I didn't know that this book was sequel so I of course read the first book first, And to read the sequel afterward was a bit disappointing. It didn't live with it's expectations. It felt flat in my opinion.

I spoke about this book on a bookmail/bookhaul instagram video and needless to say that I loved it and I need book 3 IMMEJIATELY! I had more to say on the live that speaks to my endorsement of this amazing sequel!

The first book in this series featured a deadly competition (think Hunger Games). In this sequel Iris struggles to deal with her true identity. She’s Hiva, an immortal who destroyed the world before and is meant to do it again.

I struggled to keep up with such a large cast of characters in the first book, but since not all of them made it out of the tournament the list has been trimmed. As Hiva, Iris doesn’t want to repeat history and destroy the world again. She has the power to kill someone with just a look, but she wants to make good choices and not be a murderer. That’s easier said than done, and her instincts take over in certain situations. She fights her urges, but I didn’t like the direction she was headed.

Adam was full of secrets in the first book, but now that they’re revealed – he’s just a greedy and power hungry guy. He’s still obsessed with Iris and wants her to realize the full potential of her powers. But he’s not the only one trying to find her. Someone else is tracking her, and this person is a game changer.

With plenty of action and deaths, X-Men-like powers, and the fate of the world at stake, The Song of Wrath is tension-filled. The huge cliffhanger ending sets up book three perfectly.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I tried giving this sequel a chance, but it really didn't work for me! The plot line at the beginning of the novel was very chaotic and honestly it made my head spin trying to make sense of what was happening. I gave it about 100 pages but in good faith I don't think I could continue any more. I moderately enjoyed the first book and perhaps the second picks up later in the novel but I unfortunately couldn't get there.

I might pick up an audio version once that becomes available to try a different format, but for now it will remain a DNF, unfortunately.

I think if you enjoyed the first book and you can get through the slush of plot at the beginning then this book is for you and go for it!

Considering the events of The Bones of Ruin I wasn't sure where The Song of Wrath could go, but wow! This sequel is not only full of actions, and some side character development, but it's also focused on Iris. At the beginning, when new characters are being introduced, as well as catching back up with some loose ends, it can feel a little loose, but it comes together. Picking up immediately where the first ends, I loved Iris' character development in this sequel.

Iris now knows the truth. She is more than just a tightrope walker who cannot die, no matter what is done to her. No. She is actually the goddess of death herself, Hiva, she who brings about the end of the world. She who is destined to bring about the end of all things. There’s only one problem, though. Iris doesn’t actually want to end the world, but with every passing minute, it becomes even harder and harder to fight those urges to end everything, to reduce people to ash with a mere glance. Iris knows there has to be a way to strip herself of this power, to make herself human again. Luckily, she has a faithful companion, Rin, to come with her as she travels the globe in an attempt to find a way to turn herself human, and save the entire world. But will Iris succumb to her power and the urge to break everything before she finds it?

I received an advanced reading copy of The Song of Wrath in exchange for an honest review.

The Song of Wrath is a young adult fantasy novel by Sarah Raughley. It’s also the sequel to The Bones of Ruin, which I read and reviewed last year. I was excited to get a copy of the sequel, and see exactly how Iris’s story continued!

I think I actually enjoyed this book more than I did the last one. I had a rough time in the last, because while the mystery of what Iris was was prevalent, I was a little lost on her motivations. Here, however, we get an Iris who is totally and completely torn. She wants to be human, she wants to have an ordinary life and live and love with those she cares about. But every step of the way, she is fighting against her nature of destruction, and boy does Raughley make it hard for her. Iris has to face all forms of humanity here, everything from good people to the absolute worst, those who abuse their power and enjoy it. How do you not give into a power of destruction when you’re faced with such terrible people? Of course, I can’t answer that question, since that would be a huge spoiler, but I absolutely loved that we have Iris struggling with just this throughout the entire book. Who hasn’t felt that way, right? Especially nowadays, there are moments when we have to stop and wonder if humanity took a wrong turn somewhere, or at least some people did. And Iris makes the reader question themselves as they read, especially when they root for her to use her powers when it’s clearly the wrong thing to do. Just absolutely fascinating.

This book also takes us out of England as Iris and Rin set off on their quest. I do wish we’d gotten a stronger sense of place later on, but I did appreciate how Raughley represented the people in every location. There are both good and bad, but at their heart, they’re all human, and all incredibly flawed. These flaws in every character, from those we know from the first book, to those we meet in the second, really become big parts of the characters, and made me like them for most of the story. I can’t really tell you why I say “most” of the story here, but if you read the book, you’ll know.

There’s plenty of action in here too, with the hideous murderers still after Iris, and Adam’s schemes to capture her also a big part of the story. There’s battles and danger, and a few twists. At the end, I was pretty shocked by several of them, most of which were unexpected. In fact, I think all of them were unexpected. I didn’t call a single thing in the ending, and just read those last few chapters in total shock. Oh yeah, this also ends in a pretty massive cliffhanger, so I guess I’ll have to wait for the third book to find out how Iris’s story is resolved! No information about it yet, but I hope I can get another ARC of it to review when it finally comes out.

The Song of Wrath will be released on April 18. You can pre-order your copy from Margaret K. McElderberry books here.

For the second book in a trilogy, this book is pretty solid. It takes on the events from book 1 and expands on them. Our main character Iris is faced with a lot more tough decisions, and I liked following her path along with her as she made one choice or another. Some parts of the story felt a little bit uneven in pace, but I think that's mostly because there's a lot of set up for the book 3 finale, which I can't wait for! Overall, it was a quick read and an enjoyable one. These stories remind me of historical X-Men which I absolutely love this idea. A huge thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me a free eArc in exchange for an honest review!

I absolutely Loved this book!! The characters were very interesting and relatable. I really loved how the author kept the story moving without it slowing down and getting boring. I will be recommending this book to all of my friends and family.