Short Story Sunday - Language of Thorns #5

The Soldier Prince

Droessen is a clocksmith who creates little wonders for his customers. But he wanted more than to be just a tradesman; he wanted to be rich and have a wife. He sets his eyes on a young girl named Clara, who he believes he can make love him as she grows into a young lady. He gives Clara a nutcracker as a gift and it has a strange hold over her as it can speak to her and take her to amazing and unbelievable places.

Though the Nutcracker lives in her dreams and takes her to magical places, showing her fantastical things, it makes her life seem dreary in comparison. With the help of other toys Droessen has made, the Nutcracker learns of a way that he could become real. He begins to want and though Clara refuses his desires, her brother Frederik helps him.

The siblings name him Josef and as he becomes real, he struggles to keep his focus on his new wish: to go outside. When the desire for something is subdued, he begins to turn back into a toy. This new development upsets Droessen as he was using the Nutcracker to learn about Clara, as a spy. When the Nutcracker meets Droessen, the clocksmith uses words to force him back into his toy state. The Nutcracker battles his own mind to remain real and then battles Droessen. With determination and will, everything the Nutcracker says becomes true and he gets to live.

I think this story is one of the most fantastical in the collection. It speaks to themes of growing up, dreaming, escaping the hold that other people have on you, and getting lost in fantasy. It also includes the idea of forcing someone to love you and how that doesn't work, demonstrated by Clara falling in love with the toys, but not with Droessen. Though none of the characters seemed to really learn anything from this, I guess you could say that they all got what they deserved. Especially Droessen. The evil that he (seemingly) used to create his toys eventually returned in the form of karmic retribution. This wasn't my favorite story so far, but I really enjoyed the magical aspect of it and the intricate descriptions that Bardugo used. The details she includes add a little more spark to all of the aspects of the story.

Next story: When Water Sang Fire

Other Stories:

Ayama and the Thorn Wood

The Too-Clever Fox

The Witch of Duva

Little Knife

Review of the entire collection will come after next week's Short Story Sunday. 

The Beacon (The Crystal Coast #3)

There can only be one queen…

Still reeling from the devastation wrought by Susan, Stevie struggles to find a way to retrieve the amulet from the dark witch who now calls herself queen. She develops a plan to amplify her powers, believing it will give her an edge, but the magic is untested and dangerous.

Susan will stop at nothing to complete her rise to power, including eliminating the last of Lucia’s descendants: Stevie and Charlie. She calls for a showdown, with all of the town’s witches present, leaving Stevie no choice but to comply.

Queens who came before her sacrificed their lives to protect the witches, and Stevie is prepared to join their ranks. In this life or death battle, she'll do whatever it takes to save her people.

*May Contain Spoilers*

Chrissy Lessey wraps up her Crystal Coast series with The Beacon in which the final battle between Stevie and Susan takes place. Stevie is the rightful heiress to the station of Queen because of her family's bloodline within the coven, yet Susan is a vengeful and power-hungry witch determined to kill Stevie and rule the coven. And as they say, it all comes down to this. 

Stevie is obviously the better character in terms of relatability and character connection so I think it's safe to say that most (if not all) readers will be rooting for her. She's a caring mother, a loyal friend, and a courageous leader. Though it may be a little risky, Stevie is determined to fight Susan and keep the other witches of Beaufort, NC safe, even if that means she'll die. Over the first two books, readers have seen Stevie suddenly have her magical powers show up, learn how to use them, watch Susan and Vanessa try to get their revenge, and witness the death of her mother. Through all of this, her character has grown so much. She's become a true leader who cares and has the sense of morality a leader needs. I think readers will be really impressed with Stevie's choices in this third book as she does something I would have never thought of in order to give her coven a chance to not only survive but to win the battle against Susan. 

In the second book, readers also saw a shift in personality with Vanessa's character. I'm happy to say that that continues in this third book as well. Vanessa, though terrified of her mother, knows that Susan is making malevolent and evil choices. She's worried for the safety of Charlie, who showed her extreme kindness in the second book. But Vanessa also knows that if she goes against her mother and Susan ends up winning... she'll make Vanessa's life a living hell. However, Vanessa isn't just going to stay out of it. She and Stevie end up making a little deal, a plan B if you will, which is both surprising and smart. 

