The Night Prince

The Wolf King #2

by Lauren Palphreyman

Aurora is caught between powerful alphas as they fight for the Wolf Throne. But darker forces are rising. . .

The highly anticipated sequel to The Wolf King. Pre-order now!

Aurora may have survived the Wolf King. But his bite marks her skin, and in accordance with Wolf Law, that makes her his property. Now, he wants her back.

To beat him and take his throne, Aurora and Callum must form a dangerous alliance with one of the most feared Wolves in the Kingdom, Blake. He is their enemy, but he has entangled his life with Aurora’s—meaning she cannot harm him without forfeiting her own life.

As she fights to break their connection, she suspects Blake is keeping secrets about a dark power that rises in the north, and the unsettling nature of the bond between them. It seems there is a bigger game at play than who sits on the Wolf Throne—one that threatens both the Kingdom of Wolves, and the Kingdom of Men.

With her wolf awakening, enemies closing in, relationships tested, and secrets revealed—Aurora may be the only one who can stop an ancient evil from rising.

If she can figure out who to trust.

If she can figure out where she, and her heart, belong.

If she can stay alive.

The highly anticipated sequel to The Wolf King. A romantasy for fans of enemies to lovers, shifters, forbidden romance, villains you love to hate (or maybe just love!), and werewolves. Contains strong language and sexual situations.

Genres: Fantasy, Romantasy, Romance, Audiobook, Fantasy Romance, Enemies To Lovers, Werewolves

499 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 28, 2025

About the author

Lauren Palphreyman is an author based in London. She writes books full of magic and romance. Cupid's Match, and Devils Inc. are out now.

Her next book, A Circus of Ink comes out spring 2021.

Reviews

[Amy Lee · Rating 3 out of 5]

Am I still having a good time? Absolutely. Do some things annoy me and/or not make sense? Sure. Am I excited for book 3? 100%

[J.C. Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

If Aurora doesn’t want Blake, I’ll take him.

[SK · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well, it ended too soon. I'm gonna need another ten books of this because the way I'm obsessing over this series... And Blake... It's unreal. It's not perfect but it makes me feel 🥺

I loved how the world building is expanded a little with more characters and complex pack dynamics in play. The plot twists had me gasping at times except for the Heart of the Moon thing- that was predictable. I've read too much fantasy over the years to see a big twist like that coming a mile away. But I'm not gonna complain much about it cause the reveal scene was perfect.

Aurora, or rather Rory, she's a likable fmc. She's fierce and someone who values her independence. I love that she doesn't stop fighting and balances it with love and kindness. I can't wait to see her grow more cause there's so much room for potential.

Callum, oh sweet, protective, golden retriever alpha. He's flawed and yet there's an appeal about him that makes you want to root for him. I don't hate him at all but he's not Blake.

BLAKEEEEEEEEEEE, I cannot explain to you how much I adore and love this man. Like whenever he's in the scenes, I'm on my knees. I just need more and more and more of him. He makes it to the morally grey book boyfriend easily. Man's got me in a chokehold and I don't want out 😭❤️‍🔥

The romance has so many ups and downs. The love triangle had me STRESSED. The slow burn and tension building has me YEARNING and breaking my heart at the same time. Manifesting earth shattering Blake spice for the next book.

The ending had me shook ngl. So much was happening. I think I'm beginning to form an idea on how book 3 is going to unfold and I'm going to be here for it. Just the wait is going to be painful 😭

Thanks to beautiful Emily for reading it with me ❤

~•~•~
Here for more werewolves and Blake. I need me some Blake 😩

[Emmy Rosam · Rating 5 out of 5]

My favourite type of fantasy romance, obsessed with this trilogy!!!!!! Hooked right from the prologue

[Alexia · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was … aight. Too much Callum though. Feel like the next one will be a banger because, Blake.

[Antonia · Rating 2 out of 5]

I want her to end up with Blake so bad I’d sell my soul for this 🥹

______________

Update 01/04/25

This was SO annoying. I honestly cannot get over Aurora and Callum fucking just after she found out about the bond, that made me want to gauge out my eyeballs 🤢 🤢 🤢
Worse, I don’t get the point of that. AT ALL. It’s pretty obvious who she is going to end up with and a love triangle and a little jealousy along the way thrown in as obstacles are fine, but this …? This was unnecessary and uncalled for.

[Laura Greenhalgh · Rating 5 out of 5]

yes it’s predictable but i don’t even care, i LOVE it. utterly obsessed with this series, loved this even more than i loved book one. here for the plot, here for the character development and most importantly, here for blake.

