Daughter of the Tempest

Myths of the Empyrieos #2

by Braidee Otto

Princess Aella and her best friend become the kingdom’s most-wanted fugitives in the much-anticipated epic romantasy sequel to Songbird of the Sorrows—featuring dual perspectives, ride-or-die friendships, found family, unlikely alliances, and two slow-burn romantic arcs.

Songbird. Traitor. Runaway. Heroine.

Aella is on the run. After a life of being trained to follow orders, she finally defied them when the true purpose of the Aviary’s mission in Eretria was revealed. Still reeling from her lover’s betrayal and Prince Keres’s deadly trials—and now abducted by the very person she risked everything to save—Aella is branded a traitor and has no choice but to flee across the Emyprieos with only her secrets and the silver-eyed stranger by her side. As they evade capture, the two mustgrow to trust each other, but Aella soon discovers that she’s not the only one keeping secrets, and the truth only complicates their already fragile pursuit of freedom.  

With Aella accused of treason, her best friend, Nyssa, is under suspicion as an accomplice. Disguised as a servant in the Southern Kingdom’s palace, her sole aim is to find Aella and ensure her best friend’s safety. But between the upcoming Empyrieos Games, the threat of discovery, and a reluctant alliance with Aella’s brother, Prince Kallias, risk waits around every corner.

As both women fight to survive against the dangerous political power of the Southern Kingdom, the Aviary, and the Prince of Eretria, the two must also claim their identities and destinies in a world that seeks to define them.

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

426 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 27, 2026

About the author

A self-proclaimed hopeless romantic, Braidee Otto combines her academic background in Literary Studies with a deep passion for storytelling to create heartfelt, immersive narratives. Songbird of the Sorrows is the first installment in her debut adult romantic fantasy series, Myths of the Empyrieos. She lives in Adelaide, South Australia with her partner, two beloved dogs, and a cat that appeared in her backyard on the winter solstice.

Reviews

[The Chapter Chaser · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my, oh my… This was even better than I ever imagined it would be!!

The story took a direction I NEVER saw coming, and I honestly still can’t get over how much it caught me by surprise! I LOVE when a book does that!!

Yes, the pacing was slower than in Book 1, but it was exactly what the story needed.

And THAT ending?! The way it opens up a whole new direction for the next book?!?! Just perfection!!

Seriously, can we please have more books like this?! ❤️

Full review to come!


--------------------------------------------------------
IHAVE THE ARC!!
I absolutely loved Songbird of the Sorrows, and Braidee Otto’s writing was simply FABULOUS!
I haven’t had nearly enough time to read lately (and it’s killing me! 🫠), but I seriously cannot wait to dive back into this universe!
… I’M SO READY!! 👀⚔️

A HUGE thank you to NetGalley and Random House | The Dial Press for this ARC! 🖤

[sabrina (books.with.sabrina) · Rating 4 out of 5]

✨ Rating: 4⭐️
🫧 Vibes: revelations, secrets & betrayals
📖 Favourite Quote: "There is no rule, no custom, no fate I would not bend or break for you, Stormwind."
📚 Would I recommend? yes!
💬 tldr thoughts: an amazing sequel!

In the package:
📦 enemies to lovers
📦 found family
📦 sisterhood

Thoughts: What a great sequel this was! The beginning was a bit slow to get through but the second half of the book was perfection 🤭 this is exactly what I wanted from the 2nd book. I equally enjoyed Nyssa and Aella's POVs and their romantic plot lines. But the secret yearning and tension between Aella and Lyxander, OUF. But most importantly, I love the friendship between Aella and Nyssa the most. It's so heartwarming how they're willing to do anything for each other and Aella's emergence being tied to this was so beautiful. I cannot wait for book 3!!

Thank you The Dial Press and NetGalley for the ARC!

✩⁺₊✩☽⋆ follow me on instagram ⋆☾✩⁺₊✩

[Kelly H · Rating 5 out of 5]

Whatever you think you know about romantasy, throw it out the window! Whenever I had a thought like, ‘I can see where this book is heading because all romantasy series do this…’ we would take a sharp turn and be thrown into the unknown again.

Daughter of the Tempest is such an incredible book 2 by Braidee Otto and my favourite of the Myths of the Empyrieos series so far. This series is criminally underhyped!

It follows two female POV’s and takes you on the most unexpected journey. Our main girl, Aella, remains a strong, independent character and learns more about her hidden magic, her ancestry, discovers her found family, prophecies and let me tell you, the way she ‘finds herself’ at the end was so epic and so fitting. The love she has for her bestie Nyssa is everything! But also… Ares?! What an absolute legend! We need more Ares!!!

Nyssa’s POV going undercover was fantastic to read also, and the relationships she nurtured were the cause of many highlights in my Kobo! I’m so excited to see where her story goes too.

I honestly felt all the feels with this book. I was scared, tense, laughing, kicking my feet, in awe, heartbroken, stressed, and then I read the ending, which by the way was so action-packed and tense! How the heck is this going to be resolved in one more book?! Eeek! I’m so obsessed with this series and will be keen to read book 3 immediately!

Highly recommend this series if you love books like A Forbidden Alchemy, Shield of Sparrows, Heir of Fire and From Blood and Ash.

PUBLISHING ON: October 20, 2026

Tropes:
🪽 Sisterhood
🪽 Found family
🪽 One bed
🪽 Who did this to you
🪽 Touch her and die
🪽He trains her
🪽Forced proximity
🪽Slow burn
🪽Prophecy
🪽Hidden identity
🪽There you are

Some of my favourite non-spoiler quotes:

“Cowards don’t need blades to wound; they only need silence when it matters most.”

“I seem to crave another taste of poison”

“I’ve bitten my tongue, bowed my head, bent to their will more times than I can count. But not this time.”

Thank you to @penguinbooksaus @netgalley for the ARC!

