Y'all I read this book so fast! Incredible. Obsessed. Slay momma Tracy boots the house down - I need another one immediately! I very nearly ended the review there because I was just so speechless after finishing the book that this was my only thought for about 3 days straight. I really loved this book because it's the perfect ratio of action to fantasy to romance to reality. I was so excited the whole entire time. Not a single dull moment and every bit of dialogue was so important and there wasn't a single bit of fluff to be seen from the very first page. Mother Tracy didn't waste a single page and she left no crumbs.
Bree's powers were cool because she had a lot of found and natural versions of power. For most of the book, Bree was struggling with controlling her powers: making and manipulating Aether without the help of Arthur and controlling her Root so she can use it whenever she wants rather than it only coming out when she's in grave danger. Eventually, she found her powers in the one place they truly belong - within herself. She also discovered that she has new medium-type powers that have to do with the Aether - bringing people into Blood Walks with ancestors of The Order, namely Nick via Lancelot.
Speaking of powers (stepping up my transition game), previously we were told that Vera saved her line by beseeching her ancestors for their root power in order to keep her daughter alive. However, in this book we find out that Vera accidentally on purpose made a bargain with the Shadow King for their Bloodcraft, simultaneously ensuring the survival of her line and cursing them all to die young "one daughter at a time for all time." Gross. The problem here of course is not that she was trying to save her daughter or even that she was maybe thinking a bit short-term (for obvious reasons - lady with a baby coming through) but that because the shadow King was there and listening, he took it upon himself to secure the bargain for himself. Thus bloodmarking the entire line which means he magically claims their souls when they die. Grosser.
Volition is a new location in this sequel, and it becomes a safe haven for our main characters. It used to be a plantation in the middle of nowhere in Georgia that was bought by some black people back in the day. It is essentially a magically protected safe house for the descendants of the enslaved that is protected by a rootcrafted barrier maintained by the ancestors who died there. I think this place feels so cool in my head. Like it's always sunny and warm with a nice cool breeze and no mosquitos or gnats.
It's interesting how Tracy kind of took Arthur off his throne in this one. In the first book, I was like wow cool Bree is the Scion of Arthur she's gonna take the throne! That's so cool! But in the second book, it turns out Arthur is just another power-hungry old white man and he doesn't want to help Bree be better - he wants to live again, which became evident when he took over her body and trapped her in his mind so she couldn't come back.
Now let's talk about boyzzzz.
In being away from his bonded charge for over a month, Selwyn has started to "succumb to the blood." Because of this and because he's a boy and doesn't know how how to think critically outside of battle, he decides the best way to hide this physical change is to mesmer Bree into thinking he still looks the same. The problem here is that while Selwyn is mesmering her for an understandable reason of not wanting her to see him any differently than he used to be, the way he does it is not admirable. To mesmer requires physical touch. Selwyn is part sex demon. Let that sink in. Again, not admirable and definitely morally gray. He wasn't sexually assaulting her, but he was flirting in order to touch her - which made her feel things, of course, and so when his real face was revealed, she was so upset about him taking advantage of her that she gave him the cold shoulder for a while. Also, they kiss. But that happens later of course after she gives him a stern talking-to.
Nick is STOLEN right from under multiple noses. We know it was his dad and Isaac but were not sure why. However, it quickly becomes clear that it's a good thing they took him into hiding because the Regents want to Oath the next Scion of Lancelot because they want someone less strong-willed in order to maintain control, and so they send Mage Guard assassins after him. But Bree (thank the gods) is still able to see him in her Blood Walks. which is super cool because they can touch too. Of course they kiss, no stern talking-to needed.
Lastly, a demand. No, sorry. A request. Nay. A plea. Tracy pleeeeeaaaassseeeeee. You can't write a final chapter like that and then leave me alone in my time of need. Another book. I need it, want it, gotta have it. Where did he take her? How much more powerful can she get?? Is Sel gonna be ok??? WILL ALICE BE OKAY??????????
Ok, that's all. Thank you for coming to my ted talk.
-See ya, wouldn't wanna be ya,
Ceraya ✌🏾
P.S. I kinda like Selwyn now...
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