UMBERTOUCHED is the end to the Rosemarked Duology and I'm blown away by it.

When Zivah and Dineas are discovered to be spies, their only choice is to flee back home. However, it's harder than they expect, especially since Dineas is plagued by nightmares and memories of time spent as an Amparan soldier. He's almost split in two, an inner battle that struggles to clear the path for what's right in the war. Shidadi or Amparan? Not to mention that his Shidadi comrades are suspicious of him being a traitor.

Zivah has her mind set on doing what's right when it comes to the vow she took as a healer. However, the Shidadi leaders want to take out the Amparan numbers the same way Kiran does: wielding the rose plague like a weapon. Zivah is the only one with talent enough to pull it off, but she won't be a part of something that's against everything she stands for. Instead, she needs answers and there's only one healer who has it.

Things are strange between Zivah and Dineas through this whole story because Zivah feels guilty for the side effects the potions had on Dineas. He feels like he let her down by not being the happy person he was in Amparan. Both of them are scarred from the things they've seen and done, but nothing can break the bond that's been forming between them.

I absolutely love everything about this book. Not one complaint. The twists and turns it took had me on an exciting ride and I didn't want it to stop! I look forward to more books from Livia Blackburne. I love the ending!


Final Verdict: I would recommend this to fans of fantasy, romance, action, war, politics, proving yourself, and stories with strong heroines who are strong even though their days are numbered.

Brokenness is usually not an admirable trait. Neither is failure. These have been weary times, and sometimes I just want my heroines and heroes to succeed and thrive, not botch things up like I and the rest of the world do! Yet they are made more human for it. And in Umbertouched (2018), Livia Blackburne's the sequel to Rosemarked (2017), I found myself repeatedly rooting for the very human Zivah and Dineas. These characters at the helm of the story are scarred, visibly and invisibly, and yet they endure in ways that make me hopeful for myself.

The book picks up right where Rosemarked left off, as Zivah and Dineas flee Sehmar City and prepare their people for the approaching war with Ampara. Their return to Monyar is riddled with regret and uncertainty. They have become outsiders to those they love and are haunted by the repercussions of their failed mission. Zivah continues to grapple with her faith and her spiraling illness, wondering how life has value as she remains on the outskirts and awaits death. In parallel, Dineas struggles with the sense that he has betrayed his people while undercover in Ampara. His mind remains split and tormented from their time in the capital. Both characters have endured trauma and are even more broken than before.

As Zivah and Dineas grapple with their costly decisions, the story is mainly driven by the David and Goliath clash between Monyar’s tribes and the vast Amparan army. Although the pacing of the plot is a bit uneven, with parts that are slow and others that push too quickly, the story kept me anticipating the twists and turns as alliances are forged and tested. Dara, Shidadi, and Amparans alike must make difficult choices in order for their peoples to survive. Through these conflicts and tests of loyalty, I enjoyed seeing more of the peripheral characters fleshed out, as they tread in the moral gray zone and make justification for their actions.

It’s Livia's continued exploration of complex questions through the series that make Zivah, Dineas, and other characters three-dimensional and relatable. They are refreshingly mature in their struggles, more so than the many drama-filled characters that litter young adult fantasy these days. I was intrigued to see how they find new ways to cope and thrive, despite the sacrifices required. Even so, there could have been even more development in their story lines, particularly regarding mental disease and stigma.

Lingering quietly in the background is the question of love. Zivah’s unresolved romance with Dineas brings instances of tension along with sweet moments, as they wade through their hesitant feelings. They keep getting in the way of themselves, though, making this aspect of the book a rather slow burn. I kept wishing I could egg them firmly on!

It’s not all war, uncertain love, and trauma, though. The crows dart in and out of the narrative, bringing delight and comic relief with every indignant squawk and hop. These messenger and scouting birds used by Zivah and Dineas develop distinct personalities in this book, and I’m glad they have a life of their own as Slicewing, Preener, and Scrawny.

Umbertouched is the satisfying conclusion to the Rosemarked series and is one of my favorite reads of 2018. Older teens (and teens at heart) would enjoy its challenging perspectives, but it’s still fitting for younger teens as a cleaner read than many books in the genre. Umbertouched’s unique take on brokenness, loyalty, compassion, and sacrifice bring a welcome dose of humanity to a crowded YA fantasy sphere.

