Scan barcode
jcaesara's review against another edition
5.0
.
.
.
This was amazing!
I wasn't expecting this book to be about Ninian. And I was so happy when I started the first chapters and realized it was about him. I loved him from the first book and really wanted to learn more about him and how his relationship with Aed began. And I have to say I wasn't disappointed. I loved every line in this book ❤️❤️❤️
His bad childhood taught him how to survive on his own on the streets and not to trust or let anyone touch him.
When he decides to stole from Mael Maedoc his life takes a sudden turn, ending with him joining a gang in order to pay his debt for what he stole.
So, after his first fight he goes to pay a part of his debt to Mael Maedoc but he changes the rules and instead of money he asks Ninian to take care of a damaged boy.
"Ninian stared in shock as the stranger met his gaze, noticing the way the color danced like the glow of embers over a coal. It was darkly brilliant around the edges, licking crimson in toward the center, and around the pupil glimmered a fine circle of bright copper flecks.
It was stunning."
He begins to come daily to check on Aed and help him heal and also to heal himself too. And a little more
" Ninian fidgeted with candle wax and tried not to be too overt in studying the freckles over Áed’s nose. There were a lot of them, and they crossed his cheekbones like little constellations."
“Áed,” he whispered, too softly to be heard. Just trying out the words. Just to hear them, maybe convince himself to swallow them again. “Please.” He swallowed; it was hard to say. “Please catch me.”
Áed opened his eyes.
Ninian’s breath choked him.
Áed looked otherworldly in the moonlight, and a slow, tiny smile crept over his face. “Okay.”
Ninian finds out about Aed's true origins and he really tries to tell him the truth but he's scared both for Aed and for him, as he doesn't want to lose him.
"I know there’s something you’re not telling me,” Áed said, and Ninian’s stomach flopped. “But I’m happy right now. If I’m happy not knowing, and you’re not ready to tell me, then is there really any harm in waiting?”
That sounded so simple. So appealing. “Is that really okay?” It shouldn’t be Ninian’s choice to decide whether or not he was ready for Áed to know his own secret."
So he decides to wait a little while longer, until the moment is right.
If you read The Hidden King you know what happens to them. And I know it too.
But even though I know I still read it with hope in my heart, hope for them to have a happy ending. I know it's not the case but they are such a beautiful couple and I love them so much that I secretly fantasized that it would turn out to be a SF book and Ninian will be brought to life through some kind of magic
.
.
This was amazing!
I wasn't expecting this book to be about Ninian. And I was so happy when I started the first chapters and realized it was about him. I loved him from the first book and really wanted to learn more about him and how his relationship with Aed began. And I have to say I wasn't disappointed. I loved every line in this book ❤️❤️❤️
His bad childhood taught him how to survive on his own on the streets and not to trust or let anyone touch him.
When he decides to stole from Mael Maedoc his life takes a sudden turn, ending with him joining a gang in order to pay his debt for what he stole.
So, after his first fight he goes to pay a part of his debt to Mael Maedoc but he changes the rules and instead of money he asks Ninian to take care of a damaged boy.
"Ninian stared in shock as the stranger met his gaze, noticing the way the color danced like the glow of embers over a coal. It was darkly brilliant around the edges, licking crimson in toward the center, and around the pupil glimmered a fine circle of bright copper flecks.
It was stunning."
He begins to come daily to check on Aed and help him heal and also to heal himself too. And a little more
" Ninian fidgeted with candle wax and tried not to be too overt in studying the freckles over Áed’s nose. There were a lot of them, and they crossed his cheekbones like little constellations."
“Áed,” he whispered, too softly to be heard. Just trying out the words. Just to hear them, maybe convince himself to swallow them again. “Please.” He swallowed; it was hard to say. “Please catch me.”
Áed opened his eyes.
Ninian’s breath choked him.
Áed looked otherworldly in the moonlight, and a slow, tiny smile crept over his face. “Okay.”
Ninian finds out about Aed's true origins and he really tries to tell him the truth but he's scared both for Aed and for him, as he doesn't want to lose him.
