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Roots #2
Roots Unearthed
THE THOUGHT HAD TAKEN ROOT, AND NOW THOSE ROOTS SPREAD.
Only a week has passed since her friend’s village was annihilated. Now Juliet Barrows has to face her grief and memories of the carnage alone as she wanders the mountain refuge. Filled with anger at the atrocities King Cruelon ignores, she dives into helping the uprising against him.
Fueled by a vision of which their seer has of Juliet at Cruelon’s court, Tristan, the leader of the uprising, convinces Juliet that infiltration is their only option. Pushing away her doubts and fears, she prepares for the coming crucible in the clutches of Cruelon and his impenetrable fortress.
Unsettled by the plan gone askew, ensnared by court politics, and at odds with some of the king’s harem, Juliet doesn’t know who to trust. Where is the spy Tristan told her would be there? In the day-to-day grind of court life, Juliet struggles to survive. She must fight against giving into the growing despair of ever returning home. Doubts fester as Juliet fears for her life and the lives of her friends. The uprising is faltering, and if Juliet fails in her mission, all hope will be lost.
The cultural customs and suspicions of this Japanesque society reach a climax as Juliet faces unseen challenges in the king’s court that will test her friendships beyond belief.
Only a week has passed since her friend’s village was annihilated. Now Juliet Barrows has to face her grief and memories of the carnage alone as she wanders the mountain refuge. Filled with anger at the atrocities King Cruelon ignores, she dives into helping the uprising against him.
Fueled by a vision of which their seer has of Juliet at Cruelon’s court, Tristan, the leader of the uprising, convinces Juliet that infiltration is their only option. Pushing away her doubts and fears, she prepares for the coming crucible in the clutches of Cruelon and his impenetrable fortress.
Unsettled by the plan gone askew, ensnared by court politics, and at odds with some of the king’s harem, Juliet doesn’t know who to trust. Where is the spy Tristan told her would be there? In the day-to-day grind of court life, Juliet struggles to survive. She must fight against giving into the growing despair of ever returning home. Doubts fester as Juliet fears for her life and the lives of her friends. The uprising is faltering, and if Juliet fails in her mission, all hope will be lost.
The cultural customs and suspicions of this Japanesque society reach a climax as Juliet faces unseen challenges in the king’s court that will test her friendships beyond belief.
331 pages, Paperback
Published November 26, 2024
4 people are currently reading
2429 people want to read
About the author
Anne Elizabeth
3 books40 followersAnne Elizabeth lives in the beautiful PNW with her husband and two children. Her series, The Roots Trilogy, was envisioned after a trip to Japan to help with the 2013 tsunami relief efforts. Inspired by the grandeur of the world around her and the works of authors such as Tolkien and Lewis, Anne joyfully gifts her imagination and storytelling as she establishes her niche in familiar genres. Along with her literary pursuits, she enjoys adventures outside, a variety of arts and crafts, and is an avid board gamer.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
January 27, 2025
This book has been my favorite thus far. I really hope you all enjoy it!
January 1, 2025
The story and writing gets better and better!
August 1, 2025
Roots Unearthed by Anne Elizabeth is a masterful continuation of Juliet Barrows’s journey—gripping, immersive, and emotionally raw. Where A World Within Roots introduced a heroine stumbling through grief and culture shock, Roots Unearthed delivers a Juliet who is no longer just surviving—she’s stepping into fire with open eyes and a breaking heart. And the result is stunning.
From the opening chapter, Elizabeth plunges us into the aftermath of devastation. The loss of Juliet’s friend’s village is not brushed aside—it lingers in every scene, driving Juliet’s decisions with quiet fury. Her grief doesn’t fade; it evolves into something active, urgent, and dangerously brave as she throws herself into the rebellion's cause. The emotional realism here is breathtaking.
