Sharpest Court

Thorn Season #2

by Kiera Azar

Sequel to the instant #1 New York Times bestseller!

Shadow and Bone meets The Selection in this second book in the sharp, sexy, and twisty #1 New York Times bestselling romantasy trilogy about a teen girl in possession of an illegal magic, who joins her kingdom’s harsh and glittering royal court only to find herself caught in a web of hidden intentions.

Alissa has defied the odds, escaping her kingdom—and King Erik’s clutches—with the coveted Spellmade compass. Burdened by guilt over her old friend Garret’s sacrifice, and struggling with her own growing power, she vows to destroy the compass before it can harm any more Wielders.

But when she lands in the Wielder-ruled kingdom of Ansora, she finds herself pulled again into Keil’s orbit—and into the political landscape of a nation at war. Fearing Erik’s reach, and his wrath, Alissa has no choice but to accept when the formidable Empress of Ansora offers her protection…at a very steep price.

As Alissa dons the vicious mask of a courtier once more, she and Keil delve secretly into the compass’s sinister nature, and also delve tentatively into a relationship free from King Erik’s hovering presence. But Erik is closer than they realize, and as Alissa grows even more uncertain of her place in Ansora, she must decide whether protecting the compass—and protecting Wielders everywhere—is worth losing all she holds dear. And whether trusting fellow Wielders might be the most dangerous move of all.

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

Kindle Edition

Expected publication November 3, 2026

About the author

Kiera Azar is a half-Lebanese and half-Indian writer, born and raised in Surrey. She has a first-class honours degree in Biomedical Science and a background in acting, singing and songwriting. Kiera is forever excited by all the books she hasn’t yet read, the music she hasn’t yet discovered, and the story ideas she hasn’t yet had.

Reviews

[Evangeline Jean]

Call me sick but I want an Aaron Warner kind of enemies-to-lovers with Erik. So excited I need this book NOW! EEEEEKKK

[hater ★]

make it angsty pleaaaase i wanna suffer

[carissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

i already know this book is gonna DESTROY ME im so excited AHHHHH

[🌷Holly]

Pre-release I just finished the first!!! It's was so good! I feel like garret is going to have some sort of redemption but Keil better be end game. That's not a request, its a demand. 😁

[Clara (bookish_clara) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I honestly loved this book so much and it was an amazing sequel. I loved Thorn Season but Sharpest Court was even better. The author managed to deliver a more immersive, engaging story without making me feel overwhelmed with everything that was happening and it certainly put me through every emotion possible.

The story and further plot development is wonderfully done and gave a second book that is full of tension, political intrigue, new places to visit, a slow burn romance that had me in a chokehold and supporting characters that only enhanced what was an interesting story and imaginative world to start with.

What I loved the most was how beautifully written and crafted the main characters are and that still includes one of the best villains I've ever been introduced to but also an FMC who is so determined and fierce and full of humour a really sweet but also strong and protective MMC who both have such wonderfully written stories and at times have to make a lot of hard and painful decisions and none more so than not being together when it is so plain to see how much they care for each other but the need to protect each other is their main focus. Their story is a pure slow burn romance with the most beautiful yearning and with so much longing between them that I was literally waiting and praying for them to give in.

This series is so beautifully written, it's vividly atmospheric and dark, magical and intense and with some of the best revelations and twists and even more so with this second book. The ending has me so excited for the next book and to see how everything unfolds further though it also has me equally scared.

Thank you so much to the publisher for the gorgeous proof to read and review ahead of publication.

[Amber · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a fun read!

To be honest, I read Thorn Season and was a little underwhelmed. I remember liking it enough to want to read the sequel, but it wasn’t high on my radar.

Well, Sharpest Court far exceeded any expectations I had for this series. The plot was intricate and well woven; a few things happened that I didn’t expect but they weren’t out of left field. I was surprised in the moment, but I could think back over the course of both books and see where it connected, ya know?

And just a heads up for the romance fans: It’s a slowwwwwwwwwwwww burn with plenty of yearning; and by slow, I mean there’s little to no payoff in book 2…but onward to book 3 we go!🫡

(Also, I know Erik is the bad guy, but if bad guy, why attractive shaped??? 😭)

Big thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the chance to read the advanced digital copy. Can’t wait to read the finale!