Like previously mentioned, the plot of The Beacon revolves around the showdown between Stevie and Susan. The book follows the coven members helping Stevie prepare and figuring out how they will fight against Susan, who is all powerful thanks to her stealing of the amulet in the previous book. I think readers will be very happy with how this book turns out as it demonstrates a community of people coming together to fight against an evil threat. It's entertaining, easy to read, and engaging. I'd highly recommend the entire series to anyone who enjoys the supernatural genre with an empowered female main character and a little romance. 

Rating: 4/5 Cups

Read the first two books in the series:

     

The Hunted (Crystal Coast #2)

A new queen rises…

When Stevie vanquished her family’s greatest threat, she thought they’d be safe. Unaware of the evil surrounding her, she trains with her coven and prepares to inherit her mother’s role as queen and protector of the amulet.

Chaplain Benjamin Parris, descendant of the notorious reverend behind the Salem Witch Trails, plots to resume his family’s mission and rid the world of witches. He joins forces with Susan Moore, who’s sought revenge against the coven for years, and together, they formulate a plan to destroy Stevie’s family.

Left weakened after the theft of their protective amulet, the coven confronts the unthinkable as a modern day witch hunt unfolds around them. And this time, Stevie might not be able to save the people she loves.

*May Contain Spoilers*

The Hunted by Chrissy Lessey, the second book in The Crystal Coast series, brings the villains back to Beaufort, NC with more power than the coven can handle. As the first book ended with the seeming defeat of Vanessa, this book picks up with her survival and Susan's unrelenting determination to see the coven decimated.

In this book, the main characters who share the narrator position all experience a change. Stevie, the daughter of the Beaufort Coven's Queen, is still trying to navigate her newly exposed powers. Within this installment readers see Stevie trying to keep the secret of being a witch while raising her autistic son, Charlie, whose powers were also revealed in the first book. However, with the new threat of Susan escaping from the mental health institution (though this is unknown to the coven members for most of the book) Stevie must focus on protecting her son while preparing to take a leadership role in the coven. With this new status, Stevie feels uncertainty in herself and in her powers, appealing to the emotional side of readers and building on the connection made in the first book.

Though Susan's character doesn't change much in this book -- she's evil and expressly focused on destroying the coven -- readers do see just what she's capable of when she has her magic back. Readers will undoubtedly dislike, perhaps even hate, her while learning more about how far she'll go to get her revenge.

The biggest character evolution comes with Vanessa Moore. Though she tried to destroy the coven in the first book, her perception of right and wrong is shifting. Vanessa is finally seeing just how evil her mother is. More importantly, Vanessa is learning that her mother does not care about her -- or anyone for that matter -- if they don't help her cause. As a reader, Vanessa's villain status is wearing off and it causes a change in perception. Vanessa becomes a character that could end up being the key to defeating Susan. The way that her character is written shows her changing emotions and viewpoint on the battle between Susan and the coven, making her a more likeable character. I think the little girl who would do anything to gain her mother's approval will soon be history, leaving the coven with a secret weapon and an important ally in the next book.

The plot of this book focuses on Susan's escape from the mental institution, her retrieval of the amulet, and the fear this incites within the coven. The amulet allows Susan to be all powerful, and the Queen of the coven (Patricia) wants to run like her ancestors have done. Yet, unfortunate events leave the coven broken and Stevie focused on fighting back by the end of the book. This leaves readers with the sense that even though the coven were the ones being hunted in this book, the third installment will be a battle to the bitter end.

Rating: 3.5/5 Cups

Dark Designs

Twins Ivy and Violet Grant are opposites. Ivy, a hot-tempered redhead, couldn’t wait to get off the farm and see the world. Violet, a quiet brunette, was content to stay home and help their grandmother with the family business. The one thing they have in common is their magic.

Charlie Logan’s sinister obsession with Ivy Grant has ruled his life. When he discovers a book of dark magic during a burglary, he decides to return to Oak Hill and use his newfound power to gain control over Ivy.

Ivy and Violet, with help from their grandmother, need to practice their magic to overcome the evil seeping into their lives. A battle is coming, and Ivy’s life is not the only one at stake.

*May Contain Spoilers*

Dark Designs by Stefanie Spangler sets two sisters against a demented man who tries to use dark magic to satisfy his sick obsession. Pitting good against evil, this novel offers a family of witches a chance to save one of their own, assisted by a few open-minded members of the small town police force. 

