Thank you to NetGalley for providing an advanced reader's copy in exchange for an honest review. This sequel delivered, and did not fall victim to the common pitfalls of second books where the heroine feels betrayed by the love interest upon a reveal, or the stereotypical "must sacrifice myself for the prophecy". The supporting characters did not fall to the wayside purely for the plot, I grew to love Mari and Griffen more. The plot was evenly paced and didn't drag anything out unnecessarily. I usually dislike multiple POVs but enjoyed the switch between Kane and Arwen, especially in the same scene. 5 stars, just as good if not better than the first!

Read if you like:
- Romantasy
- Forced proximity
- Enemies to lovers
- Hurt/comfort
- King and healer
- Fae, witches, dragons and magic

This novel delivers tension, spice, and anxiety representation. Arwen and Kane have fantastic chemistry, and every scene focusing on their romance is intense and steamy. I appreciate that we got a story along with the romance. I tend to like the story more than the page sex scenes, which we get a few chapters of in this book, but we also have this incredible journey that our characters are on to save the world they are in. The plot and world-building balance the character development well, and the way the author expands the world - its magic system, political turmoil, cultures, and creatures - is so immersive and fascinating. I also love the author's use of imagery and symbolism throughout the story. It's captivating, and I found it impossible to put the book down. And that ending!! It's an intense and stunning (and horrifying) shocker! I might have had to pick my jaw off the floor, and I shed a few tears before the story ended.

Book two in The Sacred Stones trilogy. I'm glad that I read the first book recently, so I remembered a lot of what happened. Kane, though...I couldn't forget him! I do love Kane and his fierce love for Arwen.

I did enjoy this second book. It had enough Kane/Arwen content to satisfy my love of romance, but it also had a lot of action. I didn't think one character had any point except to try and put a wedge between Kane and Arwen, though. Annoying. I loved Mari and Griffin and could see them getting a story.

A massive cliffhanger ending, and I need to find out what happens!

Thank you to Berkley Romance and NetGalley for an advance readers copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Sometimes second books in a series are a letdown. They can feel a bit slow, maybe just carrying through some necessary plot points on the way to the climactic conclusion. I did not have that feeling at all with A Promise of Peridot! This was one of the best second books in a trilogy that I have read! It does end with a dramatic cliffhanger and I can’t wait for the conclusion!

A Promise of Peridot
By Kate Golden
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
🌶️🌶️🌶️

First of all, so thankful to have been selected to read this Advance copy and be able to share my thoughts and excitement. This is Book 2 in The Sacred Stones series and it did NOT disappoint. If you haven’t seen my review of Book 1 A Dawn of Onyx, check it out first on IG @thesagekindle.

This book picked up right where Onyx left off. But this time…. We get Kane’s POV! And whooo dragon daddy… 🥵 he takes self-care seriously haha! IYKYK

This book continues on with Arwen’s struggle once she learns she is the last full blooded fae and the fate that awaits her.

There is adventure, mishaps, pirates, Indiana Jones-style cave exploring, witches, an Atlantis-esque city, painful self-discovery and, of course, our favorite dark Dragon. Our side characters (they really need a spin-off!!), Mari and Griffin, are still here and the sarcastic humor and angst just slays me in the greatest of ways.

As mentioned in my Onyx review, this series has a chokehold on me. It’s Romantasy to its core and I’m absolutely beside myself knowing I have to wait until October for Book 3 A Reign of Rose (you know I’ll be stalking NetGallery for an ARC!). Thank you, Kate Golden, for stringing these words together into a story that makes me forget I’m reading.

Now, get off my page and go preorder this!

A Promise of Peridot by Kate Golden Review
5/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
2.5/5🌶️🌶️🌶️
I have so many feelings. A Dawn of Onyx was one of my favorite books in 2022 and I was extremely excited for book two. Well, this book blew me away, I expected to love it but I did not expect Kate to destroy me and put me back together again. I have a ton of thoughts, I could write a full-on essay about this book. (If anyone wants to talk about this book after it comes out or if you had the pleasure of arc-reading it like me, my DMs are open.) Kate once again wove a beautiful story in an amazing magical world. We have such great characters in this series and the character development that happens in this book is fantastic. I know it's just the beginning for some and I can't wait to read the rest. There is so much change and inner turmoil in this book that just makes me tear up for all of them. Kane and Arwen, own my heart, their journey, and their growth. I can't even find the words to describe the emotions I went through for them. 🫠 I think one of the things I love most about this series and this book especially is how Kate handles the imperfections of characters. They can be frustrating to read but for me, that's what makes them lovable. I don't want perfect characters, I need them to have flaws, to have me yelling at them on the pages and cursing their name. It makes them more real and relatable to me. I’m more invested in them and their story. Their flaws and my frustration with them make the growth and change so much better, and when they finally realize the way they have been acting, ugh those are the scenes I love the most. The groveling, the self-realization, and growth. Nothing is better in my opinion. The story will have you feeling the full range of emotions and the ending, it took me a whole evening to process that ending, and I'm still not sure I've completely processed it. I will forever recommend this series to everyone who asks and those who don't. I am anxiously awaiting book 3, I can’t wait to see what Kate has in store.

