In uno scontro tra corti, si verserà del sangue. Ma in uno scontro tra destini, il sangue sarà la chiave del potere.
Obbligata al servizio del re, Faythe deve tenere sé stessa e i suoi amici al sicuro. Nel frattempo, la lealtà di Nik viene messa alla prova, mentre il principe combatte contro i metodi crudeli del proprio padre.
Con i regni che si preparano a riunirsi, Faythe è costretta a nascondere la sua vera identità. Ma i sospetti crescono in fretta con l’arrivo del misterioso generale di una corte alleata. Avvicinarsi a Reylan potrebbe essere l’occasione giusta per scoprire la verità sul passato di Faythe, ma è arduo guadagnarsi la sua fiducia, e ancor più difficile mantenerla. Mentre il sentore di una guerra fa vacillare l’alleanza tra le corti, Faythe si ritrova in uno scontro tra pericolo e desiderio, una forza che potrebbe far breccia attraverso le barriere del suo cuore.
Ma la minaccia di una battaglia non è il solo conflitto da temere. Faythe non può dimenticare il patto che ha stretto nel bosco per salvare la vita del suo amico, ed è il momento di rispettarlo. Il suo compito la condurrà verso sconvolgenti scoperte all’interno del castello, e la trascinerà verso qualcosa di ben più sinistro della guerra che incombe.
C.C. PEÑARANDA is the Scottish author of the epic fantasy series An Heir Comes to Rise.
A lifelong avid reader and writer, Chloe discovered her passion for storytelling in her early teens. An Heir Comes to Rise has been built upon from years’ worth of creating fictional characters and exploring Tolkien-like quests in made up worlds. During her time at the University of the West of Scotland, Chloe immersed herself in writing for short film, producing animations, and spending class time dreaming of far off lands.
In her spare time from writing in her home in scenic Scotland, Chloe enjoys digital art, graphic design, and down time with her three furry companions. When the real world calls...she rarely listens.
Lowering my rating from 2 to 1 star. Go read Thorne Of Glass.
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2 this-is-the-throne-of-glass-from-Walmart stars⭐
The 2-star rating is for me and my monumental effort to finish this book. Yes, i finished it in a day, but not because I liked it, but because it made me so angry. I wanted to see if things would change for the better. They did not.
I did have high hopes this would be better than the first one and now I'm disappointed. I feel deceived by all the reviews praising this book to the high Heavens and beyond. I'm the minority here, but I don't care.
The Book. There's a fine line between taking inspiration from another book/movie/song/artwork etc. and outright plagiarism, and this book is toeing that line. In my opinion, it has crossed it.
I honestly can't find something good to say about it. If I wanted to read Throne of Glass, I would do just that. I wanted something similar, along the lines and vibe as SJM's book, not a ripoff for God's sake.
Everything, literally every single thing is like it was plucked out from the ToG world, with a few changes here and there. I'm sorry, but that's just unacceptable.
I might have been able to look past that, if the storytelling was compelling enough or if the characters had more depth. None of these things exist here.
The pacing was off, the plot was off, the characters were off. EVERYTHING WAS OFF. I've read better fanfiction than this.
The Characters.
Feythe. I hated her. I hated her so much in this book. She annoyed me in the first one, but she was a whole new kind of annoying in A Queen Comes To Power. THE. WHINING. NEVER. STOPPED. Being in her head was torture. A slow, excruciating torture. No character development to be found here, whatsoever. You better go read another book, I beg you.
She kept referring to herself as a "spymaster" and a "silent assassin", but none of that existed in this book. A lot of telling and no showing at all. No spying and assassinating either.
She had a simple task - to find the ruin Aurialis wanted - but she never did anything about it. Not even when her friend's life was in danger because she was just sitting on her ass doing nothing for months while she was in that castle. She never looked for it. She never tried to research what it even is. She didn't try to search the castle or inquire someone about it. And she supposedly loves that friend oh so much. Bullshit.
When they did find the ruin, it was just pure coincidence and that's just lazy writing. Oh and then dear Feythe acted as if she had spent all her days and nights looking for it. Insufferable, that one.
And she continued to be a natural with her power without training. She even did something she never once had done before and she got it right in her first try. Isn't she just so gifted and special??? No.
Long story short, the author tried really hard to make her like Celaena/Aelin and she failed. Feythe has no personality, no charm, no allure, no nothing.
