⭐⭐⭐⭐ Was I hooked by that book? Yes. One step forward, two steps back. Plenty of decisive actions punctuate this thrilling drama but bring us no closer (yet) to the ending we all desire.

When Arden Roosa returns to Fort Bala Royal Academy, nothing is as it was. No longer just a lady-in-training, she’s now the infamous girlfriend of High Prince Cyrus Dolion—and the woman who brought down a king. Her reward? Round-the-clock guards and the attention of a royal executioner with secrets. But Arden has secrets too. As a double agent slipping between worlds to decode forbidden prophecy, she knows what’s coming. Sleeping gods are stirring, and a war igniting. With only a spark, everyone will burn.

But nothing goes according to plan. Grueling trials consume her days, and dangerous questions stalk her nights. Worse, Cyrus—the fierce, unshakable warrior she might love—is unraveling, losing pieces of himself, becoming a stranger right before her eyes. Desperate to save him, Arden strikes a life-altering alliance… and everything spirals. Now the gods are no longer dreaming. They’re hunting. Time is running out, the end closer than anyone dares to admit. Unless Arden can stop what’s coming, Cyrus will open the door to true evil—and she’ll lose him forever.

MY THOUGHTS

This book left me feeling frustrated, but also slightly hopeful. I think. The action was vivid, gory, and fast-paced. It had me at the edge of my seat and second guessing everything. Arden and Cyrus were walking a very dangerous line between discovery, treachery, and hope. Throughout the story there were plenty of allusions to the future, with every difficult decision herding our heroes to a specific outcome.

As Arden became more entrenched in Saol’s army, tensions and actions escalated fast. This book ended on a doozy of a cliffhanger and I definitely want to see this wild ride through to the end. It is best to read these books in order. This second book won’t make much sense without the first one.

Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with a copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

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

Genre: Fantasy Romance
Published: December 2, 2025
Sensuality Rating: Warm
Series: Book 2 of Book of Arden
Other books in the series: Kingdom of Tomorrow