"I know there’s something you’re not telling me,” Áed said, and Ninian’s stomach flopped. “But I’m happy right now. If I’m happy not knowing, and you’re not ready to tell me, then is there really any harm in waiting?”
That sounded so simple. So appealing. “Is that really okay?” It shouldn’t be Ninian’s choice to decide whether or not he was ready for Áed to know his own secret."
So he decides to wait a little while longer, until the moment is right.
If you read The Hidden King you know what happens to them. And I know it too.
But even though I know I still read it with hope in my heart, hope for them to have a happy ending. I know it's not the case but they are such a beautiful couple and I love them so much that I secretly fantasized that it would turn out to be a SF book and Ninian will be brought to life through some kind of magic
ameserole's review against another edition
3.0
I have received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Okay, so after realizing that The Last Prince was the second book in The Coming of Áed Series.. I decided to dive into the first book beforehand. That being said, I wouldn't necessarily count this as a book 2. Or even a sequel one bit. This is just based off of who the actual main character is in this one. So, after knowing what happened to Ninian in the first book this feels like a prequel to me.
Probably would've made more sense for this to be a novella, book 1, or even a book 0? Not sure if that last one is even a thing.. but just go with it. Now I'm not saying I hated the guy because I did like Ninian in the first book. It was also somewhat interesting and entertaining to learn more about him and how he learned to survive.
Yet, and this is a big yet, it just seemed odd to me to be reading about him. Especially since I read this series in order and my brain is just trying to compute everything right now. Other than that, it was an okay book.. it just wasn't a sequel.
Okay, so after realizing that The Last Prince was the second book in The Coming of Áed Series.. I decided to dive into the first book beforehand. That being said, I wouldn't necessarily count this as a book 2. Or even a sequel one bit. This is just based off of who the actual main character is in this one. So, after knowing what happened to Ninian in the first book this feels like a prequel to me.
Probably would've made more sense for this to be a novella, book 1, or even a book 0? Not sure if that last one is even a thing.. but just go with it. Now I'm not saying I hated the guy because I did like Ninian in the first book. It was also somewhat interesting and entertaining to learn more about him and how he learned to survive.
Yet, and this is a big yet, it just seemed odd to me to be reading about him. Especially since I read this series in order and my brain is just trying to compute everything right now. Other than that, it was an okay book.. it just wasn't a sequel.
bookdragon22's review against another edition
5.0
I finally managed to finish this book, it being the prequel to The Hidden King, and I love every aspect of it. It’s a mix of LGBTQ+ and YA fantasy that was brilliantly written and led to a variety of emotions throughout.
I fell in love with the characters when I read the first book, and reading this only strengthened that love I have for them. It provided more of a backstory into the lives of both the main characters, with the story following Ninian’s life, how he met Áed, and the development of their relationship.
It showed their relationship evolving, with them helping the other to heal, and eventually bringing Ronan into their lives together. However, the book isn’t focused solely on their relationship, and seeing the adventure and danger the characters have both been through makes the story as a whole both more tense and intriguing.
Knowing what happens in the first book made reading this so much more painful, yet I’d happily reread it over and over again. I love it so much and I recommend.
I fell in love with the characters when I read the first book, and reading this only strengthened that love I have for them. It provided more of a backstory into the lives of both the main characters, with the story following Ninian’s life, how he met Áed, and the development of their relationship.
It showed their relationship evolving, with them helping the other to heal, and eventually bringing Ronan into their lives together. However, the book isn’t focused solely on their relationship, and seeing the adventure and danger the characters have both been through makes the story as a whole both more tense and intriguing.
Knowing what happens in the first book made reading this so much more painful, yet I’d happily reread it over and over again. I love it so much and I recommend.
a_potter_nerd's review against another edition
5.0
I received this as an eARC to read for free in exchange for my honest review. Thank you to Booksprout and E.G. Radcliff for giving me access.
This is a wonderful prequel style novel that takes you through Ninian’s life and how he was led to Áed.
Upon reading The Hidden King last June, Radcliff destroyed my heart with some events that take place early on. Needless to say, it was repaired slightly with The Last Prince.
