What an enjoyable second part (and end) to this duology ! I really liked the fact that while we were with a few POVs in the present, there was one POV that was from the past, letting us know little by little what happened, how the different characters are linked in the present and the role some are playing in the shadows. Some revelations are just left for you like breadcrumbs and it ends up all making sense in the bigger picture. I definitely recommend this duology !

Firstly would like to say thank you to netgalley and tara o'toole for a of this e-arc.

I cannot believe its done, i have finished this duology, and i really did have a great time with it.

I did enjoy how things came out and who the true identity for the sect leader was i should of seen it coming but atlas i did not.

I would recommend this book to my fantasy girlies to give it ago.

I really enjoyed both of the book in the duology. The first one, while quick paced and plot driven, did not appeal to me as much as this one did. This one had far more family intricacies and magical power fights. Although keeping up with those plots and intricacies gave me a little bit of book whip lash. The big fight at the end had me actually imagining every move and moment word for word. Which i absolutely love and would think it ( and the first book) could easily be made into a limited series fantasy show similar to the Shanara chronicles. I would eat those up! I have to say, Tara Otoole has a very singular writing atmosphere and i really look forward to reading her future books as well. all in all 4 stars.

Gave this book a 4.75 stars on Storygraph. I very much enjoyed this sequel to the Rite of Radnick! Both books are excellent, but the AoA was faster paced and more action than its predecessor. The plot kept me guessing and the romance was just enough to be thoroughly enjoyable. This duology is every bit as good as some of the more famous dragon-based series that have garnered so much attention in social media. So if you're looking for a fun page-turner, pick up The Rite of Radnick and The Act of Ascension!

Note to publishers: The AoA had several typos so might benefit from additional editing.

THE ACT OF ASCENSION BY TARA O'TOOLE: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

Jesus christ did action go down. Constant fights, violence, and death. Incredibly entertaining and I'm glad it had a happy ending (even though it didn't look that way for most of the book).

*THANK YOU TO NETGALLEY, THE PUBLISHER AND THE AUTHOR FOR THIS eARC**

**May contain spoilers**

The Act of Ascension, the sequel to The Rite of Radnick, started a bit slowly for me, making it initially challenging to fully engage. However, once I reached the second half, the book became impossible to put down, packed with gripping twists and emotional intensity.

I absolutely adored the evolving romance between Braya and Heyden. Their relationship added depth and tension, beautifully capturing the complexities of love amidst political turmoil. The story skillfully balances heart-pounding action and intricate character dynamics, ensuring I was emotionally invested right through to the end.

Reede’s journey as an orphan and healer, driven by her mission to find a cure, was deeply compelling. Discovering how her story intertwined with Braya and Iskra’s was both intense and heartwarming, especially when it was revealed that she was keeping a significant promise made to their parents.

The conclusion was wonderfully satisfying—I was thrilled with the outcome and especially delighted that Zari was the one to ascend. Her character was consistently compelling, and seeing her reach such an impactful moment was truly rewarding.

Overall, despite its initial slow pace, The Act of Ascension delivered an exciting, emotional ride filled with surprising revelations, heartfelt relationships, and a genuinely fulfilling ending.

The Act of Ascension is a thrilling conclusion to Tara O’Toole’s Rite of Radnick Duology, delivering high-stakes fantasy, fierce competition, and a tangled web of romance and betrayal.

The story follows three characters:

Braya: a survivor of the brutal Rite of Radnick, wants nothing more than to return home and free her people—but finds herself unwillingly drawn into a deadly competition for the Sovereign’s Seat.

Reede: an orphan raised in a Sect orphanage, now faces a life-or-death initiation to become an Acolyte and uncover a cure for a deadly illness.

Heyden: the Veridian heir with a bloody legacy, is torn between duty to his ruthless father and his growing feelings for Braya.

As the eight Rite winners are pitted against each other in a brutal battle for power, alliances are tested, secrets unravel, and the cost of ascension may be more than any of them are willing to pay. With a multi-POV narrative, a twisted magic system, and forbidden romance, this book is perfect for fans of Fourth Wing and The Serpent and the Wings of Night.