Violet and Ivy are the main characters of this book -- twin sisters who seem more different than alike. Violet has always been an outdoorsy, homey, girl who enjoys life on her grandparent's farm. Ivy, however, isn't really sure where she fits in. After her recent college graduation, she's feeling a little lost, feeling outside of both city and farm life. The main connection that readers will have with these girls rests on the inappropriate incident Ivy had as a young girl. Though nothing happened, the character of Charlie Logan is represented as both demented and perverted. If it hadn't been for Ivy's grandfather, who knows what Charlie would have done to Ivy. With this emotional connection, the book flashes forward to the girls as young adults and recent college grads. However, Charlie has never forgotten Ivy or his feelings for her, and after stumbling upon a book of dark magic -- he now has the means to force her to be his. This set-up aligns the reader with Ivy from the beginning giving them a reason to root for not only her success, but her survival. 

I think the main connection that readers will have with Violet is her blossoming relationship with a police officer, Kevin. This relationship dynamic adds another layer to the story line as Violet and Kevin move toward being a couple. Their relationship also adds a little thrill and nervous energy to the plot as Violet is uncertain how Kevin will react when he finds out that she's a witch. With these details surrounding the two characters, readers will be intrigued and interested in how their relationship plays out after Charlie returns, searching for Ivy. 

The plot of the book focuses on Charlie's devious plans for Ivy. Though they are never revealed, they are undoubtedly sinister and it's up to Ivy, Violet, and their grandmother to stop him. Especially when Charlie accidentally (or intentionally) calls some sort of demon to live in his body and finish his plans. Though there are several dynamics and mysteries brought up in the book, the plot moves pretty quickly. However, not all the mysteries are solved, leading me to believe that there could be a sequel soon to follow. The book overall is very enjoyable with a few close calls and a pretty climactic ending, though the build-up was a little more than necessary compared to the short battle at the end. Regardless, I do think readers will enjoy this paranormal fantasy, even though I felt like the magic of the main characters is a bit downplayed. Still, I am very interested in the mystery surrounding the twins' parents and would be excited to read more about that if there is a sequel. 

Rating: 3.5/5 Cups

The Coven

The future queen awakens…

Newly single mother Stevie Lewis divides her time between raising Charlie, running a store with her best friend, and avoiding the meetings of her mother’s Beaufort Historic Society. Although her life has its challenges, it’s altogether average. Just the way she likes it.

When Vanessa, a ruthless dark witch, launches an attack against young Charlie, Stevie’s simple life derails, and her long-dormant powers awaken. A 300-year-old secret is exposed, revealing her destiny to one day rule the clandestine community of witches who hide in plain sight.

Now she must master her own magical powers before it’s too late. Because Vanessa’s on the warpath, and only Stevie can stop her.

*May Contain Spoilers*

After years of being locked up in a mental institution, without magic, Susan finally sees a path forward. With the help of her daughter Vanessa, she can get her powers back and her revenge as she takes on The Coven, by Chrissy Lessey. 

Stevie is about to realize very soon that she is a witch, in a family with a very long line of witches. She's also about to learn that with the discovery of Blackbeard's long lost treasure, she and her son are in danger. Stevie is the main character of this novel as well as a single mom (recently divorced) and the daughter of Beaufort, North Carolina's coven Queen. Stevie is an incredibly caring person who enjoys the peaceful nature of photography and would do anything for her son. Readers will connect with Stevie through her friendly personality and the love she has for her son, who was recently diagnosed as autistic. With the plot moving forward at a pretty quick pace, readers will continue to feel a connection with Stevie as her father suffers a physical ailment and Vanessa reappears to help her mother get revenge. 

The story begins with Vanessa's return to Beaufort, NC at the beck and call of her mother. More of Blackbeard's treasure has been discovered and Susan thinks that includes a very powerful necklace - a necklace that could break the binding the coven put on her magic. Vanessa is tasked with doing whatever it takes to get the necklace, including murder. With this new threat, Dylan, a love interest for Stevie, also returns to Beaufort from London. In a matter of days, Stevie learns that she has magical powers and is inducted into the Historic Society and the Coven. But she has to learn how to harness her energy and control it if she plans on taking down Vanessa and protecting her son. Because the stakes are so high right off the bat, this book feels fast paced. It's really enjoyable because not only is it thrilling, but there are also multiple relationship dynamics that play off of each other, lending the book humor, love, and annoyance. After I started this, it didn't take me long to finish. It's easy to read and I didn't want to put it down. I would definitely recommend this book to lovers of fantasy and romance and I hope I get the chance to read the next book in the series. 

Rating: 4/5 Cups

Teaser Tuesday (279)

Welcome to Teaser Tuesday, the weekly Meme that wants you to add books to your TBR, or just share what you are currently reading. It is very easy to play along:
• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers! Everyone loves Teaser Tuesday.




