Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Fantasy
Length: 478 pages
Author: Renee Dugan
Publisher: Self published
Release Date: June 15th, 2021
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads
BOOK SUMMARY:
The fight for alliance has just begun.
Scarred and shaken by months of imprisonment, Princess Cistine Novacek takes the newest battlefield before her: Valgard’s treacherous political landscape. With her cabal at her side, she faces the daunting task of healing from her trauma and securing the treaty her kingdom needs…while in the shadows, sinister threats arise.
A kingdom away, Ashe and Maleck walk a tenuous line. It’s dangerous enough convincing Mahasar’s Mad King of a treaty that doesn’t yet exist – harder still while battling their own specters and the disastrous attraction growing between them. The future of both kingdoms rests in the hands of two warriors who were once sworn enemies; if they can’t learn to be something more, together and apart, war may come before Cistine fulfills her mission.
Alliances shift. Old and new enemies storm the gates. Healing comes at a cost. And with their own fears threatening everything they hold sacred, the cabal must learn how to trust one another with an unshakable faith.
Nothing less will survive the coming storm.
BEAUTIFUL.
Vague review to keep spoilers away.
This was a gorgeous middle book filled with some necessary healing and loving scenes that I was swooning left and right over. I loved many many moments and even highlighted some quotes (I’m terrible at remembering to highlight parts I love).
The character development is as always, first and foremost in my mind and Lightfall brings it. I loooove seeing how these character continue to move forward from trauma and intensity of all the things that have happened.
I like how Cistine stays at the forefront of this group, but that each book seems to highlight another’s journey. This one followed Ashe the most and while I occasionally wanted to shake her, I’m so happy to see where she is now. The focus on therapy and speaking your truths is a theme throughout.
The PAIN of that ending though has me on pins and needles and I NEED ANSWERS.
Overall audience notes:
- Fantasy
- Language: a little
- Romance: closed door
- Violence: high
- Trigger/Content Warnings: murder, physical and magical altercations, battle themes, torture, loss of loved ones, PTSD, mentions of rape and sexual assault
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