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Nine Kingdoms Trilogy #2
Throne of a Thousand Lies
An heir to the throne . . .
Tessana Allisand might have proven that she's the oldest living daughter of the dead king of Elysia, and that she's the rightful heir to the Seat of Power, but that doesn't mean she gets to be queen . . . yet. Forced to wait until her twenty-first birthday, Tess is supposed to be learning how to navigate court life and all the ways she will one day rule. But circumstances and her nefarious uncle keep getting in the way of her education.
A kingdom in turmoil . . .
While Tess is pampered with the luxuries of castle life, the rest of the kingdom suffers under the oppressive thumb of the Ring of Shadows. Tess alone must find a way to stand up to the dark magic threatening to choke the life from her precious kingdom.
A love shaken by distance . . .
Tessana and Taelon found each other in the depths of the Blood Woods. But now, with separate kingdoms to fight for and royal duties to attend to, life is pushing them in impossibly opposite directions. Tess wants nothing more than for Taelon to be at her side. And yet, she will never ask him to leave his own kingdom for hers. Fate seems determined to keep them apart. And love that will defy titles, crowns, and destiny.
Tessana Allisand might have proven that she's the oldest living daughter of the dead king of Elysia, and that she's the rightful heir to the Seat of Power, but that doesn't mean she gets to be queen . . . yet. Forced to wait until her twenty-first birthday, Tess is supposed to be learning how to navigate court life and all the ways she will one day rule. But circumstances and her nefarious uncle keep getting in the way of her education.
A kingdom in turmoil . . .
While Tess is pampered with the luxuries of castle life, the rest of the kingdom suffers under the oppressive thumb of the Ring of Shadows. Tess alone must find a way to stand up to the dark magic threatening to choke the life from her precious kingdom.
A love shaken by distance . . .
Tessana and Taelon found each other in the depths of the Blood Woods. But now, with separate kingdoms to fight for and royal duties to attend to, life is pushing them in impossibly opposite directions. Tess wants nothing more than for Taelon to be at her side. And yet, she will never ask him to leave his own kingdom for hers. Fate seems determined to keep them apart. And love that will defy titles, crowns, and destiny.
302 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 20, 2022
33 people are currently reading
90 people want to read
About the author
Rachel Higginson
122 books3,494 followersRachel Higginson is the best-selling author of The Five Stages of Falling in Love, Every Wrong Reason, Bet on Us and The Star-Crossed Series.
She was born and raised in Nebraska, and spent her college years traveling the world. She fell in love with Eastern Europe, Paris, Indian Food and the beautiful beaches of Sri Lanka, but came back home to marry her high school sweetheart. Now she spends her days writing stories and raising five amazing kids.
She was born and raised in Nebraska, and spent her college years traveling the world. She fell in love with Eastern Europe, Paris, Indian Food and the beautiful beaches of Sri Lanka, but came back home to marry her high school sweetheart. Now she spends her days writing stories and raising five amazing kids.
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
September 11, 2022
4.25 stars
Warning: To avoid spoilers, do not read this review unless you've read book one.
Tessana "Tess" Allisand has proven she is heir to the crown. The question is, when will she wear it? Based on book one, I had a feeling that three were several people who'd prevent that from ever happening.
At the top of the list is her Uncle Tyrn. While he didn't come off as evil in this book, he seemed to develop a series of requirements that would delay her coronation.
Next on the list was Queen Ravana Presydia of Blackthorne. There is something dark about her that raised warning flags. She ultimately provides some interesting insight about Tess' mother and her connection to witches, and those revelations reduced the tension between Tess and her. Yet a big twist changes everything.
Finally, there are the ravens. I had my suspicions about how and how they connected to the story which turned out to be right. The question now is does Tess stand a chance against them?
While there is a lot of tension in this story as the threats against Tess ramp up, there's an unexpected development, a love triangle. I'm not sure how I wish for things to play out with it, but it will likely be an important plotline in book three, the final book. I'm eager to see what the author delivers.
*An ARC was provided by the author for an honest review.
For more reviews, visit
Warning: To avoid spoilers, do not read this review unless you've read book one.
Tessana "Tess" Allisand has proven she is heir to the crown. The question is, when will she wear it? Based on book one, I had a feeling that three were several people who'd prevent that from ever happening.