Trigger warning: Trauma, PTSD, terminal illness, mild violence, war scenes

Note: I received an advanced reader copy of Umbertouched in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to Disney-Hyperion and NetGalley for the opportunity. I was also a beta reader for an earlier draft of this book and have enjoyed seeing how it transformed from rough manuscript to fully-formed book.

So Umbertouched takes place about a month after what happened in Rosemarked and this is going to be short because I can’t spoil anything.

So Zivah and Dineas are basically dealing with the fallout of what happened in the first book. One of the main things Dineas is dealing with his his feelings because He knows who he is but he also spent a lot of time with the enemy and made friends and so he is warring with this emotions. People are having a hard time trusting him because they seen him fight with the enemy, but he knows who he is and fights hard to prove it. Zivah is still warring with her healer status and some things that she did that went against it, all while they are trying to fight against an enemy that is larger than them.

This book was a bit faster paced and more enjoyable than the first one but still a bit slow.

I know some who have really enjoyed this and I did think the storyline was different and interesting so if it sounds like it would be interesting check it out. I would give the duology as a whole probably about 3.25 stars.

Oh also I did listen to most of Umbertouched on audio since I found it on Scribd and I would recommend the audio if you are into audiobooks as I really liked the two narrators.

Zivah and Dineas have uncovered a way to take down the empire, unfortunately, they can’t prove it. It is now imperative that they return home before Ampara’s army ravages the land. Dineas had to do many things to prove his loyalty to the Ampara and now that his cover has been blown, will his own people be able to trust him? Zivah went against everything she believed in while in Sehmar City, will she be able to overcome these acts and trust herself?

Umbertouched is the second book in the Rosemarked series. I will admit that it took me a while to reconnect with the characters and the larger story. Blackburne did a wonderful job including tidbits of information to nudge the reader’s memory, yet I still could not fall into the story. In the end, I thought the adventure was worth the effort and will definitely be looking for the third book. These characters have a lot more life to live and many more obstacles to overcome.

Umbertouched is the sequel to Rosemarked and together these books make a stunning duet. This series is thoughtful, complex and beautifully written, and I am thrilled to see it out in the world in its entirety.

Some of my favorite aspects of this duet, and, especially, Umbertouched are-

1) The hard won bond between Zivah and Dineas and the sweetness that has grown out of the pain they have both experienced. These two are so incredibly different - a healer and a fighter from opposing cultures. But together they traveled into the heart of the empire and behind enemy lines, sacrificing everything because of a plague that devastated their lives. In this book we see both the fallout and fruit of their shared experiences, and I loved how well these two trust and work together, and the more that has slowly come from that.

2) The complex characters and relationships in this story also stood out to me. I loved all the complexities in Dineas and Zivah's relationship with each other, and also with people on both sides of the line. This book has some great conversations and questions as these two try to navigate political and interpersonal relationships after their trip in the last book - all while trying to win a war. The secondary characters continued to stand out to me, and some of the most compelling scenes were when someone considered an enemy would give Zivah or Dineas insight on themselves.

3) While Umbertouched has a big over arching plot, a huge empire to face and the truth of the plague to expose, this story shines in its quieter character moments. And all the while Zivah is running out of time as her health continues to be affected by plague symptoms. Don't come expecting a magic cure, but don't forget to hope either. I was pleasantly surprised by how much of an impact this ending had on me. It is powerful and fitting for the strength of these characters, and the internal and external battles they’ve fought and won.

Love Triangle Factor: None
Cliffhanger Scale: Series end

This book is the high-stakes conclusion to the Rosemarked non-magical fantasy duology. This second book in the duology felt very different from the first, mostly because it focuses on the aftermath of the choices that Zivah and Dineas made in book one and on the battles that ensue. My favorite part of this book was seeing Dineas deal with the repercussions of his dual life---he's now an outsider to both his own people and the Amparans. He sees the Amparans as the enemy, but he also knows some of them as friends and he understands them in ways he hadn't before. His own people look at him with distrust and sometimes outright hostility. His struggle to come to terms with these things and find his place in the new world set before him is a huge strength of the book. Zivah is also struggling with her role as a healer and what that means in the context of war.

The internal battles always interest me more than the external ones, if I'm being honest, and battle strategies are never my favorite part of fantasies (this book is relatively heavy on battles and strategizing), so I didn't love this one quite as much as the first book. I also missed having Zivah and Dineas together for most of the book, but the romance really isn't the main point in this series; it's more of an undercurrent. The stakes were definitely high in this book, though (be prepared to lose some characters you've come to love---it is war, after all) and I was always compelled to keep reading. And the ending to the book is bittersweet and just about perfect, in my opinion.

