The Desolate Reign

The Narrow Gate #2

by Amory Cannon

Emilia Aurelius should be a queen, but she’d settle for not being a fugitive. Taking refuge in the Borealis court seems her only chance to find a haven from Emperor Cyrus, who is playing a dangerous game of power with a set of rules all his own. Unfortunately her own country is on the brink of civil war, attacked from within and without by the very people she’s sworn to save—the Insurgos.

With the truth of the Insurgos’ God and agenda murkier than ever, Emilia embarks on a treacherous quest for truth and her rightful place as queen. Neither will come without a price. Political pressure may force her to choose between her crown and her heart, while the search for ancient secrets unearths more questions than answers.

A mysterious prisoner may hold the information she seeks if she’s willing to bargain. What is the Narrow Gate? Can she finish what she started and save the Insurgos from extinction… even if they don’t want to be saved?

355 pages, Unknown Binding

First published February 1, 2020

About the author

Amory Cannon is an author of Young Adult and low spice romantasy novels. Her favorite things include autumn (anything pumpkin spice), Harry Potter (proud Ravenclaw), and Sherlock Holmes. She published her first book under the name Amryn Cross while working as a forensic scientist. Her non-writing time is filled with running, crafting, and snuggling her two dogs–Luna and Argo. She currently resides in Tennessee.

Reviews

[Cover Lover Book Review · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Desolate Reign pulled me quickly, and I was glad it began where The Broken Crown left off. I got used to the first-person present narration in the first book, so I sank into this installment much faster.

Because young adult fiction isn’t one of my preferred genres, I hesitated to read this series, but it is so different than what I expected. It’s not filled with magic and such but has a wonderful spiritual aspect. Something I love in Christian fiction.

I love the strong spiritual aspects most of all. Emilia is far from free and must make difficult decisions. The tension builds even stronger in this book, and I became more and more invested.

An engaging story dealing with romance, faith, trust, and sacrifice. I’m pleased there is a third book in this series.

First Line: We’ve been wandering in the mountains outside Aurora for almost a week when I first hear the voice.
Series: The Narrow Gate book 2
Genre: YA, Christian Fiction
Author: Amory Cannon
Page Count: 357
Reading Age: 13-18

#CoverLoverBookReview received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions are 100% mine.

[Tabitha Bouldin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Picking up where The Broken Crown left off, The Desolate Reign takes off on another wild adventure with Emilia and Felix. I struggled a bit with Emilia in this one and had to keep reminding myself that she's only 17 and lived as a soldier, not a princess, for most of her life. I wanted her to take control of her life, but the journey she chose led the book along a path that delved deep into learning her true identity and finding her place--and her peace--with God. The author keeps the reader engaged with Emilia's thoughts and Felix's steady presence, along with a sense of doom that seems to hover everywhere Emilia goes. I enjoyed the tension between Emilia and Felix, and I'm curious to see how things resolve in book 3.
I received a copy of this book from the author through JustReadTours. I was not required to leave a positive review. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.

[Jasmine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Will she trade her sword for a crown?

Picking up where the previous The Narrow Gate novel left off, The Desolate Reign dives right back into the drama and intrigue as Emilia has to make some difficult decisions on whether she will claim her crown, step forward to take up the Insurgo cause, and who will sit on the throne next to her.

Honestly, as much as I enjoyed The Broken Crown, I enjoyed The Desolate Reign even more. Amory Cannon has really upped her game with her second The Narrow Gate book. The stakes have gotten higher and the consequences greater. Of course, all of that means a book that is pretty hard to put down. OK, closer to impossible...

Once again Amory Cannon has brought her world to life in vivid detail through Emilia's first person POV. While, some people don't care for that particular POV, I actually like it when it is done right. And Amory Cannon has done it very well in her Narrow Gate books. In some ways it was somewhat reminiscent of stories from authors like Melanie Cellier and Camille Peters – but with a much stronger and more overt Christian message.

The only problem I had with The Desolate Reign was that it ended on a real cliffhanger and now I have to waaaiiit, and very impatiently I might add, to find out what happens...

(I received a copy of this book from the author/publisher. All opinions are entirely my own.)

[Genette Bowman]

Wow this book is as great as the first! I tried to NOT read it all in one setting but I couldn’t help myself! This book is like the first one, it does not disappoint I loved it!! I can’t wait for the 3rd one!

[Faith · Rating 5 out of 5]

A riveting sequel that picks up in the aftermath of the previous book.

Emilia is on the run, and claiming her throne seems like a good solution with her life on the line. In Borealis Emilia must face a new set of political intrigues and matchmaking games, as her heart is torn between duty and love.

A fitting sequel, that brings up more questions than it answers in preparation for the coming conclusion. I like that Emilia is a flawed heroine, and we get to see more of her vulnerabilities. Felix is definitely my favorite character, but still mysterious as ever though I have my theories. I liked that this book added to the mystery, with great build up for the next installment.

Overall, a solid sequel, riveting and hard to put down with the mounting tension between the characters as the stakes rise. This book added more components and factors to the mix, and it will be interesting to see how it all plays out in the conclusion. Perfect series for fans of romance, intrigue, with elements of a fantasy without magic!

