This is the sequel to The Queen's Rising which I reviewed HERE. If you don't want anything for The Queen's Rising ruined, I recommend not reading this review. But I would STRONGLY recommend reading The Queen's Rising. I loved it.
An amazon summary, "Brienna is a mistress of knowledge and is beginning to settle into her role as the daughter of the once disgraced lord, Davin MacQuinn. Though she’d just survived a revolution that will return a queen to the throne, she faces yet another challenge: acceptance by the MacQuinns.
But as Queen Isolde Kavanagh’s closest confidant, she’ll have to balance serving her father’s House as well as her country.
Then there’s Aodhan Morgan, formerly known as Cartier Évariste, who is adjusting to the stark contrast between his pre-rebellion life in Valenia and his current one as lord of a fallen House. As he attempts to restore the Morgane name, he let his mind wander—what if he doesn’t have to raise his House alone? What if Brienna could stand by his side?
But Brienna and Cartier must put their feelings aside, as there are more vital tasks at hand—the Lannons' trial, forging alliances, and ensuring that no one halts the queen’s coronation. Resistance is rumbling among the old regime’s supporters, who are desperate to find a weakness in the rebels’ forces.
And what makes one more vulnerable than love?" AMAZON LINK OF JUSTICE
FIRST OF ALL, this book split the narration between Brienna and Aodhan (Cartier). Which, is something that really upsets me. Always. Including this book. It's not an exclusion. Because, when that happens, it usually means that the main character is going to die. I hate it, I will always hate it.
...anyways.
At the end of The Queen's Rising, they had successfully thrown over the old king and his cronies and are going home. To reclaim their heritage. Brienna is starting to settle into the MacQuinn house, but she's having difficulty being accepted by the weaving house. The House of MacQuinn is famous for the weavers. Brienna is slowly starting to get to know the people of the MacQuinn house, but she's been tasked with writing their grievances against the Lannons. Which means, she has to talk to everyone. Her brother is also helping write down the grievances and he is quite a bit more successful than Brienna is. She just needs to find her place within the house.
Aodhan is rebuilding his house. When he returns home, he finds his home in ruins. It's been abandoned for years, but there's also a small lad who seems to be holed up in the shambles. Aodhan starts to sift through the clutter, but his people start to return home. They start to help him rebuild, to help him learn of his heritage in a way that his father could never share with him.
However, this peace is tenuous at best. The Lannons still need to be put on trial for the atrocities they've committed, and hopefully the Queen can begin her rule with more peace. The grievances against the Lannons are brought to trial, but the night after the trial, two of them have escaped.
That's enough summary.
I loved this book almost as much as the first one, regardless of the suddenly split narration. ...but that will always tweak at my reader senses.
The world building of the kingdom, the different tones and contrast of the houses, and the mystery of the Queen's magic slowly start to unfold.
I also loved all of the relationships formed between the characters, how each character starts to come into their own. There was also so many horrors to uncover that the people experienced under the Lannons, and to hear some at the trial, to hear some of them recount them was heart breaking and also set the stage for people to accept the new queen.
I also liked the half moon thing that happened. I feel like it was a little too obvious at some points, but other points, it really played perfectly into the story.
There will be more books in this series, and I hope they come out sooner than later. I'm ready for more!
Happy reading!
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