What a breathtakingly consuming continuation of this creatively inspired paranormal romance! Coralee June amplifies all that made the first outing in this world magic, deepening the world building, complicated the mystery, raising the stakes of the suspense, and further layering these flawed but dynamic characters that are grappling with their own identities while also trying to navigated the ever changing, life-threatening politics of the world they inhabit. Fate continues to chart a course that they can’t deny- and I am reading every word with bated breath.
Phase of Hate picks up right amidst the aftermath of the devastating cliffhanger in Phase of Fate, with our heroine Halle on the cusp of something monumental- only it’s not quite the death we anticipated. If Halle thought she had to contend with the fate she didn’t one in book one, she’s got even more in store for her in this sequel. Defying the jaws of a painful death doesn’t come without a price- she gets some much needed answers, but now she’s finally going to be forced to confront the truth depths of the role that has been fated for her, and turns out prodigy life or being fated to a shifter isn’t even the beginning of what is in store for this reluctant but capable heroine. Legacies, curses, magic, secrets and betrayal all stand in the way of Halle being able to reclaim her life, only now the life she knew it is completely different. Fate has come calling once again
I’ll say it yet again- the only thing you can expect in a Coralee June book is the unexpected. Just when we think we understand the framework of the world she’s building, the foes at hand, and the architecture of this story, she resets the mold entirely. From the riveting and jaw dropping first chapter until the very last, this story misdirects and twists, obliterating and reshaping our expectations and predictions at every turn. Cora is weaving a very complicated and intricate web- the character arcs, the world building, the politics, and the history all start to come together in Phase of Hate in a masterfully woven plot that consumes and enchants.
While of course this story entertains in the suspense and in the slow burning romance, ultimately this story continues to be an incredibly compelling story centered on existential struggle, one amplified by the tension between nature and nurture, fate and free will. The star of this story continues to be the complicated and resilient Halle. Cora continues to shape one of her most compelling character arcs to date, a journey enriched by the ways in which Cora juxpostes Halle’s physical/fated transformations alongside her emotional evolution. When we met Halle, she was a bereaved and traumatized girl. But she was broken by so much more than the loss of her beloved sister, Halle had long been broken by her lack of purpose, by her insecurities at being a secondary character in her own life. But that overshadowed, lonely, hurt girl is slowly finding herself, even if it’s a version of herself that she resents, resist….transforming into something that she once hated. She’s finding her power, her voice, her purpose and courage, and while we saw her spend a lot of time resentful of the hand fate dealt her, now we see her start to accept, somewhat even embrace the path she’s destined to take. But that means two catalytic and challenging emotional journeys for her- Halle has to face all her own insecurities, her own baggage, to finally love and accept herself. And she also has to do what once felt impossible- confront her hatred, the well-meaning, trauma-induced bias she has against the community that destroyed her life. Especially now that she’s not only mated to one of them…she’s become one herself.
Halle is truly a triumph ,and I loved the subtle social commentary Cora is infusing in Halle’s transformation. We see Halle open her heart and mind, not just to Theo, not just to her fate, but to an understanding that her view of all that has transpired it just that- her own experience, her own perspective, and that’s what helps her grow. Listening, learning, checking judgment. Something amplified by Cora ramping up the politics in this story- and our understanding of the key players, their motivation, and their own agendas becomes more and more clear. This is certainly not a pathway I anticipated for this story (and given the most recent american political landscape, one that might feel a bit close to home for some), but it opens up a whole new avenue for Halle to find her power, and to confront parts of herself and this whole world that must be confronted.
Of course, we still have our amazing cast of characters supporting us along the way, though we have some devastating moments and incredible shocks along the way. Theo too has his own growth in this story, as like Halle he starts to confront the tensions in his own fate. Halle’s transformation certainly makes some of the political dynamics of those tensions easier for Theo, but he also has to face the lasting impact his hesitations had on an already fragile Halle, even if his heart had already chosen her. Theo is starting to realize that his leadership has been lacking- that ultimately his inability to express himself, his passiveness and inaction are more out of fear than strategic caution, and that inaction has as much impact as action. But he really redeems himself a lot in this story, in particular in the ways in which he starts to treat Halle like a treasured partner. The respect and deference he gives her is super sexy- and his dirty mouth is delicious too. The SLOW burn continues, friends- so prepare yourself to be teased.
Twists, turns, and another epic cliffhanger. There’s a lot that needs to happen in this finale- and it’s still unclear how Halle is going to right the world yet again, but we now know more than ever that Halle no longer hates the fate she’s been given, she’s owning it. She’s powerful, she’s clever, and she’s not willing to be a pawn in the world around her. And isn’t that the most amazing part of all- a character who once saw herself as invisible now sees herself as the hero. Now all she needs to do is actually save the day.