At the top of the list is her Uncle Tyrn. While he didn't come off as evil in this book, he seemed to develop a series of requirements that would delay her coronation.
Next on the list was Queen Ravana Presydia of Blackthorne. There is something dark about her that raised warning flags. She ultimately provides some interesting insight about Tess' mother and her connection to witches, and those revelations reduced the tension between Tess and her. Yet a big twist changes everything.
Finally, there are the ravens. I had my suspicions about how and how they connected to the story which turned out to be right. The question now is does Tess stand a chance against them?
While there is a lot of tension in this story as the threats against Tess ramp up, there's an unexpected development, a love triangle. I'm not sure how I wish for things to play out with it, but it will likely be an important plotline in book three, the final book. I'm eager to see what the author delivers.
*An ARC was provided by the author for an honest review.
For more reviews, visit
December 13, 2022
https://celebrityreaders.com/2022/12/...
4 stars — This review is going to be a bit lacklustre and all over the place, but I’m leaving it as I wrote it after reading.
Read it while I was sick, might have affected my enjoyment because I couldn’t read it in a short period of time.
The pacing felt a little slow at times, like I was waiting for something to happen.
Some pretty big reveals in this one — enough to satisfy my hunger for answers, but still left me with lots to ruminate about. I appreciate that, I hate when you don’t get at least some answers. I feel like you gotta reward the reader, and then pull them into more mystery so they don’t get frustrated.
Bit repetitive at times, especially her worry over her sister. I wasn’t sure how all that was going to go given the way the first book ended, but I was pretty happy with where it went…though I feel like I don’t have solid ground, but that could be just me.
Missed Taelon in this one — he’s there, but not nearly enough, and I will admit I’m a little worried about how all that is going to go. In general I trust Ms. Higginson in the love department, she seems to give me what I didn’t know I needed. But I just really loved their banter and tension, and I didn’t get nearly enough.
Similarly I missed Oliver a bit — we got more from him than Taelon, but it was a hard book because Tess has to do without these awesome people she’s come to rely on. Reminded me of Fearless Magic, which I didn’t enjoy as much the first time, but once I knew how things ended, ended up being one of my faves. Wonder if the same thing is happening here.
Intrigued by Caspian, as I know I’m supposed to be. Again, trust.
Also intrigued by a few of Kat’s “brothers”, that was an intriguing little side trip.
Totally fell for a red herring or two…or maybe I just went on the journey with Tess. I had lots of reluctance though.
Enjoyed the way the end played out. Just wish the middle could have had a bit more oomph to it I think.
4 stars — This review is going to be a bit lacklustre and all over the place, but I’m leaving it as I wrote it after reading.
Read it while I was sick, might have affected my enjoyment because I couldn’t read it in a short period of time.
The pacing felt a little slow at times, like I was waiting for something to happen.
Some pretty big reveals in this one — enough to satisfy my hunger for answers, but still left me with lots to ruminate about. I appreciate that, I hate when you don’t get at least some answers. I feel like you gotta reward the reader, and then pull them into more mystery so they don’t get frustrated.
Bit repetitive at times, especially her worry over her sister. I wasn’t sure how all that was going to go given the way the first book ended, but I was pretty happy with where it went…though I feel like I don’t have solid ground, but that could be just me.
Missed Taelon in this one — he’s there, but not nearly enough, and I will admit I’m a little worried about how all that is going to go. In general I trust Ms. Higginson in the love department, she seems to give me what I didn’t know I needed. But I just really loved their banter and tension, and I didn’t get nearly enough.
Similarly I missed Oliver a bit — we got more from him than Taelon, but it was a hard book because Tess has to do without these awesome people she’s come to rely on. Reminded me of Fearless Magic, which I didn’t enjoy as much the first time, but once I knew how things ended, ended up being one of my faves. Wonder if the same thing is happening here.
Intrigued by Caspian, as I know I’m supposed to be. Again, trust.
Also intrigued by a few of Kat’s “brothers”, that was an intriguing little side trip.
Totally fell for a red herring or two…or maybe I just went on the journey with Tess. I had lots of reluctance though.
Enjoyed the way the end played out. Just wish the middle could have had a bit more oomph to it I think.
