In the aftermath of severing ties with the kitsune, Leila is thrust into a delicate balancing act, pretending to resume her normal life while concealing the truth about the malevolent spirit still lurking within her.
But when the wrath of the 13 Gods descends upon Arcadia as punishment for her actions, Leila finds herself at the centre of a supernatural storm. With the city and her friends in peril, she must navigate a web of lies and deceit, all while grappling with the consequences of her pact with the deathweaver spirit.
To save her loved ones and restore balance, Leila must journey to the heart of the Underworld with Grim by her side, in search of the God Stone—a mythical artefact rumoured to possess the power to vanquish any celestial being. But as she delves deeper into the abyss, Leila must confront the ultimate dilemma: sacrifice the harmony of the realms or risk losing herself to save those she holds dear.
Izzy is an Indie author who worked really hard to get her story out there and make her dream come true and it shows! These books (1&2) are a work of passion and dedication. Also us so kind and supportive which makes it a extra joy to ARC for her. This book takes us to Arcadia a modern urban fantasy world. Jam packed with action, murder, intrige, mystery, magic, soul searching, complex family dynamics, friendship, romance and love. The books ar both 500+ pages and you need to concentrate to be able to understand and follow the story. It is a really good story. Izzy makes use of Japanese mythology which was new to me and I really enjoyed that. Book 1 gives us romance and mystery. The booms ends with a really good cliffy. I was lucky enough to dive into book 2 soon after. Our fmc seems powerless but is so strong willed! Our mmc is a mysterious shadow daddy full of secrets and pain. Their chemistry is lovely. I really enjoyed the friendships both old and new. Which I suspect will lead to a beautiful found family. Izzys’ focusses on the story and doesn’t include unnecessary tropes which I love. Where book 1 left me with many questions book 2 luckily provides more answers. I enjoyed the action in book 2 very much. I am normally not an fan of miscommunication between characters but in this book It didn’t bother me because when things get resolved it isn’t drawn out or repeated. The multiple POV’s are great it gives us more insight in the story and our characters. I highly recommend that you take a chance on this series especially if you enjoy: - slow burn - multiple POV - a little spice - Urban fantasy - murder mystery - action - shadow daddy - feminine rage - magic - mystical creatures - Japanese mythology I can’t wait for book 3!
From the very first pages, this book sparks curiosity. Leila, one of the few humans in a city overflowing with mystics, is thrown into a world that’s dazzling, strange, and often dangerous. Her perspective grounds the story, while everything around her feels wild and unpredictable. I really appreciated the tone: sharp one moment, playful the next, then suddenly pulling you into something gut-wrenching. The shifts feel natural, like life in a place that never stops testing you. The character dynamics are full of wit, tension, and an undercurrent of longing that keeps every interaction charged. The setting is very alive, a blend of traditions, secrets, and magic that feels eerie and enchanting. You can sense that this is only the beginning of something much larger, and it sets the stage perfectly for future books. As a debut, this is an impressive achievement. It’s imaginative, heartfelt, and unpredictable in the best way. If you’re in the mood for a story full of mysticism, strong character dynamics, and emotional highs and lows, this book is one you’ll want on your shelf.
A thrilling, emotional ride through the Underworld
This second book in the Mystic City series picks up right where the first left off and dives deep, literally and emotionally. Leila’s journey is packed with tension, secrets, and high-stakes choices, and the addition of the 13 Gods’ wrath adds a whole new level of danger to Arcadia. The worldbuilding continues to impress, and I loved the darker, more mythological turn the story took.
There were a couple of slower moments and spots where I wanted just a bit more from some of the side characters, but overall, it kept me hooked. If you enjoyed the first book, this one definitely amps things up. Can’t wait to see what comes next!
If you are after gritty and raw emotions as a young woman comes into her powers, learning that impossible choices are her only option to saving the world; while a morally grey Grim Reaper will tear down the world for the woman he loves, then you're in the right place.
I loved the character development, building on of the plot, and the set up for future books. I’m just sad about the ending because now I have to wait to figure out what happens next!
A perfect continuation of the first book. In this one, we see Leila's literal descent into the Underworld; it's a really emotional and empowering journey. I will say that the last 10% literally wrecked me, and I'm not even mad about it. I loved meeting the characters again, seeing their development, and getting to know them better. I love this series so much, I can't wait to continue it.
Thrust into the unraveling , Leila's really in a pickle - she made a deal with a deathweaver spirit and now she's stuck in a supernatural storm, juggling a major secret. I was so intrigued, I had to keep going. Who doesn’t enjoy a chaotic mystery haha.
As the 13 Gods are raining down wrath on Arcadia and putting everyone she cares about in turmoil due to Leilas decision, she sets out on a quest to rescue her loved ones, determined to restore balance to the universe, however, she's gotta survive the Underworld with Grim and find the mythical God Stone - and let me tell you, the world building is so immersive and the adventure is perilous, I thoroughly enjoyed the writing style. The plot is very well executed, leaving Leila on a precipice! Is she willing to make the ultimate choice..Dive into the adventure and find out more! It’s worthy of the journey.
At first it was a bit confusing to read since it was jumping from subject to subject and sometimes they went over some serious matters way too fast. But the story as a whole is very interesting, a nice continuation to the first. And the end will keep you hooked, my jaw was dropping with every chapter and I was truly rooting for the characters leaving me SHOCKED!!!
The growth all characters had from book 1 to 2 is amazing, you get to learn so much more about some of your favourite characters from book 1 as it’s not just written from the MFC & MMC POV what I loved. While being able to learn more about the characters we also get to learn a lot more about the city of Arcadia, this helps bring everything together and keeps you guessing the whole way through. I will say they are long chapters and a lot does happen so it’s definitely a book that needs all of your attention as you’ll definitely become hooked and lost in the Mystic city. Can’t wait for book 3
Finished this book on release day as an ARC reader and all I will say is that it’s the perfect blend of City of Gods and Monsters and Shadowhunters with the gritty, gothic city of Gotham vibes mixed with Crescent city! Imagine if Clary and Alec from shadowhunters got together (not as siblings duh) but he gave the vibes of Kaz Brekker from Shadow and Bone and he was a literal GRIM REAPER SHADOW DADDY then this is your cup of tea 🫖 pun intended (the FMC Leila works at a tea shop) all in all, this second instalment was incredible with more high stakes, spice and banter and that ending had me on the edge of my seat!!! Worth the read especially if you love a good thick book!!!!