Reign of Mist

The Oremere Chronicles #2

by Helen Scheuerer

The realm’s darkest secret is out.

The cruelty of the capital and the power-hungry King Arden have scattered Bleak and her companions across the continents.

On the run in a foreign land, Bleak finds herself tied to some unexpected strangers. When the answers she yearns for are finally within reach, she must face the hard truths of her past, and take her fate into her own hands before it’s too late.

Meanwhile, secrets and magic unravel as a dark power corrupts the realm. Bleak’s friends are forced to decide where their loyalties lie, and who, if anyone, they can trust.

But one thing is certain: war is coming, and they must all be ready when it does.

Intriguing and action-packed, Reign of Mist is the second instalment in Helen Scheuerer’s epic YA fantasy series, The Oremere Chronicles.


Available in digital and print. Audiobook coming soon.

Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult, Magic, Young Adult Fantasy, Fiction, High Fantasy, Adventure

553 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 9, 2018

About the author

Helen Scheuerer is the fantasy author of the bestselling series, The Oremere Chronicles, the Curse of the Cyren Queen quartet and The Legends of Thezmarr. Her work has been highly praised for its strong, flawed female characters and its action-packed plots.

Helen’s love of writing and books led her to pursue a creative writing degree and a Masters of Publishing. She has been a full-time author since 2018 and now lives amidst the mountains in New Zealand where she is constantly dreaming up new stories.

Reviews

[Dianne · Rating 5 out of 5]

A perfect, action-packed epic fantasy for young adults (of all ages)! Beware of the Mist, it’s always out there, and it’s corrupting the realm with its dark magic and bringing a war of epic proportions.

REIGN OF MIST by Helen Scheuerer is the second installment in her fabulous fantasy series and all bets are off as secrets are exposed, pasts are revealed and reconciled and the future lay shrouded in the hands of Fate.

From the day she lost everything for the second time, Bleak’s life became an overwhelming load to carry, alone, on the run from both the King and a rebel warrior faction, her magic has been more of a curse than a gift. Now stronger, allied with others like herself, Bleak is on a mission to save the realm from the wicked machinations of an evil King who has chased her allies to all corners of the world.

Now part of an unlikely group of rebels struggling to survive, Bleak will discover secrets of her past, the evil of a false queen and that not every Ashai is playing on her team. Old characters and new will add to the chaos of this troubled realm, as a father will do anything to keep his son safe, no matter how dishonorable, a blind princess understands more than those with sight around her and sisters will reunite in a tense meeting that will test the bonds of blood, loyalty and trust.

Non-stop action, brilliant character interactions and strong characters make this epic fantasy come alive as each story path leads toward another thunderous ending, or is it a powerful bridge into book three? Nothing is as it seems at first and nothing will be the same ever again, as good versus evil heads toward the final showdown in book three of this trilogy....And the wait is on...

Start to finish, I was hooked! I saw characters grow, friendships blossom and terrible truths revealed and still, this tale is NOT over, thanks to Helen Scheuerer’s masterful storytelling and brilliant imagination!


I received a complimentary ARC edition from Helen Scheuerer!

Series: The Oremere Chronicles - Book 2
Expected publication: September 13th 2018 by Talem Press
For Reviews, Giveaways, Fabulous Book News, follow: http://tometender.blogspot.com

[Beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 STARS!

I don't know what it is about this series, but I am hooked, there isn't another book to add to my goodreads shelf and not to be dramatic or anything but I NEED ANSWERS!

"Bravery is doing something despite being scared.”

I finished Heart of Mist and I knew that I needed to pick up the second instalment ASAP, the story picks off exactly where it left off. The majority of the characters had gone off in different directions for multiple reasons and I was worried about what was going to happen and how the story would progress, I am so happy that it didn’t disappoint me!

Once again the story is building and building, and we get a lot more information in this and on some occasions I was completely shook in particular those last few pages, I couldn’t believe it, literally my jaw was on the floor and I was left screaming at my book that it couldn’t end like that (in all of the best possible ways).

What I enjoy so much about this series is the Characters, some in particular really stand out, even though I hate some of the choices they make, but the depth of them really does make me so happy, not only that but new characters are thrown into the mix and some of the older characters from Heart of Mist developed so much and I loved every moment of it.

If you haven’t read Heart of Mist and are planning on reading the series, you may not want to read below as there will be some form of spoilers from that book.

”Scars are proof that you survived something. That’s why they looked. They were impressed that you’d overcome something so horrific.”

Characters

Going into this I was so worried about Bleak. I didn’t know where we’d end up. We see a complete shit storm unfold in Heart of Mist and that’s a lot to come back from. We see her go from strength to strength which I didn’t even think could happen. We see her bond with new people and her relationship with Rion had be GAGGED! I loved it. It was interesting to see her come into her own and I’m weary once again of what’s to come!

Then we have Henri and Sahara, now going into this I just knew there was more to this than what met the eye. There was no body it just couldn’t be. I enjoyed seeing these two, they’re both strong characters but at the same time it was nice to see interactions with bleak and other characters. There’s an interesting conflict going on with Athene and I like that Henri can sense something going on. We see their similarities and differences and them finally reuniting which I was low key scared about!

Hands down my two favourite characters of this series are Fiore and Swinton. I can hold my hands up and say that Swinton is not a nice character. He does morally horrible things, however he has SO many layers! There’s a purpose for why he does what he does, but you can sense his despair at times. It’s difficult to explain, but at times Swinton really made me feel so angry, but I’d rather have a character bring some of emotion out of me than them being meh. Then we have Fi, he’s just so lovable and likeable. There’s a lot to his character that we still don’t know yet, and that makes him even more appealing. It’s as though he’s got lots of connections and how he got them we don’t know (but I’m hoping we get to find out) the way he talks to people, and interacts I could just gush all day about Fi, he’s just so loyal! Even though Swinton is awful he still trusts his friend and tries to show him and steer him on the right path!

We have the sweet sweet Olena and Nazuri. In such chaos it’s always good to have just “nice” characters. Lena has been sent to marry Prince Nazuri, I was so worried for Olena because I didn’t want things to happen to her, but Nazuri clearly cares (or so I hope) about her! Things happen and Nazuri is always there for her and I just didn’t expect it, but I was low key thrilled at this pairing!

A character that I was really looking forward to was Dash and his story did not disappointed. Something happened that I kind of guessed, but only because of something that happened, but nevertheless I still enjoyed it. To say he has the biggest transformation in this book is an understatement to say the least. Out of all of the characters, I’m very interested to see what’s going to happen with his character! Along with dash we’re introduced to Eydis who is the Queen. I loved her connection with Bear that I want to know more about, she’s strong and courageous. She is also a seer but her magic isn’t as strong as others. I’m looking forward to what’s to come!

Then we have the villains Ines and Langdon. I still don’t know that much about them, but what I do, my GOD! Ones is a character that I want to know more of, her magic is by far the one that stands out because she has so much power, but we haven’t seen a lot of it just yet. Then Langdon enjoys torture, once again we didn’t see a lot of this, but what we did he was just pure evil and a character that you will just hate!

I’m not going to say too much about The Tailor, but he’s such an intriguing character, there’s going to be so much to come and I am SO excited to see what’s to come, but I literally couldn’t talk about characters and not include him, please please tell me more!

What I liked?
- We get to see Oremere! We’d heard snippets of it previously so it was enjoyable to actually see what had become of it
- Lots of little links, it was interesting to see because things I’d picked up before I was wondering if/how they’d link up
- Teerah Panthers! yes yes yes
- Olenas smarts! She knew who she should and shouldn’t trust and the fact that Nazuri wanted to be friends I was just like THANK GOD, I mean if there is romance I’m not mad at it
- Casimir and his powers! I didn’t mention him above because he isn’t mentioned for the first 100 pages so this is a just in case. There are so many unknown things, however we see some vulnerable moments and there’s a connection to him and Bleak that I need more of!
- The unraveling throughout, there was so much, it was BAM BAM BAM. So good
- All of the premonitions from the characters, I’m worried!
- Fi and Swinton finally having that talk, I had been waiting and waiting, and to see Swinton let down a barrier, I could of cried with happiness
- Not to praise Fi any more but he took a stand and was like, nope not today. I was cheering!
- The Tailor is EVERYTHING, he’s mysterious, and I’m still left hanging want to know everything, he pops up at unexpected times and I just love it!
- That letter, I literally can’t
- A certain chapter that involved the Valians, Bleak and Fi uniting and it was greatttttt
- Fi calling everyone “Old friend” my heart
- Eydis being kind to Dash, it was just such a sweet moment after everything he’d been through

What I didn’t like?
- My only gripe is I really missed Bren, and it just felt like such a long time before we actually got to see him again, and when we did I was so sad at them reuniting, because the way that I pictured Bren and his character I thought he’d of given Bleak the time to at least explain what had happened.

Overall I’m so happy that I’ve picked up this series, I’m eagerly anticipating the third book, there’s nothing on Goodreads to tell me when this will be, but I’m just going to sit here impatiently and hope it comes sooner rather than later because I have a lot of questions an I need answers.

Heart of Mist - 5 Stars
Reign of Mist - 5 Stars
War of Mist - 5 Stars

[Sofii♡ (A Book. A Thought.) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, this book was everything I expected and even more, I'm super happy to have decided to continue with this trilogy because it only gets better. The growth of each of the aspects is extraordinary, from the world building, which has become much broader, to the characters development, who have proved to have more layers and be more complex than in the previous book. A pleasure to read a story like this one, I felt that I was watching a tv series at the height of something like GOT, AN INCREDIBLE WORK, that deserves much more love.