This series is a fantastic (non-magical) fantasy with complex characters and an examination of the true costs of war. It's a winning combination.

***Disclosure: I received this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. No other compensation was given and all opinions are my own.***

Umbertouched is a strong conclusion to this Asian-inspired duology. A unique YA fantasy with themes of colonization, freedom, and terminal illness, the series follows a young healer named Zivah and a tribal warrior named Dineas as they seek to save their people from being absorbed by the Amparan empire.

Central to the plot is the Rose Plague- a highly contagious disease that leaves few survivors behind. The rare Umbertouched come through the illness unscathed and immune with amber-colored spots on their skin, but the Rosemarked recover only temporarily and will succumb again to the disease in a matter of months or years. Dineas is umbertouched, but Zivah is rosemarked and we see her come to terms with having a terminal illness through both books in the duology. This is a powerful theme that is rarely if ever seen in YA fantasy.

Umbertouched was well-paced, action-packed, and delivered a very satisfying ending. There is a very sweet romance that develops and I love that is founded on friendship and mutual care. There are battles, political intrigue, and very strong world-building. I think this is a very under-appreciated series! I received an advance review copy via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Title: Umbertouched
Author: Livia Blackburne
Genre: YA, fantasy
Rating: 5 out of 5

Zivah and Dineas failed at their mission and barely escaped with their lives. They have information, but they have no proof of what they know. They desperately need to get home before Ampara attacks their people—who need to be warned of the looming danger.

Dineas spent months thinking he was an Amparan soldier—and now his fellow Shidadi warriors question his loyalty—as does he. Zivah made choices during their mission that broke her healer’s vows, and she’s not sure she can ever regain what she lost—especially when the leaders ask the unthinkable of her. She and the Dineas from Sehmar City were in love, but that Dineas is gone now, leaving both stumbling over their feelings and their history. As Zivah’s plague symptoms return, she struggles to come to terms with her reality—and Dineas fights battles of his own.

I loved Rosemarked, and Umbertouched is just as good! These characters and this world are so vivid and so compelling, that I just can’t put the books down. Zivah is a strong person, but she struggles under so many burdens, afraid to hope as she suffers. And Dineas is torn between two truths: his whole life as a Shidadi warrior, and his brief time as an Amparan soldier.

Livia Blackburne has a PhD in cognitive neuroscience from MIT. Umbertouched is her newest novel.

(Galley provided by Disney Hyperion in exchange for an honest review.)

Umbertouched is the second installment in author Livia Blackburne's Rosemarked series. Umbertouched picks up about a month after the events of Rosemarked. With the stakes rising higher than ever as the characters prepare for an epic final battle, readers will want to stay up late turning the pages to get through this thrilling book. The story rotates narratives between Dineas, a Shidadi warrior, and Zivah, a Dara healer who was infected with the Rose plague.

Dineas and Zivah are on the run. They failed their mission to Shemar City and barely escaped with their lives. Dineas has been unmasked as a spy, and Zivah broke many of her promises as a healer while in the city working as both a healer and a spy. While Emperor Kiran is amassing an invasion force to steam roll over Dara and the Shidadi, Zivah is searching for a Rose Plague physician who may hold answers as to whether or not there is a cure for the rose plague. She is also struggling with her morality knowing that she might die at any moment.

While Zivah is struggling to find a cure that might extend her life, Dineas is struggling with memories of his past and deciding who he is now. His return to his people isn't all that welcoming, and there are those who see him as a traitor to the cause. Upon returning home, Zivah is asked to do something that goes against everything she stands for. In response, she takes it upon herself to look deep inside of herself and try to be who she wants to be. That also means healing enemy soldiers on the battle field as well as those who are protecting her homeland.

Blackburne deftly balances the protagonists' philosophical conflicts with sensitivity that is both sophisticated and heart-rending. The palpable tension between Zivah and Dineas throughout their will-they-won't-they romance will leave readers breathless. The characters are an eclectic mixture of good and bad, but nobody is purely good or bad, not when you add the human element and the desire for revenge into the mixture.

