Great pacing and well written! I thoroughly enjoyed the characters and it kept me glued to my screen. I recommend it!

Exquisite follow up to book one, with so many twists and turns. Fast pace kept me hooked all the way through, can’t wait for the final book

I really enjoyed the first book in the series and was excited to get started on this book to continue the story and find out what happens.
It started well but I found the more I got into it the less I felt myself captivated by the story as I was in the first book. All in all its a good book but I wasn't as blown away as I was previously.

In The Path Keeper, the focus was on Zac and Ella’s forbidden relationship. Naturally, in this book, I found myself willing these two to be reunited after their sudden and forced separation. Now, sadly, we have a love triangle trope with Josh as the third party. I cannot tell you how glad I am that this isn’t the only conflict going on; After Zac regained consciousness following the severing his own wings, making him a fallen angel and forever binding himself to the Earth realm, he found that three years had already passed. He immediately set out to look for the two loves of his life: Ella and his mother Luci. Little did he know, Luci, with the assistance of Sebastian (Ella’s stepbrother who raped her on their parents’ wedding day), is also looking for her son, Zac. I started this book cheering for Zac to meet her mom, only to grow horrified after finding out Luci’s identity.

What I adore about this book is Luci’s complicated character. She’s someone that if IRL exists within my circle of friends, I would be okay and even like her but choose not to be close because she has a hint of toxic behaviour. By now I’ve spent enough time alive that I won’t prematurely judge someone like her and just be open. Luci’s intense about her son but now I’ve experienced that kind of love myself so I can understand her feelings, just not her actions. It makes for a great story though. Luci is someone who isn’t afraid to show her true self, unafraid of what people think. She goes through this world as if she owns it, making her somewhat admirable. However, she can be selfish and insensitive at times and it just catches you off your guard. At times, readers see compassion and softness fall through so we can’t help but feel for Luci. What’s for sure is Luci is a character who refuses to be victimised.

Initially, I thought reading this as a stand-alone is possible but after finishing the book, I not only don’t recommend it, I think it’s just not possible. There are two reasons for this. Firstly, readers miss out on so much emotional attachment and engagement with the characters, making them not realising the enormity of the story. Secondly, this book will leave you hanging. The majority of this book’s plot is invested in setting up Book #3. Son of Secrets is a good build-up and acts as a bridge for the big finish for The Indigo Chronicles. This is why, frankly speaking, I’m so frustrated to have to wait for Book 3. I’m writing this review a few reads after finishing Son of Secrets. Now that the momentum, I’m not even sure I will be wanting to read the finale when it comes out. Let’s just hope I will. I hate to not finish the series now that I’m 67% through.

Content warnings: Sexual assault; explicit language; sexual scenes; violence; suicide; death

Thanks to BHC Press for providing me with a copy via NetGalley. All opinions are my own and are based on the advanced digital review copy.

Thank you NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Let's start with the cover. It's gorgeous! The wing, the coloring, the text. It's all great.

This is the second book in a series. I have to admit, I didn't read the first book in the series which probably is a disservice.
I was still able to follow along without issue, and I fell in love with the story and the characters.

I'll definitely be looking out for other work by this author.

this was a unique read in the scifi novel, I liked that to me it felt different from other books in the genre. I really enjoyed reading this and hope there is more in the series.

Yet another amazing book by the author this sequel follows on from where the last book left off and all I can say is AMAZING yet again I'm drawn in by the characters and the storyline I finished this book in just a few days and can't wait for the next one hopefully I don't need a box of kleenex next time

Author # N.J. Simmond’s new novel ‘Son of Secrets’ the second in #’The Indigo Chronicles is a six star book. Full of romance,adventure, and suspense.Throw in dark angels and you will stay up all night.
Thank you,
#netgalley, #N.J. Simmonds and #BHC Press

What an epic story!!!!!! What can I say about this story? The characters are amazing! Dynamic. Realistic. And relatable. The plot was absolutely amazing! My attention was held the entire time. Twists. Turns. Suspense. I love the entire story!!!! I was sad when I finished.

