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Marked Girl #2
The Broken World
The adventures of three teen royals and foster girl Liv, which began in The Marked Girl, conclude in this exciting sequel.
In the fantasy world of Caelum, Liv, Cedric, and Kat must attempt to defeat an evil traitor and his army to save their families and the kingdom. But the city they left behind is facing its own problems: back in Los Angeles, the sky is orange, gravity isn’t working right, and earthquakes shake the ground every few hours. Opening the portals has had devastating effects, and Liv’s best friend Shannon and Cedric’s frenemy Merek are the only ones who know what’s going on – and that tracking down the murderous Knights of Valere might be the way to fix everything.
It's a race against time as the crew must find a way to reunite and combine their quests to save both worlds.
In the fantasy world of Caelum, Liv, Cedric, and Kat must attempt to defeat an evil traitor and his army to save their families and the kingdom. But the city they left behind is facing its own problems: back in Los Angeles, the sky is orange, gravity isn’t working right, and earthquakes shake the ground every few hours. Opening the portals has had devastating effects, and Liv’s best friend Shannon and Cedric’s frenemy Merek are the only ones who know what’s going on – and that tracking down the murderous Knights of Valere might be the way to fix everything.
It's a race against time as the crew must find a way to reunite and combine their quests to save both worlds.
432 pages, Hardcover
First published August 29, 2017
21 people are currently reading
1499 people want to read
About the author
Lindsey Klingele
5 books220 followersLindsey Klingele grew up in Western Michigan, where she read every book she could get her hands on. She eventually moved to Los Angeles (the real land of make believe) and worked as a writers' assistant for TV shows such as THE LYING GAME and TWISTED. She still loves living in LA, especially since it's home to great television shows, truly excellent cheeseburgers, and her pitbull, Bighead.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 62 reviews
September 1, 2017
I didn't think this day would ever come (and seeing how it did come, now I should probably wonder why it came this late), but it seems I must admit it: I think I finally got too old for this kind of books. I can't say I am happy with this turn of events, though.
The Broken World is the second and last instalment in a duology which, last year, captured my attention because of its humor, light tones and snarky MC. In this conclusion, all these elements come back in full force, but somehow, none of them felt half as appealing to me, not even snarky Liv. What really made me cringe in embarrassment, though, was the plot, full of lucky coincidences and too-convenient twists, plus a corny finale that reaches a happy conclusion thanks to what I believe to be one of the most annoying, magically ass-saver devices a storyteller can come up with, e.g.: .
Authors, o authors, listen to me: if you’re not J. M. Barrie, just give up on that one already and try something else. Because if that is not cheesy and absolutely disheartening, I don’t really know what is.
On a final note, however, I want to make clear that I don't think in any way that The Broken World is not a good book. On the contrary, I am 100% sure that a younger audience would enjoy it much more than I did, so much so that, in my opinion, middle grade readers and very very YA readers would be, maybe with a couple of adjustments to the content, the fittest target audience.
The Broken World is the second and last instalment in a duology which, last year, captured my attention because of its humor, light tones and snarky MC. In this conclusion, all these elements come back in full force, but somehow, none of them felt half as appealing to me, not even snarky Liv. What really made me cringe in embarrassment, though, was the plot, full of lucky coincidences and too-convenient twists, plus a corny finale that reaches a happy conclusion thanks to what I believe to be one of the most annoying, magically ass-saver devices a storyteller can come up with, e.g.: .
Authors, o authors, listen to me: if you’re not J. M. Barrie, just give up on that one already and try something else. Because if that is not cheesy and absolutely disheartening, I don’t really know what is.
On a final note, however, I want to make clear that I don't think in any way that The Broken World is not a good book. On the contrary, I am 100% sure that a younger audience would enjoy it much more than I did, so much so that, in my opinion, middle grade readers and very very YA readers would be, maybe with a couple of adjustments to the content, the fittest target audience.
June 19, 2017
The Marked Girl was my surprise book of 2016 so I knew I just had to read the sequel and I loved it just as much as book 1! I'm super sad it was only a duology I'd love to read more especially about the characters in Caelum!
November 27, 2018
4.5 stars !!
