I LOVED THIS BOOK, I loved Veyka and Arran in the story, and I am so glad we got more of Gwen and Parys. This story is so well written and thought out. The tension, foreshadowing, and the intricate plot is great. This series has my heart, thank you for the eARC!

I’m disappointed that I did not love this book as much as the first. Veyka just annoyed me a lot this time around. I didn’t agree with a lot of the decisions she made. She acted so stubborn and childish. The romance wasn’t even enough to save the book for me. I did not like how Veyka treated Arran for the majority of the book.

The plot continues to be the weakest aspect of the series for me. It was just a lot of travelling between different places and I found myself bored. There were also some events at the end that felt very anticlimactic. The author added a lot of twists and turns that are meant to surprise me, but it came off as very chaotic and messy. I also hated how some things got brushed over too quickly (ahem Parys).

Thank you to NetGalley for sending me an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Fear can make people act in various, dissonant ways, where they hurt those who love the most, push away what may be their salvation, and self-flagellate for things that were out of their control. The High Queen of Annwyn, Veyka Pendragon, is absolutely terrified.

She has been hurled from realm to realm, with no power to stop it. She has learned of the mating bond between her and Arran, now her co-ruler and High King. She is in a situation where her decisions may destroy her kingdom and everyone in it.

Veyka's actions are hurtful, rash, filled with love, due to continuing trauma, all of the above. But they make sense. Emberly Ash has put in the background work to make us understand her heroine, who learns of more and more unexpected betrayals, surprises, and expectations as the book goes along. Her relationship with Arran is an entire year of therapy in itself.

This is a visceral read, the anger and grief as palpable as the need and lust (and more) that Veyka and Arran feel for each other. The spicy scenes are off the chart, and I can imagine no one but Arran being both worthy and deserving of his queen.

I enjoyed the first book, Crown of Earth and Sky, a lot. But I absolutely loved Throne of Air and Darkness, and I cannot wait for the next book, Court of Vines and Vipers.