This 2nd book in The Secrets of the Faerie Crown is a great follow up to the first book which left us with a big cliffhanger. I enjoyed the continued character developments, a slightly new adventure, another POV, and more development of the side characters. And yes, another cliffhanger at the end of this one, so I am now eagerly awaiting book 3. Definitely would recommend from lovers of dark fantasy romance.

I AM NOT WELL!!

i loved this even more than book one. i didn’t think that was even possible but here we are.

veyka and arran’s relationship grew so much in this book and i loved it. their acceptance of each other through all of their faults was beautiful and raw and real. my heart is full watching them go from simple lust to falling in love. it felt authentic and seeing their internal battles was refreshing because you don’t typically get that from both perspectives.

also, miss emberly, how DARE YOU??!! this author definitely knows how to keep you on the edge of your seat. there wasn’t a single dull moment in this entire book and i was literally on the edge of my seat for the last like 50% of this.

the twists and turns this took made me question everything i thought i knew about these characters and this world. i didn’t predict anything and she is so good at giving you whiplash while reading (in the best way).

grab the tissues and grab this book. you’ll thank me later.

This book was amazing! The romance was perfectly balanced and the writing was beautiful. I fell in love with the main character’s and I finished it in a day.

Another great book. I am newly obsessed with this series. The new plot and layers added to this book somehow made me love this book even more than the previous one - which I didn't think was possible.

We really get to see both Veyka and Arran grow as well as their relationship deepen and change. It was nice to see their relationship solidify as the external challenges ramp up. There is a larger supporting cast and I feel like we have seen them all grow as well. I loved the addition of Parys' POV for a handful of chapters - I loved his character in the first book and seeing more of him and Gwen really pulled me in. There are layers and layers of plot and while I did find the trip portion to drag a bit, everything still moved on at a quick pace that I again read this book in under 24 hours.

While both this book and the previous one have darker themes (please check trigger warnings!), and there isn't any HEAs guaranteed, I found this book to be a quick read and I was generally left with a hopeful feeling - unlike many high fantasy books where I feel like I immediately need a pallet cleanser of the happiest fluff to restore my faith in the world.

I desperately need more in this series. Please.

Throne of Air and Darkness by Emberly Ash.
Secrets of the Faerie Crown, Book 2.
Down, down, down. 
I am being pulled away, pulled apart, ripped at the very seams of my being. 
But a voice in the darkness, a name in the bitter cold air, pulls me back... 
She was never meant to be queen. But Veyka Pendragon sits the throne nonetheless, High Queen of Annwyn, Protector of the faerie realm. And at her side? The male who was once her enemy, then her ally, and now, something else entirely.
The secret she tried so hard to protect was a lie. So was the brother she loved so dearly. She can hardly trust the reality she sees with her own two eyes, let alone the feelings burning in her chest—feelings that she swore she’d never feel again.
Arran Earthborn has spent three hundred years killing his way across battlefields to find his place beside the female he loves. He will do anything to keep her safe… even if it means burning Annwyn to the ground in a quest for the truth.
But the answers they seek lurk beyond… in a land of pain and desperation. The human realm.
I really enjoyed this book. Made a nice change. Great story. I do hope there is more to come. 5*.

I devoured Throne of Air and Darkness in two days, maybe. This was such a good sequel to the first book and the series, Secrets of the Faerie Crown, I cannot recommend it enough.

This is a NA series, and you should read all the trigger warnings prior to getting into the series. But, at the same time, the series tackles trauma and pain and deals with them with brutal honesty. You can see the characters dealing with it, growing, emerging and getting stronger as they go, with all their ups and downs.

The book, like the first one, is quite steamy, but it doesn't take away from the story and its development. Veyka, the FMC, really grows as a character in this sequel, accepting herself and her powers. Arran, the MMC, remains a truly morally grey character, but shows much more of his vulnerability. The side characters are great, and I like when we get to know and see more of them, not as props but as real parts of the story.

I'm so happy I was gifted this ARC and I can consider myself a true fan of Emberly Ash and her work.

Throne of Air and Darkness,
(Secrets of the Faerie Crown) is Book 2 by Emberly Ash. It picks up right where book one ended. I was delighted and emotional by this because the writing was good.
Veyka and Arran brought me adventure and they were intense for their love for each other. They leave the castle to find answers and so much more. I recommend this one. High 4 ⭐️

Thanks Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op via NetGalley.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Emberly Ash for the opportunity to review!

Arthurian legend
On a quest
Fae
Spice
Healing trauma
Curvy FMC
He falls first
Political intrigue
Found family

There’s something oddly beautiful about witnessing a couple love and choose each other, ugliness and all.

Throne immediately picks up from where Book 1 left us. My heart broke for Veyka, because I understood her reluctance to accept things beyond her control. I loved Arran even more in this book as he remained steadfast for Veyka and helped build her up. Seeing them heal each other and themselves together is everything.

Even as Veyka is trying to figure out what’s between her and Arran, we still get lots of spicy scenes between them.

Getting some chapters from Parys’ POV was awesome. His snarky view of the world was delivered perfectly. I also appreciated getting to know some of the other side characters as we follow their quest beyond Annwyn.

If you thought the cliffhanger at the end of Book 1 was a doozy, brace yourself for this one.

I LOVED THIS BOOK, I loved Veyka and Arran in the story, and I am so glad we got more of Gwen and Parys. This story is so well written and thought out. The tension, foreshadowing, and the intricate plot is great. This series has my heart, thank you for the eARC!

I’m disappointed that I did not love this book as much as the first. Veyka just annoyed me a lot this time around. I didn’t agree with a lot of the decisions she made. She acted so stubborn and childish. The romance wasn’t even enough to save the book for me. I did not like how Veyka treated Arran for the majority of the book.

The plot continues to be the weakest aspect of the series for me. It was just a lot of travelling between different places and I found myself bored. There were also some events at the end that felt very anticlimactic. The author added a lot of twists and turns that are meant to surprise me, but it came off as very chaotic and messy. I also hated how some things got brushed over too quickly (ahem Parys).

Thank you to NetGalley for sending me an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Fear can make people act in various, dissonant ways, where they hurt those who love the most, push away what may be their salvation, and self-flagellate for things that were out of their control. The High Queen of Annwyn, Veyka Pendragon, is absolutely terrified.

She has been hurled from realm to realm, with no power to stop it. She has learned of the mating bond between her and Arran, now her co-ruler and High King. She is in a situation where her decisions may destroy her kingdom and everyone in it.

Veyka's actions are hurtful, rash, filled with love, due to continuing trauma, all of the above. But they make sense. Emberly Ash has put in the background work to make us understand her heroine, who learns of more and more unexpected betrayals, surprises, and expectations as the book goes along. Her relationship with Arran is an entire year of therapy in itself.

This is a visceral read, the anger and grief as palpable as the need and lust (and more) that Veyka and Arran feel for each other. The spicy scenes are off the chart, and I can imagine no one but Arran being both worthy and deserving of his queen.

I enjoyed the first book, Crown of Earth and Sky, a lot. But I absolutely loved Throne of Air and Darkness, and I cannot wait for the next book, Court of Vines and Vipers.