I wasn’t as interested in this book as I was in the previous one. It felt very… rushed? Like, instead of taking place during the very next semester, I wish we could have waited a year to see senior Scarlett and sophomore Vivi. The entire Theta vs. Kappa rivalry was sort of annoying, but I understood why it was 100% necessary to this plot. All in all, the pacing of this book just didn’t work as well for me and felt way too fast. A fun series, but probably not one I’ll revisit in the future (MAYBE for spooky time readings, but only if I can’t find any new witchy books, and we get about 20+ of those published a year).

A perfect follow up to The Ravens! I would love more books in this world. Another amazing author I will always recommend!

3.5 / 5

I've really enjoyed this series. Very atmospheric and spooky, The Monarchs directly follows the events that took place in The Ravens. Some good plot twists and lots of interesting magic, this was a highly enjoyable read! I'm not sure if there will be more books in this series but I know I would likely read them if there were!

I really enjoyed The Ravens, but it didn’t necessarily need a book 2 and I was surprised when I learned about The Monarchs. I decided to check the book out, and I’d still say that book 2 wasn’t necessary.

There’s a solid plot and plenty of intrigue throughout. It will satisfy anyone looking for a quick read featuring magic and college drama. In book 1, readers are rooting for Vivi. She’s the underdog, a girl who grew up without magic, someone without a big family and a lot of money and support. She’s on her own and fights for her place as a Raven, and it’s easy to champion her. Scarlett’s not exactly nice, but her layers break down throughout the first book, and she’s humanized by the end. Both girls suffer losses and grow as characters.

That’s the difference with book 2. There’s a lack of a growth arc and readers don’t have the same investment in the underdog rising because Vivi’s now part of the group. In fact, she becomes the social chair at the start of book 2, putting her in a powerful position within her sorority. There’s some resentment from other Ravens, and that resentment grows as Scarlett and Vivi work together to figure out what’s going on and shut their sisters out. Since we never get their point of view, however, some of the sisters come off as petty and fickle.

Book 1 featured character deaths, and that had a significant impact on the tone of the book. By comparison, when the Ravens lose the right to host a major school event and lose their magic in book 2, it doesn’t carry the same weight. It’s only been a few months since they buried some of their members, including their former president, and Scarlett seems more concerned about living up to her family’s expectations and how frustrating it is to walk in heels without magic.

This was a fast read, and it did have plenty of action. It just lacked the same depth and heart as the first book, and it suffers by comparison. I don’t want to spoil anything, but the fact that this is the conclusion was also a mark against the book. It could have been a solid bridge to something very interesting, but since the series isn’t continuing, we won’t get to see what happens with that character. (Sorry to be vague, but if you read it, you’ll know exactly who and what I’m talking about.) I was interested in seeing how that development played out in the future and I’m disappointed. 3.5 stars.

<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/50395598-the-monarchs" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img border="0" alt="The Monarchs (The Ravens, #2)" src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1611940728l/50395598._SX98_.jpg" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/50395598-the-monarchs">The Monarchs</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6922454.Kass_Morgan">Kass Morgan</a><br/>
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4578265477">3 of 5 stars</a><br /><br />
I was given an advanced copy from NetGalley to review this sequel to "The Ravens" and it certainly did not disappoint. I really had enjoyed the first one when I read it last year, and as a sorority girl myself (Alpha Gamma Delta, represent), the idea of a sorority coven struck me as completely epic. "The Monarchs" was exciting just as "The Ravens" was, and I'm big fans of both Scarlett and Vivi, the main characters. The overall plot kind of read like a Buffy the Vampire Slayer episode, which again, fine by me since I enjoy the show. However, I did find it a bit hard to follow at times because there was so much going on, and so many secondary characters. I felt like in the end most of these side plots were resolved, although a few things that happened had me raise an eyebrow (example: nobody remembers anything that happens or acknowledges a particular character death due to "memory reworking", just seemed a bit like lazy writing to me). The story was very fun and I always enjoy the elaborate parties the Kappas throw. It would be super cool to see some kind of live-action version of these books. I also wonder if this is really meant as a duology or if we will get more stories in "The Ravens" series. Solid 3.5/5 for me. <br /><br />
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/58072998-a-j-martinez">View all my reviews</a>

I really enjoyed this sequel. I wish that there would be more books written about these characters to build on the duology.

The Monarchs is the sequel to The Ravens. In order to understand the characters and what is taking place, be sure to read The Ravens first. The Monarchs did a great job wrapping things up from the first book.

