The Cruel Dawn

Vallendor #2

by Rachel Howzell Hall, Tamika Katon-Donegal (Narrator)

Get ready for the explosive sequel to the “action-packed, electrifying fantasy” (Good Morning America) The Last One by New York Times bestselling author Rachel Howzell Hall!

Genres: Fantasy, Romance, Romantasy, Adult, Fiction, Fantasy Romance, Magic

Audible Audio

First published August 19, 2025

About the author

RACHEL HOWZELL HALL l is the critically acclaimed author and Los Angeles Times Book Prize finalist for And Now She’s Gone, which was also nominated for the Lefty-, Barry-, Shamus- and Anthony Awards and the Audible Originals bestseller How It Ends. A New York Times bestselling author of The Good Sister with James Patterson, Rachel is an Anthony-, International Thriller Writers- and Lefty Award nominee and the author of They All Fall Down, Land of Shadows, Skies of Ash, Trail of Echoes and City of Saviors in the Detective Elouise Norton series. Her next thriller, These Toxic Things, out in September 2021, recently received a starred review from Publishers Weekly, calling the novel ‘cleverly-plotted’ and ‘a refreshing take on the serial killer theme.’

Rachel is a former member of the board of directors for Mystery Writers of America and has been a featured writer on NPR’s acclaimed Crime in the City series and the National Endowment for the Arts weekly podcast; she has also served as a mentor in Pitch Wars and the Association of Writers Programs. Rachel lives in Los Angeles with her husband and daughter. For more information, visit www.rachelhowzell.com

Her next novel And Now She’s Gone will be published in September 2020. You can find her at www.rachelhowzell.com and on Twitter @RachelHowzell.

Reviews

[Leanna Streeter · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Cruel Dawn was a fantastic conclusion to this duology. I loved Kai just as much as I did in the first book, maybe even more. Her character growth here was epic, and she remains such a strong, take-no-shit, yet deeply caring FMC. I adored her.

The found family element was beautifully done, and the worldbuilding in this series is truly exceptional. With rich mythology, a unique magic system, and vividly detailed settings, the world felt alive on every page. This book really shined in how well-crafted and immersive it was.

Combine that with Kai’s outstanding character arc, and you have a Romantasy that’s truly unique and unlike anything else I’ve read. The author did an exceptional job, and I am officially a rabid fan.

If you love extensive worldbuilding, fantastic found family, and a badass heroine you can’t help but root for, I highly recommend this duology.

Thanks to Entangled Publishing for the gifted ARC.

[Julie - One Book More · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Cruel Dawn is an action-packed and suspenseful read that picks up right where The Last One left off.  The story throws you right into Vallendor’s chaos and violence, where Kaivara, once the Grand Defender, is grappling with betrayals, exile, as well as the frustrations of having fractured memories. The realm she left behind is in even worse shape now, with monsters roaming freely and a traitorous god on the rise.

Kai’s character growth was one of my favorite parts of the story. She is still fierce, stubborn, and willing to fight for what she believes in, but she’s also defeated and frustrated and conflicted.   In this book, Kai knows way more about herself, and I like that we get to see her softer side as she rebuilds trust, strengthens her relationships, and tries to find the truth amidst all the lies and deception.  

The romance with Jadon was riddled with complications and complex feelings, made all the more intense because of the dangerous and deadly situations they’re constantly thrust into.  Lies, betrayal, captivity, and so much more seem like insurmountable obstacles that will always stand between them, and it’s interesting to see how they work through and face everything.  There’s also a bit of a love triangle, which definitely complicates things and makes Kai’s choices even more complex and confusing.  I have to say, I’m not a huge fan of love triangles, but this one had a really satisfying resolution.

The world-building is more expansive than the first book, with new creatures, politics, and hidden truths that are slowly revealed, and the plot is gripping. Kai is so determined to save her world and right some wrongs, and it's an action-packed and intense journey.

