This sequel hits the same notes as the first in the series— mystery, court intrigue, and political scheming. Our beloved couple returns and the author’s acknowledgments at the end made this even more beautiful, I can’t wait to reread with the note in mind. I’m hoping that there will be a third book! The world is so rich, and we so rarely get LGBTQ+ romantasy. I read an arc from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. I recommend this for fans of Shannon Chakraborty especially.

I was so thrilled to see a continuation of A Strange and Stubborn Endurance. It was nice to see Cae and Vel grow, not just as a couple but individuals. I also really loved seeing Markel grow and find his joy as well. The journey the characters make was enjoyable, though I found myself yelling at the pages over Cae and Vel, which shows how well they're portrayed. I wish some of the pacing flowed better especially towards the end, but all in all it was still enjoyable.

I was a little worried about this book just because it is a sequel and Velasin and Caethari are already together; I did not need to be. This was fantastic and I really loved so many of the new characters we were introduced to.

Foz Meadows returns to Velasin and Caethari in All the Hidden Paths, a story that picks up a few weeks after the events of A Strange and Stubborn Endurance. In such a short time, Cae hasn’t yet recovered from his sister’s betrayal and his father’s death, nor has he come to terms with his now-inheritance—but the time has come to. When Cae is summoned by the Asa (monarch) to the capital in his new role as Yaseran, he and Vel are put through the ringer. They are stressed both individually and as a couple, as parties unknown are out to get one or both of them. Meanwhile, Vel finally feels safe enough to think over his marriage and Cae is comfortable enough to ask that Vel take control over some of their bedroom activities, a request that is triggering to Vel.

In some ways, this book is too complicated. There are three separate conspiracies about, politics, and several different friction points in Vel and Cae’s marriage. This all might have worked out (it’s not quite more than what happened in A Strange and Stubborn Endurance), but after they arrived at court, Cae and Vel don’t get a lot of time together to work out their relationship issues or even just talk about the plots around them. Each of them spends more time with Marcel than with each other, and while he wants them to communicate, Marcel doesn’t do anything to force the issue. The book does end on a happy relationship note, but nothing in the plot to that point feels like it settled the issues on either end of the relationship.

Overall, I enjoyed returning to the world Foz Meadows built, but I wish the All the Hidden Paths focused more on the relationship than on the plot.

Loved it. Just loved it. Compulsively readable!

Every character is so full of life -- and there's a lot of them! I'm so impressed with how well everyone was written. Even those that were rather one-dimensional still felt real and tangible to me.

The plot itself had enough twists and turns to keep me glued to every word. Even when I could see the twist coming, it was still gratifying to read it out.

If you haven't read A Strange and Stubborn Endurance, go read that now and then come back for this one once you're done. You won't be disappointed.

This one I devoured just like I did the first one. I think for anyone who was a fan of book one you will totally enjoy this one!! I could not put it down! The setting and plot and characters all came together to form a beautiful story about passion, homecoming, and family. I totally recommend this to anyone who loves fantasy and queer dynamics.

I was so disappointing this book. The miscommunication constantly happening the self hatred. I’m not sure if the first book was supposed to be a standalone, or if the author rushed with the second book, but I feel like I was reading books from two different authors, which is so disappointing because I really really love the first one I would not recommend the second one and now I’m even hesitant to recommend the first one because I truly did not like the sequel 2 .5 stars.

This was very entertaining and I loved the story line. The writing style was good and I finished this book quickly.
I just reviewed All the Hidden Paths by Foz Meadows. #NetGalley
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All the Hidden Paths left me feeling conflicted. I had a lot of fun with it and read the entire book over the span of 18 hours. It was literally the first thing I did when I woke up in the morning. I had a very similar reading experience with A Strange and Stubborn Endurance. These books are compulsively readable with so much drama and tension that you can’t look away.

