I wanted the entire experience so I decided to reread book one before embarking on this one, which then reminded me once again of just how amazing this series actually is. I think I found myself enjoying the first book even more than I initially did and this second installment then begins where that left off. This continues in the aftermath of the battle at Sirens Bay and Arwen is understandably reeling after all of the many reveals, especially Kade's purposeful ommissions and deception regarding just who Arwen potentially is.

Arwen is going through some massive emotional angst and turmoil, the sense of betrayal she is experiencing is huge, and her emerging strong feelings of Love for Kane are stopped dead in their tracks and then do a complete 360 as in self-preservation as she shuts down. Now sharing a ship alongside all of the survivors and refugees attempting to flee to find safety, Arwen does her best to freeze Kane out while he is still suffering and wallowing in his many regrets.

This one has a faster pace than its predecessor, we are hopping all over the place here and are introduced to many new characters along the way. Kane certainly had his work cut out in earning Arwen's forgiveness. In fact, that's probably my one niggle just how bloody stubborn and unreasonable our girl can be. I couldn't help but feel for Kane's pain as it was obvious to anyone with half a brain just how devoted and in love with Arwen he was.

The final chapters were probably my favourite out of this book. It was just all so bloody intense and the conclusion then left me totally reeling. Also if you're looking for some progression in regards to the physical between Kane and Arwen this one brought the goodies and it was delicious and was definitely worth the wait. This is slow-burn done well.

This is a great series with some amazing characters and excellent world-building. It's well written and such an easy read, I also appreciated the fact that this second book was dual POV rather than just Arwen like its predecessor. I preferred getting that added insight from Kane and it assisted me in appreciating and understanding him. I definitely recommend giving this a go. I voluntarily reviewed a copy of Promise Of Peridot.

This book was incredible! I have re read the first two books 3 times already in anticipation for the third!
Kate does an incredible job at bringing her characters together and creating something unique and fun.

The Sacred Stones series is an absolutely favourite for me! I loved a dawn of onyx and this book solidified this series into my top favourites. I need the third book now!

I was completely swept away by "A Promise of Peridot"! This book swept me off on an exhilarating adventure through its immersive and enchanting world.

The character development in this sequel is nothing short of remarkable, especially Arwen's journey. Despite facing overwhelming grief and trauma, she undergoes a profound transformation, emerging stronger and more resilient than ever before. I found myself deeply invested in her emotional journey, rooting for her every step of the way. And Kane? Oh, my heart! Despite the heartbreaking betrayal we witnessed in 'A Dawn of Onyx', his character shines even brighter in this book.

The writing is simply exquisite, pulling me into its spell with each turn of the page. The world-building is vivid and enthralling, making it effortless to lose myself in its fantastical realms. Bursting with action, heartache, romance, and spine-tingling suspense, this book had me on the edge of my seat from start to finish. And that cliffhanger ending? Utterly jaw-dropping! I'm already counting down the days until the next book.

Without a doubt, this is a solid 5-star read for me. I wholeheartedly recommend diving into this captivating series, starting with 'A Dawn of Onyx'. With the third book on the horizon, there's no better time to embark on this thrilling journey!

I found the book engaging. I loved getting two points of few and felt it added the depth I was hoping for in the first. The twists and turns kept me invested and the spice *swoon*! I cannot wait for the 3rd installment.

✨A Promise of Peridot by Kate Golden✨

My long awaited sequel is finally HERE AND IN THE WORLD 🗣️ A Dawn of Onyx was my favorite book last February and having the sequel in my hands feels like a dream. I was lucky enough to get an earc from @berkleypub and had a chance to read it early AND LET ME TELL YOU WHAT THIS BOOOOOOK IS SO GOOD.

I don’t know what Kate injected into this story but the banter is so incredible. It is a kick my feet while giggling and blushing storyline. THE BANTER. THE TENSION. THE DRAAAMMAAA ahhhh it was so good.

Kane Ravenwood you DO SOMETHING TO ME. And don’t even get me started on the incredible side characters (or do bc I would really love some spin offs 👀)

If you’re looking for your next romantasy binge, The Sacred Stones series is waiting for you!! And if you’ve already read it…read it again 🗣️

I was excited to read this book. I started out being unsure if it was going to live up to the first book and how much I liked it but it definitely did! The ending was unexpected and such a cliffhanger. It was truly perfect. I love Mari and Griffin and would love to see more of them. Kane and Arwen have this dynamic about them which I love. I can’t wait to see what they’re both willing to do. Ugh my heart.

