Rating: ★★★☆
Audience: YA Fantasy
Length: 732 pages
Author: Shannon Messenger
Publisher: Aladdin
Release Date: November 8th, 2022
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Sophie Foster changed the game.

Now she’s facing impossible choices:
When to act.
When to trust.
When to let go.

Her friends are divided and scattered, and the Black Swan wants Sophie to focus on their projects. But her instincts are leading her somewhere else.

Stellarlune—and the mysterious Elysian—might be the key to everything. But finding truth in the Lost Cities always requires sacrifice. And as the Neverseen’s plans sharpen into terrifying focus, it appears that everyone has miscalculated. The Lost Cities’ greatest lie could destroy everything. And in the battle that follows, only one thing is certain: nothing will ever be the same.

HMM.

This is the first time I’ve been disappointed in one of these books (and of course it’s book NINE).

Here’s the thing. I live for character growth. Love it, it consumes most my reviews because I love progression. Sophie is finally exhibiting that but often it came off…poorly. More childish (which I get, she is still young), and like she was trying too hard. Some of the subtly was great, I think this whole book needed a softer tone rather than A LOT of time spent arguing.

Also, sweet baby Keefe. Once he was on page things got progressively better. This again, took waaaaay too long with not enough happening prior to carry SEVEN HUNDERED+ pages. I looooved the last 30% where the conversations needed were had, the romance got its due, and there was actual action with a big cliffhanger.

I just don’t think these books have to be as long as they do. I did enjoy this, even though I know this review reads heavily covered in saltyness.

Overall audience notes:

• Young Adult Fantasy
• Language: none
• Romance: kisses
• Violence: medium
• Trigger/Content Warnings: loss of life

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