[ellie]

1/1/26

GIVE IT TO ME AHHH!! october 2026 i will be waiting for you 🙂‍↕️🙂‍↕️

[✞𝑳𝒆𝒙𝒊☕︎]

Pre - Release ! 🪻


OKAY THIS COVER IS GORGEOUS😍🙏🙏

And uh- why is everyone Team Erik?😭 PLEASE KEIL IS THE ONE FOR HER GUYS IDC IF HES BLAND PLEASE🥺🙏

SO READY FOR THIS BOOK TO COME OUT HEHEHEHEEH🤭🤭🤭

[kat · Rating 4 out of 5]

'ill take a side of yearning please' recieves a whole table full of yearning instead...

this was so incredibly fun!! happy to announce that this book blissfully doesnt fall victim to middle book syndrome, in fact it just got even better!

full review to come 💜

[angelinabvby ۶ৎ]

✨ 𝖆𝖗𝖈 𝖆𝖓𝖓𝖔𝖚𝖓𝖈𝖊𝖒𝖊𝖓𝖙 ✨
ARC...










APPROVED

[Daffodils_and_books · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved Thorn Season and Sharpest Court exceeded every expectation that I had. I am so obsessed with this story and the characters. I loved seeing the world building expand and Alissa’s worldview expand with it. The magic system is so unique and I appreciate how Alissa is shown struggling with wielding (and how it relates to her trauma), instead of instantly mastering her spectre and being over powered. Each character is complex and I loved seeing their back stories unfold and how their relationships with Keil and each other become real with the masks off. (I’m definitely rooting for some characters to be together.) Sharpest Court isn’t even released yet and I can’t wait for book three.

Thank you to HarperCollins Children’s Books for an ARC edition of the ebook.

[brontësaurus]

pre-read
suffering? sounds fun.

[Olivia💜🗡️ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley and publishers for gifting me this arc!

Oh my gosh. Where do I even start? I guess I have to start with how I felt finishing this book. BECAUSE TRUST THAT I AUDIBLY GASPED. I FREAKING LOVE OUR FMC!!!! SHE IS SUCH A BADDIE AND IM SO PROUD OF HER!!

ANYWAYS, let’s actually get into this very chaotic review(you have all been warned).

Like I said before, I genuinely do not know where to start because I absolutely DEVOURED this book. And I was so surprised because I loved Thorn Season, butttttt, i definitely love this book SO MUCH MORE! The world that we are exploring expanded way farther than I even expected. I loved being able to see the different places that we hadn’t been able to experience in the first book and I felt like it made everything so much more complex.

AND DO NOT EVEN GET ME STARTED ON THE CHARACTERS. I WILL GENUINELY DEFEND THEM WITH MY LIFE. I would talk about each of them individually, but alas, we would be here all day, and I know that you don’t want to be here all day. Just know that I freaking LOVE LOVE LOVE THEM SO MUCH!!!!

Okay, the last thing I will discuss is the fact that Kiera Azar DID NOT HOLD BACK. THE PLOT TWISTS IN THIS BOOK?!? I CANT EVEN BEGIN TO DESCRIBE HOW SHOCKED I WAS. Everytime that I thought I was in the clear, BOOM, another plot twist.

Safe to say, I loved this book, and all of you need to order and read thorn season, and if you already have, THEN PREORDER THIS BOOK A.S.A.P.

[Erin Dunn · Rating 5 out of 5]

✨YESSS✨

I absolutely LOVED Thorn Season so I knew I had to read book 2!!

I really loved Sharpest Court as well! The plot twists are fantastic, the political intrigue is amazing, and the sloooow burn is so good!! I absolutely love Alissa and Keil’s characters!

I definitely recommend this series if you’re looking for a Romantasy that’s a little darker, and with a lot more depth and political intrigue vs a super spicy & fluffy Romantasy.

This series is just so well written and especially with that ending, 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 November 3, 2026 .

[Sunah Wildhaber · Rating 5 out of 5]

NETGALLEY ARC REVIEW:

If I thought book 1 (Thorn Season) was good then book 2 (Sharpest Court) was GREAT. I don’t think I fully understood what I was getting myself into when I signed up for this series. Halfway through, and I’m being so honest here, I was gasping every other chapter and balling my eyes out at the other chapters.

