This was entirely too short. It should be classified as a novella and not a book. Pretty much nothing happened in this very short story. The only thing was there was some much-needed redemption. This book was also better about consent and didn’t have sexual assault like the last one. This is obviously going to be a several book series, so there is no reason for this book to be this short. I would’ve rather waited longer, and had a longer book that actually had things happen in it. Also, a very common trope popped up out of nowhere in this book. It wasn’t mentioned it all in the first book. I feel like it was just used as an excuse for the obsessive behavior and lack of romance with all of the sudden smut.

Ok, 𝐃𝐚𝐜𝐫𝐞 you are forgiven…let’s be for real though, he was always going to be forgiven.💖 Ok, so this book picks up pretty much right where the end of book one left off and it’s basically full throttle until the very last page (which came way too fast somehow). 𝐕𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐚 is on the run and as the title so clearly explains, she’s being hunted…by the rebellion and her father’s guards…but also Dacre because 'ol boy realizes he 'done messed up big time' and has to get to her before anyone else does. We get dual POVs throughout this book and truth be told, I honestly preferred Dacre’s POV over Verena’s. I enjoyed “watching” all of his realizations and it dawning on him how truly and massively he messed things up. On the flip side though, I also really liked the fact that Dacre didn’t take all the blame. Verena does share the blame and you don’t see that in a lot of romantasy books. It’s usually all blamed on the MMC even if it’s not 💯 their fault. For the length of the book I think the story flowed nicely and events happened in a realistic timeframe. The forgiveness, the spice, the revelations, etc. I selfishly wish the book had been longer, but I feel that way with 99% of books I read. I wish Verena and Dacre would have had more time together in the book, but the time they spent together was 🤌🏻💋. Those two are straight 🔥 and lord help the poor people that try to keep them apart. That ending…that ending was 🤯. If you thought the cliffhanger of book one was something…hang onto your butts, people. Holly Renee chose violence with that ending. Sweet, sweet literary violence. Brava ma’am.

4.5 ⭐ 3 🌶 I was so excited about this book. It probably one of my favorites. The author does well without over placing the backstory and fills with action and banter/dialogue. Which for me is good because too much can be boring and take away from the story. However, in this book I am not sure if less was a good or bad thing. For example, that ending was not the big ending or cliff I thought it would be. The story itself is only 208 page which I do not think was enough to cover the whole story as some parts were rushed. It also would've been nice to have received previews of the next book not of another series (A Kingdom of Salt and Stars - so tired of a blank of blank and blank). We are left hanging with that ending AND has to wait a while for the next one? Not fair. Spoilers below so do not read if you don't want it ruined for you. That aside I do love the story. Seeing Verena (Nyra) running through the woods as she was just used and reading Dacre side afterwards was all the things we need to put our anger of him aside. However, I found myself upset that Verena would trust Eiran so easily, like girl you just was betrayed and placed out like nothing (her words not mine). I would've appreciated having more time with Dacre once he did catch her and had his best friend and sister catch up to them then maybe she gets captured? Because the ending we got I'm not sure about. One part of me is glad she got her powers and they are mates the other half feelings like what was the point if they could not conquer all? I guess for the plot it had to be this way but the mates thing felt forced/rushed because the time Dacre and Verena spent together was rushed and did not last long. I think any book that could evoke emotional turbulence is a good book. I was mad, sad, shocked, happy, and mad all over again. When they finally had the conversation about him using her, it gave me so much satisfaction. There intensity and fury was felt. "You Mean the name you lied to me about over and over again." "Was it his idea for you to make me 🌶 before you told me you knew who I really was?" I was like FINALLY!! Then to see them love .. "Like salt in the sea, you have become ingrained in every part of me, and I have been drowning in my regrets" "A kingdom torn in born, a world turned to ash".. "But with my soul, I the worship" It was so worthy of a read! Dacre character development was the very best. He stepped out of his fathers shadow like the brave knight and he was ready to risk it all for his little traitor. "She was the heir to the kindgom, the princess to the king who killed my mother, but none of that made her any less mine" "You're a coward, father" Giving very much "touch her and 💀" Oh my goodness, do not get me started on Eiran. It has pissed me off. I wish we could've seen more of Kai and Wren I was hoping that they would have snuck out and came to the rescue as in the beginning of the book I thought that's where this book was going to be head when Dacre spoke with them before his father asked him to go with him to find her. I am hoping for the next book they get together and try to save Verena but we shall see.

The writing in this book is amazing. You can truly become wrapped up in the world and characters. This second book takes off right where The Veiled Kingdom ended, and you instantly feel like you’re there with them. It is a very captivating and engaging piece of work. That being said, I was expecting much more from this second book. It was so short, and again left in a huge cliff hanger. If this book were a couple hundred pages longer, it would easily be a 5 star rating. But the wait for this tiny book that didn’t leave us much was almost not worth it. ALMOST. It is still a great book, I only wish we had more.

✨️ New Review ✨️ Holly, I'll say it again, WHY SUCH A CLIFFHANGER?!?!?! Book 2 in the series, kept me on my toes the whole time! Now I will join the rest of society, anxiously waiting for the book 3! I inhaled this book in 3 days. My only complaint about this book is it felt too short and left me wanting for more. I do wish there was a little bit more world building, but overall i am absolutely in love with this series so far! Dacre and Verena have my heart ❤️ and the spicy scenes were perfection per usual. Tropes include: ✨️ Second Chance Enemies to Lovers ✨️ Slow Burn ✨️ Touch Her/Him You Die ✨️ View is Amazing (Looking at Her) ✨️ She Stabs Him ✨️ One Bed ✨️ Spicy/Steamy Bath Scene ✨️ Cages her with his arms ✨️ Hand Necklaces Some of my favorite quotes: "Every inch of her was like an intoxicating drug, and I was hopelessly addicted." "I should have fallen to my knees for you as I will do now"