Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Fantasy Romance
Length: 512 pages
Author: Sarah Hawley
Publisher: Ace
Release Date: September 30th, 2025
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Once a servant, now a princess, a young woman thrust into power challenges everything about the underground Fae realm in the next installment of Sarah Hawley’s new romantasy series.

Kenna Heron is still reeling from her lover’s betrayal and the threat of an impending war. With only her two closest–and most powerless–friends by her side, she must navigate the treacherous politics of Mistei while coming to terms with her new identity as not just Fae, but princess of her own house.

With the king dead, three candidates are vying for the right to wear the crown next. A princess who claims the throne as her birthright and two rebel princes, both of whom are depending on the support of Blood House to break the stalemate between them. Old loyalties fray as new, dangerous alliances form, and Kenna finds herself caught in a web of violence, deceit, and unexpected passion.

Kenna has the power to shape Mistei’s future… but someone’s willing to kill to make sure she never gets the chance.

WE GOT THERE.

I feel like this sequel meandered a bit for me. And kind of backed off of the romance too much. I don’t mind a long play at all, but it was missing that tension that I thought was built pretty well in the first book.

I did like this more than book one though because I stared to feel the vibe of a series vs. standalone and why I love a good longer series. I like the journey the FMC is on and her role in the world. She’s learning and falling down and the strength is building.

The romance I did get was good. I like these types of romantic ploys so I’m down for whatever happens next. I appreciated that the spice wasn’t over the top or forced into the story.

It was good and I’ll read the next book.

Overall audience notes:

• Fantasy romance
• Language: moderate+
• Romance: open door
• Violence: high

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