Between finally seeing Alissa come into her own with her power, getting a secret power reveal, a secret character identity reveal, a deep yearning that we STILL don’t see a full resolution to, a tyrant king, and so so much more; I just don’t know where my thoughts begin and end with this story. We’re not finished finding out what happens and obviously I want book 3 now and I don’t want to wait for it but alas, I must be patient and wait now.

If you want political intrigue, intrinsic powers, tyrant rulers, a slow-burn romance for the ages and secrets around every corner, then I’m telling you this series is for you. I implore you to read it even!

[Athena Freya Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

A STUNNER!

Thorn Season was the best YA fantasy I read last year, and Kiera Azar continues delivering another brilliant installment in this series.

Alissa is thrown into courts and places where her privilege means nothing anymore, so she gets to survive on her competence and grit (and well Keil). She has always been headstrong and felt invincible but in this book we see her insecurities and her trauma. She has a lot to recover from, and many events and people to recover from. It takes a while but she regains her fortitude and finds a new version of strength, a strength in her newly discovered spectre but also strength in herself regardless of her spectre.

Keil is literally the greenest flag of green flags. He is the heart of their group and the heart of these books in my opinion. He is just so good, so awe inspiring, and he leads the way for the Green Flag Movement lol.

The plot is twisty and the author expands our world so we meet Ansora and other places without overwhelming us with politics. The court intrigue is actually very refreshing since the Ansorran court is quite unlike other courts we've met.

Absolutely love this series and these characters! I recommend it to anyone I talk to. Kiera Azar is an autobuy author for me, and I cannot wait to see what other worlds and characters she comes up with.

[Francesca · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love when sequels manage to keep the momentum going instead of being letdowns. Sharpest Court brings us to some new locations and ups the ante with the political scheming. I love the new characters we were introduced to along with some familiar faces showing up again and a possible romance between side characters 👀 I really love how YA and NA novels have a heavier emphasis on plot. Excited to see how things conclude in the next book.

Thank you Netgalley and Harper Collins for a copy of this ARC. All opinions are my own.

[Melodie Infinger]

Honestly...I'm trembling...
Okay, so I get Erik is toxic...but if he has a redemption, I'm done for because WOW. Also, Keil is too basic and Garret is um...forgettable. ERIK GIVES OFF DARKLING HAD A BABY WITH AARON WARNER, AND I LOVE IT UGH.

After re-reading I dont think Keil is as basic and do believe Erik needs some help. Would still like to see a redemption arc but would be happy if she ended up with Keil too!!!

[gung-ho_reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my favorite sequel since an anticipated release of mine from Thorn Season and it absolutely surpassed expectations! Alissa was an epic main character and continued to highlight her flaws not wanting to use her power due to trauma whilst using her strength here with political manouvering. I enjoyed getting to know the side characters and group we met previously specifically Goren and also getting Perla back was brilliant. The budding development between them two is interesting as well and I'm rooting for it.

Now to the main plot, Alissa and Keil (and everyone else) trying to take down Erik. Erik looming over the narrative as he should makes me believe he is relevant to more than just being defeated i.e. his connection with Alissa - they're going to be together because I see the vision of her reining him in especially as his history and background to him being the way he is lends to character development for the next installament. I loved the chemistry between them especially the scene where he had captured her. Erik is such a fascinating character reminiscent of Aaron Warner and his redemption because the depth of his feelings and actions are written well which I imagine will be expanded on.

So yes Alissa go back to your home in Daradon and sort your man out please also the whole reveal of Erik's father was fantastic and the final note that she will take him down has me reeling. I can't wait for the finale!!

In my rambles- I realise I haven't touched on the Alissa/Keil romance because there was no depth and I found them boring so I'm firmly on Team Erik as a character and romantic partner despite trying to enjoy Keil even though I highly doubt he will be the endgame because he doesn't understand Alissa

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

✨ARC Review✨

"I know it all. And the knowing has only made me want you more."

THE LINES THAT KEIL HAS...this man is perfection. The understanding. The vulnerability. The unwavering loyalty and trust. The LOVE. The PATIENCE... yes.

