“I’ve never been worthy of you. But I’ll stand with you. For as long as you’ll let me. I love your scars, your darkness, your rage. I love every piece of you…”

Just like Ember of Night, I loved Shadow of Light and after that cliffhanger, I will unabashedly beg for Book 3. Draven is devoted to Harley and I’m devoted to Draven.

Read if you love Constantine Vibes, the Winter Soldier, YA fantasy, Chosen One Trope, Angels & Demons, Soulmates.

Cue: Even if it hurts by Sam Tinnesz

Rating: 5/5
Spiceometer: 💋💋- we are getting even steamier as we go

Draven x Harley forever

This book was just as good as the 1st! Harley and Draven’s relationship still has that tug of war in this book just like the 1st. They are both dark and sinister in their own ways however Draven still is not the most honest with Harley and always keeps her at arms length. Through the whole book he admits his love for Harley but while reading I always had a gut feeling not to trust this character. Then bam chapter 50 hits and then bam the ending ends on a cliffhanger……Oh just wait until you get your hands on this book!!!
There are new characters that I really loved that Molly brought to life in this book. In the 1st book I really wanted to learn more about Cassiel and Draven’s brother that was briefly mentioned in the 1st book. I loved Cassiel and the protector he became over Ray and the bond they created. Ray again in this book was the sunlight in the dark fantasy world that Molly created pulling us through each realm of the aether (hell). Wallace was also a new character that was the guide and helper through the realm in search of Marid. She became one of my favorite characters with her snarky remarks and sarcasm. Ultimately becoming one of Harley’s true friends in the end. I give this book a 5 star rating and can’t wait for the 3rd book in this series. I can feel the flames Harley has at the end of book 2. The rage and boiling feeling I am right there with her. 🔥🔥

• Angels and demons⁣
• Sisterhood bonds⁣
• Witty, strong female MC ⁣
• A forbidden romance ⁣
Bonus: Popular movie references that’ll make you laugh (I loved the Twilight comment😆)⁣
⁣
Shadow of Light picks up right where Ember of Night ends—Harley saves the guy she’s crushing on and learns she’s the key to opening the gates of Hell but wants no part of it… ⁣
⁣
BUT with her sister Ray being possessed by a demon she thought she got rid of, Harley is determined to do whatever it takes to protect her little sister and break the tether even if that means going back to Hell with Draven and others by her side. ⁣
⁣
•⁣
⁣
What I thought was interesting about the second book is the way Hell aka The Ather is described- it’s more than what you think it is. Harley faces a variety of obstacles and even some surprises. ⁣
⁣
I love, love, love her relationship with her sister Ray, Cassiel is another lovable character and while yes, there is some romance, I loved the sisterly bond we see plus, the character growth. ⁣
⁣
This is a YA fantasy > paranormal book but it technically leans more towards NA in my opinion (at least the second book). As always, research trigger warnings- they vary reader to reader. ⁣
⁣
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⁣
⁣
⁣
Thank you so much @entangledteen @netgalley @mollyelizabethlee for an eARC of Shadow of Light. I can’t wait to see how the story continues!

Shadow of Light starts readers right where Ember of Night left off, and is so action packed you’ll not be able to put it down. This book definitely doesn’t have “Second Book Syndrome” as most middle books do in a trilogy.

I already loved Harley and Ray from book one, but in this book I found myself even more in love with our little Ray of sunshine, and rooting for Harley always.

We also get more facetime with characters from book one as well as some new characters that you can’t help but love too. If you love found family, you’re going to seriously love this second installment of Ember of Night.

And can we talk about this incredible world building?! The Ather is full of different realms, each one unique in landscape and beings. Lee didn’t skimp on this part and it really shines through alongside the amazing writing and well-developed characters.

Shadow of Light is one WILD ride and the twists and turns that get us through the book will have you turning page after page and shaking when you find yourself out of pages.

I cannot wait for the conclusion of this story and definitely recommend this series to all the YA fantasy readers, especially fans of Crave and The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina.

Thank you Netgalley and Entangled Teen for allowing me to read and review this title! All thoughts and opinions are my own. I was invited by ET to read.

