"That's what birds represent. Stranded sailors look to the sky to be led by them back to dry land. Birds soar through the dawn each morning, as sure as the sun rising in the east - the promise of something new, regardless of what came before." He sighed and ran his hand through his hair. "Hope always has wings"

A Promise of Peridot starts off right where we left Kane, Arwen and crew. They're headed to the Kingdom of Citrine fleeing devastation in their wake. This journey has resulted in Arwen's mothers death and the realization that the prophecy and the hope for the whole world is in Arwen's hands and ultimately end with her death.

Non stop action fills these pages but also a comfortableness with how Ms. Golden has created this world. In Dawn of Onyx, the world building felt choppy and at times I was confused. In the second book in The Sacred Stones trilogy the world building takes a backseat and you're swept up in the relationships that were built in the first book. There is a freedom to explore those simple moments and as the reader you get to sit back and watch new revelations in awe.

Kane and Arwen are drawn together like to ends of a cord. He is dark and she is the light... I don't believe we're seen a limit to Arwen's Fae abilities, she has unlimited power and she seems to be the only person getting in it's way. I do wonder if we will ever see her take an animal form - like maybe a bird.

Griffin and Mari - this budding relationship is explored and we get several snippets into why Griffin is so standoffish to love and relationships. He's so committed to Kane and keeping him safe, that he's torn between who to protect. Mari with her beautiful red hair is another character that I believe is more powerful that she knows. Watching her grow and be more confident in her "witch" abilities was fun to read.

What I loved about A Promise of Peridot:

* Dual POV (Arwen and every few chapters, Kane)
* New Characters - Hey Prince Fredrik
* Arwen and Kane - night on the coast
* Griffin and Mari tension and angst
* Arwen following her heart and being so dang brave
* Slow burn but worth the wait
* non stop action

"You can live in my nook forever, Bird. "I love you" "I have always loved you."

I do believe that this book definitely suffered from "second book in a trilogy" syndrome, but I still found this books fun and enjoyable. I can and will readily admit that this series adds practically NOTHING new in the realm of romantasy. It's following the copy-paste format of the types of books that blow up in a big way on social media: fae people, smut, dark shadowy 'evil' love interest... DESPITE that, however, I think that it's okay to just have a book that's silly and magical and smutty and just easy to read. Sometimes you just want to read and silly sexy fantasy that doesn't also require an insane reader's guide to keep track of all the lore.

This book picks up right after A Dawn of Onyx, just after the tragic events of that first book. Arwen has discovered her fate and is angry with Kane for keeping it from her. They're fleeing to Citrine to find safety and then take on the immense task of recovering the Blade of the Sun from the prophecy.

A lot of the plot of this book is a string of bad shit happening, interwoven with Arwen and Kane being horny for each other but Arwen refusing to admit to being in love with him because she knows she's going to die. There's a bit of a random side plot semi-romance with a new character (it doesn't really mean much it's just to see jealous Kane lol) but the story doesn't seem to have much of a clear direction, hence the second book in a trilogy issue. Despite that, however, I do think this book gives the series a moment of breath. What I mean is, that despite this book being full of action, we do get some character detail and development that was a bit lacking in the first book. I would say this problem is not uncommon for the Romantasy I have read. The first book is usually in a rush to hook you as a reader in and introduces the sexy leads and their tension quickly rather than focusing on the stakes of the story. While this book focuses on the stakes of the story (the prophecy, some more world-building though minimal, and the reality that the couple is facing under the pressures of the story) that does make it a bit of a drag compared to the first. Though not a complete loss! Still a very silly fun and quick refreshing read.

and that cliffhanger!! holy shit!!!!

WOW! I finished this book a couple days ago and I cannot stop thinking about it! I thoroughly enjoyed reading this!! There were no boring moments in the book and I just love Kate’s writing.

Similar to the first book, there are so many scenes that incorporate humor and sarcasm and I live for it!!! The banter between the MCs is top tier and I don’t think I can get enough.

If you are a fan of romantasy this is a perfect series for you. A Promise of Peridot is full of adventure, emotions, and is definitely fast-paced. And I do not say this often, but I could not have predicted that ending …. AT ALLL! WOAH! The series as a whole is definitely a slow burn but don't worry we finally get some 🌶️🌶️🌶️ this time around so heads up.

If you enjoyed the first book, you will love this sequel. As much as I love Arwen and Kane, I started to fall in love with all the other side characters as well. I need some bonus chapters or a novella (or just a whole book!) for a specific pair (IYKYK).

2024 is not even here yet and I think this will be my top read of 2024! I cannot emphasize enough how much I loved this book and I cannot recommend it enough. Just pick up this series, you will not regret it!

