Adversary to the Villain

Adversary to the Villain by Hannah Nicole Maehrer 352 pages Book 4

Synopsis: Evie has always tried to be helpful, loyal, and only mildly involved in treason. But with a dangerous prophecy threatening the very magic of Rennedawn―not to mention the race to claim its necessary artifacts before King Benedict does―things are starting to feel…less like a career path and more like a serious problem.

The prophecy won’t stop pointing in Evie’s direction. The Villain’s magic keeps choosing her. And honestly, if you’re going to be accused of evil anyway, you might as well commit.

Unfortunately, the more Evie leans into her alleged villain era, the more her boss starts acting like the hero of a completely different story. Trystan is getting closer―closer than is wise, advisable, or even remotely professional―and looking at her like she’s already chosen a side. His.

Which is deeply inconvenient, because if Evie can’t save the kingdom’s magic, she might just become its greatest threat.

My Thoughts: I love this series! We are getting to the impending doom of it all and I cannot wait to see how this series concludes! The snark is still snarky, the characters are still beloved and the plot is still interesting. Read this series if you enjoy comedic romantasy!

The Hurricane Wars

 The Hurricane Wars by Thea Guanzon 472 pages Book 1

Synopsis: All Talasyn has ever known is the Hurricane Wars. Growing up an orphan in a nation under siege by the ruthless Night Emperor, Talasyn has found her family among the soldiers who fight for freedom. But she is hiding a deadly secret: light magic courses through her veins, a blazing power believed to have been wiped out years ago that can cut through the Night Empire's shadows.

Prince Alaric, the emperor's only son and heir, has been forged into a weapon by his father. Tasked with obliterating any threats to the Night Empire's rule with the strength of his armies and mighty Shadow magic, Alaric has never been bested. That is until he sees Talasyn burning brightly on the battlefield with the magic that killed his grandfather, turned his father into a monster, and ignited the Hurricane Wars. In a clash of light and dark, their powers merge and create a force the likes of which has never been seen.

Talasyn and Alaric both know this war can only end with them. But a greater threat is coming, and the strange new magic they can create together could be the only way to overcome it. Thrust into an uneasy alliance, they will confront the secrets at the heart of the war and find, in each other, a searing passion--one that could save their world...or destroy it.

My Thoughts: We read this book in Cedar Hill's Romantasy Book Club. This book was amazing, it was definitely a slow start. The world building was wonderful and the map in the book was actually accurate! Two fun facts I learned about this book are as follows:

1. it's inspired by Southeast Asian mythology, specifically Philippine mythology. 

2. This book started as a Star Wars Fan Fiction book, in which Kylo Ren and Rey are forced into an arranged marriage.

Seek the Traitor's Son (The Burning Empire #1) by Veronica Roth

 Seek the Traitor's Son (The Burning Empire #1) by Veronica Roth-416 pages

⭐⭐⭐⭐

A new epic romantic, dystopian fantasy begins in Seek the Traitor's Son, from #1 New York Times bestselling author Veronica Roth

Elegy Ahn did not ask for destiny to find her.

She is happy with her life as a soldier, defending her small country from the Talusar, a powerful nation who worships a deadly Fever. A fever that blesses half of its victims with mysterious gifts.

But then she’s summoned to hear a prophecy–her, and the most ruthless of Talusar generals, Rava Vidar. Brought face to face, they learn that one of them will lead their people to victory over the other…but they don’t know which. And at the center of both of their fates: a man. A man that, Elegy is told, she will fall in love with.

In just one day, Elegy’s old life–her job, her purpose, and her future–is over. She and Rava are destined to collide, with the fate of their nations hanging in the balance. And when they do, only one will be left standing.

Elegy intends to make sure it’s her.

Thoughts: I have read most of Roth's previous books and I've met her at author events twice now (both were great experiences). This is probably my favorite of hers since Divergent. It starts a bit slow, but really picks up in the second half. I look forward to the second and final book of the duology, which the title was recently revealed to be Curse the Left Hand. 

The Night Ends with Fire by K.X. Song

 

The Night Ends with Fire by K.X. Song

430 Pages | 2024

Star Rating: ★★★★☆

An instant New York Times and USA Today bestseller!
An Indie Next pick!

Infused with magic and romance, this sweeping fantasy adventure inspired by the legend of Mulan follows a young woman determined to choose her own destiny—even if that means going against everyone she loves.

