Rating: All Time Favorite, 5 stars

"We're all just pretending. Keeping shields up and hiding as best as we can, from friends and enemies alike. They were all so unbearably lonely under the masks."

I feel like I have really been on a streak of fantastic trilogies where the second book actually lives up to the first and doesn't have middle book syndrome. And this is one of them. I am going to trust in this and just assume that the third book will also be incredible and CL Clark will quickly make their way onto my absolute favorite author list.

The Faithless picks up not too long after the events of the Unbroken. I feel like it has all the pieces that I loved so much about the first one. I will say that this one really ramps up the politics, which was a lot of fun. We spend most of the book in Balladaire, which was super interesting. I enjoyed seeing the other side of the world that we were introduced to in The Unbroken. I do hope we get to spend some more time in Qazāl again in book 3 though.

The characters remain absolutely messy and yet delightful. I definitely think that the characters are what make this book so successful for me. While we continue to get both Touraine's and Luca's perspectives (with a few others sprinkled in), the last book felt much more like Touraine's book while this one was much more Luca's. Touraine is still very much searching for her identify and Luca is still very much coming to terms with her empire and what it actually means to be a good sovereign. They are both absolute messes, but this time around it felt like they had matured and that they weren't necessarily making stupid decisions at the same rate that happened in the previous book. It was more like they were trying to make the best decision out of some terrible choices. So that maturity was also really great to read.

I will say that this one felt like it had a bit of a slower start than the Unbroken, which isn't a bad thing, but by the end it was hurdling along at breakneck speed to the conclusion. I do appreciate that each book so far has felt like a complete story. Very clearly there is more to come and we get tidbits of what the next book will be in each, but there isn't any huge massive cliffhangers, which is very nice.

Also, I just have to give credit where credit is due for one of the most savage backhanded compliments that I have ever read. It made me snort my morning tea when I read it: "She is kinder than you give her credit for... 'Or...at least she's got ambitions of kindness." It's flawless. Something I would never want to hear about myself, but absolutely incredible.

Overall, I highly recommend this book and this series. I am still shocked that this is CL Clark's debut series because it is incredible. Something about the way that they write just works so well for my brain, and the themes and characters are some of my favorites. Thanks to NetGalley and Orbit books for an early copy, even though some life events kept me from from finishing it prior to publication. Also, I highly recommend the audiobooks! Rasha Zamamiri is absolutely incredible as a narrator, and is quickly become a favorite audiobook narrator!

An amazing sequel to one of my favorite ongoing fantasy releases! It is hard to talk about this book without spoiling the events of the first but I will do my best. If something you loved about the Unbroken was how messy the interpersonal dynamics were between characters, that is still here and still fantastic. If you love Touraine, she is still the best AND learns how to fight with a sword, which was pretty fun. We get to change settings in this book which I found really compelling and fun. This also leaned more into the political court intrigue side of things, which I do tend to love so that was also pretty enjoyable for me. If you wanted more magic in the sequel, there is some but I wouldn't say its a whole lot and like the first book this story is a complete thought but makes you really really want the conclusion. This debut trilogy by C.L. Clark is still so impressive to me and I cannot wait to see how they choose to end it!

It was really nice to jump back into this world. Again, the french accents of the narrator of the audio book is 100% great and I appreciated the care the narrator took. I love the messiness that is Touraine and Luca, and it definitely gave the right vibes. I didn't totally enjoy Pruett's story line, but I understand why we needed it. I can't wait until the next installment, because I want these folks to have peace, and it'll be a while before they get there.

This hit the ground running and kept me hooked until the last page! The complex characters, political intrigue, and fantastic world building were impeccable. I loved the angst between characters and the explosive ending. I cannot wait for book 3!

One Sentence Summary: Princess Luca may be back in Balladaire, ready to claim her throne from her uncle, but she needs Touraine by her side, even if Touraine is reluctant to leave a freed Qazal, no matter how much she needs to be the one to sign the treaty, which only leads both women to be pulled into a game of chess.