After the crazy cliffhanger of book one, Ember of Night, I was super excited to dive right into Shadow of Light. The book starts off right where we were left with Draven finding out that Harley is the Antichrist and he made a deal with Rainier to bring Harley to the Aether in exchange for his twin brother, Ryder. Harley is willing to travel to the Aether as Ray, her eight year old sister, is being possessed by Marid. To break the possession/bond between Ray and Marid, Harley needs to dive head first into the demon dimension and find Marid.

One of my first thoughts of this book after finishing is that Harley is such a "horn-dog". My goodness! The amount of sexual tension between her and Draven and constant reminder of how gorgeous and "yummy" he is was getting a bit out of hand. Like, I love romance and steamy romances etc but almost every other page was something about Draven and his hands, his lips, his touches, his everything. I sadly had to take a star away for that because it was becoming slightly obnoxious and took away from the plot some of the time.

I did really love the travelling between realms in the demon dimension. I'm hoping we will get more of that in the conclusion : Spark of Ash. I like Wallace and her Eskr vehicle. I wish we had more character development with Cassiel, instead of him just being a grumpy angel of death. I want to learn more about his powers and see him more in action instead of just a baby-sitter for Ray. I do like the addition of Ryder, a longer-haired blue eyes version of Draven but with more sass. I think he could become a really good friend to have for Harley. I'm happy we saw more of Draven's powers as a siphon and see him go into "beast mode".

The cliffhanger was well-placed and I'm very curious as to how Harley will deal with her biological father, her royalty duties as Princess of the Aether, and handling the Seven. I'm excited to learn of Ryder's reaction to Earth as it is now, since he was prisoner of Marid. I'm looking forward to reading the sequel and conclusion!

I do want to say there was a bit of a repetitiveness in Shadow of Light, I'm hoping it won't be so bad in the final book.

4 stars

Thanks so much to the publisher, the author and Netgalley for the eARC!

I loved the first book of the series and I knew that I want to read more of it. Who would have thought I would get an eARC for the sequel? I loved how the author sustained the energy and the feels of the story from the first book, and it definitely leveled up from there! Makes me want to reread the first two books just in time for book 3’s release date 🤩 I need to stew some more and process what I’ve read even better, to be honest 🤣

This book...I am shook.

The world that the author created by bending the ideas we have about the Devil and Hell and the Antichrist is absolutely amazing and something I can't even begin to put into words.

Then there's the characters, Harley and Draven. They are amazing. They're so realistic and imperfect and have flaws and aren't afraid to acknowledge them. They're probably the two most bad*** characters I've ever met. The found family is incredible and the love they have for their siblings is awe-inspiring.

My only criticism is that the book ended on a cliffhanger and the author is making us wait until May to resolve it. Also, this book was quite fast paced and chapters would end in one location and then open in another and while it didn't affect the book, it was a bit confusing since locations would change so quickly.

Wow!! Where to start?! This one took me on a wild adventure that left me wanting more! The story progressed so much and got a whole lot more interesting.

Harley starts to discover her powers more and gets much closer to the truth. Draven and Harley’s relationship progresses further than it was. (Can I say spicy) haha.

We say a whole cast of characters going on through this adventure through hell and see all these crazy encounters with creatures and other people like them. We are introduced to many more characters like Wallace who is a kick a** Ather guide and Ryder the brother of Draven. We also get to see Madrid in his true form.

I feel like the writing in the one got 10x better than the first. I was loving all the descriptions of the Ather and the creatures. The whole time I was reading this I felt like I was right there with the gang. Molly E. Lee is so creative and amazing. Along with her great writing and wonderful world building she knows how to pull on your heartstrings. She is always leaving us with more.

Thank you to Entangled Teen and Netgalley for allowing me to have an ARC of this book! Super excited for the 3rd installment

Trigger warnings:
Abuse, blood, fighting

Shadow of Light is the second installment in author Molly E. Lee's Ember of Night series. The story actually picks up right where Ember of Night left off with a scene between Draven and Raider who desperately wants to get his hands on Harley. I would highly recommend that readers read these books as close together as you can so that you can remember key events and characters. Key characters in this series are Harley Ward, her younger sister Ray, and Draven, a Judge who has just explained to Harley that she is the key to opening the gates of Hell, and letting all the demons out to the human realm.

