This book was a near-perfect experience for me. I found it incredibly hard to put down and was completely engrossed in the world and its characters. Even when I wasn't reading, it was on my mind—an impressive feat! 👌 As I mentioned in my review of the first book, this series had enormous potential, and this installment only reinforces that belief.
The story picks up exactly where the first book's cliffhanger left off, wasting no time. One of my wishes from the first book was for the author to dive deeper into world-building, spend more time on character development, and flesh out the romance—and that’s precisely what they did here, with great success.
While there’s still some room for improvement in the world-building department, I’m not too bothered by it. It seems like the author is taking a gradual approach, adding layers with each book. The pacing struck a perfect balance—not too rushed, not too slow. And the plot? It’s getting more and more intense 👀. The court intrigue was masterfully executed.
The romance was the real standout for me. Luther and Diem left things on shaky ground, and the slow-burn, angsty tension between them was equal parts sweet and torturous. The way they longed for each other, stuck in loveless situations, was so palpable. Diem tried to deny it, but her heart was clearly yearning for Luther. Their tender moments—the touches, the support, the looks—had me swooning. And, just so you know, there’s a scene where Luther gives Diem a foot massage after a ball because she’d been dancing in heels all night 👀. That intimate moment where they reveal their scars to each other? Absolute perfection 🤌. I’m eagerly awaiting the spicy bits!
Luther has officially made it onto my list of book boyfriends, and I’m not even sorry—he’s everything. The way he moves, speaks, and exudes passion is unreal. The way he adores and protects Diem, willing to do anything for her, is pure swoon material. I’m head over heels for Luther 😭❤️‍🔥. Seriously, I need my own Luther.
Diem’s character growth was fantastic to witness. I loved seeing her navigate the complexities of court politics and handle vulnerability, especially in coping with the loss of loved ones. Her emotional depth was beautifully written. That said, I’d love a bit more insight into her magic—it sounds incredible, and I hope it gets explored further.
The supporting characters were such a joy, giving off those close-knit inner circle vibes. I really liked Diem’s family, except for her mother—she’s still not winning any points with me. And Henri? Ugh. He’s just awful. I still can’t figure out how Diem and Henri ever got along—he’s worse than any bad love interest you’ve ever seen.
As for the climax, the challenge at the end was thrilling, but I was a bit let down by the twist thrown in purely for shock value. It felt unnecessary, which is why I’m giving this 4.5 stars instead of 5. The mini-betrayal made me question things, but in the end, it didn’t really add much.
The ending wasn’t the most brutal cliffhanger I’ve seen, but it was enough to make me eagerly anticipate book three. And as for the epilogue—still not interested in Diem’s mother. Her secrets can die with her for all I care. She’s done nothing but lie, manipulate, and damage her family, not just Diem’s but also Luther’s.
In summary, I wholeheartedly recommend this series, though I’d advise approaching book one with modest expectations—you might just discover something special
This series is shaping up to be my new obsession, and I can’t wait for the third book to drop!

So pumped that this series is rereleased! It’s a great fantasy. Lots of excitement and romance and I hope it gets a ton of readers this time around!

This picks up where the first one left of, and this is definitely a worthy sequel. With a lot of the world and character setting out of the way, this was able to hit the ground rolling. I was more and more invested with our FMC Diem, and her romance with Prince Luther was of slow-burn dreams. I love the complex, messy issues they have to deal with-- it makes for a tension filled (but fulfilling!) sequel. Definitely adding this to our collection as I'm sure this is going to be a much awaited, much wanted sequel to an already promising first book!