As Eero fights to reclaim his throne, it pushes the rebellion forward leaving war looming on the horizon. Aurelie and Eero uncover the darkest shadows of their realm and it threatens the fabric of their bond. A malevolent force emerges from the depths of the fae realm, leaving Aurelie to grapple with the consequences of her magic. As the rebellion escalates and alliances shift, Aurelie and Eero have no choice but to face their deepest fears and desires.

As the second book in this series, these must be read in order. A SWORD OF GILDED EMBERS consists of further expansion on the world building, historical context, and to a certain extent the magic system. I liked this added context and explanation in comparison to book one, but still feel as though there are questions I'd like to have answered for a more complete understanding, particularly with respect to the Courts, and more specifically the Winter Court. I'd also appreciate more discussions of the magic system as I don't really feel like it has been fully fleshed out yet.

I liked that this novel still maintains a dual POV, alternating between Aurelie and Eero's perspectives. I enjoyed the character development of Aurelie and Eero over the course of this story. Aurelie has experienced a lot of trauma (in book one) and is learning to work through it over the course of this novel. I enjoyed that she also spends time learning about herself and her capabilities with her newfound magic. The emotional connection that continues to develop between Aurelie and Eero is well done, and their physical chemistry is becoming more prevalent as well. The throne room scene was excellent.

I really enjoyed all the action that occurs here, making this story fast-paced and intriguing. I loved all the battles and was always anxious as to what the outcome would be! I am excited to see what book 3 will bring!

Many thanks to the author for a digital ARC of this book.