Author: Mary E. Pearson
Genre: Fantasy; Young Adult
Rating: 9/10
Lia knew one thing for sure – there was no easy way out of Venda, for her or for Rafe. And as the days pass by, she also comes to learn that nothing was really as it seemed. Rafe, who had deceived her completely, still risked his life to be by her side. Kaden, who had been sent to assassinate her, went against all he stood for by saving her life. And then there was the kingdom itself – Lia had only known Venda to be the home of barbarians, but so much more lay under the surface.
This was an enthralling read. As I mentioned in my previous review, I loved the writing style, and how every sentence and word had significance and purpose. The description was not tedious, giving just enough detail for the reader to picture every scene vibrantly in their head. I actually thought the writing was more skilful and enabled the story to flow smoother in this book, because there was minimal info-dumping and more movement in the plot – something I really appreciated.
Moreover, this book had a carefully crafted plot, and I was blown away many times by how intricate and meaningful the story became as the book progressed. It was, again, not the most action-packed plot, but it was constructed with plenty of buildups, foreshadowing and clever insinuations. I marvelled at how the rising action kept pushing our characters further and further away from escape, keeping us on the edge of our seats, and was awed by the nerve-wrecking progression of the last hundred pages. The ending kind of killed me, and I remember just staring at the book in shock the first time I had read the story.
“When you think you’re at the end of your rope, give it three more days. And then another three. Sometimes you’ll find the rope is longer than you thought.”
Moving on to our characters. I really loved how Lia's character developed in this book. Many times, I admired her courage and cunning when up against all odds, and how she viewed the new culture for all its positives and negatives. Mostly, I appreciated how Lia was someone who was as strong as she was vulnerable, because it made for a more realistic and engaging read.
All the other characters were also well developed, with their personalities becoming more complex and solidly fleshed out. The Komizar was very well written, making for a really compelling villain. I also adored every new character that was introduced in the story. They were all very diverse, and every interaction between them was very entertaining and interesting.
I loved the romance and angst in this book. I adored how Lia and Rafe’s love only grew stronger and more passionate even with their rough history. One thing I liked was how they didn’t brush past the deceptions they had used to fall in love in the previous book. I also particularly enjoyed the portrayal of anger and jealousy during their time in Venda. The way they strengthened their relationship despite those ugly feelings was personally the highlight of their relationship in this book.
I do want to mention that I am a huge fan of the author's worldbuilding. It is obvious that a lot of thought went into crafting this new landscape, culture and language. I found the nuanced view through which we learnt about this new culture very interesting, because we were able to compare how the outside world stereotyped Venda, against what Venda was actually like. The fantastical element was also more prominent in this book than the previous one. I liked how the author wove myth into Lia’s destiny, and I thought it was beautifully written, contributing to the mystical vibes of this story.
“The rules of reason build towers that reach past the treetops. The rules of trust build towers that reach past the stars.”
I’m really excited to pick up the third book and watch how the fates of the three kingdoms unfold. If you haven’t already read this series, I’d highly recommend picking it up, especially if you love fantasy!
Reviewed by: S.R. Scribbles (3rd reading)
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