September 6, 2022
Tessana Allisand is the rightful heir of Elysia, but even with the Crown of Nine in her possession, there is still so much to be done and to prove of herself. The time for her reign as queen is still a ways away with her uncle is still in charge at the moment. And no matter what happens, Tessa has to think of the crown and kingdom first, even if she'd rather spend her time with Taelon, who has his own kingdom to tend to. There are other princes in the mix who will vie for Tessa's hand in marriage and they each bring their own bag of power and politics to the table.
There are interesting twists presented in this one regarding Tessa's lineage and family tree. Not to mention the mystery surrounding her family's deaths. Tessa always manages to keep a cool head on her shoulders, but like anyone else, she wants a place to belong and friends who can be trusted. However, no one can be trusted and not only is her future as queen on the line, but so is her life. Yet Tessa has something special that many others do not and while she needs more time to figure out what her game plan is to unite the kingdom or to prepare for war, she will also need every bit of help in her arsenal to restore peace. I'm eager to see how everything will wrap up in the final book now that Tessa is in charge and if those closest to her really can be counted on to protect her.
There are interesting twists presented in this one regarding Tessa's lineage and family tree. Not to mention the mystery surrounding her family's deaths. Tessa always manages to keep a cool head on her shoulders, but like anyone else, she wants a place to belong and friends who can be trusted. However, no one can be trusted and not only is her future as queen on the line, but so is her life. Yet Tessa has something special that many others do not and while she needs more time to figure out what her game plan is to unite the kingdom or to prepare for war, she will also need every bit of help in her arsenal to restore peace. I'm eager to see how everything will wrap up in the final book now that Tessa is in charge and if those closest to her really can be counted on to protect her.
December 7, 2022
Not enough romance. I loved the first book and the romance. This one not so much. I’ll still read book 3 to see how it ends.
September 21, 2022
Wowwww!! This book was freaking fantastic and I couldn’t put it down! If you haven’t read Crown of One Hundred Kings yet, go ahead and do that so you’ll be ready for this book! I’ll be back with my full review …
I had a book hangover after finishing it. I couldn't read it fast enough and didn't want it to be over! I was completely lost in this story. And when you get to the part that explains the book title... Whew! Tessana had the weight of the world on her shoulders. She was navigating a new world and also found herself learning family history. She is strong, independent but has few around her she wholly trusts. The twists and turns this book had held me on the edge of my seat and I didn't want to put it down! I seriously cannot recommend this book enough!
I had a book hangover after finishing it. I couldn't read it fast enough and didn't want it to be over! I was completely lost in this story. And when you get to the part that explains the book title... Whew! Tessana had the weight of the world on her shoulders. She was navigating a new world and also found herself learning family history. She is strong, independent but has few around her she wholly trusts. The twists and turns this book had held me on the edge of my seat and I didn't want to put it down! I seriously cannot recommend this book enough!
November 2, 2022
I received an eARC of this book via the author. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of this review.
Throne of a Thousand Lies by Rachel Higginson is the second book in the Nine Kingdoms Trilogy about a young princess destined to rule. Picking up just a few weeks after the events of book one, Tess is settling in to her new rule as the crowned princess. While she isn’t happy that she will not be queen yet, she also understands the council’s decision. However, danger lurks around every corner. Tess doesn’t know who to trust, and her family’s killer remains at large. With assassination attempts happening daily, Tess needs to find the person responsible before her own life is forfeit.
Please note that if you have not read book one, there may be minor spoilers to it in this review.
I adore Tess. She is such a fun character to follow. She’s cunning and brave, however also a bit naive. Learning that she arrived just in time before a new line could be named as heir to the kingdom and a new crown made, Tess finds herself in a precarious position. She’s ruler but not. Her heart belongs to someone that she can never be with. And her baby sister is alive and whole and on her way to the kingdom. Tess is doing her best, yet also being held at arm’s length by her uncle who has been ruling the kingdom since her family was killed. She feels lost in a world that used to be her own, but also falls back into routines easily. I admire how she meets each challenge, even with the pressure her uncle is placing on her to marry.
