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| The Iskari Trilogy Book 2 |
Once there were two sisters born with a bond so strong that it forged them together forever. When they were angry, mirrors shattered, and when they were happy, flowers bloomed. It was a magic they cherished—until the day a terrible accident took Essie’s life and trapped her soul in this world.
Dax—the heir to Firgaard’s throne—was responsible for the accident. Roa swore to hate him forever. But eight years later he returned, begging for her help. He was determined to dethrone his cruel father, under whose oppressive reign Roa’s people had suffered. Roa made him a deal: she’d give him the army he needed if he made her queen.
Together with Dax and his sister, Asha, Roa and her people waged war and deposed a tyrant. But now Asha is on the run, hiding from the price on her head. And Roa is an outlander queen, far from home and married to her enemy. Worst of all: Dax’s promises go unfulfilled. Roa’s people continue to suffer.
Then a chance to right every wrong arises—an opportunity for Roa to rid herself of this enemy king and rescue her beloved sister. During the Reliquishing, when the spirits of the dead are said to return, Roa can reclaim her sister for good.
All she has to do is kill the king.
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My Review: 4/5 Stars
It took me a couple of chapters to remember the Iskari world and what had happened in the last book. But once it came back, I was excited to read Roa and Dax's story. I'll admit some parts were a bit slow and I was more interested in hearing about Asha and Torwin, our heroes from the first book, but the story and connection between Roa and Essie and Dax was really fantastic.
In the last book, Roa and Dax married in order to form an alliance, but what we don't really realize is their connection runs deeper than that. That despite Roa blaming Dax for what happened to her sister, Essie, there are feelings she had buried deeper than even she knew. Roa struggles to find a reason to believe Dax will keep his promises when it comes to her people. He gives her every reason to doubt him. And through it all, all I wanted to do was shake her and tell her to stop being so stupid and stop assuming. Yet I understood her struggles and doubts. And the love she had for her sister Essie, was a beautiful thing. The love between the sisters bonded them in life and in death. And Roa's struggle to save her sister and let her go is a constant struggle, especially when the stress of doing right by her people is a heavy weight on her shoulders as well.
One of the best things I loved about the book was the masks and plot twists and the chest game that was the story. Dax only revealed what he wanted to you to see. And in my mind, I knew that he had to be more. I loved to be proven right. A game is referenced throughout the story, gods and monsters, which is basically equivalent to chess. The story and plot line was just that when it came to our heroes. Thinking ahead and trying to outmaneuver their enemies. Plus the action in the story took it to a even higher level. Loved the story and I am super curious to what the last book will be about. And for that matter, who the book will be about.
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