I'm late to getting to this one but I truly enjoyed it! I got this book as a NetGalley ARC and wanted to read book 1 before diving into this one. I was not disappointed!
This story and writing style took me right back to when I first started to enjoy reading! I loved the relationship elements and character development between books 1 and 2. I thought the follow through and conclusion really enjoyable.

I loved this story for its great storyline, the amazing world building and the great cast of characters.
I can't wait to read more in this series.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.

As you will know, The Path Keeper is one of my favourite books, and I have been waiting for the sequel to be released for a long time! When I finally heard that it had a release date, and then saw its spectacular cover, I couldn’t wait to get my hands on it. That said, when it actually came to reading it, I approached it with some trepidation. This is a book that I had built up so much in my mind that I was scared that it would live up to my expectations. The good news is that I had absolutely nothing to worry about, and Son of Secrets is everything that I had dreamt it would be.

Son of Secrets takes us right back to the beginning of Ella and Zac’s story, when they were Arabella and Zadkiel, encountering each other for the first time in a sweet and tender meeting in Tuscany. The truth of their very first lives is beautiful and heartbreaking, and comes with the awful realisation of the role Sebastian has played in Ella’s past lives. As with The Path Keeper, Son of Secrets revisits Zac and Ella through history, this time seen through the eyes of Luci as she desperately tries to reunite with Zac.

On the subject of Luci, she is a truly brilliant character. Turning traditional ideas of Lucifer on their head, you come to realise that while she is not truly evil, she is most definitely fierce and refuses to let anything, or anyone, stop her from achieving what she wants. The thought of her teaming up with Sebastian was terrifying at first, but as her true motives come to light, it is incredibly satisfying to see Sebastian under someone else’s control. Everything about Luci is spectacular – I think we all need to channel our inner Luci a bit more.

Although I desperately wanted Zac to find his way back to Ella, as the book progressed, and we got to know the real Josh, I found there was an increasingly large part of me that was rooting for him and Ella too. I was full of conflicting emotions about this right through to the end of book, and honestly I am still not sure what I really wanted to happen.

Certain realisations that occurred during this book felt like a punch to the gut, and others made my heart sing. It’s a bumpy ride, but one that I know I will be revisiting, because both Son of Secrets and The Path Keeper will be demanding to be read again in preparation for the next book in the series.

I really don’t know how I am going to manage waiting until next May for book three in The Indigo Chronicles! I need to know what happens next right now!

I have been reading a lot more adult fantasy lately and I loved the first book in this series and Son of Secrets by N.J. Simmonds was an amazing sequel and I can't wait to read more.

The book is so beautifully written and with some humour, lovely scenery. There are some dark bits, but mostly it is an entertaining read as it weaves the real world and fantastical characters together to create The Indigo Chronicles World.

The author has painted a good picture of realism and fantasy. There’s romance, adventure, action, great locations like Highgate and Gibraltar, there are pure angels, dark angels, trepidation, intriguing lives as well as deaths and emotion, magic powers; and all isn’t always what it first seems, which all makes a pleasurable and fun read that spans across millenia.

Meet Ella and Zac and Josh in a place where the Mediteranean and Atlantic Ocean meet. Pizza and wine, it’s a wonderful combination and yet Ella just doesn’t know quite what she is doing with Josh.

Zac is no ordinary person, readers will discover. Not anymore as he finds himself in Highgate Cemetery. His mission? To find and be with Ella with use of his powers. Powers enough to make you shudder. It’s a bit creepy when you’re a woman reading about a guy who lived 2000 years ago who can sense every part of you. In saying that, it’s fantastic for this fantasy book as I found myself wanting to find out more as this book gets more and more interesting and very quickly so. He meets up with Ylva as they reminisce about a party and discuss Ella.