4.5/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

You can find more of my reviews on my blog A Book. A Thought.


I'll tell you shortly and very quickly as the book begins, I don't want to do any spoilers so don't worry if you haven't read this book or the previous one.
Bleak 's now in a new and legendary place that seems uninhabited at first, but soon she realizes that not only are people living there, but they're creating a resistance to fight for the greater good. Henri has decided to travel to Wildenhaven to ask for help from Queen Eydis, an old friend, on her fight against King Arden, but once there, Eydis will make shocking revelations to Henri.
Swinton and Fiore, on the other hand, are in Battalon fulfilling the mission that King Arden has ordered to them, which is to take care of Princess Olena, who's there to marry Prince Nazuri.
Far in another kingdom, we have Dash, for whom soon things will change drastically and he'll be struggling to survive.


This is one of those super solid sequels, I know that sequels have a reputation as being used like filled or used as bridges between the first book and the third one, but this for me, is a book that can't be missed, with a lot of information and important moments. There's not a moment that isn't there just for being there but to further develop the plot, it's very rich in content and revelations too. Besides being highly enjoyable from the first page, it's also super easy and quick to read.

I really want to talk about the world building because I'm absolutely in love with how that has been developed in this book. I know that in my review of the previous book I said that felt like an introduction to something else since I felt we had only a little bit of everything but nothing touched in depth, well depth is what we have in this book, and that's why I'm so happy with it. the world building is everything I wanted, we know a new place which had me VERY intrigued, and we go through more of the map. We know places like Wildenhaven that's similar to Winterfell or something like that, adored that place, it's mysterious, a little dark and magical too, it has great legends and it makes reading very atmospheric. Then we have Battalon which is a place located in the desert so the contrast between one place to another is real. All these changes between climates and landscapes make it very entertaining to read the book and follow the characters in their travels.


I'm still amazed at how much this book feels like a movie or a TV series, and I love that, you know when I mention that in general, it's because I can visualize everything very clearly in my mind and I owe everything to the incredible writing style from the author who only improves and improves, I can't wait to read the next book just to enjoy that aspect a bit more. The dialogues improved a lot, it was another thing that I didn't like of the first book that much, but in this one, I managed to enjoy them, maybe because I was so deep in the plot itself that I didn't focus much on that.



I'm very happy with the path that all the characters have taken, I think they have faced many challenges that have made them grow and I liked being part of that. I'll talk just a little about the main ones as I usually do, although I can't reveal much I'll tell you in general terms what I felt and thought

Bleak has come a long way to get to where she is, at the end of the previous book we learned a little more about things related to her past and her identity but in this book we explore much more that topic, which I really liked, I must say that the outcome of everything is kind of obvious if you ask me, it was predictable for me, but still enjoyed it. The strength that she has gathered throughout her journey and her courage is really admirable, looking back, Bleak is definitely a new person now, and makes me happy for her. She has new goals and objectives and to read about her and her relationship with the other characters was very interesting for me. I didn't like her very much in the first book, but in this one, I think that she finally found herself a bit more and ended up being a good main character.

I still have a strange relationship with Henri, on one hand, I love that she's the strong and warrior woman who goes for everything and is willing to do anything for her people, but on the other hand, I can't connect with her on another level, I feel that I like that this is a complicated character, it adds something more to the plot, but it's not my favorite and sometimes it gets me a little bit mad, maybe it's just her personality, it's a super personal opinion, though. I really liked seeing her reaction to the huge revelation that this book has, I think that this will change many things in Henri's life and it will make her think differently.

I still LOVE Swinton and Fiore, they're my favorite couple, I really enjoyed their interactions, it's obvious that they have developed a very strong friendship or at least a very unique bond, but there are still many secrets between them and that makes it a bit complicated, also with the King in the middle everything is very intense, even so, it's one of my favorite dynamics to read about.
I appreciate that the author has decided to focus more on friendship in this book than in, for example, the romance, that's refreshing and completely charming. Not only talking about these characters, though but also about others.
I'm discovering another facet of Swinton in this book, and I love that, I always thought it was a very interesting character, dark and disturbed but with a good heart and a fascinating past , and I still think so, I think every time he appears on the scene It gives the best, I can't control my emotions with his story and I just need more!
The same thing happens with Fiore, I always find myself laughing like a fool when I read about him, I love him, I think he contributes a lot to the plot with his adventurous heart, but in the end, he's there when is necessary and he has been responsible for very anticipated and great moments.

And then we have Dash, my poor little Dash, who has had to go through the most terrible moments during the book, he's so sweet and so loyal, I love his personality. I think that this book is where this character develops most and is given a greater role. He must go through a very drastic change that will make him participate in unexpected situations and then things happen regarding his powers and his relationship with other characters that are gold.

And then we have thousands of characters more and I think that each one fulfills a good function and they make the plot continue moving, developing and growing marvelously. Characters such as Eydis, Ines, Casimir, Athena, Olena and more. All very well created.


We have an incredible incorporation that I should mention and that's a kind of animal that's a Teerah Panther, they're basically giant panthers and OMG, I love these animals or creatures, whatever you want to call them, they're so interesting, especially I adored Rion, who creates a very special bond with Bleak, it's so beautiful, I just can't.


I really liked the magic system, I think the author has been very smart in incorporating new Ashais to the equation and in this way infinite possibilities have been opened for the plot future. .There's a power, in particular, that seemed very original to me: one of them can steal years of another person just by touching it and in this way, he can prolong his own life, which I think is amazing Even so, I would like to know a little more about the Bleak's power, I feel that I get it but I don't know its full potential yet, but I know that now that the war is near we'll soon find out.



The revelations are very good and I think that above all they're done at the right time, some of them are predictable but you can still enjoy them, but there are many unexpected and surprising ones. We know more about the mist and its purpose, which is very interesting.

There's a war coming, between our beloved characters and Ines, an evil queen ready to take all, and I'm terrified but at the same time excited to know what will happen in the last book. It will probably involve many feelings, but I'll try to handle it. I know that the first book, although it was very entertaining and has very strong and solid points, wasn't really shocking to me but this has certainly left me wanting for more, it's a great job on the author and I'm really excited to read the conclusion. I highly recommend these books if you like high fantasy, it's a very complete fantasy, has elements that you'll surely enjoy, like a great world building full of realms to a very good magical system. But it's also a very cultural book that shows different races and cultures coexisting for a greater good, which's also very interesting. I recommend it a lot.

[Shealea · Rating 5 out of 5]

In Reign of Mist, I was able to still experience all the things that had me falling in love with the first book, but with an added punch that just catapulted things into a higher level. I was immersed in the familiar atmospheric writing style, lyrically evocative prose, and masterful storytelling of the author, as well as a fantastical realm I am certainly no stranger to.

In essence, reading this book felt a lot like coming home. Reign of Mist is intimately familiar territory but with exponentially higher stakes, larger and more imminent threats, and grander adventures. Plus, much like the first book, it is intricately seasoned with plot twists, surprises, and shocking reveals that either kept me on my toes or made me feel totally blindsided!

For the most part, the journeying in Heart of Mist was confined to the kingdom of Ellest. In contrast, Reign of Mist is set all over the other regions of the Upper Realm: Battalon, a desert kingdom ridden with destructive firestorms; Havennesse, a deceivingly beautiful, snowed region with an unforgiving icy climate; and, of course, the mysterious land that lies beyond the notoriously dangerous mist.

Just when I thought this series could not get any better, there’s an addition of more fantastic, exceptional women to an already large cast of empowered and remarkable female characters!

In my opinion, reading Reign of Mist felt a lot like reading a female-led, female-driven Game of Thrones. Here, women were at the forefront of war, politics, and strategy, while men took a bit of a backseat (although that’s not to say that they didn’t hold important roles, too).

In essence, Reign of Mist not only largely drew from feminist themes, but also, and perhaps more significantly, actively defied female stereotypes commonly found in the fantasy genre. In simpler words: women being strong without having to lose their femininity (i.e. women still being women, and not women trying to be and to act like men).

🔹 Answers to questions that have long haunted me since the first book!
🔹 Second Book Syndrome? I don’t know her.
🔹 A gripping exploration & a thrillingly paced adventure!
🔹 Flawed characters written with empathy & character relationships that have death grips on my reader heart!
🔹 More fighting & more ass-kicking!
🔹 The groundbreaking YA feminist fantasy we all deserve (and should 110% stan).
🔹 Themes, representations, & messages that are definitely worth commending.
🔹 Much better the second time around!

Yes, I’ve read this book twice, and quite frankly, my reading experience was better the second time around. Basically, what I’m really trying to say is: Reign of Mist, and The Oremere Chronicles as a whole, is a series I cannot get enough of. It’s complex, compelling, and clearly brilliantly written. For me, Helen just successfully set the golden standard of what a phenomenally written feminist fantasy should be, and I am extremely excited for the thrilling conclusion of this trilogy.

Content/Trigger warnings:
War and violence; death; kidnapping; physical and mental torture; sickness and plague; alcohol addiction; allusions to sex (not explicit).

Quick disclosure: I received a paperback copy of Reign of Mist from the author in exchange for an honest review.

Actual rating: 5 stars
* Read the rest of this review in my natural habitat!
* Read 10 reasons why you should pick this book up (and enter the giveaway).