The Three Kingdoms are at war, but Meilin’s father refuses to answer the imperial draft. Trapped by his opium addiction, he plans to sell Meilin for her dowry. But when Meilin discovers her husband-to-be is another violent, ill-tempered man, she realizes that nothing will change for her unless she takes matters into her own hands.

The very next day, she disguises herself as a boy and enlists in her father’s place.

In the army, Meilin's relentless hard work brings her recognition, friendship—and a growing closeness with Sky, a prince turned training partner. But has she simply exchanged one prison for another? As her kingdom barrels toward destruction, Meilin begins to have visions of a sea dragon spirit that offers her true power and freedom, but with a deadly price.

With the future of the Three Kingdoms hanging in the balance, Meilin will need to decide whom to trust—Sky, who inspires her loyalty and love; the sea dragon spirit, who has his own murky agenda; or an infuriating enemy prince who makes her question everything she once knew—about her kingdom and about her own heart.

How to Lose a Goblin in Ten Days by Jessie Sylva

 

How to Lose a Goblin in Ten Days

352 Pages | 2026

Star Rating: ★★★☆☆

A halfling and a goblin must learn to love each other despite their differences in this cozy fantasy romance, brimming with warmth and popular romance tropes―perfect for fans of The Honey Witch and The Spellshop.

What if cottagecore and goblincore fell in love?

When a halfling, Pansy, and a goblin, Ren, each think they've inherited the same cottage, they make a bargain: they'll live in the house together and whoever is driven out first forfeits their ownership.

Amidst forced proximity and cultural misunderstandings, the two begin to fall in love.

But when the cottage―and their communities―are threatened by a common enemy, the duo must learn to trust each other, and convince goblins and halflings to band together to oust a tall intruder.

Rites of the Starling

 Rites of the Starling Bk 2 by Devney Perry 500 pages

Synopsis: Calandra’s five kingdoms are on the verge of destruction. The crux migration is coming. And in the wake of a devastating attack, I’ve been separated from the man who owns my heart.

​I’m lost. Terrified. Homesick. Hunted by monsters, driven to exhaustion, and kidnapped by a powerful priest, the only thing keeping me going is the little girl counting on me to keep her safe.

​It’s my turn to become the Guardian.
​Our lives change one fateful night. A night of death. A night of monsters. A night of truths. That night, I learn the real meaning of fear—and the depth of my own strength.

​Everyone wants me to be something I’m not—a queen, a spy, a sacrifice. But what if I embrace my crown? What if the secrets I uncover save our realm?
​What if my sacrifice means salvation for the man I love?
For too long, I’ve feared the monsters we make.
​It’s time to discover the monster within.​

My Thoughts: The author did it again. The 2nd book was just as fantastic as the first, and I cannot wait until the 3rd book comes out! We have a dual timeline in this book, and the reader discovers more about the mystery and history surrounding the plot. Amazing book series so far!

The Rose Bargain by Sasha Peyton Smith

The Rose Bargain by Sasha Peyton Smith

The Rose Bargain #1, 389 pages

⭐⭐⭐⭐/5

Synopsis (from Goodreads)

London, 1848—For four hundred years, England has been under the control of an immortal fae queen who tricked her way onto the throne. To maintain an illusion of benevolence, Queen Mor grants each of her subjects one opportunity to bargain for their deepest desire.

As Ivy Benton prepares to make her debut, she knows that not even a deal with the queen could fix what has gone wrong: Her family’s social standing is in shambles, her sister is a shadow of her former self, and Ivy’s marriage prospects are nonexistent. So when the queen announces a competition for Prince Bram’s hand, Ivy is the first to sign her name in blood. What a bargain can’t fix, a crown certainly could.

Ivy soon finds herself a surprising front-runner—with the help of an unexpected ally: Prince Bram’s brother, the rakish Prince Emmett, who promises to help Ivy win his brother’s heart…for a price. But as the season sweeps Ivy away, with glittering balls veiling the queen’s increasingly vicious trials, Ivy realizes there’s more at stake than just a wedding. Because all faerie bargains come with a cost, and Ivy may have discovered hers too late.

Anathema

 Anathema by Keri Lake 690 pages

Synopsis: Only the banished know what lies beyond the woods ...There are whispers about what lurks in Witch Knell—the forest where sinners go to die. The villagers call it The Eating Woods because what’s taken is never given back. Only those who’ve lost their senses would dare to go near. Or the banished.