The Coven (Kindle 67%)
    - Chrissy Lessey

But then again, anything was possible at this point. She now lived in a world where even the laws of physics had been reduced to mere suggestions. 

Magic, witches, and secrets.

What's Next, Wednesday (69)

•  To play along share a book you've been looking forward to reading, whether it's new or has been on your reading list for a while.

I'm looking forward to...

The Coven by Chrissy Lessey. This book promises to be full of supernatural spice as a woman realizes, the hard way, that her daughter has inherited the right to rule a coven. Needless to say, one witch, in particular, isn't happy with this occurrence and is on the offense. Really excited to get to this one. 

The Ocean at the End of the Lane

A middle-aged man returns to his childhood home to attend a funeral. Although the house he lived in is long gone, he is drawn to the farm at the end of the road, where, when he was seven, he encountered a most remarkable girl, Lettie Hempstock, and her mother and grandmother. He hasn't thought of Lettie in decades, and yet as he sits by the pond (a pond that she'd claimed was an ocean) behind the ramshackle old farmhouse, the unremembered past comes flooding back. And it is a past too strange, too frightening, too dangerous to have happened to anyone, let alone a small boy.

*May Contain Spoilers*

Neil Gaiman takes readers into the memory of a man who experienced magical trauma in his childhood with his novel, The Ocean at the End of the Lane. A man returns to his childhood town, while dealing with a new trauma, to reminisce about something he cannot remember. 

The Ocean at the End of the Lane is completely absorbent. Just as I prepared to write this review I realized I had no idea what the main character's name was. The mysticism and magic of this novel is so enveloping, I found myself drowning with the others, in an ocean the size of a pond. 

The narrator has just returned to the town where he grew up for a funeral. On the way to his sister's house, he finds himself driving somewhere different: the Hempstock farm. Only there is he allowed to remember that something evil used him as a tunnel to our world and tried to destroy it. The novel is set in a sort of framework. The present day funeral is the outer frame, with memories swirling around inside. As the narrator relives the events (a man's suicide, the escape from the orange-skied place, and the varmints) the readers are taken on a journey to a place where it seems only children can visit. 

The narrator is a likeable little boy with a fruitful imagination and a love of reading. His loneliness and trouble making friends will charm the readers, as they sympathetically connect with him. When he accidentally brings a force of evil into the world, readers will understand his guilt as well as his focus to help Lettie Hempstock fix it. 

Lettie is a character of wonder, as are her mother, Ginnie, and grandmother, Old Mrs. Hempstock. They live at the end of the boy's lane and Lettie becomes the boy's only friend. The blossoming of a new friendship is heartwarming, but there's something different about Lettie that readers will notice. She's wise beyond her age and has more experience than eleven years could truly offer. Readers will enjoy Lettie's vivaciousness, creativity, bravery, and loyalty in the face of adversity. 

The magic this book offers is astounding and warm and sharp and dangerous. My favorite part of the book is the framework. At the end, readers learn that this isn't the first time that the boy has returned to the pond to remember what happened. It seems he returns during times of turmoil, like this funeral, because the Hempstock farm has always meant safety for him. 

The Ocean at the End of the Lane is a story that wisps like smoke. As soon as you think you have a hold on it, it shifts with the wind. Reminiscent of both a fairy tale and a cautionary lesson, this fantasy novel will worm it's way into the hearts of readers. 

Rating: 4.5/5 Cups

Lights (Flicker #3)

Lee Capren’s life is complicated. She’s in love with a boy whose heart she broke to protect him, her home is wrecked—and she and her friends have just been arrested for practicing magic illegally.

With the evidence stacked against them, they’re given a choice: serve the Seattle Guild as apprentices, or serve time in prison. The decision seems simple, but the consequences will be greater than anyone can imagine.

Navigating Seattle’s magical scene is tough enough, even before the Summer King requests Lee as his emissary to the Winter Court—a request she can’t refuse. Suddenly, she’s entangled in a conflict brewing between two ancient powers. But there’s more to this faerie feud than meets the eye—and signs point to a shadow from Filo’s past.

The coming storm will destroy all that Lee holds dear, unless she sacrifices everything to stop it.

*May Contain Spoilers*

The trilogy of Flicker, by Kaye Thornbrugh, ends with Lights. It has been a journey full of love and hate, joy and pain, friends and family. This final installment begins with Lee, Jason, Alice, and Filo being tried by the Seattle Guild. After what happened in the second book, with the cursed island, they all stand trial to determine their fate after being labeled as illegally practicing magicians. Lucky for them, for us, and for the world, they're taken on as apprentices. 

