Finished at 2am this morning because I could not put this second installment of the Legendborn Cycle down. Somehow, better than the first with well-timed comedic moments, tender vignettes, and a whole host of action, twists, and turns. The political intrigue/court politics dynamics at play are well executed throughout, and the romance has the familiar "inevitability" feeling

Spoiler

though I do hope we get some polyamory rep going so that everyone is happy

with a heady amount of yearning, mixed with honorable chivalry.

Allies are forged, lines drawn, and nothing is quite as it seems as Deonn deftly expands and builds on the world she's layered atop our own, with no punches pulled. Similar content warnings apply as from the first one.