In book one, I fell in love Ninian, so I was exited that this book was about him. My heart aches for him and how his life became. No child should have to suffer as he did.
Radcliff knows how to really drawn you into this world from page one. I feel like I have been to The Maze and maybe lost a fight or two to a local gang.
This is a must read for any fan of high fantasy reads, YA or not. I cannot wait for the third book which will be through Ronan’s experience.
This is a wonderful prequel style novel that takes you through Ninian’s life and how he was led to Áed.
Upon reading The Hidden King last June, Radcliff destroyed my heart with some events that take place early on. Needless to say, it was repaired slightly with The Last Prince.
In book one, I fell in love Ninian, so I was exited that this book was about him. My heart aches for him and how his life became. No child should have to suffer as he did.
Radcliff knows how to really drawn you into this world from page one. I feel like I have been to The Maze and maybe lost a fight or two to a local gang.
This is a must read for any fan of high fantasy reads, YA or not. I cannot wait for the third book which will be through Ronan’s experience.
ellethefantasyqueen's review against another edition
5.0
I got given a copy to review through Voracious Readers
I started reading this book in work and was pleasantly surprised and glad at how easy it was to drift into the world. I got up to 18% in work and read the rest of it when I was at home in one sitting.
I really enjoyed the character development and I loved how Áed and Ninian's relationship grew throughout the book, and it occurred in a way which felt so natural rather than characters just being pushed together.
I am very excited to start The Hidden King tomorrow to welcome in the new year and am excited for any other books E.G. Radcliff writes
I started reading this book in work and was pleasantly surprised and glad at how easy it was to drift into the world. I got up to 18% in work and read the rest of it when I was at home in one sitting.
I really enjoyed the character development and I loved how Áed and Ninian's relationship grew throughout the book, and it occurred in a way which felt so natural rather than characters just being pushed together.
I am very excited to start The Hidden King tomorrow to welcome in the new year and am excited for any other books E.G. Radcliff writes
crazyasahare1's review
challenging
dark
hopeful
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
4.75
naomisdumpster's review against another edition
5.0
It's actually a prequel with all of the events set prior to the beginning of Book 1. I am not altogether certain how I feel about prequels in general but I surprisingly enjoyed it. I loved the world and characters. I especially loved Ninian and the added layers of character development was amazing, It was also a pleasant surprise not to have Ninian's voice wasn't aged down. I admit I have a soft spot for fantasy but this really exceeded my expectations in the first book, the prequel blew me away. :)
the writing style was digestible without being overly simplistic, and the story was engaging.
NOTE: I received a complimentary copy of the book from the author via Voracious Readers
the writing style was digestible without being overly simplistic, and the story was engaging.
NOTE: I received a complimentary copy of the book from the author via Voracious Readers
diletto_amanda's review against another edition
5.0
I didn't realize that book 2 was going to be a prequel to book 1 (I clearly didn't look into it enough before diving right into reading), but I was so happy that it was.
Honestly, you could probably read the first two books in either order and it would make sense. I almost wish I had read this book before the Hidden King because I love Ninian and I was able to read about him more in this book.
The best part was that I was able to read the love story from the beginning between Aed and Ninian. The love these two boys have for each other is just so sweet, and something that I wish I read more often in books. Not just a romance between two characters, but a story of two people who mutually inspire each other to live. And as Hayao Miyazaki says, "perhaps [that is] closer to portraying a true expression of love." EG Radcliff definitely shows that here.
*I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Honestly, you could probably read the first two books in either order and it would make sense. I almost wish I had read this book before the Hidden King because I love Ninian and I was able to read about him more in this book.
The best part was that I was able to read the love story from the beginning between Aed and Ninian. The love these two boys have for each other is just so sweet, and something that I wish I read more often in books. Not just a romance between two characters, but a story of two people who mutually inspire each other to live. And as Hayao Miyazaki says, "perhaps [that is] closer to portraying a true expression of love." EG Radcliff definitely shows that here.
*I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
kitkatthebooknerd's review against another edition
4.0
So this review is LONG overdue, my sincere apologies to you all, especially to the author who was kind enough to send me a digital advance copy for review! As you know I had been unwell the last couple of weeks but I am back now and ready to review this beautiful book!