[Bookish Martina · Rating 4 out of 5]

How great it was to return to the Empyrieos after a couple of years since first reading Songbird of the Sorrows in its indie edition! I adored that first book and couldn't have been happier to be asked to review this second one, too.

Daughter of the Tempest picks up right after the end of Songbird of the Sorrows, with Princess Aella having been abducted by the very man she helped escape from the Aviary's custody, and her best friend Nyssa on the run after being suspected of aiding her. Aella and Xan travel north together, striking a bargain to help each other achieve their goals, while Nyssa finds herself hiding in plain sight at the Southern Kingdom's court, masquerading as a servant to stay alive and investigate some suspicious happenings. As both women navigate dangerous alliances, secrets, and political intrigue, they must find a way to survive and hopefully reunite.

This second book is FULL of reveals - about people's identities and powers, their motivations, and a prophecy that has been lurking in the background of Aella's life... I was so surprised to learn about the backgrounds of some characters and how so many people's stories had secretly been woven together all along, with the author creating a masterful web of connections. Interesting characters from Songbird made a reappearance in the sequel, some more beloved than others (Keres - you're so not one of them!).

Aella's perspective and plotline were very interesting and full of surprises, with her growing closer to Xan in a beautifully written slow-burn romance. There were so many moments between them that perfectly captured what I love about romantasy, from the developing trust and emotional vulnerability to the tension and chemistry! I highlighted so many quotes, both from things they said and from their inner thoughts.

I also loved getting to read so much from Nyssa's perspective - a character who has fascinated me ever since Songbird. She is abrasive with those she doesn't know or trust, but she is so fiercely loyal and so smart! Life hasn't dealt her the easiest hand, but she has emerged like a phoenix (yes, the reference is intentional!). Her relationships with the other characters at court were intense and beautifully portrayed, from the genuine connections she formed to those that eventually took a turn for the worse (I was as surprised as she was!).

I took a star away because the pacing felt a little uneven, particularly in the middle section, which dragged at times. I think the book could have benefited from a more consistent pace, or perhaps a more extensive final section, giving everything that happened there a little more room to breathe and the spotlight it deserved.

The ending has me really curious about what's to come, with some major forces being brought into the story and powerful new players entering the scene! I can't wait to see how everything unfolds from here, especially with the stakes getting higher and higher.

Overall, a great sequel full of secrets, betrayals, surprising revelations, and beautifully developed relationships. I'd definitely recommend this series to lovers of epic romantasy with political intrigue, hidden identities, slow-burn romance, and fiercely loyal friendships!

[Erin Dunn · Rating 4 out of 5]

✨Excellent sequel! ✨

I really enjoyed Daughter of the Tempest. I’m so happy with the direction that this book went in and some of it was a bit of a surprise!

I enjoyed getting the POV of Nyssa in addition to Aella. I can’t remember for sure, but I don’t think we had Nyssa’s POV in book 1? 🤔 Either way her POV was really intriguing too! Oh and I love their friendship so much. Also, I loved the romances too and the banter! I’m glad it wasn’t overly saturated with spicy scenes because it wasn’t needed.

I can’t wait for the next book!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing a free ebook copy in exchange for an honest review. This book is expected to be released October 20, 2026 .

[Renee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Daughter of the Tempest by Braidee Otto
-Myths of the Empyrieos, Book 2-

5/5⭐️
1/3🌶️ (1 scene)
2/3🦋

•My Thoughts•
This is exactly what I was hoping for from this book and it makes me want to scream about it!!! I loved the world expansion, the added POV of Aella’s best friend Nyssa and how we get to follow both of them after the events of book 1. The intrigue had me on the edge of my seat and the romantic story lines were some of my favorite; the tension, the secret yearning, it was fantastic! I loved the mythological creatures and prophecy and reveals. GOSH. You guys. You have to get this series on your tbr!!! I love this balance in romance and fantasy story. I’m already excited to reread this in preparation for the concluding book of the trilogy.

Thank you to Penguin RandomHouse and the Dial Press for the gifted early copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Molly | molls.bookshelf · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC review:

Five stars. I LOVED THIS.

ARC Review:
This is exactly what I was hoping for when I finished Songbird of the Sorrows and I am thrilled to report that the wait for Daughter of the Tempest was well worth it.

This is definitely a slower book and more sweeping and politically driven than many other new releases right now, but in the BEST way. I ate it up. This is high fantasy at its best and the fantasy elements and world building are excellent. I could spend years reading about this world.

My one qualm: I would have loved to get Lyxander's POV instead of Nyssa's. I love Nyssa, but I wasn't nearly as invested in her story as I was with Aella's. And her romance fell a bit flat for me. Not a dealbreaker by any means, and I do understand why we got her POV, but I would have loved to have more focus on the delicious slow burn unfolding elsewhere...although I loved getting to know Kal and Maxim, so I will forgive.

AND THAT SLOW BURN. I ate it up. I nearly screamed when it finally caught fire (or I should say sparked, as we've only gotten a taste). I love the MMC (Rhysand vibes, anyone?) and just know I will be feral for him in book three. Aella was finally chosen. Ugh, my heart.

Oh, and I will not be forgiving Raven. Thanks.

Thank you to NetGalley and The Dial Press for the ARC!

[Stacey | read.with.stacey · Rating 4.25 out of 5]

Thank you PRH audio for the alc and Dial Press for the e-arc 🫶

💭: I liked this one! I did find the pacing to be a bit slow at the beginning but once it picked up I became much more invested in the story. I liked how this book was written in two POVs. It really helped expand the story. Although I liked both POVs, I think I actually enjoyed the side characters POV journey a little more! I also think I preferred her romance story line 🤭. I enjoyed meeting new characters and the world expansion that happens in this one. I also liked learning more about the magic and understanding the prophecy a little bit more. A lot goes down in the last 10-15% that had me flipping pages and I cannot wait for book 3!