I was so excited to be picked for an ARC copy! I loved the first book, A Dawn of Onyx, and couldn't wait to read A Promise of Peridot and it lived up to my expectations. Diving back into the world and expanding on it and the characters had me turning the pages quickly to see what was going to happen next. I can't wait to read the third book!

I was in love with the first book and the second one did not disappoint!! From the first chapter I was already hooked and excited to see what magical land they had to go to. The romance was top notch and I fell in love with the side characters. You know those books where you forget you’re reading and you get whisked away to another land? This is one of those. Loved the enemies to lovers. This is one of my top fantasies of the years and I can’t wait for more from Kate!!

This is an excellent follow up to Dawn of Onyx. The writing is solid and the pacing is really good. I feel like the last third of the book was over in an instant and I was left wanting the third book immediately. There was excellent character growth and it didn't feel forced or rushed whatsoever. The world building was really neat and I loved the new places that Arwen and Kane went to. All in all it was a another 5 star read for me and I'm ready for the third.

A Promise of Periodt by Kate Golden
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I am so thankful for the opportunity to have read this masterpiece early. I will be buying a copy and supporting SO MUCH when released. Kate deserves all the attention for her books, I adore them.

oh my god. I need the third one. This book was absolutely incredible and all the emotions that had been brought out of me and I was so captivated every second of this book that I kept wanting to read more and more and not stop reading. I read this so quickly and in a way I’m mad at myself for it because now I got to wait for the next one, but I am so happy to have got the chance to read this before release.

What to expect in this book:
Dual POV
Action packed
SLOW BURN AND TENSION (my favorite)
New characters and character developments from previous ones
Emotional damage for sure (I think I am just in shock right now since I just finished before writing this)

I loved how action packed this one was and the twists and the ending. Gah. Obsessed. I won’t give away much because it is the second of A Dawn of Onyx. But if you haven’t read A Dawn of Onyx, do so and prepare for this baby to come out in April.


A Promise of Periodt is out April 9th, 2024!! So excited for everyone to get the chance to read this masterpiece.

Oh my! It takes a lot for a story to make me emotional, and this one surely did the trick. I adore Arwen and Kane and their epic journey not only fighting for their lives, but also fighting for their hearts. Once again, Kate threw a twist at us that I never would have anticipated. The third book can’t come soon enough!

I’ve waited so long to continue this series and am so thankful to have received an arc! Since it has been over a year the first 30% was me trying to remember who was who, what happened etc. about 35% my brain caught up and I sailed through it! The lore goes deeper, the tension is stronger and many new characters enter into the fray on top of a whole new city! The love, forgiveness and more betrayal are so good. Can’t wait to read the next!

I was thrilled to receive an ARC of this book! The follow-up to Dawn of Onyx did not disappoint! What a fantastic journey that Kane, Arwen and friends go on! This series is giving all the feels and I cannot wait to see what happens next.

I don’t wanna spoil, so this review may be a bit vague but…

I freaking love this story! I devoured it so fast! The character growth, the action, the spice 🌶️🌶️🌶️ and the tension! Just… *chef kiss*!

Just when I think I get a handle on how I think this story will go…boom! No, I really do not. The twist and turns, and THAT FREAKIN ENDING! Oh god, I don’t think my heart can take the wait for the next one 😭.

Please, y’all just read these books. This is really a great story.

I LOVE THIS SERIES SO MUCH!!!! I cannot wait for book three because I am freaking HOOKED. Man, the cliffhanger is killing me

Excellent second installment in this series. The pacing and structure was even and well thought out and the character development was even better than the first book. Arwen and Kane’s story continued seamlessly and I really enjoyed delving more into their history. The banter and pining between the two was absolutely delicious and the slower buildup in their relationship was the cherry on top. The action and world building in this book is incredible. The political landscape is thoroughly explained in a way that seems organic and not forced, which is so important in fantasy books as it can often times come off boring. We get some fun new side characters and a few of the old favorites (and not so favorites) make a reappearance. The final few chapters kept me on the edge of my seat and that CLIFFHANGER! Gah. So very thankful to have received an ARC from Berkley and the author. This series is absolutely one of my most favorites.