The Last Prince, by EG Radcliff is a beautiful, harrowing and rich story of love, family, life and trauma. Labelled as the sequel to the phenomenal The Hidden King, its story is actually set prior to the first book thus acting more as a prequel that follows Ninian’s early life as a child and exploring how he came to meet Aed.
While the contents make this book a prequel, I would personally recommend reading The Hidden King first for a couple of reasons. Firstly, it will make this book much more emotional for you because you already know the outcome of certain events. Secondly, the familiarity with the characters means you will be able to fully appreciate the message and core themes of this story without any confusion. Lastly, it makes the experience of this story just generally much richer.
This review may contain spoilers for The Hidden King #1 (Click for my review - https://kbbookreviews867789450.wordpress.com/2020/02/22/book-review-the-hidden-king-the-coming-of-aed-1-by-e-g-radcliff/)(aka Book 1 in the Coming Of Aed series.)
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 4 out of 5.
Synopsis: Ninian’s childhood was torn apart – he is no stranger to tragedy and pain, but as he tries to live in the harsh life of The Maze he soon realises his only choice is to fight. Forced into a life he never anticipated, Ninian is lonely and isolated, until he meets a crimson-eyed stranger who reminds him what it is like to love and be loved.
CW/TW: Trauma/PTSD, Abuse, References to Sexual Assault/Rape, Emotional Abuse/Manipulation, Alcohol, Violence, Gore.
The Last Prince, by EG Radcliff is another beautiful and captivating instalment in this epic YA series. If you read my review of The Hidden King then you will know that I loved the richness of the world and the characters relationships that infused this book – and I get to love it even more here! The Last Prince is a magnification of these brilliant characters and has even richer descriptions of The Maze than before, Radcliff is excellent at writing about the bonds between characters and this book shows this wonderfully.
The Last Prince is a quick, intense and emotional read. Radcliff’s writing is incredibly immersive and the settings jump of the page – the level of detail is eye catching and paints a vivid image that draws you in and captivates you. This book has an incredible balance between beautiful and natural descriptions and imagery as well as harsh and gut wrenching depictions of the rough and brutal life in the maze. The second instalment is as well written as the first with even more focus on the setting – Racliff is excellent at crafting fascinating and realistic scenery that evokes empathy and deepens our connection with the characters and the story.
The Hidden King is told from the perspective of Aed, in this book however we have a change in narrative. Due to taking place before book 1, this time we experience the story from Ninian’s perspective. This was refreshing, interesting and effective as we follow Ninian as he grows from a child to a young adult, due to this perspective we can easily connect with Ninian’s character and feel for him and the tragedies he has faced. This series is full of emotional depth and the narration is perfect for the story it tells. The narration can be quite hard-hitting at times, particularly Ninian’s traumatic episodes, which at one point bought a tear to my eye, showing the true depth of the harsh life of the Maze.
On the whole the narrative and writing is brilliant, effective, evocative and impactful allowing us to easily connect with the characters, follow the story and picture the settings.
The story/plot is incredibly unique, it is a story of tragedy, heartache, family, love and humanity infused with Celtic myth and magic. Old Royal blood runs through Ninian’s veins, throughout his childhood he was taught to fight the Fae, which we see a lot of traditional methods which I thoroughly appreciated, and protect those who live in the Maze but unfortunate events leave him alone in the world and out on the streets. I really enjoyed the prequel storyline of this book and it’s focus on Ninian, personal relationships and healing.
There are a few strands of the story that interconnect over the course of the book. Firstly, Ninian’s trauma and life on the streets. Secondly, Ninian and Aed’s relationship and the healing that comes along with it. Third is the Celtic/Gaelic magic and existence the Fae. Lastly, the ingrained violence of The Maze and its gangs. Each of these elements are well explored and developed and combine perfectly to create a raw, original story that looks deeply into its characters. Thus, this story is heavily character driven and is perfect for anyone looking for a fantasy story that revolves around deep personal development.
The story, at times, is very heart-breaking and hard-hitting, particularly because Ninian (and Aed) are still children for the majority of the book, and what they, particularly Ninian, have gone through is horrifying – the most heart-breaking part was Ninian’s internalised shame and guilt despite being the victim. This was portrayed clearly and well, making it all the more harsh and gut-wrenching. This book is one where you want to jump in and take the characters into your arms and let them know they’ll be okay and that they are strong enough.
While I love the Fae and all the magic it brings, this book is more peppered with magic rather than having it be the sole focus of the story. If you have read Book 1 then you are already aware of Aed’s situation, which we get more glimpses of in this book in an intriguing way. But, we also see more of the history and natural uses of magic for those who have it and see how the gangs try to utilize it – it was interesting to see the magic so naturally incorporated, and it was done wonderfully, as well as the negatives attitudes surrounding it.
Ninian and Aed meeting each other and healing together was a strong part of the story that played out excellently. It was heart-breaking and sweet to watch the two accept each other and help each other heal both physically and emotionally simply through mutual understanding, love and trust. The relationships built between the characters, particularly those who go on to become found family, is a true strength of these books- their love, their conversations and their bond is so pure and well crafted that you cannot help but fall in love with them.
This book deals with a lot of trauma and being forced into battles and fights against your will, focusing on the treatment of Ninian, who is only a child, and each element truly portrays the extreme cruelty of the conditions of the Maze (made even worse if you have read Book 1 and are aware of what goes on outside). This is a beautifully written book that delves deep into its characters and their emotions making it a heart-breaking but thought-provoking read.
The last quarter of the book has a time jump to match it up with the Hidden King, which I really appreciated because we got to see adult Ninian’s perspective of his relationship with Aed, and his found family including his ‘trash child’ (this will amuse you in context I promise!). The idea of found family and what makes a true family is at the heart of this book and it is mesmerising to watch when a true family comes together because it is something so pure in the midst of the cruelty of The Maze.
Again, the characters are the true highlight of this book, their development over the course of the story is brilliant, they are diverse (with an m/m couple featured), multi-dimensional, and real. Every character has strong characterisation that makes you feel for them, whether it is empathy or hatred, and Radcliff plays with preconceptions making you fall in love with the characters over and over again.
Ahh overall, there is A LOT to this book despite being relatively short in length and I could go on and on about it but it is far to easy to spoil due to the emotional nature. I hope my rambly review portrayed just how much I loved this book and the journey of emotional growth and trauma it takes you on. I adored the sprinkle of Celtic magic, the fictional world and the fantasy woven into the words – it was beautiful and rich. The characters and their relationships were brilliantly crafted, realistic and memorable and I loved every minute of it. The only reason this book missed out on the full 5 stars was because I wanted more magic – that’s just personal preference for my fantasy reads though and this book is truly amazing with the sprinkle of magic we get which is interwoven into this worlds rich history.
I cannot wait to read the rest of this series – it is fantastic and I definitely recommend it to those who love fantasy that places its characters at its center!
*I received and Advance Review ECopy of this book from the author (thank you) in exchange for an honest review*
https://kbbookreviews867789450.wordpress.com/2020/08/24/the-last-prince-the-coming-of-aed-2-by-e-g-radcliff/
The Last Prince, by EG Radcliff is a beautiful, harrowing and rich story of love, family, life and trauma. Labelled as the sequel to the phenomenal The Hidden King, its story is actually set prior to the first book thus acting more as a prequel that follows Ninian’s early life as a child and exploring how he came to meet Aed.
While the contents make this book a prequel, I would personally recommend reading The Hidden King first for a couple of reasons. Firstly, it will make this book much more emotional for you because you already know the outcome of certain events. Secondly, the familiarity with the characters means you will be able to fully appreciate the message and core themes of this story without any confusion. Lastly, it makes the experience of this story just generally much richer.
This review may contain spoilers for The Hidden King #1 (Click for my review - https://kbbookreviews867789450.wordpress.com/2020/02/22/book-review-the-hidden-king-the-coming-of-aed-1-by-e-g-radcliff/)(aka Book 1 in the Coming Of Aed series.)