A lot of reviewers point to Mehtap as one of the characters you shouldn't ignore. Mehtap who really put things into perspective in the first installment when she was willing to kill and not just stand by and wallow in self-pity. She, like Zivah, is Rosemarked. However, unlike Zivah, she grew up as a princess of sorts with wealth and privilege. Now that her life expediency is rapidly closing, she takes it upon herself to do things that go against everything her father stands for.

It's fair to say the ending is a bit on the twisted side. It's fair to say that I don't see another book in this series future, but there are things that are left to the readers imagination. Especially when it comes to Zivah and her future, and her relationship with Dineas. I will agree on one point with my fellow readers, this is a slow paced story that is driven by the characters. War is hell, and the author doesn't waste any time trying to sugar coat, or gloss over it. That's why I rated this book with 4 Gizmos.

Plot: Rosemarked introduced Dineas and Zivah who both had to try their hand at spying. After gathering all of the necessary intel and navigating their feelings for each other, Umbertouched consisted of the action that was necessary to face the Ampara empire.

For a series finale, Umbertouched did a wonderful job of driving the climax and crafting an ending that left you both satisfied and sad to see these characters and world go. Compared to Rosemarked, Umbertouched had considerably more action and allowed for more reflection on the state of the world and the characters.

Characters: While the war piqued my curiosity, Dineas and Zivah made this a series I couldn't put down. Zivah was the healer who was marked for death, while Dineas was suffering from belonging to no clan and not knowing how to process his actions in Ampara. What I liked about Zivah and Dineas was how shy and unsure they were around each other. They also knew how to put their emotions on hold while preparing for a war against a great nation.

The minor characters from Rosemarked made appearances too and, like with Zivah and Dineas, surprised me with their bravery and actions.

Worldbuilding: The majority of the worldbuilding was done in Rosemarked and I was surprised by how easy it was to fall back into the world. We were able to see more of village life and learn about Shidaddi traditions and values. I'm still so happy to have read an Southeast Asian-inspired YA fantasy, more of this please!

Short N Sweet: Umbertouched was a worthy finale to Rosemarked that tugged at my heartstrings just enough.

What a wonderful duology Rosemarked has been. It's always a nerve-wracking experience going into a series finale because your expectations are so high, but I didn't have to worry about anything here. Livia Blackburne delivered a bittersweet, yet powerful finale with Umbertouched.

This book opened up where Rosemarked left off. I'll admit to taking a while to get re-oriented in this world, but once I was in, I was wholly engaged. Livia Blackburne has got a way with words that make it very easy to sink into her story. Zivah and Dineas had gone through hell and more in Rosemarked, and I was curious to see how the impacts of everything of the first book would affect them. The author dove deeply into that creating layers upon layers to these two beautiful characters. Their grief and their trauma were strong elements of their personalities, but so was the immense amount of strength they possessed. Zivah's story arc in Umbertouched was one I found especially touching - she struggled with her morality and her vows as a healer in this book, and that was explored so brilliantly here. I continued to be impressed by her giving nature and her kindness. It was easy to see why she was perfect as a healer. Dineas was an equally admirable character. In the previous book, he repeatedly took potions to erase his memory when he infiltrated the Empire and in this book, we get to see the aftermath of that. He struggled with his identity, with his loyalty, while at the same time being ostracized. It was undeniably difficult for him, but this was a young man who continued to face life fearlessly.

The pacing in Umbertouched was relatively slow for a fantasy novel, but it didn't affect me. I thought the focus on the characters and their paths was logical, and for me, it made the book much more relevant and emotional. Despite the slow progression of the plot, I was still tense throughout the book as the backdrop of the war cast an eerie shadow. I was afraid for all of the characters and there were times when the author did not make it easy on my poor little heart. I found the ending of this book to be very unconventional, but it also made sense and I appreciated that it remained realistic. It's one of those endings that will hurt and it still hurts when I think about it, but the journey that these characters went through to get there will forever be memorable.

Kudos to Livia Blackburne to writing such a compelling series. If you are looking for a fresh and emotional YA fantasy series, the Rosemarked duology should be at the top of your list. Don't let this one fly under your radar.

Livia Blackburne brings Zivah and Dineas’ thrilling mission to a close in UMBERTOUCHED!

Zivah and Dineas have failed. Ampara’s attack on their homeland is underway. Without any proof of Emperor Kiran’s betrayal of his own people to perpetuate war, they can’t stop the massive, powerful army moving against them. Shidadi warriors and Dara townspeople alike will need to come together to battle the threat, but even with a warrior culture among them, they don’t have the resources to out-battle Amparan forces.