I was very worried about miscommunication driving the plot. Though Vel and Cae don’t know how to communicate it felt like a realistic problem. They have known each other for a relatively short amount of time and both have a lot of healing and growing to do. That being said, I would have liked a bit more “happily ever after” time in this installment.

I really enjoyed the new setting at Tithena’s capital city, Qi-Xihan. The court system was vast and intriguing with many different kinds of allies and enemies for Vel and Cae to face. Because of this new setting, there was slightly more focus on the court politics of Tithena which I greatly enjoyed. However, both the new setting and the large cast of side characters felt underutilized due to the shockingly repetitive nature of the plot.

Though All the Hidden Paths was an incredibly entertaining book, I am not sure how this book stands as a sequel. When I read ASASE (for the first time) I was under the impression that it was a standalone with the usual plot threads left open so the reader can imagine a future for the characters. Imagine my surprise when the sequel was announced. Do I think this sequel is necessary? Not really, but who doesn’t want more of the characters they love. All the Hidden Paths certainly delivers more of what I loved in ASASE. However, it adds very little.

Vel and Cae reached a new stage of healing and closeness in their relationship which was very heartwarming. The focus of these books, and my main interest as a reader, is the arranged marriage romance. However, the plot is, at times, shockingly similar to the plot of ASASE. From the types of complicating actions to the motivation of the one responsible it all felt very, very familiar. The similarities leave me feeling incredibly conflicted. I loved ASASE and therefore enjoyed all of those plot moments the first time. However, I can’t help feeling like there were many missed opportunities to take the plot somewhere new. The story takes place in the capital, a completely new location, the possibilities are nearly endless. Magic is also—beyond its uses for healing—almost completely ignored in this book.

The most novel element of the book was the inclusion of interlude chapters from a third POV—a Ralian man named Aserian. Unfortunately, these chapters were easily my least favorite part of the book. I genuinely hate Aserian as a character. Maybe I’m being unfair but I feel no sympathy for him. I can appreciate the alternative perspective on Ralia. However, the plot could have easily been reworked to render his POV unnecessary. There is a story to be told about Aserian, but it did not fit in this book.

I devoured this book and was thoroughly entertained. Vel, Cae, and Markel are amazing characters and I love them so much. But when I finally stepped away from the book I felt like something was missing.

"All the Hidden Paths" by Foz Meadows is a captivating and thought-provoking political and romantic fantasy that delves into complex themes of gender, sexuality, identity, and power. Building upon the foundation laid in its predecessor, the novel takes readers on a journey of self-discovery, love, and political intrigue.

The story continues to follow the journey of Velasin and Caethari, two characters who are navigating both their personal relationship and the broader political landscape of their world. The narrative skillfully weaves together their individual struggles and growth with the wider societal conflicts, creating a tapestry of emotions and tension.

Meadows excels in creating multi-dimensional characters with relatable flaws and insecurities. Velasin and Caethari are both authentic and relatable, each dealing with their own past traumas and inner demons. Their relationship is beautifully depicted, showcasing the challenges of open communication, trust, and self-acceptance.

The exploration of gender and sexuality adds a layer of depth to the story, as characters confront societal expectations and prejudices. The fantasy world-building is intricate and immersive, and the political intrigue keeps the plot engaging and unpredictable.

The writing is elegant and evocative, capturing both the emotional turmoil of the characters and the vivid settings of the world. The pacing is well-managed, allowing for moments of introspection and quieter character development alongside moments of tension and action.

"All the Hidden Paths" skillfully blends romance, politics, and fantasy, creating a rich narrative that speaks to themes of love, self-discovery, and the complexities of navigating societal norms. Meadows tackles significant topics with sensitivity and nuance, making this book a compelling and rewarding read for fans of romantic fantasy and thought-provoking storytelling.

Let's all say thank you to Foz Meadows for writing this book! Give them their flowers!

