⭐️⭐️⭐️
3 STARS

After reading the second book in King’s new series, I have come to understand her writing style a bit more. I enjoyed the first book, but I had stated that it started off slow for me. This second book was no exception to that. It started off SO SLOW moving for me. In fact, it didn't really pick up for me until halfway through. That being said, I still enjoyed it.

A few things I really loved in this book...

I still really enjoy the characters, and I loved the world-building. It is very complex. The only thing I don't enjoy as much about the world is how sometimes things 'just happen' and then it's hurriedly explained and we move on. I mean, I understand... magic is magic, but it felt like there weren't many rules to the magic if that makes sense?

I also loved that there was much more action (once the plot ACTUALLY started moving along) in this one than in the first. This meant that it was a more exciting plot, more action-packed scenes, and the plot I feel was more cleverly done with rich descriptions which bring the setting and atmosphere of the book to life. It was a very entertaining read.

So why, you ask did I only give it 3 stars? When I gave the first book 4 stars?

I truly did this because of the info-dumping in the first half. This is a series, so I'm unsure who would truly read the second without reading the first book first? We got repeat information and info of things that happened previously in the first book, so it just didn't feel like it flowed very well from book 1 to book 2. I am of the opinion that info-dumping is a necessary evil in first books, as you need a clear understanding of the world and background. But I feel that this was completely unnecessary for this second book. In fact, this info-dumping is my biggest dislike of this book.

Overall, still a great read, with a wonderful plot. I just wish we could have been pulled into the action earlier on in the book.

Special thanks to NetGalley, Skyscape and Emily R. King for generously providing an eARC in exchange for my honest thoughts and review.

I was a HUGE fan of the first book, however, I listened to the first book on audio, and I feel like that took away from the experience of reading the second book.

BUT I am a massive fan of this series! The world building, characterization and relationships are top notch. I have issues with second books taking too long to set everything up, but this book didn't fall to that fate. It starts right off with action, and follows through until the end. I love the secondary characters as much as I love our main characters. I need the next book now please!!

Thank you #NetGalley for this ARC for #IntotheHourglass by Emily R. King!
I will be updating this review once I've had time to digest that ending!

Into the Hourglass is the sequel to Before the Broken Star by Emily R. King. It's sort of a loose Pinocchio retelling but with much more world-building and a totally unique twist. I liked the first one, but wasn't totally in love. However, the sequel really made me more invested in the series.
The pacing of this book was SO good. I read pretty much the entirety of this book on my plane ride to Japan. It was so good I didn't want to put it down. It's one of those on the edge of your seat pacings, where so much is happening and it's a domino effect of new things that come to light. Our main character goes into a different realm this book to chase the antagonist and get her sword back for Father Time. 
Character ARCS and character development shined through in this novel. I wasn't totally a fan of the main character in book one but she really grew on me in this second installment. I did complain in my review of the first book that I thought the side characters didn't really do much in the first book and felt useless, but in the sequel they became more prominent and important characters, with more emotion and history to them and I loved that! Side characters can often make or break a novel for me and I was happy to have them more involved instead of background noise.
Anyways overall it was a very strong sequel and I'm definitely invested in the outcome of this series.

This book starts off great, it's fast paced and then all of a sudden it begins to drag, and get a bit boring. I didn't read the 1st book, so maybe that's why I'm a bit confused as to what's going on? Perhaps I'll read the 1st one and maybe I'll have a different opinion about this book. I did have potential.

I received this book free an exchange for my honest opinion through NetGalley. I really enjoyed this book, Emily R. King is a great author who knows how to weave a great story!

Afire this writer and thus book. Imaginative, creative, and amazing. Looking forward to more books from her. I’m always amazed by how well she crafts her stories.

Into the Hourglass, Emily R King
Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my review in any way and the thoughts expressed are my own.

I’d seen this series around and excited to get the opportunity to read this. I was expecting a more scifi style time-travelling adventure and was happily surprised to find a unique realm hopping adventure with entertaining characters. Everly, a girl kept alive by a clockwork heart, must retrieve her magic sword from the man that murdered her family. To catch him, she and her friends must travel to The Land Under The Waves, a realm full of castaways and enchanting sirens.

I had to infer a lot from the characters’ interactions about what had happened in the first book. Luckily the author did a slight summary in the first few chapters. This universe is broken into several worlds, each different with unique inhabitants. The Land of The Living is where the humans (including Everly and her friends) are from. But Everly is a Time Bearer, Father Time’s chosen hero, and she will protect the world, all of them, and there is no greater threat than Markham. Not only did he kill Everly’s family but an entire world.

