Disclaimer: I received an advance review copy for free and am leaving this review voluntarily to share my honest opinion.
Trigger warning: if violence, abuse/assault trigger you in anyway this may not be the book for you.
This is the second book in this series, and it did not disappoint. Unlike book 1, which was a little slower of a read, this was fast paced. Like book 1, it left me wanting more. Both books are very well written, and filled with adventure.
Sofia, Lev, Aleksei, and Niko are back. Sofia is determined to stay with her love even though he doesn’t remember her or their relationship. Lev is determined to get revenge for his father’s death, save his sister Sofia and continue to hate Aleksei. He also wants to make the Guard name mean something again and is racing to take the power and put it in his name. Prince Niko continues through life as the child he is, thrust into the title and power with no skills to use it. Leaving him quite susceptible to outside influences and pressures.
This book continues from where book one left off, Lev knowing that something dark is out there and it’s coming for everyone. Sofia knowing that as a Guard she should be on Lev’s side but stays with her love even though he is a Shield. Aleksei doesn’t remember anything about their relationship which makes him frustrated at Sofia because he doesn’t want to hurt her but remembers everything about caring for Niko and how much work that is. Niko is young and impressionable and he doesn’t really know how to be in charge. He relies on his brother and his sentinels to take care of matters but something seems different with him. Something off. This second installment shows us what the dark thing is and how it has moved about the world. Niko’s storyline reveals many secrets that both the characters in the story and us readers wanted to know.
Sofia and Aleksei travel with Niko to protect him and the crown. They inevitably encounter Lev, who in this book has a much bigger storyline than the first, and end up all together to fight for the throne. But in the end they must decide if the fight is worth it when they need to be fighting for Fedosia.
Again this book ends with some many questions, things up in the air, and a whole new world to discover. You can bet that I will be back as soon as book 3 is out! Read book 1 and then read this one. I am sure you will enjoy both!