[Kat · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars
Thank you to Entangled Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC of The Cruel Dawn by Rachel Howzell Hall. This sequel delivers exactly what I was hoping for and more.
Picking up right where The Last One ended, this story continues Kaivara’s journey with real momentum. Her growth as a character is so satisfying to watch unfold. She’s wiser, stronger, and more emotionally complex in this second installment. The layers of hidden truths, family tension, shifting alliances, and personal revelations make for an immersive read.
The relationships in this book are some of my favorite aspects. Kai’s dynamic with Zephar, Jadon, Elyn, and her father Izariel deepen in meaningful ways. The world of Vallendor continues to shine, with sharp worldbuilding and mythic undertones that make this series stand out from other romantasy titles.
And Shari the wolf? Instantly iconic.
If you loved The Last One, The Cruel Dawn is a must-read. It is a story about power, legacy, redemption, and the slow burn of finding your place in a fractured world.

[Ky (kys.bookish.adventures) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought this was a really great conclusion! It was super action packed and very satisfying!

I loved the FMC Kai’s journey through out both books and I think you get a really great character arc especially in this book. She is one of my favorite FMCs that I have read recently and I love that we get to see more complicated layers from her this time. The world building in this second book was even better and I felt so immersed in what was happening!

There is romance, monsters, edge of your seat action, amazing found family and great wild building! Also a bit of a love triangle and I may be in the minority but I love a good well written triangle especially when it’s a nice balance of plot to romance! For sure recommend this duology!

Thank you to Booksparks for the copy!

[Keila (speedreadstagram) · Rating 5 out of 5]

If the first book swept me into Vallendor’s myth-soaked world, this sequel buried me, and I loved every second of it. The writing is just as sharp, the stakes even higher, and Kai remains one of the most compelling protagonists I’ve ever followed. Her fall from grace and slow, brutal climb back toward power is rendered with aching precision. She’s so messy and I love it. The worldbuilding deepens in this book in delightul way.

I can’t wait to see what’s next.


Thank you so much to @BookSparks @RhowzellHall for this amazing book. All thoughts are my own.

[Ari R · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5⭐️
I received an ARC (thank you Entangled Publishing!) and I am voluntarily leaving a review. All thoughts are my own.

I read this book immediately after finishing The Last One and yet I was still confused going into it. I felt like there was a lot of off-page action/events referenced in this book that felt like they should have been in book 1 but weren’t.

The writing was good and the story was intriguing. Like with book 1, I loved the unique creatures and storyline. There were definitely plenty of twists and turns to keep my attention.

I loved the FMC’s determination and grit. She kept going no matter what, even if she was injured or exhausted.

[Lacee · Rating 1 out of 5]

I REALLY wanted to enjoy this book. I liked the first one enough to finish and buy the second one the day it was released but the writing and story just did not do it for me.

It was jumpy, overly descriptive to the point of confusion and felt like too much filler words taking away from the plot. I was constantly pausing to rack my brain whether I should know this name or that city and why it’s important but I found a lot of those details weren’t super important in the end.

I almost DNFed it. I’ve never DNFed a book before. I powered through, because mama didn’t raise no quitter, but I also was so miserable I felt inclined to write a review to save more than just my book club friends from this experience.

I’m sorry Rachel.

[Morgan Hazo · Rating 1 out of 5]

THANK GOD THIS BOOK IS DONE. Truly one of the shittiest books I think I’ve ever read. This book singlehandedly put me in such a bad reading slump. Fear not, this was a 1 star (truly 0.5 stars) from the very beginning. This series is a duology, yet the author writes like 5 books came before this one?? Also the random moments where the author tried to make the main character, Kai, cheeky was unbelievably cringey. The plot was horrific and nothing was explained well at all? Ah yes, the name of another random creature just thrown in and *gasp* they’re randomly attacking you? But you just survived a different attack? PLEASE.
The whole plot with Zephar (her “lover” she forgot about the amnesia) was SUCH a stretch and had such a weird turn? This whole thing added zero value. Oh but don’t forget, the mega villain in all of this, Danar Rivae (yes, *one* of Jadon’s biological fathers, which that’s not well explained at all) had all that build up for TWO WHOLE PAGES AND THEN HES EASILY KILLED. It also felt like the author kept forgetting about Jadon and would just toss him in as she remembered him?
Honestly shame on Red Tower for even publishing this book. Some thoughts can just stay as thoughts or journal entries and not actually become books🤢

[Mystie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and Entangled Publishing for the gifted e-Arc in return for my honest review.