Nik and Tauria. The Dorian and Nehemia of this world. Their POVs offered nothing to the story. Not really. I like multiple POV books, but in this one there was no need. They had no individual storylines. There was potential, but the author just didn't seem to care enough to divert the attention from her precious little special Feythe onto someone else.
Jakon. For the life of me, I don't understand why Jakon had a POV and not Marlowe. She's an oracle, hello??? She has a connection to Aurialis and the plot, hello???? I don't have anything to say about Jakon. Again, his point of view offered nothing at all, when it may well could have. Oh, I almost forgot. Jakon and Marlowe are the Chaol/Sam(??) and Yrene of this story.
Reylan. The equivalent of my baby Rowan Whitehorn.
He only had two chapters from his POV and he's supposed to be the new love interest. He was ok, I guess. I don't care about him, as I don't care for the rest of the characters.
*The side characters' POVs seemed to serve no other purpose than to built Feythe up and generally talk about her. She was mentioned every time, almost extensively, and there was no reason for it. When reading someone's thoughts, I want information about them, not someone else.*
The Romance.
Feythe and Reylan. Rowaelin from Walmart. They don't even come close to the original couple, even though they try. That's all I have to say about them.
Nik and Tauria. How??? Why??? When??? Where??? Dude was in love with Feythe in the first book and now he wants Tauria??? It doesn't make sense if you ask me. In book 1 he wanted to tell Tauria about Feythe, because they're really good friends, and suddenly he feels bad for playing with Feythe's emotions, because Tauria was the one all along? Yeah...no.
Also, I don't get why they can't be together. I don't think it was made explicitly clear. (Not all that about his mother and Tauria keeping it a secret.)
I'm all for changing love interests, but only when it's done properly, not out of the blue, which seems to be the case here.
Jakon and Marlowe. They only couple I liked together. I didn't love them, but I liked them. I wish the book was about them instead.
*When you throw Feythe into the mixes of Nik-Tauria and Jakon-Marlowe there's love triangle vibes going on and I hate it. Why make two men, who are in love with someone else, think constantly of Feythe? I get it they're friends and they love each other, but there's gotta be a line somewhere.*
Conclusion. The author tried too hard, and unsuccessfully, to create something that would have the same impact as Sarah J Maas's very successful and loved book series, Throne of Glass. All she managed, instead, was to create a bad replica of ToG and it's glaringly obvious she was "inspired" by it. If you've read it, you already know what happens in Peñaranda's series.
I might read the next one sometime in the future, just to see if originality will come into play or if the almost-plagiarism will continue. I feel no connection to the characters, I don't care what happens to them, the storyline is mediocre and has been already written - masterfully might I add, I just love ToG - and this was overall a waste of time.
I am thoroughly pleased with the current development of this series. The integration of magical elements, well-crafted characters, intriguing romantic subplots, and a compelling overarching narrative has exceeded my initial expectations. I greatly appreciate when authors fearlessly subject their characters to adversity, provoking a range of emotions that I find deeply engaging. The depth of emotion I experienced for Faythe's journey within this book was significant.
The characters have maintained their excellence from the first book, with a notable addition to the cast that has truly stood out and significantly enhanced the allure of the entire series. The characters Faythe, Nik, Jakon, Marlowe, and Reylan continue to impress with their individual journeys and growth, contributing to the overall richness of the narrative. The evolution of their relationships into a cohesive and supportive found family has been a particularly appealing aspect of the story.
Can't wait to start the third installment in this series.
Quotes: “Her ability, her blood, her ancient heritage—the more she learned about herself, the more detached she felt, a damning feeling of not belonging anywhere anymore.”
“Your kind. She hated that the words made her feel isolated. Alone.”
“Death was a force that could not be fought, and time was its cunning accomplice.”
“You’re stuck with me. Like it or not, General Reylan Arrowood, you’ve sealed your fate as my friend. This day, until the end of days.” Reylan chuckled—a deep, genuine sound that vibrated delightfully through her. “Spirits help me,” he muttered. Then his low laughter ceased, leaving a warm smile that upturned his lips on both sides and created faint dimples in his cheeks.”
It’s here!! I am so excited to share this next instalment of the series with you. In book 2 you can expect higher stakes, darker themes, and uncertain fates as we delve deeper into the world of Ungardia and new characters are introduced along with those we know and love. Happy reading! <3 C.C. Peñaranda x
If I wanted to read TOG I would read TOG... I couldn’t get through it. I saw every “plot twist” that was coming. Very predictable if you read TOG.