Well, this book exceeded my expectations. I wasn't expecting much since the first book left me a bit frustrated at times. Thankfully, I was rewarded in A Promise of Peridot. I flipped through all of the pages in one sitting. I could not stop at all. I needed to know if Arwen was going to forgive Kane easily or make him grovel like he should be doing in the first place.
Before I express my ultimate love for this book, let's recap a bit about where the first book left off. Arwen always knew she had powers, but she never knew that she had great power, which plays a greater role in the prophecy between the kingdoms. And that's something Kane knew from the beginning, which he withheld from Arwen. It's the ultimate betrayal for Arwen, especially since she loves him. That's where we left off with book one. So in book two, we have heartbroken Kane and scorned Arwen navigating their feelings while trying to save the kingdoms.
Let's talk about Arwen first. She definitely went through the ringer in book one, so I feel for her when she isn't feeling herself in this book. I don't know why everyone else is expecting her to feel something else. She literally discovered that there is a whole prophecy evolving around her; she has a greater power; her so-called mother just died; and the love of her life knew from the beginning who she was and didn't say anything. That's a whole lot of things to process. You literally expect her to be positive and live her best life while she can. Are you crazy? No, let her be her if it means processing it alone. You can't push anyone until they are ready. And she isn't when everything is thrown at her at the same time. People!
On the subject of Arwen and Kane, he better grovel. He knew from the beginning what Arwen was meant to be. There are no excuses. He needs to pay his dues, which means groveling at his knees for forgiveness. Thankfully, Arwen doesn't make it easy for him. He truly betrayed her love and trust, so it's going to take some time to rebuild it again.
I won't say anything else because it's going to spoil the ending and the cliffhanger as well. I just expected betrayal, anger, and sadness. I just know that I am waiting for book two. I need it in my hands now.

I seriously enjoy this series and absolutely cannot comprehend having to wait until October for the third book. The angst, pacing, banter, tension, steam, evil humans, wicked creatures, and the cliffhanger!! 5 stars across the board.

A Promise of Peridot is the much anticipated follow up to A Dawn of Onyx. I loved the first book so much, and the ending hurt so bad! I knew this book would hurt me too, and I wasn’t disappointed! We start off with Arwen, Kane, and the others still journeying to Citrine. Arwen is numb after finding out her purpose, what she is, what Kane is, and the death of mother. The girl is going through a lot. Kane is trying to drown his sorrows and attempt to talk to her. And everyone else is just as miserable post battle and on a miserable journey. Once they reach Citrine though, things begin to get really interesting. With the introduction of new royals and a new type of magic. With a goal in mind and a blade to find, where Arwen and Kane may be forced together despite her wishes to stay away.

Arwen is definitely having a tough time. Her whole world has been upended after finding out she’s not only fae, but the last full blooded fae who is prophesied to be the only one who can kill Lazarus, Kane’ awful father. And that prophecy states it will cost her her life in the process. She thinks keeping herself numb and staying aloof from those she loves will help. She’s lost hope, and doesn’t see the point in any of it if she’s just going to die anyway. Not to mention there’s the possibility her mother isn’t even her mother, with her being full blood fae. I can’t blame her for her reaction here, even if I want to yell at her when she’s being mean to Kane. She’s young and dealing with so much. But those around her don’t give up on her, that may be her saving grace.

Kane is having just as rough a time. He loves Arwen, who is now doing everything she can to stay away from him. She’s mad about the lies and him not telling her who and what she is. He didn’t intend to fall in love with her, and now the weapon he’d plan to use against his father is the one person he truly can’t stand to lose. On top of this, the Prince of Citrine is a little too into Arwen for his tastes. And with this Prince, Arwen can pretend to be normal. Flirt and act like she’s not given up hope, like none of it is real and she’s just the healer of King Ravenwood and not anybody special. Kane can’t stand to see it, and I can’t blame him. It’s a childish reaction on her part, but again, one I can’t blame her for.

I’m generally not a fan of love triangles, but I was able to deal with this. It didn’t take it too far and it was clear to be from the beginning to goal was to get Arwen and Kane back together. And the journey to their reconciliation is definitely worth it. They go through a lot of adventures together in this book, and they have to work together and find the Blade of the Sun. I enjoyed watching them trying to find their way around the other. The way Kane helps Arwen to find hope and life again. They’re truly so cute together. When they finally come together, it feels more worth it for everything they’ve been through.

The adventures they go on are a lot of fun as well. We get to see new environments and people that are all completely different from one another. Citrine had mermagic, which gives them a cool city that’s underwater but doesn’t seem like it is. Beaches and beautiful beachy stores and restaurants litter the area that Arwen and Mari explore. Then there’s the cave they have to go explore in Peridot. It’s said no one who goes in ever comes back out. It has its own magic that causes it to move around, and it’s rigged with traps so you get a very Indian Jones style scene. We go back to Onyx and explore Hemlock Isle, a prison island where the prisoners have made their own little warlord led society in the jungles. It’s brutal but also really cool to see what they’ve made with the trees and hanging bridges all over the place, high above the ground.

The side characters get their times to shine as well. Mari, Griffin, and Ryder. Along with new characters like Prince Fedrik. We also get some of Amelia and the others. Mari and Griffin totally make me route for them. It’s such an odd couple and I love it. Mari also gets her own little plot regarding her magic and the amulet I enjoyed. Arwen has her issues with Ryder, and we get to touch on those finally. Amelia is just as awful here, actually, more so. I hate her so much. I understand her and her decisions, but I seriously dislike her anyway! Haldwn also makes a reappearance! After his awfulness last book, I had hoped Arwen would get to face off with him eventually, and my wishes were totally delivered on! But Kate actually managed to make me feel a bit bad for him.