The plot of this one is just as interesting as the first. In fact, I think I liked the storyline of this one even more. The mystery aspect is really heightened in this. There were many plot twists and moments that I truly didn't see coming. And even when I thought I knew who was involved, I was still wrong. I was SO invested in the story and the characters. We get a lot of new characters in this and I really liked the additions. The world was expanded so much. It was also nice to get exposed to new parts of this world and see new places. That's kinda the beauty of this series. It's so clear that Meadows put so much thought into this world. Velasin is as wonderful in this book as the first. All of his chapters made me feel like I was truly in this story with him, viscerally in his mind. Caethari is also lovely as usual. This book not only expands more on their relationship, but also the two of them as individuals. They've both gone through so much trauma, so this book is still very much about healing through that. While these two STRUGGLE with communicating, I loved getting to see the relationship develop more. And, of course, I can't leave out Markel who feels even more present in this story, for which I was grateful (especially because he's the voice of reason for Vel and Cat when they're both being, well, themselves). I don't know how many books this series is supposed to be, but I could read several more and hope for at least another two. I love these books with my whole heart!

As soon as All the Hidden Paths arrived on my kindle, I knew I had to reread A Strange and Stubborn Endurance (one of my favorite books ever) in preparation for what I knew would be an incredible and heart wrenching sequel. I certainly wasn’t wrong! Foz Meadows is an absolute master at crafting a gorgeous mix of yearning and the heartbreak of wanting so badly to love someone but not knowing quite how to do it.

Picking up not long after it’s predecessor, ATHP follows our two husbands, Velasin and Caethari, as they’re cleaning up the mess the end of ASASE wrought and travel to Cae’s ancestral holdings for him to take up a newfound political duty, despite his distaste for his new role. Hounded by a mysterious assassin, Vel and Cae must navigate a whole new political system while trying to figure out how to love each other when the road grows rough and they both have grief and duty to grapple with. Both meandering in its slow un-pealing of emotions and high velocity with the political machinations, I read all 500+ pages in a single sitting.

Even now, a few weeks after I finished, I’m still thinking about the truly gorgeous pining between the two men. While ASASE set up their romance and the foundation for them to fall in love, ATHP was a carefully handled exploration of love that grows through grief and truly making an effort to make your soul mate happy. I still can’t get over how wonderful this story was and be rest assured, I’ll be thinking about (see: publicly screaming) about this series for a very long time!

All the Hidden Paths was another dense but satisfactory sequel to Foz's A Strange and Stubborn Endurance. Despite utilizing my least favorite trope (miscommunication/lack of communication), I was still able to enjoy and cheer on Vel and Cae's relationship. While the first book was about healing, this one is about growth and the ongoing journey of healing.

Foz Meadows is amazing at writing. The way they construct their sentences and weave everything together is spectacular. This book was an interesting sequel; however I did find myself frustrated while reading. Miscommunication/lack of communication is one of my book pet peeves and I just wanted to smack Vel and Cae lol I also found myself skimming a few of the info-dump dialogues and I would have to back-track because I missed something important.

The new characters were interesting but I didn’t really care about Asrien (he was just really annoying, maybe I’m just unsympathetic?) Everything wrapped up nicely but I still felt like something was missing. If you enjoyed the first book I’m sure you’ll like this one as well. Vel and Cae are two characters I hold dear to my heart so it was amazing to be back in their world.

All the Hidden Paths by Foz Meadows is a gloriously queer rumination on what happens after coming out woven throughout the second book in The Tithenai Chronicles. The fantasy romance series picks up right where book one left off, following Velasin and Caethari as they define their marriage amidst the aftermath of Caethari’s sister’s betrayal. Still, in the midst of his family's mourning period, Caethari is declared heir of his grandmother’s estate and called to the capitol to officially introduce himself and his husband to the monarch. Velasin, still working to find his place in a society where who he loves is not a crime and the other cultural norms are equally difficult to come to grips with. All the while, Velasin and Caethari’s growing attraction and love may be stunted by their inability to discuss much of anything at all as assignation attempts follow them to the capitol. Meadows managed to craft characters who are wonderfully gently, politically sharp, and blunderingly stupid all at once in the follow-up to a queer fantasy romance series that is impossible to look away from.