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

[funkelbunt.liest · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m in the middle of the last book of the trilogy - ‘The Ancient Heir’ - while writing this review and my mind and heart are FULL of everything this series has to offer, so I don’t really know where to start.

I already loved ‘The Broken Crown’ and I think I even loved this one more! (Sometimes I hate this star rating system, because I would definitely give more than 5 if I could!)

It has the same wonderful characters, strong faith messages, romance and adventure.

So I would say the themes are the same, but it definitely picked up the pace and I kept turning pages, wanting to find answers to more and more confusing questions (What is the Gate of Life? Is Emilia the Princess that was Promised? What is she supposed to do to fulfill this prophecy? And who can she trust in this spiritual and political mess???).

Most of the questions aren’t completely answered in this book and she (and I, since I’m only 50% in the third book) still has to figure things out.

The book picks up exactly where the first one ends and Emilia has to decide where to go after she fled the Imperial Palace, where Cyrus wanted to execute her for her allegiance to the Insurgos.
She returns to her kingdom Borealis and even though she seems to be able to be crowned as queen there, the feeling of impending doom is always present.

Emilia stays her stubborn, brave and impulsive self whereas Felix remains as steadfast and stoic as ever and the tension between them and their incapability or refusal to communicate was as entertaining as it was frustrating.
How I love these two! I’m not a big fan of all this couple shipping thing, but if I were, they would definitely be one of my top 5 OTPs!

I can’t really say much more about the romance in this book without giving some things away, so I will probably keep some of my inner turmoil to myself until I write my review for book three, but it’s safe to say this was torture. I’m all for the angst in romance and this is absolutely what you get. I couldn’t love Felix more, he is still just absolutely perfect!

I enjoyed seeing Hannah again (I still want her to have her own book!!!) but it was also fun when a new character was added. Again, I don’t want to say much because I think this would somehow spoil the reading experience, but this specific new character brought a layer of humor into this book and I really enjoyed this new addition because the character made me laugh between all the danger and tension but also because it brought a new side, a new camp of Insurgos to the mix. Insurgos who worship the same God, but in a very different way.

The only thing I didn’t like was something very close to the end because it didn’t feel authentic or believable to me. Again I can’t say much without giving away spoilers, but I think the characters and also the nameless people in this book are way too cautious, way too aware of the political tension for this situation to play out the way it did.
It obviously didn’t bother me too much or I wouldn’t have given the book 5 stars, but it was so far the only situation in the trilogy that didn’t feel authentic.

What did feel authentic was Emilia’s faith and character growth. When I said she stayed her stubborn self I mean exactly that. But it felt to me that she grew in her faith and understood things she didn’t before. Like that she should trust in God, that she had a great responsibility and an important task to fulfill, but that God doesn’t depend on her. That it’s always the other way around. We can do nothing without Him. He may choose to use us in different ways, but when we don’t play along we don’t leave Him helpless and perplexed.
I think this realization is as assuring and calming as it is empowering and Emilia learns new things about her God and about herself, always trusting in Him no matter how many questions, how much destruction, devastation, despair and helplessness she’s facing.

Like in my review for book 1 I want to let some quotes speak for themselves, because I think this book is very strong in its faith messages, weaving prayer, praise, scripture and spiritual insights very naturally into the story, portraying a realistic picture of a believer with flaws, questions, struggles.

“I am alive. And more than that, so is my God. His presence thrums in my veins and is more real to me now than He has been before. Cyrus doesn’t know who he’s dealing with. I will be the least of his worries.”

“A hunger grows inside me to know more. Just when I think I’m beginning to understand this God, the one my mother and Levi gave their lives for and the one who has brought me full circle, I stumble across something that reminds me of how little I know. He makes me feel small, but I’m not entirely convinced that’s a bad thing.”

“The sheer magnitude of that revelation brings awed tears to my eyes. Because not only did this God breathe the stars into existence, He also created me and chose me.”

“It leaves me feeling both weak and powerful. Because it’s not my power at all. I’ve tried to do things, to make decisions, based on the power I have because of my position as princess. But I see now that was all wrong. It was never my strength or sovereignty that mattered.”

This book was as captivating as the first, with more action, more danger, more angst, more emotions. I can’t get enough of this series and am struggling not to rush through the last book, because I know this is one of the books where a goodbye will be kind of heartbreaking.

An absolute must read for every Christian Fantasy lover!

* Thank you to the author for letting me read an advanced copy of this book. I leave this review voluntarily and the expressed opinions are my own.

[Meagan Myhren-Bennett · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Desolate Reign
The Narrow Gate #2
By Amory Cannon

Emilia Aurelius has escaped the capital city with Felix, Hannah, Cecelia, Antony, and a contingent of soldiers with loyalty to Felix. But something about their escape seems too easy.

And she's more than hurt at Ronan's silence when she was sentenced to death; she's angry. And she is faced with making decisions she never expected to have to make. Does she claim the crown of Borealis following her father's murder? Or does she go in search of the Insurgos?

