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*

4.5⭐️
I love this series! I can’t wait for book 3 after that Cliffhanger!
I would love to get more from Mari and Griffin, their story would be so good!
I really love the writing style, it’s so easy to read, highly recommend.

As a sequel to A Dawn of Onyx, this book immediately captivated my attention and pulled me in! This enemies to lovers romance featured so much angst, the tension was palpable. With so much action, new kingdoms, and character development, the series really draws you in. The quote “You matter more to me. More than revenge, redemption – anything.” had me SWOONING! I cannot wait to see what happens next in the series!

This whole series is going to be amazing. I loved the first book! And I was SO excited to get the ARC for book two! Idk what Kate puts in these books... but it is ADDICTING! If you love a great romantasy, enemies to lovers, slow burn and an AMAZING touch her you die, this one is for you.

𝐈 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐞𝐧𝐣𝐨𝐲𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤!

Sometimes with sequels, it’s hit or miss. But this one was a HIT for me! It was so much fun to read, there was so much action, I never got bored and the plot flowed perfectly.

One of my favorite parts was the world building. This may be one of the coolest fantasy worlds I’ve ever read about. The colorful and vibrant way the author describes the different kingdoms painted a beautiful picture in my mind and it was so much fun.

I also just loved all the friendship dynamics. Definitely some found family vibes happening. There was conflict, but it was all handled in a way that felt authentic to the characters and I really loved that. The relationship between the side characters is so cute, I was giggling so much.

And then there’s Arwen and Kane’s journey. Man, did I love it. The struggles that Arwen went through felt relatable and real. Her character growth was so perfectly executed and was routing for her the whole time 🥹 and Kane. Oh sweet baby Kane. The ultimate pained, self loathing MMC who is hopelessly in love and trying to be the bigger man (but not always succeeding 😏) the push and pull between him and Arwen and the way they (ok, mostly Arwen) tried to fight their feelings was a delicious dance that provided the perfect amount of tension and teasing before they finally, FINALLY gave in.

This was such a great continuation of the story, and I’m very nervous for what’s to come in book 3 😅 because that ending was insane.

Highly recommend this series!

I loved everything about this book! The world, the characters, the banter, the angst, etc. This book focused on Arwen and her struggle to accept who and what she is. Her emotions are confusing and understandably all over the place, sometimes affecting her relationships with her friends and family. The ending was an insane cliffhanger that made me wish I had the next book.

I am so in love with the series! I bought the first book a while ago and then when I received an e-galley I decided to check the series out and OHMYGOODNESS!! I’m mad I didn’t start it sooner but also so happy because I was able to read both back to back and the final book is also coming out this year! I’m awful with finishing long series that come out over the course of many years so this is the most ideal situation and the romance? The magic? 💯👌🏼 Perfectly done. As soon as I finished the first book, I made sure we ordered both for my library.

First off, the covers are gorgeous and will draw you right in and then the story will keep you from being able to put it down. The plot is so interesting, addictive & will keep you on your toes and the characters are lovable, relatable, and easy to root for. There are no characters I’m not intrigued by in this series. I love our heroine Arwen, she’s both soft and strong - a complete badass but doesn’t even realize it. And Kane! MY.GOD. The ultimate love interest, shadow daddy, fae royal who is obsessed with his woman and I ate it up. He’s in my top 5 fantasy book boyfriends, right next to Rhys & Xaden. All the fantasy/romantasy girlies will not be disappointed🥵 After our MCs, we have a bunch of great side characters, including Mari and Griffin, who definitely need their own books too because the tension? The love Griffin shows for her with like every single action? So good. I’m just as invested in them as Kane and Arwen honestly. Mari is a kickass witch and Griffin is a stoic (he really doesn't like showing emotions but also we all see them), loyal to a fault, protective warrior fae (also a great choice for a book boyfriend - just saying). I love Dagan and Fedrik was fun too, even Arwen's siblings are growing on me.

With this book, we get to see even more of the world the author has built and learn more of its history. I love the worldbuilding in this series and learning more about each of our main characters and what drives them. We get to meet more characters from Kane's past and see how Arwen comes to terms with the secrets that had been kept from her. There's a lot of emotion beyond lust and anger. We see Kane pining and the pain it causes him to have been part of the reason for Arwen's own pain. He just wants her to be happy and to get to live. Arwen is struggling to come to terms with her fate, the death of her mom, her powers, and her own insecurities from her past. There's so much going on emotionally and between all the characters, not just Arwen and Kane, but Arwen and her siblings, Arwen and Mari, Mari and Griffin, etc. It brings the reader closer to the characters and makes them feel more like friends than fictitious characters. Politics remain an important part of the plot as well and I like that there are so many moving parts of things to account for. I hope I didn't give anything away, I just truly enjoy this book and recommend the series to everyone because it's so so good.

🖤enemies to lovers
🗡️lots of action
🖤tension & spice
🗡️touch her & die
🖤forgiveness
🗡️fate
🖤found family
🗡️sacrifice

Also, the ending will have you DYING for the next book! Before starting A Promise of Peridot I saw a bunch of posts warning me it was gonna be crazy but if you’ve seen those and haven’t started this one I’m telling you, you do not even know what’s coming😈

If you’re looking for your next fantasy series this is it and it all ties up by the end of the year so you won’t have to wait long to find out how things turn out!