Meanwhile, Zivah and Dineas are not the people they were before traveling to Sehmar City in Rosemarked. In order to save Dineas’ life, Zivah broke her sacred healing vows… and she may have to do it again. Moving out of the Rosemarked colony and back to Dara also means that she’s nearly always in isolation– a nearly impossible task for a skilled healer during war, despite her extremely contagious and potentially lethal condition.

Dineas keenly remembers the horrors of killing his own people while posing as an Amparan soldier under the effects of Zivah’s memory potion. Though they know the circumstances, many of the Shidadi blame and refuse to trust him in the aftermath. There are also unanticipated effects of the potion that have Dineas wondering where his true feelings lay, especially as he searches his a traitor in their midst. At the same time, there’s a palpable tension between Dineas and Zivah. She fell in love with the bright and hopeful Sehmar City Dineas, a boy without the burdens of the world upon him. That boy is gone forever.

The strength of this duology is in its world building and characters, both of which make as great an impression in Umbertouched as they did in Rosemarked. If you love the side characters from the first novel, fear not– your (surviving) favorites will be back, from Dineas’ former Amparan bestie Walgash to the mysterious rebel Mehtap, who isn’t taking any side but her own. We also get a few new characters including a major ally who works with Zivah on her most perilous mission yet. I really love all of these characters, filled to the brim with moral quandaries and unpredictable emotions. During their adventures, readers get a more intricate picture of the massive fantasy landscape that Blackburne created.

Though the novel dives into war, the pacing of Umbertouched is very similar to book one until about the last 25 percent. Which is to say it runs on the slower, more character-driven side. This still worked for me on the whole because those slower moments involved a lot of scheming and searching that lent itself to a payoff later.

Honestly, Umbertouched didn’t capture my attention with the same fervor I had reading Rosemarked. I think it’s because of the huge shift between Zivah and Dineas that keeps them apart for much of the novel. Their chemistry is fascinating, but readers see a lot less this time. There are plenty for other character interactions to bask in and action to marvel over, though, so this plot still ranks pretty high in the grand scheme of things.

This duology is built around the idea of a often deadly outbreak known as the Rose Plague, but the novel focuses on the ”why” of disease without paying much attention to the ”how”. It was a bit frustrating at times because I wanted answers that would provide more hope, but at the same time, Blackburne also smashes a major trope and I give her all the respect for that.

If you love stories of conspiracy, war, pandemics, and impossible odds, Umbertouched is a thrilling conclusion that complements its predecessor and will leave you curious but satisfied in its own bittersweet way.

Umbertouched is the second half of the Rosemarked duology and in this installment we are dropped right where the last book left off. Zivah and Dineas are fighting for their lives in an attempt to escape enemy territory and make it back to their people safely after completing their mission. However, their time behind enemy lines have taken its tole on both of them and they find themselves struggling with everything they've been through.

It's been a while since I read Rosemarked and that fact that this story starts off with zero lead up left me scrambling to get my bearings. I think if I had reread the previous book before diving into this one, I'd be fine. However, I found myself not only trying to reorient myself with what was going on, but I also tried and failed to remember all the secondary characters we met in the previous book. It took me a long time to get back into the mindset for this story and I'm still not 100% sure who was who in the end. I guess I would have liked a little refresher or something since we were thrown smack dab in the middle of the action without any warm up.

Once I got my bearings, I did enjoy the story a bit more. Since Dineas and Zivah have been through so much, they have changed quite a bit from the two young characters we met in the beginning. Zivah has gone against her vow of not causing harm to anyone. She has a hard time coming to terms with the things that she's done. Meanwhile, Dineas has PTSD from his time fighting with the Amparans against his own people. He spent a long time trying to earn the enemies trust and in the end wound up being one of the commanders top fighters. So, to say he has some mental health issues from it all would be an understatement. This installment took a darker and more serious tone while we witness these two characters deal with the aftereffects of what they did for their people.

I did have some issues with things being a bit choppy and not really knowing what the timelines were. Since Dineas and Zivah are separated throughout the war with the Amparans, they each get their own POVs. However, I was never overly sure how fast time changed, and it sometimes felt like their time wasn't consistent with each other. While I liked that the author gave this book a completely different feel from the first one, I was left feeling a bit off and unsure of what was going on.