This book just dragged on. Unnecessary talk and I didn’t feel connected to characters.. honestly wanted someone to die. The main character got so whiny.
I loved the idea of nightwalkers. That was just such a great plot, I wish she ran with that instead of trying to make this into a series that is already out there.
“Your differences only make you weak if you let , Faythe. It’s when you embrace them that you start to live the life you were meant to lead. Not everyone has that strength.”
A Queen Comes to Power continues the story three months after the ending of An Heir Comes to Rise.
This book had more political intrigue and action yet I feel like I was missing something: my connection with the heroine.
I really liked Faythe in the first book however it felt like her development suffered a bit throughout this book.
Another thing I had an issue with was the plot, aside from the twists I thought the story was going in loops until the end.
I like the potential romance but I didn't like how the author handled the other relationships when you look back at the first book.
I am looking forward to the third book mainly for the characters and I hope the story offers more and it wins me over like the first book did.
Reread Review I wish I could give this story more stars, and if I could I’d rate it 10/5. I didn’t think I could love these characters any more than I did after the first time. I’ve never been so wrong. I read the first book and AQCTP word for word and came out loving and wanting (needing!!) even more. Now that it’s out for the rest of the world to enjoy I can finally gush about my loves: Faythe and Reylan.
Just so you know, I was a diehard Faythe and Nik shipper when I read An Heir Comes to Rise. And a part of me always will. Their unbreakable bond and friendship is something to behold and they will always have a special place in my heart.
But I love—absolutely LOVE Reylan. This character is truly incredible and managed to capture my heart and soul. I was told to read TOG just to help with the “Faylan” hangover after I finished this book the first time; Rowaelin did help. A little. But Faythe and Reylan offer a whole new level of epicness that already sores beyond my love for Rowan and Aelin from Throne of Glass.
This series deserves all the love and attention. Especially if you love TOG. I won’t even try comparing the series because they are entirely entirely different in every aspect. I only ask if you loved the one you should definitely give this series a read!! I’m already coming up with theories as to where the story could go from here and would love to have more readers to discuss it with. 🖤 Until then, I’ll continue reading and screaming about my love for these characters.
First read Alright, listen up everyone!! I’m going to try to make this sound as less fangirly as possible while also making it a coherent review. This book was one of my anticipated reads for the year: I’m speechless. I know I say that a lot for all my favorite reads, but believe me when I say this book left me in AWE.
I didn’t think it could ever exceed the first book in this series, but this book hands you everything on a silver platter. The power of love—through romantic relations and found family—in this has me in tears as I write this review. I’m blown away by this beautiful story that Chloe has written and I can’t be any more grateful for being on this adventure as part of her street team. Thank you Chloe for giving us these memorable characters who I’ve come to love and cherish so deeply.
Now, I just need to be patient and wait for book 3!!
If you’re going to rip off TOG don’t be so obvious
If I wanted to read TOG I would. I’m so disappointed with this book it’s astounding. At first I was like “oh it reads like fan faction. Ok that’s fine” then around chapter 17-20 it quickly turned into “oh this is just a bad TOG retelling” like even the characters are the same. The names we’re just changed and a small detailed tweaked here and there. Ridiculous.
Oh man I’m really torn about giving this book 3 or 4 stars .. All the time it felt like I was reading throne of glass .. there were so much chapters where it was exactly the same story .. don’t get me wrong I love throne of glass but a lot of plot twist I saw coming bcs that’s exactly how it went in throne of glass.. despite of the major fact I was having a nonstop deja-vu while reading this book, I was still intrigued and kept reading it. I loved the magic system and The found family trope ( I’m a sucker for it), the different POV’s were also great even though I thought Taurias POV was unnecessary. Despite my mixed feelings I’m still looking forward for the next book.
I liked book one, but this second intallment put the series on my favorite list. It absolutely blew my mind. This series proves those people wrong who still think indie publishing is inferior.
I really enjoyed the plot, but the best part for me, just like in book one, were the characters and the relationship between them, both platonic and romantic. Despite the things happening around and with them, the relationships are strong and healthy and the love they feel for each other moves them forward, gives them strenght.
We got a new love interest for the main character (it's not a love triange, her previous relationship ended and they are still close friends), and I loved the guy from the moment he appeared. I am very picky about straight romances, I don't tolerate the alpha bullshit, and fortunately, despite the constant use of "male" and "female", there was no toxic masculinity. And the romance is my kind of slowburn, as in they haven't yet got together in this more than 500-page-book.