At 17 years old, Emilia Aurelius has seen more than most young women her age, definitely more than a princess. But Emilia is no ordinary princess, having spent most of her life in exile following her mother's death for treason. She can fight better than most of the soldiers she has trained with. But acting like a princess is something she is not prepared for. And taking the reigns of a nation and leading even less.

But as Emilia finds out, even though she is free from the Empire, she is still being manipulated. But now she is manipulated by more than the royal court. But to bring peace, she will give up what she truly wants. But will her sacrifices bring peace between the Insurgos and Borealis, and by extension, the Empire?

The Desolate Reign is the second book in The Narrow Way series, and if possible, more intense than The Broken Crown. Emelia and Felix are caught in the circumstances of who they are. Felix is as mysterious as can be - his past is unknown. And both are determined to do their duty, but where will it lead them? Emelia feels a pull and a voice seems to be asking her to do something, but how can she know what the right answer is?

I found this book to be engaging, and it held my interest from the first sentence. This is written for the YA audience, but it should appeal to older readers too. Readers of Jill Williamson (Blood of Kings series), Melanie Dickerson, Melanie Cellier, and Jennifer Nielsen (False King series) should enjoy this book/series.

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book with no expectations, but that I offer my honest opinion, all thoughts expressed are my own.

[Wren · Rating 5 out of 5]

In The Desolate Reign, Emilia's story continues. She, Felix, her ladies Hannah and Cecily, plus soldiers who've followed her and their commander, have headed to Emilia's home kingdom of Borealis. With her father gone, she is immediately in line to be queen. But when they get there, a council who treats her like a child and her cousin are in charge. And Cyrus, the emperor, is still out there. What is his plan? Emilia can't believe, at all, that he'll allow her and her kingdom to stand, nor the believers in God (the Insurgos) to live. But he's asking for peace. Can he be trusted?

Emilia's and Felix's story continues in book two of The Narrow Gate series. Emilia has foes aligned against her that she doesn't know (and Cyrus, whom she does). Her heart is drawn toward noble, godly Felix. But there's still the ruling of her kingdom. She doesn't know what she should do--but God has never left her nor forsaken her. And He will lead them, through dangers on every side.

Amory Cannon's heroine and hero are captivating. Readers will read this book as quickly as they can, to discover what Emilia's and Felix's (and the kingdoms') fates will be. Read book 1, The Broken Crown, then get a copy of The Desolate Reign. You'll be encouraged and inspired--and you'll love this story!

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the author. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.

[Jane · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Desolate Reign is the second book in Amory Cannon’s Narrow Gate series. Book two picks up almost immediately where book one left off. I highly recommend reading the books in order.
I love it when fantasy authors incorporate Scripture into their stories. Cannon does this throughout the books using adapted Bible passages as part of the Aletheia, the book of the followers of the one true God.
Emilia continues on her quest to learn more of the true God. Commander Felix and her lady’s maid Hannah help her along that path as they are also true believers. Emilia faces uncertainty and isn’t sure just who she can trust as she returns to her home kingdom to claim the crown following her father’s death. Sometimes things appear too good to be true.
Cannon has done an excellent job with creating tension in the plot. This was definitely a “can’t put it down” book for me.
I can’t wait to read book three which is due out later this month.
The Desolate Reign would be a great addition to the fantasy section of a k-12 Christian school library. It is appropriate for advanced elementary students and older.
I received a complimentary copy of The Desolate Reign. This is my honest review.

[Brittany Rinehart · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is the second in the Narrow Gate Series. The story throughout the books is developing well. I am also enjoying that the character development is continuing and we are starting to see more of it in depth, especially at the end of the novel. There seems to be a hint that we are going to see more of Felix and Ronan's past and more character development coming after this novel. I am also enjoying seeing more depth out of the secondary characters in the story. I do hope that there will be maybe more novels coming with their stories. I am working on my theories on what will happen in the next novel in the series and I am excited to see what happens. The plot is continuing to intrigue me and the story has been well thought out and planned. This is continuing to be one of my favorite series. The story is also continuing with a clean romantic theme.

[Jess Chavez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such an addictive 2nd book in the series! It was cool to finally see her home kingdom and the tension between her Felix drove me crazy at times... in a good way! I am excited to see where the story goes and can't wait for book 3!

[Katie Stowe · Rating 3 out of 5]

I loved the overall plot of the book and the action, deception, and twists. It was great and I was ENGAGED! My problem with this book mirrors that of the first one. The love triangle goes to far for me. Emilia is dedicated to one man, but is emotionally (and at times physically) invested in other. Essentially, it's cheating and it's gross, and it's not portrayed negatively - Emilia knows it's wrong, but there are no consequences. It would be fine for a secular book, but for this to be a Christian fiction and still have that theme present throughout just doesn't sit well with me. The plot is for sure 4 ⭐ though.

[Maricel]

According to the author's facebook page, the tentative release date is September 2017. However, she hasn't reveal the details yet - just the title, edr (expected date of release), and book cover.