Caroline Peckham & Susanne Valenti | 2019 | 475 Pages | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Genres: Fantasy, Romance, Fae, Magic, Fiction, Enemies to Lovers, Shifters
SUMMARY
They tried to break us.
They almost did.
But we're not going anywhere.
The Celestial Heirs think the stars are on their side. But they don't know what's coming. Fighting them one-on-one isn't an option, so we must be stealthy. Remaining under the radar won't be easy, but if we pull it off, they'll never suspect our involvement when their lives start falling apart.
Besides, they've already taken us to the brink of hell; what more can they really do?
MY THOUGHTS
I like this more than the first, mainly due to the reduction in mean-girl drama. While the bullying persists, it is primarily confined to interactions between the Heirs and the twins.
Life remains challenging for the twins, but the shift towards more assertive retaliation and plotting against the Heirs adds a good change of pace.
Tory and Darcy become bigger badasses in this book, showing remarkable resilience and strength.
"Everyone knows karma’s a bitch. And today, her name was Tory Vega." - Tory Vega.
“Iron is made stronger in the hottest part of the fire, Seth. You didn't break me, you forged me.” - Darcy Vega.
The revenge tactics Darcy and Tory use are subtle, leaving the Heirs clueless about the source of the pranks and attacks. Their schemes are ingenious and entertaining, and as the plot thickens and the characters evolve, the series promises a journey beyond the typical school drama.
I absolutely love Geraldine Grus and can't wait to see how her friendship with the twins grows. Her character is less in your face in this book but still has an intense demeanor towards the twins and their position in the fae world. She remains refreshing and endearing rather than ass-kissing.
Caleb Altair seems genuinely remorseful about the Heirs' mistreatment of Tory and Darcy. However, despite his anger towards the Heirs and his brief period of feeding off them for punishment, he isn't trying to fix or change the situation. I am disappointed and hoping for personal growth. There is potential for change, as he shows more kindness to the twins than the other Heirs, and the simmering sexual tension between him and Tory is intriguing.
Seth Capella continues to be an unpredictable character, and his reactions always keep me guessing. In the first book, he demonstrates a cruel and vicious side, pretending to be kind to hurt Darcy further. However, in this installment, it becomes evident that he is entangled in his own manipulative game, frustrating him and feeding his determination to get rid of the twins, even at the cost of his well-being.
Unfortunately, I find Max Rigel annoying and obnoxious. His character does not develop significantly, and my feelings towards him do not change. However, I have hopes his character will grow in the later books.
Darius Acrux portrays himself as bored and cruel, but we discover there is more to him than meets the eye. Despite not wanting to be a bully like his father, he resorts to that behavior to shield his younger brother from their father's wrath. There also seems to be an underlying sexual tension between Tory and him, which adds an exciting dynamic to the story. It would be interesting to see how their relationship unfolds in the future books. It would definitely be an intense enemies-to-lovers relationship.
I thoroughly enjoy Orion's dry humor and sarcasm in this book. His nonchalant attitude towards his job and students is highly amusing. There is so much chemistry between Darcy and Orion, and I hope their attraction and tension lead somewhere meaningful rather than a scheme. As a fan of doomed and forbidden romances, I am rooting for them despite several obstacles in their path. I would be disappointed if they do not end up together by the series' end.
Even though the story mainly revolves around everyday challenges, the last 10% of the book takes a turn with intense action as Tory and Darcy battle alongside the heirs during an attack on Zodiac Academy. The final chapters are a rollercoaster of emotions, breathtaking moments, and a significant cliffhanger.
WHERE TO READ / BUY
Paperback: $14.62
Kindle Edition: $7.00
Kindle Unlimited: FREE
Target: $15.39
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