🎧: This book is narrated by Soneela Nankani and Imani Jade Powers in a dual style narration. One chapter is narrated by Grace Lynn Kung. I thought the audio was well done for this one. There was good pacing and the narration was clear and easy to listen to. I enjoyed the range of voices and accents as well.

[Chelsia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley for sending me an ARC of this book!

Wow what a sequel!! ⭐️ I did not expect this series to go where it went, but man I’m so pumped for how this is shaping up. It feels a little like a pivot from the first book, but I didn’t mind it.

I loved the dual POV between Nyssa and Aella. It kept the story moving and it was so interesting to follow both their journeys. The loyalty and love they have for each other was incredibly moving! 💖 it was also great to fall in love with new side characters and see how they are going to fit into this world.

On the romance, the slow burn was delicccioooussssss. I really enjoyed the slow tension building, and I ate up all the moments with longing looks and lingering touches.

All in all, I’m so invested in this world and these characters and can’t wait to see what’s next!

[Katrin · Rating 5 out of 5]

First of all, I need the biggest apology for Maxim.
Second, is Raven dead, or we’ll see him in the next book? I hope not, sorry, not sorry. I don’t like him.

What can I say? The Daughter of Tempest is a beautiful continuation of the story. I really loved the dual POV from Aella and Nyssa. I also loved that the author used the “touch her and you’ll die” trope, but with best friends. It was such a refreshing take on the story.

I really loved the way the author showed us magic in this book, and the way Aella was taught how to use it. And that moment at the end when she finally managed to transform? It was just beautiful. I’m actually really glad it didn’t happen on the first try, because Aella was learning about emotions, and she needed that emotional breakthrough. And it wasn’t triggered by jealousy, sex, or love for some man. It came from her love for her best friend, someone who is basically her sister.

But most of all, I loved Lyxander and Kallias. Hear me out. They are THE MEN.

Let’s talk about the love interests, or why you would love Kallias. And I do think he reminds me of Dorian from TOG.

“𝙈𝙖𝙮 𝙄 𝙘𝙖𝙡𝙡 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙆𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙞𝙖𝙨?”

“𝙄 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙠 𝙄 𝙥𝙧𝙚𝙛𝙚𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙨𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙙 𝙤𝙛 ‘𝙢𝙮 𝙥𝙧𝙞𝙣𝙘𝙚’ 𝙙𝙧𝙞𝙥𝙥𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙛𝙧𝙤𝙢 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙥𝙤𝙞𝙨𝙤𝙣𝙤𝙪𝙨 𝙩𝙤𝙣𝙜𝙪𝙚.”

Kallias is honestly the type of book boyfriend you could tell to bark, and he’d just ask how loud. And I absolutely love it. His storyline was beautiful. The slow burn, all those tiny moments between them, all the little touches and glances. Screaming, crying, kicking my feet.

And then there’s Lyxander. I obviously can’t say too much without getting into spoiler territory, but I absolutely loved the way their relationship developed. There’s so much tension between them, and the fact that they don’t fully trust each other makes every interaction even better. They’re forced to work together, there are secrets on both sides, and meanwhile there’s this very obvious attraction neither of them really wants to acknowledge. The slow burn was SLOW burning, and I was completely invested. Give me more of this kind of dynamic, and I will happily suffer through every single chapter.

Thank you, NetGalley, for the ARC!

[Tori · Rating 5 out of 5]

Braidee Otto, the writer you are! I’m honestly not sure how I’m supposed to recover from this one.

I applied for Braidee’s Arc Team because I knew there was something special about this story after reading Songbird of the Sorrows. The immersiveness of her writing, the way the world is steeped in myths and folklore, the characters and their enduring bonds to one another, the taste and tease of a much larger story waiting to unfold. Daughter of the Tempest is all of this and so much more — elevating the series into a story that’s impossible to put down!

I loved the addition of Nyssa’s POV! What better way to connect the events in the Sorrows to the larger world than to showcase two friends desperately trying to get back to and protect one another. Both Nyssa and Aella grow so much throughout this story - both finding themselves and cultivating enduring relationships along the way. I was equally enamored by each of their POVs and loved how every individual reveal tied back to the overarching plot. Braidee’s character development throughout this series is brilliant. Every single character, every action, every twist has a purpose. I came to care about all of them, and adored the story’s major theme of the family we choose.

And the romances? I hungered for each stolen glance, every light touch, and the brewing tension: a slowburn steadily rising to an inferno. I loved how these relationships deepened naturally over the course of the story, lending to feelings of authenticity and permanence after so much strife. I always love that shift when the romance is no longer one of the challenges, but a given, and the sense of togetherness as they face what’s to come.

It’s such a gift to be able to read this story well ahead of its release, but the wait for the conclusion is going to be excruciating. I’m already revisiting my favorite parts — every romantic glance, every challenge overcome, every devastating reveal. This is a story that lingers. I cannot wait to see what’s in store next for Aella, Nyssa, and crew!

Thank you to Braidee Otto, The Dial Press, and NetGalley for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

[Kate Victoria RescueandReading · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a stunning follow up book after Songbird of the Sorrows. You can see how much work the author put into the plot, characters, and especially the Empyrieos world building.

Things get pretty crazy fairly quickly with the two main characters Aella and Nyssa. They are each dealing with threats of spies and kingdoms, as well as their own personal problems. Their arcs were well developed and I loved seeing where each character took the readers.

There’s tons of adventure, some romance, and boatloads of intrigue. I loved that there were actually serious consequences happening based on the actions of others; actual character deaths increase the risk and the reward of all the actions taken.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and Random House/ The Dial Press for a copy!

[Monique Hall · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you Braidee and team for sending me the eARC and having me on board as a Nightwing.
Wow talk about gripping, edge of your seat stuff!
From the action, interactions between Aella and Nissa and the people around them, the tension, twists and revelations… it’s all so very good!!
Gagging for the next book!

[Deirdre · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received an eARC directly from the author via NetGalley and this is my honest review.