I absolutely loved the first book in this duology, THE RAVENS, so when I saw the sequel on NetGalley, I knew I had to request it right away. And it did not disappoint! THE MONARCHS is sweet, fun, fast-paced, thrilling, and so, so exciting. I loved getting to know the girls in the sorority more and to learn even more about the witchy aspects of Kappa Rho Nu. If you're a fan of the first book, definitely pick up this second one right away!

(Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Any quotes are taken from an advanced copy and may be subject to change upon final publication.)

I called the first book of this duology readable - but it should have remained a stand alone. The best part of the first book was the element of sisterhood, and while that was a little present in this book, it seemed like all of the characters had a major backslide between books. The pacing was slow because we rehashed a lot of the same interpersonal drama as the last book. The love interests remained deeply boring.

Content warnings: witchcraft, black magic, blood magic, murder, near-death experience, demon

The sisters of Kappa Rho Nu must deal with the consequences of destroying the talisman and the death of their power-hungry sister during the previous school year. Scarlett is still interested in Jackson, the guy from the other side of the tracks who is the polar opposite of her former longtime boyfriend Mason. Scarlett's "little" (the younger sorority sister she mentors) Vivi returns as a sophomore and is dating Mason (awkward!).

Vivi and Mason's relationship feels the same as Scarlett and Mason's relationship and carries on without much excitement. Scarlett is irked when Jackson starts dating a girl from Theta (their rival sorority), and as the relationship progresses Scarlett suspects there is magic at work in their connection.

Strange things are happening on the Waverly campus, with magic performing strangely or not at all. There's a mystery surrounding what is happening in the Georgia college, and Scarlett and Vivi make it their mission to discover what's going on with their magic.

Scarlett and Vivi make all the mistakes that would make the novel end much sooner -- not confiding in their sisters, not realizing they're in over their heads, not asking an adult for help. It seems a bit unrealistic that teenage witches wouldn't reach out to their elders for help with magical issues way outside of their knowledge and abilities.

Sophie Amoss continues the narration of the series with a performance that's unremarkable.

Recommended only for diehard fans of the first novel, or teens obsessed with college life and the occult. Fans of shows on The CW like The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina and Charmed may also enjoy this book.

Expanding the magic world with a new threat, the monarchs are ready to show that with or without magic, these girls will do what they think is right!

I think that the continuation of this book was well done as it was connected to the necklace, and it shows more of the world of magic with the world of the dead/demons.
I hated that the sisterhood fell apart without magic, though, and while I could understand it, it affected how strong it had been in the last book, which did make me sad.
However, the break-in of their magic was good, it was a wake-up call for the Ravens because they were too dependent on their magic, and even Scarlet noted it. The actual reader wakes up call was ViVi, as she almost was going through withdrawal when she had no magic, and she only had magic for a short time; this showed how addictive it could be PLUS how tempting the dark side is.

I enjoyed this sequel, not as much as the first book because I still think the ending was perfect and would have been great as a standalone. However, I am still an I HATE MASON MEMBER!

I did not read the first book in this duology but I am going to go back and read it because this book was great.

I love that the girls have to face adversity and work together to solve their problem. It is not easy to fix and it is messy but I appreciated the journey.

Looking forward to reading more books from Kass Morgan in the future.

YA/NA college age witches story

Where the main characters in "The Ravens" felt fleshed out, they felt just as much as props as the secondary characters in this book. Furthermore, the story didn't quite take off for me.

This series just gets more and more interesting. I have been loving the series as a whole and this one was no exception. I like that it's fantasy but not overwhelming so that my lack of suspension of belief causes me to roll my eyes.

I was VERY excited to receive this sequel, because I loved the first book! And this one did not disappoint, either! Lots of magic going on, and some intrigue and mystery to boot. I loved the college setting, as well as coming back to the characters we met the first time. Very well written, and I greatly enjoyed it!

After the devastating losses last semester, the sisters of Kappa Rho Nu are ready to move past their mistakes and become a stronger, better Kappa. Scarlett is determined to be the best president yet, and with the help of her little sis Vivi as social chair, it seems she's got a good start. But when the girls of Theta Omega Xi try to snatch the Spring Fling away from the Kappas, she knows that she has to prove to everyone, including her mom, that Kappa's still top. The Spring Fling turns out to be just the beginning of their problems. Typically easy spells go awry, events turn dangerous, and magic itself starts to slip out of reach for the Kappas, with no explanation. Clearly they're being targeted, but by who? Or what? Can Scarlett and Vivi stop them before Kappa implodes on itself?

I feel like this sequel was just ok. The Ravens would have been just fine as a standalone, and this story really didn't tie itself too well to the original storyline. It also didn't really add anything to the characters or seem at all necessary. And maybe it's just me, but I really dislike when a book title doesn't really make sense with the story. "The Monarchs" refers to the group of alumni from The Ravens (Kappa Rho Nu), but they really are utilized very little, and I think the title just doesn't fit well. The story was fine, not great but not terrible.

