Thanks to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I have found that I really enjoyed Prophecy and now Odyssey. After learning she is the twin to the prince, the prince's regent is determined to get rid of her. With the help of the Methusian that she has feelings for, they set out on a journey to find The Pool of Genezing, which is supposed to be a healing pool. In order to earn the protect of Methusians, and to ensure that Methusians are accepted by the prince, Persephone and Azriel marry (solely to help their people). Afterwards, they go on a journey to three different islands in hopes of finding the pool in order to save Persephone's brother, the prince. The prince meanwhile, has to outwit his regent who is determined to claim his place in his stead.

This is a quick and fun read. I love the banter between Azriel and Persephone and their growing feelings for each other (well, Persephone's -- Azriel has always loved her).

I am excited for the third and final book in the series and recommend giving this series a chance!

Book review: 3.75/5 ⭐️
Genre: YA fantasy, book 2
Themes: prophecy, quest, villainy
📖 Read if you like: The Hurricane Wars, The Princess Bride, Forging Silver into Stars

Prophecy ended with a big reveal and a betrayal. Persephone and Azriel now find themselves in the lion’s maw and even further from each other’s comfort. As a last ditch attempt to save their lives, Azriel bargains the mythical healing pool of his people to the regent Mordesius who holds the king’s head as ransom. With a 100 day deadline, the pair will set out on a quest that will take them across the kingdom and introduce more of this world and its people. It is an adventurous sequel that was both exciting and easy to read.

The characters: The regent Mordesius is somewhat a parody of a villain. Picture Lord Farquaad, but with teeth. He is duplicitous, conniving and controlling to an allegorical point. His need for power is perhaps only surpassed by his pride and desire for physical prowess and virility. His long hand of villainy is so obvious you can’t help but think that King Finnius is so naive as to verge on stupidity (this happily proves false!), it also makes you wonder why they would search for the pool in the first place. Nothing in his character should make Persephone believe that she could trust him to keep his end of the bargain. She is in fact the Katniss Everdeen of this story. A necessary component, but a pawn nonetheless that greater minds have to maneuver for their own larger goals. She doesn’t make plans or often walks right into a trap with hot headed temperament, but likes to believe she is in control. Her denial of an obvious attraction to Azriel can also come across as somewhat tedious. If you’re fond of slow-burn romances this one is certainly for you, but I thought it was almost too slow. Azriel was once again a star with some heated banter and comedic behaviour. I would love to learn more about his character besides his obvious role as charming saviour and comedic sidekick. Romance aside, It was nice to have a crew on this adventure and to get a bit of camaraderie going, though it ended earlier than I would have liked.

It was very much a book 2 in that it links the opening number and the finale. There was a certain inevitability to this ending that you could see the lines of in Prophecy, but I really enjoyed the cross kingdom adventure in this fool’s errand of a quest. It certainly expanded on the world building, which I was craving and brought in some interesting allies for the future. Overall, I very much enjoyed this instalment and am looking forward to completing this series. Thank you to Tundra Book Group and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book. I have already been approved for book 3 so I will be diving right in!

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy

Odyssey by M.L. Fergus is the second book in the third person multi-POV YA political fantasy Fractured Kingdom trilogy. After learning that she is the long-lost sister of King Finn, Persephone has a new goal of finding a mysterious body of water that contains healing waters. But Mordesius wants the healing waters for himself and his political scheming reaches new heights as he attempts to take the throne from both Finn and Persephone.

Whereas I felt that the last book could be called a romantic fantasy, I felt that the romance wasn’t quite as prominent in this one. Azriel and Persephone’s relationship does continue to develop and their feelings are no longer subtext, but the romance-coded language has been toned down and there’s a lot of page time devoted to other things. For me, this is fine in a YA fantasy that is focused on political movements and never really felt like the romance was the whole point or was going to carry the series forward. I still want to see how their story ends in the last book, but I’m expecting it to be developing more to the side of the political storylines or will be a massive portion of the last book.

Mordesius is just as much of a terrible person in this book as he was in the last book. He’s still full of himself, deeply misogynistic, thinks about women in really uncomfortable ways, and he’s such a Humperdink-type character that I don’t mind being in his head. I’ve read a lot of fantasy where there's’ a male lead who’s head I hate being in specifically because of this kind of content but Mordesius doesn’t create that same ick factor because he’s just such an over the top terrible person who is so disconnected from reality that he feels like a character. For me, all of this really contributes to how Princess Bride-esque the book feels so I’m here for it.