But it’s the infiltration of King Cruelon’s court that truly elevates this novel. The tension is constant—every word, glance, and custom is a minefield. Anne Elizabeth crafts a Japanesque society with striking nuance: steeped in ceremony, brimming with veiled threats, and ruled by a king whose cruelty hides behind grace. Court politics are complex and chilling, and Juliet must learn to navigate a game she’s barely equipped to play.
Juliet’s internal journey is just as riveting as the outer stakes. Her isolation in the king’s harem, the psychological toll of pretending, the slow-drip paranoia of not knowing who the promised spy is—it’s all beautifully layered. Doubt, dread, and grit build into a portrait of a woman who is becoming a warrior not through weapons, but through will. Her arc is incredibly compelling, and readers will feel every ounce of her fear, determination, and unraveling hope.
The prose is once again elegant, poetic, and precise. Anne Elizabeth has a gift for quiet intensity, turning the mundane (a meal, a glance, a custom) into acts of resistance or revelation. The cultural texture remains respectful and richly drawn, deepening the world without ever losing sight of character.
This book doesn’t rush toward easy victories. It earns every moment of suspense and every glimmer of hope. The climax is devastating and powerful, and the emotional stakes feel as high as the political ones. The question isn't just whether Juliet will survive—but what pieces of herself she’s willing to sacrifice to succeed.
From the opening chapter, Elizabeth plunges us into the aftermath of devastation. The loss of Juliet’s friend’s village is not brushed aside—it lingers in every scene, driving Juliet’s decisions with quiet fury. Her grief doesn’t fade; it evolves into something active, urgent, and dangerously brave as she throws herself into the rebellion's cause. The emotional realism here is breathtaking.
But it’s the infiltration of King Cruelon’s court that truly elevates this novel. The tension is constant—every word, glance, and custom is a minefield. Anne Elizabeth crafts a Japanesque society with striking nuance: steeped in ceremony, brimming with veiled threats, and ruled by a king whose cruelty hides behind grace. Court politics are complex and chilling, and Juliet must learn to navigate a game she’s barely equipped to play.
Juliet’s internal journey is just as riveting as the outer stakes. Her isolation in the king’s harem, the psychological toll of pretending, the slow-drip paranoia of not knowing who the promised spy is—it’s all beautifully layered. Doubt, dread, and grit build into a portrait of a woman who is becoming a warrior not through weapons, but through will. Her arc is incredibly compelling, and readers will feel every ounce of her fear, determination, and unraveling hope.
The prose is once again elegant, poetic, and precise. Anne Elizabeth has a gift for quiet intensity, turning the mundane (a meal, a glance, a custom) into acts of resistance or revelation. The cultural texture remains respectful and richly drawn, deepening the world without ever losing sight of character.
This book doesn’t rush toward easy victories. It earns every moment of suspense and every glimmer of hope. The climax is devastating and powerful, and the emotional stakes feel as high as the political ones. The question isn't just whether Juliet will survive—but what pieces of herself she’s willing to sacrifice to succeed.
November 1, 2025
A Bookish Co. Review
Roots Unearthed
4 ⭐️
by Anne Elizabeth
🦖 2025 Book 55/150 📚
Book # 2 of the Roots Trilogy
Things I Am Confused About-
+ Juliet and the Unknown’s relationship- feels extremely contrived and forced. I can’t put my finger on it, but it’s not like a solid link. I don’t get the point of it.
+ Juliet’s entire motivation in life. She apparently just wants to ☠️. She doesn’t appear to have a bone in her entire young body that has “self preservation” installed in it. She needs a mental reboot, as she apparently missed that day in human training.
+Juliet’s constant need for endangerment. It borders on criminally insane.
+Juliet’s lack of motivation to get home. Like Giiiiirrrrllll- what? If I stumbled onto a portal that took me to a country that was in the middle of a war, I’m finding the quickest way home. Does she want to go 🏡??? We don’t know. It’s been two books and sure doesn’t seem like it.
+ Natsumi- no explanation AT ALL of this two books in, is confusing.
