Pinto Dempsey, they could never make me hate you...but they're certainly trying.

I got the wonderful opportunity to beta-read Underground Royalty, so it feels extra rewarding to read the ARC of it now. This series has everything a younger me (and even a current me) looked for in a YA novel: found family, subtle and slow-burning romances, and insane plot twists. Book two also incorporated multiple POVs, which is one of my favorite styles to read books in.
Book two begins right where the first one left off: Yahshi and Vell have found the Underground while Pinto has been left alone at the Force. The story is told through four main POVs: Pinto, Vell, Saunti, and Evaris. The multi-POV structure was quite helpful for keeping the tension high throughout the story, and it kept the pace moving along pretty well. There are some sections in the middle that I found dragged at times, but I also just finished reading the beta version of it not too long ago, so that could be the reason I struggled with suspense in some sections. That being said, the last 20% or so is rapidfire and so, so twisty. I literally could not put the book down for the ending, and I'm already stressed out for book three. The reason I rated it a bit lower than book one is that it felt a bit slower to me due to some worldbuilding sections, and I think it might have a bit of second-book syndrome, but overall, I still really enjoyed it and I can't wait for the next one.
The multi-POVs also helped to demonstrate how complex and realistic all of these characters are. I found Saunti and Vell's chapters to be a bit slower than Evaris and Pinto's, but that makes sense given the extra worldbuilding that had to take place within the Underground - and they were still extra tense. Saunti acts as Yahshi's foil in many ways, which I found super intriguing given we didn't get a Yahshi POV in this book. His sense of humor is fun, and I think he was a strong addition to the main cast. Vell's POVs also serve to develop Yahshi and the relationship between the two of them, and I liked seeing the world through her eyes, too. Evaris was interesting because she was briefly introduced in book one, but she shines in this story with her moral complexity and her balance to Pinto's chapters. Pinto was probably my favorite character in the first book, and his arc in this book is incredibly well done. His character is very well-written, and his internal conflict was one of my favorite parts of this book. Keiyo also stood out to me, though I don't quite know why (I do...it's called sadness + jokes ).
Fans of Nightshade Academy will not be disappointed by Underground Royalty's addition to the series, as it promises plenty of tension, intrigue, and complexity.
Thanks to the publisher for the free e-ARC (and for letting me beta-read)!

4.25/5