Imagine, your parents take you to a fire station when you’re seven years old and tell you that they’d be coming right back. They can’t tell you where they’re going (maybe for a carton of cigarettes and a gallon of milk?)  but they make a promise that they’ll return for you soon. The only thing they leave you with is a deep seated fear of the sea, a necklace with a star shaped Ruby amulet, and a prayer for when you’re in times of trouble. The next day you’re placed in foster care to never see or hear from them again. 

Now fast-forward 19 years. You’re 26 and running a bookshop (aptly named tales and tomes… love that name can’t quite figure out why 🤭) with your best friend and Foster sister Lynn. One night you go to lock up, go home and decide to take a decompressing bath before bed when suddenly you find sand on your bathroom floor! Being someone with thalassophobia, your natural reaction is to drive 10 hours away in a panic.

It is in this seedy motel with questionably stained carpets  in California, that you remember the few things your parents left you along with many stories. In your moment of need and panic you hold onto that amulet and you say your prayer to a goddess, pleading for help and sanctuary from impending doom. Which then lands you… In hell.

Needless to say, this was a fun read. However, I will say it was not my favorite of the series so far.

While, we do see a myriad of characters that are introduced to us in book one return,  Sirena’s story is very much her own. My favorite part of the series definitely being the return Utor, our cinnamon roll lethal weapon of an MMC. Who’s massive… heart (🤭) definitely steals the show. 

The bedlam that ensues upon Sirena‘s arrival to hell, takes us on many adventures through the hellscape and back. We get new villains, new side characters, and an FMC that doesn’t wait for somebody to save her… Almost obnoxiously so (Violet, anyone?) armed with a sharp tongue that had me giggling more than once. 

The love that blossoms between Utor and Sirena is one for the ages. I found myself noting quotes from Utor‘s dialogue to save in order to provide reference to any potential future suitors. 😮‍💨 his unwavering love for the FMC is what had me unable to put this book down.

Some other highlights of the second installment of the brimstone court series were getting to see Millie and Asmodus again and being able to get to know Utor better. There was also an exploration of “one does not define the many“ that was woven throughout the story in different forms which I felt was a lovely touch.

This being said I still would recommend if you were a fan of the first book, or just looking for a read in the genre that has a completely original feel, to give this one a try before we get the third installment! 

Thank you to the author for a copy of this e-book in exchange for my honest review.