In the thrilling sequel to The Lost City, Amanda Hocking continues Ulla's journey to finding her parents. This book takes Ulla across the country and world, searching other Trollian cities and areas for clues. Every time she gets close to some information, another wrench is thrown into the mix and turns everything upside down. With her friends Pan and Dagny, Ulla also is searching for Eliana, the young girl she became close to in The Lost City. As the book continues, it seem more and more like the two searches aren't as separate as they seemed...

I truly enjoyed reading this book more than I expected. Going into this series I definitely thought it would be more high/epic fantasy and it totally isn't. It's very modern with some cool references. The plot keeps going, though it seems like it was stretched a smidge to make it into a trilogy instead of a duology. This book was almost more interesting than the first because you experience more of the world with Ulla's travels. I also LOVE Dagny. She has ace rep, which I love, and she's so no nonsense that it really balances Ulla out. They are so different but work so well together as characters.

I wanted more romance. Give me more Ulla and Pan. Every time they got close, one of them pulled away and I just kept screaming at them to get together already!! So it's definitely a more slow burn romance as we're in book two and it hasn't really happened yet. There was also a bit of middle book syndrome where most of it is just used to set up for the third book, so there isn't much action. It's a lot of data finding and questioning people in order to find everyone Ulla is looking for. But, it sets everything up nicely for The Ever After, the third book in the trilogy - I will definitely be reading this one to see how it all shakes out.

Also, this book is second in the third trilogy in this world. I have not read Amanda Hocking's other books set in this world, but you don't really need to. Everything is explained and easily grasped so don't let that stop you from picking this series up.

**Thank you to Wednesday Books and Netgalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review**

As a sequel this felt too similar to the first. I felt there was a lot of setting up still happening and no so much action and plot. The Morning Flower was more character driven and has a focus on the romance, however I wasn’t a huge fan of the relationship forming. It felt really awkward and stunted. Overall, it was better than the first book, The Lost City, but I’m not sure if I will be continuing with the next book.

In Book 2 of the Omte Origins, we continue the search for Eliana and Ulla's quest to learn about her parentage. To be honest, I didn't love the first book and was hesitant to start the second. The first book spent so much time building up the setting and the characters that it bogged down for me. But this one actually had me interested and invested to see where the story went. Some of the plot line felt forced and maybe a little unbelievable, but in a fantasy, there's more forgiveness in that for me. Overall it was an enjoyable read. I wouldn't mind finding out how the story ends.

Thank you NetGalley for an ARC for my honest opinion.

I enjoyed the sequel to the Omte Origins series a bit more than the first book. I feel like it’s because this book had *more oomph* — if that makes sense. The relationship between Ulla and Pan is better developed and actually discussed between them in a very mature, commendably responsible way that I rarely see in fictional relationships. While the characters themselves don’t come across to me as super complex, their fierce loyalty to one another really makes the book for me.

I enjoyed getting to see more insight into this world. The mysterious magical elements felt darker (where I feel like the envelope wasn’t quite pushed enough in the first book). However, I still had some of the same issues of the worldbuilding feeling vague and intangible. The different cultural groups for the trolls were further explained and seem to be like a microcosm of our society. However, I think the lack of interaction between the troll world and human society prevented the narrative from really *going there* with this concept.

Comparable books:
The Kingdom of Back by Marie Lu
Grim Lovelies by Megan Shepherd
Unhooked by Lisa Maxwell

***I received an e-ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Ulla’s adventure continues as she and her friends search for the parents she’s never met and her friend Eliana, who was forcibly taken away by her sister. I love the characters the author has created and they have grown through this second book in the series. In particular, I love the growing friendship between Ulla and Pan. The whole world the author has created in these books (this is the third trilogy set among the trolls) is so magical. Once again, I finished this book in one sitting.

I loved this book!! Great story!! 1st book I have read by this author!! Received this book from netgally!!

Thank you to NetGalley and Wednesday Books for sending me an Advanced Copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

The Morning Flower picks up right after The Lost City. After Eliana got kidnapped, Ulla and Pan decide to travel to the Omte capital to learn more about the place where supposedly Eliana’s from and at the same time for Ulla to learn who’s her mother.

