achieved, humankind celebrated the victors and began to mourn their lost loved ones.

 Ten years later, though the champions remain celebrities, the world has moved forward, and a whole, younger generation hasn’t doesn’t seem to recall the days of endless fear. But Sloane remembers. It’s impossible for her to forget, when the paparazzi haunt her every step, just as the Dark One still haunts her dreams. Unlike everyone else, she hasn’t moved on; she’s adrift—no direction, no goals, no purpose. On the eve of the Ten Year Celebration of Peace, a new trauma hits the Chosen: the death of one of their own. And when they gather for the funeral at the enshrined site of their triumph, they discover to their horror that the Dark One’s reign never really ended.

To be honest, I’ve had a mixed feelings about Veronica Roth’s YA books. I enjoyed Divergent, but the rest of the series fizzled, and Carve the Mark and it’s sequel The Fates Divide, never really caught my interest. When I saw the premise for her first adult book, The Chosen Ones though, my curiosity was piqued, and I was thrilled when my request for an ARC on Edelweiss was approved. And you know what? I liked it!

The first forty or so pages were a bit slow for me because it’s a huge info dump, but once I got past that the plot really took off for me. The story begins ten years after The Dark One was defeated by then prophesied Chosen teenagers: Sloane, Matt, Ines, Esther, and Albie. Coming up on the 10th anniversary, they’re all suffering from PTSD and coping (or not), in various ways. At first, Sloane isn’t easy to like. She’s bitter and angry and has closed herself off from everyone. She and Matt are together, but she doesn’t even allow him access to everything that’s going on with her. But as more was revealed about the torment and trauma she endured, the more I understood her and emphasized with her. While most of the story focuses on  Sloane, you also get to know her fellow Chosen Ones pretty well, and I liked all of them except for Matt who was a little too “golden boy” for me. I’m interested on seeing where all these characters go in the next book.

The world(s) building is fantastic and once again emphasizes Roth’s main strength—her wonderfully detailed and visual writing style. Except for the bumpy beginning, I stayed fully immersed thanks in part to this and the fairly steady pacing. The conclusion was a little rushed, but perfectly sets things up for the next book.

In my opinion, The Chosen Ones is a strong beginning in this new series for adults, and I’m very much looking forward to seeing what comes next. Roth starts with a familiar fantasy/dystopian trope, and then brilliantly dismantles it. It’s messy and complicated but in a good way, and I highly recommend it for anyone who’s ever wondered what adulthood was like for the Harry Potters of the literary world.

Sword in the Stars (Once & Future #2), by Amy Rose Capetta & Cori McCarthy ~ 4.5 Stars

Tags

Adventure, Arthurian Retelling, Diversity, Fantasy, LGBTQIAP, Science Fiction, YA Fiction

Thanks to NetGalley and JIMMY Patterson for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Release Date: April 7th, 2020

368 Pages

Synopsis: In this epic sequel to Once & Future, Ari and her Rainbow knights pull off a heist…thousands of years in the past—without destroying their own destinies.

Ari Helix may have won her battle against the tyrannical Mercer corporation, but the larger war has just begun. Ari and her cursed wizard Merlin must travel back in time to the unenlightened Middle Ages and steal the King Arthur’s Grail—the very definition of impossible.

It’s imperative that the time travelers not skew the timeline  and not alter the course of history. Coming face-to-face with the original Arthurian legend could produce a ripple effect that changes everything. Somehow Merlin forgot that the past can be even more dangerous than the future…

I know. I know. You’re probably thinking: “Not ANOTHER Arthurian retelling!” But, if you love the legend of King Arthur, trust me, you’re going to want to check out The Once & Future duology.

Where the first book was a rollicking adventure set in space, in this sequel, Ari, Merlin, and the Rainbow knights travel back to Camelot to stop the endless King Arthur cycle of reincarnation and to defeat the evil Mercer corporation. In addition, they’re still dealing with Merlin’s curse which causes him to age backwards whenever he uses magic. And if all that isn’t enough, they find themselves smack in the middle of a time period which isn’t exactly known for its tolerance. The diversity introduced in Once & Future is just as prevalent here, only having queer folk from all over the spectrum touch down in the Middle Ages, makes for even more interesting reading.

