Book one gave me goosebumps but book 2? It gives me straight up chills! I'm hanging on the edge of my seat for book 3!

I'm disappointed to say I just couldn't get into this book. I've previously loved Ma's writing style but this seemed stunted and obvious and really dragged along the pacing.

I read this series because I want to know what happens next, i.e. for the plot. The characters didn't interest me very well, so for me the plot of the series is more appealing than its characters.

In the follow=up to Coco Ma's Shadow Frost, God Storm is an equally intriguing and wonderfully written novel. I found it to be fast-paced and enjoyed the world-building throughout. There is much more magic and definitely higher stakes for all the characters involved, making it quite the page-turner!

I did not finish the book as I found the opening chapters to offer no more than the sort of character dynamics and royal family drama that one is used to once reading these sort of stories. Would likely recommend to someone new to the genre.

God Storm is the sequel to Shadow Frost which I absolutely loved the first book in this series. Unfortunately, this one fell just a tad short of the first and had elements that, honestly, just make me mad. The book itself is good and the story continues well from the first. But the portrayal of the demon and God of Shadows as homosexual while the “good” characters are heterosexual just strikes me as offensive.

Considering that the author is so incredibly young, I’d like to believe that there wasn’t an ulterior motive or hidden meaning behind the portrayal of gay characters as being evil, but there’s enough of that kind of crappy thinking in our world without making it part of the story. I’m really hoping the next book will remedy this.

Interesting premise. Likable/hated characters. Cool plot. I would recommend this story to others. Some spots I found that didn't hold my attention, but overall, I still liked it.

Thank you so much to the publisher and NetGalley for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

God Storm picks up where Shadow Frost left off, Orion is missing with Harry searching everywhere for him, Astrin and Rose are the queens of their respective countries, Luna has left to get to know her father, and Quinlan is unconscious due to his wound from Shadow Magic. When Quinlan awakes, he must deal with the consequences of this forbidden magic, while trying to protect Astrin from would be assassins. Luna finds what her mother's deal with the Shadow God will cost her, and how she can make it work to her favor. What will become of our heroes when their fates clash against each others? And as always, what will it cost them to have everything they desire?

God Storm is a solid follow up to Shadow Frost. The story development was amazing in some points, and the characters evolved throughout the novel, but it because a bit too quick in changing POV's and you could begin to feel lost. I found myself beginning chapters again just to make sure I hadn't missed something, and to just make sure I understood what was going on. This would have easily been a 5 star rating from me, but the ending felt too rushed and incomplete. Being part of a trilogy, I know that the final book will wrap everything up, but the cliffhanger ending just felt....confusing. For this, I knock it down a star with a heavy heart.

Overall, I can't wait to see what the conclusion had in store for our friends and foes. I recommend this series for anyone 12+ who likes multiple POV's and grand magical systems.

God Storm is the highly-anticipated second in a trilogy by Ma, following an action and surprised-filled first novel, Shadow Frost. In this novel, Ma hones her writing prowess, continuing to follow the major arc of the coming-of-age story of Asterin, Princess of Axaria. Although Asterin continues to drive the main arc, the beauty of God Storm is Ma's attention to the minor arcs established by the secondary characters -- Ma is most definitely building a beautifully tangled web that most certainly will result in an exciting series finale.

God Storm is a solid fantasy novel -- bold, yet restrained, and highly polished. A delightful read full of intrigue and big feelings, contention and heroics, God Storm is a wonderful follow-up to Shadow Frost, and will undoubtably lead to an amazing conclusion. << no pressure! >>

4.5 stars!

As wonderful as Shadow Frost was, it didn’t have the complexity that God Storm did! The writing was even better, the plot kept surprising me but the characters are the true masterpiece. I won’t give any spoilers but Luna is a new all-time favorite character of mine! Gone is the sweet, timid, weak, virtually magic-less, handmaiden to the princess. She has been replaced with a total badass!

5 Reasons to read it:
1. Coco Ma’s writing style is AMAZING!

2. There’s LGBTQ+ and BIPOC representation! Being LGBTQ+ is pretty normalized in the book and I love that.
King Eoin, God of Shadows, is dark and broody while also being witty aka the trifecta. Not to mention he’s all powerful. Where do I sign?

4. The magic system is still one of my favorites! I love that we were able to find out more about that forbidden tenth element, Shadow.

5. I have to mention the badass characters again, particularly the women. Asterin is the black-haired version of Aelin in Throne of Glass basically with way more range. Rose manages to raise her siblings and somehow keep her kingdom together. I’m not sure what exactly Killian is yet but I 100% need to see more of her in the next book because she seems like a force to be reckoned with. Then there’s Luna who is a woman after my own heart for reasons I can’t say without giving spoiling.

Thanks so much to Netgalley and the publisher for the e-arc!

I would like to adopt all of these characters so I can hug them and keep them safe.

Coco Ma has written yet another stellar book. Her world is so completely addictive that I often forgot I was reading. I was just THERE in the story.

I absolutely love books that make me feel that way.

BOOK 3 NEEDS TO HURRY UP AND GET HERE!!!!