Taelon, our Rebel King and Tess’s former betrothed, is noticeably absent from this book. We have a few quick scenes with him and Tess, and then it is mostly her pining for him. I’ll admit I struggled with this a bit, mainly because I knew what it meant….a new love interest has entered the ring: a second son from a brutal kingdom. He grew on me 😉
My favorite part of this entire book though was Tess’s relationship with her sister. I loved seeing them come back together and how Tess navigates it. Her sister was young and raised in a loving, albeit cold, kingdom. Would she want to return to her home? Would she resent Tess for not looking for her? As much as Taelon and Oliver (*sigh*) were absent this book, the sister made up for it.
Overall, I really enjoyed this installment of the Nine Kingdoms Trilogy. I adore Tess and her sister. The villain finally reveals themselves, and there are a few good battle scenes to spice up the action. While I won’t deny that I was miffed at not seeing Taelon as much AND the introduction of a possible love triangle, I still enjoyed it. Fans of fantasy need to put this at the top of their to read list.
Throne of a Thousand Lies by Rachel Higginson is the second book in the Nine Kingdoms Trilogy about a young princess destined to rule. Picking up just a few weeks after the events of book one, Tess is settling in to her new rule as the crowned princess. While she isn’t happy that she will not be queen yet, she also understands the council’s decision. However, danger lurks around every corner. Tess doesn’t know who to trust, and her family’s killer remains at large. With assassination attempts happening daily, Tess needs to find the person responsible before her own life is forfeit.
Please note that if you have not read book one, there may be minor spoilers to it in this review.
I adore Tess. She is such a fun character to follow. She’s cunning and brave, however also a bit naive. Learning that she arrived just in time before a new line could be named as heir to the kingdom and a new crown made, Tess finds herself in a precarious position. She’s ruler but not. Her heart belongs to someone that she can never be with. And her baby sister is alive and whole and on her way to the kingdom. Tess is doing her best, yet also being held at arm’s length by her uncle who has been ruling the kingdom since her family was killed. She feels lost in a world that used to be her own, but also falls back into routines easily. I admire how she meets each challenge, even with the pressure her uncle is placing on her to marry.
Taelon, our Rebel King and Tess’s former betrothed, is noticeably absent from this book. We have a few quick scenes with him and Tess, and then it is mostly her pining for him. I’ll admit I struggled with this a bit, mainly because I knew what it meant….a new love interest has entered the ring: a second son from a brutal kingdom. He grew on me 😉
My favorite part of this entire book though was Tess’s relationship with her sister. I loved seeing them come back together and how Tess navigates it. Her sister was young and raised in a loving, albeit cold, kingdom. Would she want to return to her home? Would she resent Tess for not looking for her? As much as Taelon and Oliver (*sigh*) were absent this book, the sister made up for it.
Overall, I really enjoyed this installment of the Nine Kingdoms Trilogy. I adore Tess and her sister. The villain finally reveals themselves, and there are a few good battle scenes to spice up the action. While I won’t deny that I was miffed at not seeing Taelon as much AND the introduction of a possible love triangle, I still enjoyed it. Fans of fantasy need to put this at the top of their to read list.
February 20, 2024
Ooooohh, okay. I like the direction the plot went! 👀
Upon finishing the first book, Crown of One Hundred Kings, I had a couple things I wanted from book two to really hook me on the series - and I got it! Suffice it to say, I'm mad that the final book doesn't exist yet!
Whereas I wanted more politics, Ms. Higginson said, "are you sure you don't want more MAGIC?" and I replied with, "oh, okay, yes PLEASE!" You know all those hints and snippets and bits about pagans and magic and Tessana's memories intwined with those that we keep getting? Mmmm-hmmm, that's what we slowly get more depth on in Throne of a Thousand Lies, and it was delicious! And don't be afeared, there is some political maneuvering at play as well!
(Although, I will say that I was cringing at the one plot point that was painfully obvious - imagine you're looking at a room of people in pastels except one man who is head-to-toe in black with a mask, and you have to guess who the bad guy is... yeah, that vibe.)
There's even a little extra drama thrown in with love interests, and I'm very VERY curious to see how this resolves in the last book. Not to mention that we meet someone close to Tessana that she never expected to see again, have a reveal about a suspicious character, and find out the answers to several mysteries.
What a fun series! It's nostalgic of classic YA fantasy, easy to read, and gripping. I've enjoyed the audiobooks thus far as well!