[Victoria Mendonca · Rating 4 out of 5]

White knuckling my kindle reading the last 15%. Sorry not sorry, Callum is a bore. Team Blake 4 ever and ever 🖤🖤🖤
I NEED book 3!!

[Katy Isais · Rating 1 out of 5]

It’s been 2 days since I finished and I’m still pissed. Aurora insists she wants to be independent and fierce and yet she runs to Callum (and Blake if Callum’s unavailable) every time things get difficult and refuses to learn how to help herself. Blake is the most interesting, layered character in the whole series and he’s left on the back burner for no reason. Don’t give me a morally dark grey shadow daddy and then make me read about her screwing the boring vanilla misogynist for two whole books! What did this book accomplish? Rooting for the Night Prince and God of Night to wipe them all out at this point.

[Youssra (semi ia) · Rating 5 out of 5]

edit: giving this the full 5 stars because I CAN'T STOP THINKING ABOUT THIS BOOK WEEKS LATER!!!!!

BLAKE GIVE ME ONE CHANCE I CAN DYE MY HAIR RED AND WEAR A WOLF COSTUME PLS😭😭😭😭


I'm so obsessed like what was in this book??? definitely laced with something I could not get enoughhhhh!!!

This was one of the most entertaining books I have read this year. Did this have flaws? of course(predictability, cliches yada yada). Do I care?? NOT EVEN A LITTLE BIT!!!!

I'm so in love with both mmcs 😭 they are both so perfect😭 Like I would be team Blake but then Callum would show up being all romantic and protective and I would fold😭 But the banter between Blake and Rory???? stop I'm actually so mad at myself for starting this series KNOWING FULL WELL that book 3 doesn't even have a release date yet😭😭😭😭

This review is a mess but guys dare I say it😶‍🌫️😶‍🌫️ this gave me the same excitement and feelings of Acotar😶‍🌫️😶‍🌫️ the vibes, the tension the twists and secrets!!! I had such a fun time with this series and I will wallow now because I won't be reading about Callum and Blake FOR A LONG WHILE😭😭

[Bailee Latham · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars
RTC I’m processing

[Books_and_Crafts · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is ACOTAR for the wolf girlies and I’m SCREAMING. I need the 3rd book like, yesterday.

[Alice with an X 🗡️ · Rating 2 out of 5]

Sad about this one 😭 I was so excited for this sequel but it ultimately fell very flat for me. A few main issues:

• This book feels like filler. 90% of it was just Aurora trying to figure out her own feelings.

• If I had a dollar for every time a chapter ended with her passing out or falling asleep or it “fading to black” I’d be rich!! I get that a huge part of the book relates to dreams but this felt so repetitive. There are better ways to transition between chapters.

• I expected this book to really drive the story and romance(s) forward, but it didn’t really. All of the primary plot elements seemed rushed through and I found myself not really caring about many of them.

• As a Blake fan, my GOD was this painful. I waited for almost a year to see what happens with this pair and to have the cliffhanger resolved, only to have it dangled in front of me again until the third book 😭 I get cliffhangers and making a “will they won’t they” romance, but this just seems excessive.

I’ll read the next one because I do love the characters and themes, but super sad that a lot went unresolved or explored in this one.

[Booked and Busy]

This is a Blake stan account

[vanessa ⋆.☕︎ [semiᝰia] · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating: 4.5 stars.
I’ve seen so many mixed opinions about this one, and honestly? I get it. Is it a masterpiece of writing? Absolutely not. But did I have the time of my life? YES.
There were definitely parts of the plot and some relationship dynamics that didn’t sit right with me, but none of it ruined the experience. It’s chaotic, messy, and a little unhinged, but in the most entertaining way possible.
The pacing is nonstop because something is always happening, and I genuinely loved every second of the madness.

Aurora:
Aurora honestly drove me up the wall. She was childish, tense, loud, and just… exhausting. I get that she never had control over her own life or decisions, but that doesn’t give her a free pass to be this annoying. There were so many moments where I had to put the book down because she frustrated me THAT much.
And don’t even get me started on her indecisiveness about which man she wants. Girl, please. I’m over here fully claiming Blake, like give him to me, and she can take her Callum and ride off into the sunset 🙄.
What really sent me was when Callum asked her straight-up if she felt something around Blake and she LIED. To a man who can literally sense emotions and scents like it’s nothing. Like?? Why even bother lying??? It just made her look even more immature.
So yeah… I don’t like her. At all.