I will continue to love the fact that Velasin and Caethari genuinely caring for each other in an arranged marriage always foils the plots of the political agents surrounding them. Sure, they may look like fools who are unable to reasonably discuss lunch without messing something up,—because, let’s be honest, they are—but they deeply care. The dual POV setup means that we see the care behind Caethari’s acts of service and the lovingly feral nature of Velasin’s threats to anyone who hints they might harm his husband. They come from two different cultures, and they have two different realms of expertise and so their relationship will be difficult. That is aside from the fact that people are still trying to kill them.

The fleshed-out political world makes up for the soft magic system. The map of political interests is so well mapped that I honestly didn’t need to know how exactly healing magic worked. Instead, I was heavily vested in the culture that was built from the ground up with complex understandings of gender and sexuality.

The secondary characters in the story continue to capture my entire heart. Obviously, I’m talking about Markel who continues to be a loyal friend and an invaluable ally in this book. However, I am also talking about the other members of the court whose actions were impressively fleshed out considering how many of them there were. I would also like to hand it to Meadows for giving us a grand total of four chapters from a new Ralian character, Asrien’s point of view and somehow managing to create a fully realized, sympathetic person. I can’t say much else without risking spoiling one of the most surprising character arcs of 2023, but count me thoroughly won over.

Anyone who’s read and loved book one will already be frothing for All the Hidden Paths, but I implore you to pre-order this gem of a fantasy romance novel set to release December 5, 2023. Thank you Tor Publishing Group for providing me with an earc for an honest review of this lovely, lovely book.

Ok, so I have such complicated feelings about this sequel, and kind of about the first book too. On the one hand, my other current read I was reading with this book was really putting me into a slump, and when I picked this one up, I just compulsively kept reading. On the other hand, I felt like sometimes I wasn't totally sure what I was even reading.

This is a romance based fantasy, which means, in this case, not that there's a lot of steam, but that the romantic pairing is certainly the centerpiece of the plot. One of my complaints with the first book was the incessant back and forth between characters, which I can happily say is somewhat relieved in this book (somewhat!), and there is more beyond just trauma response and immediate after math, which I really appreciated.

Overall, I was interested in the characters and what happened to them, and I did become more invested in the relationship as well. I think these books are well done and will perfectly appeal to readers who are looking for a political fantasy combined with romance.

This book was EVERYTHING. I had been eyeballing the first book in the series every time I went to my local bookstore and when I saw the second one up on NetGalley I assumed I took it as a sign that I had to read them, and I'm so glad I did! I tore through both of these books so fast that it bordered on obscene. I thought the twists and turns of the plot as well as the interpersonal conflicts between characters were all so engaging that I could NOT put this down! Vel and Cae's journeys to heal from the events of the last book were so compelling, and I thought every choice they made felt so real, even when it ended up causing conflict. I'm not sure whether or not there will be more books with these characters or set in this universe in the future, but know that if there are I'll be the first person in line to get my copy!

I'll be honest, when I saw this sequel was still focused primarily on Velasin and Caethari I was surprised. I was excited for a follow-up in this world but not sure how much more there was to develop in their relationship. In some ways this book is less about their relationship and more about their individual journeys, especially Velasin, who is adjusting to life in a society where it's safe for him to be out (but not safe in other respects!) and unlearning/unpacking years of survival mechanisms and trauma responses. As with the previous book, it packs an emotional punch.

The pacing of All the Hidden Paths is a little uneven - I'm not convinced the strictly chronological narrative made sense as the first portion of the book drags - but overall a solid follow-up and I hope there will be more books in this setting.

Honestly, this was okay it wasn't my favorite. I didn't care for the writing style or transitions. Not much felt that fleshed out. Enjoyable for the most part but I wouldn't pick it up again.