By Frankie Diane Mallis
Star rating: 5
Blurb:
Blindsided by their aunt’s betrayal and stripped of the protections of their station, Lyr and her sisters’ only hope of survival is to throw themselves into the dark intrigue of the Bamarian Court. As Meera and Morgana struggle to hide their illegal magic while living amongst their enemies, Lyr uncovers long-buried secrets from her mother that may finally unlock her power.
But the Imperators are determined to set decades-long plans into motion, with Lyr’s true identity placing her at the center of their game.
As Morgana’s magic intensifies to its breaking point, she comes face to face with the Lumerian Empire’s most insidious secret—one that threatens her and Meera’s lives.
To save her sisters, Lyr must escape Bamaria with Rhyan. Though they’re being hunted by demons and tracked across borders by the Empire’s forces, they’re determined to solve the puzzle Lyr’s mother left behind. But claiming Lyr’s power may not be enough as an ancient evil returns to Lumeria.
Genre: Dark Fantasy
Audience: 18+
Trigger Warnings: Grief, misogyny, violence, Sexual Assault, References to off page rape, Recounting childhood grooming/attempted assault
Writing Style
Frankie does it again with a phenomenal continuation of the Drowned Empire series. I love the way Frankie writes, I want to take a second to note that she always hits 2-3 senses in a scene which gives us a more 3D view of the world and story. I also love the subtle characterizations the hand wringing and the small thumb circles that she adds. I feel like this makes the characters seem more real while still giving us the feeling of being in the background. There are also some iconic reveals that happen in this book, and not only so we receive more answers they lead to even bigger questions that I cannot wait to have answered.
Character information
We’re following Lyr and Rhyan as we continue their journey, but surprise we also get the chance to learn more about Morgana as some of the chapters (including the first one) are from her perspective. I loved the insight into her vorahk and how she has been coping with it.
My Thoughts
I feel like this book gives us a look at the vulnerable side of Lyr. Having nearly lost everything, her title, her identity, her friends, ultimately her safety and peace. But as these things drop away from her life it gives her a chance to stop hiding. Stop hiding behind title, duty, and friends enough for her to start coming in to herself, discovering who she truly is and who she wants to be. The ending was not what I expected and like I said before with each question that is answered another one rears it’s head. I love that Frankie keeps me on my toes, and keeps me asking questions. I am absolutely stoked for the next book.