Callem:
Callem… oh I swear, when I finally get my hands on that man, it’s over for him. The way his massive aura is constantly described like it’s swallowing the entire room had me rolling my eyes so hard they almost left my skull. Why does he have to react like THAT every single time? Someone explain it to me.
Like okay, we get it, big wolf man, deep husky voice, aura that apparently chokes oxygen out of the atmosphere. But the dramatics??? Sir, calm DOWN. Every other sentence he’s like, “I am a wolf, Aurora. Don’t test my nerves.” PLEASE.
At this point he’s not intimidating, he’s just a dramatic little boy screaming for attention. A man-child with fangs. And honestly? I can’t take him seriously.

Blake (ma man hehe):
Blame my love all you want, but I’m obsessed with this man in ways that are probably unhealthy. I didn’t even like him that much in the first book, but in this one? OH. MY. GOD. I fell hard. He’s sweet when he chooses to be, sharp and serious when the moment actually calls for it (unlike a certain someone cough Callem cough).
And honestly?? HOW did Aurora even hesitate when choosing between this MAN and the giant emotional toddler she’s been dealing with?? Be serious. I swear she has zero brain cells when it comes to romance because anyone with working neurons would’ve chosen him IMMEDIATELY.
I adore him, flaws and all, he’s everything Callem pretends to be but actually isn’t.

In the end, I completely devoured this, like literally tore through it even though I’m supposed to be busy 😭. But honestly, how was I ever going to stop thinking about Blake? Absolutely impossible. That man lives rent-free in my head, pacing around, smirking, causing chaos, and I’m just here letting him.
There was no way I could put the book down with him in it. Not a chance.
Oh did I mention this before? I NEED BOOK THREE NOWW!!


── .✦

🎧ྀི♪⋆.✮ After that ending in book one, of course I had to grab the sequel immediately. I just know it’s going to wreck me all over again 😭. The love triangle though?! It’s killing me, I adore both guys, but Callum owns my heart… until Blake opens his mouth and I’m suddenly blushing and losing my mind 😩.
Also, I need to try the audiobook, apparently the narrators have those deep voices, and honestly, who am I to resist that? So yeah, I’m beyond excited (and a little scared) for this one. Bring on the chaos.🖤

[sonia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pre read . ⊹ ･ﾟ𖥔 ₊ ˑ
⤷ I am manifesting LESS 👏 CALLUM 👏 MORE 👏 BLAKE 👏 for book 2 wish me luck

[Rachel (ravenhairedreader) · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 💫💫💫💫

[dak ⋆.˚ ☾ .⭒˚ · Rating 5 out of 5]

6⭐️
OH MY GOD YES. blakeeee🥺 i need more of him immediately!!

so obsessed with everything this is😍🖤
lauren where is book 3!!!🐺

[Kirsten · Rating 5 out of 5]

"I Thought I Was Emotionally Prepared. I Wasn’t. Book Two Didn’t Care.”
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Spice: 🌶️🌶️

Series: The wolf king #2
Series Type: Series
Genre: Fantasy
Sub Genre: Fantasy Romance/Romantasy, High Fantasy

Tropes:
- non it’s gonna be a surprise

Other:
- Fantasy Species: Humans, Werewolfs
- Format: Kindle Unlimited
- Plot/Character Driven: both
- Pacing: Medium
- POV: Single POV
- Narration type: 1st person
- Character gender : F/M
- Spicy chapters: 20%77%
- Comparison titles: Outlander x wolfs
- Popular boyfriend comparison: 👀

👨‍👧 Characters
Oh my GOD. I am unwell. I am feral. I adore these characters with my whole chest. The growth we get in this book? Actual art. Aurora steps into her power like she was born for it and I was cheering like a lunatic. Blake? Callum? The way this author refuses to make them flat or simple or one-dimensional? It’s giving emotional whiplash and I want MORE.

These characters are messy. They’re raw. They’re complicated in the best ways. No one’s totally right. No one’s totally wrong. And that moral greyness? That emotional tension? That slow unfolding of who they really are? I AM LIVING FOR IT. The author is just casually out here toying with our hearts like it’s a sport. And I’m losing.

🌎 Worldbuilding & Magic
Okay now we’re cooking. This one actually went deep. We’re talking real magic system. Real lore. Real foreshadowing. It was layered, it was rich, it was easy to follow but packed with juicy details if you’re paying attention. The kind of world where you know books three and four are gonna absolutely snap because the groundwork is already there.