Fantasy is a genre I can take it or leave it, but this book is good in the way the real world and fantasy elements all collide. It’s grounded in a good way. It has good, strong themes and likeable characters. There’s a bit of a will they, won’t they going on with Josh and Ella and revelations of Ella’s step-brother and the effect he has on how he hurt Ella. Josh is a film star and a bit of a flirt.

Zac is fun as he discovers tattoos because apparently his appearance hasn’t changed in 2000 years and he has now decided to alter it a bit. It’s intersting how Zac is perceived and there’s a wonderful written paragraph that is essentially the butterfly effect. He’s full of dark, creepy intrigue.

There are secrets as to how the characters are connected and who they really are, that are revealed as Arabella, the narrator of this story tells as she’s heard of demons and of the shadows before and she’s on the run over the city walls and it is intriguing to see what she is up to as she comes across Zadkiel. Later on, back home, Arabella, back home is then left by her mother, with Sabinous, a soldier, and knew she needed to follow her destiny…

The feminism notes that are there can be a bit overly strong at times, as much as the passion does come across.

The author’s note is an interesting one about the author’s one experiences and says about the book being a tribute to those who have been hunted and hurt and struggles. This does come through in the book, but written in a creative way.

Oh, my! My love of the first novel in the Indigo Chronicles, The Path Keeper, is immense. I'm lucky enough to own a physical copy of the original run and it holds a treasured spot on my forever shelf. The wait to read this second instalment has been excruciatingly long, but it was worth every second.

Fate is battling to right itself after the heart stopping conclusion of The Path Keeper and the characters are reintroduced along with new ones. Ella is as feisty as always and handles her pain in her own way. She was never going to be a weeping damsel in distress and I respect and love her for it. The sorrow she and Zac feel leaps off the page and her step-brother's hatred gave me goosebumps. It is an emotional, soul ripping read and the writing is more developed than before which I did not think was possible.

The introduction of Luci is inspired and is a character I will always remember and aspire to be for her strength and clarity. The novel blends historical events, fantasy and emotions perfectly to produce a study of the treatment of women in the past and present as well as exploring how the fear of strong women and those who refused to fit to the constraints set by stereotypes triggered the hysteria surrounding witchcraft. 

With angels galore, and passion sizzling between characters, it is definitely not a YA book. The central theme of reincarnation is captivating and with the well-developed characters and many twists and turns it kept me reading through the night. NJ Simmonds  has cast a spell on an idea to create something amazing.  I'm going to struggle to find a better book to read this year and a reading hangover is looming.

When I read The Path Keeper (the first book in this series) I was quickly taken with the idea of Angels & Nephilim, soulmates and reincarnation. It involved three things that I was very much interested in that I had yet to read in a book. I easily fell in love with Zac and Ella and how they’d spent centuries trying to achieve their happily ever but after the cliffhanger of the first book, going into the second, I was ready for Ella to find her happily ever after even if it wasn’t with Zac. Because.. hear me out but in this moment I believed that fate & destiny had to trump out soulmates if all that had led from that love story was pain and death. So when Josh a man from Ella’s past came back, I was all for it and I’m so glad the author gave us this alternative path to explore and fall head over heels for.

This second book brought back many of the characters from the first book, including evil step brother Sebastian who has to be the most hated character ever in this series. We get some flashbacks and learn some new things as to why Archangel Michael is such a jerk face.

Along with this book though came the introduction of Zac’s mom Luci... otherwise known as Lucifer, fallen angel and all around “Devil”. This character had to be the most interesting as she certainly lived up to many devilish characteristics. But what I LOVED about this character is how she shows us that women who are strong and powerful are perceived as being such threats to men that they are willing to vilify and villainize them in the most horrid of ways. Throughout history women have been persecuted/held down whether it be from slavery, arranged and forced marriages, been legit burned or hung at the stake for being “witches” all because they’ve dared to speak their mind. Luci’s story made me so angry for her and I can’t help but feel so thankful for the author for remind us that this kind of thing is still going on in the world. It’ll never be okay for a woman to have power or the ability to speak her mind because most men will always feel threatened and “less than” and feel like it is their “duty” to bring them down to a level they feel is acceptable.

