Penny Dreadful meets The Gilded Wolves in this captivating sequel to young adult historical fantasy The Bones of Ruin that follows immortal Iris as she desperately tries to thwart her destructive destiny.
Iris Marlow can’t die. For years, she was tormented by her missing memories and desperate to learn her real identity. So when the mysterious Adam Temple offered to reveal the truth of who she was in exchange for her joining his team in the Tournament of Freaks, a gruesome magical competition, it was an offer she couldn’t refuse. But the truth would have been better left buried.
Because Adam is a member of the Enlightenment Committee, an elite secret society built upon one fundamental idea: that the apocalypse known as Hiva had destroyed the world before and would do it again, and soon. But what the Committee—and Iris—never guessed is that Hiva is not an event. Hiva is a person—Iris.
Now, no matter how hard Iris fights for a normal life, the newly awakened power inside her keeps drawing her toward the path of global annihilation. Adam, perversely obsessed with Iris, will stop at nothing to force her to unlock her true potential, while a terrifying newcomer with ties to Hiva’s past is on the hunt for Iris.
All Iris wants is the freedom to choose her own future, but the cost might be everything Iris holds dear—including the world itself.
The first book in this series featured a deadly competition (think Hunger Games). In this sequel Iris struggles to deal with her true identity. She’s Hiva, an immortal who destroyed the world before and is meant to do it again.
I struggled to keep up with such a large cast of characters in the first book, but since not all of them made it out of the tournament the list has been trimmed. As Hiva, Iris doesn’t want to repeat history and destroy the world again. She has the power to kill someone with just a look, but she wants to make good choices and not be a murderer. That’s easier said than done, and her instincts take over in certain situations. She fights her urges, but I didn’t like the direction she was headed.
Adam was full of secrets in the first book, but now that they’re revealed – he’s just a greedy and power hungry guy. He’s still obsessed with Iris and wants her to realize the full potential of her powers. But he’s not the only one trying to find her. Someone else is tracking her, and this person is a game changer.
With plenty of action and deaths, X-Men-like powers, and the fate of the world at stake, The Song of Wrath is tension-filled. The huge cliffhanger ending sets up book three perfectly.
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 
Whoa, a heavy-duty YA thriller! Great review, Teri!
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Heavy duty is right, Priscilla. Iris is under a lot of pressure not to fulfill her intended purpose. Sometimes it’s harder than she expects. Thanks!
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Hi Teri. I enjoyed reading your impressions of this one. Ten years ago I would have been excited about this concept. But The Hunger Games gave me enough of killing teens and kids en masse to last me a lifetime. I admit that I’ve become very limited in how much death and/or violence I can handle. Still, your review was intriguing. Big hugs.
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Seems like I’ve come across more books over the past year with a Hunger Games kind of premise, Teagan. Maybe since it’s been around a decade since it was released (hard to believe!), some authors are returning to a similar formula. Thanks for checking it out, Teagan – hugs!
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Ooo action and x man powers! Sounds fab and great review Teri ❤️
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I do like the X-Men angle, Caro. Several of the characters have different types of powers, and it sure adds to the excitement. Thanks!
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Thanks for sharing, Teri. It sounds like a heavy read with a satisfying ending.
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It’s a dark fantasy for sure, Jan. Looks like a part three is coming, and I’m pretty sure the body count will be even higher.
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Sounds like you enjoyed it, Teri.
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I’m a fan of the dark fantasies for sure, John!
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😁
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I like the premise of this one. Trying to avoid an evil destiny.
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It’s a good one, isn’t it? Destiny or free will.
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immortal characters with X-Men-like powers? I’m definitely in. This sounds action-packed full of twists and turns. Excellent review!
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That’s one of the reasons I read it, Yesha. I’m a sucker for the superhero-type characters.
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An interesting review, Teri.
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Thanks, Robbie! It’s an unusual series.
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