Overall
The Faithless is the second in the Magic of the Lost trilogy. After the events of the first book, we find Luca back in Balladaire and still fighting her uncle for her throne, and Touraine struggling to get Qazal in order after their new independence. But the treaty still has to be signed and Touraine still has to get back to Balladaire for that and Luca still needs to find a way to win against her uncle. With these two women reunited, with all the things that still lie between them, it makes for a somewhat uncomfortable in the best way possible ride towards the end. There’s a game of chess being played out between Luca and her uncle and there’s an ex-soldier trying to play the role of an ambassador, creating chaos and loss at nearly every turn. But I loved watching these two women grow and grow over the course of the book, and the ending was just amazing. As much as I hated how Luca and Touraine started out in this book, I completely forgave them by the end.

Extended Thoughts
The Faithless follows some time after the events of The Unbroken. During that time, Luca has returned to Balladaire with a treaty that still needs to be signed and no sign of her uncle relinquishing the throne. Instead, she finds her uncle has most of the noble houses’ support, leaving her to fight tooth and nail for whatever leverage she can while doing her best to help the Qazali in Balladaire. Touraine, meanwhile, has been working with her mother, the Jackal, to try to ensure the survival of their people, but resources are scarce and Luca keeps calling Touraine to her side, pushing her into the role of ambassador, which doesn’t fit well over an ex-soldier.

Once Touraine finally arrives in Balladaire, though, the game only just starts as Luca and her uncle both maneuver to take the throne permanently. Politics isn’t Touraine’s strong point, but she’s caught between her Qazali birth and Balladairan upbringing, and the pull she still feels towards Luca is hard to ignore. With both women pulled into a manipulative game, they’ll have to do everything in their power to take the throne and protect Qazal and Balladaire, because there’s more brewing outside the palace gates.

I have to admit The Unbroken was not one of my favorite books. I enjoyed it enough, but I just felt like Touraine was being jerked around by the story and it annoyed me quite a bit. The Faithless, unfortunately, didn’t start strong for me, either, but, by the end, I was completely onboard and absolutely in love with Luca and Touraine. These women go through so much over the course of this book, and I really liked the addition of Touraine’s old friend Pruett getting a few chapters to herself. The world just felt that much more expanded and things just that much more crazier.

Where The Unbroken felt like it was giving me a fresh new world and interesting characters, no matter how much they felt like they were at the mercy of the story, The Faithless gave me a number of strong and interesting women. It’s mostly about Luca and Touraine and how they dance around each other while trying not to be hurt by each other again despite working together to win Luca her throne. But it’s also about Pruett and her seeming desire to carve out something for herself, and Aranen and her dealings with working through grief and trying to ground Touraine in her Qazali heritage. There’s also the cocky, swaggering Sabine, an old friend of Luca’s who takes Touraine under her wing, and Ghadin, who serves as Touraine’s page in Balladaire, serving wholeheartedly while still keeping a hold on still being a child.

At first, I hated Luca and Touraine and how they just kept shrinking. They felt annoyingly meek and like they were only at other people’s beck and call. I didn’t see any of the strength I saw in the first book, so I was sorely disappointed in two women who felt more like shrinking violets than a princess and former soldier. Even though I wish they had started out a bit stronger, at least, I did see their incredible growth both as individuals and as a couple that is endlessly pulled towards each other. I loved that tug and pull that defined their romance. It cut and bled, but also soothed with how fiercely they really cared for each other. There’s a lot of pain and a lot of beauty to them, and I loved how it hurt so much. I loved their romance in this book so much more, and I can’t wait to find out how their decisions at the end of this book will impact whatever happens in the third book. I really enjoyed watching both of them come into their own and really grow to be incredibly strong on their own and together, even if they always felt one step behind.