I thought this was an enjoyable conclusion to the story. I did have some issues with it, but I liked that we got to see the aftereffects of being at war. Both of these characters did something they live to regret, and both had to come to terms with it and try to push past it.

4.5/5 Stars

Picking up a little while after the end of Rosemarked, Umbertouched dives right back into the race to return home and the looming war Ampara brings. Zivah and Dineas continue to grow as their journey brings them together and pulls them apart. Their relationship has always been complex and both of them struggle with the choices they've made. Blackburne delves further into morality, consequences, identity and defining what constitutes as home and I love that the shades of gray within characters are never clear. Overall this duology conclusion felt absolutely right and I totally recommend picking up these books!

I have such mixed feelings about this book. Some of the characters pulled me in, and I found myself eagerly reading certain chapters because I had to know what would happen to them. Exactly what you want from a book, right? So why the mixed feelings? Because when I wasn't eagerly reading those certain chapters, I kept forgetting I was reading this book.

Just like with the first book in the series, Rosemarked, while the plot is intriguing and the characters are compelling, the book is too long for the story it's telling. It's like wandering in the desert alongside Zivah and Dineas...every once in a while, you may come across an oasis of a few chapters and can't stop reading, but in between are long stretches of nothing progressing. It's not a bad read, but the pace was too slow to keep me consistently engaged, and in the end there wasn't even any of the resolution that I expected. Ultimately, if you need something to read and this duology is what's available, go ahead and pick it up. If you're weighing your options and this is one of them, there are better books out there.

4 STARS

TW: PTSD, hallucinations, death and violence of war, terminal illness

All the way back in June, I did a buddy read of Rosemarked and ended up really enjoyed it! It was well worth my time, and I didn't regret picking it up based on that beautiful cover. It was a solid four star read, and once I knew Umbertouched was on the way, I made sure to get my preorder in AND to put an ARC request in on NetGalley (which was granted; thanks, NetGalley!). 

I'm delighted to say the experience has been by and large the same with Umbertouched as it was with Rosemarked. Neither book has that BAM sort of feeling to it that would have made it a five star read for me, but both were still entertaining, and I really enjoy both Zivah and Dineas's characters, so four stars seems fitting.

Really, gorgeous covers aside, I think it's the characters that have made me stick with this series. No one is perfect or innocent, and there's a heavy question of morality hanging over almost everyone. Zivah is trapped between her vows as a healer, her own mortality, and the looming danger for the people of Dara, her family. Dineas is caught between his Shidadi heritage and upbringing, and the Amparan Dineas he became in Rosemarked, when he lost his memories and became someone else, someone without a life of trauma to shape him into someone cautious and guarded and sometimes gruff. Even Mehtap gets some time in the spotlight, which was interesting after her involvement in Rosemarked, and we see more of Zivah and Dineas's family and friends now that the fight has come home and the army is on their doorstep. We even get more of those delightful crows, though less of Diadem the snake, which is a bit of a shame. I'm terrified of snakes to be perfectly honest, but got quite attached to Diadem somewhere along the way. 

I also got attached to too many characters who were primed and ready to die. Such are the casualties in a book about war on the doorstep, but MAN, why is it always the ones I get attached to? What is up with that?

All that said, I think Zivah's chapters were more interesting than Dineas's. I'm a sucker for characters forced to confront the values they hold most dear, and I'm especially a sucker for characters who hold to their principles, and I'm ESPECIALLY a sucker for characters who hold to their principles which happen to be principles of compassion. There's something that really strikes a chord with me about characters who risk their lives to help those in need, who take the steps no one else would dare take to see to the needs of others. Zivah is incredibly like that, and it delights me far more than Dineas's struggle to be trusted again among the Shidadi. That may be a more interesting conflict for some than Zivah's plight, but what can I say? That internal conflict and that personal drive to find resolution really catch my eye.

Zivah also spends more time in motion than Dineas, and seems more involved in the plot at large, with its consequences on the Amparan continent. As interesting as the war at home is supposed to be, the break provided by traveling back to Ampara and investigating there made a big difference in which of the two POVs I favored in the end. I need motion and decisiveness and the greater details of the more treacherous parts of the plot, and Zivah's POV delivered on that.

