This will contain spoilers*****
Thank you for the advance copy in exchange for a review!

Dawn of Onyx snuck up on me and surprised me with how just fantastic it was.

A Promise of Peridot did not fail as a sequel. It came in exactly where we left off (thank you for that) and stayed flowing and paced really well.

I have to be honest, I was flagging on fantasy when reading this, so sometimes I wouldn't be in the mood but this kept pulling me back because new info was revealed, or more action happened. I know I would have enjoyed this even more if I had given myself a break BUT even without doing that this came in at 4.5 for me, so what a fantastic book to still pull that when I admittedly wasn't fully in a fantasy mood.

I'm not 100% sure I'd call this a slow burn, it was anxiety inducing but captivating and keeping me turning those pages to get more info (while also screaming at these idiots to just love each other before they die)

Kate I'm looking at you, do NOT actually kill them, thank you so much.

The world building in this series is really phenomenal I can picture it like a movie and I think that's a wonderful talent.

Now I"m going to fast forward to the freaking end of this book so beware of spoilers.

That ending was VILE. WHAT DO YOU MEAN HEIRS, KATE. WHAT DO YOU MEAN BETROTHED. I thought he wanted her DEAD. but NOOOO Ol' daddio over here wants to MARRY HER AND HAVE CHILDREN WITH HER!!! VILE SICK UNBELIEVABLE. AND OUR POOR KING THINKS SHES DEAD. THIS IS CRUEL MEAN AND DISTURBING.

Can't wait for book 3 you evil author.

Oh what a roller coaster ride this book was. The story picks up after the events from Dawn of Onyx and it has a slow start to it. Arwen struggles to come to term with a lot and not that much happens at first. However don't worry because the adventure awaits and we get to plunge into around 25-30% into the book. There was so many twists and turns I could not stop reading. I have to admit I had a hard time with some of the characters (sorry Arwen) BUT the intrigue was so good I got over it pretty quickly. We get to have a dual POV for this one and I really loved having Kane's thoughts. And talk about the tension between Mari and Griffin. I hope we get to see more of them in the upcoming book. A Promise of Peridot does end on a cliffhanger and goodness I can't believe I have to hang onto this before I can read what's next. I have so many theories and thoughts I can't wait to read the next book.

The dual POV in this one 👌🏾👌🏾👌🏾 right away being in Kane’s POV hit with a BANGER. I enjoyed this one even more than the first, it redeemed the series for me. All the characters were going through it and will continue to go through it, but it’s just the right three book series pacing.

I felt that A Dawn of Onyx, not much was going on as the world was building and felt a little like House (to be honest here) but this one really was action pack with a lot of discoveries and a well thought out plot. If you love a man obsessed, falls first, and what you love to get from a fantasy romance MC - Kane gives that to you. The steam in this!! Kate Golden you surprised me (thank you so much). This ending too? Again, another shock factor.

“You asked me once if I thought love was a weakness,” he said, too low, “You, Arwen. You are my weakness.”

I really enjoyed this follow up from Kate Golden! I had read book one before it was picked up for traditional publishing and am so excited for KG that this series was picked up by Berkeley.

This is a great romantasy, and I loved that we got to extend the world out further and visit more of the various parts of this world. I also enjoyed getting to know more characters and getting some past lore about our current favorites. I was really surprised when a certain prince ended up being such a supportive friend and am hopeful for him to play a role in book three as well.

It didn’t feel like we meandered too much and this book was moving the plot forward rather than treading a lot of the same ground. We had character growth, even when they were at times dealing with the same issue - it didn’t feel like it was standing still. I liked the characters’ explorations of their emotions and having to deal with what it meant not just for them but those around them. I don’t think that this book suffered from second book in a series where it feels like not much is happening so that we can get to the action in the final book.

This is a fun romantasy series that I would recommend for those that are interested in the genre. This book does have some spice but not a lot of it. I am so looking forward to book 3 in this trilogy!

Thank you to Kate Golden for the ARC of this book! All opinions are my own.

I really liked the first book, so while this one was just as entertaining, I also feel like it was a bit more rushed, maybe even slightly overwhelming with the amount of scene changes, new characters and information.

I think most of what threw me off was the relationship between our main characters, they suffered so much, maybe to much. And I definitely understand she was depressed, she had just been told life-changing news, but it took so long for us to get to a healthy place where they were able to speak, process and heal.

I still think the world we have here is incredible, and I am so curious to see how everything is going to wrap up with this trilogy. I did not expect that ending... and it was maybe a little disturbing hearing his father's plans, but I hope everything works out!