[Megan · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars.

This is such an underrated series, so stop sleeping on it people!

Another great instalment to the series by Helen Scheuerer, although I have to admit that I actually liked the first novel a tiny bit more? I'm definitely intrigued by the way that she left things off, and now that the third book, War of Mist, was released just the other week, I'm finally looking forward to getting some answers.

***

Can we just appreciate how beautiful this cover is fjkladfsklfadijofew 😍😍

[Stacy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an e-ARC of this novel from the author in exchange for an honest review.

No spoilers in this rapid review of Reign of Mist. I really liked it! I give it 4.5 stars. The first thought I posted about Reign here on Goodreads was: “Guys, this is really good fantasy.” After finishing the novel, I stand by my initial thought. I was excited to be back in this world, and Scheuerer didn’t disappoint. She built on her well-developed and distinct characters; the climate, geography, and culture of her various continents; and the storylines and mysteries from book 1, Heart of Mist.

As Reign opens, Bleak finds herself in a new world after sailing off into mist at the end of Heart. She discovers the inhabitants have as much to offer as she does, but will she want to (or be able to) befriend them? Henri journeys to the winter kingdom of her childhood friend Eydis. Both women are rulers now, but has their friendship held up enough to become allies?

Swinton and Fiore are on yet another continent for their newest assignment: to watch over and protect Princess Olena as she gets acquainted with her future husband, Prince Nazuri. The prince is nothing like the men expected. Is he a good match for the innocent yet perceptive princess? And everyone’s favorite stable boy Dash ends up in dire straits. Only a drastic change can get him what he desperately needs. Is it worth the price he must pay, even if it alters the trajectory of his life?

War looms over the aforementioned characters. As we saw at the end of Heart, King Arden has joined forces with Queen Ines, so the other kingdoms must unite to have any hope of defeating their combined strength and resources. Yet Bleak and the gang soon discover it’s difficult to align with people with different backgrounds, belief systems, and loyalties, especially when everyone seems to harbor a secret.

What a set-up, right? Scheuerer has developed a lush fantasy world that I never want to leave. I was fascinated by the forests of Valia and their warrior-women leaders in Heart, but I was perhaps even more entranced by the deserts of Battalon as well as the bitterly cold, icy world of Wildenhaven, particularly its mysterious, enchanting Valley of Twisted Trees. And the means of communication Scheuerer introduced between these nations was unique and fun.

Also, I love these characters! I was going to record my favorite but realized that was too hard a task. I would need to list nearly every single main character plus a few secondary ones, too. This is a testament to how real the characters feel and how each of their struggles tug on my heartstrings. I often appreciate a desperately conflicted character most of all, though, so that might land Swinton at the top of my list. I was excited to discover I’m not the only one who loves the complex captain; when Scheuerer asked her readers which character they wanted the next novella to be about, Swinton is the one readers chose!

There hasn’t been much romance in the Mist books so far, but I haven’t even missed it. (And that’s saying something! I always enjoy the angst of a good love story whether it’s the primary or secondary part of the plot.) Scheuerer focuses on friendships instead. There are many strong female relationships, and the two new ones struck in Reign are even better than those in Heart. The primary male friendship is conflicted and full of secrets, but in the end it might just be the best of them all.

Scheuerer’s writing talent continues to blossom. Her prose is appealing, and she’s great at sprinkling hints here and there to be developed later in the story. These clues kept me guessing, and I only figured out one of the mysteries on my own. I like that none of them were too obvious, yet they made sense in retrospect. And Scheuerer’s imagination seems infinite. The magical system she created dealt me my favorite surprise of the book: a healing unlike any I’ve ever read.

This indie reads like a blockbuster and a for-sure bestseller. I certainly hope it ends up being one! If you love YA fantasy, pick up Heart of Mist now, and then grab a copy of Reign of Mist when it comes out on September 13th.

Read all of our reviews here.
Check out our full book recaps here.

[Surbhi Das · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 Stars rounded up to 4!

Books in the trilogy.

1. Heart of Mist - ⭐⭐⭐
2. Reign of Mist - ⭐⭐⭐⭐
3. War of Mist - ⭐⭐⭐⭐

ARC received from Author, in exchange for my honest opinion.

[Karlita | Tale Out Loud · Rating 5 out of 5]

A month ago, I wrote a review where I pointed out all the important things you should know about the Heart of Mist. From the world building, characters, down to the overall message of the story, I truly love how it was strikingly written.

When I finished Heart of Mist, I was so much wrapped in it that I can’t wait to figure out what will be going to happen next. And with only two hours of sleep that day, I know it’s totally worth it. So, it’s not surprising how Reign of Mist blown me away and drove me into a gobsmackingly hot mess.

The story started out with instant suspense, carrying over the hype from the first book. If you love the characters in Heart of Mist, Eydis and Sarah were a great addition to the star-studded strong female characters that made the story pivotal and even more so unforgettable.

“We're not all born equal in strength and agility, but a mind can be as sharp as any blade, if you know how to wield it.”

On the other hand, Casimir and Tailor’s characters gave more depth to the true nature of Bleak’s identity. For me, it became sort of a mystery to know who she truly is in Heart of Mist. That's why the connection they have with each other was one of my most favorite reveal here in the story. It was just so well written, well developed that when I think about the ending, it gives me that fresh feeling of surprise even I had a huge hint about it.

Here in Reign of Mist, there’s more to Bleak than just being the scrawny young woman who’s seeking for cure and answers. She was finally able to accept the potential of her power and realized her ability to lead with such grace and confidence. I was also able to feel the sincerity of her character who will do anything for her friends and fight for them if she needs to.

That goes the same with Henri. She’s one of those characters whom I could vividly imagine—brave, strong-willed but goes mushy and soft inside when it comes to those people she loves. But above all else, rekindling her relationship with Sarah helped her recognize the truth and released the feelings of hurt, burden and pain she kept inside for a long time.

As the story progress, I discovered more about the secrets Swinton had while a huge weight has been lifted off his chest who leaned on his friend, Fiore, for help and advice. He, somehow, redeemed himself before the story ended but let’s hope this time that he is truly a changed man.

Speaking of Fiore, he holds a secret of his own which definitely spice up the gravity of his role. And as early as now, I’d like to expect him in some sort of love triangle with Tailor and Bleak. I’m also waiting for the turn of events for both Olena and Prince Nazuri. I know they’ve grown close and became an ally but we shall learn more of these when the third book comes out.

“The mist is coming, and with it comes a power so hungry for magic, it threatens the whole realm.”

Moreover, the true face of Oremere was revealed. While the characters discovered the truth about it, its history and why it was wiped out of its existence, I realized how Oremere's identity mirror that of Bleak's. In this story, fate willed them to meet face to face knowing they're the true heir to reign the whole realm.

That being said, I love how Helen significantly uncover the whole Upper Realm in the map. It shouldn’t go unnoticed because sometimes, it gives the first major clue in the story’s plot. If you are like me, maps are just one of the things that I’m always looking forward to see in every fantasy books I read. It fascinates me like how I often bask in awe with Game of Thrones’ map every time I watch its opening credits.

It visually helped me figured out what the world Helen created, making more sense on the mystery surrounding Oremere and all around the Upper Realm. It establishes some sense of familiarity where I was able to connect each character’s journey from forest, dessert, to sea, ice and mist.

Reign of Mist is a story about trust, loyalty and friendship with a non-stop killer plot twists, consistent fast pacing, and exciting, action-packed scenes that literally astounded me.

Full Review at Tale Out Loud | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

[Hannah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Someone who has the ebook can check my math, but I am pretty confident the word 'What' was used around a billion times. Every other word out of, well, any of the characters mouths was WHAT! Honestly, it was all I was thinking about throughout the first half of this book. I cant even really remember what happened it was so distracting.

Im a little confused about the magic system. Im a little confused about Bleak's new powers. Im confused how she is able to sometimes ignore peoples thoughts and other times she is desperate to get rid of the power its so unmanageable. But if you let all that go, if you read this book like a light fantasy its pretty entertaining. I still like all the same people as I liked in the first book and dislike all the same people (Although Henri is growing on me). The ending was good enough to make me impatient for the next installment.

[Haley The Caffeinated Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

Aaaaaaaahhhhhh that ending tho, so glad I get to read War of Mist starting tomorrow

This was just as amazing, wait, no, more amazing than the first book for me.

It's all fangirl gushing for me and I'm not sure I can write a coherent review.

I really appreciated all the complexities of the characters and Bleak's character growth was superb!

I adore Sahara and Casimir but holy cow what an ending! I'm so glad I am able to jump right into book three!

Thank you to Caffeine Book Tours for a copy of this in prep for the War of Mist tour]

[Raphaella · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book!!!
Although some of the plot twists were predictable, the characters are really well formed and each of the anticipated meeting were played out well!!! I strongly recommend xxx

[Morgan | Mashleas Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was lucky enough to be part of the fantastic blog tour celebrating the release of Reign of Mist. To see the full post visit my blog.