This was an excellent sequel and I'm just as on-edge for book three as I was for book two!

This is one of those books where things seem to be happening and not happening at the same time. The plot is fast-paced but there aren't as many specific action scenes in this book as there were in the first. This is more of a "gears are turning and plot seeds for book three are being planted" kind of book. Still, I was just as hooked on the plot and characters and read this pretty quickly. There were relationship developments and certainly individual character developments that had me spinning.

All in all I really liked God Storm and can't wait for the next book!

What absolutely gorgeous writing! I have to admit, I was stunned when I read the first book in this series, Shadow Frost, and saw that such a young author could craft breathtaking descriptions.

HUGE fan of Asterin as a protagonist. There weren't many developed female YA characters when I was growing up, and it's nice to see that the next generation will grow up with better role models than I had. Part of what makes God Storm so thrilling to read is how complex a character Asterin is and how the reader sees her grapple with catch-22 decisions. Magic, mystery, strong female leads, complicated parental relationships..this book has everything.

This book was exciting and I love the plot line and world building. Thank you for the ARC, I really enjoyed this and can't wait to read more by the author.

If you loved Shadow Frost then you will 100% obsess over God Storm! The high stakes! The magic! All the kingdoms!! And in this sequel we get to explore the forbidden magic and only our Queen Asterin will be able to stop it once it slips into the mortal realm.

I think one of my favorite twists in this book was the Character ARC of Luna. If you remember her character from book 1, she was Asterin’s best friend and with such a sweet personality. Everyone ADORED her. However, after the events of Shadow Frost in which she finds out the truth behind her parentage, Luna changes. Her life changes and now she craves to control and grow her newfound magic, and perhaps… overtake even Queen Asterin herself.

God Storm is full of character POVs and they help to share tiny glimpses about the vast world found in these books. Not only about the kingdoms and the mortal realm, but also of the immortal realm where the shadows reign.

God Storm was a whirlwind of feels and you will have such an epic adventure reading its pages. Super intrigued where the story will go next!

God Storm it follows Asterin Faelenhart as she battles the shadows in the Kingdom of Axaria and takes matters of vengeance into her own hands. If you like sassy princesses, epic group-squad dynamics, elemental magic, and plots packed with power — this series is for you!

I have interviewed the author as part of the Blog Tour here: https://paperfury.com/interview-with-coco-ma-god-storm/

[🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 ]
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Thank you @favouritepagesclub & @netgalley for the e- arc !
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OMG OMG OMG THIS BOOK!!
Okay this book has officially destroyed me. I loved the first book Shadow Frost, but this one? I freaking love this one even more! Taking a break in between reading the book what?? Middle book syndrome who? I will die for Harry & Orion and they are the best. Best freaking couple and I love them with all my heart.
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•{Favourite Line}•
“Go home,” Harry begged. “Please.” Orion sighed in fond exasperation. “Idiot,” he whispered. “Home is nowhere without you.”
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Do you see what I'm saying?? The stakes are skyrocketing and my baby here just says things like these. (And yes, I would still marry Harry in a heartbeat, and yes I love the side Characters more than the main characters and yes I will still fight you if you say Harry is not the best).
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Okay, on a much serious note, this book follows our Characters after they defeat the evil queen and have to live ith the consequences of their actions. Since it's the second book, I can't explain without spoilers, but let me just say these things. Harry & Orion are my babies with so much Character development and chemistry and bond and everything between them. Luna with her morally grey Character is the highlight of this book. Eoin is quickly becoming one of my favorite characters and might even become a potential candidate for book boyfriend. These four Characters get the most Character arc wrt this book and I loved that. Though we get to follow our main characters, they take a backseat, and let's the scenes and the side Characters shine. I was really looking forward to knowing more about the Shadow world and the powers it weilds. The way the friendship is put to test, and the extent one goes to rescue a loved one, negotiating with the King of Shadow world, and that Abso-freaking-lutely heart breaking and an amazing ending with a huge cliffhanger, this book set a base for much more mayhem and adventure and I honestly cannot wait to read the next book! Why is the next book coming out so far out? I need a time machine to travel to the future thank you very much.
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And if you haven't read the first book yet, go read it!! It's one of my favorite series of all time and this book has one of my favorite friendship groups I've ever read!
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Here's my Goodreads review link to the first book to convince you more.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2828503984

This book was received as an ARC from Blackstone Publishing in exchange for an honest review. Opinions and thoughts expressed in this review are completely my own.

I was super ecstatic when I saw the release of this book and could not wait to read it. I absolutely love books with magic and drama and this book had A LOT of both. I could not help but to be sucked in and transported into the Kingdom of Axaria and be on the journey with Queen Asterin trying to find her way and find answers of why her her friends, true loves and guardians have all died and they all rest in the hands of the God of Shadow King Eoin. Now Asterin has a choice to release them all and save them or save the lives of Axaria. I love when there is a difficult choice to be made and see where the direction the heroine takes us. I know our teen book club will have a field day with this book and I can't wait to hear their discussions.

We will consider adding this title to our YA collection at our library. That is why we give this book 5 stars.