I gave this one 3.5 stars. (Rounded up to 4 for posting.)

The strength of this book was in the world-building. If world-building hits your spot, this is definitely your book. There were thousands of realms, a singular main creator, as well as multiple gods, warriors, and different levels of healers. Then came the creatures. The ones we knew, and the ones that were created for different purposes throughout the book. Which meant we were discovering new species at the same time as the characters in the book. Truly this was a masterclass in world-building, and it continued throughout the story. That was probably my favorite part of this duology. I never knew what they were about to discover.

This is book two, so if you have not read book one, stop right now.

You were warned!

Kai, our FMC, is no longer as clueless as she was in book one. She has even reunited with some new people, who were her old friends and compatriots. And things get interesting. As a reader, you learn more about her past and the reasons she was in so much trouble before. There is also tremendous growth for her as the pages turn. Her transformation was legitimately epic. Additionally, we are also reintroduced to the MMC from book one and more... ;) (No spoilers lol)

What kept me reading though, was the found-family aspect. The plot includes the rebuilding of friendships, and the securing of new ones to create the formidable force essential to changing their world. That was some good reading, with people facing hard truths, which they absolutely needed.

There were a lot of moving parts, but I must say the prose was excellent. Even though this was a thick book, reading it went fairly quickly once I sat down and engaged.

Honestly though, personally I could not connect with the FMC. I also felt weird reading the romance parts. And that is for sure just a me thing. But those two aspects lowered my star rating. I can say truthfully The Cruel Dawn has all the makings of a splendid book; I just do not think it was my kind of book.

But... it might be yours, so try it out and see.

[Hannah Thibodeau · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you Entangled Publishing for the E-ARC, I truly enjoyed reading more about Kai!!
The Cruel Dawn picks up right where The Last One ended. Kaivara has really good character development and growth in book two which she definitely needed! There was hidden truths, battles, forgiveness, redemption, and I was obsessed with Shari the wolf. Kai’s relationships with Zephar, Elyn, Jadon and even her own father Izariel were constantly evolving and it was refreshing not to have turmoil with a fast HEA occur immediately. Each character was so different and their roles in the world of Vallendor and other realms is intricate and fascinating! If you’re looking for something different than all the other Romantasy books being released currently I highly recommend you get The Last One and The Cruel Dawn.
*All the sword and dagger names are phenomenal by the way*

[USOM · Rating 4 out of 5]

(Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher. This has not impacted my review which is unbiased and honest.)

My favorite element of The Cruel Dawn has to be the character growth. The Cruel Dawn throws us in headfirst from The Last One. While it took me a bit to find my footing, Kai has been through it. She's been betrayed, her world has been turned upside down, and she's now thrown back into this environment and being asked, "are you the same? And that's what I loved. I loved that we are able to figure out is Kai different? Has The Last One changed who Kai is, what she feels, and what she will do now? Are we always doomed to repeat our own mistakes? This was a late game theme in the first one and a constant theme in this one.

[Amanda | escapetoerilea · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to Entangled and Red Tower for entrusting me with an early copy!

Monsters and gods, plots and secrets, betrayal, redemption

Kai has learned much about who she is and what she has done in her past. When she wakes up at the beginning of book 2 she has her memories back and then promptly runs into her previous love. Now she must decide the way forward despite varying opinions of those around her. Choices seem impossible and betrayals keep her guessing at who she can trust.

I did enjoy this book more than book 1. Kai is growing and despite her past, she wants to do the right thing for her people. I also did enjoy Jadon more in this book. He and Kai had major barriers in the way and things seemed quite dire for a bit but I enjoyed the way things wrapped up.

[Katie Prell · Rating 2 out of 5]

Honestly.. meh. Overall, I don’t enjoy her writing style, I felt things were very poorly described or explained, it jumped all over the place and was hard to follow and the ending was just… not good?