Tara O’Toole's has created a finale that’s both heart-pounding and deeply human.

“To the girls who wish for more and to the women who make those dreams a reality.”

I can't believe I'm done with this duology! I feel sad that this is the end of it. I'm hoping we'll see more of the characters. I loved every second of what we got and can't wait to see what the future holds.

I'm glad we got what appears to be a happy ending, even if things didn't turn out the way I was expecting them to. I don't want to reveal any spoilers, obviously, but there's a lot to take in after the end of this book.

I was expecting more death than what we got in this book, which I'm grateful for. I'm not sure I would have enjoyed crying over a book yet again. lol I feel like I've done too much of that lately and that's a shame. lol

I do want more from this universe and feel like the world-building could have received some more work. I did enjoy the other POV chapters we received, especially from Reede and Heyden, but I still feel like the world-building was lax in some areas. That's just a small gripe from me, though.

I'm still shocked at the Sect leader's true identity, and I feel like I should have seen that coming a long time ago. I'm kicking myself that I didn't see that coming earlier. I wasn't expecting it and am kicking myself that I didn't see it coming.

I'm still not impressed with the writing style, and feel like there are still too many incomplete sentences that I think carried over from the first book. I am hoping that other books from Tara in the future will not have the same issue, but I'm not holding my breath.

Yes, I'd recommend this book and the duology, but I'd recommend reading “The Rite of Radnick” first. I hope we get more books in this universe in the coming months!

This was a satisfying conclusion to the duology – but also a slightly confusing one. The story picks up immediately after The Rite of Radnick with no real exposition or reminders, which made things a little murky given I’d read the first book a couple of months ago. A bit of subtle recap would have gone a long way in helping me reorient to the characters and their tangled alliances.

There are twists and betrayals galore – possibly more than I managed to follow – and while some definitely added depth, others felt more like breadcrumbs for a future instalment (with Iskra as lead, perhaps?). That said, I really enjoyed the nonstop pace. This is a high-octane story where you barely get a breath between betrayals, battles and difficult choices.

I particularly liked the added perspective of events from 25 years earlier – a clever way to show how the present-day dystopia came to be. It added texture and weight to a world that already felt morally complex. Almost no one here is wholly good or evil – most characters are just trying to protect their loved ones, even if it means choosing the lesser evil.

All in all, this didn’t hit me quite as hard as book one – I missed the clarity and character focus of The Rite of Radnick – but I’m definitely invested enough to want to see what happens next to this dysfunctional, deadly squad.

3.5 stars rounded up.

Thanks to NetGalley and Tara O'Toole for the ARC. This is my honest opinion.

An equally epic sequel that ties up metaphorical loose ends beautifully. A masterfully written ending.

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐀𝐜𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐀𝐬𝐜𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 is the second book in the Rite of Radnick duology by Tara O’Toole, picking up right where the first book left off! I was a bit overwhelmed with even more characters and even flashbacks to another time added to the action-packed plot of constant betrayal, drama, and twists in the quest to choose a new Sovereign. You definitely can’t lose focus when reading this one, because you will miss something.😅 The complex and hidden connections and secrets were quite entertaining, despite my obvious lack of fantasy prowess. I enjoyed delving into a world quite different from what I’ve been reading most often!

I received a review copy for free, and am leaving a review voluntarily.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The second book picks up right where the first left off — no downtime, just immediate action, tension, and high stakes. Braya remains a compelling lead, and this installment throws her into constant danger as she fights to save her people, protect her best friend, and survive the deadly Act of Ascension.

The addition of a new POV adds helpful perspective and answers questions raised in book one, particularly around character motivations. The pace is fast and unrelenting, with strong themes of trust, betrayal, and sacrifice. While the romance takes a backseat to the action, the emotional undercurrents are still there.

This book really pays off the setup of the first, with higher tension, stronger character development, and a satisfying conclusion. If you enjoyed the first book’s premise but wanted more clarity and urgency, this sequel delivers.

