Rating: 10/10
Synposis
Unwanted betrothals, assassination attempts, and a battle for the crown converge in Danielle L. Jensen’s Dark Skies, the follow-up to Dark Shores, set in the universe of the YA fantasy series that Sarah J. Maas called “everything I look for in a fantasy novel.”
A RUNAWAY WITH A HIDDEN PAST
Lydia is a scholar, but books are her downfall when she meddles in the plots of the most powerful man in the Celendor Empire. Her life in danger, she flees west to the far side of the Endless Seas and finds herself entangled in a foreign war where her burgeoning powers are sought by both sides.
A COMMANDER IN DISGRACE
Killian is Marked by the God of War, but his gifts fail him when the realm under the dominion of the Corrupter invades Mudamora. Disgraced, he swears his sword to the kingdom’s only hope: the crown princess. But the choice sees him caught up in a web of political intrigue that will put his oath – and his heart – to the test.
A KINGDOM UNDER SIEGE
With Mudamora falling beneath the armies of the Corrupter, Lydia and Killian strike a bargain to save those they love most—but it is a bargain with unintended and disastrous consequences. Truths are revealed, birthrights claimed, and loyalties questioned—all while a menace deadlier and more far-reaching than they realize sweeps across the world.
Review:
I was provided an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not influence my thoughts in any way or shape or form.
This book reminded me of Avatar the Last Airbender and the Dragon Prince wrapped into this epic conflict that is literally going to take this world by storm. Be that Celendria or any other Kingdom out there. The Seventh God corrupts everything he touches. The blight are a plague, and this novel is so frustrating for Lydia I wished the poor girl would get a better life. And I think she will in book 3. I also loved Lydia’s father, and hated Lydia’s nephew. You will also love Killian because he’s an man with honour. You will experience his story in your own personal experience.
I have been waiting for the sequel for a long time and it does not disappoint. It’s like Lord of the Rings the Two Towers. And so much political scheming! There is so much involved that your mind will get mind-boggled in this. Lydia is taken to the Kingdom of Mudamoria by the Xenither, and from there she learns about the conflict, the scheming nobles of Mudamoria, and how she navigates through this entire web. It’s like a never-ending web. And Lucius Cassius, our favorite villian makes a fab return. I guess he’s also playing hands with Rufina and the King of Mudamoria’s Daughter, Malahi.
I really wished there was a map, as I want to see this large world. I also wanted to see more of Gamdesh, which we saw of Sonia, but not enough. I would have wanted to seen more individual descriptions of the Sultanate of Gamdesh’s troops. I was also so glad to see Bait saving Lydia, and thus telling the stories of how Lucius is using Legate Marcus for his own end. We didn’t get to see much of Terianna and Marcus in this novel, but this is a big world. What Danielle is creating is akin to There will come a Darkness by Katy Rose Pool. It’s a world of ancient fantasy. It’s going to be big. I think there are more novels coming.
You will like this novel because of Killian, and I ship Killian and Lydia together. They both are affected by the politics of their nations, and both come together because of that. Now we really have to see who is playing the real game here. Rufina? The corrupted? The goddess? The Seventh? And I’d love to see Celendria’s Emperor take the center stage. I get the feeling that Danielle wants to explore more of the world, and I do too! I want to see Phalanxes of the Fantasy Greek City States, and I’d love to see the chariots of fantasy Egypt in the next sequels or so.
There’s so much plot involved I’ll leave it to you guys to figure it out. But from me, I loved book 1. I love book 2, and I’m going to give this a solid 10/10 and I cannot wait to read book 3 and 4.
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