Thank you so much, Kate and Berkeley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Wow....Absolutely amazing!

The second book to the Sacred Stones was even better than the first! I was so happy to be able to read Kanes point of view this time. His emotions are so raw and impressive. By reading his points of view I was able to connect and understand his character much more.

Arwen had so much growth in the book. I was so happy to see that she didn't stay a weak and resentful character after what she went through in the first book. She shows her strength and perseverance in this book.

The relationship between Arwen and Kane keeps you wanting more of them. The push and pull are just the perfect amount to keep you hooked.

I never found myself bored with this book as it was constantly moving and keeping me on my toes. The action, romance, and heart break was amazing.

The ending had my heart racing! I need the 3rd book to come out soon! I'm so in love with The Sacred Stones. I can't wait for the next book!

A Dawn of Onyx was a totally bingeable, uniquely magical, and utterly swoon worthy debut that left me desperate for more in A Promise of Peridot- and BOY did it provide!

The dual pov was 🤌🏼 everythingggg a romantasy reader could dream of. kane ravenwood, THE MAN THAT YOU ARE. the banter, slow burn, and tension was delicious and the payoff was oh so sweet (and spicy👀).

The expanding world was captivating to explore, and Kate Golden’s beautiful writing had me wanting to visit each kingdom. Our side characters stole the show, and i cannot wait to see how their relationships progress in the next installment!

Overall, this is an EASY 5 stars. This series is oh so binge worthy and perfect for romantasy lovers.

thank you netgalley & berkley for an ARC of aPoP! 🫶🏼

That ending!! I cannot wait for the third book in this series. I have so many questions and I can’t wait to see how the rest of this story plays out.

A Promise of Peridot picks up right where we left off after A Dawn of Onyx. These characters were going THROUGH it in this book. Arwens eternal optimism is tested in this book as she is dealing with her pain and loss and the news about the prophecy and her future. She’s enraged with Kane for betraying her and she’s dealing with a lot of complicated questions about who she is. I loved seeing Arwen’s character growth in this installment.

This is such a fun romantasy series and I’m so excited for the next book

Upon getting approved for this arc, I immediately dove back into the story of Arwen and Kane. It picks up right where A Dawn of Onyx left off with Arwen clearly upset following the final scenes of the last book. We have an inside look at her grieving process as she tries to make sense of what happened. Seeing a character go through such strong emotions on page makes Arwen even more relatable. Kate Golden does a wonderful job of portraying such raw emotions that I got emotional during the first half of the book. What the author also does well is introducing the found family trope to help Arwen through her dark times, which pulls her back up.

Although some may not like to enemies to lovers back to enemies, I appreciate that the author makes us earn back Kane’s love and trust. Character growth is achieved by both characters in this book, and I believe it was done through the dual POV chapters. As readers, we are able to get an inside look at our characters, their emotions, and internal struggles through this process.

A Promise of Peridot is an excellent second novel in The Sacred Stones series and I am already waiting patiently for the third book before this one is even officially released! An addictive, unforgettable story I will continue to think about until the next book!!

If you didn't read the first in this series, A Promise of Peridot won't make much sense to you. So go back and read A Dawn of Onyx first. These read quite a bit like Jennifer L. Armentrout's Blood & Ash books, with hidden powers, nations at war and men who aren't what they seem. They're shorter though and I don't find the FMC insufferable as I do Poppy after four 600-page books. (Sorry, Poppy.) I can't say Golden is treading new ground, but if you want something to scratch that "romantasy" itch this is a solid choice. I'll keep reading this series.

I VERY quickly fell in love with Kate Golden and her writing when I received an ARC for A Dawn Of Onxy. I was extremely excited when I had the chance to once again ARC read APoP.