Watching Luca and Touraine engage in that chess game with her uncle was quite fascinating. It drove me a little nuts that they always seemed a step behind, but I liked how they slowly pulled the curtain back and could finally see Balladaire for what it was and what it had become. There’s a lot of truth that comes out in this book, and I found myself utterly fascinated by all the revelations. They end up in quite a lot of danger as they pursue these truths, and friends are lost and nearly lost along the way. I loved watching Luca and her uncle deal with each other, and the end was particularly satisfying, if a bit heartbreaking. Unfortunately for them, there’s also trouble brewing outside the palace walls. A rebellion is in the making. There isn’t as much as I would have liked on that front, with it being introduced and then hanging mostly stagnant despite a few small steps, but I can’t wait to see how it plays into the third book.

While Luca and Touraine are the main characters, the secondary characters were just as fascinating. I loved that Pruett, who felt quite left behind, got her own time to shine. She’s a really fun character, a soldier through and through. But she’s smart, and I loved how her story arc ended in this book, and can’t wait to find out what happens with her in the next. She isn’t a natural leader, but somehow finds her voice and her place, even if it takes a bit to get there. She’s gutsy, or crazy, and I absolutely loved her chapters. I also really liked Aranen. She’s dealing with some serious grief and the loss of her magic after her wife’s death in the first book. She felt quite sad, and my heart broke for her, but I liked how she was just so grounded in her culture and how she tried so much to give that to Touraine. She was a quiet character in all the chaos, so I really appreciated her and how steadfast she was, like a bit of calm in the middle of the storm.

This trilogy isn’t just about Luca and Touraine, the attempts to bring back magic, and the battle for a throne. It’s also about the effects of colonization. Even though Qazal has been granted its independence, it still requires the signing of a treaty. And that treaty is in jeopardy as Luca and her uncle both angle for the throne. I hated how Qazal and the Qazali felt like playing pieces, but this is a game and both players are playing to win it all. I hated the way some of it unfolded, hated how Touraine had to fight both for her people and her place in the court and how it just never seemed to work out in her favor. But I also liked how this book widened the world and expanded on what was offered in the first book. Not only are the borders pushed out, but there’s more about the magic that has been lost and more about how the Qazali are treated in Balladaire. It broke my heart so many times, but colonization is brutal.

The Faithless is an intense story. There are plenty of twists and turns and scheming. New friends are made and old friends are seen. The romance was cutting and painful, but still gorgeous. I really enjoyed the game of chess and really loved getting to know the world better. The best part was just how smooth of a reading experience this was. I read a lot of this book aloud to my daughter at bedtime, and the cadence of every sentence was just lovely, creating an easy to read book that was just beautiful to read. But all the threads in this one inevitably wind their way to whatever conclusion there is to come in the next book, and I can’t wait to find out what happens next.

Thank you to Orbit and NetGalley for a review copy. All opinions expressed are my own.

“A ruler does not have friends. They cannot because self-interest rules us all.”

The Faithless is a middle book that focuses on character studies while blending in a plot that deals with the aftermath of a revolution. Spoilers for the Unbroken so continue with that in mind.

Luca is fighting to take the crown from her uncle who's trying to use her "retreating" from Qazal as a sign that she's too weak for it. Tour is stuck dealing with a country that is both short on food and leaders, with nothing but bickering from all sides. Additionally, she still has no idea how to call forth her magic - magic that so far has only been used to hurt, not heal like intended.

Tour is keeping her space from Luca but when Luca invites them as ambassadors - Tour is forced to go by those who wish to use her as a pawn to make sure Luca upholds the treaty. These two are both tragically in love but kept apart by the socio economic factors.

God, who doesn't love romantic pinning - which this book is full of. Tour and Luca are full of trauma, bad choices and a righteous anger for demanding what they deserve. This book has so many moments of political savviness interlaced with moments of anti imperialist sentiments. It was amazing to see a book written about what happens post revolution. How a country survives after the big battle is over and it's actually time to govern.

