I just love it when books in the middle of the series don't suffer. I know that we have all read those middle of the series books where everything is so dull and it's just all info dump. I can't think of any off the top of my head but I know that I have. Okay, so in an effort to be a more efficient reader, I have started taking little notes and writing my feelings about the book. This is an effort to pay attention to the book more. I have a terrible habit of glossing over things sometimes and not realizing that I have done it and thus missing out on like the whole book. According to my lovely notes, Owen and Evie are 17 years old in this book. They have basically grown up together. Evie's grandfather has mentored Owen and has helped him to become a force to be reckoned with. Owen is extremely intelligent and has multiple Fountain gifts. Owen and Evie are very much in love as well. Having grown up together, this is to be expected. They hope that the king will allow them to get married but everybody is against that, including the king. I was super excited that Owen and Evie were so close. I had hoped that this would happen. Evie helped Owen get over his fear of speaking to strangers and she was a positive influence on him. The plot of this book is similar to what happens during the time of monarchs. There is a pretender that wants to take Severn's crown. This is a fun little plot twist that I won't reveal because it is a massive spoiler. But let's just say, it turns the entire story around. We get a new character in this one. The King's poisoner, Etayne. I really liked her. She was blunt and told you the way it was. She was incredibly cunning and very loyal...to those that treated her like a human. Yes, she was the king's poisoner but she was loyal to Owen first. I felt so much frustration but in a good way. Severn is starting to turn into the person that everybody says he is. He is constantly testing those that are loyal to him with ridiculous tasks, knowing that he is setting them up to fail. He is also terrible to Owen. The king helped Owen expand on his Fountain gifts so Owen has been nothing but loyal to him but still Severn denies him Evie and treats him like crap. There isn't quite as much action in this book but it more than makes up for it with mystery. Almost everyone has some sort of secret that they are holding. People are saying one thing and then doing something completely different. There is literally no one Owen can trust but a few people. I would suggest this series if you are new to fantasy and want to start out small. It is so much fun to read about the different types of Fountain gifts and how people use or disuse them. This would be the part where I would say that I am anxious for the third book and what it might hold. But actually I finished it after I read this one. I was just too lazy to write a review.

A lot better than the first one, although the love triangle implication is absolutely unnecessary

The story's really taken off in this book and I'm enjoying the ride!!!!

I really did love this read. I loved how to this book built on the world but also expanded the magic system in this read. I also really loved how owen grew in this book. I became so emotionally invested in both own and evie realtionship. I also loved the new characters that we meet and how the world was built. It was super fun read with a nice balance between the war elements that i don't always love and the politices that I adored. The end of this book was such a hard read for ship but I am really excited for book 3.

2020 upd - 4.5☆ how silly was I?.. this book is so good! this book broke my hear, and I'm still traumatized, even on reread. The only reason I take down half a star is because it was hard to follow at times - all the kingdoms and kings and who supports who and why... but I am willing to admit it's a me problem 🙈 still great. 2017 - Solid three stars. This one was better than the first.

I love this book. I loved the story and the main characters.