But what she didn’t count, was that she’d find information from a man who could possibly be his father.

THOUGHTS

I’m gonna be honest, I didn’t like The Lost City and I didn’t liked The Morning Flower either. I love the Trylle World but this new series weren’t for me unfortunately.

Maybe it’s the writing, or the lack of plot but I was struggling so much just to finish this book.

There were situations where I just wanted to skip the pages, for example, we know that Ulla and Pan like each other but she doesn’t do anything about it. And when someone else appears in the picture, someone from Pan’s past, she complains that she needs to do something about them but still doesn’t do it.

I can understand that finding her family is her number one priority but she really needs to decide if she wants to pursue something with Pan or not. BUt whatever decisions she makes, she needs to stop complaining about the consequences.

Now don’t get me started with the craziness of the plot. And not in a good way. I was at two thirds of the book and just wanted to throw my Kindle to the other side of the room. It doesn’t make sense!

Not gonna go into details but Ulla being sisters and possibly sisters with someone we know made me feel like: damn, what the hell just happened.

I really want to know what happens but waiting a whole year for the next book and reread the first book doesn’t seem like I’ll be able too.

I do need to say that my best friend really liked it, so even though my review is not the best for The Morning Flower that doesn’t necessarily mean that it’s not for you.

Overall, it was a fast read, easy to follow and very descriptive. I really recommend her previous two series, The Trylle and The Kanin Chronicles and if you love the trylle world and want to explore more of it, this book is for you.

I was kinda hoping for more from this, the first book I accepted needs to set up characters and world building etc, but I just felt this nook could and should have been more, more action, just again like the first book we spend too long waiting for something to happen and then it ends ! Don’t get me wrong I think the writing style is great, I like the characters I just needed things to happen and a lot sooner than they did. I’m not sure if I like it enough though to want to read the next.


Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for a free copy for an honest opinion

The Morning Flower is the second book in the latest Trylle series by Amanda Hocking. I love that we got to see more of the Troll world, and how different trolls live in different parts of the world. This is my second read in the world of Trylle, and I still had no trouble reading the story. Everything was explained without it sounding repetitive from the first book. There were also some questions from the first book that were answered, as well as more popping up.

I can't wait to see what the finale brings!

I received the book from netgalley. I love anda flowers books. I enjoyed this one .
I can't wait for the next book.

I went into this one hoping for a little more action/excitement. I was more forgiving of the lack of that element in the first book because it's a lot of setup on the world and plot in general but I really needed to see that progression in the sequel, and through the first two thirds of this book I did not. The Morning Flower was actually set up quite the same as the first book in terms of very little progression until the end. Again with this one, the plot and world are interesting but I can't help but to be left feeling like a lot of the search for answers and rather mundane details could be condensed greatly in the first 2/3 of this story. It drags. It made it hard for me to fully get into and that's not what I want in a sequel. It's a lot to wade through to get to the excitement, just to end on another cliffhanger.

Even other sub-elements like the romance are basically non-starters. When done well a 'will they or won't they' can be fun and torturously exciting. Ulla and Pan or even the hinted at spark of attraction with Jem-Kruck just never had that integral draw. The desire to see either happen at all never fully formed for me. The characters were so apprehensive and not fully into it that how in the world could I as a reader be? Surprisingly I think a lot of this book was meant to be a slow progression to more between Ulla and Pan but their lack of passion and outward interest definitely fed into mine and I just didn't end up caring one way or another.

I was really hoping book one was an exception and not the rule and unfortunately that proved otherwise for me here. While I would like to see what happens next in the story, it's just not enough that I am content waiting to reach the end of another novel to get a little further.