I absolutely devoured this book! It kept me on the edge of my seat the entire time. The author has a way of creating characters that you fall in love with, and will have you giggling and kicking your feet. 10/10 recommend.

Officially recommending these books to everyone in my life who is even remotely interested in romantic fantasy. This series is now and forever an all time favorite!

I'm going to die waiting for the next book! Thankfully they are only being coming out 6 months apart, because I can't wait to know how the series ends! I can tell I'm going to have a series hangover though - I've come to love the world and characters that Kate Golden has created.

In this book we also got Kane's POV which I loved. I felt for Kane, because I understand his decisions, but we also feel his regret and can see how painfully in love with Arwen is his, while also reading her POV and knowing she doubts his feelings were genuine and doesn't want to trust him again in fear of being hurt. We also see her transition from an optimistic character, to one who has internally given up hope, knowing the prophecy foretells her death. This causes a lot of angst between the two of them, which was so good, but I also was dying for them to get together!

This book introduces some new characters, and also progresses some of the existing plot points from book one. We see Mari and Griffin continue to dance around each other, and I need them to get it together before book 3! We see Mari progress with her magic and we see Arwen come to terms with some resentment she's been holding toward different people.

I don't want to give anything away, because the reveals and information revealed throughout the book was so well done you should just read it for yourself! Once again I'm impressed with the world Golden created, and have fallen even more in love with the characters. I can't wait to see how everything ends!

Thank you again to Kate Golden, Netgalley, and Berkley for an advanced copy of the book. It was my pleasure to provide an honest review!

This will be a win for you if you like:
- Spicy romantasy
- Angst/tension!!
- Jealousy from both MMC and FMC
- FMC learning more about and coming into her powers
- Hurt/comfort
- Hopelessly devoted MMC
- Found family

I loved A Dawn of Onyx, and I LOVED A Promise of Peridot! The sequel was even better than the first book. The author needs to write a spin-off set in Citrine, because I love visualizing and learning about that world. I also need a Griffin & Mari story ASAP!

Little bird will forever be one of my favorite nicknames. And when Kane explains to Arwen why he choose that nickname, get the tissues ready.

Both Kane and Arwen go through some soul-searching and on their own before coming back together. And thank goodness they do, because the slow burn pays off! This ends on a major cliffhanger, which broke me. And that epilogue! I am so glad the third book comes out this year too!

The narrators did an excellent job on the dual-narrated audiobook! I’d highly recommend.

𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗶𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗹𝗼𝘃𝗲: spicy romantic fantasy, protective & jealous MMC, Atlantis vibes, dual POV, pirates & treasure, enemies to lovers, found family on an adventure

Thank you to PRH Audio for providing me with a copy of this audiobook. Thank you to Berkley and NetGalley for providing me with a digital copy of this book. This review is voluntary, and all opinions are my own.

THIS BOOK !!! How is it even better than book one??! Obsessed. And also dying for book three omg. Ill read anything Kate writes.

Thank you Kate and Berkley for giving me the opportunity to read this ARC. I have thoroughly enjoyed every page!
When we first met Arwen in A Dawn of Onyx, I really felt that she played it safe. Never venturing far from Amber, never taking risks. In A Promise of Peridot, Arwen blossoms into this powerful young woman with the potential for greatness. We’re given perspective from Kane’s point of view as well this time. The slow burn that turned into this explosive romance was to die for. There was love, adventure, magic, and we met so many new people- friends and enemies alike. When I tell you this book had me on the edge and pulling me by my heartstrings, I’m not exaggerating. A slow burn it may be, but there is no lacking in spice or cute little moments.

Of course, what second book in a trilogy would be complete without a cliffhanger and a few loose ends? I can honestly say this series has me in a chokehold and I can’t wait for the third book to come out!

A Promise of Peridot is book two of The Sacred Stones series. If you haven't read book one, you're definitely going to need to before you pick this one up.

Arwen Valondale is sailing for the Kingdom of Citrine after the battle of Siren's Bay. Still reeling from shocking revelations and her newfound powers, she directs all of her pain and rage toward the man who betrayed her: King Kane Ravenwood. Unfortunately for her, Kane's presence is unavoidable as he travels with Arwen and her friends. He's also become someone Arwen's sister goes to for things and Arwen is feeling a bit put out by that. As they search for the Blade of the Sun, a weapon tied to Arwen's fate and the future of the realm, Arwen continues to fight her feelings for Kane and he continues to beat himself up for everything.

