This author was so freaking nice to me that he also offered me his sequel! A home run. To me this is an exemplary sequel. Honestly a beautiful showcase of how to up the stakes, up the world building, up the characters, up the chaos, up the action. Every page keeps you turning and turning and turning for more. And the character arcs are just *chef’s kiss*

I’d really to highlight the author’s choice of multiple POVs in first person because that choice always amazes me. Not only are you fully fleshing out characters in a world all their own, but you’re becoming each one of them every time the novel gives them voice. It’s a choice that not every author can commit to and nail, and this is very much so a success.

I love the writing style in its young adult ease, but with the world crushing chaos that’s taking place, they’re all hit with just absolute violence. In many ways, both books are truly a coming of age story, but these characters get a baptism by fire. And talking about violence, this one amps up the body horror you would not believe. At many points I even found it reminiscent of Nick Cutter style body terror, especially in the feral descriptions. It’s so descriptive that I so easily imagined it taking place on a movie screen, and I honestly wish it would become one. Fantasy/horror is not something we get to see!

Gods, devils, demons, ferals. When the stakes are godly, what exactly can humans do? Do they even deserve to do something? To change? This sequel shows us some political intrigue, unbeatable violence and war, betrayal, paranoia, and pain. Perhaps a small sliver of hope?

“And when you’re this low on the totem pole of human morals, those small differences strike harder.” I loved this quote from the morally decrepit character Hazel Golding, whom in being unbelievably terrible, is also lovable.

Once again, so totally worth your time, effort, and money to obtain and read these. The covers are so mind-blowing-ly beautiful that I had to order both to have for my collection. Have you read this or the first in the duology yet??? What are you waiting for?fantasy indie-reads physically-owned3 s Michelle144 11

"Such a mighty creature, such a fragile heart."

It's finally here! I loved Foreign to You so so much when I read it almost 3 years ago, that I couldn't wait to read to sequel. And it did not disappoint!
I really appreciated the inclusion of a list of characters and the summary of all the events that happened in book one. I wish more authors would do that. (Didn't stop me from binge re-reading the first book, though.)

"Oh, how similarly our fires burn against one another"

Embers We Struck introduces two new POVs than the first book. I must admit that I was wary of reading from Hazel's point of view first. But oh boy, I think that turned out to be my absolute favorite part of the book. She was given so much depth, so much character that I truly felt for her.

"I accept that this will not be the final human to fall by my hand. I smear the red along my face because spilled blood is who I will become."

Another character that suprised me was Adelaide. Experiencing her descent into becoming feral, that drastic change from her character as the maiden of the forest into someone capable of so much cruelty... Just. Wow. Especially the scenes with Adelaide and Hazel together, being rivals and hating each other, those were really powerful.

The only character I couldn't really find myself connecting to was Marshall. Though I still loved the scenes with him and his mother and the journey he went through in the books.

Those last 20% of the book really had me. I love that this series doesn't shy away from violence and permanent deaths, but god, I'm still so sad. The ending certainly was bittersweet.

Also, look at that beautiful cover!
[Disclaimer:I received an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. Thanks again!]2 s Jeremy MartinAuthor 3 books53

I’m not the smartest person, so when I saw multiple sequels with the familiar taglines of “This was much harder,” I decided not to prepare myself whatsoever. BUT LET ME TELL YOU, writing a sequel is by far the hardest thing I have ever done.

This sequel is roughly three drafts and thousands and thousands of unused words. I thought maybe I would never actually write this book, but if you’ve made it this far, you know that isn’t the case. It took time. I never gave up. I kept scrapping pages and adding things that would eventually get trimmed. I kept going. And I hope that you, dear reader, don’t give up in whatever it is you love. Life isn’t always about the glamorous bits that happen out of pure luck, but the moments when your perseverance prevails.1 Justine Goldsborough2

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