3.5/5 stars Overall, I enjoyed this book. I didn't think there was good foreshadowing and everything seemed to come out of nowhere. I did like how, unlike the first book, our main character had to fight to get what she wants and the knowledge she wants. In the first book it was all handed to her, but in this it actually seemed earned, until she finds her family. Everything about the Sweden part of the book feels rushed and uncomfortable. Nothing is explained, and what happens doesn't make sense. It did end on quite the cliffhanger, that also felt strange. There was no climax and it ended in the middle of what would have been the climactic scene. I also don't really know what the overarching world plot is. The small plot is Ulla looking for her family and Eliana, but I'm not sure what politics are at play, nor if there are going to be any lasting repercussions. This seems weird as it deals with a hidden and mythic group of people, that if they become known to the Troll world, this would have lasting effects, but we don't feel that. In the end it was way too rushed and the ending should have been a lot longer, but the world building is strong, and the characters are easy to like and root for.

I struggled with the previous book due to lack of action. That did not change but by speed reading I got the general gist and enjoyed the story. I am wondering how this will end.

The Morning Flower is the second book in The Omte origins by Amanda Hockin.

We continue to follow Ulla as she search for her origins and to find Eliana who have been kidnapped. She travel with Pan to the Omte capital with Pan and their relationship is developping. She will find some information about her birth parents and thats gonna lead them to Sweden where a secret society is hidden. But those people aren't just what they seems and Ulla and Pan might be in danger there.

I have received an arc of this book from Netgalley and the publisher. Looking foward to read the next book in the serie.

Ulla is still working her internship at the Mimirin, but now she wants to know more than just who her birth parents are. When Eliana is kidnapped, Ulla not only feels obligated to find her, she also wants to know who Eliana really is. During her travels she learns the possible identity of her father, but the truth about her mother just keeps getting murkier. Ulla’s research leads her to the First City with the hope of answering many of her questions. What will Ulla learn about herself and her family during her quests? What new questions will be piled on top of the endless questions she has already uncovered?

The Morning Flower is the second book in The Omte Origins series. This story picks up rather quickly after the ending of the first book and Hocking did a wonderful job of leaving breadcrumbs to nudge the reader’s memory. This is a fantasy novel with a lot of backstory that was built into the other companion series, yet this series can be fully enjoyed without reading the other ones. There are family secrets, racial secrets and a little bit of romance to mix things up. The Morning Flower is a must read for all fans of Hocking’s other novels.

“For me personally, the truth is that I don’t,’ he admitted in a thick, low voice. ‘I don’t rage about it every minute of the day, but sometimes, yeah, I still get angry about it. And if I let myself dwell on all the things that were taken from me, all the moments lost, I can be really angry for…for a while. But then I try to remind myself of the stuff I do have and then focus on all the things I want to do. I can be sad and mourn the past, but I can’t live there, and most importantly, I don’t want to.”

Ulla and Pan have a connection having both bonded over their half-breed status but this is real talk and I loved the amount of development between these two that happened in this sequel. At the end of The Lost City they were going for a road trip to find answers about Ulla’s heritage and he’s insistent on staying by her side (and this was throughout the entire book, ne never wavered) Despite not becoming an item in this novel they still shared many scenes and I hope to see more of his history come into play in the third novel because he’s a royal and I see many possibilities there.

“You always gotta make me say how I think you’re funny and smart and beautiful. Who else would I be talking about?”

Don’t flirt like that only to postpone at every turn! Way more flirting between these two took place in book 2 so although it was still a slow burn and lacked much progression in relationship status, feelings were expressed and steamy scenes did ensue. They were just cut short and self-sabotaged by the MC claiming bad timing and the arrival of Pan’s ex-girlfriend didn’t help matters either. But it did add a note of jealously which pushed things to develop, unfortunately they kept self-sabotaging each other that lead to no real development in their relationship despite their obvious attraction but here’s to hoping it will in book 3!


“I’d begun to realize that Pan had this way about him, a soothing baritone, somehow strong and light all at once, and a calming presence. It was hard not to feel like everything was going to be okay when you were around him…even if it wasn’t.”