I don’t know. Not a fan. Might be someone else’s cup of tea but just not mine. Too many unanswered questions and not enough storyline to make you forget why things are missing.

[Sharonda Isadora · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐️

Full review to come closer to release date but I enjoyed this. Great follow up to the first book!

Thank you to the publisher and Booksparks for the opportunity to read and review.

[Amy Gillespie · Rating 3 out of 5]

The plot was there but the writing was meh..
I did enjoy it but it's not the top of my list of " Must Reads"

[Kirsty · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm one of the handful of people who really loved book 1 and was excited to see how this book would take up the mantle after the big reveal and cliffhanger ending. What we get though is a rather monotonous fever dream of barely-relevant back story, almost no continued character development, and a whole lot of Kai complaining as she travels to different parts of the realm for world building (in the literary sense, she's certainly not doing much successful building in the book).

This book got briefly better when the original cast of characters from book 1 got back together... somewhere around the 150 page mark, but they're together for all of a handful of chapters before it goes back to Kai complaining. While I understand that we need to see how, with her memories returning, Kai is tempted to fall into old patterns, she starts sounding more and more like Gollum. She's paranoid for no reason, constantly thinking about herself, and repeating the same thoughts over and over. I THINK the author is trying to make a comment on fate and free will and how people (and gods) are built flawed so the act of learning from mistakes is more important when perhaps you're supposed to fail on the path you've been set on- but it mostly comes across as the FMC bemoaning her lot in life.

Are there still cool, new otherworldy creatures introduced? Yes. Do they help drive or develop the plot? Nope. In fact the resurrection beasts barely even get a description, but lucky for us there's a whole unimpressive battle with some crab hybrids on the shores of lake devour that do nothing other than to show how with her memories restored Kai has somehow become a worse fighter, because she didn't actually need to go there to get to the Abbey.

The chemistry in this book is also lackluster. Kai's rekindled childhood friendship with Elyn had more chemistry and banter than any of her TWO love interests. Kai, in the continued theme of her lack of impulse control, pursues intimacy with Jaden without once considering the impact for the world she supposedly now cares deeply about OR the unequal power divide wherein he's still a prisoner. When she's done using him, she doesn't even seem to notice that he goes back to the cells. That's real love for you.

The ending of this book is anticlimactic. The big build up fight is over in about 3 pages, and after all her conspiracy theories, Jaden actually shows he loves her (though did he really have a choice ?) and picks her victory over his personal gain. As thanks for this selfless act, she then ignores him for a while and almost lets him bleed out. He shows up at her house with apple seeds and a cow which is a real obscure reference to book 1 that hasn't been even mentioned since. I mean what really says HEA like a gift of a cow and a goddess who expects you to worship her without checking in on your wellbeing or offering you any thanks for quite literally saving her world?

[Mindy Shadrick · Rating 2 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️ (2/5 stars)

I went into The Cruel Dawn with fairly low expectations, since I wasn’t overly fond of the first book, but I thought the story had just enough intrigue for me to give this one a shot. Unfortunately, it didn’t work for me.

For most of the book, I was confused about what was happening, where we were, and why. So many different “otherworldly” creatures were introduced that I couldn’t keep track of who was who or what they were supposed to do. Instead of expanding the world, it just left me frustrated and disconnected.

I also never felt emotionally invested in the characters or the so-called love triangle. When the big reveal came that Zephar betrayed Kai and never truly cared for her, it didn’t land at all, I felt nothing. And as for Jadon, I honestly couldn’t care less whether he survived.

The climax was especially disappointing. After all the buildup, everything wrapped up in ten pages or less. The logic also fell apart, Kai literally walked off the battlefield, leaving Jadon bleeding out after cutting off his own hand. And why exactly did Jadon cutting off his hand suddenly allow them to kill his father? Why was the king’s head missing after the battle? Why did Jadon take Kai and Veril’s amulets? And where was the other stone they were supposed to be searching for? None of these threads were resolved, which made the ending feel sloppy and incomplete.

Overall, The Cruel Dawn left me more confused than entertained. With weak character development, a rushed conclusion, and too many unanswered questions, this series just isn’t for me.