I can't wait to continue on this journey. The world gets bigger and bigger with each book, and I want to see all of it.
Listen everyone, I am totally aware that no story is truly original. However, after having read the second book in this series and started the Prologue of the third, I sadly have to conclude that there are just way too many parallels with SJM's Throne of Glass series here. Here's a short and definitely not exhaustive list:
- Faythe feels like a not as well rounded Aelin: the swaggering walk, the black battle suit, ... I could go on and on
- Nik is basically Dorian, with
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... or maybe it's just me being overly critical. I get that we are inspired by stories we like but please come up with more original ideas because sadly this reads like a ToG fanfic where Nehemia lives.
I'm giving two stars because I like the whole idea of nightwalking and even though he is basically Rowan I also kind of like Reylan but I believe this world would have had a lot more potential with a different story. Will not continue sadly.
You know those dreaded sequels that do not live up to book one? This is not one of them. A Queen Comes to Power has even managed to top An Heir Comes to Rise!
This book starts shortly after the first on ended - and the stakes are even higher for our main crew, as they navigate webs of deceit, love, friendship, loyalty, and their own morality. You don't want to miss the twists and turns of this adventure!
The characters are as great as they were in book one. (A certain addition to the cast may have stole the book & series) Faythe, Nik, Jakon, Marlowe, and Reylan (of course) were great! I really enjoy the journeys of all of them! I love how our main crew has become a sort of found family, and I love their relationships with each other. Besides the friendships that form, some new ships might have come to power in this book...
This is quickly becoming one of my favorite series! The plot and characters may be slowly taking over my life. Also I love how this series is transitioning from young adult to new adult; the shift works really well! All in all, A Queen Comes to Power is practically perfect and I can't wait to see where this series goes in the next installments!
Many thanks to C. C. Peñaranda for an eARC of AQCTP!
i don't even know where to begin with the perfection that is this book. as one of my most anticipated reads of 2021, i was trying really hard not to hype it up in my head, but i shouldn't have worried because, once again, chloe has BLOWN ME AWAY. · one of my favorite things about this sequel to an heir comes to rise is getting to learn more about the magic system of this world beyond Nightwalking!! i love getting to know new magic systems, and i already love this one. it kinda gives me ATLA vibes?? but maybe that's just me 😂 · ANYWAYS i definitely missed faythe, nik, jakon, and marlowe, and LOVED getting to know tauria more--she's quickly becoming a favorite for me. there's a new friend who i absolutely adore (iykyk 🥲) and they deserve the world. i always enjoy watching found families being formed, and these friends are no exception. but, BUT, my whole mind, body, and soul has been completely stolen by one general reylan arrowood. i just... you have to meet him, that's all i have to say. he's literal perfection. y'all know how i feel about the loml rowan whitethorn? well, reylan is almost on par with him. yeah. meet him. · i'm really excited to explore more of ungardia outside of high farrow and to see where the story goes from here. there were so many oooohhhhhHHHH moments for me and i'm strapped in for the ride because i just know we're about to go 0-100 reeeeeal quick and i can't wait. · idk what else to say except YOU HAVE TO GET INTO THIS SERIES. if you love magical fae, deep back stories, dark turns, hot training sessions, and royal political drama, you will absolutely LOVE these books.
“Who you are, who you become - that's all on you and what you choose to make of the life you've been given. Don't make yours a waste. Don't throw away your chance to live beyond merely existing."
These books are so interesting because I don’t know how do describe it other then it all feels so NATURAL. And I really like that. Faythe is growing at a realistic pace and for so many that will be a turn off but I love it. I love seeing everyone slowly grow in who they need to be. And the plot: the characters are moving to it instead of the plot, slamming into them. And that is just… drool worthy to me.
So it’s not rushed but it’s not boring either. And I don’t know how to fully explain that. I know - I KNOW that’s why this book’s series might not be for everyone but I think that’s what makes it for me.
AND the FORESHADOWING.
HOT DAMN. Like the first book with a throw away line about her clothes that actually have MEANING. THAT MAKES ME FERAL.
Foreshadowing and hints that’s my favorite thing EVER and Chloe delivers - Still not over that dream foreshadowing.
The magic system. CHEIFS KISS 🤌🏻 there’s something about dream walking (night walking) that just tickles my brain.
