** spoiler alert ** Well, the first book was definitely better. I had almost all the time the feeling that the plot didn't exist anymore. Then, about the relationship between Adrian and Isolde, the amount of miscommunication was way too lot. There were either fucking or fighting, which I don't think is the trope for me. The betrayal of Sorin broke my heart though. Anyway, a good 3 Stars, I'm still going to read the third book when it comes out. My favorite quote is: "Strange that men claim we are so weak when they are so afraid" - Isolde p.272

expected more:/

I wanted to love this book as much as I did King of battle and blood but it just felt lacking in so many elements. This book just didn't feel like the first and there wasn't the same tension between Adrian and Isolde like before. I did like some of this book, especially the plot and the characters we got to see more of. There were secrets and betrayals and an interesting enough plot that I actually enjoyed reading this book. I loved Adrian and Isolde so I will probably read the third book when it comes out

2.5 ⭐️ // Just not as strong as the first book and had way too much going on. I don't think I'll finish the series.

** spoiler alert ** I am DEVASTATED! How could you do that to Sorin?! 😭😭😭 But also this book exceeded my expectations and I devoured this in a day. I am all for the spice. Ugh. Plus the plot was hellla interesting! I am still reeling. I will probably write a better review tomorrow 😂

02/15/23 🫣 idk if it was just me but I did not like the direction the story went. Was confused asf at times. I’ll still read the next one but I might reread this one later this year to see if it was just a slump 🙃

The only reason this book gets a star at all is because there was smut in it. But wow holy shit this was bad. You’re racing along at breakneck speed plot-wise while still managing to have almost nothing happen for most of the book, and the transitions between scenes could break your neck with how not subtle they smack you in the face. Most of this book is horrid repetition: Isolde and Adrian fight, she storms off, he apologizes (poorly), they have very two-note sex, some danger befalls them that they get out of very quickly, they don’t bother to investigate the trouble or plan for the problems that plague them, rinse and repeat for 90% of this book. There are so many things wrong with this story. Stilted dialogue, barely developed world and magic system, one-note romance - this was a huge second book in a series flop and I’m done with Scarlett St. Clair as an author.

I wanted to love this book, I really did. King of battle and blood was one of my favorite books that i read last year so I had high hopes for this second edition.

First the good parts : I really enjoyed the plot and world building in this series. In this book we got to learn more about all of the characters and see some of their histories which made for some pretty devastating moments. This book felt more layered and detailed than King of battle and blood and I truly liked that. Isolde was amazing as always but I feel there isn't the tension between her and Adrian like there was in the last book

The not so good parts : this book didn't have the same feeling as the previous one and I feel that Adrian and Isolde's relationship was just fighting and fucking in this book. I know their relationship wasn't great to start of in the first book but there was tension between them that I could not find in this book. I usually enjoy smut but there was just too much in this book and not much of Adrian and Isolde actually trying to work out their relationship.

Overall this book wasn't all that bad, I did enjoy the characters and the betrayals and secrets, I think it made for an interesting book and the plot twist at the end was well done. Scarlett's writing is gory and weird and I love it so I'm probably going to read the third book in this series when it comes out

** spoiler alert ** This book felt like being on bumper cars. There wasn't a moment that didn't have some sort of impact. Members of the court dropped like flies, the country was constantly under attack by something and the two MC's were just stuck in the middle of it all. It would have been nice to have Nadia back for Isolde's sake. I think a little arc where she comes to terms with who Issi is now would have given Isolde a bit of hope and connection to someone. In the next book I expect we'll get some more drifting apart between Adrian x Isolde but perhaps the friendship between Killian x Isolde might be expanded upon. Overall, I was a bit slumpy when reading this book due to Christmas so it didn't grab a hold of me quite as hard but I still really enjoyed it. 🗡

I personally loved this book a lot. I feel like I read a lot of reviews saying that there wasn't any plot, but I feel like they're just saying it wasn't the plot they wanted? I think it was based off of Isolde's growth into being a bad ass/learning about herself, and not as centered around their relationship. 10/10 - would read again.

I liked the first book better, but I did still enjoy this. If you’re looking for something steamy, this is it lol

TW to be added later

RTC

Ugh the plot is fine but it’s frustrating how selfish these characters are and they are TERRIBLE rulers. I mean I shouldn’t be expecting much knowing this isn’t really prime writing here but like… they make me mad. Will likely still read the third cause I’ll always need some trash to balance the scales in my life and I do want to know how it ends but meh.

Boring, annoying and frustrating.

This series is starting to mirror her Hades x Persephone series where the characters lack proper communication.

Over all the plot felt dull until the last quarter of the book and even still it wasn’t enough to make the finale feel powerful enough for me feel anything.

The author seems so have a pattern of 2 characters that just do not communicate throughout their series, whether it is Hades and Persephone or in this case Adrian and Isolde.

In the first book it was annoying but ok, but the second but is just and endless repeat of that same cycle of “conflict” without character growth it feels. I love smutty fantasy, but here it just seems as a replacement of any character development or depth.

It’s a bummer because I did really set out to like this book, but just felt disappointed

Scarlett has done it again! I inhaled this book; it was impossible to stop. It's full of spicy romance, intrigue, spells, emotions, betrayals, and so much more! My heart was racing through most of the book! If you loved King of Battle and Blood, you'll enjoy this one.

I was Isolde Vasiliev, queen of Revekka, future queen of Cordova, and I was here to conquer.

One of the things I loved about the first book was Isolde, and that still rings true. She's not a queen who simply sits back, whines, and doesn't do anything; on the contrary, she dives in head-first into the action, ready to defend anyone who needs it. She's still extremely badass and I love that about her.

This world thought they knew a conqueror when Adrian had been born, but they had yet to feel my wrath.

Despite Isolde being this way, I feel like we lost a little bit of the charm she carried in the first book. At times, she would fade into the background for me. I can't really put my finger on why, but it kept happening over and over, and I remember thinking it was out of character for her to not have a spotlight on her.

He was an anchor I grasped in the darkness of my grief, the only thing that brought feeling, and I craved this—his heat, our madness, the distraction.

Adrian Vasiliev... I love this sexy, long white-haired vampire. I expected to see more of him being all banter-y and more of his smirk-self in this one, but as Isolde, the charm from the first book didn't continue to this one, unfortunately.

Aside from that, I loved being back with him and Isolde and getting to see them navigate political controversies and handling an entire kingdom. I even enjoyed all the back and forth and fighting these two would do. It's completely understandable why. Isolde is in a brand new place, trying to get a grasp on this new life she has, while trying to remember her past life, as well as having to make so many decisions. And Adrian being Adrian wouldn't see things from her perspective. To me, it was refreshing to see them tackle every-day struggles that kept arising for them.

Of course, after all the fighting, they'd just submerge themselves into the pleasures of sthere were so many sweet and tender moments between them that warmed my heart so much!

"This world is afraid of powerful women."

We get so many instances of this world being harsh towards women, especially those who practiced magic and all things witchy. I definitely want to see more of women fighting back in the next installments, because I think that will be such a fantastic scene to witness.

"“Strange that men claim we are weak when they are so afraid.”

Overall, I truly enjoyed this sequel and what it had to offer. Adrian and Isolde are a couple that I treasure in my heart, and anything I can read about them, I inhale it. Then there are moments in this book that left me reeling and shocked and hurt!

I can't wait to see what the next book offers, and I hope to see more of Isolde and other female characters embracing the magic and conquering!