The Second Line lived, and their resurrection threatened the fragile happiness that Avalon has finally achieved.
Avalon Halhed was actually content. She’d go as far as to say she was even happy. She was in love. She had friends, a community, a damn pet.
Until a shockingly beautiful man walked through the gates of Boellium and ruined everything. The Heir to the Second Line shouldn’t exist. Their Line had long ago been eradicated and countless years had passed, until they were just a warning in the history books to not cross the First Line.
But Lierick Hanovan appeared with more than just the revelation that his Line lived; he had claims that were even more insane.
He believed Avalon was a Recreationist, and could physically turn back time. In fact, according to Lierick, she had recreated history over and over already. She was also prophesied to change Ebrus forever. No pressure or anything. But despite the preposterousness of his words, they rung true in her soul.
Avalon didn’t want to be the ‘chosen one’. She wanted to badly swing a sword by day, have three ways beneath the stars with her handsome lovers by night, and then follow Hayle home when her time as a conscript at Boellium War College was complete.
However, Fate didn’t care what Avalon wanted. She’d proven that over and over again.
This is the final book in the Lines of Ebrus duet. It starts where the first book ends, so it is strongly (wildly imperative even) that you read book one DAUGHTER OF THE NINTH LINE first.
When I was nine, my grandmother and her friends used to read and swap Harlequin Mills and Boons novels. When I was busted reading one, they started sneaking me boxes full of strong heroines and rugged men. Thus started a long love affair with the romance genre. Then I discovered urban fantasy, and fell in love with broody Alphas and sexy paranormals, and combining them together was a no brainer. Then I discovered Reverse Harem.... Oh my. Why choose, am I right?
I guess I should have expected it, Grace McGinty is notorious for her MM-relationship centered RH's. I just really despise it when MM relationships crop up and take center stage. That’s when the FMC ends up feeling like a side piece—a toy for the men, who are in a committed relationship with each other, to play with occasionally.
That’s exactly what happened with Vox & Lierick, and I hate it.
Vox was an awesome MMC! He had to work at it, but he became devoted to Avalon, and I loved them together. Then Lierick came along and ruined everything. Lierick and Avalon had zero relationship development. She just notes that he “feels right,” and then he suddenly just joins in while she’s having sex with Vox. That whole scene focused on Vox and Lierick together, with Avalon acting more like a means for their intimacy before they were ready to fully commit to each other.
Vox and Lierick get plenty of one-on-one time. They even have MM sex scenes without Avalon involved. Meanwhile, Lierick lets Avalon get captured and tortured so he can save Vox. He also chooses power over saving her when she’s trying to save the whole of Ebrus and his people. Lierick sacrifices Avalon and lets her almost die in multiple ways, but since she can reset things, I guess it’s all okay. She lets him off the hook for everything, and I honestly can’t believe her over-protective mate, Hayle, let his constant betrayals slide.
Hayle was the perfect MMC. He was everything that Vox and Lierick should have been. Zier, her last mate, only showed up in this book and we barely know him but he seems like he would have also been a perfect mate.
Anyway… all in all, I hated Lierick, and he ruined the series for me.
I was so excited to jump back in to this after the ending of book 1 and it didn’t disappoint!
I loved this duet and the characters so much! I did think the ending to this book was a bit quick (not anticlimactic, but just short) however I could just be used to longer, more drawn out and dramatic finales - twisted sisters I’m looking at you haha.
All in all I really enjoyed the pace and character development in this book!
Was loving this series. Now I just feel angry. Wasted so much time just to get to the last book and Get were gonna throw mm in. Like just tell me back at book 1 of ninth line so I don't waste my time. But I guess you want the money more than respect. Don't care if you want to write or read mm, more power to you. A simple note that series has mm later on would be great.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Honestly. I still love these guys. It’s nice to see Vox not be a dick to Hayle and to see their bromance blossom because of their love of Avalon.
Eeeeekk. Lierick you sly dog. It’s nice to read about Avalon having someone to help her become who she needs to be for the continent (is that the right word???)
Though everytime I read the first few chapters where Avalon reads about how many times she changed the timeline with her mom it makes me cry.
