The Bone Shard Emperor returns readers to the world of Lin, Jovis, Phalue, and Ranami with a vengeance. In a new world where Lin is now the emperor, the work to undo her father’s dark legacy is only beginning. The stakes are sky-high, with Lin frantically employing her diplomacy skills in an attempt to win over the islands to her rule. But her father’s horrific legacy lingers and the islanders remember. Meanwhile, Jovis is forced to decide where his loyalties truly lie. Phalue and Ranami must weigh whether they will support the Emperor or a forced alliance. As rumors swirl about ancient magic returning, all of them will need to make important choices about who to trust.

This was a fantastic sequel!! Since the world-building has been thoroughly established in book one, it is now able to be explored in even more depth in The Bone Shard Emperor. The mystery of the Alanga and their magic slowly unfurls and keeps the reader engaged. My favorite part of Stewart’s writing is how she expertly weaves in layers of clues for the reader to pick up on. When the moment is right, she carefully unveils that all of the small moments have been building towards a stunning reveal.

The intricate world-building and compelling magic system are reminiscent of Sanderson. There was excellent dialogue, including reflections on what it means to have power. Mephi and Jovis remain an adorably inseparable duo, with Mephi embracing his teenager/cat tendencies with aplomb. It was nice to learn more about Jovis’ background and understand his complex motivations. I also enjoyed seeing Phalue and Ranami working together to keep their precarious rule afloat, while exploring their relationship and goals. Needless to say, I ship them!

Definitely do not miss this sequel! From epic battle scenes and an intriguing magic system to lovable characters- The Bone Shard Emperor is a solid installment that promises to lead to a magnificent conclusion. Thank you to Andrea Stewart, Orbit Books, and Netgalley for a free ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

The Grimrose Girls is the story of a strange academy where Ella, Yuki and Rory are mourning the unexpected death of their friend Ariane. The girls don’t agree with the official police report and they work together to retrace the days leading up to her death for clues. Nani, a new student, abruptly arrives in the dorm to take Ariane’s space. As murderous events continue to plague the campus, it becomes clear that what happened to Ariane is not an isolated event. Instead, a deadly pattern related to fairy tales is unfolding. As the girls struggle to find the villain behind it all, no one in the academy can be trusted- not even their closest friends.

The Grimrose Girls is an intriguing and fast-paced adventure. I definitely agree with the comparison to The Descendants, though I found The Grimrose Girls to be darker and more complex. I would also agree with the comparisons made to Once Upon A Time and Riverdale. The idea behind the plot is very creative, but I struggled a little bit with the pacing of the reveal. One of my favorite parts of this story was the excellent LGBTQ+ rep and twisting of seemingly well-known fairy tales. The characters all have good motivations and plenty of secrets! If you love fairy tales, solving murders, and seek a dark adventure then The Grimrose Girls is for you. I enjoyed The Grimrose Girls and will be curious to see where the sequel takes them next! The Grimrose Girls is out now. Thank you to Laura Pohl, Sourcebooks Fire, and Netgalley for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.