THE SECOND SON

Enemies loom for new rulers in this sequel to The Third Daughter (2023).

Sabine has stepped into her role as the reascended and revered New Maiden, even though she no longer possesses her magical healing tears, nor can she hear the voice of her darkness, once her constant companion. The church she’s supposed to be leading is crumbling, both literally and metaphorically, under pressures from another religious faction that’s awaiting the Second Son. Meanwhile, Elodie is the Queen of Velle, and she’s busy dealing with the constant requirements of her station. When a snubbed diplomat makes threats against her realm, none of her advisers take him seriously. The two young women are still infatuated with one another, and they try to steal precious moments alone. Against this backdrop, the Second Son, the New Maiden’s theological adversary, is rising—and tempting Sabine in strangely familiar ways. This duology closer adds more intricacies to an already convoluted fantasy world. Amid stilted dialogue and abrupt scene changes, the characters often conveniently forget or ignore details that would move the plot forward. Moments of frustrating misunderstanding due to a lack of communication between the characters are frustrating and make little sense.

Strictly for fans of the first volume.