Maevyth Bronwick knows better than to breach the misty labyrinth of trees, but a tragic turn of events compels her beyond the archway of bones, to a boundary no mortal has crossed before. One that cloaks a dark and fantastical world that’s as dangerous as it is alluring.

It’s there that he dwells, the cursed lord of Eidolon. The one tasked to keep her hidden from the magehood that seeks to crucify her in the name of an arcane prophesy. Zevander Rydainn, known to his prey as The Scorpion, is the coldest, most calculated assassin in all of Aethyria and he’d sooner toss his feisty ward to a pack of vicious fyredrakes than keep her safe. If only he could.

Maevyth’s blood is the key to breaking his despised curse and vanquishing the slumbering evil in Witch Knell. Unfortunately for Lord Rydainn, fate has other plans for the irresistible little enchantress. And his growing obsession with her threatens to destroy everything.  Including himself.

My Thoughts: This book... was insane.. The magic system, very intricate and fascinating. I love a plot heavy kind of book as well, with a touch of romance and full of gothic vibes. Maevyth was one of my top favorite FMC's I've had the pleasure of getting to know. 

The Serpent and the Wings of Night

 The Serpent and the Wings of Night by Carissa Broadbent 504 pages

Synopsis: The adopted human daughter of the Nightborn vampire king, Oraya carved her place in a world designed to kill her. Her only chance to become something more than prey is entering the Kejari: a legendary tournament held by the goddess of death herself.
But winning won’t be easy amongst the most vicious warriors from all three vampire houses. To survive, Oraya is forced to make an alliance with a mysterious rival.
But winning won’t be easy amongst the most vicious warriors from all three vampire houses. To survive, Oraya is forced to make an alliance with a mysterious rival.
Everything about Raihn is dangerous. He is a ruthless vampire, an efficient killer, an enemy to her father’s crown… and her greatest competition. Yet, what terrifies Oraya most of all is that she finds herself oddly drawn to him.

But there’s no room for compassion in the Kejari. War for the House of Night brews, shattering everything that Oraya thought she knew about her home. And Raihn may understand her more than anyone – but their blossoming attraction could be her downfall, in a kingdom where nothing is more deadly than love.

My Thoughts: Carissa Broadbent (author) always delivers. From action packed trials, to enemies to lovers, to war, to heartbreak. I cried for Oraya. I haven't read many books with vampires as the main characters, but I did enjoy it a lot. My favorite character of course was a side character Mische. 

A Forbidden Alchemy

 A Forbidden Alchemy by Stacey McEwan 480 pages 

Synopsis: Nina Harrow and Patrick Colson are twelve years old when they are whisked away from the shadows of their disenfranchised mining towns to dazzling Belavere City to discover their magical potential. Those who pass Belavere’s test will become Artisans, wielders of powerful elemental magic destined to fulfill the city’s grand ambitions. For Nina, the Artisan School symbolizes a dream and an escape from her harsh reality, while Patrick yearns to return to his Craftsman family, whose extraordinary physical strength serves the idium mines keeping the city alive.

And then they uncover a devastating truth: Artisans aren’t born, they’re chosen. They part ways on very different paths, leaving them to carry the burden of this secret alone.

In the years that follow, a Craftsman revolution ignites, thrusting Nina and Patrick into opposing factions of a brewing war. Now an elite Artisan with the very rare talent for charming earth, Nina has turned her back on the fight, haunted by the loss of her found family. But fate intervenes when she is captured by Patrick’s rebel group. Despite the years and conflict that separates them, Patrick hasn’t forgotten Nina. He desperately seeks her help for a mission that could shift the tides against Belavere City. Reluctantly, she agrees, battling the sparks flying between them. But when Nina’s first love reappears, asking her to betray Patrick for the sake of the Artisans, Nina faces an impossible choice that could alter the fate of their world.

My Thoughts: This was the first book I read this year and it got me out of my reading slump. I kept hearing so many good things about this book, so I finally decided to pick it up to read it. I loved every second of it. It was very fast paced in the beginning, the MFC growing up so quickly so we don't get to see much of her during her schools years, which was a bit of a disappointment, but it made sense for the storyline. Great first book to start the trilogy off.

Wild Reverence

 Wild Reverence by Rebecca Ross 527 pages 

Summary: Born in the firelit domain of the under realm, Matilda is the youngest goddess of her clan, blessed with humble messenger magic she uses to carry words and letters through the realms. But the gods will kill for power, and Matilda holds a secret she must hide from even her dearest allies.