- ✌️dual POV
- 💕two love stories
- 🫂 best friends
- ❤️reluctant allies to lovers (for both)
- ❤️‍🩹he cleans her wound
- 🫁”breathe with me” moment
- 🏡found family
- 🪽 finding oneself
- ⁉️cliffhanger ending

Overall, this was 3 solid stars. The last 20% of the book really brought the book to 3 stars for me, whereas prior to the end I was thinking 2 stars due to the MFC’s extreme immaturity and the miscommunication trope driving the plot. The overall pacing of this book was moderate to slower, matching the character development that was needed. This book was very character and relationship driven, focusing on all the characters growing and changing. The overarching and side plots were there in the sidelines, but did not get more focus until the end. When examining the writing, the author’s writing skills definitely advanced from the previous book. Specifically, there was clear improvement in how she wrote from book one indie, to book one published, to this book. This book ended on a major cliffhanger, and I am not sure if I will read book three just yet…

As the author advertised, this book was a dual POV, but not from the Aella and Lyxander‘s POV, rather it was Aella’s and her best friend Nyssa’s POV. This was an interesting take on the story and overall a unique approach. I really enjoyed this because, as all of us readers wrote in book one’s review, we loved Nyssa. Therefore, I was delighted to have chapters from her POV. I will say that Aella’s POV occurs much more frequently, but there were many chapters from Nyssa’s to say that the story was dual POV.

Now, jumping into the story. I re-read book one in preparation for this book. If you do not do that, chapter two was from Aella’s POV and there was a very brief review of what happened in book one. This was helpful; yet I recommend skimming book one before entering into this book to know what happened and who all the characters were.

Both Aella and Nyssa’s journeys with their main love interest started as reluctant allies to lovers: Aella with Lyxander and Nyssa with prince Kallias (Aella’s brother). Aella and Nyssa then followed the same path of feeling hesitant, scared, and angry/irritated, all while needing to stay hidden and not get caught by the people hunting them. They also had the exact same path of development in their relationship with their man. Specifically, they were reluctant allies, they slowly grew closer, there would be “heat” or an intense feeling when they touched, there was banter, and, of course, they both justified why they had to push the man away and why it could never work. Then, as time progressed, they slowly grew closer and put their walls down, giving into the relationship. They both were able to bond with their male interest, such as Aella and Lyxander bonding over being tortured by Keres, and Nyssa and Kal bonding over wearing a mask and playing the game to survive, all while loving Aella. Thankfully, Nyssa and Kal finally took a different path than Aella and Lyxander, giving them some uniqueness. I really did love both their journeys and the slow development for both of them and their love interest, but they were so identical I had hoped for a little difference throughout.

In regards to Raven, thankfully, we did not have to wait long in the book for Aella and Raven to meet up, talk, and learn that they were no longer on the same page. Raven made choices that he had to live with. Then, as the book progressed, we learned more and more about him. I developed empathy and sympathy for him. Truly, in the end, I was just sad for him. I appreciated that the author took time to explain his side of the story, all while not justifying his actions. His back story made complete sense and logically explained why he betrayed Aella. Again, having this understanding did not justify it. With all of this, Raven started his redemption journey at the end, he really grew substantially, finally standing up for himself and everyone else, choosing to do the right thing. I truly hope to see him continue growing, own his role and apologize, and progress forward towards his HEA.

Now on to Aella. She had just survived kidnapping and torture by Keres, betrayal by Raven, and then Lyxander kidnapped her. As she was in book one, she was an intelligent woman who made the best of the situation. Aella was not the extremely stabby, F-you to the point of ignorance and arrogance. Yes, she was angry, traumatized, and scared with everyone and everything, leading to her being snippy, rightfully so, but she was smart enough to understand the situation and what she needed to do to survive. Again, she was not ignorant just because she was having intense emotions, and I really appreciated that. Additionally, she wasn’t so angry that she couldn’t say thank you. I get so irritated with MC‘s that are constantly ungrateful and rude, especially when someone is always being really kind towards them. Here, Aella could say thank you and that showed her level of maturity, again something I appreciated.

I also appreciated that Aella was very real, she had emotions and logic. I’m so over the MFC’s, who are only emotional or only logical. We want to read about people we can relate to as humans and the author provided that in this MFC. Aella was on a long path of growth this book, as she was so traumatized. She was very messy, flawed, and made mistakes. For example, when she saw the long feather (read the book to find out what I mean), she made a huge assumption, asked zero questions, proceeded forward with a decision because of that assumption, and shut down any conversation about feelings, all to find out her assumption was wrong and she was rash to jump to a conclusion. I LOVED that Lyxander called her out for that.

This book had some common tropes like one bed and one horse, but Aella did not fall all gooey into those tropes, which was a unique take!! For example, when Lyxander was only able to get one horse, Aella went and found herself her own animal to ride alongside him. Loved her independence!

I also really appreciated Aella’s understanding of her hypocrisy. She was not willing to share much about her life with Lyxander yet kept asking questions of him. He called her out and said that, if he’s the only one answering questions because she’s refusing to answer his questions, she’s just interrogating him. She agreed and understood that she was being a hypocrite, wanting him to share his secrets, but not willing to share hers. I have written in so many book reviews that I am so tired of the main female character being a hypocrite. It is never clear to me if the author is aware that they are writing such a hypocrite. Well, here, I was so delighted to read that the author had insight into this and wrote Aella also having insight. The time Aella did get mad at Lyxander for keeping information from her was when he withheld information about her. She didn’t get mad at him when he kept secrets that were about him, that was his private information, but she did share her thoughts and feelings when he knew information about her and did not share right away.

Now, let’s chat about Nyssa. She was a strong, fierce, goal-oriented woman. She fought for herself and those she loved. She stood up to those in power. She also was willing to admit when she was wrong and apologize. There were many similarities between Nyssa and Aella, including that they had a brother, felt abandoned, and again, her love story developed similarly to Aella’s. Nyssa was different from Aella in that she did not live in such strong denial. She did not avoid tough conversations the way Aella did. I admired that she was more assertive and used her words to communicate. I enjoyed her POV and always looked forward to Nyssa’s story continuing.

As I said in my review of book one, the addition of Titaia as Aella’s friend was fantastic. I will say the same for this book, she added so much more to the story. She was such a stable rock for Aella and she happened to be going through similar things as Aella, hiding and running from Keres. They were able to bond in a way that was different the Nyssa, which was good for Aella since she did not have strong, genuine connections to others. I loved when she challenged Aella to think about how safety is something they won’t find, they have to make it, even if scared. Titaia was similar to Nyssa in that she was more assertive in life.

Lyxander was such a great addition to the series and I loved getting to know him. I was intrigued to find out why Lyxander had been caught, that was an interesting twist to the story that I did not see coming. He was a complex character and a much better fit for Aella. He was willing to take a step Raven was not, and that was the willingness to put himself in danger for her, the same way she did for him.

I also really enjoyed getting to know Kal more. I hope more about him is explored in the next book. Since more chapters were focused on Aella and less on Nyssa, we got to know more about Kal, but there is so much more to understand.

The found family in this book was strong. Lyxander’s found family was phenomenal and provided all the support Aella needed to start healing. Then, when they showed up for her and her personal family, they really showed her what unconditional support looked like.

I was hoping and am happy to say we started to obtain more depth to the characters in this book! It started with Nyssa and learning about her past. Also, because Nyssa was living in the castle, we learned more about Aella, her brother, and their family. One thing that was lacking quite significantly in book one was depth to the characters. They had personalities, but we didn’t know why they thought, felt, or behaved the way they did. We were not given much context or nuanced details. The characters were just who they were with no depthful explanation. Therefore, I was really happy more depth was added.

As the book progressed, all characters grew, started building trust, and progressed forward. Because they were further developed, the plot was able to get more attention, triggering the pace to pick up quite substantially at 80%. This was when I couldn’t put the book down. There were some major twists and turns, many I did not see coming. We finally started to get answers to little pieces that were mysterious throughout the book.

Again, the book ended on a major cliffhanger. I really look forward to book 3!


Critiques:
I do have a few critiques to this book. I would say that, from 40-70ish%, I was not loving the story. I didn’t mind it and was hoping it would pick up, which it did, again in a fantastic way that hooked me for book three.

- First, unfortunately, I found Aella’s journey to be copy and paste of soooo many MFC’s journeys I have read the last two years. I want to be clear, her journey was not a “bad” journey, yet it was so predictable and really did not have any uniqueness to her path. Why do I say this? Aella had been traumatized, leading to her being angry/snappy, ALWAYS avoiding, denying, lying to herself, and running, and when given new information, she pushed the other person away. Many times, because she was experiencing a distressing emotion, she didn’t ask any questions and made huge assumptions. When someone would try to talk to her, she shut them down, and of course, avoided. She avoided her thoughts, memories, power, feelings.. really everything. When she was finally done with this less healthy path, she would ask for information, learn her assumptions were wrong, and start to move forward in a heathier way. Again, I appreciated that she was flawed, but I struggled with her taking the exact same path as many other MFC’s take in the romantasy genre. I really LOVE when an author breaks this storyline, particularly because many trauma survivors do not take the path written in this and many other books, yet these other ways of coping are often not represented in books. This one path of avoidance is represented, which is fantastic, but it is not the only path, but seems to be the one primarily written about.

On top of this, so many common tropes that went along with this MFC’s journey were included, making this story again match so many other stories. 1) There was an incredibly vague prophecy about Aella, which she avoided half the book 2) Aella was “the one” and she was super special, 3) she had a super special power, which she avoided and hid until someone (the MMC, like most books) challenged her to use her power and trained her, and 4) she was a princess (which we knew from book one), but we learned that she was a double princess, making her extra special. I have read so many reviews on Instagram and there seems to be a large agreement that the MFC being super magically special, “the one,” avoidant of everything, and a princess is overdone.

- Second, Aella found various reasons to not give into her feelings for Lyxander. All he wanted was to talk and she would not, heavily leaning into the miscommunication trope 😭. Aella was very juvenile in this. Her reasons for not following her feelings were so silly and could have been addressed in ONE conversation. I get that her last love traumatized her, but that wasn’t even her reasoning, it was because she ASSUMED Lyxander wouldn’t choose to leave with her when the time came (SUPRISE she was wrong… he followed her anyway) and she ASSUMED he wanted someone else (SURPRISE she was wrong… he wanted her). None of her assumptions could be challenged because she acted like a child, avoided Lyxander, and would not communicate with him. As we learned, Lyxander had to confront her and show her he did not like that other woman, he liked her, and Aella made an assumption. I was soooo bummed at how juvenile she was about this because she was written more maturely in many other parts, so to see her act like a teenager here was disappointing. Also, why couldn’t Aella be with her man, yet have to travel and be apart at times? Lyxander’s kin did it with his love, why couldn’t they? Again, none of this could be explored because she threw a few tantrums and refused to talk to Lyxander.

Poor Lyxander had also been highly traumatized for years, but at least he was trying to communicate with Aella. Aella also did not seem to learn from her mistakes in regards to her lack of communication. When she would finally have a conversation, things got better. However, the next time she needed to talk, she would not. At one point if Lyxander said he was fed up with Aella for lacking adult communication skills I would have praised him.

- Although I said that there was a lot of depth added to this book regarding the characters, I wish there had been more depth in the romantic relationships. We were given a lot of tension, banter, and individual character nuances, but the individual moments that created the romantic connection between an MFC and MMC was missing, I wanted more context and gritty details. I was hoping for more of the small moments that created a relationship beyond lust. We were given more for Aella and Lyxander when compared to Nyssa and Kal, but overall I just wanted a little bit more depth to their developing love for each other.

