The Vanishing Throne by Elizabeth May is a gripping, action-filled sequel that raises the stakes even higher. Aileana, trapped in a brutal fae prison, must find a way to escape and save her world from total destruction. With fierce battles, complex emotions, and vivid world-building, it’s a perfect choice for fantasy lovers. May’s skillful writing pulls you in, keeping the tension high from start to finish. Fans of strong heroines and intense fantasy will find this book hard to put down.

I received this free eARC novel from NetGalley. This is my honest review.

This has been on my TBR pile for so long, and I'm glad I finally got around to it. I really enjoyed the storyline and seeing the characters change throughout the story was a great character development. The plot was great and kept my attention. I'm glad I got the chance to read this and will be on the lookout for more in the future!

Ugh this series is so good, but the cliffhangers are so frustrating!!!! I need the third book right meow!!

This is definitely one of those underrated series that I can't believe I only just heart about a few months ago. Seriously, pick up this series...but maybe wait until the third book comes out.

I have not read this book yet, but I adore the first one. It was gritty fae story, and Aileana was one tough girl. I hope to read the second book but I think so much time has passed that I probably won't since it was such a long time ago when i read the first book.

3.5 Stars. While I loved the further development of the relationships and the deepening characterization of the supporting characters in this second book, I missed the ambiance of the historical setting and found the faerie revelations convoluted and complicated, and my eyes just sort of glazed over during those parts. I still don't fully understand what the heck is going on, but after that ending I've got to read the final book to see how it all plays out.

I loved the Falconer so much that I was scared to read The Vanishing Throne. Second books in series often feel like they just stall to the climax. Luckily, The Vanishing Throne was none of those things. Aileana is such an amazing character. She's basically Buffy, but with faeries. So many feels. So many twists and turns. The writing was gorgeous and that ending left me gutted. I can't wait to see what Elizabeth May does next.

I absolutely love this series. Book Two definitely came out with a bang. I love the culture and the fantasy elements. Elizabeth May has such a great writing technique.

I couldn’t connect with this books storyline. I tried but failed.

Aileana failed to close the portal and is now a prisoner of a dark fairy bent on claiming Earth as his own. She manages to escape with the help of another fairy. What she finds is Edinburgh destroyed and the remaining human population on the run trying to hide from total destruction.

Like the first title, this one has a great blend of action, adventure, folklore, and romance with plenty of steampunk thrown into the mix.

My recommendation is to have the final book ready as you'll be eager to see how the story concludes.

Let me just tell you that this second book was well worth the two years it took to arrive in my hands!

If you read The Falconer, you know how it ended… Aileana became trapped in the portal that she was attempting to close, and now Lonnrach spends all his spare time torturing her, stealing her memories to find the information he will need to save his world, all while Edinburgh becomes a wasteland.

We all know that second books in series can sometimes be hit or miss and I worried so much that this might be the case because I loooooved The Falconer, but I can tell you that this book was even better than the first for me, despite a bit of a slower start.

Aileana… her memories have gradually been taken from her as Lonnrach tortures her, digging through her mind trying to find the information he needs. Trapped in the Fae world but never truly giving up hope that she’d escape, the opportunity arrives from someone unexpected. But the horror that she finds when she finally gets home forces her to realize that she will need to awaken the powers hidden within her. Aileana holds the key to saving both the city and the lives of her friends and family, but it requires her to figure out how to access her Falconer powers, and the price to doing so could be incredibly high.

When Aileana finally reunites with her friends she realizes that she’s been gone for three years, and not only has the outside world changed, but those she was closest to have as well. Among those she’s reunited with is Kieran and while I liked him in book 1, I found that I loved him here. We learn so much more about his past as Kadamach and the horrors he dealt. Now Aileana has to come to terms with the idea that Kieran, this Fae that she has come to know and care for in very deep ways, did these things and determine if she can be okay with that.

I will say that the tension and romance between these two was so well done. The relationship has always kind of been there under the surface for them, and the one person that Aileana is able to hold on to while she’s being tortured is Kieran, so upon her return, she often turns to him for comfort and support and we definitely get to see their connection deepen and move forward.

His hands are on either side of my face, the gentlest of touches. ‘Aoram dhuit.’
I will worship thee.
‘You said it was a pledge. Do I make it, too?’
‘No, Kam.’ His eyes lock with mine just before he presses a kiss to the pulse of my throat. Then his lips are at my ear, whispering, ‘You let me honor my words.’

May does an amazing job of bringing the secondary characters into this story a bit more. Of course we have Derrick, Catherine and Gavin, but my absolute favorite became Aithinne, I really loved the connection that formed between her and Aileana… unfortunately their common ground wasn’t due to happy times, but it really bonded them in ways that no one else could understand.

We also get a lot more of Sorcha and all I can say is that I can’t wait for her to get hers because .. UGH.

So the ending… you guys it’s a bit cliffhangerish, but despite that, I am so glad I read this one when I did. I am so excited to get my hands on book 3.

If you haven’t started this series yet, I can’t tell you how much you need to change that. This series will have you so enthralled… crafted with a steampunk feel, filled with action and twists and turns you won’t see coming, it’s a story you don’t’ want to miss.

The hunter has now become the hunted. After failing to seal the portal, Aileana is spirited away to a world which was once the Unseelie Kingdom, where she is tortured for secrets she did not know she was keeping. Cruel and unforgiving, her captor holds absolute power... until Kiaran's sister, Aithinne, pulls off a daring and successful rescue attempt. Relieved to be free of her prison yet haunted by the memories, Aileana is devastated by the state of the world that she was unable to save but is left with no time to grieve as her captor pursues her through her world. Aileana is reunited with Kiaran and Derrick and whisked away to a place where perhaps she can find safety for a little while... but will there ever be a place of safely and peace when Aileana is being hunted?

After reading the first book in this series, The Falconer, I was hooked. The world Elizabeth May created is creative and unique; the writing is vivid and the characters memorable. The story line was addicting: I needed to know what happened to Aileana, what Kiaran would do next, and how they would work together to save the world. Their chemistry wasn't just limited to the battlefield. Aithinne was a fitting addition to the story -- a story that gradually revealed itself... woven and twisted by a wonderful storyteller. Each new revelation kept me on the edge of my seat, revealing a new piece of a complex and beautiful puzzle. This was an extremely hard book for me to put down. The second in the series, this book was just as enthralling as the first and leaves me guessing as to what is planned for the third and final piece of the trilogy. I can hardly wait!!

Note: In my opinion, this book is best suited for mature readers because of the sensuality in Aileana and Kiaran's relationship.

I was given a copy of this e-ARC through NetGalley and Chronicle Books in exchange for my honest opinion. All opinions above are my own.

This book was a wonderful follow up to The Falconer. Lots of action and suspense, any teenager who loves fantasy will love this book!