And there is a mortal who dreams of her, though they have never met in the waking world. Ten years ago, Vincent of Beckett wrote to Matilda on the darkest night of his life—begging the goddess he befriended in dreams to help him. His request went unanswered, and Vincent became a hardened, irreverent lord of the river who has long forgotten Matilda . . . until she comes tumbling into his bedroom window with a letter for him.

Matilda and Vincent were fated to find each other beyond dreams. But to rewrite the blood-soaked ways of the gods, Matilda will have to face something she fears even more than losing her magic: finally allowing herself to be loved.

My Thoughts: This book was probably one of my favorite books to read this year. It was absolutely beautiful and devastating. Bane is probably my favorite character from this book. I loved the arc of Matilda figuring out her powers and the relationship between herself and Vincent. Read this book! You will love it. 

Until the World Falls Down

 Until the World Falls Down by Jordan Lynde 544 pages

 

Synapsis: When a brutal betrayal leaves Nell heartbroken and alone, she makes a desperate wish for love, recklessly offering anything in exchange.

Her plea is heard by Enver, an immortal as wicked as he is beautiful. He sweeps Nell away to his castle that seems to exist out of time and presents her with a bargain: escape his labyrinth within forty-eight hours or surrender to eternity as his lover.

Nell vows to conquer the labyrinth, despite the dangerous attraction she feels for its monstrous ruler. But every stolen moment with him leaves her craving more. And every step deeper into the castle reveals hidden truths about herself…and the curse that holds Enver captive.

Torn between her desire for love and the dark being incapable of loving her, Nell faces an impossible choice. And her time is running out.

My Thoughts: This book is for all of my David Bowie Labyrinth fans! It's Labyrinth meets Beauty and the Beast. I really enjoyed this book, be forewarned there is a ton of smut in this book though. The infamous ball scene with the mirrors, the labyrinth, brooding male. This book, I liked up until the last couple of chapters. I then figured out there will be a second book... It was worth the read though and I got to see what that old movie would be like if it was an adult version!

A Harvest of Hearts

 A Harvest of Hearts by Andrea Eames 448 pages

Synapsis: 

Before Foss Butcher was Snagged, she thought no more of the magic-users than did anyone else in her tiny village. Sometimes gorgeous women in impossible carriages rolled into town and took bits of people’s hearts. Everyone knew hearts fueled their magic. But Foss, plain, clumsy, and practical as a boot, never expected anyone would want hers.

True enough, when the only sorcerer in the kingdom stepped from his glossy carriage, he didn’t intend to hook Foss. Sylvester’s riot of black curls and perfectly etched cheekbones caught her eye a moment too long, that was all. Suddenly, Foss is cursed and finds herself stomping toward the grand City to keep his enchanted House, where her only friend is a talking cat and the walls themselves have moods.

But as Foss learns the ways of magic, she realizes she’s far from its only unwilling captive. Even Sylvester is hemmed in by spells and threats. It’s said this sorcery protects king, country, and order for thousands. If Foss wants to free herself—and, perhaps, Sylvester—she’ll have to confront it all . . . and uncover the blight nestled in the heart of the kingdom itself.

My Thoughts: 

This book was so good! It had the elements of Howl's Moving Castle which I loved, always been a fan of that book and movie! The magic system was a little lacking as I wanted to know more about it and we only got a little information on how it worked and what exactly it was. There's a talking cat in it though! 

Two Twisted Crowns

 Two Twisted Crowns by Rachel Gillig 437 pages

Summary: In the luscious, dark sequel to One Dark Window, Elspeth must face the consequences of what she's wrought - perfect for readers of Hannah Whitten's For the Wolf and Alexis Henderson's The Year of the Witching.

Elspeth and Ravyn have gathered most of the twelve Providence Cards, but the last, and most important one remains to be found: The Twin Alders.

If they are going to find it before the Solstice and cure the kingdom of the dark magic infecting it, they will need to journey beyond the dangerous mist-cloaked forest that surrounds their kingdom.

And the only one who can lead them there is the monster that shares Elspeth's head. The Nightmare. And he's not eager to share any longer.

My Thoughts: Book 2? Just as amazing as book 1! I loved getting a deeper understanding of The Nightmare and how he came about. I loved learning more about the Providence Cards, the magic behind it all. My brain didn't catch the importance of different types of trees in the first book, but they do hold a great importance. I love how each family has a tree name! I loved how the first book had a focus on the main love interests, and the second book we now have a new focus on two secondary characters and their blooming romance! It was refreshing to have a series (duology in this case) not focus on the same romance and create tension and drama!!!!!! Read this DUOLOGY!