I feel like Kate Golden speaks to my soul the way she writes fantasy romance. I immediately get sucked into the world until it spits me out with a cliff (seriously that cliff hanger though?!).

If you enjoy slow burn with lots of tension, banter, and amazing side characters (im looking at you Griffin 😍) this series is for you.

Plus who could turn down dual POV with a dragon 😍

A Promise of Peridot is an excellent second installment of the Sacred Stones Trilogy by Kate Golden.

It has action, love, lust, hope, despair, sacrifice, selfishness, betrayal, joy, trust, and so much more.

We pick up right where we left off in A Dawn of Onyx, with them traveling to the kingdom of Citrine to escape Lazarus’ army and try to gather forces to eventually fight him. Arwen hates Kane, Arwen is devastated and grieving, and we get to see so much of that deep dark sadness and hopelessness inside her.

I personally love reading about a character’s dark times. It makes them more real, and you can really see how they think and feel inside when they are suffering. We all have coping mechanisms we turn to, and Arwen is no different.

This gave the perfect opportunity for the found family/ friends to come in play and help lift her up as well as process everything happening without giving up. I really loved Mari, Kane, and Griffin being ther for her in their own ways. Even Fedrik – while new, he wants to help her not be so sad.

The other thing I loved was how the romance took a back seat in the first bit of the book. It makes sense, she just lost her mom, she learned something life changing, and she feels betrayed by the man she is romantic with; in what world would she just go back to bed with Kane in this situation? It is perfectly reasonable and I actually liked spending time with Arwen figuring herself out again.

I will say that I love Kane, and I was so happy to get some Kane POV chapters! I like how he has his tough, mean, dark side, and also his vulnerable, emotional, loving side with Arwen. He gets jealous seeing her spend time with Fedrik (who wouldn’t), and tries to take care of her when she wants to suffer on her own.

The one thing I didn’t love was the introduction of Fedrik as a love interest – I liked him and his involvement in the group/book, but I just didn’t want Arwen to like anyone but Kane! Kane is just perfection and while everything with Fedrik was written so well, I just love Kane!

I am agonizing over the ending and need the third book immediately! October feels so far away!

Overall, A Promise of Peridot by Kate Golden is a wonderful read and such a great second novel in the Sacred Stones trilogy! I recommend this book and series to anyone who loves fantasy enemies to lovers, slow burn, depictions of depression and coping, and found family/friendships.

Worthy of a re-read.

As much as I loved the first book, the second edition fell flat and I DNFd around 30% through. I feel like the female main character is so whiny, and her reasons for wanting to stay away from the King are pretty flimsy. Though I agree with Arwen that Kane betrayed her, and it would not have been good for them to immediately take up with one another, it still felt like a forced separation. It fell flat for me, unfortunately.

A Promise of Peridot by Kate Golden is the 2nd book in her The Sacred Stones series. After the climatic ending from A Dawn of Onyx, Arwen, Kane, Griffin, Mari and the rest of their group escape to find a sanctuary, which leads them to Citrine, in hope of finding some allies to defeat the Fae King Lazarus. Arwen and Kane are both emotionally destroyed, after shocking revelations with Arwen discovering her new found powers, and her angry at Kane’s betrayal. Arwen (the last full fae blooded born) who is destined to kill Lazarus, accepting her fate in a prophecy meant to be her doom.

Arwen has no choice to travel with Kane, since she is with the remaining group; Kane continues to protect Arwen, always able to handle her anxiety and keeping her calm. They do have an uneasy truce, with the prophecy on the horizon, and the group determined to find the Blade of the Sun; which is a weapon that would be able to use to kill King Lazarus.

The truce between Arwen and Kane is difficult for both of them, as Kane still has strong feelings for Arwen, including protecting her; she fights against her unresolved feelings for Kane. In a short time, with the danger escalating when they cannot find the Blade, the chemistry and heat between them eventually opens their true feelings of love. The side characters were very good, equally as good as Kane and Arwen. I did love Kane and Arwen together, but I also like Griffin and Mari together.

What follows is intense, non- stop action, as they travel through other kingdoms in the hunt for the Blade; including the journey through the cave and island. The last third of the book was full of adventure, danger, intrigue, fast-paced, twists and turns. I was unable to put the book down, as it kept my attention throughout. It was also emotional, as well as steamy; with Kane and Arwen finally being together.