Not only did I love the world and magic system, but also the characters. Our hero Everly is strong, independent and determined and skilled with a sword (which I loved, fairytale-style heroines are often non-combatants). Jamison is a good man who is open about his feelings for Everly (they were forced to get married in the previous book) and is a nice match for her, they fit together so well and are both great in a fight. Laverick, aka The Fox, is sarcastic and funny and obsessed with explosions which made her one of my favourites. Radella is a pixie and like Everly works for Father Time and helps guide them through the realms. Despite being only able to speak in tinkling bell sounds, she still has so much personality. Claret, aka The Cat, is mischievous and more than willing to lead her friends into trouble. Markham was a great villain, conniving, manipulative and difficult to figure out. His heartless, self-centred nature made him an excellent contrast to Everly. Harlow, Markham’s girlfriend, is tough and stupidly loyal to him and they are a good display of an unhealthy, abusive relationship.

I loved this book’s mix of classic fairytale elements and its’ own unique flare. It had such a great ‘storybook’ vibe with modern pacing, action and characters. I’ve never found a book like this and it felt like a breath of fresh air which and I’m desperate for more! It reminded me of several books I read as a child, from Narnia to Peter Pan. The twists and turns where surprising and I loved how all the foreshadowed elements were brought together in the climax. I give it 5/5 and have already put the previous and future books on the top of my TBR!

3.5 Stars

This book started out really strong and didn’t quit manage to keep up the same high tempo after the first 50-ish pages. It went from action-packed sea adventure to a lot of one-off missions that just seemed to drag on. The pacing overall was better than in the first book as it didn’t suffer from the typical “have to set everything up” thing the first in a series usually do. Though that doesn’t mean there wasn’t exposition in this book that could have been a little better weaved into the story.
I had high hopes for this book as I felt the first one ended on such a note that it would be easy for the sequel to keep the pace of the story going in a better tempo. The story is nice in the book, don’t get me wrong, it’s just the pacing of it all is a bit off and could have benefited from some twerking so the story got a better grip on me as a reader.

One thing I did enjoy was the personal development Everley went through in the first book being shown so clear in this one. She has shed some of the hardest edges she started out with and now have a more “not everything is black and doomed” outlook on everything. This made me like her even more and I also liked the further development of her relationship with Jamison.
With that said I’m optimistic that the third book will have learned from both it’s predecessors and finally deliver a story with a nice tempo and energy.

Into the Hourglass, by author Emily R. King, is the second installment in the authors The Evermore Chronicles. The story begins about 2 months after the ending of Before the Broken Star. Everley Donovan continues her revenge tour de force against Prince Killian. Killian was swallowed by the beast known as the Terrible Dorcha as well as the ancient sword of Avelyn which is supposed to be Everley's to protect. Without it, she has been told that the 7 other-worlds and the fate of the world hang in the balance.

She had hoped to convince her alleged allies that going to the Land Under the Water in order to track down Killian and the sword is a good thing, and not some horrible idea that will end up with everyone dead or lost. Yeah, about that! Everley, Jamison (who is the only other person who knows about her clock heart), Radella (pixie), Claret, Harlow, & Laverick find themselves in the Land under the Wave where Giants, Merrow, and Elves rule the world. Everley, however, seems to be having some issues with her heart in that it's not working as it should. Could her life literally be ticking away?

To make matters worse, the sword seems to have been taken to the mythical underwater city called Everblue and it will take some really interesting maneuvering to get there and beat Killian. Everything Everley has done up till now, has been thwarted by Killian. The same man who also killed her family and left her with a clock for a heart thanks to her Uncle and Father Time. I won't go into much detail, but while in the alternative otherworld, Everley's family's past comes to light which gives things a much more interesting perspective about who Everley is, as well as why she was chosen for the clock heart in the first place.

The author seems to be exploring new worlds in each of the books, so the third installment should be really interesting. Everley does pick up one ally in this story, Osric, an elf who has had an interesting past with Killian, and now feels as though he has the ability to help Everley in her goals. After everything that Everley goes through in this story, it might be the ending itself that really breaks my heart. No, not because she and Jamison end up on the wrong side. There is a surprising twist however. But, because she finds herself once again having to fight for her life after certain people discover her clock heart.

a fantasy story about a clockwork h eart, meermaids, elves,giants ,and many more. Easy to read,enteraining.

-- Disclaimer: I received a review copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for a honest review. Many thanks for the opportunity! --

After the amazing whores-turned-pirates ending of book one, this continues Everley's story as she travels to the mythical Land under the Sea to fulfill the quest given to her by Father Time. While the first book has fairy tale traits, the sequel goes full on magic. We meet many new creatures with their own motivations, my personal favourite being the sea hag Muriel. Sadly, everything seems to happen too easily for our protagonists. The obstacles are all easily overcome, except for the curve ball at the end (though that was utterly predictable). I'm curious where the last book of the trilogy will take our heroes, but I'm not in love with the series.