The story has absolutely brilliant moments of hilarity, with its Monty Python references and witty banter. These perfectly balance the more serious themes of homophobia, transphobia, misogyny, and racism.

My major complaint about the first book was the pacing, which I thought was uneven and jarringly awkward at times. That has been mainly remedied here, which makes for a much smoother reading experience. The book finishes on a hopeful note, and in my opinion is a picture perfect way to bring this epic duology to its conclusion.

In summation, The Sword in the Stars is a spectacular sequel that retains all the wonderful elements of its predecessor, while managing to surpass it. I HIGHLY recommend both books to readers who are looking for a creative and utterly unique retelling of the ubiquitous Arthurian legend, that’s filled with diversity, romance, adventure, and excitement.

 

 

Belle Révolte, by Linsey Miller ~ 2.5 Stars

Tags

Diversity, Fantasy, LGBTQ, Romance, YA Fiction

Thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Fire for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Release Date: February 4th, 2020

384 Pages

Synopsis: Emilie des Marais is more at home holding scalpels than embroidery needles and is desperate to escape her noble roots to serve her country as a physician. But society dictates a noble lady cannot perform such gruesome work.

Annette Boucher, overlooked and overworked by her family, wants more from life than her humble beginnings and is desperate to be trained in magic. So when a strange noble girl offers Annette the chance of a lifetime, she accepts.

Emilie and Annette swap lives—Annette attends finishing school as a noble lady to be trained in the ways of divination, while Emile enrolls to be a physician’s assistant, using her natural magical talent to save lives.

But when their nation instigates a frivolous war, Emilie and Annette must work together to help the rebellion end a war that is based on lies.

Belle Révolte is another book that initially caught my attention because of the interesting cover. Unfortunately, I struggled to finish this standalone. Both Emilie and Annette are two strong-willed girls trapped in a society which doesn’t offer much to females, yet they refuse to be forced into the roles they’re expected to play. I really liked both of them and was cheering them on throughout the book. I also loved the transgender and asexual representation which I haven’t come across that often in my reading. It was naturally done and didn’t define the characters. 

Now unfortunately here’s what didn’t work for me. First, the pacing was all over the place. Some sections the book seemed to drag interminably, while others moved so quickly it left me confused. While I was very interested in the political aspects of this French-inspired world, the magic system, which is an integral part of the storyline was underdeveloped and also left me bewildered. There were times that I found myself having to go back and re-read passages to try to make sense of what was happening, and even doing that I wasn’t always successful. To be honest, if this wasn’t an eARC from NetGalley and the publisher, I most likely would have given up. 

Overall, while Belle Révolte had some shining moments, they just weren’t enough to dispel the negatives for me. This is the third book I’ve read by Linsey Miller, and I’ve had similar issues with all of them, which leads me to conclude that she’s not the author for me. However, she has numerous fans so please don’t let me discourage you from giving her a try, especially if you’re looking for YA fantasy with diverse characters and interesting politics.

 

Brightstorm (Sky-Ship Adventure #1), by Vashti Hardy – 5.0 Stars

Tags

Adventure, Death of a parent, Fantasy, Juvenile Fiction, Mystery, Science Fiction, Steampunk

Thanks to NetGalley and Norton Young Readers for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Release Date: March 17th, 2020

336 Pages

Synopsis: Arthur and Maudie Brightstorm receive devastating news: their famous explorer father has died in a failed attempt to reach South Polaris. To make matters worse, the Lontown Geographical Society finds Ernest Brightstorm guilty of sabotaging the expedition of his competitor, Eudora Vane. But a mysterious clue leads the twins to question the story they’ve been told—and to uncover the truth, they must undertake the journey of a lifetime.

Joining the ragtag crew of a homemade sky-ship captained by the intrepid Harriet Culpepper, Arthur and Maudie race to South Polaris to salvage their family’s reputation and find out what really happened on their father’s doomed expedition.

Brightstorm is a propulsive and compelling fantasy adventure set among the vibrant landscapes and dynamic characters of Vashti Hardy’s vividly imagined world.

First, how gorgeous is that cover? Doesn’t it immediately make you want to go grab a copy? Well, I’m happy to say that the story lives up to that wonderful cover. Brightstorm is one of the best middle grade reads I’ve had the pleasure of reading in quite a while, and I’m thrilled to feature it as my first review of 2020!