Flicker was always Filo's home and now that it's gone, Filo has a lot to learn about how the world really works. He grows so much in this novel, for the better, that readers who have been with him since the beginning will feel overjoyed at his progress. Filo was a tangle of fear, apprehension, and servitude. With the help of his friends and some experience with the world outside of his shop, Filo learns that it's okay to trust and it's okay to love. This trilogy has revolved around Filo even though Lee was the spark setting everything in motion from the beginning. 

Lee has also grown so much over the last three novels. She surprised me with her fierce loyalty and sincere courage in this last book. As they say, it all comes down to this, and Lee fought harder than ever before to save her friends. It's in this book that Lee realizes that she has a family, even if it isn't the one she was born into. This has been something Lee struggled with consistently and readers will be happy to witness her revelation. The love story between Lee and Nasser also continues in this installment, adding a sweet side plot that evokes feelings of understanding and acceptance.

My favorite part in this novel was the reveal of Filo's sister. Filo was stolen by Neman and Morgan as a young child and barely remembers his life before them. But fates works in funny ways for Filo, and he is reunited with Dierdre. Though it's a rocky relationship lacking trust, readers will revel in this part of the storyline. 

The plot of Lights is based strongly on the Fearie Courts. After being accepted as apprentices at the Seattle Guild, a war begins brewing between the Summer Court and the Winter Court. Lee and Filo are requested as emissaries due to Lee's past with Umbriel, the Summer King. They're sent to negotiate a peace treaty, but things are not as they first appear. The Kings are not acting like themselves and refuse to listen to reason while the Guild Council refuses to listen to Lee and Filo. With the human world on the line, Lee, Filo, Jason, Alice, and Nasser must figure out what is really going on and stop it before the fight between the Courts bleeds over into their world with destruction and chaos. 

From the moment I first finished Flicker, I've been enthralled with the story of Lee, Filo, Nasser, Jason, and Alice. It's been a wonderful journey and I highly recommend this series to anyone who enjoys fantasy, fearies, and magic. 

Rating: 4.5/5Cups

Start from the beginning:

     

Books 1 and 2 of the Flicker Series

Absalom's Daughters

Self-educated and brown-skinned, Cassie works full time in her grandmother’s laundry in rural Mississippi. Illiterate and white, Judith falls for “colored music” and dreams of life as a big city radio star. These teenaged girls are half-sisters. And when they catch wind of their wayward father’s inheritance coming down in Virginia, they hitch their hopes to a road trip together to claim what’s rightly theirs.

In an old junk car, with a frying pan, a ham, and a few dollars hidden in a shoe, they set off through the American Deep South of the 1950s, a bewitchingly beautiful landscape as well as one bedeviled by racial strife and violence. Suzanne Feldman's Absalom’s Daughters combines the buddy movie, the coming-of-age tale, and a dash of magical realism to enthrall and move us with an unforgettable, illuminating novel.

*May Contain Spoilers*

Absalom's Daughters is the debut novel of Suzanne Feldman, containing beautiful prose that is laced with mysticism. Two girls, Cassie and Judith, discover they're half-sisters and are pushed into finding their father in order to claim an inheritance after a death in the family. They escape rural Mississippi in a junked, and stolen, car, traveling to Virginia where their father resides. With equal doses of help and prejudice, Cassie and Judith have the adventure of a lifetime, learning about the importance of the past and how it lives in the present. 

Cassie, with cinnamon colored skin, has grown up working with her mother and grandmother in the laundry business on Negro Street. She's heard the rumors that her father is a white man and knows that Judith is her sister. At first, the two girls don't exactly get along but there's something that ties them together. After she learns of the inheritance, Cassie's mother tells her to go, escape Mississippi and find something better. Cassie is an open-minded character who grows into her past as she travels. She discovers her history and learns to accept it. She's a brave girl, setting off for Virginia with only a few dollars. Cassie is cautious but friendly, with an air of naivety and hope. Though she's uncertain about what an inheritance really means to her, Cassie takes the chance that the road trip will lead her somewhere better. 

Though Cassie is the main focus of the novel, Judith plays an important role. Judith is the force that moves Cassie forward. Even though she's constantly making up stories and really only dreams of becoming a famous singer, she provides a way for Cassie to grow. Judith isn't the most likeable character at first, but she becomes more understandable as the novel progresses. Struggling with the idea that her father abandoned her and experiencing a miscarriage along the way, Judith is revealed as a strong character who doesn't let anything stop her from dreaming. 