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.
.
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**romance notes: YA tame standards, some mild innuendo references, kisses.
**content notes: mentions of death, some violent scenes/deaths that happen on-screen
Upon finishing the first book, Crown of One Hundred Kings, I had a couple things I wanted from book two to really hook me on the series - and I got it! Suffice it to say, I'm mad that the final book doesn't exist yet!
Whereas I wanted more politics, Ms. Higginson said, "are you sure you don't want more MAGIC?" and I replied with, "oh, okay, yes PLEASE!" You know all those hints and snippets and bits about pagans and magic and Tessana's memories intwined with those that we keep getting? Mmmm-hmmm, that's what we slowly get more depth on in Throne of a Thousand Lies, and it was delicious! And don't be afeared, there is some political maneuvering at play as well!
(Although, I will say that I was cringing at the one plot point that was painfully obvious - imagine you're looking at a room of people in pastels except one man who is head-to-toe in black with a mask, and you have to guess who the bad guy is... yeah, that vibe.)
There's even a little extra drama thrown in with love interests, and I'm very VERY curious to see how this resolves in the last book. Not to mention that we meet someone close to Tessana that she never expected to see again, have a reveal about a suspicious character, and find out the answers to several mysteries.
What a fun series! It's nostalgic of classic YA fantasy, easy to read, and gripping. I've enjoyed the audiobooks thus far as well!
.
.
.
.
**romance notes: YA tame standards, some mild innuendo references, kisses.
**content notes: mentions of death, some violent scenes/deaths that happen on-screen
September 11, 2022
Rachel Higginson never ceases to amaze me. Her talent is abundant, and I am always drawn into her worlds, characters, and storylines.
**Please note that Crown of One Hundred Kings is a must read prior to reading ToaTL.
Tessana has proven she is the rightful heir of Elysia. She has set upon a course to be crowned queen, but various forces are in her way, and as a young woman, she is controlled and guided by her uncle who has laid out a series of requirements. Tessa has to put the crown and her kingdom before her desires and learn to rule. A number interesting plot twists, a parade of possible suitors (while her heart belong to one who it appears cannot be), and royal familial connections bring mystery and intrigue while Tessana must discover who and what she is.
But, who can she trust and lean on for protection? Can she overcome the forces against her, learn what she needs to unite the kingdom, prepare for war, AND choose a king consort?
I will wait with baited breath for book 3, because I cannot wait to find out what lies beneath in Tessa's heart and talents.
*ARC provided by the author for an honest review
**Please note that Crown of One Hundred Kings is a must read prior to reading ToaTL.
Tessana has proven she is the rightful heir of Elysia. She has set upon a course to be crowned queen, but various forces are in her way, and as a young woman, she is controlled and guided by her uncle who has laid out a series of requirements. Tessa has to put the crown and her kingdom before her desires and learn to rule. A number interesting plot twists, a parade of possible suitors (while her heart belong to one who it appears cannot be), and royal familial connections bring mystery and intrigue while Tessana must discover who and what she is.
But, who can she trust and lean on for protection? Can she overcome the forces against her, learn what she needs to unite the kingdom, prepare for war, AND choose a king consort?
I will wait with baited breath for book 3, because I cannot wait to find out what lies beneath in Tessa's heart and talents.
*ARC provided by the author for an honest review
April 29, 2024
My Rating: ❤️❤️❤️❤️
Reading Order: You should read the first one first, or you'll be confused.
General Thoughts: I love this author and have read quite a few of her books. It has admittedly been a minute since I read the first book in this series, and it took me a minute to remember everything that had happened before. I enjoyed this one, and it also felt a bit like a bridge novel to me. A book meant to get us from the prior book to the next book (which was already supposed to have come out so I'm not sure when it will.) I enjoy the characters and the writing style, so I'm curious if/when we'll get to the conclusion of this trilogy.
Spice Meter: 💞 Suitable for all ages.
Tropes
-kingdom in trouble
-adventure
-fantasy
-magic
-witches (adjacent)
Reading Order: You should read the first one first, or you'll be confused.