- Lastly, the amount of times one of the MFC’s touched their love interest and there was heat, a jolt, or a shutter from either of them was wayyyyyy overdone. And the word heat was used constantly between an MFC and MMC. This was all so redundant. The pattern and word happened so often I was able to predict when it would happen again. I am not talking 2-3 times, I am talking at least 30 or more.

[Bareeq · Rating 3.75 out of 5]

This is such an interesting series for me because I genuinely enjoy it. I enjoy the story, the characters, and the writing, which I think is excellent. But I keep coming back to the same issue: I've read other epic fantasy series that have made me feel so much more emotionally invested, and I haven't quite found that connection here.

This is an epic fantasy with a romance subplot, very much in the vein of Throne of Glass, The Ashen series, and Kissed by the Gods. And it has SO many elements I typically love in my fantasy books.

The romance tropes? Some of my absolute favorites. Bait and switch, slow burn, multiple romances, best friend's brother. I love what the author is exploring with these relationships, although I do wish we got MORE of the romance.

The found family is another highlight. The group dynamic reminded me so much of the cadre in Throne of Glass, and I especially loved the friendships between the women. There's also an interesting elemental magic system, and I appreciate how the author describes and develops it, even if the concept itself is familiar. Also love that we have multiple villains, and they're all exceptionally good at being villains, which I appreciate.

But here's where I struggle: none of these elements are things I dislike. In fact, they're precisely what draws me to epic fantasy. And I don't necessarily need a story to reinvent the wheel to love it. But when I think about the other series I've read with similar storytelling, character dynamics, and tropes, those books made me FEEL something more. I became deeply attached to the characters and invested in their journeys.

With this series, I enjoy the entire cast, but I haven't developed that same emotional attachment. And I think that's what's keeping me from loving it as much as I want to.

As for the pacing, I fully expect epic fantasy to be slower, especially when there's a larger story being built across multiple books. But the first 80% of this one did drag for me even though i understood it was essential to the character development of our FMC. I also wasn't particularly thrilled that we revisited the trials/competition element in Book 2, even if it was relatively brief. We did get one twist that genuinely surprised me, though, which I loved!

The final 20%, however? SO much better. The story really picked up, the stakes felt more immediate, and I could finally see everything building toward something. And I will give this book credit for that. As a second installment in a planned trilogy, it does a much better job of setting up the final book than some other fantasy sequels I've read.

Ultimately, I think this is a well-written and enjoyable epic fantasy series with strong friendships, compelling villains, and romance tropes I adore. I can appreciate all of those things while also recognizing that it hasn't quite captured me emotionally.

Will I read Book 3? Maybe! I'm certainly curious about how everything will come together. But am I rushing to pick it up? Probably not. There are other epic fantasies I'm more eager to get to, and I think that says a lot about where I stand with this series.

A good book and a solid sequel, just not one that's left me desperate for more.

[Cocobeans · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought Songbird of the Sorrows was my undoing. Turns out, Braidee Otto was only getting STARTED! 🗡️😭

📖✨ Daughter of the Tempest ✨
🧚🏻‍♀️ Braidee Otto
📚 Myths of the Empyrieos #2

⚠️ This review may contain spoilers for Book 1. So proceed with caution! 🫶🏻

✨ I ARC read SotS long back, & it absolutely CONSUMED me!! I genuinely thought nothing could make me love this series more.

AND THEN CAME DotT!!!

& oh my freaking GODS! I AM NOT OKAY!! 😭

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐✨ ALL THE STARS & THEN SOME!!

I didn't think I could love Aella more, but here we are!! Watching this fierce, witty, utterly lovable woman grow, unravel the mysteries of her origins, discover the depths of her powers & FINALLY start coming into her own was EVERYTHING!

& XAN?!

OH. MY. GODS. XAAAN!!! 🥵❤️‍🔥

SIR, THE HOLD YOU HAVE ON MY HEART IS GETTING RIDICULOUS!!

I was already intrigued by him in the first book, but NOW?! I AM OBSESSED!

The chemistry between Aella & Xan : OFF THE FREAKING CHARTS! The tension, the yearning, the banter, THE SLOW BURNN

& THE NICKNAMES?!

Every single time they came up, I was giggling, kicking my feet & basically turning into a puddle of goo!

& THEN ENTER NYSSA & HER PRINCE!

Nyssa's POV was incredible!

AND THAT SIZZLING HATE-TO-LOVE ROMANCE WITH THE PRINCE?! ABSOLUTELY DELICIOUS!

Braidee has this incredible ability to create a world that doesn't just pull you in, it makes you want to LIVE THERE!! The magic, the characters, the emotions, the relationships... everything feels so wonderfully ALIVE!!

& the EMOTIONAL DAMAGE?!

GOOD LORD!😭

This book made me laugh, cry, swoon, giggle, cry some more, fall in love, have my heart SHATTERED into a million pieces, painstakingly glued it back together

ONLY TO BREAK IT ALL OVER AGAIN!

THE AUDACITY😭💔

And yet I would willingly put myself through all that pain IN A FREAKING HEARTBEAT!

I loved EVERY. SINGLE. MOMENT. of this breathtakingly beautiful story!

SotS made me fall in love with this world.

DotT made me realise I NEVER WANT TO LEAVE IT!! 🥹

Thank you SO much @braideeottobooks, netgalley and The Dial Press for giving me the opportunity to ARC read another masterpiece in what has become one of my absolute FAVOURITE romantasy series EVER! 🫶🏻✨

[Kelsea Wolf · Rating 5 out of 5]

Of course my first read after Goodreads gives us half stars is a 6 star read. Scratch that - infinity stars

I think it’s safe to say this is my top read of 2026 and I would argue potentially one of my favorite books of all time. I have been chasing the high that ACOMAF gave me since it’s been published and this book scratched an itch so deep in my brain I didn’t think it was possible!