Reign of Mist by Helen Scheuerer is another sensational fantasy novel in the Oremere Chronicles. I absolutely devoured this book. It was addictive, fast paced and so full of action I was completely enthralled. You know that feeling when you read a fantastic book, you get hooked right away and all you want to do is keep reading to see what happens? I had this feeling about 3 pages into Reign of Mist. From the very beginning I could not put this book down. Sometimes the second book in a series isn’t as good as the first, but Reign of Mist stepped up and was just as good, if not better than Heart of Mist. Helen’s writing is truly enchanting and that cover is one of the most beautiful things I’ve ever seen! All my favourite characters were back and there was so many twists and unexpected surprises. There is nothing better than a really well written fantasy with fantastic characters. I was amazed at how well written this book was, with many story/character lines coming together in such a smooth fantasy, packed with action.

Many of the characters we met in Book 1 are back and we learn more about them. I loved this, as the characters really came to life and you could feel their motivations and emotions coming right off the page. I loved seeing Bleak’s journey in this book, while still struggling with her addiction she works hard to overcome her weaknesses and help her friends in any way she can. She is so strong, and to read about a character such as her, with her issues and her differences, is really enjoyable. Her relationships with Henri and the others was a treat to read. There are a few characters I want to shake with my hands and slap them for being so silly and many characters that make me laugh out loud. This is what good writing is all about, making the reader feel many different emotions, and Reign of Mist certainly does that. I was happy, sad, shocked and I laughed many times throughout this book.

The book is spread over many different character storylines, and we get more detail about the world and its key players. We are also introduced to a few new characters, who I loved to read about as well. The ending was powerful and engaging and I absolutely cannot wait for book 3!! Overall Reign of Mist was a strong second book in an amazing YA fantasy series. If you haven’t read the first book, Heart of Mist, I strongly recommend you do so! And Reign of Mist is out September 13th.

[Kirsty Hanson · Rating 5 out of 5]

After absolutely LOVING the first book in this series: Heart of Mist, I couldn't wait to be able to read the second book. However, I had to wait a few months first. I had listened to Heart of Mist on audiobook, so I definitely wanted to carry that on and so I pre-ordered the audiobook for Reign of Mist. I had gotten so used to the narrator and the way that she voiced the different characters, that I couldn't think of the characters talk any other way.

The realm’s darkest secret is out.

The cruelty of the capital and the power-hungry King Arden have scattered Bleak and her companions across the continents.

On the run in a foreign land, Bleak finds herself tied to some unexpected strangers. When the answers she yearns for are finally within reach, she must face the hard truths of her past and take her fate into her own hands before it’s too late.

Meanwhile, secrets and magic unravel as a dark power corrupts the realm. Bleak’s friends are forced to decide where their loyalties lie, and who, if anyone, they can trust.

But one thing is certain: war is coming, and they must all be ready when it does.

If you read my review of Heart of Mist, you will know that I loved it so much and Reign of Mist was no different.

Helen Scheuerer has this brilliant way of writing. She captivated you with her descriptions of the world that she's created, and then pulls you in with the character dialogue to make you fall in love with each and every character (even if its a love-to-hate them).

“Love and loss so intricately entwined. You cannot have one without the other, unfortunately.”

― Helen Scheuerer, Reign of Mist

Like Heart of Mist, the sequel is written from a handful of different points of view such as Bleak, Henri, Dash, and Swinton. I don't think that there is A SINGLE POV that I don't like, or one that I prefer to the other. All of them are written with such care, and it doesn't FEEL like Scheuerer has a favourite character, they are all written with such precision. Does that make sense? I normally find that when I'm writing a review of a book that have multiple perspectives, I find it really hard because there are normally some POV's that I'm not a massive fan of. However, that's not the case when it comes to The Oremere Chronicles. I love all of the perspectives and the only characters that I don't like are the ones that we are EXPECTED to dislike i.e. KING ARDEN BECAUSE HE'S CRUEL AND I REALLY WANT HIM TO DIE.

Another element of this book that I really can't get over is how wonderful Scheuerer's writing style is. I know that I already mentioned this in my review of Heart of Mist, but I'm going to mention it again because her descriptions of all the different places are beautiful. I especially loved her descriptions of Havennesse. I normally HATE feeling cold, but the way that Scheuerer described the cold of that part of the world, and then went on to describe the warm clothes and the fire that Bleak would use whilst there just made me feel so comfortable. Havennesse is definitely a place that I would want to go and visit (once they've sorted out all of that cult stuff though. I couldn't be dealing with that.)

“Bravery is doing something despite being scared.”

― Helen Scheuerer, Reign of Mist

I think that one of my favourite elements of this series are the lack of romance. There is a tiny bit of lesbian romance but nothing too major, and I really love how there isn't any because it just shows that you don't need romance to move a plot forward. Scheuerer manages to keep up the pace of an amazing plot without having any romance drama. Also... it doesn't make me feel lonely so there's that...

Instead of focusing of the aforementioned romance drama that plenty of fantasy novels have (I'm looking at you Throne of Glass!), Scheuerer tends to focus more on the friendship element of relationships. What makes two people become friends? What makes a friendship work? There are plenty of new friendships that are struck up in Reign of Mist and the new friendships are ones that I ADORE SO MUCH. They melt my heart and I just love them so much. The old friendships are also conveyed throughout this book as being strong but sometimes tested which I think is brilliant, because just like relationships, no friendship is smooth sailing.

“Someday soon, you are going to have to accept who and what you are.”

― Helen Scheuerer, Reign of Mist

One of the only qualms that I have with this book is one that is very similar to how I feel about the ending of The Remnant Chronicles... The ending of Reign of Mist is so fast paced, which I can definitely understand because it's a battle and battles aren't really slow going. However, the entirety of the second book and some of the first book have been building up to this battle, so to only have the last 50 pages of Reign of Mist this world-changing battle doesn't seem to be enough. I also know that from an editor's point of view, you don't want too much of the book to be battle scenes because the description can get samey and could potentially bore the reader. But there has to be some way to make the two work together, right? Don't look to me for answers because I have no idea... I'm just putting the suggestion out there.

Overall, this was an absolutely fantastic book and I can't believe that I have to wait A WHOLE YEAR for the third (and final?) book. However, there are prequels that I can read in the mean time which I will definitely do. I really don't understand how more people aren't reading this series. It's stunning.

[Stéphanie -is reading her life away- · Rating 4 out of 5]

Meilleure que heart of mist
Les personnages s’enchaînent pour donner un sens et un but a l’histoire j’ai vraiment aimer

[Amber · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bleak escapes the boat that takes her to Moredon Tower and arrives in the land of Oremire. Will she be able to find out who she truly is and be able to fight King Arden and the witch Ines before it is too late? Read on and find out for yourself.

This was a great second installment of the Oremire Chronicles and I look forward to finishing this Fantasy trilogy in the future. If you enjoy fantasies and trilogies, be sure to find this Fantasy trilogy on Amazon and wherever ebooks are sold.

[charlene ✿ · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’m having a very anxious time right now!!!

At no point was I not anxious! Am I having a good time?! Idk I can’t stop reading but I also want to throw up from nerves!! I need answers not everyone almost dying all the time!

[Sofia Casanova · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you didn’t know already, Heart of Mist is one of my favourite YA fantasies of all time. The second instalment, Reign of Mist, definitely did not disappoint. Helen’s writing is addictive and fantastic in its own right; she deserves so much more recognition as her craft is on par to Laini Taylor and Leigh Bardugo. It’s like she plucks magic from the sky and breathes life into new worlds and systems. She fleshes out a diverse cast of characters and makes us fall in love with them. What’s so exciting about Reign of Mist is it brings Oremere to the forefront, and we remember the fevered need to erase this land from history. What really happened on the forgotten continent? Reign of Mist answers those questions for us.

Told through multiple perspectives, our favourites return to a crumbling world diseased by the mist, and struggling to find a solution. What’s brilliant is Helen puts these characters to the test, challenging them to adapt and compromise despite what they want in their hearts. Bleak is once again our heroine, thrust into yet another situation where her life is on the line and her past has caught up with her. Henri, the Valian queen, has to make tough decisions for the sake of her people and her heart. Dimitri Swinton, commander under the cruel and corrupt King Arden, is torn between serving his sovereign and being loyal to his best friend. Sweet and daring Dash, a stable boy and Princess Olena’s best friend, faces his hidden power and the consequences of his father’s actions. And a special mention to Fiore, who stole my heart in Heart of Mist and hasn’t returned it yet.

Reign of Mist is a thrilling fantasy adventure, packed with action, magic, heartache and friendship. It's about the dark desire for power, glory and the world at your knees. It's about wanting the simple life and being torn from your loved ones. It's about corrupt minds and looking for your soft heart, only to find it stone cold. And you know that feeling you get when a series has you in for the long haul? That’s how I feel about the Oremere Chronicles. Oh, and there’s panthers. Yes, big cats. I’m 100% down for this.

Don’t sit on this series. Pick it up. You won’t regret it.

[Joyly Stevens · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Thus is the nature of life, is it not? Love and loss so intricately entwined. You cannot have one without the other, unfortunately."

"We're not all born equal in strength and agility, but a mind can be as sharp as any blade, if you know how to wield it."

"But beneath the shimmering fabrics and cosmetics, death smiled."

"The collision of both forces came in a roaring wave. The clang of steel, the first cries of the wounded and the tang of fresh death exploded as they struck their first blows."

"Not all wars were fought with blades and shields. Not all courage was found in the heart of battle"


Reign of Mist is the second book in the Oremere Chronicles by Helen Scheuerer, following the adventures of our favorite warriors and rebels as they prepare for war. A fight against evil, a fight for freedom, a fight for justice. 

Thank you, Helen, for sending me an ARC of this formidable book!