As does the ending. Without spoiling anything, it leaves room for a future, which is a nice way to wrap things up. I feel like this story is complete, but that if there were to be more, I would be ready to read it. There's a hopeful cast to it, despite everything, and I would love to come back someday and see where it went. At the same time, it feels resolved. That's a difficult balance to strike, but I feel as if it's been done.

Another thing that pleased me was the way faith is handled in this duology. Zivah and Dineas have different approaches to the gods and how best to revere them, and though it doesn't form a central part of the plot, I would be absolutely fascinated to get more information on the religion in this world. It has a sense of unexplored richness that I would love to dive into, and it gives me the itch to read even more fantasy that also boasts the potential for richly developed religions. 

Really, my only complaint other than that lack of OOMPH that I can't quite put my finger on is that it's hard to get a full sense of time. It's mentioned that sometimes days or weeks go by, but I struggled to get a full scope of how long this war lasted and when the POVs matched up with one another, or who was ahead of who in the timeline as it stood. That kind of confusion can take away from the narrative a little, unfortunately.

In the end, though, Umbertouched was a satisfying conclusion, and I happily read it in one sitting! If you enjoyed Rosemarked, you'll probably enjoy the direction this takes Zivah and Dineas, forced to change the course of their lives after the events in Sehmar City, and if you haven't read Rosemarked yet but enjoy fantasy with political intrigue and potions (but interestingly, no magic), and enjoy slow burn romance with a tragic backdrop, then this might just be for you! Umbertouched hits shelves on November 6, 2018, and it's well worth the time!

I loved this book! The full review will be posted soon at kaitgoodwin.com/books! Thank you very much for this wonderful opportunity to connect books to their readers!

This was a pleasant enough sequel, but I am not sure it lived up to my expectations after the spectacular first book. Although this book expanded upon some of the key elements of the first book (i.e. world building, character development, and romance), I think perhaps it was lacking some of the excitement I most enjoyed in Rosemarked. Also, while Rosemarked involved relationships aside from the primary romance, this book seemed to mostly focus on the romance. I would have enjoyed seeing more about how some of the friendship and family relationships from the first book evolved and adapted as our main characters' situations changed.

I appreciated seeing how both characters themselves changed after everything they have been through. Zivah struggled to come to terms with her healer vows, and Dineas struggled with his PTSD related to his experiences while under the effects of the herbs from the previous book. However, although this made the characters seem more real, I would have loved to see more resolution and/or growth in their character arcs.

Overall, the build up was a little slow, and although the end wrapped up with an exciting nail-biting conclusion, the overall pacing of the story seemed a bit off. There were moments that were too drawn out, and then other parts that were rushed. The character's timelines didn't seem to match up regularly throughout the book. In fact, at times it seemed like the two characters were each in their own separate story as opposed to being characters in a single story.

In short, the book as enjoyable and worth the read. However, it did not live up to the expectations I had from the first book, since that one was much more intriguing. I wasn't as drawn into the relationship in this book, I thought too many previously important characters seemed to simply fade away or have much smaller roles (Zivah's family, etc), and the pacing was disjointed at times.

This sequel begins with Zivah and Dineas trying to get home and being trailed by the Amparan army. They believe that the rose plague was, in some cases, engineered by the emperor and his pet doctor. However, they are having a hard time finding proof that others will accept.

The story is told in chapters alternating between Zivah's and Dineas's point of view. They are sometimes together and sometimes pursuing their own avenues to their goal. The relationship they built in the first book is tested in this one. Zivah feels guilt for the potion she administered which let Dineas spy on the emperor's forces. Once the potion was counteracted Dineas regains his original personality but is left with flashbacks and hallucinations. He is also dealing with confusion about his loyalties which shows when he returns to his tribe. Many in his tribe don't trust him because of what he did while under the force of the potion.

Meanwhile, Zivah is trying to find out more about the rose plague. She is looking for a cure and knowing that she is under a death sentence. She survived the plague but was left contagious. This makes it almost impossible for her to continue her career as a healer.

I thought this was a well done fantasy. I liked the world building in the story. I also thought the characters were well developed. The novel was fast-paced and filled with action as the Darans and Shidadi have to battle the overwhelming number of Amparans who are trying to conquer them.

what a compelling sequel....while slow at times, it built up into a conclusion that was wholly satisfying and stayed true to the complicated characters at the heart of this duology. I am definitely looking forward to reading more of Blackburne's work and the Rosemarked books are going to be at the top of my fantasy recommendations for a long time.