Oooo that kiss! Yasss! I can’t wait to read about the actual sexy scene!!! Give me now!
Grace I really do love your imagination!!
Part two
What. The. FUUUUUUCCCCCKKKK. God I fucking forgot how good Grace was at cliffhangers… This sucks donkey balls. Okay things I liked: seeing more of the other lines and their heirs and how they work. A full sex scene! Vox killing his brother.
Things I did not like: we did not get a Lierick and Vox scene. How hard the cliffie cliffed Avalons dad. Voxs dad.
Part Three:
Honestly, I didn’t think I’d like this part. And I was correct. My biggest gruff with this part is that I am 100% not a fan of adding to a harem at the end of the story. I don’t mind if the series is six books and you add a dude in book 3 but literally the last book is a no go for me. It’s an instant turn off because there is just no way that the person that was added gets adequate time with the FMC.
Let’s take Daddy Zier has issues with being in a harem, sleeps with her once or for one night and then after she doesn’t die has a change of heart…..
Also, let’s talk about the plot holes. Where is the bonding that Hayle said we was going to talk to Avalon about?
What’s the point of Hayle having the whatever the fuck it’s called…. It seemed like it was going to be a big part but it really wasn’t.
Also why bring back the twin? Why make Avalon kill him?
Things I liked…..
I like that it was a siphoning Tal. But that’s about it.
We don’t get to see the lower lines power restored. We don’t even get a group sex scene. Just kinda let me down on this one.
Picking up exactly where book 1 left us, we follow Alvalon as she truly steps into her power both literally and emotionally. After all the edging/frustration that book 1 gave me (in the best of ways) this was the resolution that I truly needed. Avalon, Vox and Hayle meet another who shouldn't exist, Lierick the heir of the second line. Once hidden they are now coming out of the shadows with the help of Avalon, fighting for equality in the world of Ebrus by gaining allies as they travel. It feels like this book has more magic, all the answers and a chance to know more about the goddess of the world. Absolutely stunning physical world building as we get to explore the lands with them and fantastic character growth as they all learn about themselves and get much closer together (definitely some fantastic spice scenes and humour in here too so it's not all so serious). I feel like I can't do a review of this book without a mention to the amazing animal companions that are in it too, Epsy is the cutest stolt to ever exist and there is no convincing me otherwise.
I feel honoured to have been able to follow on as Grace wrote these books and most definitely recommend giving them a read, the hardest part was waiting for the ending but now the duology is complete there's absolutely no reason not to start reading it today.
I’m rating this a 5 man. I don’t care. It’s so goood!!! I was so skeptical when I read the first book because I thought I’d get bored with the time turning thingy but Grace McGinty has a way with words and stories. She’s so talented and I don’t know why I doubted her. This story gripped me. I finished both book 1 and book 2 in 2 days. I haven’t finished anything productive in the last two days!
Anyway, the entire plot is great. Love the concept. Adore the characters. Love that I can distinguish the MMCs. Also, ahem…enjoy the addition but wished they had more spicy scenes, you know? But it’s okay. I’ve always loved Grace McGinty’s worldbuilding. It’s not huge but you can imagine it clearly in your head. That’s consistently been the case for me and that’s what happened here.
Also, why the heck is Vox so freaking romantic man. That guy!!
And I appreciate the fact that the dynamics and relationships within this ‘pack’ is different too. I think the late addition, although lacking, didn’t feel like it was missing something? It’s just the kind where I wish I’d seen the relationship progress on paper. I wanted to see more because the tension between the FMC and that MMC was sizzling.
All in all, this is another series that I'll keep rereading. So good.
This sequel builds beautifully on the foundation of the first book, expanding the world of Ebrus. We follow Vox, Hayle, Avalon, and Lierick as they journey far beyond Boellum War College in search of allies to help bring down the corruption that has consumed the First Line, alliances are forged with the Barons of the other Lines. Under the rule of Baron Vylan and his heir, Yaron Vylan—who may be even more sadistic than his father—the stakes feel higher than ever. The group faces constant challenges, and the tension keeps building in a way that makes it hard to step away from the story. I originally received this as an ARC read. While it’s said you can jump into this book without reading the first, I personally couldn’t do that—my brain needs the full journey! That said, the writing is so engaging and immersive that you quickly get pulled into the world regardless. Grace McGinty has created a story that completely absorbs you, making it nearly impossible to put down once you start. ⭐ 5 stars from me—an unputdownable, gripping continuation of the series.