With the Seven wanting Harley dead if she shows any inclination of being the creator of the Apocalypse, and her best friend already stabbing her in the back, OK front, Harley is walking a tightrope into danger. There's an entire well of power that seems too easy to access for Harley. As her power grows, she becomes someone you don't want to mess with. What's even more worrisome, Ray is being possessed by a Greater Demon named Marid.

With a little bit of help from Kazuki, a powerful warlock, and Cassiel, the literal Angel of Death, as well as Wallace, a guide based in Hell, Harley needs to collect a variety of items needed to break the tether between Ray and Marid. Unfortunately, one of those items just happens to be Draven's brother, Ryder who has been in Hell for a century. Hell, also known as Ather, is no trip to Disneyland, but even Harley isn’t prepared for what she meets in each new circle. Each step gained feels like two steps back in this hell-hole, but the deeper they go, the more she feels her powers grow. The world above is at stake, but down here? Nothing is as it seems.

The clock is ticking as they try to locate the ancient artifact that will strengthen her powers and help her vanquish the Twelve Greater Demons now wreaking havoc on the world above. One of the best moments of this series so far is the relationship between Harley and Ray. Even though they are half-sisters, Ray loves Harley and Harley literally would throw herself into Hell itself to protect her. Oh, and Ray is an awesome artist who dips into the manga genre. She's also a seer.

The addition of both Wallace and Ryder fit in perfectly with Harley, Draven, Ray, and Cassiel. The connection between Harley and Draven is only amplified but there are spoiler-y things that I can't mention that seem to be hanging over their heads. Cliffhanger warning! The author threw in a huge curve ball with major implications for Harley's future as well as everyone she's close to. She also learns a whole lot about where her powers actually come from, and that was weird considering the beginning of the story! Looking forward to book # 3!

I loved this book so much! Everything that was great about the first book got even better in the second! Harley was a spitfire and always seemed two steps ahead. Physically at least. Mentally, she kept getting knocked down. Luckily, Draven was there to pick her up. Their relationship really shined in this book and I loved to see them grow together. Ray stole the show! What an icon! I love her. This book was such a fun and quick read and I so highly recommend it to everyone looking for something fun and easy. And that ending? Ms. Lee. Can we have a word? I’m going to need the next one ASAP.

Shadow of light is the perfect sequel to Ember of night. Filled with so much action, a sweet sweet romance, a beautiful relationship between sisters and a thrilling quest through hell that had me at the edge of my seat. It took me a second to get into it but once I did, wow, oh wow! It was absolutely addictive. I just couldn’t stop. Harleys character development was inspiring, her sense of humor was nothing but perfect. Draven? Well, all I can say is Swoon. The newly introduced characters were fantastic. That twist at the end though. Seriously, why?? Be prepared for another cliffhanger!

{𝐌𝐈𝐍𝐈 𝐑𝐄𝐕𝐈𝐄𝐖}⁣ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5⁣⁣
SHADOW OF LIGHT is a fantastic continuation of Harley and Draven’s story. Ember of Night ended on quite a tense note, and this book pick up immediately where that one left off. Things are still quite tense for our beloved Draven and Harley, though at least Harley is finally coming into her own with her powers and who she is. The romance continues to be my favorite aspect of this series, though Harley’s relationship with her sister comes in at a very close second. ⁣
⁣⁣
Bottom line — fast-paced, romantic, and so completely addictive, SHADOW OF LIGHT will hook you from the first page until the last. 5 brilliant stars, and I can’t wait to see what book 3 has in store for these characters.

*eARC received courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher.