Things I Saw Coming A Mile Away-
- Tristan. He’s an idiot. I strongly dislike this character. From Book 1. He’s giving Dexter vibes when he tries to be “Human”.
- Cruelon. He’s a cruel collector of people. She nailed this one, but he doesn’t have a lot of depth. We all know we were supposed to hate him.
- The action spurts. It drags hard between these sections and there’s a ton of Juliet abuse. It’s becoming a pattern.
Things I Am Excited For-
♥️ Great Use of A Cliffhanger for Book 3. Actually excited to see what happened.
🫥 Where did the portal take her? Home? To another time or place? Did he manage to come with?
🫶🏻 Will there be an actual romance at any point in this book? I know there is no spice, but calling this a romance is becoming far fetched at best.
I really want to like these books. I definitely liked 2 better than 1 and it is getting better! Cheering the author on for Book 3.
Roots Unearthed
4 ⭐️
by Anne Elizabeth
🦖 2025 Book 55/150 📚
Book # 2 of the Roots Trilogy
Things I Am Confused About-
+ Juliet and the Unknown’s relationship- feels extremely contrived and forced. I can’t put my finger on it, but it’s not like a solid link. I don’t get the point of it.
+ Juliet’s entire motivation in life. She apparently just wants to ☠️. She doesn’t appear to have a bone in her entire young body that has “self preservation” installed in it. She needs a mental reboot, as she apparently missed that day in human training.
+Juliet’s constant need for endangerment. It borders on criminally insane.
+Juliet’s lack of motivation to get home. Like Giiiiirrrrllll- what? If I stumbled onto a portal that took me to a country that was in the middle of a war, I’m finding the quickest way home. Does she want to go 🏡??? We don’t know. It’s been two books and sure doesn’t seem like it.
+ Natsumi- no explanation AT ALL of this two books in, is confusing.
Things I Saw Coming A Mile Away-
- Tristan. He’s an idiot. I strongly dislike this character. From Book 1. He’s giving Dexter vibes when he tries to be “Human”.
- Cruelon. He’s a cruel collector of people. She nailed this one, but he doesn’t have a lot of depth. We all know we were supposed to hate him.
- The action spurts. It drags hard between these sections and there’s a ton of Juliet abuse. It’s becoming a pattern.
Things I Am Excited For-
♥️ Great Use of A Cliffhanger for Book 3. Actually excited to see what happened.
🫥 Where did the portal take her? Home? To another time or place? Did he manage to come with?
🫶🏻 Will there be an actual romance at any point in this book? I know there is no spice, but calling this a romance is becoming far fetched at best.
I really want to like these books. I definitely liked 2 better than 1 and it is getting better! Cheering the author on for Book 3.
November 17, 2024
This was an amazing sequel to A World Within Roots. I enjoyed the character and story development and thought it had some great twists. The ending was amazing and definitely leaves you wanting to know what comes next. I would say it has some pretty violent moments that it would be good to be aware of for a younger audience. Overall very well done.
July 7, 2025
This is a whirlwind sequel! Juliet must infiltrate the court as a spy, but the number of people she can trust is dwindling... fast. Alliances will be tested, secrets abound, and losses will be had. This is a fast ride, and just when you think you have your happily ever after, the whole things gets turned on its head.
Read
November 18, 2024*4.25-stars
This was by far my favorite book in the series so far. Just wow. I finished most of it in one sitting because I couldn’t put it down. The wait for the finale is going to be a very impatient one for me, I’m so excited to see how all of this wraps up.
This was by far my favorite book in the series so far. Just wow. I finished most of it in one sitting because I couldn’t put it down. The wait for the finale is going to be a very impatient one for me, I’m so excited to see how all of this wraps up.
December 7, 2025
4⭐️
The world-building is immaculate, character development & journey pulls you in!
The world-building is immaculate, character development & journey pulls you in!
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews