A review by emilylovesbooks94
Breath of Life by Jocelynn Drake

5.0

With plenty of action, scheming, and a dash of romance, the next phase of Caelan's adventure kept me riveted from start to finish! Now that I know and love these characters, the stakes feel even higher than they did before--especially with each and every reveal about the true nature of their quest. It was thrilling to see Drayce, Rayne, Eno, and Caelan strategize and execute a plan to take back their home from the Empire, even though it seemed like nothing went right along the way. Unexpected allies, battles, treacherous figures, and heartbreaking betrayals were just a few of the things in store for these men, and I was utterly captivated by the quick-thinking and adaptability that ensured their escape whenever things took a turn for the worse. Jocelynn Drake has done a fantastic job with the world-building in this series and knows exactly how to leave a trail of breadcrumbs for me to gobble up as I try to wrap my head around the bigger picture. The scope of Caelan's journey is so far beyond seeking justice for Erya now, and I can tell that I've barely scratched the surface of what's really at play. If I had to complain about anything (though this book was amazing and doesn't deserve it!), it would be that the romances took a back seat to the rest of the storyline. It's not really reasonable for me to expect these men to make time for sweet gestures and heated nights when they're literally on the run, but after such a tantalizing first book I was greedy for more of their explosive chemistry. Even though this story didn't have much in the way of physical connection, I was pleased by the way the emotional side of Rayne/Eno and Caelan/Drayce's relationships progressed. I could feel a strong bond forming between the couples, and though they may not have been able to express it with touches I could still feel it in the shared glances and conversations they had. Between the heart-pumping action sequences, lore development, and camaraderie between the four main characters, this book kept the momentum going strong, and I'm so excited to see what's in store when these guys travel to Zastrad!

**I voluntarily read an ARC of this book. This review expresses my honest thoughts and opinions.