I will admit, the beginning of this book had me a little scared. I adored "Thorn Season" so much, one of my top reads, so when the beginning of this books flow felt a little off and I wasn't connecting as much to it I was scared. But I think it found itself in the middle and the ending was intense.

I liked where the story went, I liked the progression of the friendships and relationships. I liked seeing this new side of the world, and the new characters better. It was REALLY depressing at the end though, our group could NOT catch a break, and although it felt like years of my life were cut from the stress... I think it's realistic in that war is not easy, and battles are not easy, and there is trials that will happen where we won't always win. SO ulitmately I did enjoy it.

I LOVED Lye and Goren and Perla and the whole group really. Seeing all their personalities shine was so fun, the group scenes were incredibly entertaining and everyone really had their own voice and presence, it was great.

SPEAKING OF PRESENCE... KEIL... Oh... my... lanta... This man is perfection. The lines he has, the chemistry between him and Alissa... the tension... 10/10. BUT Alissa needs to stop living in fear and just LOVE HIM LOUDLY AND PROUDLY! She has a LOT of making up to do and love to show our boy... cause MAN does he deserve it!

With how this book ends I am chomping at the bit for the next book. I feel we are going to be seeing another side of Alissa, more sneaking and acting and I am so ready for it. I wanna see Erik ON HIS KNEES BEGGING... but not in a good way.

Thank you so much for the ARC!

[Stacyfrancesreads · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read Sharpest Court as part of a readalong with Tandem Collective UK and absolutely loved it. It was an absolute rollercoaster from start to finish, and I can’t award it anything other than 5 stars.

Sharpest Court is the sequel to Thorn Season and is a romantasy filled to the brim with court politics, a really unique magic system, and plot twists.

There were so many things I loved about this book: Alissa’s fight for autonomy, her relationship with Keil, the way that Erik becomes an infinitely more complicated villain, and above all else, the found family. The mystery surrounding the compass kept me hooked too. There was so much going on within the action-packed plot, but the characters also had time to breathe and grow, and for that reason, I’d say that this is a sequel done right.

I loved Alissa’s journey throughout Sharpest Court as she learned what it truly means for someone to be powerful. She continually refuses to yield and bow down to those who, in theory, should be considered more “powerful” than she is.

“Who were these men to teach me anything?”

She also came to the realisation that she is more than just her spectre; she’s intelligent, resilient, compassionate, and able to manipulate people, and all these are forms of power, too.

“Nobody was coming to save me… It didn’t matter. I would be enough.”

Alissa never lets go of her dream to return home to Daradon, despite the circumstances of her leaving in the first place, and she starts to choose her own next move instead of simply escaping other people’s plans.

The romance between Keil and Alissa remains one of my favourite parts of this series, and Sharpest Court did not let me down here either. They kept their banter and chemistry, but they also became softer and more emotionally open with one another than in Thorn Season.

"You can let go, Alissa. For one hour, one day - for however long you need. You can put down your sword, and I will pick it up until you're ready to fight again. And I know you'll do the same for me. Because that is how this works.”

Keil often recognises Alissa’s struggles and helps ground her, without ever making her feel like she’s incapable. For example, he provides her with a key to open the doors because he knows that she can’t stand to feel trapped inside after being imprisoned by Erik. He coaxes her through a panic attack when the roses trigger her memory of being in the prison in Daradon. Alissa worries that he doesn’t really know her, as he hasn’t seen the darkest parts of her, but he does; he knows her, and he wants her anyway.

“I know you, with your barbed words and your thoughtfulness. Your dry humour and your brilliant insights. I know you operate from a place of strength time and time again, even when you feel you're at your lowest. I know the sound of your laughter from across a room and the shape of your smile against my mouth. I know it all, Alissa, and the knowing has only made me want you more.”

Alissa spends the majority of Sharpest Court fighting against people trying to control her, but Keil represents something totally different: she doesn’t need him to have strength or to survive, but she chooses him anyway.

“I am not saying that you need me. I am saying that you have me anyway.”

Which brings me to Erik, who desperately wants to be chosen by Alissa, and in doing so, removes her choice. Keil, however, leaves her free to walk away, meaning that her choice to stay means something more.