[Meigan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fantastic conclusion to Kai’s story, this second installment gives readers so much more of everything. More character growth, more of this phenomenal world, more backstory, and most importantly, more Kai because she’s my favorite part of this whole series.

THE LAST ONE started with the MC not knowing much of anything — who she is, where she’s from, why she’s in this strange town, etc, and it was joy to travel alongside her and learn with her along the way. THE CRUEL DAWN shows Kai not only recovering most of her memories, but also growing and changing and accepting responsibility for various past regressions. I love when characters are able to confront things that maybe aren’t so favorable, and it’s even more gratifying when they grow and learn from those confrontations.

The pacing of this one was a bit all over the place, kind of like Kai was. She has a mission in this one, but she gets sidetracked quite a few times and as a result the plot meanders a bit. But once the pace picks up, it doesn’t let go until the end. There’s also a bit of a love triangle happening in this book and as a lover of the love triangle, I enjoyed that aspect.

All in all, I’m pleased with where this one leaves our beloved characters. This one ends on a satisfying note and ties up all the loose ends that I was questioning from book 1. I enjoyed this duology and I have my fingers crossed that Ms. Howzell Hall brings us more romantasy in the future.


*Thanks so much Book Sparks for gifting a copy as part of the #FRC2025.

[glee book adventures · Rating 4 out of 5]

"gods bleed, realms fall, and one woman stands between salvation and ruin. A god’s wrath is unforgettable. Her love, even more dangerous"

The concussion to the duology (see my earlier review of "The last one". Slow burn romantasy/fantasy. I loved the character growth we see with Kai, especially after her memories return. The independent woman vibe was throughout the book; i was rooting for her the whole read (honestly she is my fave character)! Yet at times the storyline was confusing, I found myself going back to make sure where I was in the story. Out of both books, the first was my favorite, but im glad to have read book 2 to assist in answer questions/completing the plot and storyline.

The world building continued to grow; integrating mythology, magic systems, and detailed settings. It is action packed; while the first half of the book lays ground work, around the 50% mark it really jerks you in. We follow Kai as she not only finds herself, but is trying to repair the damage that was done. Finding new found family, amd repairing relationships. I felt this was a really good follow up to the first book. Will def be recommending to friends! Will Jadon be her salvation, or final ruin?? ya have to read it to find out 😉

🗡high stakes world building
🗡memory loss
🗡forbidden love
🗡fallen god
🗡exiled war heroine
🗡mythical creatures
🗡enemies to reluctant allies
🗡redemption
🗡betrayal
🗡slow burn

[Jan M. Frey · Rating 2 out of 5]

I can’t remember the last time I almost DNF’ed a book before this one. I could see what the author tried to do in this and the previous book - she was trying to build a rich fantasy world, full of its own mythology and cultures.

The problem was she flitted from creature to creature, culture to culture, god to god and didn’t build any connective fabric between them.

The characters COULD have been rich and many layered. The world COULD have been vibrant (dying, but still vibrant). The otherworldly creatures COULD have been interesting. All of this COULD have been true if there was any focus on them aside from a brief description of them when *gasp* they attacked the FMC or *gasp* she fumbled her way into a new place.

There was so much potential and I kept hoping that potential would play out. The last maybe 10% of the book started pulling threads together, but it was too little too late.

The reason this gets 2 stars and not 1 is the last 10%. It was a STRUGGLE to finish this, and I don’t intend to ever pick it up again.

I think the editor did the author dirty in not pointing out the lack of coherence in the character and world development, and I really hope that the author can learn to pull together fabric to create a world - because she seems to know the pieces that are needed, just not how to connect them.

[Vicki · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book should be a movie. Plain and simple.

I have to start off by saying that this book handled the fact that it is a sequel perfectly. It didn't feel like the first 25% of the book was a retelling of the first.

This book didn't require too much worldbuilding but was more "fantasy" than The Last One. I couldn't help but imagine this book being a movie; I would definitely watch it. While I found Kai to be impulsive and irrational, it's very hard not to want to see her be happy. She wasn't exactly dealt a fair hand in book one.

