4.5/5

It's so exciting to return to the Winter Seas alongside Mary and Sam!

When I reviewed Dark Water Daughter, I critiqued that our protagonists barely had any "screen time" (page time? I am listening to it on audio, so maybe sound time?) together, and I am happy to report that they have a lot of quality time in this sequel. It was worth the wait to get to know these characters as individuals first and then have them become a team. While I don't love the whole "we can't be together because we are an example" excuse, I do allow for it because the angst is delicious and we need a reason for why their relationship has not grown romantically.

We start our adventure when Sam is informed that his twin brother, Ben, is in prison (as he should be). Of course, no prisonbreak is complete without being hunted by a secret organization, right? If the people trying to kill you are also the only ones with the knowledge to heal the messed up magic bond that you have with your sociopathic twin that your grieving mother gave you because of a cult, then I guess espionage is the next best thing. It's a good thing you find a spy when you break out of a different captive-hostage situation. Oh, and did I mention the war that is coming? It's a very busy time.

My highlights:
-Mary singing with the Stormsingers (despite how we got there)
-Sam's flashbacks. Only fair after having Mary's in the previous book.
-How Mary and Sam interact with each other. I like how he is so honorable and she is being so respectful of that, however, she doesn't hesitate to matters into her own hands. Truly, a great partnership.
-Despite me fighting this tooth and nail...Ben. He's just so snarky. At least he's trying, I suppose. I do like how he learns to respect Mary. Is he redeemed? That's spoilers, but let's just say that I am intrigued by the end.

The narrators did a fantastic job!

I can't wait to return to the Winter Seas.

I didn’t realize in requesting this arc (TY to the publisher) that this was the second in a series, because they expect a review I had to read it. Believe it or not, a lot of other books you’d be lost and out of place. I think this speaks volumes on this one, it was so much fun!

I love hm long as a person and author. Her audiobooks are always on point, and this shouldn't be surprising cause of house much she enjoys the medium. Hit it out of the park as always