I don't really want to say too much about this one based on the fact that it is a series book but if you enjoy a good Fantasy Romance, consider picking this series up. It has plenty of action, some spicy parts, dragons, and in this case...a cliffhanger. I'll be picking up book three as soon as I can get my hands on it to see what happens next for this cast of characters.

I am loving this series! This is book 2 of Kate Golden's Sacred Stones Trilogy & it was so good. First, it's dual POV & I was so here for this. It was full of Arwen and Kane and their complicated but chemistry and emotion filled romance. It had lots of magic and so much adventure and some seriously heart thumping moments. Plus Mari & Griffin and their gruff I hate you but really love you vibes were everything.

I loved how this explored how complicated everything is for Arwen and Kane. Their sense of duty, their desires, their love. It is messy and I was here for all of it. The tension between them when they try to stay away from each other... sigh. This is romantasy done well. I'm all in with these characters and I love that it's a trilogy. Short & sweet series wise but so full of all the things I love about this genre - fae, magic, adventure, creatures, lore, prophecies, kingdoms in peril, evil rulers and of course romance!

That ending though! Cannot wait to see how this ends in October with book 3, A Reign of Rose.

Talk about an exquisite sequel! It was action packed, mysterious, full of banter, romance & betrayal. I loved the tension between Kane and Arwen. I just could not put the book down. I love all the character and really enjoyed learning more about their stories. Somehow the author just keep me wanting more and more. I thought the story was immersive & had a good flow to it. Plus, the ending had me SCREAMING. You will not regret picking this up. October seems too far away I need to now what happens next ASAP.

(4.5) okay okay! This was a step up from book one. Still felt familiar in some of the fantasy aspects but with enough uniqueness that kept me wanting to read. I really like all the different kingdoms and the added politics in this one. We even get little bits of history which I really enjoyed. The rollercoaster between Arwen & Kane kept me stressed and nervous. I didn’t love Arwen the entire time, but I liked the journey she went on both mentally and personally. The side characters were intriguing and I liked how much we got of them. I’m hoping we get even more of a few of them, especially Mari, in the next one too. I just knew there was gonna be drama and I was here for it. The steam took me by surprise and it was delicious. I am definitely glad this book stepped it up and now I’m dying for book 3 cause that ending?! Goodness gracious!

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for early access.

Initially, I was intrigued and invested, but my interest slowly dwindled. The majority of the plot is spent traveling from kingdom to kingdom in search of safety or 'the blade.' The constant traveling scenes toe the line of boredom.

I could have overlooked these if the relationships (friendships, love, etc.) compensated for it. However, the side characters didn't contribute much to the overall plot in book 2. Even the love triangle felt forced. Most of the time, I found myself annoyed either by the push-pull dynamics of the main characters or by the way Arwen's pain, trauma, and grief were handled and written. Her friends are supposed to be her biggest support, yet they kept acting dismissive or telling her she's given up. I doubt anyone would react positively upon discovering a prophecy regarding their own death and then experiencing subsequent betrayal. Sheesh, let the girl grieve!

Everything about this book lacked emotional depth for me, which ultimately left me disconnected from the characters. Despite this, I still wanted to know what happened at the end, so it wasn't a complete DNF for me.

2.5⭐️ rounded up

Thank you to the publisher and author for providing an advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

I can’t believe how this one ended. I loved that it picked off right where a Dawn of Onyx ended. It made me want to read them back to back though because I feel like I forgot some details. I enjoyed the development of each character and the world we were in. I thought the relationship could use a little more time to flourish but am excited to see where book three takes us!

Picking up where the first book left off, we are in for more romance, adventure, action, and new kingdoms! The story follows Arwen,Kane, Mari, Fedrik, Acorn, Leigh, Vaugn, Dagan, Halden, and Griffin (whew, what a large cast of characters). I love that we get to further explore the world and the secondary characters were more fleshed out in this one.The first book had a really strong plot but the sequel was a fairly fun read and I can't wait to delve into the finale of the story. I loved Kane and Arwen so much from the first book so getting to see them in the second one and seeing all the spice and fun, what a treat!~The ending is a huge cliffhanger but I'm already so ready for book 3!!!

*Thanks Netgalley and Berkley Publishing Group | Berkley for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*