This book also heavily focuses as a character study on both Luca and Tour. Luca is faced multiple times with the question of "is this really worth it?". Does she really have a right to the throne just because her parents did? Is a civil war, which would mostly impact the people, worth fighting her uncle? Tour on the other hand grapples with the ideals of "freedom" as she sees many Qazalians living in Bellidare under poor conditions. While technically free, are their lives any better now? She's been a soldier, a rebel and now a pawn as a politician - what does freedom look like to her if she can ever escape the crushing weight of duty and responsibility.

I loved this book and I cannot wait for book 3.

rep// Black lesbian mc with PTSD, disabled bi mc, bi, lesbian & nonbinary side characters

cw// Death, poisoning, colonisation, racism, abuse, war, death of a child

Thank you to the publisher for sending me this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Fantastic followup to the first installment. Incredibly strong writing & characters. Loved it! Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read in advance!

Yesssssssss, you have to respect when a sequel is stronger than the first volume. Magic of the Lost continues on in The Faithless with tighter plot, pacing and characterization. With another delightful Tommy Arnold cover on the outside and more of Luca and Touraine's antics on the inside, Side characters like Pruett and Sabine were fleshed out gorgeously as well. Pacing was my biggest problem with the first book and it's been totally transformed and tightened up here. I'm anxiously awaiting the third release.

A great sequel to The Unbroken. I did miss some of the characters from Book One who became more background, but there was lots of action & intrigue.

An amazing sequel to one of my favorite ongoing fantasy releases! It is hard to talk about this book without spoiling the events of the first but I will do my best. If something you loved about the Unbroken was how messy the interpersonal dynamics were between characters, that is still here and still fantastic. If you love Touraine, she is still the best AND learns how to fight with a sword, which was pretty fun. We get to change settings in this book which I found really compelling and fun. This also leaned more into the political court intrigue side of things, which I do tend to love so that was also pretty enjoyable for me. If you wanted more magic in the sequel, there is some but I wouldn't say its a whole lot and like the first book this story is a complete thought but makes you really really want the conclusion. This debut trilogy by C.L. Clark is still so impressive to me and I cannot wait to see how they choose to end it!

Thank you, Orbit, for the review copy of The Faithless! This is the second book of C.L. Clark’s Magic of the Lost trilogy, the first of which (The Unbroken) I enjoyed a lot. I liked this one a lot, too.

To recap without spoilers, the Magic of the Lost trilogy is about two countries, Qazāl (colony) and Balladaire (colonizer), which are inspired by a historical Morocco and France. Tourraine begins The Unbroken as a Qazāl conscript in the Balladairan army. Luca is the princess of Balladaire, waiting until she’s old enough to be crowned while her uncle rules as regent. Also, the Qazāli have a magic rooted in their faith, while Balladaire has outlawed all religion (and magic). The Unbroken takes place in Qazāl and focuses on the Qazālis’ rebellion, and The Faithless picks up a few months later and mostly takes place in Balladaire. (Also yes, these books are very sapphic.)

My main criticism — although it’s not a loud one — is that I found the pacing uneven. All the action happens in the second half, especially the last 20% or so. (That’s pretty common for a second book; the author has resolved the first big plot arc and turns their attention to deeper character development.) But while I was impatient for more action, I can also say that I was never bored. I loved getting to know our main characters better and some characters (Sabine! Pruett!) for the first time.

But overall, I remain deeply impressed by Clark’s nuanced depiction of colonialism and how hard it is to disentangle it — to overthrow from a rebellion’s perspective, to dismantle from the inside, and to undo its effects on how people see themselves and each other. I can’t wait to see where the story goes in the trilogy’s final book.



CONTENT AND TRIGGER WARNINGS:
Colonialism/colonization; Violence and death; Murder; Grief; Child abuse

I was really excited to get back to these characters!

With a tentative treaty in place, Luca and Touraine are back in their respective countries. Touraine is finding her place in her now free country and Luca is trying to take her rightful throne from her scheming Uncle.
To ensure lasting peace, Touraine will travel as an Ambassador for her people to Balladaire. Luca has to win her throne or the peace between their countries will not last.