Happy Tuesday y'all! I 100% thought I had already reviewed this one, but I guess that's what happens when I read too many books in a short span of time. Anyway, Shadow of Light came out on November 30th and is the sequel to Ember of Night and if you've read Ember of Night, I think you'll enjoy where Shadow of Light took things! As always, thank you so much to Entangled Teen and Netgalley for letting me read an eARC of this book!
Shadow of Light 4/5 Stars
Summary from Goodreads:
Perfect for fans of Brigid Kemmerer and Tracy Wolff, the second novel in Molly E. Lee’s angels-and-demons YA series will keep readers turning pages until the very end.
I just saved the boy I’m falling for from a gruesome death by a demon. And what does he have to say? I’m the key to opening the gates of Hell. I mean, a thank-you would’ve been nice. Or another scorching-hot, forbidden kiss. Either way, destiny will have to find someone else to torment, because I’m so done.
Or I was, until my little sister starts cackling exorcist-style and stares at me with eyes that aren’t hers. They’re Marid’s, the Greater Demon I just kicked back to the dark realm he came from. Possessing Ray whenever he wants is his ultimate revenge.
The only way to break the tether between them includes a road trip through Hell, aka the Ather. I quickly discover nothing is as it seems in this place. Yeah, there are realms of terror, greed, and desire, but there’s also peace, and a beauty I never knew existed...and it’s eerily familiar.
With each obstacle we encounter, I slip a little further into the chaotic energy of my growing dark powers. And when an unexpected betrayal hits me square in the chest, I freefall into them.
Fate painted me as the monster of nightmares, and after this? Destiny is about to learn just how monstrous I can be.
So, I really hate the summary for this book- like outwardly there's nothing wrong with it, but I just really hate the way it's written. That style isn't as bad/pronounced in the book, so it didn't bother me as much, but the summary is just bleh- but because I did like Ember of Night, I decided to read Shadow of Light, and while the beginning didn't draw me in, I did love the actual quest through hell that our little squad took. The different realms within Hell and the Hell origin story that the author had were so interesting, so I was definitely a fan of those. I wasn't always a fan of the characters, because I don't fully feel like I know them or their motivations, but that's ok, because the plot and the setting carried this book. And the twist at the very end made this book (just like it did book one), so you're definitely hooked and ready to read the next book when it comes out. All in all, would I say I loved this book? No. Would I wholeheartedly say that you have to read it? No, but if you want a book with a really fun setting, a cool quest, and a crazy cliffhanger, I definitely liked Shadow of Light (and of course, you'd have to have read Ember of Night before this to understand it).

"𝗜’𝗹𝗹 𝗯𝘂𝗿𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗹𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗴𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱 𝗯𝗲𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗜 𝗹𝗲𝘁 𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗴𝗲𝘁 𝗵𝘂𝗿𝘁."

And Harley would do exactly that for her beloved young sister Ray.

Picking up where the book 1 Ember of Night left off, this journey to hell is adventurous, intense, action-packed with revelations that will shock you. A world built to captivate you, one where you will feel lost in. What an incredible continuation to the series.

"𝗛𝗶𝘀 𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗴𝗮𝘇𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝗮 𝗯𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗱, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗜 𝗳𝗲𝗲𝗹 𝗶𝘁 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲.
“𝗕𝗲𝗮𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘂𝗹,” 𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗵𝗶𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘀.
𝗪𝗮𝗿𝗺𝘁𝗵 𝗱𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲𝘀 𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗺𝘆 𝘀𝗸𝗶𝗻. 𝗛𝗲’𝘀 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗰𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝗰𝗮𝗿𝘀, 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗻𝗼𝘀𝗲 𝘂𝗽 𝗮𝘁 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗺𝘆 𝗯𝗼𝗱𝘆 𝗵𝗮𝘀 𝘀𝘂𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗱. 𝗛𝗲’𝘀 𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝘁 𝗺𝗲 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝗜’𝗺… 𝗺𝗮𝗷𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗰. 𝗦𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗵𝗮𝘀𝗻’𝘁 𝘀𝘂𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗱, 𝗯𝘂𝘁 𝘀𝘂𝗿𝘃𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗱."

Harley takes journey to Hell with Draven, Ray and others with her to tether the connection Marid has with her sister which gives him access to possess Ray whenever he wants. The author has written the story and characters in a manner that you will love and be engrossed in. It is just wow! The development in Harley was great and I enjoyed her becoming stronger, confident with her sarcasm at its best. I love Ray, she is a sweetheart.

The found family concept in this book is the best. Harley's tribe is powerful and I love them all. If you want forbidden romance, badass MC, fast paced urban fantasy this is for you.

Okay I can go on about this book but I want you guys to read it and that CLIFFHANGER!!! Why? What? When? I am speechless and that was unexpected and heartbreaking and I don't want that. I read this last month and still can't get over it. I highly recommend this book.