Oh man, it has been a long while since I last loved a series this much .. this sequel was just amazing full of action, adventure and a good dose of humor, I liked the group and the ending .. it was really good and I enjoyed it soo much .. I really recommend this series if you want an adventure of a life time :)
Oh man, it has been a long while since I last loved a series this much .. this sequel was just amazing full of action, adventure and a good dose of humor, I liked the group and the ending .. it was really good and I enjoyed it soo much .. I really recommend this series if you want an adventure of a life time :)
December 14, 2018
Ive read " the broken world " ,, it was amazing i loved it so enjoyable ,, i gave it 5 out of 5 stars
October 10, 2017
3.5 stars. Hmmm, didn’t like it as much as the first but still good! I think it was a little scattered maybe? I’m not sure how to describe it. The ending was cheesy and not realistic, but still made sense based on the book/series itself. I’m intrigued by this whole portal fantasy subgenre so if anyone has recs, hit me up!
April 7, 2018
Super cute, kind of cheesy (see chapter titles) and overall very Disney channel-ish, in a good way.
August 22, 2018
Lindsey Klingele’s THE MARKED GIRL follows the point of view of two characters, Liv and Cedric. Liv wants to be a filmmaker. The closest she has come to a fantasy world is through CGI. This all changes once she meets Cedric. He’s the crown prince from a world called Caelum. In escaping the evil within his homeland, he jumps into a portal that takes him to Los Angeles. In order to return home, he needs to find the fabled scrolls. Liv agrees to help him, even though she doesn’t want him to leave. The conclusion to the Marked Girl duology, THE BROKEN WORLD, picks up right where the previous book left off. Its thrilling ending will keep readers hooked until the very end.
I enjoyed THE MARKED GIRL back when I read it in 2016. My favorite trope is when the fictional meets reality, so naturally the premise of the book hooked me from the start. I also loved getting to see BookTubers involved in the creation of the book trailer. Despite all this, I was not sure as to whether I would want to continue on with the duology. I’m very grateful that Teenreads gave me the opportunity do so. I enjoyed the second book much more than I did the first. The stakes have dramatically risen, making for a fun, fast-paced read throughout. There are so many twists and turns that helped me to be more invested in the world, the story and the characters.
The relationships, romantic or otherwise, in this book were incredibly well-written and developed. Every character pairing felt real and genuine. I loved getting to see Liv and Cedric’s interaction in this second book because things are not exactly easy for either of them in this conclusion. Despite those characters prominence in the plot, the secondary characters are not neglected in any way. Each character is given their own arc and page time. I could clearly see a transformation take place in all the characters. Some became more confident, independent or sure-footed in their actions.
The ending of the duology was incredibly fitting. I was very pleased where all of the characters concluded their narrative. By the end, I felt like I had really grown attached to Liv, Cedric and all their friends.
I could not be happier that I took the opportunity to finish off this series. It’s such an entertaining and warm-hearted read. If you as a reader are looking for a duology with lovable characters and a fun, fast paced plot, THE MARKED GIRL and THE BROKEN WORLD are two perfect stories for you.
Reviewed by Gabby B., Teen Board Member
I enjoyed THE MARKED GIRL back when I read it in 2016. My favorite trope is when the fictional meets reality, so naturally the premise of the book hooked me from the start. I also loved getting to see BookTubers involved in the creation of the book trailer. Despite all this, I was not sure as to whether I would want to continue on with the duology. I’m very grateful that Teenreads gave me the opportunity do so. I enjoyed the second book much more than I did the first. The stakes have dramatically risen, making for a fun, fast-paced read throughout. There are so many twists and turns that helped me to be more invested in the world, the story and the characters.
The relationships, romantic or otherwise, in this book were incredibly well-written and developed. Every character pairing felt real and genuine. I loved getting to see Liv and Cedric’s interaction in this second book because things are not exactly easy for either of them in this conclusion. Despite those characters prominence in the plot, the secondary characters are not neglected in any way. Each character is given their own arc and page time. I could clearly see a transformation take place in all the characters. Some became more confident, independent or sure-footed in their actions.
The ending of the duology was incredibly fitting. I was very pleased where all of the characters concluded their narrative. By the end, I felt like I had really grown attached to Liv, Cedric and all their friends.
I could not be happier that I took the opportunity to finish off this series. It’s such an entertaining and warm-hearted read. If you as a reader are looking for a duology with lovable characters and a fun, fast paced plot, THE MARKED GIRL and THE BROKEN WORLD are two perfect stories for you.
