A Kingdom Ruthless and Radiant instantly picks off where A Court Bright and Broken left off. Many of my thoughts are similar to what I mentioned about Book 1. However, I was delighted to see more of Prince Pharis in this book. I couldn't say much about him before, but now I'm blown away by the depth of his character. He hides a deep hurt within himself, and his barriers might make him appear cruel, but this facade is gradually dissolved as Raewyn solidifies her place in his life. He is unquestionably the most complicated character in the Age of Fae series, and his dedication to Raewyn and her family is unparalleled. However, as far as I'm concerned, he will have a lot to explain and make up for at the start of the next book, as the ending clearly indicated that a Sleeping Beauty, Beauty and the Beast, or Rapunzel retelling is in the works, and I really hope he does not delve into the darker aspects of those fairytales.
I really don't think Pharis will fall into this trap!
I consumed this book so quickly due to how it introduces the reader to more of the world while also featuring yearning, betrayal, revelations, and sizzling tension. Unlike the other book, the writing in this one felt more rushed, so I don't think it'll work for everyone. I thought it was slightly episodic, but the style worked for me because the characters were on the road, and the first-person narration served as a travel diary entry. However, in the end, the style reverted back to the previous book, with the characters becoming more stationary and a lot of organised chaos building to the end. This is how I read Amy's writing in this book, and I'd love to know whether anyone else felt the same way. Again, it may not be for everyone, but I really enjoyed it.
Raewyn was once again a fantastic FMC; she did mature in this book, and all of her core fundamentals remained the same. We also got to see more of her interactions with her family, which was a joy to read. I adore her younger sisters, who have a talent for interrupting at the worst times. Her character grew more endearing, in my opinion, even though I occasionally thought, "you really can't be this naïve," but it also slightly enhanced the charm of the book's journey.
A Kingdom Ruthless and Radiant shifted its attention away from Stellan, The Crown Prince, and towards his younger brother. As I previously stated, his character has a long way to go, but it became evident that maintaining his naivety and unawareness was effective. When I say effective, I mean the contrast and discovery of Pharis' background and feelings, which put Stellan in the position of being privileged, selfish, and oblivious that comes from having the illusion of having to work for something while still receiving everything. He seemed to take more ownership of Raewyn's feelings than genuinely listening to her, which I believe stemmed from his wanting to simply be with her. But when it came down to it, he was all talk and no action.
Although there was a love triangle framework, it was subtly woven into the story, and as you can probably guess, I am 100% Team Pharis. After that build-up to the ending, I believe both Pharis and Raewyn will have a lot of making up to do in the next book, but after seeing how they interact with one another and the trust they share - which needs to be rebuilt - the was these two talk about and address their problems puts their relationship in good standing. I also support Pharis since he spotted and recognised all of the components that I pointed out in my previous review to make a stand; so I'm literally jumping up and down cheering him on for that. His stand, however, can be seen as a bit controversial.
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Favourite Quotes:
"Illusions only go so far. The real soul of a person always shines through, don't you find?"
"I'm free. I'm right here. I may not be the Crown Prince, the golden boy, the chosen one everyone wants. But I want you. More than anything I've ever wanted in my entire cursed life. I have to have you, little Wyn."
The closer you allowed someone to get, the more damage they could do to you.
Suddenly all the myriad moments of my life when I'd been overlooked and overshadowed and pushed aside no longer mattered. Because they were more than made up for by this, something - someone - who was uniquely mine, made just for me.
"You're not just 'some human,'" he said. Then his voice softened. "You're my human.
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I'm very excited for the next book, which will be out this autumn, and thank you so much Amy Patrick for providing me with an ARC copy.I'm so excited for the next book, coming this Autumn, and thank you so much Amy Patrick, for providing me with an ARC copy.