I love these characters! I'm not a romance fan, but it is well done and minimal, so it was fine for me. If you like political intrigue, you should definitely check out this series.

I really enjoyed the second installment of this series. This book brought so much and did not displease. I really hope the next one brings the same!

- thank you to netgalley and the publisher for an arc to review!

- a solid 4 star read, and a great sequel to continue the story from the first installment.

The sequel to The Unbroken is just as absorbing. Luca has returned home to Balladaire to finally take her throne from her uncle, the regent. But to do so, she needs the help (and magic) of Qazal, and Touraine. Can Touraine trust Luca, the head of the country that colonized hers? Lots of political intrigue, women sword-fighting and lusting looks.

As strong as a book two can be! I really enjoyed this next installment of the Magic of the Lost series. While I would say the pacing is a little slower than book 1, the character development and the complexity of their machinations keep it just as thrilling and engaging as ever before.

The political intrigue, high stakes dangerous game continues with Touraine having stepped up in the world as a new ambassador. I enjoyed seeing her grow into that role and the little family she surrounded herself with. Luca too changes in a softer way, choosing to put some priorities ahead of others that she wouldn’t have in book 1. We also get some new points of view as well, a few of which I suspect will become big players in book 3.

This series is so well-done in terms of world building. It’s detailed but not in an info-dump kind of way. You can feel it on your skin, you understand the people and why they act the way they do. It’s a very alive world and that makes it all the more enjoyable to dive into.

I know The Faithless *just* came out but I’m already itching to get my hands on book 3. I just have to know what happens next and where all the pieces land in the end. Highly recommend!


Note: I received a free electronic edition of this book via NetGalley in exchange for the honest review above. I would like to thank them, the publisher, and the author for the opportunity to do so.

First of all, FINALLY!
Second of all, how dare you do that.
Thirdly, do it again please.

Thank you Orbit and Netgalley for the ARC of "The Faithless" by C. L. Clark. Little late, but I'm making sure animals are fed and neglecting my own health.

Ok so... Politics. But with a person you used to be entangled with. And then not being able to tell if you are using the other person or they are genuine. Also murder and magic.

Continuing the Magic of the Lost trilogy, Touraine is sent back to Balladaire as an ambassador to make sure the Princess honors the terms of their treaty. Luca is in the endgame for getting the throne from her uncle, if her allies don't stop disappearing. And then there is just Sabine having a great time of it (mostly).

Reasons to read:
-FINALLY (but kinda weird timing for that, but I get it)
-Fantastic new characters
-Touching on different magics and the costs of them
-Hey look, the consequences of actions
-Hey look, my feels got shivved
-Another fantastic cover with Tommy Arnold art

Cons:
-Pour a few out

I liked this book. But, like I mentioned in my review of book 1, I feel like something is missing. The magic is delved into a bit more in this book, but it still is almost glossed over but an integral part of the story. The relationships between characters are interesting and nearly all of them are morally grey. I’ll likely read the third book when it comes out, but I hope everything comes together in that one.

Another great book by C. L. Clark. Once I started reading this I couldn’t put it down. Chapter after chapter it just kept getting better

A series that gets better with each book? Yes please. This time we're in Balladaire which comes with more fun political intrigue and sabotaging factions. With the introduction of the Duke, we know things are going to go south fast for our Qazali friends... but man it's fun. We also get more PoVs, like Pruett and Fili, which is double the excitement. Getting to see how the Balladairan court schmoozes each other and their complicated chess games is just priceless. (Also a fun Jade City reference with the Fingers and the Fist!)

Does C.L. Clark kill every character I love? Yes. Do I love her for that? Absolutely. And I am SO SO SO excited to see what happens in the next one, given that cliffhanger ending. EEEEEEEE!!

*Thank you to Orbit and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for my honest review*