General Thoughts: I love this author and have read quite a few of her books. It has admittedly been a minute since I read the first book in this series, and it took me a minute to remember everything that had happened before. I enjoyed this one, and it also felt a bit like a bridge novel to me. A book meant to get us from the prior book to the next book (which was already supposed to have come out so I'm not sure when it will.) I enjoy the characters and the writing style, so I'm curious if/when we'll get to the conclusion of this trilogy.
Spice Meter: 💞 Suitable for all ages.
Tropes
-kingdom in trouble
-adventure
-fantasy
-magic
-witches (adjacent)
September 7, 2022
I did a re-read of Crown of One Hundred Kings just to refresh my memory in time for Book 2, Throne of a Thousand Lies, to hit my Kindle.
Tessana's world has already been turned upside down a couple of times...and Book 2, will add to that and throw in revelations that I didn't guess were coming, unexpected allies, feats of magic and bravery even in adversity.
Taelon's off being a hero and even Oliver is finding his feet. And Tessana? She's evolving into the queen she will be, in time...
Can't wait for Book 3!
Tessana's world has already been turned upside down a couple of times...and Book 2, will add to that and throw in revelations that I didn't guess were coming, unexpected allies, feats of magic and bravery even in adversity.
Taelon's off being a hero and even Oliver is finding his feet. And Tessana? She's evolving into the queen she will be, in time...
Can't wait for Book 3!
September 20, 2022
Tessana has been proven the rightful heir to the throne, but her Uncle still rules in her stead. She still has not discovered the identity of her family's killer and assassins are targeting her. Family secrets are exposed and Tessana discovers that not everything is what she has always been taught. I was riveted by Tessana's journey to learn what happened to her family and how she can save her kingdom. I loved the many twists and turns and can barely wait to see what happens in the next book.
October 3, 2022
This book was amazing! Absolutely loved it and finished in just a couple days. Honestly I was sad to finish it, it was so good. This is one of those books where you miss the characters like you would a friend. Rachel weaves a beautiful world with people you end up caring for. The only thing I was sad about is Taelon doesn’t appear in this one as much as I’d have liked. And I love him. I hate seeing the love triangle and will always hope that he’s the victor in winning Tess’s hand. He already has her heart. I can’t wait for book 3!!
September 21, 2022
Read this book
Rachel Higginson does it again! Hooked to yet another book. Love triangle, check. Family secrets, check. Betrayal, check! Really looking forward to see what in the heck is going to go down in the next and final book to this series! Recommend checking out this series if you haven't yet.
Rachel Higginson does it again! Hooked to yet another book. Love triangle, check. Family secrets, check. Betrayal, check! Really looking forward to see what in the heck is going to go down in the next and final book to this series! Recommend checking out this series if you haven't yet.
September 7, 2022
Rachel hit this one out of the ballpark. I usually need to reread book 1 in a series before I can start book 2….but this one had me hooked from chapter one. A truly mesmerizing tale from start to finish. I can’t wait for the final installment.
September 20, 2022
I looooved this book! Rachel is the best at writing strong, smart, relatable female leads and this book shows that once again. Her stories keep us guessing what’s happening next and you can’t help but root for Tessa. I can’t wait to read what happens next!
October 1, 2022
So Much All at Once- in a Good Way
It was perfect to pick up from book 1. The pacing was so fast, and to see her learn so much about her past so quickly was perfect. Though was not ready for it to end equally quickly.
It was perfect to pick up from book 1. The pacing was so fast, and to see her learn so much about her past so quickly was perfect. Though was not ready for it to end equally quickly.
May 26, 2023
Are you ready for it
I can not wait until the 3rd and final book of this series! Rachel left me on pins and needles and I can’t wait to read the last book. I need it in my hands now!!!!
I can not wait until the 3rd and final book of this series! Rachel left me on pins and needles and I can’t wait to read the last book. I need it in my hands now!!!!
October 6, 2022
Dadgum cliffhangers!!! And you will pry Taelon and Tessana from my cold, dead fingers. Caspian can go on somewhere...
February 19, 2023
Loved it and thought it was even better than the first one!
It was a bit slow at some points but I really enjoyed where the story went and I can't wait to read the next one!
It was a bit slow at some points but I really enjoyed where the story went and I can't wait to read the next one!
May 11, 2023
Well this installment had some interesting twists. And a love triangle? ☹
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews