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sarahlreadseverything's review
5.0
4.5 rounding up.
This didn't have quite as unique a premise as book 1 in the series, but still so very enjoyable.
It's several years since the events of Empath's Lure. Lisca and Khiran are happy in Lhanaperi, and smiling, cunning Sebin has apparently sickened of being the strings behind the Moial throne and fled overseas - leaving Princess Merine (now a seasoned courtier rather than the debutante we last saw her as) as her father's next political pawn, as part of a marriage treaty/alliance with another kingdom, Djali. The King of Djali has his own worries though, and places a spy within his own court.
Things I loved:
- The political machinations here are still layered and nuanced and a lot of fun
- Merine is a great character - resigned to her duty as a younger princess to marry for the good of her kingdom, but trying hard to make that inevitability work for her. Whenever she sees a chance to secure a slightly better outcome for herself she leaps on it. Despite being a pawn of her father she gives herself agency.
- Jen Lynning's insertion of little tropey romantic sub-plots into the narrative with secondary characters. In Empath's Lure it was 'Prince falls in love with maid', here there's a very sweet 'In love with younger sister's best friend' moment
- The Djali secondary characters in general. Orlant and Der in particular.
- The side-stepping that Merine and Andros go through, neither comfortable revealing their hand to the other until almost the end. Some may say it dragged on for to long, but I enjoyed the realism of their muddled feelings and the handling of it in a way that meant their romance was an essential part of, but didn't overwhelm, the overall story.
- That the story doesn't just end when the central problem is resolved - you get to see the main characters working through its implications and some of the aftermath.
Docking half a star because:
- I figured out what would happen with Andros's plotline literally within about four paragraphs of meeting him. Lynning was obviously dropping at least some hints on purpose, but they could have been more veiled early on. That being said, it didn't make the journey any less enjoyable.
- Count Bendeil returns as Moial's treaty negotiator, but seems to have completely changed character from book 1? There he was a competent foil in comparison to the King, here he's just a misogynistic waste of space.
I'm all in on this series though. Bring on Sebin's book!
This didn't have quite as unique a premise as book 1 in the series, but still so very enjoyable.
It's several years since the events of Empath's Lure. Lisca and Khiran are happy in Lhanaperi, and smiling, cunning Sebin has apparently sickened of being the strings behind the Moial throne and fled overseas - leaving Princess Merine (now a seasoned courtier rather than the debutante we last saw her as) as her father's next political pawn, as part of a marriage treaty/alliance with another kingdom, Djali. The King of Djali has his own worries though, and places a spy within his own court.
Things I loved:
- The political machinations here are still layered and nuanced and a lot of fun
- Merine is a great character - resigned to her duty as a younger princess to marry for the good of her kingdom, but trying hard to make that inevitability work for her. Whenever she sees a chance to secure a slightly better outcome for herself she leaps on it. Despite being a pawn of her father she gives herself agency.
- Jen Lynning's insertion of little tropey romantic sub-plots into the narrative with secondary characters. In Empath's Lure it was 'Prince falls in love with maid', here there's a very sweet 'In love with younger sister's best friend' moment
- The Djali secondary characters in general. Orlant and Der in particular.
- The side-stepping that Merine and Andros go through, neither comfortable revealing their hand to the other until almost the end. Some may say it dragged on for to long, but I enjoyed the realism of their muddled feelings and the handling of it in a way that meant their romance was an essential part of, but didn't overwhelm, the overall story.
- That the story doesn't just end when the central problem is resolved - you get to see the main characters working through its implications and some of the aftermath.
Docking half a star because:
- I figured out what would happen with Andros's plotline literally within about four paragraphs of meeting him. Lynning was obviously dropping at least some hints on purpose, but they could have been more veiled early on. That being said, it didn't make the journey any less enjoyable.
- Count Bendeil returns as Moial's treaty negotiator, but seems to have completely changed character from book 1? There he was a competent foil in comparison to the King, here he's just a misogynistic waste of space.
I'm all in on this series though. Bring on Sebin's book!
wildfaeriecaps's review against another edition
5.0
Okay, I loved the first book in this series but I think I liked this one even more? Merine was a delight. I wish there had been a deeper look into Reyn, but I feel like that's maybe another book (please? PLEASE?) in the future?
Andros was an utter delight. I loved everything about him. Everything. His relationship with Orlant and Der was delightful.
I'm not usually one for court intrigue but this book had me riveted the whole way through. I'll admit I saw the twist coming--but as I've said in many of my reviews, I read *a lot* and often see the twists coming. In no way did that detract from how much I enjoyed this book.
If you were ever on the fence about this series, I urge you to give it a try.
Andros was an utter delight. I loved everything about him. Everything. His relationship with Orlant and Der was delightful.
I'm not usually one for court intrigue but this book had me riveted the whole way through. I'll admit I saw the twist coming--but as I've said in many of my reviews, I read *a lot* and often see the twists coming. In no way did that detract from how much I enjoyed this book.
If you were ever on the fence about this series, I urge you to give it a try.
danie98's review against another edition
lighthearted
medium-paced
3.5
It was enjoyable, didn’t like it as much as the first one and it was harder to get in to as there wasn’t much in terms of plot. I saw the plot twist of him being the missing brother/heir coming, so when it happened it wasn’t major for me . Still relatively sweet, it was more political than the magic side of things compared to the first book which is what I think I missed. Also missed the sass and the spice that was in the first one. I do love Andros though he was a sweet character.
ebgracie77's review
2.0
The first book in the series was amazing! Both characters were compelling and the story they had together was so good. The relationship built naturally and each was so interesting in their own right that I just loved hearing about them and I felt like everything was natural.
This book was a slog. It just wasn’t as good as the first one. It’s just a very different story with very different characters and wasn’t as appealing. Frankly, I sped through just to see if there’s anything I missed and there’s a marriage and a sex scene pretty close to the end that’s not appealing at all. It just doesn’t feel like a great book worthy of my time unfortunately. I really love the first book so much and it’s definitely in my top top books. It’s disappointing that the second is just not the same.
Also, it isn’t until 97% into the book that they finally declare their love for each other! What, why?
This book was a slog. It just wasn’t as good as the first one. It’s just a very different story with very different characters and wasn’t as appealing. Frankly, I sped through just to see if there’s anything I missed and there’s a marriage and a sex scene pretty close to the end that’s not appealing at all. It just doesn’t feel like a great book worthy of my time unfortunately. I really love the first book so much and it’s definitely in my top top books. It’s disappointing that the second is just not the same.
Also, it isn’t until 97% into the book that they finally declare their love for each other! What, why?
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