Reviewed by Gabby B., Teen Board Member
June 18, 2020
After the marked girl, I had such high hopes for this book. It did not live up to what the first book was! It was super all over the place and the ending was pretty lack luster. Felt like this book was full of cheesy clichés and very predictable plot twist. Liv was, and still is, an amazing snarky character. And that Cedric gave up his status to live where he was happy. And Merek redeemed himself a little in this book too
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 20, 2017
**Review originally posted on My Fangirl Chronicles**
Real Rating: 3.5
Even though I had a lukewarm opinion on the first book, The Marked Girl, I was still looking forward to reading the sequel The Broken World. I guess one of the main reasons why is because it's an urban fantasy set in the city I live in so it's really cool reading about all these places that I recognize and can picture in my mind perfectly. I loved how Lindsey described LA and how magic transformed it into a post-apocalyptic ghost town with a strange and foreboding sky, unusually constant earthquakes, stifling heatwaves, and weird fluctuations in gravity. Places like The Grove were mentioned and I couldn't help but think, "Oh, that's so cool because I've been there so many times!" then imagine it being completely empty and ruined was weirdly amusing and very intriguing.
The Broken World pretty much stayed true to the feel of the first book in terms of vibe and the writing style. Even though it had been a while since I first read the first book, it wasn't too difficult getting back into this world but I did have trouble remembering some of the revelations and rules of it. The raised stakes and constant roadblocks Liv and her friends faced motivated me to keep reading and had me constantly wondering what their next move would be. Every time they thought of a possible solution they would try to pursue it only to realize that they were too late or always one step behind their enemy. It almost got me a little frustrated, to be honest. Haha There was also a crazy intense car chase that had me at the edge of my seat! That, the climax that followed, and the moped chase were my favorite action sequences.
I am happy to say that my opinion of Cedric has now changed since the previous book. He goes through so much character development in this book and matures a lot. I really liked how instead of constantly trying to be like his father, after going through so many ordeals, Cedric realizes that he is different from him and instead tries to be a better version of himself; someone he can be proud of becoming. Liv also impressed me with how much more mature she's become, especially when she takes responsibility for the events happening in LA and chooses to fight for the city she calls home at the expense of her developing relationship and feelings for Cedric. Also, I'm going to be honest and say I was totally into the minor drama between Liv, Cedric, and Rafe.
The side characters were stronger and a little more memorable this time around, particularly Merek and Shannon. Liv's siblings took more of a backseat in this book to make room for more Joe and to introduce Rafe, Merek's older brother and I didn't mind so much because they were all charming and endearing in their own rights. Sad to say though, I was still disappointed with Kat's character. Between Cedric, Merek, and Kat, she had the least amount of character development and became the character I cared about the least out of the main cast. If it weren't for her fighting skills, Kat almost felt like her only purpose was to stay in the background and be the barrier that prevents Cedric and Liv from being together. The only time where I felt we were finally seeing character development with her was at the very end.
One of the main things I was looking forward to the most was learning more about the world of Caelum because I'm absolutely fascinated with medieval worlds. I'm a huge fan of The Lord of the Rings and medieval fantasy role-play games like Dragon Age: Origins, so I guess I was hoping for Caelum to feel similar to those. Unfortunately, while it was very much medieval - unpaved, dirt-roads; no electricity; no technology; etc. - it didn't feel as magical as I was expecting. Sure, we got to learn more about Caelum and its origins - which was pretty interesting - but there were no elaborate descriptions of an amazing world stuck in time. The only impression Caelum left on me was that it's a typical medieval world except for unusually large scenery - grass, rocks, mountains, and whatnot. I honestly felt underwhelmed with Caelum and felt like most of the magic was actually back in Los Angeles, since that's where all the strange and fantastical things were happening.
As exciting as the scenes leading up to the climax were, the way things ultimately ended left me feeling mostly disappointed. Everything fell into place too easily and there were no real casualties worth caring about. Although I'm a huge fan of happy endings, considering how high the stakes were, I found the ending to be a bit too cheesy, juvenile, and unrealistic. This was when I realized that this story is probably better suited for the younger YA crowd, borderline middle grade. Overall, I'm glad I gave this duology a chance because despite its shortcomings, in the end I was still entertained and enjoyed certain aspects of it, like the chase scenes and world building. I would definitely recommend this to the younger YA crowd if you enjoy reading urban fantasies or are interested in diving into the genre.
Real Rating: 3.5
Even though I had a lukewarm opinion on the first book, The Marked Girl, I was still looking forward to reading the sequel The Broken World. I guess one of the main reasons why is because it's an urban fantasy set in the city I live in so it's really cool reading about all these places that I recognize and can picture in my mind perfectly. I loved how Lindsey described LA and how magic transformed it into a post-apocalyptic ghost town with a strange and foreboding sky, unusually constant earthquakes, stifling heatwaves, and weird fluctuations in gravity. Places like The Grove were mentioned and I couldn't help but think, "Oh, that's so cool because I've been there so many times!" then imagine it being completely empty and ruined was weirdly amusing and very intriguing.
