The action-packed adventure of a lifetime sequel to Silver in the Bone! I absolutely adored this sequel. I devoured it in a day and a half (only because I had to work).

Tamsin, Olwen, Cait And Neve are finally back in our world. Devastated by loss and angered by betrayal, they must find a way to stop Lord Death before he opens the gates of Anwnn and destroys the world with his death magic. Along the way they must make allies with new friends, learn to trust those who they thought abandoned and betrayed them, and save those that they hope can still be redeemed.

While I ate up the Avalon/King Arthur Mythos in book one, AB takes it a step further in this twist on the Once and Future King’s Return, only this time he is possessed by Lord Death and seeks to destroy the world instead of save it. To stop him, the girls must find the Mirror of Beasts (aka Excalibur),the only divine weapon that might have the power to stop him. Except Excalibur was lost after the fall of Camelot and even though the Hollowers have been searching for it forever it still remains hidden.

The friendship between the girls was the driving force behind this book. I know most people will probably read for the romance and to find out if Tamsin and Emrys get back together (more on that in a minute), but I think the found family the girls created by unfailingly supporting and uplifting each other was far more important. Though they had their doubts they never stopped trying to protect each other. Though they had all been horribly betrayed time and time again, it didn’t kill their ability to trust in each other, and that became their greatest weapon against Lord Death. Though they parted ways they always returne to each other to fulfill their promises.

The foreshadowing for Neve being the Goddess’s daughter was an excellent Red Herring. I fully believed she was the soul they were supposed to be searching for and Tamsin was some sort of magical creature destined to protect her up until Lyonesse. What a wonderful twist! And Nash being Lord Death’s brother, thwarting him time and time again to protect Tamsin was the beautiful reveal we had all been waiting for. I was so happy she finally got answers and to hear him call her his daughter.

Now like everyone else I was pissed with Emrys after the ending to SITB, so I was a little confused about how he popped up again after his father killed him in the prologue. I spent a good chunk of the book convinced he was the spy that Lord Death had brought back to infiltrate the girls’ circle and learn their plans. In a way I suppose he was after it was revealed Madrigal brought him back and controlled him (since she was the spy all along). The banter and tension between them remained perfect. While I do feel it was a little too easy of a reunion between them, I was happy for it all the same. His second death wasn’t as emotionally cutting as I expected since he had already been brought back before. I knew Tamsin would find a way.

The Bonecutter had to be my favorite of the new characters. I adored her no nonsense, mischevious attitude and her quirky one liners. The Hag of the Moors was a close second, much needed comic relief in such dark and tense moments.

I do feel the book wrapped a little quickly but not in an unbelievable way. I would be interested to see more from this universe but I am pleased with the ending and could happily leave it there.

This book is perfect for lovers of British folk tales and mythology who are looking for fun and spunky, realistic lead characters and a new spin on modern fantasy that will leave you craving more!