Caroline Peckham & Susanne Valenti | 2020 | 823 Pages | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Genres: Fantasy, Romance, Fae, Magic, Fiction, Enemies to Lovers, Shifters
SUMMARY
Fate has torn us apart and sometimes I believe the stars have given up on us altogether.
Without my sister, the world seems darker than ever before and the shadows loom thicker, rising up to answer the call of the Shadow Princess and changing the face of Solaria for good.
Now Lionel Acrux has the strength to make a move for the throne, I’m not sure how much time we have left to stop him.
Our only hope is to find the Imperial Star before he does. We made the sacrifice the stars called for and we’re paying the price for that decision so it can’t be for nothing. But with the stars turning against us at every move, and the last light in the world seeming to fade, I’m afraid we’re almost out of time. Hope is a dangerous thing. It’s the key to us fighting on. But it could be what destroys us in the end.
One thing is for certain, I won’t stop until I have been reunited with my other half and together we will fight to take our crowns.
A war is coming.
The throne is calling for a new monarch. And someone must answer its call.
MY THOUGHTS
I hoped this would resolve the aftermath of the last one, but instead, it left me in emotional turmoil. We saw significant growth in the characters individually and in their relationships, so I've developed strong feelings for nearly everyone, be it love, admiration, or hatred. And, of course, we still have multiple POVs and another cliffhanger, which leaves me ready for the next one.
I loved seeing the Twins and the Heirs finally teaming up, even if it's unclear how long their alliance will hold. Despite the Heirs' past mistreatment of the twins, I was rooting for them to unite and fight together, and it was so satisfying to see it happen multiple times in this book. They're not just working together out of necessity; they genuinely care for each other now, standing up for one another and forming a true team.
Seth was there for Darcy during her breakup with Lance, and they grew closer in this one. Seth's support for Darcy isn't about romance; it's just about him being there for her. Seth's plan to make Orion jealous may be silly, but it's nice to see Seth genuinely wanting Darcy and Orion to be happy together, especially after he was a jerk to them before. The authors did a great job with Seth's character development, turning him into someone we can really root for.
I love the new bond between Darcy and Darius, although it's bittersweet that it's formed because of losing Tory and Orion. Nonetheless, seeing them find friendship and support in each other during such difficult times is comforting.
Lance Orion's sacrifice initially left me furious, but much like Darcy, we know it wasn't selfish; he broke a promise to protect her reputation, making it hard to stay angry when he sacrificed so much for her. His journey has been a rollercoaster, from confidence to self-sacrifice for Darcy and then being released from one prison to another. He doubts his worthiness for Darcy as she grapples with trust issues, and Seth's attempt to reunite them by making Orion jealous, while entertaining, feels harsh. However, it prompts Lance to realize he can't lose Darcy and vice versa!
I absolutely adore Tory and Orion's friendship. It's nice they can openly discuss the side-effects of the guardian bond without fear of judgment, and it's refreshing to see them enjoying some moments of freedom and friendship after all they've been through.
Geraldine remains one of my favorite characters. She's the most supportive friend, always ready to go above and beyond for her loved ones. Her strength and determination are truly remarkable, and she brings plenty of humor with her silly expressions. I admire how she stands her ground against the Heirs, making it clear that she's in charge and won't tolerate any nonsense from them. She's definitely the MVP of the series for me.
I can't get enough of Max and Geraldine! Their relationship is so cute, especially with Max's feelings for Geraldine despite their different loyalties. This relationship could potentially bring everyone together for the future kingdom.
As anticipated, we are left with another cliffhanger, leaving my heart aching; while the ending twists the knife, there's a glimmer of hope that fate could take a different turn.
WHERE TO READ / BUY
Paperback: $19.69
Kindle Edition: $8.00
Kindle Unlimited: FREE
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