Are there small things that I wish were slightly different… yeah- but they are so minuscule compared to everything that I love that I’m not even gonna bring any of them up because they’re so small in the face of what is going to be one of my favorite and greatest fantasy series I’ve ever had the pleasure of reading.
I was so excited for this book! I loved the first one and sped through it, it ended on a cliff-hanger so I was desperate for the second one. It did no disappoint! This book made me feel a number of emotions, happy, sad, nervous and shocked. This had amazing world building, so much character growth and it was an emotional rollercoaster. the characters had some great journeys, I love how the main crew has become a sort of found family, it's such a great trope! and I love their relationships with each other
This book defiantly topped the first and I can see the series getting even better and better!! Also the series is transitioning from young adult to new adult; which is awesome and works really well! Thank you Chole for sending me the arc for writing an amazing book!
How do I even describe how this book made me feel?? I went through a whole score of emotions. I felt happy, sad, dread, elated, nervous and I had so much love for the original characters and the new ones too. This had phenomenal world building, so much character growth and it was an emotional rollercoaster. It was just so beautifully written with so much thought to the story. I just know we are going to be going through some things, but I'm so ready. I'm so ready for you book 3.
Thank you Chloe for letting me be a part of your street team and sending the ARC. It has been such a privilege to read this story.
YES YES YES. This has turned into something I was hoping for!!!! When a book can keep my attention with cool magic, awesome characters, romance, and plot......I am a happy woman. I love it when authors arent afraid to let their characters go through pain. I eat that up, and this book had me feeling all the feels for Faythe. I CANNOT wait for book 3!
I actually enjoyed this series but I feel I cannot in good conscious give it a high rating because it is literally a ripoff of Throne of Glass, ACOTAR, and From Blood and Ash. I am almost surprised this author did not get hit with a copywrite infringement From Sarah J Maas.
I'm so glad there wasn't much time between reading the first book in this series and this one. A Queen Comes to Power picks right up after the first cliffhanger and you will definitely have to read the first to understand what is going on.
Again Faythe is constantly getting in trouble and never learns to keep her mouth quiet or jump into each problem risking her life.
This amazing epic fantasy series continues with A Queen Comes to Power and I could not put it down.
There is a lot of court & political intrigue in A Queen Comes to Power which I really liked and I found it really interesting. I enjoyed the addition of the other royal families and there were a lot of interesting characters introduced. We really get to discover more about Faythe and her powers in this book and I loved it. Faythe’s mind powers are really intriguing to me and I think there’s still a lot to learn in the next few books.
The magic system with the spirits and fae is really well written and I really enjoyed learning more information about the lore of the world. This book really delves deeper into the story and it’s getting so much more complex but in the best way. Things are starting to make sense.
We get so many more POV’s in A Queen Comes to Power, and I genuinely liked all of the POVs and didn’t find myself skimming any of them. The author did an amazing job keeping the reader engaged when changing POV and it kept me reading because I enjoyed getting everyone’s POV for different situations.
I connected with Faythe, but I found her thought processes frustrating at times because she is very self sacrificing instead of asking for help. That being said, she is really starting to grow and learn to ask for help from others. I am OBSESSED with Reylan, he is an amazing addition to an already phenomenal cast of characters. A protective fae general who just want’s to help Faythe? Yes please! The found family in this is seriously perfect, I loved the unbreakable bond that Faythe and her friends have formed and that they break the barriers by fae and humans being friends.
The ending was so good!! Like I cannot wait to see what happened next on Faythe’s journey and to explore more of the world with her!
You would like this book if you like: ✨Fae ✨Rebellion ✨Found family ✨Court & political intrigue ✨Plotting royals ✨Who did this to you
I love this series so much and will forever be recommending it! I cannot wait to read book three!
“it’s not the act but the intention that separates good from evil.”
╌╌╌╌╌╌╌╌╌╌╌╌╌╌╌╌╌╌╌╌╌╌
ok. well. good news is i liked this one a little better, but i still had problems with it.
writing the writing is just straight up bad. the pacing is off, there’s a lot of info dumps, and it seems to me that the author just… doesn’t know what to do with the characters sometimes.
one example i have is in the beginning of the book, the fmc, faythe, is hanging out with another character. they’re walking through the gardens and in the inner dialogue (it’s in third person but idrk what else to call it) it’s just a full on info dump about the princess’ past that faythe is walking with. and like instead of being like “yeah the princess’ family was slaughtered and she’s here seeking refuge from the evil army”, it would have been nice if us, readers, were left in a bit of suspense as to why the princess was there, and then eventually it is revealed through a moment of bonding between faythe and the princess.