Our story picks up shortly after the cliffhanger of book one. Aella has been taken by Xan and Nyssa has to go into hiding. Aella and Xan make a bargain, and Kallias and Max take in Nyssa for hiding.

This is a romantic fantasy series - so it’s very plot forward. Both POVs keep you invested - Aella is trying to learn about her background and find her way back to Nyssa while Nyssa tries to neutralize the threat in the Sorrows.

We’ve got reluctant allies, hidden powers, secrets and betrayals, “he trains her,” banter, nicknames, “eyes on me” and one of the BEST spicy scenes (albeit the only spicy scene 🤣) that I’ve ever read. Prophecies come into play, a taste of deadly trials, and a whirlwind ending / cliffhanger that leaves you begging for book 3. Oh I also sobbed and raged.

A huge thank you to Braidee and Random House / Dial Press for the gifted eARC. This series needs to jump straight to the top of your TBR!

[Teresa · Rating 4.25 out of 5]

✨𝒜𝑅𝒞 & 𝒜𝐿𝒞 𝑅𝑒𝓋𝒾𝑒𝓌✨
📖🎧: Daughter of the Tempest (Myths of the Empyrieos, Book 2)
🎙️: Grace Lynn Kung, Soneela Nankani, Imani Jade Powers

After freeing a mysterious prisoner, Aella is on the run from the Aviary. She left everything behind but will do anything to get back to her chosen sister and Nyssa would do anything to protect Aella, even if it means putting herself at risk.

Tropes:
🎙️Multi POV/dual narration
🫂Found family
⚠️Spies, assǟssins, royals
🏛️Greeth myth inspired
💪🏻Fierce & fragile FMC
💫Epic fantasy
🤫Secrets & lies
❤️‍🔥Slow burn romance

I was overjoyed to return to this world! The author builds on the foundation of what we thought we knew about Empyrieos and the Aviary. The narrators skillfully channel the intrigue and suspense of the story and each character’s desperation and silent longing.

Both heroines continue to uncover secrets, navigate betrayals, and face corrupt adversaries seeking control and power. I love the romantic storylines and was equally captivated by the sisterhood between Aella and Nyssa. Brimming with lore, mystery, and thrilling magic, Daughter of the Tempest had me spellbound from beginning to end!

So thankful to @PRHAudio for the #gifted audio listening copy and to The Dial Press and Netgalley for the advanced review copy! This is my honest and voluntary review.

[SunnyReadsWithRex (Sonia) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you Braidee Otto, Netgalley and Penguin Aus for the opportunity to read and review Book 2 of the Myths of the Empyrieos, Daughter of the Tempest (DOTT)


DOTT picks up right where book 1, Songbird of the Sorrows (SOTS) finishes, there are 2 POVs from 2 female main characters whose bond and determination rival the sisters of Demi Winters Ashen Series. I loved Aella and Nyssa from SOTS they are both reckless, headstrong, fiercely loyal and protective of each other. Best friends who would do anything for each other, the kind of friend you call to move a body.


Braidee once again weaves her magical writing captivating you with her story telling, drawing you into the world of Empyrieos, the mystery of the quests both FMCs were on to stay hidden but seek their own truth, discovering who they are meant to be, the found family, forced proximty and slow burn romance had me turning pages late into the night. I was relaxing and enjoying the story and then bam the last 20% had me on the edge of my seat as twists and betrayals had my eyes leaking and my feet kicking. This was book 2 done right.


I can't wait to see how it ends. 


🕊️Found family 

⚔️Betrayals

🪽Twisted Truths, Secrets and hidden identity 

🫐 Slow burn romance 

🛏️ Forced proximity/one bed

🔥 Fierce FMC


5 ⭐ 🌶️ 🫐 🫐 🫐 🫐 


Favourite quote: too many to list but I did like this one.

"She bites, Now take your hand off my wife, or I will too"


• 🫐 Is the amount of blueballs the slow burn gave me

[AOKayy · Rating 4.5 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley, Random House, Dial Press, and Braidee Otto for the ARC of Daughter of the Tempest!

This is book 2 in the Myths of Empyrieos series and is out now!

I am so grateful to have received ARCs of both books in this series! This has been such a great fantasy debut, and I cannot wait to see how it all wraps up in the final book!

Picking up where book 1 left off, this story had me asking SO many questions after that cliffhanger! We get dual POVs this time around, including Nyssa’s perspective. I wasn’t sure how I felt about this at first since she wasn’t my favorite character in book 1, but I completely changed my tune as the story went on. It was great to learn more about her and see her growth, and the added romance and betrayal made things even more interesting!

This felt like a classic book two, expanding the world, magic, and the beings within this universe while setting the stage for what’s to come. Without giving anything away, there were so many unexpected developments that I did not see coming, and the direction this story took has me even more excited for book 3!

If you enjoy fantasy filled with unexpected twists, forbidden romance, hidden identities, and prophecies, definitely add this series to your TBR!

[Rebecca · Rating 4.5 out of 5]

“Spy. Thief. Princess. Songbird… Each a title. Each a burden. Each one etched into me like a scar - never chosen, only endured.”

✨ Dual POV
✨ Found family
✨ Slow burn
✨ Political intrigue

Okay, I think this one might actually be even better than book one.

The stakes are definitely higher, the world gets so much bigger, and we get SO much more lore and backstory. I loved getting to see more of the world outside of Aella’s original story and watching everything start to connect.

And the dual POV was such a good choice. Aella and Nyssa are both absolute badasses, but in completely different ways, and I loved getting both of their perspectives.

“Cowards don’t need blades to wound; they only need silence when it matters most. That is one of the cold, harsh truths the world has taught me.”

The found family was also a huge highlight for me. The relationships between the characters are getting deeper, and I loved watching these little groups of people become something much bigger than any of them expected.

Then we have the two slow burns.

Aella and Lyxander? 👀

“There is no rule, no custom, no fate I would not bend or break for you, Stormwind.”