One Dark Window

 One Dark Window by Rachel Gillig 399 pages

Summary: Elspeth needs a monster. The monster might be her.

Elspeth Spindle needs more than luck to stay safe in the eerie, mist-locked kingdom of Blunder—she needs a monster. She calls him the Nightmare, an ancient, mercurial spirit trapped in her head. He protects her. He keeps her secrets.

But nothing comes for free, especially magic.
When Elspeth meets a mysterious highwayman on the forest road, her life takes a drastic turn. Thrust into a world of shadow and deception, she joins a dangerous quest to cure Blunder from the dark magic infecting it. And the highwayman? He just so happens to be the King’s nephew, Captain of the most dangerous men in Blunder…and guilty of high treason.

Together they must gather twelve Providence Cards—the keys to the cure. But as the stakes heighten and their undeniable attraction intensifies, Elspeth is forced to face her darkest secret yet: the Nightmare is slowly taking over her mind. And she might not be able to stop him.

My Thoughts: My friend kept telling me to read this duology and I finally decided it was time! I have found I truly do enjoy a lot of gothic romantasy books and I was surprised that I did. I loved the character, Elspeth and the fact that she has a monster living inside her head essentially. I love the idea of different cards with different magic in them and the mystery of the mist. The little poems at the beginning of each chapter have important information in them about the Providence Cards which I actually enjoyed reading (usually those annoying little poems at the beginning of chapters are annoying to me, but this time around I actually liked reading them). 

THE ENCHANTED GREENHOUSE (Spellshop #2) by SARAH BETH DURST

 THE ENCHANTED GREENHOUSE (Spellshop #2) by SARAH BETH DURST ( Pgs 375)

Terlu Perna broke the law because she was lonely. She cast a spell and created a magically sentient spider plant. As punishment, she was turned into a wooden statue and tucked away into an alcove in the North Reading Room of the Great Library of Alyssium.

This should have been the end of her story . . . Yet one day, Terlu wakes in the cold of winter on a nearly-deserted island full of hundreds of magical greenhouses. She’s starving and freezing, and the only other human on the island is a grumpy gardener. To her surprise, he offers Terlu a place to sleep, clean clothes, and freshly baked honey cakes—at least until she’s ready to sail home.

But Terlu can’t return home and doesn’t want to—the greenhouses are a dream come true, each more wondrous than the next. When she learns that the magic that sustains them is failing—causing the death of everything within them—Terlu knows she must help. Even if that means breaking the law again.

This time, though, she isn’t alone. Assisted by the gardener and a sentient rose, Terlu must unravel the secrets of a long-dead sorcerer if she wants to save the island—and have a fresh chance at happiness and love.

A Fire in the Sky

 A Fire in the Sky Sophie Jordan (A Fire in the Sky #1), 336 pages       

 Dragons are extinct. Witches are outcast. Magic is dying. But human lust for power is immortal.

Dragon fire no longer blisters the skies over Penterra, but inside the lavish palace, life is still perilous…especially for Tamsyn. Raised in the glittering court alongside the princesses, it's her duty to be punished for their misdeeds. Treated as part of the royal family but also as the lowliest servant, Tamsyn fits nowhere. Her only friend is Stig, Captain of the Guard.

To save the pampered princesses from a fate worse than death, she is commanded to don a veil and marry Fell, the Beast of the Borderlands. She agrees to the deception even though it means leaving Stig, and the only life she’s ever known, behind.

The wedding night begins with unexpected passion—and ends in near violence when her trickery is exposed. Rather than start a war, Fell accepts Tamsyn as his bride...but can he accept the dark secrets she harbors—secrets buried so deep even she doesn’t know they exist? For Tamsyn is more than a royal whipping girl, more than the false wife of a man who now sees her as his enemy. And when those secrets emerge, they will ignite a flame bright enough to burn the entire kingdom to the bone.

Magic is not dead...it is only sleeping. And it will take one ordinary girl with an extraordinary destiny to awaken it.

I love romantasy, but this book didn't keep my interest. Because of that, it was difficult to even finish. It was very slow and didn't get to the "real story" until the last few chapters. I did like the characters, and because of the cliff-hanger at the end, I am intrigued to know what happens next.

