I’ve been eagerly awaiting the sequel to IMMORTAL LONGINGS forever, and then I’ve been putting it off since it came out last night due to the mediocre reviews - but I should stop listening to those because I loved this one!!!

picking up immediately after that brutal cliffhanger, calla is adjusting to the new world where she unalived her lover, anton, only for him to take the body of her friend and newly crowned king, august. and boy, the tension was palpable!! 

the story mostly revolved around calla stepping into her new role and becoming the queen she never was 🥲 I loved her journey and unapologetic ways of protecting the kingdom and her peace all at the same time!! and anton, lil manchild anton, just couldn’t get over the fact that she sacrificed him for the greater good 🙄 like he wouldn’t do the same thing if the roles were reversed 

the introduction of otta and her own scheming ways was a welcome change of pace among the slower world building & repetitive plot points… and while we as readers knew something was off with her, that ending had me gasping!!! love chloe gong’s plot twists!!

it was a bit monotonous at times and while the plot further the tension of the revolution and coup of san-er, nothing major truly happened until the last 15% of the book… but I thoroughly enjoyed this sequel!! can’t wait for the next one pls 🫠

rating: 4 stars
wine pairing: south african pinotage