This is a great point to showcase because it sums up Pan’s aura completely. He does seem to do exactly this. This isn’t a typical quality in a YA love interest and usually I’m drawn to those typical arrogant, cocky sometimes broody types but for some reason I was drawn to Pan like Ulla is. There is a calming tone with him that does make it feel like everything’s going to be ok. Cheesy I know but 100% true. He’s always willing to go with Ulla despite the obviously dangerous situations they get into and he’s more intelligence than might. So he’s out of his element yet he goes because Ulla goes. It’s adorably stupid yet admirable at the same time. Let’s not forget how adorable he is with his dog, Brueger!

“I freshened up, and I when I turned the tap off, I could hear him through the door, talking on the phone first to Dagny—in his normal voice, thanking her again—then to Brueger, in a slightly higher-pitched, excitable tone, asking him if he’s a good boy. I put a hand over my mouth to silence my giggle, but I won’t lie that it made me feel like taffy left in the sun all day—so warm and gooey and strangely pleasant.”

This is one of those moments you see in a movie where one character sees their opposite (and also love interest) do something so uncharacteristic which changes how they see them and in romantic comedies these are the moments that show why they fall for them and I swooned after reading this. This really shows how Pan is and his love for that dog is too cute. This was a look into his character without any expectation, this was just him being himself and that’s why he’s such a great guy for Ulla. He’s a genuine good guy with a humble heart. He’s never represented himself any other way and that speaks to his character. There’s no charades with this guy.

This book contains a science fiction edge not seen in her two other previous series set in the same world. This also worked really well with the tie in of Norse history. They seemed to work seamlessly together. Didn’t make this feel like another reiteration of her other series. Each trilogy seems to take a different direction while still maintaining the integrity of the Troll species as a whole. This was only slightly hinted at and discussed in the first book but in here there’s a lot more sci-fi!

Having Ulla’s lineage finally revealed was a great addition to this instalment because that was what she was after all through book one, however there are some real oddities behind it that make me question a lot of this world. It’s way more complicated than first thought and there’s a lot still needed to unravel to make her story complete, setting up her complicated family drama to continue in third book. I won’t spoil this because it’s a big revelation but I will say that I’m glad of the connection drawn from Bryn Aven (from Frostfire, Kanin series) to Ulla Tulin. I liked their friendship and finding out that there’s a familial bond between them made me really happy.

The Morning Flower by Amanda Hocking has a lot going for it. Ulla finds out her lineage, her romance with Pan seems to progress and the connection between other characters reveal even more about this Lost City but although so much was discovered, this felt like an in-between book because I felt like characters didn’t really develop and despite the story progressing there were a lot of aspects that made it confusing to follow. Many terms were too close in spelling that their actually meanings became lost in translation. This sequel had a case of information overload and unfortunately I can’t praise it as high as the first book. I give The Morning Flower by Amanda Hocking a 7 out of 10. This pains me to do but just like the second Fantastic Beasts movie, this was a story that was setting everything up for the next installation rather than showcasing all the things actually learned in itself. It’s an in-between that serves as a platform for the next. It made for a slower read because it felt like not much happened even though it did. There was too much knowledge and not enough action.
________
“Okay. But there is one more thing I want to know. When you first talked to me at the market, that was to find out if Eliana was safe?’

‘No, I didn’t realize you knew her then.’

I looked at him more closely, my brow furrowed in confusion. ‘Why did you talk to me, then?’

He laughed. ‘Because I thought you looked like somebody I’d want to know better. So I got to know you better, and it turns out I was right.”
_______

And again who the hell is this mysterious guy, Jem-Kurk and why is Ulla so curious and infatuated with him? Because I don’t see what she sees and quite frankly it’s way too close to an insta-love romance for me to give it a chance. Whatever it is. See I can’t even label it because he comes out of nowhere every now and then but only sticks around to say a short, weird conversation with Ulla that’s as creepy as it is cryptic before disappearing. He’s random and confusing and most importantly he interrupts her romance with Pan which I’m definitely shipping. I’m not sure where he fits into Ulla’s world and I really hope the third book (no set release) will answer this for me. Ulla’s reactions towards Jem-kurk is not how I would be if some stranger came up to me and said what he said…so what’s his story?