  

Accomplice to the Villain

Accomplice to the Villain bk 3 by Hannah Nicole Maehrer 336 pages

Summary: Evie Sage didn’t mean to become the right-hand woman to the kingdom’s most terrifying villain. One minute, she was applying for an entry-level position that promised “light paperwork and occasional beheadings,” and the next, she was knee-deep in magical mayhem, murder plots, and an entirely inappropriate crush on her brooding, sharp-jawed, walking disaster of a boss.

Now, with a magical prophecy unraveling, assassins showing up in the break room, and a suspicious amount of frogs wearing crowns, Evie has to figure out how to survive her job without setting the kingdom on fire—or her dignity, which is hanging by a very sarcastic thread.

Being evil-adjacent was never part of the five-year plan. But then again…neither was falling for The Villain.

A magical office comedy with grumpy bosses, snarky frogs, and definitely-not-feelings.

My Thoughts: I still love this series and I can't believe it's still going and that there will be a 4th book! This one has even more treachery, evilness, betrayals, and humor. I love the subtlety of adding in the fairytale about "The Frog Prince". The prophecy has gotten more out of hand and of course they are interpreting it completely wrong. The King everyone is trying to murder/overthrow is even more horrid in this one. It's just been a wild ride and I'm just along for it.  

Enchantra

 Enchantra Bk 2  by Kaylie Smith 448 pages

Summary: Genevieve Grimm has felt adrift ever since her sister became the head of the family. So when a mysterious friend of their mother's invites her to Italy, she accepts. She arrives at his grand palace, expecting passion and magic, decadence and luxury... perhaps even a midnight ball.

She doesn't expect the owner's ruthlessly handsome son to slam the door in her face. Rowin Silver is tall, dark, and exceptionally rude, and invitation or not, he demands Genevieve leave and never come back. But Genevieve follows nobody's orders, especially those of arrogant rich boys. She slips inside—and immediately discovers her mistake.

Rowin and his family are caught in an insidious game of hide and seek, where only one can win. The rest will be trapped in Hell... until the competition begins again.

Genevieve must either join the hunt or forfeit any hope of escaping. But to her dismay, her best chance of survival lies with Rowin. Since lovers may play as a pair, Rowin and Genevieve agree to form an alliance under the guise of a fake courtship. However, as they race through the game's elaborate labyrinth, trapped among gleaming gold and shining marble, their loathing gives way to irresistible attraction. Only Rowin is keeping secrets, especially when it comes to his ruthless family, and Genevieve can't help but wonder if she's trapped in two treacherous games: Enchantra and the one Rowin is playing with her heart.

My Thoughts: This book was very different from the first of the series, Phantasma. We didn't get to truly understand Genevieve in the first book and I loved the deeper look we got into her in this book! The Games were in a sense more interesting in this book, because the games revolve around Immortals and they have to play it each year, whereas in the first book, random humans would play and then never play again. So the dynamic was definitely different, Exciting read, the ending was pretty fast, and I hope there's another book as there are TOO many unanswered questions from both books

The Hemlock Queen

 The Hemlock Queen by Hannah Whitten 400 Pages

Summary: In the second installment of New York Times bestselling author Hannah Whitten's lush, romantic epic fantasy series, a young woman who can raise the dead must navigate the dangerous and glamorous world of the Sainted King's royal court.

The corrupt king August is dead. Prince Bastian has seized the throne and raised Lore—a necromancer and former smuggler—to his right hand side. Together they plan to cut out the rot from the heart of the sainted court and help the people of Dellaire. But not everyone is happy with the changes. The nobles are sowing dissent, the Kyrithean Empire is beating down their door, and Lore's old allies are pulling away. Even Prince Bastian's changed. No longer the hopeful, rakish, charismatic man Lore knows and loves, instead he's reckless, domineering and cold.

And something's been whispering in her ear. A voice, dark and haunting, that's telling her there's more to the story than she knows and more to her power than she can even imagine. A truth buried deep that could change everything.

With Bastian's coronation fast approaching and enemies whispering on all sides, Lore must figure out how to protect herself, her prince, and her country before they all come crumbling down and whatever dark power has been creeping through the catacombs is unleashed.

My Thoughts:  It was harder for me to get into this second book of the series. I really enjoyed the first and the fact that Lore seemed like an Anti-Hero to me. This book had a love triangle which was annoying to me. However, the storyline continued in an excellent way and I love the descriptions the author gives.