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 4 out of 5.
Synopsis: Ninian’s childhood was torn apart – he is no stranger to tragedy and pain, but as he tries to live in the harsh life of The Maze he soon realises his only choice is to fight. Forced into a life he never anticipated, Ninian is lonely and isolated, until he meets a crimson-eyed stranger who reminds him what it is like to love and be loved.
CW/TW: Trauma/PTSD, Abuse, References to Sexual Assault/Rape, Emotional Abuse/Manipulation, Alcohol, Violence, Gore.
The Last Prince, by EG Radcliff is another beautiful and captivating instalment in this epic YA series. If you read my review of The Hidden King then you will know that I loved the richness of the world and the characters relationships that infused this book – and I get to love it even more here! The Last Prince is a magnification of these brilliant characters and has even richer descriptions of The Maze than before, Radcliff is excellent at writing about the bonds between characters and this book shows this wonderfully.
The Last Prince is a quick, intense and emotional read. Radcliff’s writing is incredibly immersive and the settings jump of the page – the level of detail is eye catching and paints a vivid image that draws you in and captivates you. This book has an incredible balance between beautiful and natural descriptions and imagery as well as harsh and gut wrenching depictions of the rough and brutal life in the maze. The second instalment is as well written as the first with even more focus on the setting – Racliff is excellent at crafting fascinating and realistic scenery that evokes empathy and deepens our connection with the characters and the story.
The Hidden King is told from the perspective of Aed, in this book however we have a change in narrative. Due to taking place before book 1, this time we experience the story from Ninian’s perspective. This was refreshing, interesting and effective as we follow Ninian as he grows from a child to a young adult, due to this perspective we can easily connect with Ninian’s character and feel for him and the tragedies he has faced. This series is full of emotional depth and the narration is perfect for the story it tells. The narration can be quite hard-hitting at times, particularly Ninian’s traumatic episodes, which at one point bought a tear to my eye, showing the true depth of the harsh life of the Maze.
On the whole the narrative and writing is brilliant, effective, evocative and impactful allowing us to easily connect with the characters, follow the story and picture the settings.
The story/plot is incredibly unique, it is a story of tragedy, heartache, family, love and humanity infused with Celtic myth and magic. Old Royal blood runs through Ninian’s veins, throughout his childhood he was taught to fight the Fae, which we see a lot of traditional methods which I thoroughly appreciated, and protect those who live in the Maze but unfortunate events leave him alone in the world and out on the streets. I really enjoyed the prequel storyline of this book and it’s focus on Ninian, personal relationships and healing.
There are a few strands of the story that interconnect over the course of the book. Firstly, Ninian’s trauma and life on the streets. Secondly, Ninian and Aed’s relationship and the healing that comes along with it. Third is the Celtic/Gaelic magic and existence the Fae. Lastly, the ingrained violence of The Maze and its gangs. Each of these elements are well explored and developed and combine perfectly to create a raw, original story that looks deeply into its characters. Thus, this story is heavily character driven and is perfect for anyone looking for a fantasy story that revolves around deep personal development.
The story, at times, is very heart-breaking and hard-hitting, particularly because Ninian (and Aed) are still children for the majority of the book, and what they, particularly Ninian, have gone through is horrifying – the most heart-breaking part was Ninian’s internalised shame and guilt despite being the victim. This was portrayed clearly and well, making it all the more harsh and gut-wrenching. This book is one where you want to jump in and take the characters into your arms and let them know they’ll be okay and that they are strong enough.
While I love the Fae and all the magic it brings, this book is more peppered with magic rather than having it be the sole focus of the story. If you have read Book 1 then you are already aware of Aed’s situation, which we get more glimpses of in this book in an intriguing way. But, we also see more of the history and natural uses of magic for those who have it and see how the gangs try to utilize it – it was interesting to see the magic so naturally incorporated, and it was done wonderfully, as well as the negatives attitudes surrounding it.
Ninian and Aed meeting each other and healing together was a strong part of the story that played out excellently. It was heart-breaking and sweet to watch the two accept each other and help each other heal both physically and emotionally simply through mutual understanding, love and trust. The relationships built between the characters, particularly those who go on to become found family, is a true strength of these books- their love, their conversations and their bond is so pure and well crafted that you cannot help but fall in love with them.
