W O W! This is how sequel is done well!

While I did enjoy the first book very much, I couldn‘t hype it as I‘ve seen other people do. It was a good unique turn of a faerie story, I liked the characters, but I didn‘t understand much of the magic system or world building. Maybe because it was new to me to read a fantasy set in a historical place, in a place we know from this world.

However, this book turned everything upside down. Starting the sequel has thrown me directly into new action. We see the outcome of the battle at the end of book one. Much time has passed, or hasn‘t it? You feel confused, just like the character; start hoping for some better outcome, just like the character; you feel the pain just like her. While I first thought the beginning was rather slow, filled with action for the sake of it, it became sooner a story filled with secrets, history and magic. I must admit that the first part only kept me reading for the sake of finally arriving where the characters wanted to arrive. Eventually, when they got there, things got serious and I couldn‘t stop reading. I wanted to know more, wanted to realize why things happened the way they did, and it was so so well done! It was fast paced with certain scenes to slow it down, to give us some time to breathe before leaping into a new action-filled scenario that kept us breathless all over again.

I loved the new take of faerie history we get to discovery in this one. Which only made me realize how much I love the idea of faeries in stories, generally. Elizabeth May did create an unique turn of faeries and what exactly they are, and I enjoyed every single moment of this read.

The characters felt real, too. Focused on what is before them, each of them also handles their past in their own way. We don‘t get unnecessary drama, but instead a story of bonding, love and friendship.

And I will forever love Derrick. And Kiaran. My boys.

Never would I have picked up this book if it wasn‘t for my bestie Chiara (who you can stalk on IG as @_ckarys and also on GoodReads - and you should!) who has been recommending me this trilogy since our very first conversation. Repeatedly. Over a hundred times. The reason why it took me so long to pick it up was simply: I usually don‘t read such books and was afraid it would not be my cup of tea. Well let me tell you: this was not only my cup of tea, that was my whole iventar of tea. Oh boy, oh boy!

While I can enjoy why people think of this book as problematic, I did enjoy it when otherwise I might have reacted the same way.

Pacat has created a world where sex, politics, power and intrigue are not seperated, but rather one huge complex where each aspect is there to serve a bigger reason. I understand that this book needs trigger warnings and if I didn‘t know that it had to turn into a different direction, I might have DNFed it the moment rape was shown explicit. My first thoughts were indeed: so this is about sex, huh? Not the typical genre I would pick up, but it is so much more than that. I do think it needs to celebrated that Pacat used a sushed down topic like sex to show a world of politics, lies and intrigues.

As for the two main protagonists I must say they stole my heart right away. Even Laurent. That bastard. (I love you!)

When you start reading this, see the problematic parts as something that nurtures the story and plot to some degree, you can‘t stop reading. There is no putting aside. Your eyes are glued to the book. And you desire for so much more.

Anyways, it does only get four stars of mine because really, if no one has told me, I wouldn‘t have read any further than the first couple of pages. Because as I said, I get why they are seen as problematic, and usually those are not my cup of tea. But as soon as you join the ride, you‘ll love it.

When you finish a book in a day it means two things: you couldn‘t stop reading and you would sell your soul for it. Especially, when you spend a whole day reading, not caring about the fact that there are finals, waiting to be studied for.

What a ride this book was! Definitely better than the first book, we finally get to see more intrigues, lies and politics. But also we see more of the characters, with their interaction, their relationship, their development.

This book was filled with plot but was, to me, rather a story that focused on the character development. Laurent and Damen have found themselves in a place they weren‘t anticipating. Somewhere between trust and lies, they stand side by side. Even when Damen is the slave he has become in book one, Laurent made more of him. Watching these two interact was a rollercoaster. You had ups and downs, your stomach was filled with butterflies and an adrenaline kick, and you wanted m o r e. Trust these two to make sure your heart gets stolen and never returned back.

Not being able to put it aside, I devoured this book in the shortest time. And when I was done? My mouth dropped to the floor. How were people able to wait so long inbetween the books? I jumped right into Kings Rising, my heart pounding, wanting more.