“You’re free to leave. You always have been.”

Erik gave me a lot to unpack in this sequel. He’s still controlling, possessive, and abusive, but we learn much more about his background in Sharpest Court, and although what he does isn’t right, you at least gain an insight into why he thinks and behaves the way he does. Something huge came to light that completely reframed his history and why he’s obsessed with Alissa. And whilst his feelings for her appear to be genuine, it doesn’t excuse his behaviour towards her. Erik knows her very well and continuously weaponises her compassion towards others, which only made me dislike him even more.

“I know how to break you.”

Then we have Perla, who in my opinion, has one of the strongest side character developments in this book. I adored watching her go from the rivalry she had in Thorn Season with Alissa, to fighting with her and standing at her side. The oath band storyline was really well done, and I loved watching her reclaim her autonomy alongside Alissa. She also had such a brilliant sense of humour.

“I don’t just want to be there when he falls, Alissa. I want to help you push him.”

I won’t lie, I was chomping at the bit for the scenes with Perla and Goren because I LOVED the tension between them as it continued to ramp up as we went through the book. The blade-between-the-legs scene had me howling, the tension was tension-ing, but amidst all of this, I loved the small moments when they began to understand one another more deeply following the oath band storyline. Whilst nothing romantic actually happened between the two, unless we count some lingering touches, antagonistic banter, and Goren killing the soldier holding Perla, the chemistry and tension were insane, so I am absolutely hoping that book three delivers on this because I would eat it up!

“Nobody should own the key to your freedom but you.”

Aside from the tension with Perla, we got to learn more about Goren’s backstory, which gave him much more emotional weight. Learning about everything from his Orrenish imprisonment and being viewed as nothing more than a beast/weapon, to Keil being the soldier who ignored his commander’s orders and came to save him, helped me understand why Goren’s loyalty to Keil is so fierce.

“Soldiers do not abandon each other. Yet I abandoned you. It will not happen again.”

After Thorn Season, I was desperate for more of Lye, and Sharpest Court definitely delivered on that. He’s still here to provide the comic relief, but he’s also loyal, useful, and genuinely heroic. I was crying laughing when, after saving Alissa, he piped up with, “What are friends for if not occasional mouth-to-mouth?” because, of course, he did! It was really lovely to see his friendship with Alissa strengthen throughout this book.

I really liked Valeria, too; she was sharp and composed. However, when she was clearly devastated by someone’s betrayal, her affection for them never made her excuse what they’d done. She had some absolutely excellent dry lines.

“The gods would have had better aim.”

I just loved seeing this group become people Alissa could rely on.

As I mentioned before, the magic system in Sharpest Court and Thorn Season is truly one of the most unique I’ve ever come across. The Wielders’ spectres are 100% one of my favourite aspects of this series, and this sequel expanded on the lore nicely. Dullroot became really significant, and its history was much darker than I’d perhaps expected. Different characters had varying relationships with their power. For example, I really liked that Zeke was allowed the space to choose what he did with his Wielding, rather than just being forced into using it, or using dullroot to suppress it. There was some great lore included around Saxon and Piper, the Unbreakable Blade, the compass, Hollows, and “Gods cannot stand alone.”
One of the later reveals made certain things make sense about the compass and some contradictions in its sightings, and it felt really satisfying as the clues had definitely been there all along.

“There is a great deal of power inside you. Never fear it. And when the time is right, use it.”

There was one relationship in particular in which Alissa placed an enormous amount of trust, and when the betrayal finally hit, it really hurt to see Alissa struggle to believe that all the prior kindness they’d shown towards her had been fake. I did, however, love the idea that affection and terrible choices can coexist. There was such an interesting sense of inherited damage laced through later revelations and ideas about strength, pain, and when someone should “yield” started to echo in ways that had me looking back at Erik’s earlier scenes differently.

I also really liked the quieter thread running through the book about what actually makes somewhere home. Ansora might have been safer for Alissa, but that didn’t automatically make it hers, and I loved watching her feelings towards Daradon shift from wanting a home that might not want her back to simply claiming it as hers anyway.

“I want my home. Even if it doesn’t yet want me.”

“Daradon is my home. I’ll find a way back in eventually.”