This book deals with a lot of trauma and being forced into battles and fights against your will, focusing on the treatment of Ninian, who is only a child, and each element truly portrays the extreme cruelty of the conditions of the Maze (made even worse if you have read Book 1 and are aware of what goes on outside). This is a beautifully written book that delves deep into its characters and their emotions making it a heart-breaking but thought-provoking read.
The last quarter of the book has a time jump to match it up with the Hidden King, which I really appreciated because we got to see adult Ninian’s perspective of his relationship with Aed, and his found family including his ‘trash child’ (this will amuse you in context I promise!). The idea of found family and what makes a true family is at the heart of this book and it is mesmerising to watch when a true family comes together because it is something so pure in the midst of the cruelty of The Maze.
Again, the characters are the true highlight of this book, their development over the course of the story is brilliant, they are diverse (with an m/m couple featured), multi-dimensional, and real. Every character has strong characterisation that makes you feel for them, whether it is empathy or hatred, and Radcliff plays with preconceptions making you fall in love with the characters over and over again.
Ahh overall, there is A LOT to this book despite being relatively short in length and I could go on and on about it but it is far to easy to spoil due to the emotional nature. I hope my rambly review portrayed just how much I loved this book and the journey of emotional growth and trauma it takes you on. I adored the sprinkle of Celtic magic, the fictional world and the fantasy woven into the words – it was beautiful and rich. The characters and their relationships were brilliantly crafted, realistic and memorable and I loved every minute of it. The only reason this book missed out on the full 5 stars was because I wanted more magic – that’s just personal preference for my fantasy reads though and this book is truly amazing with the sprinkle of magic we get which is interwoven into this worlds rich history.
I cannot wait to read the rest of this series – it is fantastic and I definitely recommend it to those who love fantasy that places its characters at its center!
*I received and Advance Review ECopy of this book from the author (thank you) in exchange for an honest review*
https://kbbookreviews867789450.wordpress.com/2020/08/24/the-last-prince-the-coming-of-aed-2-by-e-g-radcliff/
rplusd's review
3.0
New to this series and author, I found this to be an overall pleasant read. While I wasn’t exactly blown away by anything in particular – I would, however, regret not pointing out the apparent care that Radcliff takes to building her world and the characters that survive inside it.
The writing is smart and rich in its details. I could feel as though I was watching the film of it in my mind as I went along, missing none of the scenery and enjoying all of the action. Granted some parts ebbed and flowed better than others. And other things left a little underdeveloped. Yet on a whole, this book is recommendable for mild-fantasy readers as the fantasy aspects with the fae are not as exposed here as they would be in the first book, The Hidden King. (I’m assuming). Give or take a minor character or two.
With that said, this book is set in an earlier timeline of the series and believably can be (and most provenly so) read without knowledge of the first book. As the ending of this one lends itself to the beginnings of its predecessor. So, as many others have mentioned in their reviews, this absolutely does feel more like a prequel to an intended stand alone.
Either way, I’m interested and nearly invested in these characters and plot to see what I originally missed out on.
✨e-arc received via NetGalley and BooksGoSocial in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!
The writing is smart and rich in its details. I could feel as though I was watching the film of it in my mind as I went along, missing none of the scenery and enjoying all of the action. Granted some parts ebbed and flowed better than others. And other things left a little underdeveloped. Yet on a whole, this book is recommendable for mild-fantasy readers as the fantasy aspects with the fae are not as exposed here as they would be in the first book, The Hidden King. (I’m assuming). Give or take a minor character or two.
With that said, this book is set in an earlier timeline of the series and believably can be (and most provenly so) read without knowledge of the first book. As the ending of this one lends itself to the beginnings of its predecessor. So, as many others have mentioned in their reviews, this absolutely does feel more like a prequel to an intended stand alone.
Either way, I’m interested and nearly invested in these characters and plot to see what I originally missed out on.
✨e-arc received via NetGalley and BooksGoSocial in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!