another thing that bothered me it feels like the author had no idea what to do with the romance between faythe and nik, one of the love interests from the first book. at the end of the first book, nik and faythe break it off, but it’s insinuated that nik is completely in love with her. now, in the second book, apparently nik wasn’t really in love with faythe at all and was actually in love with tauria, the princess i referred to earlier, the entire time. it just makes no sense, seems so messy, and it feels like the author just didn’t know what to do with faythe and nik, so she was just like yeah nik actually wasn’t that in love with her and was actually kinda using her to drown out all his numb feelings. which is just such lazy writing.
moving on, the book took forever to pick up as well. in the beginning of the book, it’s discussed that the kings from different kingdoms are coming to visit, but that doesn’t actually happen until 130 pages into the book. along with this, faythe was supposed to be looking for this ruin in the castle the entire time, but she doesn’t actually start doing it until like half way through the book where she stumbles upon some passage. that’s one, lazy writing, and two, it’s stuff like that that just made the pacing feel really off. idk how to describe it, but the pacing was just really weird and all over the place to me.
oh and finally, with the different character pov’s, they’re always talking about faythe in them rather than whatever they’re supposed to be focusing on. like when we get different character pov’s, we want to see what’s happening through their perspective, not hearing about the main character. on top of that, one of the characters kept talking about faythe while having sex with his girlfriend, so.
characters characters were meh. faythe was still a little annoying, tauria is still my fav, and reylan, the new love interest that was introduced this book, is also my new fav. the problem i had with a lot of characters though is they seemed kinda… inconsistent. especially faythe.
in the first book, faythe is kinda a boring character. she’s stubborn and whiny and reckless. in this book though, she’s still stubborn and whiny and reckless, but suddenly there’s like a shift and for some reason she’s more sarcastic and snarky. it seems to me like the author was trying to make her more bad ass, but it just didn’t meet the mark because instead it just made her character seem inconsistent. and it could have been character development, but it happened so quickly and nothing really happened that could have sparked this character development.
it also happened with another character, marlowe, who is one of faythe’s friends. marlowe is depicted as very sweet and kind and selfless, but at one point in the book she suddenly just snaps and is mad at faythe for being selfish and stuff. which yeah she has a right to it, but it just came out of no where and wasn’t super consistent with her character. and yeah, again, it could be character development, but there were other moments earlier in the book where she had to opportunity to express herself and get angry like she did, but she didn’t, and the timing of it just felt really abrupt and weird.
plagiarism soooo when this series was promoted as a series for people who really enjoyed throne of glass by sarah j maas and was inspired it, i didn’t realize it was practically fucking plagiarism. this series is so similar to throne of glass by sarah j maas, it actually blows my mind that the author didn’t at least try to change a little more than what was already different (which btw wasn’t that much). like come on. some half fae girl is born and destined to destroy these evil god like forces that infect her world (that’s why she’s so powerful). the evil king who she works for as a spy turns out to not actually be horrible but was actually just infected by the evil things that i mentioned before that he awakened, and the entire time he was just a pawn to the bad guys and was stuck and couldn’t be freed. along the way she gets help from a goddess, finds out she’s the descendant of another goddess, and that she’s the lost heir to some kingdom. and her love interest has greyish/white hair. sounds really familiar doesn’t it. oh yeah. that because it’s the plot of throne of glass series by sarah j maas. like be so serious right now. it is one thing to be inspired by someone else’s work, but this is just too similar for it to be considered “inspiration”. there are aspects that were definitely different from throne of glass, but a lot of the main plot points were super similar to throne of glass. i mean i knew what was going to happen because i had seen this plot before. if i’m able to guess what’s going to happen because i’ve seen the plot somewhere else, then it’s too similar and something needs to be changed.
things i liked i liked the romance between faythe and reylan. it was cute and i’m excited to see their relationship develop more. i also really like the found family between all the characters. i love a good found family so this was a more positive aspect to the book for me. finally, i’d be lying if i said some parts didn’t leave me excited or shocked. so there’s that.
overall, the book was still meh to me. there’s more to it that i didn’t like, but i feel like if i keep going i’d just be nit picking. yeah. i’m gonna keep reading because i am intrigued to see what happens next, and also because once i start reading a series, i have to finish it.