The political storyline takes center-stage this time. The last book set-up a lot of the dynamics of the counsel and the courts as well as how those with power view Mordesius (and it’s certainly not favorable). Mordesius wants the throne and he even holds Finn’s trusted former nanny hostage in order to not only remain regent but to also become the heir and then tries to strongarm the court into supporting him. You can feel how everyone in the room is thinking ‘Are we really going to just go along with this?’ but there’s not a lot of things that some of them can do as the ones who can do something are doing their own scheming.

Content warning for misogyny, slut shaming, and mentions of sexual assault

I would recommend this to fans of the Princess Bride looking for a YA fantasy and readers who like political fantasies with more over-the-top characters

Not Finn unexpectedly carrying this book for me...

Odyssey is the second book in the Fractured Kingdom series, and I should've known by the title that it was going to be very travel heavy... Luckily, the pacing was still fast enough to keep me on my toes, and the cliffhanger is going to have me waiting rather impatiently for the next one on Netgalley. I've also watched The Princess Bride now, so I understand and agree with the comparisons between the two.
Picking up directly where the last book left off, we start with Persephone and Azriel making a deal with Mordesius: they will search for a legendary healing pool to save Finn...and to fix Mordesius. Persephone and Azriel set off on an adventure searching for this healing pool, and that journey takes almost the entire book. It was a bit less action-packed and exciting than the first book, in my opinion, but it kept my interest throughout and I liked the expanded worldbuilding. At first, I wasn't thrilled about the increased number of Mordesius (and a few other side characters) POV chapters, but I enjoyed the extra time with Finn. Overall, I think this book might suffer a bit from second-book syndrome, but I'm excited for the next one.
This part of the story was definitely meant to develop the characters and their relationships. I felt like Azriel wasn't as important to the plot itself in this book, but his banter was still fun for the most part. Persephone stepped into her role as princess well, and I liked seeing her gain confidence in herself and her identity. I'm interested to see how she'll change with the implications of this book's ending. Rachel is still kind of flat as a character, but there are hints of exciting subplots for her in the future. Finn was my favorite in this book, just because he's decided to take on the mantra "I will cause problems on purpose" and I love that for him. Also, I like how Mordesius is just plain villainous...he has no redeeming qualities and he doesn't shy away from being evil at all.
Odyssey is the second book in the Fractured Kingdom series, and it contains just as much court intrigue, banter, and adventure as the first book.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the free e-ARC!

3.75/5

I am so lucky to have received an ARC of this book right after I finished Prophecy. Odyssey continued right where Prophesy left off and had all of the tension and fantastical elements that the first book promised. Azriel and Persephone were perfect and the side characters were so detailed. The world really expanded in this book which allowed some amazing adventuring to take place. The ending was an amazing cliffhanger so I will be anxiously awaiting the conclusion to this fairytale-like YA fantasy series!

Thank you NetGalley and Penguin Canada for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

M.L. Fergus’s “Odyssey” is a captivating journey that combines high-stakes adventure, compelling characters, and breathtakingly vivid storytelling. From the very beginning, this novel draws you into a world filled with mystery, danger, and moments of profound beauty, leaving you utterly engrossed until the final page.

Fergus’s talent for world-building is undeniable. The landscapes are richly imagined, bursting with detail and atmosphere, making every setting feel as though you’ve stepped right into it. Whether it’s a storm-tossed sea, a hidden enclave of secrets, or a moment of quiet introspection, Fergus’s prose brings it all to life with cinematic clarity.

At the heart of “Odyssey” is its unforgettable cast of characters. The protagonist is a perfect blend of strength and vulnerability, their journey one of both external challenges and deep personal growth. The relationships they form—whether built on trust, conflict, or reluctant alliances—are dynamic and authentic, adding layers of emotional depth to the narrative.

The pacing is masterful, balancing edge-of-your-seat action with quieter moments of reflection and discovery. Fergus has a knack for crafting twists and turns that feel both surprising and completely earned, making the story unpredictable in the best possible way. Themes of resilience, identity, and the search for meaning are woven seamlessly into the plot, giving the book a sense of depth and resonance that lingers long after you’ve finished reading.

Fergus’s writing is both lyrical and gripping, creating a tone that is equal parts poetic and pulse-pounding. The descriptions are lush without being overwrought, and the dialogue feels natural and true to each character.