I absolutely cannot wait for the last book in this trilogy and I can’t wait to see how the females in this book triumph.

I dread even writing this review because I know I can’t do the book justice, especially without spoilers....but here we go! This book gives a return to the life of Ella after some big changes have happened in her life. We have the introduction of a new character and the return of some from the first book that play a bigger role. Ella is still the same damaged, emotional wreck of a girl but she is growing up and getting stronger. I love that the author can make her characters strong and vulnerable at the same time.

Just like the first, The Path Keeper, this book is an emotional rollercoaster for the reader. I still wanted to throw my book across the room, but I didn’t dare let it leave my hands because I couldn’t put it down. The author’s ability to weave the story through time is incredibly beautiful, and the connections from one time period to another were spot on. The relationships! Can we just talk about the relationships in this story? Not really, because there would be spoilers....but guys! I literally had to stop reading so I could tell my mom what was happening over and over. I think I used the phrase gut wrenching in my review of the first book and it’s just as true in the second. Again, mentions of sexual assault, so here’s a trigger warning if that is a concern for you, but it’s gut wrenching in good ways, too. Go read this series right now. You won’t regret it! Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for giving me a copy in exchange for an honest review and thank you NJ Simmonds for creating such an imaginative world!

I received this ARC in exchange for my honest review

This sequel was great and I loved the story and the characters. Definitely can't wait for the third book

The second book, and it did not did appoint! So much drama, I loved the new characters and their stories. A great book and I cannot wait for the third book.

There are books you read that engross you so much, you develop these love-hate relationships with the characters. You toss these books over the room when that silly ass girl does this or that. You curse under your breath in a coffee shop when that guy won’t follow through with his romantic intentions despite all sanity and reason pointing to the fact that he should. You shout at your poor significant other when he DARES to ask you a question while you’re in the middle of a really, really, REALLY unfair and tense chapter.

Well, the first book in N.J. Simmonds’ Indigo Chronicles, The Path Keeper, was like this for me. Son of Secrets is the sequel, and I HAVE WAITED ENTIRELY TOO LONG for it!! Never have I EVER (not since high school, at least!) been in such a hot and cold relationship with book characters! On one page, I love them, and then ten pages later, I hate their guts for making this or that choice. These characters will just do that to you, I swear. Which, oddly enough, makes it one damn good read!

So I’m happy to say, this year I’m on the blog tour for Son of Secrets! (And I seriously can’t wait for the next book in this series, hopefully next year.) Son of Secrets was amazing, I loved it, and I simply devoured it. Here’s more about why I enjoyed it.

It's About...

In the previous book, The Path Keeper, we got to follow the story of Zac and Ella – and their unusual meeting. Ella’s just a girl, but Zac… Zac is an angel who’s supposed to keep an eye on Ella – to make sure she follows her life path. Except… Zac has also been in love with Ella, for, uh… I don’t know, the last 2000 years?!! And he’s never got to talk to her ever since that one lifetime when they were actually together. Until the events of The Path Keeper.

The Path Keeper takes us on a wild love-and-hate inducing ride of a story of how Ella and Zac finally get to meet. But then all hell (well, actually, all heaven) breaks loose and something bad happens. I don’t want to spoil it for those who haven’t read the first book, so let’s just say that things take a downward turn and bring us to the events of this book, The Son of Secrets.

And let me tell you, are the questions answered, alright. The Son of Secrets is focused on finally letting us understand what happened to Zac. And his mother. And it’s all about what’s next in store for our star-crossed couple, and it’s one hell of a drama.