While it was nice to see more of the goddess part of the story and of Kai, I really missed the banter of the main characters that were in the first book. I also found the number of characters confusing to follow. I think that was in part because of the use of surnames. It felt unnecessary for how often they appeared.

I also missed Olivia. Where did she go? What happened to her and Phily? Sure, it's assumed she got her happy ever after, but her story just wrapped up so quickly, and that was it. What made up for it? The entire rest of the end and where Kai ended up with everyone.

Thank you, Entangled Publishing, Red Tower Books, and Netgalley for the ARC opportunity. This honest review has been left voluntarily.

[Ali Alley EscapeThroughABook · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked book 1 and was pretty excited for this book. It is a good book, but it jumps around a lot with the events. The jumps aren’t always smooth. Unfortunately, this did pull me out of the book enough that I did struggle to remain lost within the story. If I hadn’t enjoyed book 1 so much, I probably would’ve DNF’ed this book due to that. This book does conclude the story, and the author had to pack a lot into this book. So, a lot happens within this book. The book does have lots of action, and we really get to see the FMC grow as a character as well. The book does have some spice, and the relationships are all adult. This is an adult romantasy through and through.

This Fantasy Romance is book 2 of the Vallendor series. The romance in this book is a complicated situation with a relationship from the previous book. The book does have some open door spice. Kai has to save the realm she was once worshipped on. One she has left all but in ruins. With divine enemies out to take over and destroy her realm, Kai needs to find herself, let go of the past, and save those who depend on her.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️
🎧Audiobook with 📱Ebook

[Courtney Lester · Rating 3 out of 5]

Duology review: no spoilers.

3.5/5 overall. The character transformation is great, and I liked the main characters. This left me wanting more, not in a good way.

A couple characters you don’t get an update on what happened to them specifically or how they are doing. For them being so pivotal for so long, this felt like an oversight to not give a true update. There is apparently a spicy scene that completely missed the point and it wasn’t until chapters later that I realized what was being led up to happening one evening actually did happen.

My biggest frustrations were we get multiple pages to describe what Kai is seeing and smelling and hearing as she is traveling across vast amount of lands, but in THE most pivotal fight, two HUGE things happen within ONE page then the chapter is over and is fast towards to later. Overall this fight scene gets what feels like 5 pages and again, most of it is just description of what Kai is observing, not actual fight scenes. It made it feel as if the writing of this was VERY rushed.

This had so much potential, but I wouldn’t recommend it to a friend to read.

[Clairelettersandmore · Rating 4 out of 5]

A beautifully packaged romantasy debut that blends mystery, magic, and survival with an engaging heroine at the center. Kaivara (“Kai”) wakes up with no memory, thrown into a strange and dangerous world full of gods, monsters, and shifting allegiances. From the very first chapter, her voice hooked me—sharp, sarcastic, and surprisingly vulnerable.

The **deluxe edition** is absolutely gorgeous (those sprayed edges!), but beyond the aesthetics, the story offers solid stakes and a compelling quest. The action is fast-paced, the magic intriguing, and the hints of romance add tension without overwhelming the plot.

**What I loved:**
✔ Kai’s personality—resilient, witty, and layered
✔ The sense of mystery about her past
✔ Monsters, battles, and the atmospheric danger throughout

**What didn’t fully work for me:**
➖ Mid-book pacing dips with heavy worldbuilding
➖ Some of the banter leans too cheeky, especially romantic quips

If you’re into romantasy with action, divine intrigue, and a heroine you can root for, this is worth picking up.

[Hannah Houser · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars

Thanks to Entangled Publishing for the ARC of this book!

I loved this book—honestly, I even think it was better than the first one. The story felt significantly more developed, and so many plot points from the previous book were finally filled in. The first book left me with so many questions, and this one delivered the answers.

I especially loved finally understanding the backstory between the Elyn, Kai, and her whole family. I loved her reunion with her father, and how he explained everything that had happened from how he saw it. The introduction of the new MMC (I guess you could say OG in history terms) added such a fresh dynamic, and I really enjoyed how the tension between the new and old characters played out.