The final chapters of the book kept delivering revelation after revelation, which made earlier lore click, especially in relation to the compass. The ending leaves Alissa in a completely different position from where she was at the beginning of the book, having fled Daradon; she’s no longer reacting to Erik or escaping someone else’s plans. Instead, she’s deciding for herself what she will do next. I absolutely loved the way that something that once symbolised Erik’s control over her becomes something she now uses to her advantage – go on, girl! – with the final decision to return to Daradon feeling very much like a full-circle moment, considering the theme of home throughout Sharpest Court.

“I’m going to walk right through the door”

When I finished, I felt like I needed book three immediately because what do you mean it ended there?! I’ll be impatiently awaiting news of the release of the final book in the trilogy and hoping that my Goren/Perla theory finally goes somewhere too. This is how you do a sequel!

Thank you so much to Tandem Collective UK for having me as part of the readalong, and to HarperFire and Kiera Azar for sending me a beautiful physical copy of Sharpest Court in exchange for my honest opinions.

[ryliekate_reads · Rating 3.5 out of 5]

Review of Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley and HarperCollins Children’s Books.
Publication Date: November 3, 2026

Approximately 3.5 stars!
Firstly, oh my goodness, Lysander!!! He is officially my favorite character in this series; I loved him so much 🥰 Also, a certain stony someone (don’t want to spoil!) who truly grows on you as the story goes along. And Valeria— her kindness and strength is so beautiful! Now, Erik… I feel horrible for him, but that does not negate the fact that he is an immensely cruel and manipulative (and, frankly, sadistic) person. Much like Snow in THG.
The characters as a whole did have more depth than in the first book, and it was so wonderful to get to know them better! The plot truly held intrigue set against a glittering yet deadly court full of alliances who might just be the enemy. The narrative wraps around you as secrets upon secrets are unveiled, keeping you questioning all you have learned of the kingdom at every turn. My goodness, the twists!!! Some were easy to catch, but some came entirely out of left field. The last 40-35% of the book was a whirlwind and felt quite hard to put down!!!
Now, some aspects ended up feeling really repetitive— a bit of a round and round game of capture/escape. And with little resolution to the end, the plot did feel a little drawn out at times… however, it sets the stage for more in this series.
~Content Warnings~
There is no spice in this book, HOWEVER there’s a lot of mentions of courtly affairs, illegitimate children, attempts at seduction/bedding someone, sexual tension, toxic relationships, the “wanting” for more, frequent innuendo, and steamy kisses (level 3). Much of the romance is based more on physical attraction. More than once, character’s get caught up in the heat and the almost moments (interrupted) after seeing someone shirtless or in a slinky dress. Characters also touch one another intimately with their Spectres, which— personally— felt very uncomfortable. The lustiness is why it’s a little lower of a rating for me. So while I enjoyed this one more than the first, I just wish the romance had been less steamy (though again, there’s NO on-page spice!). But there were some really sweet and swoony moments in it as well!!!
Other content considerations: mildly graphic violence (including stabbing, drowning, torture, spectre fighting, kidnapping, and severe injury), murder, arson that results in much death, blood, death, drugging, and mildly infrequent language (d*mn and h*ll occur two to three times, and b*stard is used in its historical sense).
Overall, Sharpest Court was a genuinely enjoyable read as well as a good second-in-series!!! I recommend if you enjoy darker fantasy, sweeping romance, lethal courts, unique “magic” systems, political intrigue, morally ambiguous characters, the question of “who’s the REAL enemy”, themes of vengeance, and secret plotting to overthrow a kingdom.
Happy reading :)

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins Children’s Books for providing this ARC in exchange for a free, honest review. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.

[Cher Van Der Woude · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC Review: Sharpest Court
4 ⭐

After absolutely loving Thorn Season, I was incredibly excited to continue this series with Sharpest Court, and it definitely did not disappoint.
While this second book focuses a little less on romance than its predecessor, I actually enjoyed that choice. It gave the characters room to grow individually and together, making their relationship feel more authentic. The chemistry between Alissa and Keil is still impossible to ignore, and the slow burn tension had me hooked from beginning to end.