The Broken World pretty much stayed true to the feel of the first book in terms of vibe and the writing style. Even though it had been a while since I first read the first book, it wasn't too difficult getting back into this world but I did have trouble remembering some of the revelations and rules of it. The raised stakes and constant roadblocks Liv and her friends faced motivated me to keep reading and had me constantly wondering what their next move would be. Every time they thought of a possible solution they would try to pursue it only to realize that they were too late or always one step behind their enemy. It almost got me a little frustrated, to be honest. Haha There was also a crazy intense car chase that had me at the edge of my seat! That, the climax that followed, and the moped chase were my favorite action sequences.
I am happy to say that my opinion of Cedric has now changed since the previous book. He goes through so much character development in this book and matures a lot. I really liked how instead of constantly trying to be like his father, after going through so many ordeals, Cedric realizes that he is different from him and instead tries to be a better version of himself; someone he can be proud of becoming. Liv also impressed me with how much more mature she's become, especially when she takes responsibility for the events happening in LA and chooses to fight for the city she calls home at the expense of her developing relationship and feelings for Cedric. Also, I'm going to be honest and say I was totally into the minor drama between Liv, Cedric, and Rafe.
The side characters were stronger and a little more memorable this time around, particularly Merek and Shannon. Liv's siblings took more of a backseat in this book to make room for more Joe and to introduce Rafe, Merek's older brother and I didn't mind so much because they were all charming and endearing in their own rights. Sad to say though, I was still disappointed with Kat's character. Between Cedric, Merek, and Kat, she had the least amount of character development and became the character I cared about the least out of the main cast. If it weren't for her fighting skills, Kat almost felt like her only purpose was to stay in the background and be the barrier that prevents Cedric and Liv from being together. The only time where I felt we were finally seeing character development with her was at the very end.
One of the main things I was looking forward to the most was learning more about the world of Caelum because I'm absolutely fascinated with medieval worlds. I'm a huge fan of The Lord of the Rings and medieval fantasy role-play games like Dragon Age: Origins, so I guess I was hoping for Caelum to feel similar to those. Unfortunately, while it was very much medieval - unpaved, dirt-roads; no electricity; no technology; etc. - it didn't feel as magical as I was expecting. Sure, we got to learn more about Caelum and its origins - which was pretty interesting - but there were no elaborate descriptions of an amazing world stuck in time. The only impression Caelum left on me was that it's a typical medieval world except for unusually large scenery - grass, rocks, mountains, and whatnot. I honestly felt underwhelmed with Caelum and felt like most of the magic was actually back in Los Angeles, since that's where all the strange and fantastical things were happening.
As exciting as the scenes leading up to the climax were, the way things ultimately ended left me feeling mostly disappointed. Everything fell into place too easily and there were no real casualties worth caring about. Although I'm a huge fan of happy endings, considering how high the stakes were, I found the ending to be a bit too cheesy, juvenile, and unrealistic. This was when I realized that this story is probably better suited for the younger YA crowd, borderline middle grade. Overall, I'm glad I gave this duology a chance because despite its shortcomings, in the end I was still entertained and enjoyed certain aspects of it, like the chase scenes and world building. I would definitely recommend this to the younger YA crowd if you enjoy reading urban fantasies or are interested in diving into the genre.
March 15, 2018
4.5/5 stars
August 3, 2025
THOUSAND OAKS MENTIONED 🔥🔥
September 12, 2017
In the The Marked Girl and Broken World novels, Lindsey Klingele has crafted some amazing fantasy YA fiction (not to mention an endearing love letter to Los Angeles). The world(s) feels vibrant and lived in, the characters relatable and amusing and the story propels along at a nice clip, with enough twists and surprises to give you that "okay, just ONE more chapter and then I'll go to bed" feeling. But above all, I appreciate how it doesn't feel like it panders or talks down to its intended audience. She toes the line between romance, terror, humor and action with a deft hand that belies the knowledge that this is only her second novel. It truly has something for pretty much anyone. I'll be eagerly awaiting to see what comes next from this author :)
June 21, 2022
2 Stars
Spoiler Free!
Well. It came to an end, certainly. I have been putting this review off because I am at a loss for words... in the worst way possible. This book has also put me into a deep reading slump, so thanks for that, I guess.
Let's just get right into it.