Amanda Hocking you have done it again! You have pulled me into another great series in the world of Trylle. I had to start this one right after I finished the first because I needed to know what was going to happen. Now I am in desperate need for the 3rd! I MUST know what happens.

This book picked up nicely from where the first left off. I thought this one moved the story along more than the first one, especially towards the end when you get all this crazy information and twists and then BAM you want to find out more and book over! I thought the plot was well thought out and you start to learn more about the possibilities of Ulla’s parents and you also get the sense that some people have not so great of interests in hoping that Ulla and Pan find Eliana.

The characters developed some in this book, but not a lot. You meet a few new characters and also you do get to learn more about a couple of those from the first book. What I was most happy about was seeing the relationship grow between Ulla and Pan. I am rooting for them and hoping she doesn’t all of a sudden go with Jem-Kruk. It definitely seems like there is more to Ulla that we are going to learn about in the 3rd book and I have a feeling it is going to change a lot of things.

The writing was well done and flowed nicely. I was hooked on the story and it was hard to put down, but I guess a person has to sleep at some point. I am hoping that in the third it is as action packed with things happening like the end of this book was because there is so much I want to find out during the next book.

If you haven’t picked up the first book you definitely should, and when this comes out in August grab it too. Just really if you haven’t ready Amanda’s other books you are missing out so go grab those too especially Switched the first book in the Trylle series that got me hooked!

Thank you so much to NetGalley and St. Martin books for the electronic arc.

After I finished this, I went back to read the first book to see if it would make this one make a little more sense to me and it did. It made me appreciate this book much more and understand more of the story. I do wish it had a little bit of a catch up for some in the second book instead of just jumping it. But once I understood it, it was an enjoyable read.

Amanda Hocking does her best work building original worlds and brand new languages - I love that they’re all connecting without being too similar in story. This book was middling for me, and really had to push to finish. Will continue to read the series because I’m hooked now, but this one was a bit of a let down.

Book: The Morning Flower
Author: Amanda Hocking
Rating: 4 Out of 5 Stars

I would like to thank the publisher, Wednesday Books, for providing me with an ARC.

I just going to be honest. This book clearly had middle book syndrome. Amanda’s second books usually feel this way. She does a great job at building up in the second book and uses the third book to bring everything home. I am not worried; I’ve read a lot of Amanda’s other books and she always manages to deliver on her endings. I’m just saying that you really shouldn’t expect to have all of your questions answered from the first book in this one. However, don’t worry, this book is still well down and well worth the read.

The Morning Flower picks right up where The Lost City left off. Ulla and the gang are still trying to find Eliena and learn about Ulla’s past. Ulla is still morphing into a strong and brave young woman. We see her develop deep bounds with the characters and see just what she will do to protect those who she cares about. We get to see her and the others travel throughout the troll world and see how their bonds grow stronger. This is something that I have always loved about Amanda’s writing: the deep bonds between the characters. Sure, we have romance, but I really enjoy the friendships. I like how even those who weren’t close at the beginning of the story grow to being close. Does that make sense?

The worldbuilding is amazing. No, you don’t have to read the other Trylle books to understand the world; you do have to read The Lost City first. I have been reading about the Trylle for a while now and I must say that the more I read, the more I like the world. Amanda has built world hidden from the modern one. This world has the perfect mix of magic and human technology. Yes, this books are low fantasy and have a soft magic system; if that is not your cup of tea, then don’t waste your time. I really like the mix of the old and new. Plus, adding in a little Norse mythology is just great. It just makes the magic system seem that much more real and ancient.

I also like the fact that Amanda’s books pick right up where the previous one in that ARC left off. Since her book series are published so close together, you really don’t need a recap. I like that we get right back into the thick of things and get the plot moving. The way that she manages to loop everything in together is great; very few authors are able to pull it off. It honestly feels like each book is TV episode, which makes it so easy to binge her books.

Anyway, I had a great time reading this. I can’t wait for book three, which I don’t think has a publication date yet. The Morning Flower comes out on August 4, 2020.

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