I received this book from Netgalley and Skyscape in exchange for my honest review. I thought this was a solid book 2. I really hope Everley and Callahan can make it work in this next book. The magical aspects are pretty cool and I love how everyone is coming together. I am hoping to see Markham defeated

A great sequel to the first book in the series. Strong Pinocchio/ Tinman vibes but our lead is obviously the clockwork girl. This was great fun and the continuing series looks very promising. Highly enjoyable.

This sequel starts with Everley and her friends looking for the terrible Dorcha and their way into the land under the sea. Immediately this gives us Pinocchio vibes continuing on the first books theme but in this other land you get Peter Pan too and a splash of The Little Mermaid. It's a strange mix but somehow it works.

This book had a little less on the romance front but the story trudged along at a good pace and more scenes may have felt a little forced anyway. But I like Jamison and Everley so I was a little disappointed.

But this book was very enjoyable and is being released so soon after the first one that it'll be easy to binge them both. I've just now got to wait for the third...

Continuing the saga of our favourite clockwork girl, her almost husband, and that darn Admiral Markham who has betrayed them all, but still hasn't given up all of his secrets, and wowsa, there are some doozies!
I loved the way the story opened up into other worlds, and added layers to the characters. Deepening relationships (Yass Queer Rep!), revealing history, and creating a rich tapestry of mythology and world building, the only thing that I didn't love is that gosh-darn cliffhanger of an ending! Please Sir, I want some more.

4 wooden stars out of 5

2 Stars

This book was just barely passable for me. I slogged my way through it and the ending was pretty good but the 1st 90% was not good. It was just too much information and too hard to keep up with. I didn't really care for Evie at all. She wasn't very likeable. This book was so not good that, and this has happened only once or twice, I'm not sure I will read the last book in the series. My first thought when I was through was "finally!" and that sums up all you need to know.

Thank you to netgalley for my free arc and honest review.

Having read the first book I think this series, I was eager to catch up with the characters to see what was going to happen in Into the Hourglass. I loved this one. It had so much happening, and plenty to keep my interest from start to finish. The premise of this series is really interesting, a girl with a clock heart, and I was eager to see what would happen to Evie on her mission in this second book. I couldn’t put it down, and I really want to read more books in this world!

This book was EVERYTHING and I loved every single word, every single sentence in it.
It was a worthy Sequel and even more rushing and exciting than the first one. We got more darkness, more heartbreaking story and more Jamison, and that's what we are here for right?

The plot of the second book was really surprising and never boring, I just skimmed from page to page to get to know if Evie can rescue her world, and the other six worlds, just by following Markham through room and time. I hurried to get to know what will happen between her and Jamison, and to dive into all the secrets everyone has. The story often had twists and turns that left me speechless and sometimes in tears and that's what good book is made of!

The girl with the clockwork heart is such a unique and special character. She is cold and cunning, but also a little bean who would do everything for those she loves - if a girl without a heart even can love anyone. I loved what the author did here and how well thought through the worlds and the characters were. The whole story felt like a big adventure through several Tales and Worlds and I got all I need ion a fantasy stories.I have female pirates, seer queens, queer girls, a clockwork heart, Father Time, merrows and Pixies and everything magical. I LOVED IT.


The book is coming out on the 20th August and you should totally note that in your calendar!

Great book, Emily continues to be a fantastic writer. The story continues well from the previous book, but you could pick it up without reading the first. It recaps without being patronizing, a great YA read.

Excited for the next one, want to see how this will end! Go Evie!!

I love this series! When I discovered the second one was on Netgalley (and on READ NOW of all things) I was ecstatic! Emily R. King really knows how to set up a series. I loved The Hundredth Queen series and I'm glad she wrote more, especially using such an interesting idea.

The first book was so good that I was hesitant to read the second one. With the Hundredth Queen, I loved the first two books, but I found it got a little too serious nearer the end of the series which I wasn't as interested in (still read them all though!). So I was a little worried that the second one of this series wouldn't be as good, but it definitely was! I love how the characters have developed, the reveals, and the twists and turns of the book. Prince Killian is still a slippery character, and the conflicting feelings you already have are only amplified by this book.

We seem to be exploring a new world in each of the books, so I'm very interested to see how it rounds up in book number 3. I really liked the 'Land Under the Sea' and all the different creatures we met along the way. Evie's relationships develop further, and it really shows a lovely character arc from the beginning of the first book. She's starting to understand what's important.

I also like that we are thrown straight into the action with this one. In the first book, we needed the slow build up in order to understand why she is the way she is, as well as introducing all the characters and the world. Now, King was able to start with the present story straight away, and I like how she's built upon the knowledge she instilled on us in the first book. Can't wait to see where it goes next!

4/5 stars.