This book did NOT show us anything about Caelum. I kid you not, all I know about Caelum is that their tree trunks are really big. We don't get any history, or any real world building. Caleum should have been explored and it should have enhanced our understanding of the world, but none of that happened. I wanted so badly to like this world, but it fell flat. Especially after how we spend the entire first book with Cedric, Kat and Merek all complaining about wanting to go back to a world that was so poorly thought out, it felt lifeless.
The only thing that kept me reading through boring-magical-world was Shannon and Merek. The only shining light in a dull boring world. I waited way too long for the payoff between those two, by the way.
This also means that characters have no real growth, and they feel like they don't learn anything after heading back to Caelum. Liv plays the victim and feels hurt, because suddenly she's not in control - Cedric is. This is his home world after all, and he suddenly remembers that he's a Prince here, and he can't even understand how Liv feels (even though he was exactly in her shoes just a book ago, but go off, Cedric).
I wanted to see more from Cedric feeling pressured to be a good ruler, and his duty to his country - or world? It's never clear. But instead, he comes off as selfish, and cold to everyone who cares about him. He has this sudden change of heart from the first book, and he can't feel empathy anymore all of a sudden, because baby-boy has struggles.
I mean hey, I wouldn't be very happy if I had to go the bathroom in a bucket after being privileged enough to have running water and toilets. Moving on.
And after pushing Liv away as soon as they pass through the portal, Cedric feels he has the right to go after her when she goes her separate way from him - Jesus, jealous much?
And halfway through the book, Liv returns back to L.A., after all the problems disappear from Caelum, because that's how it works, right? Wrong. It really shouldn't have been that easy. It was startlingly quick, how the problems in Caelum were fixed.
Here's another startlingly big problem: there's no sense of urgency or threats. No one is ever in any real danger. This book dangles the possibility of an injury, but always ends up fixing it, with a pretty bow and all. Everything that could be a problem gets fixed in a nonchalant way, and always to the ease of the main characters.
I read this book for the sake of finishing it. I wanted to know how everything ended up. And unfortunately that meant sacrificing my own mental health for these characters. And it just wasn't worth it. This book felt like a shell of all of the characters and plot I relatively enjoyed to some extent in the first book. And I am sorry for sounding so callous and cruel, but I just have to be as honest as possible.
The ending was also too perfect. Driving-off-into-the-sunset perfect. A little too Hollywood for my liking - which I guess would be Liv's perfect ending with her dream of being a director.
This will be a book I rant about for forever. I can't even continue to explain all my issues with it, for fear of causing absolute frustration and exhaustion.
Anyways, don't read this series. Have a good day.
Spoiler Free!
Well. It came to an end, certainly. I have been putting this review off because I am at a loss for words... in the worst way possible. This book has also put me into a deep reading slump, so thanks for that, I guess.
Let's just get right into it.
This book did NOT show us anything about Caelum. I kid you not, all I know about Caelum is that their tree trunks are really big. We don't get any history, or any real world building. Caleum should have been explored and it should have enhanced our understanding of the world, but none of that happened. I wanted so badly to like this world, but it fell flat. Especially after how we spend the entire first book with Cedric, Kat and Merek all complaining about wanting to go back to a world that was so poorly thought out, it felt lifeless.
The only thing that kept me reading through boring-magical-world was Shannon and Merek. The only shining light in a dull boring world. I waited way too long for the payoff between those two, by the way.
This also means that characters have no real growth, and they feel like they don't learn anything after heading back to Caelum. Liv plays the victim and feels hurt, because suddenly she's not in control - Cedric is. This is his home world after all, and he suddenly remembers that he's a Prince here, and he can't even understand how Liv feels (even though he was exactly in her shoes just a book ago, but go off, Cedric).
I wanted to see more from Cedric feeling pressured to be a good ruler, and his duty to his country - or world? It's never clear. But instead, he comes off as selfish, and cold to everyone who cares about him. He has this sudden change of heart from the first book, and he can't feel empathy anymore all of a sudden, because baby-boy has struggles.
I mean hey, I wouldn't be very happy if I had to go the bathroom in a bucket after being privileged enough to have running water and toilets. Moving on.
And after pushing Liv away as soon as they pass through the portal, Cedric feels he has the right to go after her when she goes her separate way from him - Jesus, jealous much?
And halfway through the book, Liv returns back to L.A., after all the problems disappear from Caelum, because that's how it works, right? Wrong. It really shouldn't have been that easy. It was startlingly quick, how the problems in Caelum were fixed.