Overall a little weaker than the first book, but just as fun to read, and we definitely need to know how this all ends.

(3.5 stars)

This book was even better than I thought it would be. I loved A Dawn of Onyx but I think I love a Promise of Peridot even more. I read this book in one sitting...that is how hooked I was to this book. I was on the edge of my seat the entire time. The cave, the fighting scenes, the END - I can't even put into words how engrossed I was into this world.

I. Swear. To. The. Stones.

KATE YOU’RE ON MY HIT LIST GIRL.

Thrown back into crushing sorrow, to slow acceptance, AND THE SPICE! Just to be thrown off that cliff?!

I literally cannot wait for the next book. It needs to get here. Right. Now.

This was a great sequel to Dawn of Onyx! I am in love with Kane and Arwen and I cannot wait to get back to them in book 3. That ending was mind blowing!!!

4.5 stars. the ENDING?

This was an excellent sequel to A Dawn of Onyx, one of my favorite romantasy reads. This book picks up immediately where book one left off and never stops moving. This book is fast paced, action packed, romantic, spicy, and jaw dropping. The amount of times I said “WHAT” with my jaw hanging open is absurd (in the best way).

We get some more answers from questions raised in book one and more depth and background into the main characters. Arwen’s character growth is excellent and exactly what I needed from her. Kane is my morally gray swoony king and I loved getting his backstory, no matter how heart wrenching it was.

This book constantly had me on the edge of my seat wanting more and it delivered. I really felt like it never stopped moving with the action and drama and I was so invested. Kane and Arwen broke my heart so many times and then put it back together.

The last 40 pages literally had me sweating and the epilogue? Jail! I loved this sequel so much and cannot wait for book 3.

You know how sometimes you start a new fantasy book and you're immediately thrown into the world so hard that it feels like you're right there beside the characters? And as they're making choices and dealing with challenges you couldn't even scratch the surface of in your *real life* you're so immersed that you start gasping and going "wait what?" "Oh no!" "NO THEY DID NOT." "OH MY GODOHMYGODOHMYGOD" and squealing?

Then suddenly the book is over and your mind is spinning and your soul is just drifting deep inside the husk of the person you were while you were still reading it?

That's me right now after finishing this book. Please allow 3-5 business days for me to process.

When I started A Dawn of Onyx I didn't know what to expect.
Some readers had previously said that they weren't sure where it fell as YA or NA because of spice levels, and I try not to spoil new books for myself by over researching so I dove in without context and was shocked by how dark and deep that book delved. I was never more grateful to have received an advanced copy of a book in my life than I was to be able to sink my teeth into book two the moment book one was finished.

A Promise of Peridot stays true to the depth and shadows of the first installment, while building upon the romance, the action, and the adventure. What you end up with is a delicious mix of one of my all-time favorite shadow daddies (seriously, message me and I'll send you a list of my favorite quotes from Kane where he thre@tens people within an inch of their life for his sweet little baby bird), an exasperated, intelligent, and fiesty heroine, and a plot that doesn't let you go from start to finish.

Genuinely a phenomenal dark romantasy done right. Spice that will make your head spin. Banter for days. Pure joy in book form. Ten out of ten recommend. This book has me in an absolute chokehold and I have no idea if or when I might recover.

I had high hopes for the follow up to A Dawn of Onyx and I'll say that it mostly lived up to it.

Big spoilers ahead, so stop reading if you haven't read it yet.

Overall, I liked the book. It was entertaining that took the reader through some fun adventures. I did, however, feel that the pacing was very slow and felt that there were huge sections that dragged on. The only thing that really kept me engaged was reading Kane's POV and any scenes with Griffin in it - I liked him in this book.

A big reason I adored A Dawn of Onyx was the slow progression of Arwen and Kane's relationship. However, their relationship in A Promise of Peridot lacked a lot of what I adored in the first book. I get it, Kane lied to Arwen so she needed to get over that. But, wow, it took forever for her to get over it. It felt like I was reading a young adult book because of how petty Arwen was being. It made little sense and I found myself getting very annoyed.

With that said, I'm still looking forward to the next one in the series especially after the cliffhanger of an ending. I just hope the next one is a bit more fast paced.

Thanks to St. Martin's Press, Wednesday Books, and NetGalley for a free eARC in exchange for an honest opinion.

Yep. I'm still obsessed with Kane Ravenwood. I absolutely loved this sequel and let out an embarrassing gasp when it ended. Kate Golden knows how to do a cliffhanger and now I'm eager to get my hands on the next book!