You want depth? It’s here. You want mystery and magic and rules that make sense but still feel dangerous? Yes. Yes to all of it. It feels bigger now. Broader. Like the series just cracked open and we’re finally seeing how much power is waiting underneath.

♥️ What I Loved
I wish I could scream about all of it without spoilers. But let me just say this: the relationships in this book? Next level. Tension. Chemistry. Messy emotions. Moments that twisted when you thought they’d snap straight. I was gasping. I was pacing the room. I was texting fictional characters like “please just say it.”

This is the gold standard of a REDACTED The kind that pulls you in every direction at once and you like it. I’m stressed. I’m obsessed. And I genuinely don’t know REDACTED and that’s the magic. Also the slow burn tension is done SO WELL. You feel every glance. Every brush. Every line. I want every other book series to study this one.

💔 What I Didn’t Like
I ate this too fast. That’s the problem. I devoured it like I hadn’t eaten in days and now I’m left wrecked and waiting. Zero complaints. Just pain.

📝 Overall Thoughts
This series is on track to be one of my favourites of the entire year. Book one hooked me. Book two wrecked me. It’s got that rare combo of addictively easy to read and emotionally devastating in the best way. There’s fun. There’s depth. There’s tension. There’s heartbreak. I need book three yesterday.

[BookishByTammi · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5⭐️
I am obsessed with this series, there are so many moving parts, I need to be in Blake’s head because he knows so much

I lowkey knew which direction this book would go in but it didn’t make it any less fun. I was picking up the clues that Lauren was putting down and it was fun to theorise

The love triangle is killing me (complimentary) because I love them both!
When one says “you are the moon to me, Rory. Every time I set eyes on you, my soul is aflame.”
And the other says “Let me have you. Just once. Please”
I can’t pick a side but also why choose?😏

I need book 3 ASAP!

[Krysta ꕤ · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 ☆

“I cannot let you go right now. Please do not ask it of me.”

i had fun with the first book, so i went into this expecting the same but i definitely prefer that one over this sequel. Aurora was getting on my LAST nerve with her endless whining, she seriously needed to get a damn grip. it’s one thing to want independence and the ability to make your own decisions, but she contradicts herself literally any chance she got. this is just a thought.. but maybe try not being a damsel in distress, running to whichever mmc was available and they wouldn’t have to treat you like one? i can’t with her.

”When the time comes, little rabbit, I will give you everything I have. I promise.”

i will say that the .5 in my rating is for Blake, getting more of his backstory was needed and i always love a tortured, broody, man.. let’s be for real. i also was annoyed by how nothing even happens in this until around 80%, then we get twists and action that brought my attention back to the forefront again. i firmly believe this will turn into a why choose now, id be happy with that cause i do like Blake and Callum equally but for different reasons. i think Callum offers things to Aurora that she wouldn’t be able to get with Blake and vice versa, i just hope she gets it together in the last book bc she was testing my patience the entirety of this.

[Bookishness · Rating 5 out of 5]

♾️⭐️

Hands down the best trilogy I’ve ever read! I’m Team Blake (he totally gives Damon Salvatore vibes)! And now I literally can’t wait until book three… I’ll be waiting very impatiently!

Darling, no.” His voice, silk-soft, cuts through the roar of the wind. “You’re not a weapon. You’re a fucking tornado.”


A shadow looms across the page. “Is Callum not satisfying you, darling?” Every muscle in my body tightens and locks. Blake leans forward and tugs the book out of my hands. He flicks through, and stops at a random page. I feel his pulse of amusement.

[Gabby Scheyen · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.75 !! BLAKE.

[౨ৎ emily ౨ৎ · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars. I'm literally obsessed.
So so so good.
If I could be Blake's little rabbit I'd get on my knees and pray to the moon goddess just to be in his proximity for 5 min.
That man can do no wrong in my "literal heart eyes"

This book has a somewhat predictable plot but even with thattt my heart was beating so fast in the last 100 pages or so. This book is so fun, and had me giggling. I just love all the characters so much. def a found family aspect.

Aurora is such a strong FMC, and I can't wait for her to grow even more in the third book.

.5 taken off d/t the slower pacing, and I would like a little more of some of the side characters, but I have a feeling this whole series is going to rip my heart to shreds.