Holy shit. That's all I can think right now after finishing Reign of Mist. From start to finish, this book has you on the edge of your seat. There is no dull moment, no moment where you can calm your nerves for a little while. Chapter after chapter, thrilling action scenes come at you that will leave you shaking and breathless. Helen has a unique way with words, submerging you deep into the magical world she's created. Her books read so fast you feel like you're flying through the story, turning page after page. It's so good that you cannot help yourself from turning the next page because you have to know what's going to happen. 

Where Heart of Mist was the opening to the magical world that is The Upper Realm, introducing the characters, the world and the politics, Reign of Mist focuses on character development and action. The world is built, the characters are created, now it's time for action. And boy do we get some. Trust me, you're not ready.

We are introduced to new characters, fierce rebel warriors with a strong mindset to match that of the character we already know. Bonds are forged, risks are taken, blood is spilled. 

And if you, for even a second, think you are ready for this book and the ending it has in store for you, I advise you to think again. Because HOLY CRAP THAT ENDING LEFT ME SHAKING!

Below, I will talk a bit about some of the characters in more detail. This may contain spoilers so if you'd rather stay safe then best not read what is between the *** (You can keep reading all the way below after the next ***!)

***
First of all, I want to talk about Bleak and how she has grown formidably as a character throughout this book! She starts off her journey as a weak girl, broken by grieve, struggling with alcoholism. She has no purpose in life, refuses to acknowledge her past and who she really is, and keeps pushing people away. And above all, she despises her magic. She's no fighter. But then things change, and we get to watch Bleak grow, become stronger, more confident. We watch as she slowly comes to love her magic, use it, hone is like the weapon it is. We watch her befriend some great Valian warriors. She becomes the leader she was born to be. People follow her now rather than the other way around. 

Then we have Henri, our Valian queen, who never once strayed from the path that is the Valian way. But then we watch her open her mind more, realizing that the Valian way isn't the only possibility. It is great to see as she too, starts growing closer to people. 

Then we have Commander Swinton. I'm not going to lie I was getting angry with him at the beginning of the book for choosing the coward's way. But part of me always knew that he was going to turn around and make the right choice eventually. What I love so much about his character is that Swinton is as flawed as they come. He makes mistakes, chooses wrong time and again, but in the end, he does what feels right. His character development is a slow but steady one, one needs more time than the other because of all that he stands to lose. It's only normal he cannot make such a big decision with a snap of his fingers.

Also, can we talk about the kitty cats that are the teerah panters!! They are my favorites! I absolutely adore cats and to see such cute felines being a part of this story just warmed my heart. The relationship between Bleak and Rion is one I have with all three of my cats. And it's even more fun when you know that one of them has a black fur, with a subtle grayish shine just like Rion!

Okay and now we need to discuss the end because I am still screaming about that. Somewhere deep inside I've always known (or hoped) that Ermias was still alive. But I never, in a million years, would have guessed who he was and that he's been part of the story all along. He was so cleverly hidden that I can only admire Helen for being so sneaky. 

***

If you're not yet convinced whether you should give this series a chance then let me break it down for you.
- Thrilling action and a unique world building
- LGBT romance
- Fierce warriors and badass Princesses and queens
- Great character development
- A fast-paced plot with dazzling twists and crazy cliffhangers
- Beautiful writing

Reign of Mist comes out September 13 so that's plenty enough time to catch up and start reading Heart of Mist if you haven't already because this dazzling, heart-racing, sequel is one you do not want to miss!

[Alex · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm going to smush my review for books 1 and 2 into one, since I read them one after the other in less than a week and they've kind of blurred together in my head.

I'd like to start by saying I liked these books. I enjoyed the first one enough that I immediately had to read the second, and at the end of that I was frantically searching for when the 3rd would be released.

That being said, I want to talk about some things I did not enjoy in this series before I talk about some things I did enjoy.

Pacing:

Wow, was the pacing fast in these books. I mean... It was a whirlwind. I understand that managing the passage of time with multiple points of view is very difficult, and Scheurer definitely handles it better than most, but at times this really affects the flow of the story. Many of the chapters with Bleak feel so rushed, like both scenes where she murders like 15 people simultaneously just kind of happen and then we just *swoosh* cut to the next scene. Especially the part where she is tortured by Langdon, which is supposed to be a huge, character-altering plot point, really just flew by me. This really lessens the emotional impact of the scenes and feels honestly insensitive towards the emotional journey of the character.

In contrast, many of the chapters with Swinton where she describes him kind of just... Going about his business... Feel very slow and pointless at first. The benefit of these though is that when his plot line picks up and he starts actually doing things, it feels like it's your payoff for listening to him whine about his internal struggles for a long time.

Compared with Bleak's mostly rushed storyline, it kind of makes you feel like Bleak, as a character, exists only to rush the plot along towards its inevitable epic conclusion. This is a shame because a) Bleak, although interesting in concept (I like the idea of exploring alcoholism and how it affects her emotionally in a story like this), is the most predictable and therefore least interesting character (a secret princess? Really? With a secret psychic lion pal? *eyeroll*) and 2) Bleak is kinda set up as the main character. I would have lived to explore Bleaks alcoholism more in the context of her accidentally exploding the brains of like 50 people and then being tortured for several days (or weeks? Hours? It's never clear how long she was in that dungeon), and how she struggles to deal with her guilt while also resisting and occasionally relapsing into her addiction. But then her drinking just kind of gets swept away when it's no longer convenient to the plot...

Also, we spent SO MUCH TIME in Valia and I loved it! When she puts her mind to it Scheurer builds a really great fantasy world, I only wish we had spent any time at all building any of the other locations in that much detail.

Essentially, the pacing of these books doesn't allow time for a lot of world building, which leads me to my next gripe...

World building:

So it's really clear that Scheurer has spent a lot of time with her continents and there's a lot of love here, which just makes the gaping holes in her lovingly built world that much sadder.

Going back to pacing, she sort of rushes through a lot of her world building which makes you kind of want to say 'Hey, wait, stop, can we just go back and explore that some more?'.

Valia is clearly what she spent the most time thinking about, and for all its flaws (women are in charge so now MEN are oppressed haha take that men, but also women are oppressed too and we're actually no better than the men so... Oops?) I did love this part of the books. The tree house apartments! The living bridges! The secret matriarch lookout towers! The trials by combat! Lesbians! It was so much of what I wanted (and did not get) from that Wonder Woman movie.

But then we go everywhere else and it's just like... Meh. You can imagine this your self, reader. You've read enough YA fantasy to be able to fill in the blanks. You don't need me, the author, to write things to tell you where we are or what it's like here.

Seriously it's like: Ellest - your typical fantasy kingdom, Battalon - Aladin live action movie set now with More Fire, Valia - an awesome elaborately designed magic treefort full of badass warrior women and a complex class system and hierarchy built on centuries old tradition steeped in mysterious history and lore complete with a subplot about underlying class tensions (which is conveniently abandoned and then later smoothed over haphazardly) and whether an equal society can truly exist, Havennesse - Frozen live action movie set except Elsa is psychic now, Oremere - its misty here and there's ruins and also tigers.

I would have loved for Scheurer to put half the love she clearly felt for Valia into any of these others places, but it felt like we got more description of the royal Ellestian gardens than we did of Havennesse's capital where HALF THE SECOND BOOK took place.

There were also a few serious, serious worldbuilding sins in these books that I could not get past and some that almost led me to stop reading. I will list them here.

-Travelling takes either NO time at all or FOREVER in these books. Like you made me read pages and pages about Bleak and Swinton travelling to Heathton in Book 1, but now when we want to sail to another country or RUN in TUNNELS under the SEA it takes like... Half a day?
-TUNNELS under the SEA
-in one of the Henri chapters she casually mentions looking at a clock in the Palace at Heathton, and this detail, although small, completely shattered the world in such a huge way for me that it may be singlehandedly responsible for knocking this from a 4-star YA fantasy to a 3-star for me. When one reads fantasy, one makes a lot of assumptions based on stereotypes and subtle queues that the author gives. One of these assumptions is about the level of technological advancement in the fantasy world. We establish early on that complex machines do not exist in this world. Everyone travels on horseback or by wooden boat, there is no running water or electricity, there is not a single machine more complex than an elevator made of wood boxes and pulleys and rope and you're telling me they have clocks? CLOCKS?
-an ELEVATOR made of WOOD BOXES, PULLEYS, AND ROPE. (BUT THEY HAVE CLOCKS.)
-Experiencing frequent firestorms due to rampant climate change caused by overuse of magical power in your fantasy world? No worries, just cover everything in fireproof coating. That's how things work.
-also, worried about what may happen to your crops in said firestorms? Don't worry, just cover them with a fire proof tarp. Everything will be fine and you most certainly will not starve or be incinerated.

But in all seriousness one flaw was so huge, so glaringly obvious, and so damaging to the narrative that I couldn't even blame the author and was honestly more furious at whatever editors and proofreaders she paid (I hope she didn't pay them a lot) to read her early editions: When Bleak uses her mind reading powers to literally enter people's mind and look through their memories, said memories are IN THIRD PERSON.

Inside the mind of the person whose memories they are. They are remembering their own lives in third person. In their own memories. In. Their. Minds.

There's a lot of advice floating around the Internet about how to build a good hard magic system, but only one piece of advice on how NOT TO and this is it.

Also:
-Nicolai is just consistently a dick for no reason and its never explained or addressed.