I received this ARC from Netgalley, in return for my honest and unbiased opinion.

As the follow-up to last year's The Ravens, this story picks up only a few weeks after the last one left off. We're following pretty much the same cast of characters as they try to pick up the pieces and recover from the trauma of the previous semester. Getting back to normal won't be so easy however, as we open with the awakening of a new big bad. Overall, reading this story gave me the same level of emotional satisfaction as watching an episode of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. You know the characters and how they are going to react to most situations and you know that there is a big bad out there influencing things, you just don't know how it's all going to come together. My only struggle with this addition to the series was that it took a really long time for the characters to recognize that there was an outside force impacting their lives, but they kept talking about how they would "know" if there was magic being used elsewhere on campus.
This story is told from two primary perspectives, Vivi and Scarlet, the same primary perspectives from the first book. The story would have us believe that they have grown much closer since the previous semester, but they still end up withholding a lot from each other and there's a brief reference to the fact that Scarlet isn't continuing to tutor Vivi in magic like she's supposed to. As a result of this negligence, Vivi ends up practicing a dangerous form of magic that has major implications for the entire coven. She is forgiven very quickly for this and I had a little trouble believing how fast she was let off the hook given what this coven just went through with a dark magic practitioner.
That being said, I flew through this book in one day. It is fast-paced and the descriptions of college life and social hierarchies are spot-on. It's always hard to review a second book without giving too much away about the first, but I saw enough promise here that I will continue the series if they continue writing it.

I didn't realize when I requested this book that it was a sequel, but I absolutely had to read the first book before I dove into this one. And I'm so glad I did! A truly fantastic follow up to a great first book, "The Monarchs" picks up right where the story left off. It goes a completely different direction, where the trouble is coming from outside the house, and takes the girls of Kappa on a wild ride. Highly recommend!

Thank you NetGalley and publishers for providing me with this advance reader copy.

Description from NetGalley:
The ultra-exclusive Kappa Rho Nu—the Ravens—are determined to restore balance to the world. After destroying an ancient talisman and barely saving their sorority in the process, they’ll go to any lengths to keep their secret as Westerly’s most powerful coven of witches.

Scarlett Winter, a legacy Raven, has finally gotten what she’s always wanted: Scarlett is Kappa Rho Nu’s newest president. Unlike her mother or older sister before her, Scarlett has a vision for a more unified Kappa, one where no sister falls to the forces of wicked magic. But the powers of the presidency have their own pitfalls. And with the pressures of alumni bureaucracy and past failures weighing on her, Scarlett finds herself at risk of losing the very thing that defined her: her magic.

As a new member of Kappa Rho Nu, Vivi Devereaux finally knows what it’s like to belong. She has her Kappa Rho Nu sisters behind her and, with Scarlett’s blessing, Vivi’s happily dating her first college crush (who also just happens to be Scarlett’s ex). When Scarlett assigns Vivi the coveted role of social chair, Vivi is determined to live up to her Big’s expectations. But Vivi’s studies in witchcraft take a deadly turn when she uncovers a new form of magic, one that has mysterious ties to Kappa Rho Nu’s past and the vengeful demon once tied to their talisman.

With the weight of their newfound roles and the terrible price of destroying the talisman haunting them, Scarlett and Vivi must save their sisterhood when the forces of hell itself and a rival sorority threaten to unleash havoc on the Ravens.

So this is the conclusion of a duology with the first one being The Ravens, which I gave a 5/5. I was super excited to get an ARC for The Monarchs. Our POVs are the same as the first book with Vivi and Scarlet taking up their new duties in the sorority. From the get go, events and information don’t leave much breathing room for the girls to do much else, even school work. I was sucked into the story much faster I feel than in the first one. I won’t lie though the romantic storylines were not doing it for me, like I didn’t really care about them as they unfolded. I also had to remind myself who the other sisters in the coven/sorority were as I started reading because I was drawing blanks. Got it all sorted out in the end.

The plot takes off and has the girls reeling when their magic starts to fail them and they learn what they unleashed in the previous book. I’m afraid to say too much since this is a sequel.

If you liked the first one, you’ll like this one too. 4.5/5

A great sequel to The Monarchs! This book picks up right where the first book left off and takes Vivi and Scarlett on some wild adventures. There were several elements I was not expecting, especially towards the end. It felt set up for another book to come - though as far as I've heard it's only a duology. I would not hesitate to pick up a third book in the series.