Thank you Berkley for the digital ARC via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own. A Promise of Peridot is out now so go go go!!

#APromiseOfPeridot:⁣
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Thank you @prhaudio @berkleypub for my gifted copies! #PRHAudioPartner #BerkleyPartner #berkley ⁣
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“I welcome your anger. Relish it, in fact. Much better than watching you walk through life like a corpse. So give me the worst of it. I’ll take anything you’ve got. Just stop putting yourself in situations like that to feel something. You’re going to get yourself killed trying to feel alive.”⁣
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Lazarus, it’s on site boy. ON SITE. Do you like being emotionally wrecked because you love characters so much? Go ahead and start The Sacred Stones series. I finished A Promise of Peridot on my run and the way I was so angry from being wrecked is unreal.⁣
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This story is unreal. I honestly will not get over it. It’s so beautiful, yet, heartbreaking. The audio is amazing. Ruby Cherise and Will Damron reprise their rules as Arwen and Kane with the dual POV, alternating chapters. The anguish heard in Kane, the happiness finally in Arwen, my goodness, amazing.⁣
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10/10 will recommend to get emotionally wrecked. There is spice and there’s a major cliffhanger. Book 3, WYA? Book 2 just released Tuesday, the 9th. I will be impatient until I know the fate of my faves. ⁣
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QOTD: What’s the last book that took you by surprise? Good or bad.

Kate Golden truly outdid herself with this book! This was a highly anticipated read for me this year and it did not disappoint. Definitely and infinity star read for me! I felt as though the writing of this book was fantastic. I have nothing negative to say. It was eloquently and poetically written. I felt that the amount of world building was appropriate. This was done well in A Dawn of Onyx and this continued throughout A Promise of Peridot as well. There was a great a balance between the fantasy and romance in this book as well!

Things that I liked:
- I appreciated the dual POV from Arwen and Kane. This allowed me to see various perspectives when judging situations and decisions that occurred throughout the book.
- The descriptions of the surroundings of the characters helped me depict what Kate wanted me to see in my mind. As a right brained and visual learner I loved this and saw this as a major positive.
- I am not a fan of angst, but Kate poetically weaved it into this book. It was not too heavy where it overshadowed the man tropes of the book. It was placed where it was needed.
- The character development was phenomenal. I was able to see multiple characters grow which helped with the overall plot and the progression of the book.

I feel as though the end of the book truly pulled me in. The last chapter already has me begging for the next book, which is something I take into consideration when reviewing the books I read. I highly recommend this book to romantasy and fantasy readers (make sure to read A Dawn of Onyx first)! I cannot wait to read A Reign of Rose!

4.5 ⭐️

Book 2 in the Sacred Stones installment did not disappoint - this book picked up right where A Dawn of Oynx left off and we felt like the story never ended - it just continued - despite it being a few months since reading book 1.

The slow burn, the tension, the adventure. This book had everything we look for in a fantasy book. Kate’s writing style is truly captivating and she has a way of keeping her audience on their toes from the very beginning of her books all the way until the very last sentence.

We cannot recommend this series enough & our excited to see where this story takes us next!

Uhhhh this series is everything! If you like Romantasy and haven’t read A Dawn of Onyx, this is your cue to do it. A Promise of Peridot is book 2 in the series and it did not disappoint.

It picks up right where book 1 left off so you don’t miss a beat. Kane is still one of my favorite morally gray characters. He is so well written and I love having his POV for his inner turmoil. As I mentioned in my review of book 1, I LOVE Griffin and Mari. Their tension is everything and I could read a whole series just about them!

That ending was awful in the best way. I hated it but it made for such a great cliffhanger! I can’t wait for book 3!

Spice: 🌶️🌶️/5

Read this if you like:
🌊 Betrayal and Forgiveness
🌊 Protective, morally gray MMC
🌊 Learning to live life to the fullest

I couldn’t wait for this book after finishing A Dawn of Onyx. It was captivating with loads of action. It starts right after the last book ended.

🗡️What to expect 🗡️

This book did not suffer from second book syndrome. The plot was moving forward with a steady pace and Arwen is stronger now. The character development in this book is phenomenal along with the side characters. I want Griffin and Mari’s story please!!

The fight between the couple kinda reminded me of Iron flame but thankfully it wasn’t that long and worth the wait 🤌🏻

I loved new fantasy element of prophecies and we get to visit so many beautiful places. I can’t wait for the thirst book and after that ending I need it NOW!!

It's always hard to review books two and beyond in a series because you don't want to spoil anything for new readers.

I am so glad I found Kate on tiktok, because her writing style, characters, and sense of humor are exactly what I want to read every time. This was a very angsty and solid second book in the trilogy, and I am SO looking forward to book three. Tysm for the e-arc. I will definitely snag a physical copy for my shelf.

Drop book 3 asap! :)

Complete & utter perfection. Everything I want out of a fantasy romance. Fast paced action, intrigue, swoony romance - Kate delivered on every level.

There are very few instances where I deliberately read a book slowly because I don’t want it to end - this was one of those rare times.

I’m completely enamored with this world, the characters, and everything at stake in this story.

Five stars, easily. I will never stop recommending this series.

Huge thank you to Kate Golden & Berkley Romance for seeing me suffer at that book 1 cliffhanger and taking pity on me. This ARC is my prized possession.