OK so moving on from that angery rant, here are some things I liked:

-lesbians!
-I joke but also thank you! For the LGBTQ+ representation! With characters that weren't just throwaways! We noticed and it was awesome! More please.
-I genuinely liked each character, even my Sad Whiny Son Swinton who consistently uses all available information to make the worst possible decision for everyone. I was still rooting for him! I think that alone speaks to the skill of the author in creating relatable characters.
-Exploring imperfect characters, like Bleak's alcoholism, Henri's stubbornness and inability to trust and difficulty accepting her same-sex attraction, and Swinton's just general existence. I really would have liked to see more exploration of some of these themes but I enjoyed what I got.
-A genuine sense of suspense drawing from the deep connection I felt with these characters. I do not want them to die. I care if they get hurt. They are all my precious babies and I will fight to protecc them. Especially Henri.
-Henri.
-seriously we are veering so dangerously close to a Tragic Lesbians cliff edge and I am BEGGING YOU to turn this car around before we plunge into Subtly Homophobic Cliche Valley. Don't do this to Henri. Please. I love her. Please don't do it.

Finally, since I read A LOT of YA fantasy books (because I like to re-live my youth and also I keep forgetting to cancel my Kindle Unlimited subscription), here is a list of all the tropes we touched on:

-character we talk about a lot but you thought was dead actually isn't! Such surprise much wow!
-main character is secretly a princess
-magical people are oppressed and persecuted :(
-lazy king who was once a kick ass warrior is now old and lazy and easily seduced by power-hungry women (aka the Robert Baratheon trope)
-main character is an orphan whose parents died tragically
-there used to be a fourth kingdom here but They Are All Dead Now (I'm also not over the Avatar: The Last Airbender movie but there are better ways to handle your grief)
-twins where one twin is magic and the other one isn't and there is Resentment
-my best friend guy who I grew up with is in love with me and I am confused
-overly sexualised female villain
-The Ancient Prophecy Foresaw This Exact Thing Happening and We Tried to Stop it But That Just Made It Happening More
-Honorable Mention: the guy who was in love with me has been brainwashed by the baddies to hate me (you thought it had been long enough since Hunger Games that we would forget this but I could never forget Peta)

I'm conclusion, I will definitely be buying the 3rd book so I'm sure if the author sees this review she'll be crying all the way to the bank and I am totally okay with that.

[Justine from Novels and Panda · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Your secrets have kept you company far too long.”

Reign of Mist is the sequel to the breathtaking The Oremere Chronicles, and god where do I start? Heart of Mist, the first book already had left me in massive awe! And having the sequel read was an even better experience. Downright from the beginning I fell in love and admire Scheuerer’s writing. It is easy to dive into, being it a rich fantasy novel nonetheless. It mimics the world from pages to my mind so effortlessly. And the engrossing characters are highly addictive. I said it once and I say it again, I am in it for the long haul.

I have read the novellas too, may it be a book-length read and a short one it just as enchanting as ever! If you’re interested in that too you can get free copies of it here.

Okay, let’s break it down.

The geography is building up bigger, the secret is out. Everyone knows what lurks in the mist. And Bleak goes on a journey discovering what exists or inhabits that place. The world building is richer than ever. I love it, we, the readers, got to explore more of this world. Which I really enjoy, it doesn’t limit only in the same and only places but truly goes beyond what was only mentioned in the earlier book. Old and new places colliding, new territories are seen and felt too (weather-wise), due to the explicit writing of Ms. Helen…

Action-Sequencing. I love how everything is coming together, as I said I’ve read the novellas too. And dang, I can’t help but nod-smirk at how clever Scheuerer has crafted it to where it is now and still to come. I am in absolute awe, (understatement of the year.) Novellas aside, the direction the story took was exhilarating! Answers were given leading up to another set. It unending and yet managed to surprise me every time.

Point-of-Views. Like the debut, it was multifaceted, Reign of Mist has not failed me to yawn over one point-of-view. I usually have a strong feeling of dislike reading over multifaceted books, it gives me that eager feeling on skipping one to know the continuation of that p-o-v goes. These p-o-vs flows as smooth as possible. I don’t know how it just does. It all felt authentic and nothing forced or appear as trying too hard. The focus on luscious main plot and subplots merge on so bewitchingly delicate each time.

The development of each character has gone through a handful of challenges once again…

Bleak & Henri – oh my, how do I do this without spoiling? friendship, trust, secrets, watch out y’all.
Princess Olena – she has to be one of my favourite person here. Her sharp tongue and clever ways, I need more.
Dash – I love how he became from that whiny kid from Heart of Mist to transforming into this new person. And how involved he is here in Reign of Mist.

Athene, Luka, Bren – this is really interesting. Things are intensifying, chapter by chapter.
Swinton & Fiore, I loved these two from Heart of Mist, Viper’s Kiss, and The King’s Tournament and it gets better and better. Especially Captain Murphadias.

Each individual goes on and faces their challenges once again, each character deals with different changes. The need to adapt for survival. The need to.

And good gods, obviously we’re meeting new characters here! But damn I swear that last part caught me shook. I desperately am in need of the third book. I have a feeling that the agonizing wait for it will be all worth it.

Scheuerer had outdone herself with Reign of Mist! It clearly is something not to sleep on. I cannot recommend it enough. If you’re into a rich fantasy filled with hold-my-frigging-purse-staggering twists, secrets, seriously non-stop action, eloquent characters, and lush world building. Say no more, for here it is.

Sophomore slump? No, not in here. It definitely lived up beyond from its predecessor, Heart of Mist.

[wecantlivewithoutdaylight · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s GOOD!! I enjoyed it a lot! Ofc there was much more action in this one than the first and some of the secrets unveiled, they can be a bit predictable, but you still wait for the moment they are known by the characters and see them react, so I enjoyed that. There were a few surprises as well, when it comes with who you can trust and the well known character development so, nice.
I definitely like this one. Can’t wait to know how things end.

[Sukanya · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was amazing! The twists and plots. In book 1, I thought the storyline is predictable, but I’m glad it wasn’t that way. Can’t wait to read the last one.

[Mikayla Gray · Rating 5 out of 5]

Disclaimer: I was given a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I read a lot of YA fantasy debuts last year, but Heart of Mist was easily one of the best. Would Reign of Mist live up to its predecessor? Or would it suffer the dreaded sophomore slump? Reign doesn’t meet the high bar set by Heart, it hurtles over it with room to spare. It has everything I want in a book. I like believably-written, badass female characters, I like despicable villains (don't try to change me), I like political intrigue and natural world-building, and this book has all of those things turned up to 11.

After the events of the last book, Bleak and her allies are scattered. Hanging plot threads need to be tied up and new ones woven in, all the while establishing history, powers and alliances that would rival an episode of Game of Thrones. Helen Scheuerer weaves together multiple povs and casts her storytelling net wide, bringing together characters and history from all over the realm. Just like Heart of Mist, she gets the showing and telling balance absolutely perfect. With new characters introduced, history to be revealed and secrets brought to light, a less skilled author might have resorted to pages of exposition or characters sat around reciting the plot, but not so here. I couldn’t even pinpoint where I found out about certain characters or events. They were woven so naturally into the story that when they became relevant to the plot, I already knew everything I needed to without the action screeching to a halt so one of the characters could exposit key informaton. The best books do this, and Reign of Mist does it well.

Henri, my favourite character from book one, gets an even meatier role this time around. She’s a total badass, complete with leathers and knives, but the vulnerable side we saw glimpses of in the last book comes to the fore. I’ll keep this review spoiler free but suffice to say we see plenty of emotion alongside the bloodletting. In a book of so many fierce women it would have been easy for some of them to read like clones of each other, but everyone had their own voice. Each character was clearly shaped by their past and it showed in every line of dialogue.

Bleak’s path in the story may be a tad predictable, but the author still manages to put a different spin on it thanks to the unique structure of Oremere’s rulers. Her battle with her addiction to alcohol was one of the best parts of the last book. Not because I particularly like reading character’s suffering, but because it was a refreshingly honest look at the harsh and unpretty reality of drinking yourself into oblivion on a daily basis.

It would be easy for this plot point to have been discarded after it served its purpose in HoM, but that doesn’t happen here. I loved Bleak’s character development and how she fought tooth and nail to stay alive even when she’d been absolutely battered. Her "will they, won't they" relationship with Bren was superbly handled too. One of the things I love most about Helen Scheurer's stories is that she puts a fresh spin on all the YA tropes she uses and Bleak's complicated back and forth with her salt-of-the-earth childhood friend is no exception. I'll admit, I wasn't sold on these two in book one, but the way they work out in this book is note perfect. Believable and bittersweet.

As with any book that deals in multiple povs, there were a couple I found less than enthralling. Captain Swinton’s were easily my least favourite. Perhaps because the character is such an uptight buzzkill I didn’t find much to enjoy in his chapters outside of the plot developments. Although his chapters did give a glimpse of the adorable couple Olena and Nazuri. Theirs may have been a political match rather than a romantic one, but they were a pairing to rival even my OTP of this series, Henri and Athene.

I won’t spoil the ending except for to say; really Helen Scheuerer? You’re going to leave me like this?! HoM ended on one hell of a cliff hanger and after some breakneck-paced chapters, RoM does the same thing. That ending though! Just like last time, there are new players in the game, new threats and whole new worlds that need to be explored. And, just like last time, I have to wait for them!

