⭐⭐⭐⭐ Was I hooked by that book? Yes. A family feud gets upgraded to a thrilling full-scale war between good and evil.

Cerise Mar and her unruly clan are cash poor but land rich, claiming a large swathe of the Mire, the Edge swamplands between the state of Louisiana and the Weird. When her parents vanish, her clan’s long-time rivals are suspect number one. But all is not as it seems. Two nations of the Weird are waging a cold war fought by feint and espionage, and their conflict is about to spill over into the Edge—and Cerise’s life. William, a changeling soldier who left behind the politics of the Weird, has been forced back into service to track down a rival nation’s spymaster. When William’s and Cerise’s missions lead them to cross paths, sparks fly—but they’ll have to work together if they want to succeed… and survive.

MY THOUGHTS

I really needed a reread because I did not remember much of this book. It is the same Edge we were introduced to in the first book, and yet, it’s not. This time around, we experience a different part of this in-between world and a completely different set of circumstances. Cerise’s family was interesting and brave, and stepped up when they were needed.

William and Cerise started out as an uneasy alliance, who then came to rely on each other more and more. Their relationship developed slowly, until it was impossible to think of one without the other. They were both clever and capable of making quick decisions, even in dire conditions. William’s animal side made multiple appearances and his struggle to contain it so that he didn’t scare Cerise off was worrying and endearing at the same time.

This world was rich in diversity of scenery, characters, and magical abilities. Some of the bad guys were not so cut-and-dried, and neither were some of the good guys. These people were flawed and for the most part just desperate to survive. They did not shy away from violence. It is definitely best to read these books in order so as not to miss any crucial world building.

I am reading this series as part of a read-along hosted by Anne at Books of My Heart.

Were you hooked by that book? Let me know in the comments below.

Genre: Fantasy Romance
Published: September 1, 2010
Sensuality Rating: Warm
Series: Book 2 of The Edge