I wanted to start off by saying that I did read both books in the duology and thought O’Toole came up with a really interesting world and story. I don’t think these books were quite ready for publication yet, though.

This may be the author’s writing style, but there are a lot of sentence fragments and misplaced commas that kept taking me out of the story. I think a round of copy edits at the line level is needed for this series.

On a macro level, I felt that the scenes weren’t given enough room to breathe and often felt rushed. This resulted in whatever having been built up at the start of the scene getting completely negated a handful of paragraphs later. For example, while escaping in the woods, Iskra and Braya separate but are reunited moments later.

Key aspects of the plot were sometimes explained away with handwaving - like the fact that there are only four mollakai or that Doelon isn’t the capital but is somehow the seat of the coup? Or that Braya and Heyden reunified and magically got over their issues in one dream?

What really bothered me was the ending. There was a very obvious editing error in chapters 27 and 28, where Braya ends up in two places at once. Heyden’s sacrifice didn’t resonate as much because he was instructed by Yule to do it and it didn’t come from a genuine place. The scene at the dam felt completely pointless and could’ve been reworked.

Reede's POV chapters felt extraneous and the twist was fairly obvious from early on. I also felt that it was unnecessary for all of the younger cast to be related to the older cast. There were so many surprise parentage discoveries or secret royalty that it was no longer shocking after the 3rd or 4th person.

I think the series has potential but it needs some work to be a success.

Could not put this one down! I liked it even better than the first book of the series.

There are so many things I love about Tara O’Toole’s writing and some things I think still have room for improvement but all in all her strengths definitely shine the brightest in her writing. This book had me glued to the pages. O’Toole is a great storyteller and her mind is able to come up with the most elaborate plots that had me guessing every step of the way. Her other incredible strength is the ability to write characters that leap off the page. Considering how many characters have been introduced into the series (and there have been A LOT) she has been able to give every one of them a personality of their own and make them memorable to the reader. Just from the characters alone I was able to feel completely immersed into this story. It was easy to keep track of who is who and I loved how every single one of the characters was written to have their own personality and mannerisms. Nuinn was definitely written the best. I would have liked to see a little more from Sayleth.

The series has a solid premise and storyline. The characters are interesting and there is enough plot twists to keep your mind reeling. The triple POV in The Act Of Ascension was so well done and everything came together perfectly. It was easy to follow along and every chapter left on a cliffhanger making it impossible to put down.

My only complaints and the reason I didn’t go up to 5 stars was because there are a lot of mini, climatic scenes back to back. Each scene felt hurried and made it hard to really immerse myself into it. When books do this my mind just envisions the characters running from one danger to the next like in the cartoon Scooby-Doo. Like where the gang is running across the screen being chased by one goblin just to turn around and run across the screen in the other direction being chased by a different goblin and so on… It would have been better to have less scenes with more focus and detail going into the main ones. It would have made them more atmospheric, impactful and memorable. That being said, there were some really well written scenes, I’m mainly referring towards the end of book two where it was back to back to back.

Another thing I would have loved to see a little more of is stronger chemistry between the FMC and MMC. Their encounters in the first book were really good but felt lacking in the second. I’m not referring to spice either. I did think the dream was really sweet where she says “I think we’re dreaming”.

Thank you, NetGalley and Tara O’Toole for an ARC of both book one and two of The Rite Of Radnick series.

Second book in this duology didn't disappoint.Our characters pick up straight from first book to fight,survive and wonder who to trust.This book have multi-POV,but it's not confusing or annoying,it actually explain some behavior that I wonder about in previous book.I again feel for Braya,she does not have a minute to rest and regroup,action in this book is so crazy that I keep reading just to find out how it's going to end.
Will Braya save Sleepers and her best friend?
Will she survive The Act of Ascension when Keepers and Mollakai want put her to Sleep?
Who will ascend the Sovereign’s Seat?
If you looking for constant action,friendship,betrayal,little bit of romance this book it's for you.This is the author that I will look out for in the future.
Thank you netgally and author for ARC .