Currently my hyperfixation. Will be dreaming (iykyk) about Blake tonight ✿

Thankyou SK for buddy reading this with me!!! ♡

[Mim · Rating 2 out of 5]

Well... Mostly this is just a filler book where you can see the plot from mile away.
*Insert my pretending shocked face on this*
I'm disappointed. The whole book is messy. There are these lucid dreams and sometimes I'm not sure did the dream end or not. She faints to the blackness or sleeps damn too much! Is she sleeping beauty or what? Popping characters here and there as they supposed to mean something. Nobody dies. I mean really dies and most of it just a tricks. Callum actually not defeating James or Blake being on the dark side but he actually isn't.

Aurora wants to be an independent woman and no one's pet (or bride even if it for the love btw). She will be stamping her foot like lil toddler in tantrum when someone mentions "you belong to me", "mine", "your pet" etc. Spouting she is not and mentioning she a effing princess I do not belong to anyone. I am Princess Aurora of the Southlands.. Girl... your princess status don't mean sh*t. Not in the wolves land or in your own land (where you were less independent) so why even mention it?? You were your father's pawn. Why take pride in that?
While she wants to be this powerful boss b*tch she expects Callum to save her or Blake if Callum is occupied. And dear lord if you don't save her the way she wants! Then everything is saviors fault and she is the martyr. Also she thinks she is above the wolves laws or customs. two males who bit me without my permission and think they have some form of ownership over me because of it. Sweetie you can think what you like but you are surrounded by wolves what they think of their customs matters. If you wanna help your loved ones please act like you care and atleast play along for awhile.
And yep she actually does nothing to be that independent boss that she envisions herself.
Callum tries to pour his heart to Aurora and he definitely says he wants her to be his and support her but Aurora likes to interpret it as owning her like a pet or possession. Why so thick head girl🤷? Also I see this Tamlin plot heading to Callum's direction, sadly. He really is the good guy. Vanilla? sure but atleast he sees her as she is. Spoiled weak princess that thinks she can better a wolf in a fight.
Blake is just as expected. Trying to be this mysterious cool grey character that just is plotting plots. If we would got his pov it would contain him drooling over Aurora non stop. He just pretends to be ignorant cause that is cool. Preschool stuff.
This is the first 80% of the book. Aurora being annoying and wolvers falling over her whims.

After that mark we actually get more plot. Not saying it is great but anyway. Somehow everyone is a wolf. He is wolf, he is secretly wolf, you can be a wolf and you wanna be a wolf? Yes you can be! Everyone be a wolf! I thought this was about humans and wolf shifters 🤔 no human in sight btw.
We unsurprisingly get the twists at the end which were foreshadowing from the beginning. Nothing exciting then. Aurora being this special heart of the moon which she controls the wolfs . And Blake being from the dark side. The clues are hinted too much in the early on the book..

And who she will end up with? see you on a next book🤪 although it is pretty obvious. Callum will be turned to some kind of villain in the end. He will try to protect her but not the way lil prissy princess likes and then it's over.
Yeah I guess I have to read the next book too 🙄 just to know I was right 😅

[amandathebookworm 📚🪱 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh man this is a blast. Another 4.75 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ gem of a time. This trilogy is so easy to read & the characters are so fun & I really, really enjoyed them. Plot, pros, & cons below 👇🏼


PLOT
This book picks up where book 1 ended. We’ve got a war brewing between the humans & wolves, but also internal conflict among the wolves because everyone wants Aurora for a different reason. There’s also the God of Night’s followers who are becoming a louder, closer problem & on top of all that Aurora has to deal with Callum & Blake who hate each other but have to work together with different attachments to her. & what does Aurora want? To make choices for herself & not be a pawn in the games of other men. This book has
- again the makings of a fabulous love triangle with so much tension
- internal political conflict, war with the humans, & a dangerous emerging religious sect
- FMC coming into her own
- even more werewolves
- an amazing “you came” moment
- medium spice


PROS
- There was a big fun surprise I should have expected but didn’t! & then another smaller one I really enjoyed. So that’s always fun. I still predicted some big reveals but alas, that is to be expected.
- I just really like Aurora. I like that she’s gritty, I like that her stubbornness isn’t against her own safety or best interests & is used to fight off men making decisions for her. I just really like her as a character.
- The love triangle dynamic is so good. I can’t help but love them both. Callum really has been so sweet to her & really loved her, while we KNOW there’s something lurking with Blake. The tension across the board is scrumptious af.
- Speaking of, learning more about our mysterious Blake is so fun.
- There’s A LOT going on in a good way. It makes this such a fast & easy read because action or tension or something feels like it’s happening around every corner & that’s just so easy to eat up.