As we reach the last ¼ of the book, Arwen and Kane’s last battle was epic, with another betrayal that changes things. The epilogue was wild and crazy, with a cliffhanger that was complex and an ending that threw us for a loop. A Promise of Peridot is an exciting, non-stop action filled, with twists that had me unable to put the book down. A Promise of Peridot was so very well written by Kate Golden. With that intense and wild ending, I can’t wait to read the final book in this trilogy.

This was so addictive and captivating! I finished “A Dawn of Onyx“ fully OBSESSED with this couple, and “A Promise of Peridot” did not disappoint. Picking up shortly after the end of Onyx, this book was quick to grab my attention and hold it, with loads of action and exciting new kingdoms.

“You matter more to me. More than revenge, redemption – anything.”

While I do think book #1 had a bit of a stronger plotline, Peridot wasn’t lacking adventures or entertainment. And most importantly (for me, at least), it wasn’t lacking Kane & Arwen content. I did find myself a bit irritated by the vague love triangle (dare I say the cursed words) and the lengthy and repetitive fights, as it kinda started giving “Iron Flame”… those that know, know. But thankfully, once my loves finally got over it, it was worth the wait!

“A light like yours cannot be dampened by circumstance.”

We got more of our favourite side characters, plus some gorgeous character development from Arwen – she was so strong in this book, always fighting back and never giving up, and I loved watching her growth. I also loved the new fantasy elements and fascinating new places – sometimes I thought the actual circumstances that lead to the characters reaching those places were a bit random, but it was a fun ride!

Now I just have to wait for book #3 to relieve me of that brutal ending…
Thank you so much to Kate Golden for sending me this free copy in exchange for an honest review! Definitely recommended to my fellow romantasy lovers 💕💕.

A Promise of Peridot by Kate Golden is a fast-paced, fantastical, and enjoyable read. The second novel in this thrilling romantasy saga will leave you just as breathless as the first installment.

Oh my gosh. I am speechless with this ending. Reading this series is like being transported to a magical fantasy world filled with fae, magic, and adventure.

- Fae
- Kingdom politics
- Dislike to lovers
- Banter
- Steamy tension
- Lots of jealousy and pining


Kate Golden has done it again. The world she created is so magical and her writing just transports you there. I was so immersed in the action and characters that I forgot I was reading. The start was a little slow because she was recalling the end of book 1 but I honestly appreciate that because I always forget what happened at the end of the last book lol

I love Arwen and Kane. Arwen has become a total warrior and I honestly enjoyed her being a little reckless ❤️‍🔥 Kane would do anything for Arwen and don’t we all deserve a badass dragon shifter who would do the same?! lol

The ending was SO GOOD! I truly did not know how she was going to end it knowing there is another book coming and I personally love a well-done cliffhanger. This one had my jaw on the floor.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️


Thank you NetGalley and Kate Golden for the ARC copy*

Thank you NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for this arc in exchange for an honest review!

"You matter more to me. More than revenge, redemption--anything. Don't you know I love you, Arwen?...I'm in love with you." His laugh was rough and tired. "Desperately so. The way those sailors lost at sea love the bird that guides them home."

3.5 stars

This would have been so much better if it weren't for Arwen. She was immature, hypocritical, and cruel at times. There just hasn't been enough positives about her character to warrant the feelings that Kane has for her.

The story itself was interesting, though I think this one was slower and not as much was happening. Another character was introduced specifically to drive a wedge between Arwen and Kane; I don't think he served any other purpose to the story, which was really annoying.

And Kane was fucking amazing despite his icky taste in women, present company included. It's always fun to watch these really dark, villainous MMC's slowly start to show their gooey centers.

I'll still continue the series, but the exciting parts of this series are evenly matched with the disappointments imo.

So I liked this one even more than the first book and it gave me more of everything that was in the first book, This book continues after the first book and follows Arwen, Kane, and Co as they face a lot of action and adventure. This book was very fast-paced and nuanced especially when dealing with Arwen's grief and emotions. I liked the character development and how both Kane and Arwen grew throughout the whole book. This is a slow burn, enemies to lovers after what happened at the end of the last book, and it's very worth the wait! If you loved romantasies with steam then you need to check this one out. Thank you Berkley for this arc for an honest review.

Read if you like:
- Romantasy
- Forced proximity
- Enemies to lovers
- Hurt/comfort
- King and healer
- Fae, witches, dragons and magic