Here's another startlingly big problem: there's no sense of urgency or threats. No one is ever in any real danger. This book dangles the possibility of an injury, but always ends up fixing it, with a pretty bow and all. Everything that could be a problem gets fixed in a nonchalant way, and always to the ease of the main characters.
I read this book for the sake of finishing it. I wanted to know how everything ended up. And unfortunately that meant sacrificing my own mental health for these characters. And it just wasn't worth it. This book felt like a shell of all of the characters and plot I relatively enjoyed to some extent in the first book. And I am sorry for sounding so callous and cruel, but I just have to be as honest as possible.
The ending was also too perfect. Driving-off-into-the-sunset perfect. A little too Hollywood for my liking - which I guess would be Liv's perfect ending with her dream of being a director.
This will be a book I rant about for forever. I can't even continue to explain all my issues with it, for fear of causing absolute frustration and exhaustion.
Anyways, don't read this series. Have a good day.
September 10, 2017
This book was honestly as amazing and epic as the first, and such a perfect conclusion to this wonderful series. I loved getting to see all our faves again and seeing how much they grew and how they all became a family and support system for each other. I loved Cedric and Liv to no end. I love that Kat is gonna be the badass warrior queen she was always meant to be. Rafe was a grand addition to the team. Peter and Joe are the sweetest sweeties to ever sweet. And Shannon and Merek are my OTP for life. I need about a thousand more books with the two of them being adorkable sassmasters together. That book was just so perfect and I loved every single second of it
September 13, 2017
Oh man, this book is...how can you describe a book that made you feel so many emotions at once? I think I loved this duology from the very start, from the first page. This second book was...everything I was expecting. I want to thank the author for let me live this fantastic adventures with all the characters. I wish I could read more books like these.
April 3, 2024
The Marked Girl was one of my absolute favorite books of 2016, and with most books I love, the sequel can never equal the first. But trust me when I say this one is just as good as book one!!!
In book one, we have a great premise, fun characters, witty dialogue, and interesting world building. The Broken World continues to keep all of those aspects and beautifully ties together everything we learned from The Marked Girl, while introducing even more!
If you enjoyed The Marked Girl, you will love The Broken World (if you already read the Marked Girl why are you even reading this review? Go start the last book now!)
If you haven't yet read The Marked Girl, go and read it! Its great for fans of books where two very different worlds collide, and also great for anyone who loves LA, cinema, or theater!
Also- love that this is a duology. We need more duologies in the world. They are my favorite series length for this genre (and for most genres).
In book one, we have a great premise, fun characters, witty dialogue, and interesting world building. The Broken World continues to keep all of those aspects and beautifully ties together everything we learned from The Marked Girl, while introducing even more!
If you enjoyed The Marked Girl, you will love The Broken World (if you already read the Marked Girl why are you even reading this review? Go start the last book now!)
If you haven't yet read The Marked Girl, go and read it! Its great for fans of books where two very different worlds collide, and also great for anyone who loves LA, cinema, or theater!
Also- love that this is a duology. We need more duologies in the world. They are my favorite series length for this genre (and for most genres).
February 9, 2018
Cedric and Kat are finally back in Caelum with Liv. Merek, still unconscious in a hospital on Earth, wasn’t able to return with them and Liv only came with the hope of finding and saving her brother while Kat and Cedric try to free their families, overthrow Malquin/John, and return Caelum back to normal. On Earth, the Knights of Valere are going missing, or showing up dead. Merek, Shannon, and Joe are the only ones who know what’s going on and are trying to find a way to stop their world from ending while Liv is in Caelum. Eventually the crew reunites and must combine their quests in order to save both of the worlds suffering from the portals that have been opened. Moments before a slew of deaths, they are able to save the worlds and turn back some of Malquin’s misdeeds, but not without long-reaching effects for the worlds’ futures.
Overall, second and final book of the Marked Girl series was engaging, enjoyable, and a continuation on the fast-paced and fun urban fantasy novel that began the story. The reader continues with the characters introduced in the first book and is able to see the development of traits, changes as they grow mature, and learn new things about new worlds and their own place and possibilities in them. Though the plot and scenes could jump a bit, this added to the end-of-the-world and chaos effect, letting readers feel the displacement being described, whether this was intentional or not, its effect was apparent. As with the first novel, there is quite a bit of violence, blood, and death, though nothing overly graphic or detailed that would cause serious alarm for readers over thirteen. A good wrap up and ending to an entertaining urban-fantasy series.