The ending left me completely depressed. I knew it was bound to end on some awful cliffhanger, but I didn’t expect what actually happened! After all the work Arwen and Kane put into rebuilding their relationship and how both of them were finally feeling some hope for a future together…this was gutting. Lazarus’s plans are completing disgusting. I didn’t see it coming at all. The final battle in here was really good too, but the result is terrible for poor Arwen! I need this to be resolved quickly and not go too far. The thoughts of how far it could go honestly make me want to throw up. Kane needs to get with it and prevent that! Or Arwen does! Somebody! I’m going to be anxiously awaiting A Realm of Rose!!

Book
Honestly Kate Golden is the best at character building and world building. I was an ARC for the first book and I’m so happy I was able to get on the second book. The first book was a lot of world building and planning for the second book. Normally I always say the first book is the best in most scenarios but Kate just gets better and better. Arwen and Kane literally ripped my heart and stitched it back together just to rip it apart again.
I love that Arwen grew the way she did because it I found out I had a year to live I would self destruct too but she slowly starts to say she’s not going to do that and it honestly made me root for her so much. Kane and his witty personality and the jealousy made me giggle so much.
There’s so much in this book to write about and again it’s 5 star for me and another book that got me out of a reading slump.
The ending oh my god the ending! I cried and cried and my heart broke in so many ways it was impossible. I’ve been sitting on this review for days because I couldn’t even think of how to explain how I felt for the ending but that Clift hanger and what happens totally broke me.

Spoiler down below:



When Kane said “Don’t you know I love you, Arwen?” I broke. Tut was like the level of you stupid stupid sense girl. My heart broke so much for him and so much for her.

Then when Arwen FINALLY told him she loved him my world crashed! I was literally running around my house saying finally!!
When she gets her hope back and feels like herself I wanted to cry. Like I said this book makes you feel all the things. I dealt so proud of Arwen for not giving in.

"A Promise of Peridot" by Kate Golden is the next installment in the Sacred Stones trilogy. The story follows Arwen Valondale, who is sailing for the mysterious Kingdom of Citrine after the battle of Siren’s Bay. Still grappling with the loss of her mother and coming to terms with her newfound powers, Arwen directs her pain and rage toward King Kane Ravenwood, the man who betrayed her.

Despite the tension, Arwen and her friends join forces with Kane on a quest to recover the Blade of the Sun, a legendary weapon with the power to defeat the tyrannical Fae King Lazarus. The uneasy truce between Arwen and Kane becomes increasingly challenging as they navigate their complicated feelings for each other.

As they face mythical creatures, formidable foes, and unimaginable magic, Arwen realizes that fulfilling the prophecy is essential not only for her own fate but also for the well-being of those she cares about. The story promises a mix of seduction, action, and fantasy, drawing readers into the intricate world of the Sacred Stones trilogy.

A Promise of Peridot is an absolutely flawless follow up to A Dawn of Onyx. APOP starts right where ADOO ends with Arwen, Kane, and the rest sailing away from the recently overrun Peridot Kingdom and Arwen dealing with her emotions discovering that she is the last full-blooded fae and destined to die to save their worlds.

I loved how APOP explored the complex emotions surrounding each character and their role in hiding the truth from Arwen. The introduction of Kane's POV was great. We were able to learn more about Griffin and Mari and I thought the introduction of Fedrik's character was awesome. It added another layer to Kane and Arwen's relationship that was fun to explore.

5 Stars

First off, I want to say thank you to Kate Golden and her team for allowing me an ARC of A Promise of Peridot.
Hello, to a certain Prince Fredrick from The Kingdom of Citrine. He is definitely a thorn to Kanes side 😂.
I was always curious to why Kane called Arwen Bird for her nickname. And I fell in love even more with Kane for the reason. (I call him dragon daddy Kane, IYKYK!) 😂
Let me just say APOP kept me on the edge of my seat, there were so many twists and turns during this book, especially during that nightmarish cave! I’m glad that Arwen was able to overcome the fate of cards that she is dealt, with being the last Full-blooded Fae, And the fact she got some very interesting family history; I wanted more. I need to know how their Gods work.
I love that we got more of Griffin and past events that led up to the challenges that King Kane Ravenwood, Griffin, Mari, & Arwen are facing, well the whole Kingdom of Onyx.
And I swear to god; Halden has like 9 lives like a cat, that man just kept his nose where it didn’t belong. 😂
Is it possible to have beef with Amelia?, cause girl needs to watch her back!
It was definitely a struggle to keep this spoiler free.