The story picks up the momentum from book one and raises the stakes in all the right ways. Erik remains just as unpredictable and dangerous as ever, willing to go to extreme lengths to get what he wants. Every time he appeared on the page, I found myself wondering what he would do next.

One of my favorite aspects of this series continues to be the magic system. In Sharpest Court, the spellmade compass and its counterparts become even more significant, and I loved uncovering more about their origins and true purpose. The author does an excellent job of planting small details throughout the story that seem unimportant at first, only for them to click into place later. Those moments of realization were incredibly satisfying.

As for the twist, I suspected pieces of it along the way, yet I was still surprised when everything came together. The way the different plot threads connected felt clever and rewarding.

Overall, Sharpest Court is a strong sequel that expands the world, deepens the characters, and leaves me eager to see what happens next. I cannot wait to continue this journey in book three.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Jordan · Rating 3.75 out of 5]

Thank you so much to NetGalley and HarperCollins for the ARC of this book.

I enjoyed this, but perhaps not as much as the first one. Kiera Azar continues to have that super easy to read writing style that I love, but there was a moment near the middle where the pacing stalled out for me. Some things were getting a tad repetitive, including character thoughts (which I hope is edited a little in the final version), and I found myself missing the presence of some of the characters from the first book.

I find Alissa to be a very interesting main character, and Erik continues to be even more of a fantastic villain. Unfortunately, the main drawback of this book to me is still Keil, the mmc. He’s nowhere near as interesting as the fmc or the other romantic options we could’ve gone with in book one. Also, their scenes have never connected with me (I find them forced), but I think this might be a “it’s not really them, it’s me” thing.

The twists and turns in this were great. I will be finishing out the series and am excited for the next book!

[Liz~In~Colorado]

HERE'S A MYSTERY... THIS BOOK SHOWED UP IN MY MAIL, NICELY BOXED WITH A RETURN LABEL OF SOME PUBLISHER... I HAVE NOT READ VOL 1 YET, AND THIS IS MARKED ON THE COVER AS AN ARC GALLEY PRINT. I'M NOT FAMILIAR WITH THE AUTHOR, I GUESS I'M ON SOMEONE'S LIST? WHICH IS OK, I'LL TAKE A PRINTED BOOK ANY DAY, I'M JUST CURIOUS HOW I ENDED UP WITH IT. ANYONE EVER HAVE THIS HAPPEN COULD YOU PLS COMMENT?? 🌷

[Zoe Gayler]

I just reread Thorn Season and I am ACHING for this. I'm so happy the publishers are keeping the pretty covers matching! I hate it when they change it and I'm so excited I can look at these side-by-side and have them both be pretty.

Also.
I AM SHAKING WITH EXCITEMENT BC I KNOW THIS IS GONNA BE SO GOOD. But why does this have to wait for November? Can't we push it up 😭

[Alena · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ok I loved this. This is one of the best sequels to a book I’ve read. The plot twists, the character development, the love. Amazing. I love these characters and I can’t wait for the next book.

Thank you to NetGalley for this arc!

[Kamila Zdunek · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ja kochałam pierwszą część, serio, ale nie spodziewałam się takiego rozpierdzielu w tej 😧 moje biedne serce 💔

[Kristi Housman Confessions of a YA Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

rtc for blog

Thank you to the publisher for sending me a copy for review.

[aerislina · Rating 5 out of 5]

6/5⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I just finished … and wow. I. Am. Obsessed. 6/5 Stars - changed my brain chemistry.

King Erik - as horrendously evil as he is - stole the show. We learn so much more about him and he has got to be the most 3 dimensional, obsessed, unhinged villain I’ve read about. Idk how Kiera, but you have made me favor the villain over the MMC. I don’t reread many books, but I reread Erik’s chapters - absolutely beginning to question my own sanity here too, thanks!

Plot: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The twists are sooo soo good. Idk why I’ve been very picky with twists as of late. But this one had sooo many good twists that not only made sense, but you wouldn’t see coming. (At least I didn’t see coming). They’re the kind that are planned through multiple books.

Overall, if you like dark romance, cat and mouse chases, political intrigue, please pick this up so I’m not the only one who fell for the wrong guy. 💀

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins and Kiera Azar for not making me wait until November 2026. All thoughts are my own. PS: I preordered this.