Overall, second and final book of the Marked Girl series was engaging, enjoyable, and a continuation on the fast-paced and fun urban fantasy novel that began the story. The reader continues with the characters introduced in the first book and is able to see the development of traits, changes as they grow mature, and learn new things about new worlds and their own place and possibilities in them. Though the plot and scenes could jump a bit, this added to the end-of-the-world and chaos effect, letting readers feel the displacement being described, whether this was intentional or not, its effect was apparent. As with the first novel, there is quite a bit of violence, blood, and death, though nothing overly graphic or detailed that would cause serious alarm for readers over thirteen. A good wrap up and ending to an entertaining urban-fantasy series.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 19, 2017
I love this duology so much. Not only does it have amazing romance (come on Cedric and Liv and then Shannon and Merek? My heart!!!) and humor but it is filled with action and amazing fantasy. You don't want to put it down but you don't want it to end at the same time. This could have been a longer series and I bet I would've loved every single second of it. I must say the ending left me feeling very complete and content though. I absolutely loved the characters, the story line and everything else about this book. I'm giving it a 4.5 star because I just couldn't connect with how the main plot unfolded. The first book and this one were so masterfully thought out but I can not stand the fact it was solved through social media. Don't get me wrong, I love how regular people were able to help, how up to date it was, and the whole believe and it'll all work out, but come on. Live streaming? I don't know, I just couldn't connect with it for some reason. Nonetheless, this is easily at the top of my must read list and I recommend it to everyone! I LOVED IT and I can't wait to read it again and again!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 7, 2019
I liked book 1 in this duology a little more, but I liked this one as well. I think the premise is so interesting. The love triangle played out a little more in this book but it wasn't overbearing. The guy is in the middle and there isn't the angst. It's more a sense of obligation to duty along with the love that comes with friendship on the one side. The feelings of attraction, chemistry, and interest on the other side. I have been in Kat's position. I totally get that. It's the ending that took the star away for me. I was just a little disappointed in it. But, I really enjoyed the book otherwise.
August 22, 2019
More a 3.5 stars (still waiting for them to make it so you can give half stars)
I enjoyed this book more than I was expecting after some of the problems I had with the first book. The love triangle was almost non-existent in comparison to The Marked Girl and I was very invested in Shannon & Merek's relationship, I really wish we had gotten to know what happened with them. Merek was my favorite character.
I also really like the time jump and how the characters spent that time apart. They tried to gather information to solve their problems in the only way available to them and how they interconnected the worlds.
Overall it was, in my opinion, a solid 3 star series.
I enjoyed this book more than I was expecting after some of the problems I had with the first book. The love triangle was almost non-existent in comparison to The Marked Girl and I was very invested in Shannon & Merek's relationship, I really wish we had gotten to know what happened with them. Merek was my favorite character.
I also really like the time jump and how the characters spent that time apart. They tried to gather information to solve their problems in the only way available to them and how they interconnected the worlds.
Overall it was, in my opinion, a solid 3 star series.
June 21, 2021
I found this was even better than the first!
I will say that altogether, I found that this was a pretty enjoyable series. While the first one was a very steady story of Cedric and friends trying to find a way home (and to defeat Malquin), this book took us on a bit more of a journey. It had Caelum, it had an apocalyptic sort of LA, it had unique new stakes with both worlds hanging in the balance, and there were far more twists and turns than the first one.
Honestly, I really appreciated the story and the journey I got to go on through these characters. I definitely would recommend it for those that enjoyed the first one!
I will say that altogether, I found that this was a pretty enjoyable series. While the first one was a very steady story of Cedric and friends trying to find a way home (and to defeat Malquin), this book took us on a bit more of a journey. It had Caelum, it had an apocalyptic sort of LA, it had unique new stakes with both worlds hanging in the balance, and there were far more twists and turns than the first one.
Honestly, I really appreciated the story and the journey I got to go on through these characters. I definitely would recommend it for those that enjoyed the first one!
March 23, 2018
I admit, I’m surprised I liked it. It does have a sort of free-wheeling, self-published sort of feel. In fact, it reminded me of a couple other indie series’ I’ve read, one of which I just realized is called The Marked Son.
Even without the similar title, there are tons of parallels. But with that series, I fizzled halfway through book 2.
I was glad Klingele was able to tie up her story in two books because it kept things fast paced.
And I think the audio is kind of what did it. Amazing how a seeming flop of a book can be salvaged by the right narrator.
Even without the similar title, there are tons of parallels. But with that series, I fizzled halfway through book 2.