Thank you @entangledteen for an ARC of this.

This was such a fun read! The plot picked up right where Ember of Night left off and the storyline did not disappoint🙌. I really enjoyed Molly E Lee’s writing style in this series so far. The plot line flows really well and the character development is well done. Harley and Draven are have amazing chemistry on paper but there were definitely some great twists in this book as well!

Did I mention Harley is an ABSOLUTE BAD*SS?! Yeah because she is...but Draven is definitely up there in the ranks too, and this time around, they’ll need each other just as much, if not more, than last go round, and there is far more at stake! What? You thought the world ending scenario was a bad turn? You thought how far she went to try and save pretty much EVERYONE was over the edge? Honey, she redefines what an edge even is in this book, and with Draven in the mix, things are bound to get a bit hot and heavy. Did I mention how CURIOUS the twists and turns given to what we thought we knew about good and evil, heaven and hell (or rather Ather), or even those in charge of both? So good! It’s not remaking the wheel, and it’s FICTION, before anyone gets their hackles up about it, but it makes for some things to really think on and consider. I mean, why couldn’t there be darkness and light in everyone? It might really all depend on which side you listen to and how you use your power in the end.

Trust me when I say, this is one not to be missed! The new friends she makes (just don’t call them that to their faces), the acquaintances we get to know better, the enemies we get closer than we ever dared, the history revealed, and the future we glimpse, all add up to a truly remarkable second installment that leaves you thirsting for more! All I can say is...WHY did I not read the first one sooner...and WHY isn't the third one out yet?!

Quick Stats
Age Rating: 15+
Over All: 4/5 stars
Plot: 4/5
Characters: 4/5
Setting: 4/5
Writing: 3.5/5

Special thanks to Entangled Teen and NetGalley for an eARC of this book! All thoughts and opinions reflected in this review are my own.

Lana (@thatgaybooktoker on TikTok and @thatgaybookstagram on instagram) likened this series to The Shadowhunter Chronicles—without the incest. And I have to say, she’s 100% right.
The Ember of Night series is urban fantasy and paranormal romance at its best, and the vibe and world reminds me of TSC when it comes to many of the aspects I like about it, and lacks the ones that I don’t (like I said!! No sibling relationships! Or cousins! Or anything of the sort!).

Shadow of Light starts right where Ember of Night left off, and Harley doesn’t get a break. This book also felt much more fantasy heavy than the first, involving other dimensions and fantasy worldbuilding. The lore intensifies as well, and I must say—it’s more unique than I expected. Molly E. Lee manages to craft a unique world and story that is still strongly reminiscent of the genre. It takes the common archetype of a paranormal fantasy romance, and utilizes it well without being confined to the cliches that can sometimes be found within the genre.

The steam between Harley and Draven definitely ramps up in this book. There are instances that I wondered if it was going to cross over into a little too mature for YA when it came to sexual content, but it never did, which I appreciate.
Honestly, I feel like the amount of lusting and sexual tension between the two of them ended up taking away from the story itself at times. It was just so much, and so blatant. It didn’t feel integrated with the rest of the narrative, and it wasn’t always written in a way that felt realistic or in a way I could connect with. It felt like every other paragraph Harley would get lost in her fantasies about Draven, and only 10% of the time did those fantasies feel natural. Don’t get me wrong. There were romantic scenes and make-out scenes and such that I genuinely enjoyed and felt were done well, but compared to the amount of such content in the book, they were few and far between.

Part of why that bothers me is because the plot and lore were really good, but they kept getting lost in the romance. The book had the potential to be a 4.5-5 star read if the author had focused just a little more on fleshing out those scenes and leaving out some of the scenes where Harley did nothing but drool over Draven.

I still recommend this book, especially for shadowhunter fans, and I’m excited to pick up a copy of book 3 when it comes out (I love that it comes out in May so I don’t have to wait a whole year!)

Disclaimer: I received this e-arc from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own.