As many other reviews have mentioned, this is absolutely a discount ToG series (with sprinklings of ACOTAR). That said, it's available at my library on audio with no holds and I like all the tropes & the writing, so I'm going to keep reading it.
i am finally brave enough to actually engage with the fact that i read this fucking book.
and what the actual fuck.
it has been a long time since i've dealt with a main character tHIS FUCKING STUPID who is constantly called "clever" or "cunning" (god when captain velaris or whatever his name is was like "you are far more cunning than i gave you credit for" i VOMITED IN MY FUCKING MOUTH HFOHEGOEHGHOOOOEPPETHHH). it was ridiculously obnoxious. she was constantly surprised by obvious shit, or surprised she's getting found out, or making stupid decisions all while still being called clever. like i get she's impulsive, cuz she is, but to have her do all that stupid off the cuff dumb shit while constantly being told she's smart???? no she isn't. i wanted to scream. i wanted to throw the book at her. i wanted to quit reading, but the fact that it was so obviously an amalgamation of throne of glass and acotar baffled me even more than it did in book one so much so that i HAD to see where it would go. and like it just kept coming this really was like some shein version idk man.
the writing itself was bland and bad. obsessive use of the word "orbs" to describe eyes again, but also why are we talking about eyes that much??? so repetitive and boring. i get it. he has sapphire orbs. i know we were just introduced to the idea of mates (christ.) and that he is your mate (never revealed in this book but it's a safe fucking bet). and that his eyes are the same sapphire orbs u saw in your head in book one (knew that would come back to bite me in the ass, and it did, and i did in fact roll my eyes).
like i was not only actually rolling my eyes, i was needing physical verbal catharsis by yelling "whAT THE FUKCKKC" in my car as the audiobook played. i need this scrubbed from existence IMMEDIATELY.
god this dumb bitch didn't know
in a rage, truly. also the fact that they kept visiting that goddess in the cave. and then for no reason the goddess would be like "we don't have enough time....." and then proceed to ramble on for much longer while giving no information even tho she is asking for help to save the world or whatever idgaf, it happened SEVERAL TIMES and every time feythe was like "WAIT!!!!! I DIDN'T EVEN ASK WHAT I WANTED TO!!!! I DIDN'T GET THE INFORMATION I NEEDED!!!" like I FUCKING KNOW BITCH WHY DIDN'T YOU REALIZE THAT FROM THE GET-GO?!?!?! a simple fix of,,, "i cannot reveal that at this time, i'm sorry," rather than pretending u don't have time (when, in fact, the scenes held zero urgency about them) would have done wonders. this was an insane choice. dumb as fucking rocks. also the fact that the one information was actually clear was like "u can't let the king get the rescilious" or w/e the stone was called and feythe proceeded to still literally bring it everywhere and leave it behind iN THAT KING'S CASTLE FOR LITERALLY NO REASON SHE HAD NO FUCKING REASON TO ACTUALLY LOGISTICALLY KEEP THAT SHIT WITH HER???
brb vomitting again.
this shit SUCKED. plausibility issue after plausibility issue. my eyes got stuck in my skull for five minutes with how hard i rolled them.
also never has it been more clear that an author literally has zero fucking idea what a goddamn spymaster is. like i get it,,,, u wanted feythe to sound cool and powerful and everyone called her 'spymaster' in melodramatic moments to show that she was a worthy opponent when this actually wasn't the case. but if ur so insistent on her being a spymaster. why don't u,,,, have her. actually. do ANYTHING resembling,,,, being. a fucking. SPYMASTER. IT'S NOT ENOUGH TO JUST GIVE THE TITLE HELLO???????? SHE DIDN'T DO SHIT!!!!! THIS ENRAGED ME ESPECIALLY CUZ THEY KEPT CALLING HER SPYMASTER AS IF LIKE OUT OF RESPECT FOR HER CUNNING BUT SHE WAS LITERALLY THE DUMBEST BITCH ALIVE!!!!!!!!!!
also wow
this book was utter shit. idk how it ended up being so much worse than the first one. when i finished book one, i was like, "maybe i will brave through the whole series" but after this shit??? even i'm not that much of a masochist. god fucking damn. fuck this fucking book.
I want to thank the author for this ARC and wanted to state how much I loved this book and this series so far!! I felt such a range of emotions in this book I can’t even describe it, but I was so satisfied by the ending but was sad it was over because it was so great and I didn’t want to leave the story!