I was glad Klingele was able to tie up her story in two books because it kept things fast paced.
And I think the audio is kind of what did it. Amazing how a seeming flop of a book can be salvaged by the right narrator.
October 20, 2025
1 star.
Had no expectations going in — I only read it because I had time and didn’t want to start something more interesting during my vacation. The one star is purely for the time and energy I spent reading it!
I still stand by all my notes and thoughts from the first book — everything I disliked stayed the same in this sequel, maybe even worse, especially in the final part and its so-called “conclusion.”
Overall, a 1-star duology for me. Everything was just flat and meh — from the world to the characters and everything in between.
Had no expectations going in — I only read it because I had time and didn’t want to start something more interesting during my vacation. The one star is purely for the time and energy I spent reading it!
I still stand by all my notes and thoughts from the first book — everything I disliked stayed the same in this sequel, maybe even worse, especially in the final part and its so-called “conclusion.”
Overall, a 1-star duology for me. Everything was just flat and meh — from the world to the characters and everything in between.
September 7, 2017
I really enjoyed the conclusion of this book. There was so much action, fighting, and trying to save two worlds from being consumed by magic. I loved the addition of Cedric and Liv's story. Their "romance" was not over the top and did not consume the story, but it was a great little addition. I kept rooting for them the entire book even when it felt like two people from two different worlds could never make it work.
February 6, 2018
Actual rating was 3.5 stars.
So I enjoyed this book a lot and it was a very quick read just like The Marked Girl was, but by no means was it literature. I took off 1.5 stars because of the very cheesy ending and the quality (or lack thereof) in the author’s writing. All the same, the story was interesting and I liked all of the characters accept one or two.
Would recommend this series for a fun and quick read, but keep in mind that you are by no means reading a classic.
So I enjoyed this book a lot and it was a very quick read just like The Marked Girl was, but by no means was it literature. I took off 1.5 stars because of the very cheesy ending and the quality (or lack thereof) in the author’s writing. All the same, the story was interesting and I liked all of the characters accept one or two.
Would recommend this series for a fun and quick read, but keep in mind that you are by no means reading a classic.
February 23, 2018
This book (including the first) was so amazing! I loved it so much! Every chapter keeps you on edge, wondering what'll happen next. A story taking place in the land of Caelum, and in LA; literally tackling two birds with one stone! This story is so modern, yet it has a bit of fantasy sprinkled in there. Ms. Klingele, you are such a creative author, and you've written an amazing story. Bravo! Can't wait to read another story from you.
P.S: Merek and Shannon make the cutest couple!
P.S: Merek and Shannon make the cutest couple!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 23, 2018
There was a lot going on in this book. Lots of magic, destruction and finally deciding where your path will truly take you. Luv dealt with a lot after that first portal funny Cedric and the gang in LA. And now she has even more to worry about now that Earth is fighting against the magic that leaked through. But put a band of misfits together against some evil guys and tada people might actually “accept the magic”
November 24, 2020
Rating - 3.5/5
I remember how much I enjoyed the first book. I loved it! I did like the continuation but not as much. I think it was a bit of the romance and the lack of delvopment that kind of set me off balance. There was love between the characters but it seemed a bit off.
From the second book, my favorite characters were Merek and Shannon. I absolutely loved them and glad to read chapters from her point of view. She and Merek made a great, yet unlikely team.
I remember how much I enjoyed the first book. I loved it! I did like the continuation but not as much. I think it was a bit of the romance and the lack of delvopment that kind of set me off balance. There was love between the characters but it seemed a bit off.
From the second book, my favorite characters were Merek and Shannon. I absolutely loved them and glad to read chapters from her point of view. She and Merek made a great, yet unlikely team.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 17, 2017
I'm still debating on what rating I want to give this. I keep thinking 4 but might leave it at 3.
I really loved the first book in this series. It was a ton of fun and extremely enjoyable. But I unfortunately didn't like the sequel as much. It's not a bad book by any means. It just didn't hold up for me in comparison to the first book.
I really loved the first book in this series. It was a ton of fun and extremely enjoyable. But I unfortunately didn't like the sequel as much. It's not a bad book by any means. It just didn't hold up for me in comparison to the first book.
April 26, 2019
Not as good as the first, but a necessary read to finish what was a huge cliff hanger in the last book. I really felt like the story dragged in this one. Kudos to the author for not dragging it into a trilogy, but maybe she should have just written one book and made the first one longer. Still very clean, and if your kids are into teen romance, this would be a good one for them to read.
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