My favorite thing about this book is the dialect. Feldman uses this tool to really bring the characters to life. I always love when an author represents a culture through speech, especially when they're successful. It pulls readers deeper into the story, immersing them in the time period and making the story more realistic. 

In the afterword, Feldman thanks William Faulkner as man of inspiration, the title of this book echoing Absalom! Absalom! The name Absalom comes from a biblical story in which Absalom, son of David, rebelled against his father and went to war. In the war he was killed by one of his father's generals. Absalom was said to have a daughter in the bible, though he did not have two. However, this novel echoes the themes of rising up against familial wishes and becoming something more. Another common theme is that the past is part of the present and Feldman demonstrates that belief through the use of mysticism and myth. She allows her characters to grow into the past as they learn to understand it, ultimately giving Cassie a new life, a life she can be proud of. 

Rating: 5/5 Cups

(Note: The information about Faulkner's Absalom! Absalom! and the biblical stories are available on Wikipedia at the following pages: Absalom! Absalom! and Absalom.)

Moonlight War - Act 1 (The Realmers #2)

After the catastrophic events of book 1, Evan and Brooke are trying to come to terms with recent revelations. However, it isn’t long before their duties as Venators throw them back into action.

Whilst Evan faces a deathly trial to advance further in his training, Brooke embarks on her very first mission, which sees her embroiled in a war between the vampires and werewolves of London. If the werewolves and shifters baying for her blood wasn’t enough, Brooke also has to face a starkly changed Arantay.

Meanwhile the Dark-Venator forces are rising, whilst Evan and his friends contend with the mysterious disappearances of several Venators. Could they have been kidnapped? Evan also faces backlash from many of his fellow trainees, who hate or fear him. Evan thinks their reactions are bad now, but it would be nothing if they discovered his secret. His peers may even try to kill him if they learned the truth.

Evan knows he has to pass his trial to gain his first mission as a Venator, but he may never make it that far if his hidden powers aren’t controlled. Across the realms, a terribly malignant force has learned of Evan and Brooke, and plans to strike.

*May Contain Spoilers*

William Collins delivers an action packed novel in Moonlight War - Act 1, the sequel to A Darker Shade of Sorcery. The attack on Veneseron has just ended and the chaos is over, but the war has just begun. This book picks up exactly where the first left off, allowing readers to refresh their minds and re-align themselves with the characters. 

Brooke and Evan are still the main characters, but more of the supporting cast is included and even focused on in this sequel. After Brooke and Evan learned they were half-demon, they were sent back to their studies, filled with worry, guilt, and fear. Readers can understand, and witness, that Evan and Brooke are terrified they'll hurt someone and that their friends will turn against them if they know the truth. The backlash carries throughout Veneseron, as fellow students blame Evan for the attack. 

Whereas the first book was focused on introducing the world of Veneseron and the training for demon hunting, this book is nearly all action. From trials to first mission, missing venators and dark-realmers, Moonlight War - Act 1 sets up many combustible situations. 

Readers will build on their relationship with Evan as he attempts to become a Mid-Realmer and handle the dirty looks and mean spirited whispers of his fellow students. The fears of rejection and uncontrollable powers that Evan has is understandable and readers will undoubtedly support him. Readers watched as Evan found his place in this new world and they'll push for him to keep it. 

The relationship readers have with Brooke will also flourish, as she prepares for her first mission as a Mid-Realmer. Just before the assignment comes in, Brooke and Arantay share a moment of raw emotion. Brooke's feelings of rejection cloud her sunny disposition. It doesn't get easier as her mission partner is revealed as Arantay. They're assigned to locate an insane werewolf and try to heal him before he kills anyone else. If they can't succeed, then they'll be forced to kill him, an act that will surely ignite a war between the wolves and the Venators. 

On top of the action with Brooke and Evan, there are Venators disappearing and more demon-spawn being discovered. There's also another dread lord/disciple trying to locate Evan and Brooke, which brings a certain evil someone from Brooke's past into the present. The one downside of this book is it's the first act. It creates and shares a lot of problem situations, but it doesn't solve any of them. It's a book that promises entertaining and exciting conclusions with an often disliked phrase, 'To Be Continued.'  

Rating: 3/5 Cups

Read the review of Book 1 - A Darker Shade of Sorcery