[Jen T · Rating 5 out of 5]

5/5 *'s! Thank you to Helen for sending me an e-arc in exchange for an honest review!

Reign of Mist is full of whirlwind adventure, strong friendships, beautiful landscapes, lots of plot twists, with dogs, horses and panthers…oh my. It lures you in and you won’t be able to put it down.

The same POVs in HoM transfer over to this one. Bleak, Henri, Dash and Swinton. I loved seeing what everyone was up to and how we got more insight into what was going on in the different realms.

The book starts off exactly where it left off in HoM, where Bleak has entered the mist. We get to meet new characters as she navigates this lost continent and finds answers for the questions she had in the first book. She really grows into her own and you get to watch as she works to stand her own. Bleak becomes more accustomed to her magic and it was amazing to watch as she formed new friendships and bonds with them.

nd speaking of complex, wow...holy plot twists!! So much is revealed about Oremere, the rulers of this kindgom, and the mist. The world building is so beautiful and little things began to click together from the first book that almost seemed out of place but it wasn't. Everything comes together so well and it flows throughout the entire story. As the pages turn, it doesn't even feel like you've read 500 pages. All of your suspicions get confirmed and there were many times that I questioned a few of the characters for reasons I can't say, because spoilers but you will have suspicions.

Full Review at: https://abookishpeach.wordpress.com/2...

[Lauren · Rating 4 out of 5]

The second book was just as good as the first book. Taking place just after the end of the first we see all of the players in this war journey on to its epic conclusion. Secrets come out, people die while other live on despite everything. Friends turn to enemies and some enemies are not bad. Oh the tangled thread that's weaved.

[Tamar · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 *


There was not a dull moment in this book, new characters that added more depth to the story and interesting directions to where it may lead.
Actions, intrigues, great world building, amazing characters.
Can't wait to the next one!

[Aira · Rating 3 out of 5]

man these books are heavy. So much growth and change in the characters

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Okay, this book is AMAZING!! Full review to come, but it really is one of the best sequels I've ever read!!
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Thank you to Helen Scheuerer for sending me an e-arc of Reign of Mist in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Also, before reading this review, please read Heart of Mist, as this review may contain spoilers for it since it is the sequel to Heart of Mist.

Also, trigger warnings for torture and implied animal abuse.

Reign of Mist is probably one of the best sequels I have ever read. It’s action-packed, full of plot twists and is overall amazing. Helen has a way with words that hooks the readers and ensures that they are invested in the characters AND the story. And the cover is STUNNING!!

THINGS I LIKED:
- Normally, I find prologues boring, despite them being necessary to the background information, however Reign of Mist’s prologue was intriguing and I was already hooked and invested into the story.
- Helen’s writing is beautiful and lyrical -> there are honestly so many amazing quotes in Reign of Mist. It’s also very descriptive, allowing for me to create vivid imagery of the places the characters visit, and how they look like.
- ALL THE CHARACTERS!! We get to see more of old characters and we also meet new characters, and I loved them all. So, because I don’t want to spoil anything for you guys, I’m only going to mention some of the characters we’ve already met in Heart of Mist
- I loved Bleak even more in this story, and she definitely grows into a mature person, and demonstrates great leadership skills. She’s also very loyal and stubborn, and deeply cares for those she loves. Honestly, she’s an amazing character and I loved seeing her develop and learn in Reign of Mist
- Henri makes an appearance in this novel too, and she’s just as badass, fierce and awesome as she was in Heart of Mist. Except, I feel like she’s softened a bit and is a lot less intimidating -> we get lots of chapters in her POV!! I was honestly so happy about that
- We also see Fiore and Swinton again! For those of you unaware, Fiore is one of my favourite characters in this world, and I was so excited to see him again, and get few chapters in his POV. Swinton’s actions make sense, but I wished he was less fearful and loyal, and thought more consciously.
- Also, Dash becomes a more prominent character in Reign of Mist, and a lot of his chapters in Heart of Mist started to make sense here.
- Three new characters we get to meet and are super interesting are: Sahara, Eydis and Cassmir -> I’ve grown attached to them and if they get hurt I will cry
- As you can probably already tell, there are LOTS of POV changes in this book. I usually hate multiple POVs, but Helen does it so well that I can’t help but LOVE it and wish for more chapters from different characters. Each character has a distinct voice, making it a lot easier to distinguish the main character of the chapter.
- There are so many plot twists in this book, and majority of them, I did not see coming. JUST READ THISSSS, YOU ARE GOING TO BE HOOKED AND SHOCKED AND GO ON A ROLLERCOASTER OF EMOTIONS.
- The story is action-packed and intense -> I keep saying “just one more chapter” but end up continuing to read because it’s so ENGAGING and I NEED to know what happens next. I was kept on edge for most of the second half of the book and could feel my adrenaline levels spiking.
- I also adore Rion, who is mythical panther-like creature from Oremere, who is protective and loyal to Bleak. I actually love his pride and him, and am hoping that nothing happens to them

THINGS I DIDN’T LIKE:
- The cast is pretty large, and most had difficult names so sometimes I had trouble keeping track of who was who.
- I think it would be nice to have a short summary of the key/important points about Heart of Mistat the start, because it did take me a bit to get into the story because I couldn’t remember a lot of what happened
- The ending… REIGN OF MIST ENDED ON A CLIFFHANGER YOU GUYS *CRIES*. YOU ARE CRUEL TO US, HELEN. I NEED THE NEXT BOOK IN MY HAND IMMEDIATELY (Also, I’m joking. The ending was amazing and it definitely makes the reader want to know what will happen next. PLEASEEEE GO READ THIS SERIES!!)

Overall, Reign of Mist was an amazing sequel and will not disappoint. There are plot twists after plot twists, leaving the me shocked and hooked. This book also broke me out of my fantasy slump, and I’m so glad because I love fantasy and I wasn’t able to get into any fantasy novels until Reign of Mist. I apologise for the VERY long review, but it’s a long but wonderful book, and the series deserves all the love in the world!

[Zia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Disclosure: Since I'm part of the blog tour, I was given an advanced ebook copy of Reign of Mist in exchange for an honest review.

This book was a wild ride from start to finish. The pace was faster, the stakes were higher, and the scope of the story was so much more vast. We're talking worldwide coverage. In Heart we were given hints of the capital's ominous plans for the country and for Valia. In Reign we are shown that not only is Ellest doomed, the whole world is as well. Go big or go home, y'know?

Highlights

Fleshed Out Characters, Beautiful Character Growth

Perhaps one of Reign's (and Heart's) strongest asset is its wonderfully written cast of characters. Scheuerer's characters are just so human and so relatable that it's impossible not to care for them. She perfectly articulates every POV character's struggles, pains, and desires. Even if you're not the type who likes high fantasy novels or stories about war (like I am. I just think that war, in a story, is boring, idk), you'll grow attached to the main characters and will want to keep reading to know what's going to happen to them. An interesting plot is one thing but a story is nothing without its characters and I much rather read a book with interesting and fleshed out characters.

Now, I know I talked about Bleak ad nauseam in my previous write-up but I just can't help it, you guys. Bleak, my child, my sweet baby angel, is just too precious for this world. In the first book, she was unsure, afraid, and more than a little lost. In Reign, she grew from being a self-proclaimed alcoholic gutter rat to a compassionate rebel on a mission. Of all the POV characters in this book, Bleak suffered the worse - went through literal hell and back - yet she never let her suffering warp or break her. Instead, she becomes even more understanding of other people's pain and refuses to put anyone through anything like she had. Imagine, Bleak refused to bring her teerah panthers for a prison break because although they would have been really useful, she didn't want them to ever step foot on a prison ever again. The panthers had been raised to kill and, prior to Bleak, lived in cages all their lives. Bleak would rather put herself in harm's way to spare the panthers than even consider making them relive their trauma. She's too precious, I tell you.

Then there's Henri, our rigid traditionalist Valian queen slowly opening up to the idea that maybe... just maybe... the Valian Way isn't the best way for everybody? Meeting new people and visiting new lands (for something other than Valian training) helped her grow as a leader. It was pretty inspiring too since Henri was the biggest advocate of all things Valian - the fact that she was humble enough to admit tht possibly being wrong showed how great she is as a leader. If only real life leaders were as teachable and self-aware.

Dash... wow, I really can't say anything about his arc without spoiling a huge chunk of the novel. But I will say this: poor kid had his childhood taken away. It's a pretty on the nose metaphor on war's effects on children but I still think it worked.

Lastly, there's Swinton. Swinton... he's quite a character. Throughout the novel, he makes every mistake you can possibly imagine. He causes about a quarter of the realm's problems yet he's foolish enough to think he could handle everything on his own. I do understand why he was so conflicted and terrified but, damn, not the sharpest sword in the armory, is he? He's on the road to redeeming himself though so there's that to look forward to. Honestly, I only like Swinton's chapters because of Fiore.

Minor Characters with Major Impact

Since the second book is set in like four countries, the cast of characters has grown. One particular new character that I've pledged my undying allegiance to is Queen Eydis of Havennesse. I shall love my Ice Queen forever and ever. Determined to save her kingdom, unapologetically feminine, sharp-witted strategist, and would much rather be in the company of her dogs? LOVE. HER.

Princess Olena continues to be the low key badass that she truly is deep inside. I wished there were more scenes with her though. Of all the minor characters, she's the most vulnerable. She's completely blind and forced to live in a foreign land with no friends or family. It would have been interesting to read about her experiences. Sadly, we had to rely on Swinton's POV to get Olena scenes.