Such a great start to Kate Goldens 2nd book A Promise to Peridot. Great book, fast paced , keeps you engaged . I love Arwen and Kane they’re great characters. I can’t wait for the 3rd finale book in this series . You don’t want to miss this .

Amazing second book for this Romantasy series! I got to arc read book one over a year ago and when I saw the opportunity for book 2 I ran to sign up! Kane is a swoon worthy morally gray MMC and I needed to know what was going to happen after that bombshell of a cliffhanger in the first book! And now I'm in the same position...what an ending!

There's power hungry characters, betrayal, slow burn tension between not only the main characters but side characters, emotional damage and healing, prophecies, adventure, and so much more! I was on the edge of my seat the entire book. Every time it seemed like they were out of danger...BAM...Kate brought in something else and I just had to keep reading.

Can't wait to get book 3 and watch Kane burn the world to ashes to get his love back. But I have a feeling Arwen is going to be doing some of her own world burning

I loved A Dawn of Onyx, and I was so excited to receive the ARC for A Promise of Peridot from Netgalley!

My absolute favorite thing about this series is how easy and approachable it is. Kate Golden manages to construct a gorgeously rich world. and magic system without needing 200 pages to build it. The characters are so fun and relatable – I especially love the friendship between the FMC, Arwen, and Mari. The rocky relationship between the FMC and MMC is great throughout, and though the burn is slow it, it's so full of delicious tension that I didn't mind at all. I did not expect this ending at all and I was blown out of the water. I cannot wait until book 3!

I thoroughly enjoyed A Promise of Peridot! There were fun new characters- looking at you, Kane! I loved getting more into the world that Kate Golden created. Lots of tension. Lots of romance. Some spicy scenes. And a cliffhanger at the end?! So good!

Thanks, NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for the ARC!

Thank you so much NetGalley and Berkley for this ARC. A Promise of Peridot did not disappoint! This follow up to Dawn of the Onyx was so dang good and such a fun, emotional ride. Banter, tension, friendships, adventure, and all the swoon. And let me tell you, the slow burn from book one definitely pays off in this book. The spice was spicing and oh so good! Kane is absolute shadow daddy perfection and no one can pine, protect, and love like that man. I also loved Arwen’s development in this book now that her eyes are wide open, although I would have liked her to move on and forgive a tad quicker.

The end left me speechless with my jaw on the floor. I need book three in my hands immediately! WOW, this series is just so much fun and has me hooked!

⭐⭐⭐.5/5 -After reading A Dawn of Onyx which I loved - I was really excited for the second installment in The Sacred Stones series. I love Kane's villainous tendencies, and I loved Arwen's entire arc.

In the second book of the series though.. their relationship was hard to reconnect with the magic of the first book. Obviously, they had tough times and needed to reconnect, but Arwen's character needed to grow up badly, and that part of her story played out over half the book, leaving me really annoyed.

As I said - I really loved the first book so I continued reading and the second half of this book is much better than the first because of the action scenes? I thought it when I read the book the first time around, but this series has a bit of a Pirates of The Caribbean vibe and I definitely felt that all the way through again!!

Overall, though, the world-building in this series is really good, and I enjoyed diving back into the Sacred Stones kingdoms! The books aren't long, and they have an interesting enough premise that feels different from many other romantasies right now!

**One thing to note—this is very much adult. In the way the book ends, etc., I wouldn't consider this young adult!

**Thank you to St. Martin's Press, Wednesday Books & NetGalley for the advanced reader copy. I received this book for free, but all thoughts are my own. – SLR 🖤

Just like a Dawn of Onyx this one quickly roped me in and I found my mind wandering to it whenever life forced me put it down.

I love how seamlessly Kate Golden has tied in the world building of this series so far. I’m usually a reader who ends up getting bogged down by it but I haven’t had that problem at all with either books in the series.

Want to keep this spoiler free as possible, so without going into any details I am still absolutely shocked by the ending and can’t wait to see how things go from here!

I really enjoyed learning more about Arwen and Kane’s struggle in accepting how to be around each other after the events and revelations of A Dawn of Onyx. The ending was a nice twist and not something I foresaw coming. The banter between all of the characters was good and I enjoyed Mari and Griffen’s reluctant affection for each other.

The pacing slowed down a lot throughout the middle of the book, dragging as more information was dumped from characters that quickly became irrelevant to the plot. The random Indiana Jones type incident that served to separate the main group wasn’t satisfying, and neither was how quickly Kane was able to get Arwen back with the group after. More time spent with the group separated would’ve made that reunion more engaging.