A review by hannahst
Guardian of the Drowned Empire by Frankie Diane Mallis

adventurous medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix

3.75

a weak four i guess? might go back and change it to a 3.5. i liked this better than the first book and i will keep reading the series! i think it‘s good to see some side characters becoming more involved and getting more of a personality and i hope that trends keeps growing. this series actually sets up a pretty interesting and intricate political world and (magic) system and i hope that stays/becomes more of a focal point from here on out. i love me a romantasy but i feel like this is really a story where the romancy should be more of a sub-plot. major ick to me when a couple can‘t be in the same room together without becoming turned on by each other even while shit is going down like keep it together. i also felt that in the first book we saw a lot of lyriana‘s potential as a politician and how she understands the game and while that was still somewhat present in this, i need the next book to showcase that more again and write her smarter again