Then there's Fiore who's, well, basically a god among men. Seriously, I would trust this man with my life. Since the first book, it's hinted at that Fiore's backstory is a lot more eventful than he lets on and in this book it's practically confirmed that Fiore isn't just an ordinary man. I'm legitimately excited to find out more about him in the next book.

Typical Twists but with a Compelling Narrative

In Heart, the moment it was revealed that there was a hidden continent that seemed to have been wiped out from the history books, it was pretty clear what was going to happen in the next book, especially regarding Bleak. While the reveal wasn't all that surprising - in fact I rather expected it to happen - it didn't really spoil the experience for me.

As I said in a previous post (I think), it doesn't really matter if a book's storyline has been "done before," as long as the writer does it well and adds their own twist to it, even the most predictable story can be enjoyable. Reign - or at least one particular plot point - manages to do just that. We, the reader, will see the reveal coming but it doesn't feel cheap or uninteresting.

Also, just because we know that was going to happen (god, I suck at non-spoiler reviews), there's still a dozen other plot threads that we have no idea how will play out.

While I'm here talking about how the book was written, let me also go on ahead and gush over how great Scheuerer's writing is. It's the perfect balance of descriptive yet concise. The prose flows really well, doesn't feel clunky or extraneous at all. Basically, it's really effective storytelling and I am here for it.

S'more Stuff but in Bullets (because I'm lazy)

- I loved the new places introduced in the book. Battallon in particular fascinated me. I can't help but wonder if I can survive the heat in that fire country. I mean, I am from a tropical country and I'm no stranger to heat waves. However, Battallon does have fire storms (and it's exactly what it sounds like) so...
- Animal companions are the best. Also I want my very own wolf dog named Bear. Our dog Bear isn't nearly as proactive as the one in the book.
- Heck yeah normalized gay relationships!
- #GiveFioreMurphadiasHisOwnSpinoffSeries
- The depiction of alcoholism is incredibly realistic in the books. It's not just some character quirk that gets a throwaway line every other chapter. It's an actual addiction that the character, Bleak, struggles with every day. In Heart, Bleak gets seizures (which is an actual symptom of alcohol withdrawal!!!) several times over the course of the novel. In this book, Bleak is more in control but still has to fight the impulse to drink anything even remotely alcoholic.
- That's a minor detail, I know, but I just think it's so great that the author put so much emphasis on the physical consequences of alcoholism. Something like that is just so rare, y'know?

Weak Points

While I thoroughly enjoyed Reign, it's not without it's faults. Well, more like weak points really since they didn't significantly affect my reading experience.

- Bleak's past and Oremere's history felt a bit glossed over. Halfway through the book, the lost continent stopped being important? I don't know. I guess I just didn't feel the supposed weight of a whole lost continent. No one even seemed that surprised? It was a bit weird.
- Swinton and Bren. Swinton's a snake. Even though I empathize with him, I still think he's a snake that can't be trusted. Bren... shouldn't have come back. No one needs your drama, BREN.
- The "traitor" character could have used a bit more earlier foreshadowing? Because it felt too sudden.
- The growing cast of characters was confusing at times too. Especially the rebels. Honestly, I didn't really remember most of their names. The Oremere rebellion was glossed over too.

In a Nutshell

Basically... I really loved Reign of Mist. It was an engrossing sequel to a spectacularly genuine high fantasy series. It has successfully dragged me into the world of the Oremere Chronicles even more and I doubt I'd be able to get out any time soon. Hopefully, the third book in the series will be out soon because I'm already homesick.

[Maria · Rating 4 out of 5]

(3.5 stars)

CW:
Blood, minor-adult par romantic relationship/courtship, physical abuse, intimate scene, dehumanizing perception toward sex workers

(Review copy received for my honest opinion. This, however, has not impacted my review in any way.)

(If you haven’t read the first book, HEART OF MIST, either refrain from reading this review, or proceed at your own risk)

Finally!! I finished REIGN OF MIST!! I was so excited to pick up this book after the map of the realm at the beginning revealed the secret continent of Oremere for the first time. It got me so so excited, and a lot of my excitement and enthusiasm were rightly paid off.

In the HEART OF MIST, we explored the continent of Ellest and its matriarchal kingdom of Valia. In REIGN OF MIST, Scheuerer takes us to the rest of the realm; Bleak in the misty and mysterious continent of Oremere; Henri to the continent of ice and snow, Havennesse; Swinton in the desert and firestorm continent of Battalon, and finally Dash half in Ellest and half in sea journey. We also explore the doomed prison island of Moredon Tower. I’m so excited to start WAR OF MIST after this, hoping we get to see more of the continents plus the smallest continent in the realm, Quatrola, still unexplored.

Anyway, the story picks up exactly from the places it ended in the last book. Bleak starts off in Oremere, looking for answers regarding her past and everything that is going on around her. She is rescued by Sahara, Henri’s sister, who turns out to be alive and well. Bleak, through the Valian, soon joins an underground rebel organization, who are tirelessly working against the evil self-proclaimed Queen Ines. I loved Bleak more here. She is confident, assertive, and no more a passive, reactive character.

“How well could you ever know someone? And if you could know someone well, did they ever change?”

Swinton starts his journey through navigating the tricky and foreign country and court of Battalon, again torn between loyalty to his master, King Arden, and loyalty to his people, his kind, and his best friend, Fiore. IMO, Swinton is written much better and clearly than before, and we get to know more about the grey moral commander who plays both a desperate father and a overly loyal soldier.

Henri is given more POV than the last book. In fact, all characters were given more space and chapters here, though Bleak dominates and I crave to see more of her POV (sorry!). Anyway, Henri comes to seek out Queen Eydis of Havennesse and her help in fighting back King Arden and Queen Ines. Diametrically opposite to Henri’s serious and take-no-shit personality, Queen Eydis is a breath of fresh air, who is simultaneously an eligible and capable leader, a caring lover, a funny and friendly ally, and a strict and stern enemy if you cross her. I love how much she changes Henri, making her laugh and smile and relax despite being in grave situations.

Lastly, Dash! Oh this boy goes through so so much in this book, my heart breaks for him. He spends half the book in Ellest, lost and lonely and confused but committed. I love being in his POV that shows us the bleak and grave situations in Ellest, taking us back to the original setting to show us how things are going back home for our protagonists who are busy in the other continents. Dash goes through enough for one child’s lifetime. I hope to see him more assertive and confident in WAR OF MIST.

As for the rest of the cast, I loved the newest additions. Rion, Bleak’s teersh panther reminds me of Nailah, Zélie Adebola’s lionaire. His unquestioning loyalty is so adorable!!

Sahara is so much opposite to Henri and yet they share so much similarities that are not just physical. She supports and helps Bleak like a true mentor, and I love her for it.

Fiore I love more than before. He goes through so much and is put through so much because of cowardly and selfish Swinton.

The rebels are mostly lost in the background after the initial introduction, sadly. The mysterious character of The Tailor is a bit too on-the-nose enigmatic. I liked Casimir but he felt too lost and confused and passive as a character. Princess Olena is amazing and I love love love her tart replies and quips toward Swinton, shutting him up effectively. She is very sharp-tongued and outspoken ❤❤❤

The pace of this book is too fast. One moment you’re in Havennesse/Oremere and the next you’re sailing through a stormy sea. The pace is a fast for my taste, and compared to the first book. I wish it could’ve been a bit more relaxing but judging by the plot situations, I think maybe it was the right pace? Who knows!

My main complain about this series, so far, is the continuous negligence toward character development of the villains. In HEART OF MIST, we saw almost zero development in King Arden, like he was such a cardboard cutout villain, one dimensional whose motivation for being power hungry is unknown and not explored. I get it, that because he was an absentee villain most of the first book, he couldn’t gain any character development. But the same happened here with Queen Ines, and one of her main lackeys, Langdon. We meet Queen Ines only a handful of times and even then there were ample opportunities to establish her as a solid villain. She is also talked and thought about often by the protagonists, but not once we find the motivation and back story for her conquering-the-world goal. She is simply the Disney villain who wanna stand in your protagonist’s path to hinder their journey AND conquer the world for no reason. Like I did not find her motivation behind taking over the world. Do you have any idea how hard it is to rule just one kingdom, let alone five continents? Why the drive to kill off or exploit the magical Ashai race, her own kin? (She sounds like a neutral evil with no motivation.) What made Ines crave for so much power? Simply greed? Nah, it’s hard to believe that. I wish she were more like The Darkling and others, but she felt too one dimensional. Rather she reminded me of the King of Hybern from the ACOTAR series, and her two commanders, Langdon and Farlah reminded me of the twin sibling commanders of the King of Hybern; Dagdan and Brannagh. They also resembled Alecto and Amycus Carrow, Voldemort’s henchmen who were also siblings.

Langdon was also left unfinished and underdeveloped. I really hoped he would at least show some signs of development but nope.

Another thing I didn’t like is how sex workers are demeaned, devalued, and dehumanized here. Like in most fantasy books, they’re merely a plot device for setting development, and/or used as a decoy for the protagonists to use to throw dust in the bad guy’s eyes. This is a bit too disappointing, given that sex workers are still dehumanized, belittled, and treated like trash in real world too.

Overall, I give the book 3.5 stars. It could’ve been better than the last book, or just good, but ultimately it bit off too much than it could chew.