Book: Shadow of Light

Author: Molly E. Lee

Book Series: Ember of Night Book 2

Rating: 5/5

Recommended For...: young adult readers, fantasy, urban fantasy, angels, demons

Publication Date: November 30, 2021

Genre: YA Urban Fantasy

Recommended Age: 16+ (abuse, violence, gore, kidnapping, animal abuse, sexual content, religion, possession, and language)

Explanation of CWs: There is some abuse flashbacks shown. Violence and gore are frequent. Kidnapping is mentioned, not shown. Animal abuse to a dog is shown very briefly but it’s during a big fight by the villains of the novel and the dog limps away and is later fine. Sexual content is shown. Religion is brought up a few times and inspiration is taken from it. There are a couple of possession scenes. Curse words are frequent.

Publisher: Entangled Teen

Pages: 400

Synopsis: I just saved the boy I’m falling for from a gruesome death by a demon. And what does he have to say? I’m the key to opening the gates of Hell. I mean, a thank-you would’ve been nice. Or another scorching-hot, forbidden kiss. Either way, destiny will have to find someone else to torment, because I’m so done.

Or I was, until my little sister starts cackling exorcist-style and stares at me with eyes that aren’t hers. They’re Marid’s, the Greater Demon I just kicked back to the dark realm he came from. Possessing Ray whenever he wants is his ultimate revenge.

The only way to break the tether between them includes a road trip through Hell, aka the Ather. I quickly discover nothing is as it seems in this place. Yeah, there are realms of terror, greed, and desire, but there’s also peace, and a beauty I never knew existed...and it’s eerily familiar.

With each obstacle we encounter, I slip a little further into the chaotic energy of my growing dark powers. And when an unexpected betrayal hits me square in the chest, I freefall into them.

Fate painted me as the monster of nightmares, and after this? Destiny is about to learn just how monstrous I can be.

Review: Overall, I really loved this book as well! I thought it was a well done sequel and it held its own with its own story and issues separate from the first book but still connected. The character development was sound, I loved the new characters, I loved all the twists and turns, and I enjoyed the world building. The book also had a strong plot and I enjoyed the ride. I also highly enjoyed having the triggers in the front of the book.

However, I did think that some of the book was repetitive in the plot. I felt like the same conflict resolution conflict resolution rhythm repeated a few times in the book and it was a bit dull in the middle and a little at the end. The book also kind of did the same thing with the romance aspects. The book’s pacing also slowed down in the center and a little towards the end.

Verdict: It was great! Loved it!

"You do what you've always done. You survive. You conquer. You take ownership of every inch of your power and use it to protect what you love."



Holy cliff hanger, Batman!! Clap it up for Molly E Lee for delivering with book two! And this is me officially begging for book three. Whew, the crew goes through a lot in this book. Trials and tests. A quest! Draven has claimed every piece of my heart *blinks stars out of eyes*. Alright, well, I am going to put myself in the divine sleep. Someone wake me up when book three is released!


READ IF YOU LIKE:
-secondary characters that have you LOL
-found family
-brotherly bond
-sarcasm
-the winter soldier and edward cullen
-#IsThisAKissingBook: upper YA. Content warning in front matter. Draven is a sucker for Harley and I am here for it!

Thank you Entangled Teen for an advanced copy!

Song: Sucker by Jonas Brothers

True Rating: 3.5/5 Stars

This book, sequel to “Ember of Night” and the second book in the Ember of Night series, was entertaining, but not quite as engaging as its predecessor. If I had to pinpoint what I thought this book was missing, I’d say it was the snark and morbidity from the first book. That sense of humor is what kept me so hooked in the first book, but in this book the humor has lightened up some, and so it felt like something was missing for me.

I understand that this is due to character and plot development, but that doesn’t make it easy to swallow. Harley is still Harley: brash, confident, sassy… but she’s lost that sharp edge that made me relate to her character so well. And, as such, I kind of lost my ability to engage completely with the book.

The book itself is good. It’s well-plotted, interesting, takes us to new places, introduces us to new characters and lets us get to know supporting characters from the first book better, and allows us to get deeper into Draven and Harley’s relationship. We also get to know more about where Harley came from, which is pivotal. And then there’s celestial politics! OI! Bureaucracy.

If you liked the first one, I’m sure you’ll appreciate this book. I did, because I want to see how this series finishes out. I love Molly’s writing and I love her sense of style. We’ll see what the next book brings.