This book very much reminds me TOG which is my all time favorite series so I die for anything that reminds me of it! But the world is unique with the different kind of fae and the powers they possess, which is a twist I love! The dark fae concept in this book was something I cannot wait to learn more about in the next books! I felt that the perspectives for each chapter were well placed and I like having the perspective of new characters as well.
The love stories in this this definitely left me wanting more but not in a bad way at all, it was in a way that had me trying to figure out what was going on! The writing of friendships is amazing, the author really shows true M/F friendships without the sexual tension which is an aspect I love!
My only complaint is the MC was driving me crazy though sometimes with her need to take on every burden. I was just begging her to let her friends in but in the end it’s not really that big of deal I still loved her regardless and I can relate in her difficulty to accept and ask for help!
This book was amazing the plot and the twists had me on the edge of my seat! I loved the ending and how I wasn’t left on a cliffhanger and it made me 10x more excited for the next book in the series! I recommend anyone who loves TOG to read this book!!
This was just absolutely amazing, if I could give it more than 5⭐️ I would!
I was very lucky to receive an ARC after I absolutely fell in love with the first book, this one was just next level.
The world expands and you learn so much more about what is happening in the wider political climate. You meet many more characters who you fall in love with pretty quickly!
The pace was excellent throughout and this author does the ‘show me not tell me’ to perfection!
The struggles Faythe goes through physically and mentally during this book hit you so emotionally. Their small found-family grows and works together to tackle the tasks needed and their bond grows - its so beautiful to read!
The throne of glass vibes are still going strong but if I’m honest these books surpass my love in terms of the first two books in throne of glass. I so excited to see where this goes and the new adventure that now awaits Faythe!
This book is even better than the first!!! Easily one of my favorite reads from 2021.
The plot significantly progresses, the relationships we knew and loved further developed, and we got to meet some new characters. One of those characters has quickly become a favorite. I really enjoyed how much the main protagonist has grown since book one.
Her journey is only just beginning, but I'm really excited to see what's to come. I'm wondering where the story will go from this point on. The possibilities are infinite now after certain reveals.
To top it off, there's a budding romance with Faythe that I cannot get enough of. I won't get into spoiler territory, but hot damn am I fan of a certain general. When you meet him you'll know who I'm talking about. I have certain suspicions as to what he is to Faythe, but I'll just have to wait for book 3 for confirmation. Hopefully. ;)
Overall, this is a promising beginning, and I cannot wait until book 3.
Seriously, I finished this second book in this series in less than a day. While it does really remind me of Throne of Glass, it’s also uniquely its own too. I absolutely ADORED Reylan, like holy crap. I can’t wait to see more of that😍
J’aimerais dire que cette série n’est pas inspirée de celle de Sarah J. Maas, je parle d’Un Trône de Verre/Keleana… mais… ce serait mentir. Si vous avez lu l’autre série, forcément cette suite des Héritiers d’Ungardia vous rappellera grandement Keleana.
Cela dit, Chloe C. Peñaranda réussit avec ce deuxième tome à créer un univers qui lui est tout de même propre. Et heureusement ! Dans mon cas, j’ai passé un excellent moment avec ce tome 2. Faythe, devenue la maitre-espionne du roi de High Farrow s’en sort plutôt bien. Chargée de découvrir les ennemis du roi grâce à son pouvoir, c’est l’occasion pour elle de rencontrer de nouveaux personnages dont le fascinant Reylan, ambassadeur d’un royaume voisin.
On suit toujours le point de vue de Faith, mais aussi ceux de Nik, Tauria, Jakon… de quoi élargir l’univers et rendre l’intrigue plus consistante. Entre les remises en question, les rebondissements et certaines révélations, j’ai passé un bon moment. Là où ça m’a à moitié surprise, c’est qu’on change de love interest dans cette suite. ExitNik et Faythe. J’admets que de ce côté, je trouve que c’est moyennement fait et ça fait passer Nik pour un cœur d’artichaut, car on comprend vite que s’il aime Faythe, il est également destiné à une autre. Heureusement, si la romance reste présente et que l’on suit plusieurs couples (dont celui de Jakon), l’intrigue tournant autour des conflits d’intérêt politique et des jeux de pouvoir sont plus importants.
Ce qui sauve cette suite et cette série, ce sont les personnages et le fait que je les ai tous trouvé attachants… bon, sauf le roi de High Farrow, mais là encore le plot twist le concernant, on l’a déjà un peu vu ailleurs. Mais soit. Je ne boude pas mon plaisir de lecture et j’ai déjà le tome 3 sous le coude.