Voice of Youth Advocates

In the realm of Eurona, there are magical Lashed people and non-magical humans. Princess Aerity will do everything in her power to protect the kingdom of Lochlanach from the evil Lashed Rozaria Rocato and her dangerous army. Aerity’s father, the king, has banished the practice of magic in the kingdom. Rozaria demands that the laws be overturned or deadly force will occur. Aerity disagrees with her father and believes compromising with the Lashed people in a peaceful manner will avoid war. In addition to that turmoil, Aerity is dealing with her conflicting emotions about being betrothed to Lord Alvi while her feelings for the Lashed hunter, Paxton Seabolt, continue to grow. When unforeseen circumstances occur, she becomes the acting queen and does everything in her power to prevent war. Further complications ensue and restoring peace to the kingdom will not be easy. The second novel of the Eurona duology picks up where the first ended. New readers will easily understand the storyline. Aspects of war are creatively written so that readers are exposed to a classic good-versus-evil tale with elements of leadership, courage, sacrifice, and acceptance. Strategic planning on both sides leads to deception and intrigue. Secondary characters are skillfully portrayed and will not easily be forgotten. Aerity is a strong, admirable character who is passionate, loyal, and willing to sacrifice her heart for her kingdom. A strong leading cast, the ongoing suspense of battle, and the pursuit of love combine to create an enchanting fantasy read which will have widespread appeal.—Anne Keller.

Kirkus Reviews

Following duology opener The Great Hunt (2016), Princess Aerity and her people face another brutal threat in the form of angry Lashed citizens, who are tired of being punished for their ability to do magic. The royal family of Lochlanach is shocked and dismayed when another bloodthirsty beast appears after the first one was killed with so much effort. Before any plans can be made to defeat the monsters and their creator, Princess Aerity flees for one last goodbye to the man she loves but cannot marry. However, the rebellion is larger and more complicated than she ever suspected, and soon she finds herself face to face with the true enemy—Rozaria Rocato. Rozaria is working with Prince Vito of Kalor, who wants the magic-working Lashed to rise up and defeat all who have oppressed them. The suppression of the Lashed by others provides a template for an exploration of the uses and drawbacks of civil unrest, though the story stays very much on the surface of the topic. Instead, a slightly predictable plot and characterizations keep the book at a superficial simmer. Higgins' world is a mishmash of tropes, the faux British Lochlans juxtaposed against the exotic Zandalee and Kalorians, who are dark-skinned "tribesmen." Both maidens and those who have chosen to eschew maidenhood are both chivalrously protected and bravely participatory in the battle. A tepid, formulaic fantasy that fails to sufficiently interrogate the issues it raises. (Fantasy.13-18)

ALA Booklist (Sun Jan 01 00:00:00 CST 2017)

The great beast terrorizing the land of Lochlanach is slain, but Rozaria Rocato, the powerful woman who created it, still seeks vengeance for herself and other magical Lashed, who have long been regarded with suspicion and prejudice. Meanwhile, Princess Aerity reluctantly prepares for marriage to the man who slayed the beast, even as she longs for Paxton, the hunter who stole her heart and fled before he could be unmasked as Lashed. Though she decries Rozaria's violent methods, Aerity, too, wants to see equality between the Lashed and non-Lashed members of her kingdom. She's also desperate to see Paxton one more time, and so she sneaks out of the castle for a final, reckless journey. Meanwhile, tensions are building not only between Lashed and non-Lashed but also between kingdoms, and Aerity may need to lead sooner than she thinks. This sequel to The Great Hunt (2016) is a solid, fan-pleasing conclusion. The strong development of secondary characters and fulfillment of several slow-burning romances me more intensely than others ll delight and satisfy readers.

School Library Journal (Sun Jan 01 00:00:00 CST 2017)

Gr 9 Up-Kicking off immediately after the events of Higgins's The Great Hunt , this sequel finds Princess Aerity on a mission to locate Paxton, a hunter, to achieve a sense of closure before she marries Leif. Her wedding will be the fulfillment of the promise of her hand to whoever could kill the beast that terrorized her family's kingdom. Rozaria, who is part of the enemy Lashed clan, already has her claws in Paxton when Aerity tracks him down, and it's up to Aerity to protect her homeland before Rozaria and other Lashed rebels can usurp her family's power and destroy the realm of Eurona. With a foundation firmly in place from the previous book of the duology, Higgins hits her stride here, sending her characters in all directions as they embark on adventure. A stronger sense of pace and higher stakes make the novel even more engaging than The Great Hunt , while the characters have somewhat open personalities into which readers can insert themselves. Moments of romance will leave teens swooning for their favorite couples. Complete with a surprising betrayal and excitement through the very end, this title will appeal to those who loved Mette Ivie Harrison's The Princess and the Hound . VERDICT An enjoyable follow-up to The Great Hunt , this novel offers a happy ending that works both as a pleasant diversion and a political commentary about marginalized groups. Abby Hargreaves, Alexandria Public Library, VA