They are each other’s fiercest love, greatest danger, and only hope.
Séverin and his team members might have successfully thwarted the Fallen House, but victory came at a terrible cost ― one that still haunts all of them. Desperate to make amends, Séverin pursues a dangerous lead to find a long lost artifact rumoured to grant its possessor the power of God.
Their hunt lures them far from Paris, and into icy heart of Russia where crystalline ice animals stalk forgotten mansions, broken goddesses carry deadly secrets, and a string of unsolved murders makes the crew question whether an ancient myth is a myth after all.
As hidden secrets come to the light and the ghosts of the past catch up to them, the crew will discover new dimensions of themselves. But what they find out may lead them down paths they never imagined.
A tale of love and betrayal as the crew risks their lives for one last job.
The first book in this series was at the top of my five star reads last year, which made this sequel one of my most anticipated reads this year. Soooo worth the wait. Reviewing sequels without spoilers is difficult, but I’ll do what I can.
Compared to The Gilded Wolves, this followup is darker, stakes are higher, and tense situations abound. But there’s also the same witty banter and obvious love between these characters who have chosen to be family. Still reeling from a tragic loss, they’re all scattered in different locations at the beginning of this book. Once reunited, their hunt takes them to a beautiful location – the author’s world-building is magical, and the imagery is just stunning. With rotating POVs, each character has their time to shine, and some learn shocking truths about themselves. But that ending! This is the second book I’ve read in a week that ripped my guts out. I’m holding onto one sliver of hope revealed in the epilogue. The next book can’t come soon enough for me.
With an inclusive, charming cast, historical elements, clever puzzles and riddles, and an intricate, complex plot, this is easily a crossover series I’d highly recommend to fantasy/historical fiction fans. This book is scheduled for publication September 22, 2020.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Books and Such 
I love it when a sequel lives up to expectations.
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This one absolutely did – it might even be better than the first.
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I’ll be reading both books (#1 & #2) in about a month or so and I look forward to it! Great review! ❤️
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Reading them back to back will be helpful, Tessa. After so much time between the first and second books, I’d forgotten some things, but the author throws in some reminders. Hope you love them just as much!
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It is interesting how sequels often get darker, Teri. A great review of this book.
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Thanks, Robbie! I both love and hate it when an author ups the stakes. Love it because of the thrill/danger, but hate it because I’m afraid for the characters or I have to wait so long to see what happens, lol.
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Awesome review! I want to read both books of this series. I saw Gilded Wolves on NetGalley before its release but never requested it because that pretty cover should be in physical and on shelf. I forgot about it until recently. Now that second is going to release, I’ll get it.
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Thanks, Yesha! I also got a signed copy of the print book – the author was at a local bookstore, so I totally lucked out on that one. Hoping she tours again in the future so I can get another signed copy.
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That’s great!
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Great review! I can´t wait for this sequel!
(www.evelynreads.com)
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Thanks, Evelyn! It’s sooo worth the wait – but I need the next book immediately. Sadly, that’s not going to happen.
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Oooh–this really caught my attention “historical elements, clever puzzles and riddles, and an intricate, complex plot.” If I would ever make a dent in my TBR, that sounds like my kind of story!
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I could see you getting hooked on this series, Mae. It’s easily a crossover, and the world-building is magnificent.
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You make me want to read these!!! I love her writing so much
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I think you’d love these books, Sophie – try to squeeze them into your TBR.
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An ending that ripped your guts out eh? My kind of book! I think I’m going to have to add this and the first to my exploding TBR pile, thanks Teri!!
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Remember when I said sometimes I might peek ahead in a book? So, I kind of did with this one. Told myself it was only to prepare myself – but it was still fantastic and gut-wrenching.
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Bad Teri! Haha, sometimes you need to fortify yourself 🙂
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