And Nyssa and Kallias? Also 👀

“He looks like a fallen painting - too beautiful to burn, too broken to restore. All sharp lines and rumpled grace, like ruin trying to remember it was once royalty.”

I was invested in BOTH, which frankly feels like a personal attack when I now have to wait for the next book.

“Only a blind man wouldn’t see the tempest raging in your eyes.”

Overall, this was everything I wanted from the sequel. Higher stakes, bigger worldbuilding, more lore, two brilliant FMCs, found family and two painfully slow romances that I am absolutely here for.

And after that ending, I need to know what happens next.

Chaos, vibes and opinions are all my own ✨ please give credit if you share.

[Desiree · Rating 4.5 out of 5]

I really liked this! I think I enjoyed it slightly more than book 1.
The dual pov was so fun and this book starts basically where book one ended. Aellas POVs helped evolve her character, she started questioning more things and instead of being fully stubborn she leaned into Lyxander and allowed him to be her rock at times. And Lyxander? Phewww new book bf! He’s quiet but sturdy and I can’t wait to get more of him.
Nyssa, omg I love her! And her plus Kallias?! Their banter was cracking me up, and her friendship with Maxim made me love them so much more. Nyssa is clever and sneaky but blunt so I really enjoyed us getting first hand her pov.
This book is also fairly action packed, it’s not constant but I think this book answered some questions while leaving a lot unanswered that I’m looking forward to in the next book!
If you liked Songbird of the Sorrows you’re going to love this one too!
This book is filled with tension, longing, flirting, banter, found family, and an action packed ending.
I can’t wait for book three!
Thank you so much Random House for the arc!

[simply_readss · Rating 5 out of 5]

When the first book was good, but the second book was BETTER!!

What a crazy a$$ ride this book was! The chokehold it had on me! The world. The characters. One peculiar MMC 🤭🤭 (sorry, I have a fave!)

This was dual POVs that followed two FMCs and I LOVED both of them equally 🥹🥹 The struggles they've gone through, the men who came into their lives, and their individual journeys had me so invested.

The book was fast-paced, edge-of-my-seat writing style, and had an incredible storyline, I need book 3 asap!! 😭😭

HIGHLY RECOMMEND!!

Thank you so much Random House | The Dial Press and NetGalley for the ARC!!

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

(Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC, views are my own)

This book jumps straight in after book one. I thought I would be a bit lost as it has been a while since I read it, but chapter two has a short recap as Aella comes to and the memories hit her. I liked how this was done.

Nyssa has a prominent voice as an additional point of view. I was rooting for her through a lot of this, and was so sad about what she witnessed.

I genuinely liked the characters and their friendships. The yearning, the touches, the real connections.

[Morgan Rae · Rating 5 out of 5]

THIS IS HOW YOU DO A SEQUEL! Wow when book 2 hits even harder! This slow burn Epic Romantic Fantasy series has me in a chokehold and I desperately need the next book! I loved the new POVs we got and the expansion of the lore in this world, I honestly did not know what direction things were going to go. We get a lot of action, new relationships, more betrayals, complex politics and some adorable animal companions. Braidee continues to hone her craft and I cant wait for whats next!!

Thank you to the author, Random House and netgalley for this arc opportunity.

[Beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such an underhyped romantasy series!! I need more people talking about it.

Both books 1 and 2 have been 5 star reads for me, and book 2 absolutely does NOT suffer from second-book syndrome or feel like filler. The stakes get higher, the story keeps you hooked, and we get two budding romances following two FMCs who are best friends. It's a total page-turner with so much to love!

Tropes & vibes:
✦ Dual best friends FMCs
✦ Two slow-burn romances
✦ High stakes and danger
✦ Found family
✦ Immersive fantasy world

A MUST-READ series for romantasy lovers. If you haven't picked this one up yet, consider this your sign to add it to your TBR! 🌪️

[Anne Wollstein · Rating 5 out of 5]

This series is becoming one of my absolute favorites. This second book was so good and there’s so much going on that you’re never bored. I love the new MMC and his relationship with Aella. I also loved that we got to know Nyssa more and see her relationship with Kallias grow. There’s so many great characters in this book and so many twists and turns. I can’t wait to see what happens in the next book

Thank you NetGalley and Random House for sending me this ARC

[Samantha Bailey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the early copy of this book.

Phew, what a ride!!! This is a fantastic sequel. The world building is so beautiful and I was loving the dual timelines. I also really enjoyed the deepening of the characters and the new romances that emerged. Lastly, the ending was so very diabolical…I am still shook! If you were hesitant about this series before now, don’t be…it’s just getting better and better.

[Jodi | more.time.2read · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you Random house for my ARC and the PRH Audio team for my #gifted ALC!

When book one is good, but book two is even better, and although it’s been a few days since I finished, I’m still thinking about this series!

This story is told from 3 female POVS, which gives us perspective from different parts of the kingdom. I spotted a new romance brewing immediately, with how combative the male character was with the female character, and when he nicknamed her after how she tasted when they had to kiss for a cover-up - I knew he was a goner! (LOVE this development)

I don’t want to say much more about the story because it needs to unfold for everyone in time, but it was crafted beautifully. The found family remind me of the ACOTAR Inner circle, and there’s a symbolic gesture I’m OBSESSED with.

Grab this series, it’s a HIDDEN GEM!

Romance Content: open-door

[closed-door modification: open-door spice in ch 34]

[meg *ੈ✩‧₊˚ (semi ia) · Rating 4.25 out of 5]

thank you to netgalley and the publishers for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review!

this was a beautiful sequel to a romantasy and truly cannot wait for the next one!

this picks up exactly where we left off in book one with no time jumps. i love that we also got Nyssa's POV this time around with them being separated and being intrigued and pulled into both POV's.

I will admit the book started off great and then I felt everything suddenly slowed down for a moment (more cause obviously needing it and it makes sense) and then next thing i know, there was SO MUCH SUSPENSE UNTIL THE END!