“Odyssey” is a triumph of storytelling, a tale that will sweep you away on an unforgettable adventure while touching your heart in unexpected ways. It’s the kind of book you’ll want to savor, yet can’t help but devour. For fans of epic tales filled with courage, wonder, and heart, M.L. Fergus’s “Odyssey” is an absolute must-read. Highly recommended!

*Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher, and the author for this advanced copy in exchange for an honest review*

Before I start my review, I want to clear up any possible confusion. Apparently, both books in this series have two names. I will be using the names that were on my ARC, so I will refer to the first book as Prophecy and this one as Odyssey.

I was so excited to be able to read this book right after I finished the first one, so thank you thank you thank you to the author and the publisher, it was amazing to read them back-to-back. This book was just as engaging and entertaining as Prophecy. It had more of an adventure story, so I flew through it, finishing it in just a few settings. It also addressed some of the issues that I had with the first one. We get to see more of the world in this book, which was awesome. The different groups of people were interesting and I loved meeting them. Mordesius was just as sick and twisted in this book, which I appreciated; it’s nice to have a villain who is just evil for the sake of being evil. Speaking of evil, Murdock gets his own POV in this book, which was interesting, it also allows the plot to move forward more easily. One thing I am still waiting for is Azriel’s POV, I need him to have one in the next book. I enjoyed him a lot more in this book, and he did appear more, but he is still a little flat for me. He needs his own chance to shine. Him and Persephone were absolutely adorable and I was so glad that they got to explore their romance more. One thing I missed was the side characters. Because they moved so much and visited so many places, there were a lot of characters that were introduced and then forgotten about. Although Rachel was featured more than in Prophecy, which I liked.
The plot was engaging and I think I enjoyed it more than the first one. The plot twists were entertaining, even when I saw them coming.

Overall, I loved this book, and I really really want to read the next one.

I want to say thank you from the bottom of my heart to the author, the publisher and Netgalley for allowing me the privilege of being allowed to read this book!

I am so grateful I was allowed to read the second book in the trilogy!! This book was everything I hoped it would be, you killed me with that ending though! It was completely not what I was expecting at all, the idea in my head on how that ending could have gone would have been incredible based on assumptions I was making in my head from their adventures and all that was said to them. I really wished it could have been that way because you stole something from me I wish we could get back.

Besides that point I am still so much in love! You made me feel literally all of the emotions and I really loved all surprise but perfect twists in this one! I am waiting for you to release the third because I need the ending like now. Until than though Prophecy will be coming home to me and Odyssey will be preordered!!

Thank you for giving me something new and incredible to love!!

This was a strong sequel in the Fractured Kingdom series, it had that element that i was looking for and enjoyed the continuation of this series. M.L. Fergus has a strong writing style and was hooked from the first page. The characters continued to feel like they were supposed to and was engaged with what was happening to them. I hope there is more in this series and am excited for more from M.L. Fergus.

I thankfully got approved for Book 2 almost as soon as I finished Book 1. So I like to thank NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to jump right back into the world and continue on.

Let me tell you, it's been FOREVER since a villain is 100% a piece of shit in a story and absolutely delights in being a said piece of shit. M.L. Fergus has me wide eyed in delight on this person she has written. It's like taking Alan Rickman's Sheriff of Nottingham, making him younger (hotter in face, maybe not in body), a cripple (we found out how he became cripple too!), horny, and absolutely sadistic.

Our ML is so rogue, and the way he does things to the FL to catch her off her guard! Changing her tune of 'ugh, him' to make her go 'oh, him!' was perfect.

The world building got better! Seeing more people, journeying to the various places that they need to go to was a delight and made the world not seem so confined to the castle.

A couple things came to mind in this book:

1. Is our male lead the King of the prophecy? A part of me is undecided on that.
2. Is the guy that is following them with the birthmark on his face Mordesius' brother that apparently died? Is the birth mark actually burning from the estate that was lit on fire?
3. Is our female lead pregnant? The things she was saying, doing, and how she was constantly ill while our male lead was gone has me thinking she is.
4. That branch that our female lead brought to Mordesius, surprised he doesn't crush the leaves and become 'whole'. Or does it not work that way?
5. Rachel. She looks like the female lead's twin. Nothing has been explained about why is that? Were there triplets? Is it sorcery that makes Rachel look how she does? Is our female lead actually her sister?


I'm surprised on how much I'm enjoying this fantasy romp. Shame it'll be over in three books. I feel like there is more to go on in this world. But, nevertheless, I can't wait for Book 3.

I loved book 2! The continuation of the story felt natural and I didn't feel like I was missing anything, it was super easy to jump right back in.