Second books in a trilogy are usually difficult, the bridging point between the set-up and the finale, and I feel this one got.a bit bogged down by being the middle point. I'm also not sure the past/present storylines worked, and I don't enjoy fantasy that includes sexual assault simply because it's apparently expected in a fantasy series.

This was not the sequel I had hoped for, all of the elements I didn't enjoy in 'The Queen of the Tearling' were front and centre in this while all the elements I did enjoy were left out in the cold.

The main character seemed to undergo a radical personality change while at the same time undergoing a similar physical change in the opposite direction and she grew to be someone I disliked and whose actions I disagreed with. It felt like somewhere between the end of the previous book and the beginning of this book Kelsea had forgotten everything she's ever learned and reverted back to a toddler with her temper tantrums.

There were so many problems in this that could have been solved if characters just talked to each other. It was super frustrating to be told about all the blossoming trust forming between parties and seeing the exact opposite play out.

I did really enjoy the reveal of the Red Queen and other significant character's backstories and our deeper look into the ruling family's history and their petty but amusing squabbles, I just wish the focus had remained there and not split off in this new direction.

I personally don't like when an author mixes medieval fantasy with a near-future element, a better example of this is Mark Lawrence's 'Broken Empire' trilogy whose ending I didn't enjoy for the same reasons.

Also while I'm all for owning your own body and sex positivity, I was not thrilled by Kelsea's seeming need to throw herself at every cute guy who shows the smallest inkling of liking her and convincing herself its love in some weird justification of it. In the same vein this has a lot of casual but graphic rape, sexual assault and domestic violence for a book aimed at teens... Like almost an entire perspective. It was not a fun time and should be avoided if you are sensitive to that kind of stuff.

I was considering reading the last book but I looked at reviews to see if the story continues on a similar heading which unfortunately it does, so it looks like I'll be leaving the series here. I will investigate Johansen's next work to see if that is more to my taste.

Wow. I loved The Queen of the Tearling but this went up several levels then dropped me down from a great height.

The world building is brilliant - and the interspersed historical aspects of where that world began, featuring Lily, a character I loved and who went through all the horrors - such a brilliant addition that gave the reader such wonderfully immersive background.

Kelsea is changing, some for the good, some for the bad, preparing for an invasion she knows is coming and having zero options. Mace is back as awesome as ever, there are battles and magic and death and life and all the things you want from a good fantasy novel, but there are so many different elements I don't think I could explain them all if I tried - and especially not how they all come together in a mad rush of adrenalin at the end.

There was a long gap in reading for me between book 1 and book 2 but never EVER have I been so glad that book 3 is already sat beside me - the very next spot that opens up on my reading list belongs to The Fate of the Tearling. Watch this space!

Not for me, not my genre of choice so didn't read this in the end