This book is definitely more of a fantasy with minimal spice—maybe some spicy thoughts, but no actual spice—which was a pleasant shift from everything else I’ve been reading lately.

Truly, I think this was beautifully written, and the plot was SO good. I would absolutely read it again.

PS: Jadon forever

[Cat · Rating 3 out of 5]

The epic journey to save the realm continues!

There are a ton of titles, places, names, characters, species, etc to remember. I couldn't relate to most of the characters, so it was tough to solidify them in my brain.
Kai has grown some, but still drove me crazy. I think her actions and behavior made sense for the character, but I just didn't like her.

I love the relationship between Kai and Elyn.
One line that really made me laugh was a comment from Elyn about the type of men Kai likes.

Unfortunately I found most of the story frustrating. Kai repeats the same mistakes over and over again. Like the previous book, I also think this just drags on a little too much. That said, I think it's a good example of gods acting of their own volition, not as all-knowing benevolent beings.

If you were a fan of the first book though, I think you'll find this was a big progression in the storyline.

Thank you Entangled Publishing for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

[Londyn Strandquist · Rating 4 out of 5]

This second book in the duology blew me away. I loved Kai in book one, but here she grows in such an epic way. She’s still that strong, stubborn, take-no-shit yet deeply caring heroine, but we also get to see her find more of herself, and it makes her even easier to root for. Her relationships develop in a real, authentic way, without quick fixes, and I loved watching them unfold.

The world of Vallendor is richer than ever with new creatures, hidden truths, divine intrigue, and a magic system that feels completely its own. The vibes are a mix of paranoia, mistrust, reflection, and jaw-dropping revelations, and it all builds to a finale that delivers both answers and closure. But at time did have me a bit confused about what was going on. In some cases it was a bit of information overload.

The found family moments hit hard, the worldbuilding is stunning, and the story feels fresh compared to so much of the romantasy out there right now.

If you liked the first book, you’ll love this one. And if you weren’t sure after book one, this finale might just change your mind.

[Breathe.dont.panic · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book one of this series was one of those books that came at just the right time, for so many reasons. There were aspects to the book that I connected at a level that is hard to explain, and surprisingly, they weren’t your typical I could see myself as that character moments - these were tiny things that the author included that reminded me I wasn’t alone in some things I was going through. These pieces made me not only love the first book, but absolutely crave the pages of book two so when I was given the opportunity to read it, I ran like there was no tomorrow.

I was struck by the way the characters continued to grow and interact with each other and the beauty of the whole story. I love the way it all came together through the chaos of everything and I’m a bit at a loss on how to put words to my emotions now that I’m finished with it. I think this book (and the first one) will forever hold a piece in my heart.

[Manita · Rating 4 out of 5]

The storyline and character development in this book were excellent. I really enjoyed the complexity of the characters and the way the story unfolded. Rachel Howzell Hall knows how to craft layered plots and tension.

That said, I struggled a bit with the writing style. It took me longer than usual to get through, but I don’t think that’s a flaw of the book—it’s more about me needing to adjust to the author’s style. I fully plan to pick up more of her books so I can grow more familiar with her voice, because the story itself and the themes were so strong.

Overall, this is a great book with memorable characters, and I look forward to revisiting it again (especially once the audiobook is available) and exploring more of Rachel Howzell Hall’s work.

Thank you to NetGalley and Entangled Publishing for providing me with a #gifted copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Crystal Cichanowicz · Rating 3 out of 5]

This conclusion to the Vallendor duology felt very different from the first.
Kai’s character growth was significant in this book. There are many aspects to her character that feel familiar, such as her fierceness, drive and determination, however after several betrayals, she is also somewhat defeated. She is also facing a lot of inner conflict, such as being loyal again to the love she had left behind when she couldn’t remember who she was and still loving the one that betrayed her. I’d say the complexity of Kai’s character is the best part of the story.
The book is action packed and there world building is even more significant in than in the first instalment.
If you were hesitant to pick this up, then I’d say try it out - I did enjoy it more than the first.
Many thanks you Entangled Publishing and NetGalley for a digital advanced copy of the book. The opinions expressed are given freely and are honest and my own.