Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of this book!

First of all, I appreciate the recap on the author's website. NetGalley wouldn't let me copy or click on the hyperlink but it wasn't that long to type out. While I remember the gist from the first, I haven't re-read it since it first came out so the recap was definitely essential for people who haven't re-read. Slightly off-tangent but I did fall-down a rabbit hole on the author's websites because the website was very nicely done and had a lot of information available regarding the world-building in the book. There was a page for the magic-system alone and a detailed summary of the first book! I wish more authors would do this if there has been a significant time gap between the release of books.

The beginning was very slow with very little action. There's also the introduction of a new character, Himalia, who I had to Ctrl + F the recap to remember who she was it. I wasn't very interested in her POV as I didn't think she was that compelling of a character and I felt there was too much from her POV which mostly consisted of her wandering around and doing research. I also didn't like how Aranel was willing to turn a blind-eye to the atrocities being committed by Zenrya, I felt like that was out of character. Not only that, but that he would also become very close with Zenrya too. I also thought Mirya was an unnecessary character and I wish it just stuck to the main cast from the last book because I had some trouble keeping everyone straight.

I found myself less interested in this book because most of it focused on battles with Zenrya rather then the truly interesting world-building and magic-system. The story did pick up though, with the introduction of bonds with the planetary beasts. I thought that was the most interesting part of the book and it definitely makes me plan on reading the next book.

Altogether, I thought this was a good sequel to the first but it didn't hold my attention until the last third or so. That being said, the world-building is definitely the strongest part and I wish it focused more on that and less on the battles.