This was good but the first 20% is literally book one all over again. No change. Everything you just read, all over again. The books in this series are not long at all, so to have almost 1/4 of the book be a copy/paste scenario was not ideal.
That being said, it looks like Avalon has the power to turn back time and essentially have a redo of that time period to change the future. Unfortunately for her and everyone else, this power doesn’t seem to have much of an impact on the future for Hayle.
I really thought she also would have elemental powers based on the description of the end of book one but if she does, it’s never brought up. Just a sense of Déjà vu for her and a repetitive story for us at times, but more pieces of the puzzle seem to be getting uncovered.
I definitely love Hayle, he’s just perfection really and his hounds? Adorable. I’m hoping the next book finds a way to spare him because he is absolutely a treasure of a man.
It was a nice surprise to see an email waiting in my inbox for “Heir To The Second Line,” and I’ve never been more ecstatic. The second book picks up right where the first left off. We get to see who Lierick is and what his goal is. I really loved that we learned more about the characters and gained more insight into their history throughout their journey.
The kinship between Hayle and Vox has to be one of my favorite things in the whole series. It just shows how much they have grown and the trust they have for each other, especially when it comes to Avalon. Vox struggles with the guilt and horror of his line, but Hayle and Avalon are the first to tell him he is loved and that they are family.
The new acquisition of Lierick really reinforces that idea for the group. I love how supportive and encouraging both Avalon and Hayle were of the attraction between Vox and Lierick. Avalon, even though she has suffered at the hands of her father and others, has become this strong, unwavering figure who would stop at nothing to keep her loved ones safe.
The small interactions between Avalon and the goddess were a wholesome scene. And don’t get me started on Daddy Zier! This both made me cry and cheer, and I highly recommend this series.
This series is a lot of work to read because the same story you start out with is worked then re-worked, then re-worked, repeated like the movie Groundhog Day. This is a good thing because the first two iterations end in a heartbreaking bloodbath.
I was completely invested in Avalon and her lovers so I read through to the satisfying ending.
But it almost felt like an author’s series of experiments in plot development. If I change this, what happens. If they learn one more clue, what does it change?
As a reader it made me curious too. Will this re-do prevent disaster? What on earth is causing history to repeatedly adjust itself?
I loved the series but confess I was kind of exhausted by the end.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Six star read!! How McGinty writes the why-choose trope within these books is next level! The world building is stunning as they travel across the lands, and the character development through the book as they learn about themselves and each other. There are some very spicy scenes but they are complimented with humour and banter, especially between all her guys. I was completely immersed within this world, and wish there was more!! This was such a great duet, I am excited for McGinty to write more within the high fantasy genre!
This is a complete vibes read (the whole series). It’s fun, spicy, fast-paced, and absolutely perfect if you’re just looking to turn your brain off and have a good time.
There are emotional and darker topics woven throughout, and I’m not diminishing those at all (their presence matters and adds texture) but overall, this isn’t a book trying to destroy you from the inside. It’s here for a fast, dramatic, spicy good time, not prolonged emotional suffering. Logic may occasionally take a backseat, the vibes are loud, and the plot serves the romance more than the other way around.
Go in with realistic expectations, surrender to the ridiculousness, and you’ll likely have a blast.
I liked this book and the characters. I liked that it went more deep emotionally than some poly relationship books. However, it always bugs me when there is a loose end in the writing. Why would vox and the others make tals to ward her of their own powers? I don’t get that part. They make it seem like they can’t keep her safe, yet they’re stupid to also not try things. Also, it was never explained why she was able to cut through the powers of others.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Get this in a physical copy so when it makes you mad and cry you don't throw your kindle. It likes to break your heart only to put it back together in a different way so you can still see the broken and repaired gold pieces of glue
I enjoyed this one better than the first one, told from all POV. I still thought it was a bit long, though at least the resets didn’t repeat the whole thing every time. I thought it was a good read but I wouldn’t read it again.