CONS
- There is A LOT of reliance on dream sequences or memory flashbacks in this book to the point where it feels like a crutch to tell the story. I was getting a little tired of them tbh. Not enough to ruin my read or anything just like… hey let’s try revealing things other ways?


I am REALLY excited for book 3 in this trilogy & will be impatiently waiting to wolf out upon its arrival!


⚠️ SPOILERS ⚠️
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no for real quit if you didn’t finish this book
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- The brother reveal was very fun I really enjoyed that & am excited to see where it goes.
- I knew Blake was the Night Prince from the first time it was mentioned but I’m super interested to find out his relationship to his god. I’m sure he as Night & Aurora as the moon & is the reason for their mating bond & they’ll bring peace to the kingdoms/realms & make up for the prison, etc.
- I am SO excited for Blake & Aurora next book omg the tension has been delicious.
- James will be an interesting player next book. Callum will obvi find out about these things somehow but will he & James fight again? Will they work together & live under Blake & Aurora’s rule? That’s fun to look forward to.

[Kayla · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is how you write a second book 😍

Honestly, book 1 was good. But this was great. Looks like I’m in my shifter era 🤣 I’m still riding my team Blake train, and I’ll literally scream if she ends up with Callum.

Can’t wait for book 3.

[cha · Rating 4 out of 5]

nothing to say except BLAAAAAAAAAKEEEEEEEEEEEE

[Taylor Krasinski · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.75 ⭐️ The plot was no where to be found! The fmc was aimlessly wandering around not having a clue what she was looking for and whining the entire way! If she’s so fixated on not being a pawn, why is she unable to stand up for herself?!

[Krys · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.75/5 ⭐️

I’m not quite sure how to rate this one, but for now, the above rating feels right.

Now, I LOVED book one. Absolutely adored it. It was perfect. I wouldn’t change a thing about it.

I was ridiculously excited about the release of this one, and I counted down the days and tried to receive an ARC for it (I didn’t, but it’s okay). That’s how excited I was.

And I think after reading it I’m just… Conflicted?

Here’s my jumbled thoughts:

Aurora was so much more infuriating in this one. My God, did she annoy the hell out of me sometimes. 😅 I understood her, but I also felt like she was wilfully ignorant at other times, if that makes sense.

Callum. I have very mixed feelings about him. I don’t hate him, but this book solidified that he is ALL wrong for Aurora. And he is the “obvious” and “safe” choice for her and my soul rebukes that. 😆

Blake. He truly is ✨the✨ most redeeming part of this whole series. He’s written so very, very well. I am obsessed with him.

Honestly, my biggest gripes about this book were that not enough actually happened plot wise in the first 60% of the book, though I didn’t mind the Blake banter etc., and in turn too much happened with Callum and Aurora, and because I’m not a fan of their relationship, I was over it. 😅🙈 I get it, she’s conflicted, she loves him. I understand it, I really do. I just personally get Tamlin/Feyre vibes from their relationship (though Callum is far more honorable than Tamlin), and I just don’t love it.

And then, too MUCH happened in the last 30-40% of the book and it was truthfully difficult to keep everything straight and cohesive in my mind. There were moments of “oh wow, she tied that together really well” and moments of… What the hell is actually happening right now and can we stop with the many twists and turns, please? ✨Especially✨ when Blake was literally murdered at the end. Right after Aurora was revealed to be who she is. It was just like… Whoa, whiplash. In a not exciting way, if that makes sense. And again, I get it, she needed a way to solidify the bond, but this felt… Gimmicky? I don’t know. Not the right word but I stayed up all night reading, so that’s the word I’ve got right now.

Nonetheless, the overall plot, the characters, all of it is extremely intriguing and I’m incredibly invested. I think if this book had been 100-200 more pages and things had been fleshed out more and less rushed, I wouldn’t have minded the amount of twists and turns the journey took as much. It would have all fell nicely into place and it would have read less like she was just trying to tie it all up and get to the last book. I personally like her writing, her prose, and would have gladly read even a 700 page book from her.

Lastly, I understand the setup for book three and that it will consist of way more Blake and Aurora, but the truly petty part of me that’s wanted them from the beginning is sad they didn’t even have a kiss in this book that wasn’t forced on them. 🥹

Telling myself it’ll happen in the last book though because ✨mates✨? Bahhhh. It’s gotta happen.

Overall, this is a great series, I just wish this book hadn’t felt so all over the place during the last 30-40%. And I wish that Aurora would fold for Blake already because honestly… Who wouldn’t? I know I would. 🧎🏻‍♀️

Anxiously awaiting book three. 🫡