This story is not only a fascinating fusion of fantasy, science fiction, steampunk and historical fiction, it also draws inspiration from the real life story of the Scott Expedition to the South Pole. It’s a thrilling adventure which captivated me from the very first page and had me racing to the finish in just a little over three hours. The characters, from Maudie and Arthur, Captain Harriet Culpepper, and ship’s cook and comic relief, Felicity Wiggety, to the villainous, pink-loving, Eudora Vane, are brilliantly written. Maudie with her scientific genius is a wonderful female role model for STEM, and Captain Culpepper is as well. Arthur, who was born without one of his arms, has never let that stop him from accomplishing what he wants, although his impulsiveness can get himself and his loved ones into trouble. The satient animals like the Brightstorm’s faithful winged companion, Parthena, and the thought wolves are wonderful creations and add even more to an already exciting tale. The ending perfectly sets things up for the next book, Darkwhispers, and that brings me to my good news/bad news. The good news is that the sequel is coming out in February. The bad news is that if you want a print copy it looks like it’s initially going to be released in the UK, but not the US. Thank goodness for Book Depository which offers free shipping worldwide! If you have a Kindle though it’s already available for preorder on Amazon.

So, just to be clear, I haven’t had this high level of excitement after reading a children’s book since I first read Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, by Rowling, and Northern Lights, by Philip Pullman. If I wasn’t retired I’d be ordering multiple copies for my library in order to push them into the hands of my young patrons, and organizing book discussion groups! Brightstorm has been receiving accolades in the UK since it was released in 2018, and in my opinion they’re entirely well-deserved. This is a book that will win both juvenile and adult fans. Vashti Hardy is a storyteller extraordinaire who weaves magic with her words and illustrations. If you enjoy authors like Rowling, Pullman, and Lemony Snicket, you need to read this. And if you’re not familiar with these authors but you like the sound of a fantastic rollicking adventure featuring intrepid orphans and plenty of villainy afoot, I urge you to try this!

 

 

The Silvered Serpents (The Gilded Wolves #2), by Roshani Chokshi ~ 4.5 Stars

Tags

Fantasy, Historical Fiction, Mystery, YA Fiction

Thanks to NetGalley and Wednesday Books for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Release Date: September 22, 2020

416 Pages

Synopsis: Returning to the dark and glamorous world of her New York Times instant bestseller, The Gilded Wolves, Roshani Chokshi dazzles us with another riveting tale as full of mystery and danger as ever. 

They are each other’s fiercest love, greatest danger, and only hope.

Severin and his team members might have successfully thwarted the Fallen House, but victory came at a terrible cost—one that still haunts all of them. Desperate to make amends, Severin pursues a dangerous lead to find a long lost artifact rumored to grant its possessor the power of God.

Their hunt lures them far from Paris and into the icy heart of Russia, where crystalline ice animals stalk forgotten mansions, broken goddesses carry deadly secrets, and a string of unsolved murders makes the crew question whether an ancient myth is a myth after all. As hidden secrets come to the light and the ghosts of the past catch up to them, the crew will discover new dimensions of themselves. But what they find out may lead them down paths they never imagined.

A tale of love and betrayal as the crew risks their lives for one last job.

The publication date for The Silvered Serpents is several months away, but as I was approved for it on NetGalley three months ago, I feel as though I should post an initial review. I will be sure to repost this closer to September 22, 2020 though. I really enjoyed The Gilded Wolves, so I’ve been looking forward to reading the sequel. After finishing it in just over three hours, I’m happy to say it’s a wonderful follow-up that beautifully builds upon its predecessor. Chokshi’s writing is lush and exquisitely detailed, which helps draw you into the imaginative world she’s created. The characters continue to grow and allowing them each their own POV work perfectly in bringing them all to life. All the adventure and excitement of the first book is doubled here, and that had me flying through the pages. My one complaint is I thought the ending was rushed, but the cliffhanger has me looking forward to the last book which unfortunately won’t be out until 2021. I highly recommend this to readers who loved the previous book, and if you haven’t read The Guilded Wolves, but you enjoy exciting adventures filled with mystery and magic, you need to pick this up ASAP!