Tense, Dramatic, Emotional And Very Addictive

If the first book, The Path Keeper, was hard to get away from, Son of Secrets was purely impossible to unglue myself from.

This is such a weird series – weird in the sense that it makes me angry and eye-rolly, but also I am just plain old stuck to the page with my heart rate up.

It’s seriously one of those books where you kind of have to practice speed reading through parts of it cause OH MY GOD those pages just can’t flip themselves fast enough for you to find out what’s going on!

So Full Of Feeling And Completely Manipulates Your Emotions

The Indigo Chronicles is one of those series that makes you feel A LOT, and you will both love and hate the characters and especially their choices. At least I did! So after reading the first book, at the time I wrote the review I may have been a little salty and angry at everything that happened, and so I may have given it less stars than I should have – now I realize this.

The trouble with that is that only a half a year ago did I realize that I was painstakingly checking NetGalley for the next book in the series every weekend – not every book leaves you THIRSTY about what happens next!

Angered by the characters or not, it’s a damn good story if it does that to you. Which is why I was so anxious to find out what happens next! I let myself run with the characters, instead of questioning their morality or choices and putting them into behaviors that seem natural to me, and the story just flowed and flowed, and left me full of emotion.

And man, does a lot of stuff happen. So much drama! Get yourself some popcorn, seriously, because reading this book is one hell of a ride.

The Love Triangle

What I also loved in Son of Secrets was the love triangle. And that’s weird! Because I normally HATE those. But this.. I don’t know, at some point I was rooting for “the other guy” as well?

Ella is really unsure of what to do – you can see how she’s 50/50 on both guys and genuinely doesn’t know what she wants to and who should she choose. She’s tired of fighting life and going against the grain – it is much easier to just embrace your life path. But… Is it really what’s best for her? (To be honest, after finishing the book, I don’t even know how to answer that question myself anymore! Book 3 can’t come soon enough.)

We Get To Meet Zac’s Mom And… She’s A Handful!

I won’t go into a lot of detail about what/who Luci, Zac’s mom, really is – for that would be spoiling! But I’ll say this much. Luci is a good depiction of a ‘demon’ – but a realistic demon. A woman demonized just because she didn’t bow to someone’s will, a witch – the original witch.

She can be bad, but she also just likes getting her way and can’t be bothered – she’s not inherently evil and she doesn’t crave destruction. But she is the product of her life – trampled on, demonized, and her only son taken away from her cruelly.

Luci doles out punishment that may not be not proportional to the crime of the people who got in her way, but her answer is also understandable given that she’s been living in a sexist, oppressive, judgemental and cruel environment for over two thousand years – her answer is of the pissed off, dead-tired feminist who simply has the power to make them pay for once. It really quite matches the attitude of many women’s movements right now, although may be a bit hyperbolized to make the point come across faster. It certainly gave me the vibe of how tired of this crap women as a whole are at this point.

And that’s why I really liked how her character was framed – because after the first book, when we didn’t know much more than just hearsay about her, I was expecting an innocent victim in hiding, but instead what I got was a strong-willed rebel.

It was surprising, and at first I didn’t know what to think about it – but then I realized that this kind of Luci is WAY more interesting to read about. She is the mythical great mother, and she’s been disappointed. She will still protect the children, but everyone else is on their own. I adored Luci’s character.

And not to spoil anything, so I can’t say too much – but I absolutely loved the feminist / witch themes NJ Simmonds had in the second part of the book. This is a much needed conversation and it was done well, and I feel like the historical backdrop was also great!

Overall...

The book was amazing, and I loved it even more than the first book! It’s a rarity that books get better as the series goes along – and this one certainly knocked me off my feet. I simply can’t wait for the next book!! Bring it on, NJ Simmonds!!

(Triggers will be listed on my blog)

I thank the publisher for giving me a free copy of the book in exchange for an honest review. This has not affected my opinion.