RED TIGRESS

Ana sees the girl she once was and the ruler she may become.

In this sequel to Blood Heir (2019), Ana has finally moved past thinking of herself as a monster because of her blood Affinite abilities. This understanding is made easier when she’s faced with the gross horror and cruelty people in power really can inflict. Her motivation now is to find allies in her quest to assume the throne as the Empress of Cyrilia. Her cadre includes Ramson Quicktongue, a con man, and Linn, an imprisoned wind Affinite. As they struggle to reunite, they make wary alliances and face the ghosts of the people they left behind. Though the book maintains an Eastern European–esque setting, as the cast of characters expands and travels, so too does the exploration of diverse countries and cultures. Knowledge of the first book would be useful for full appreciation of this volume, but flashbacks, the map, and the glossary help readers understand most of the plot points and terminology. The author also not-so-subtly repeats details and themes enough to, at times, lose the impact of some reveals. Wringing every emotional moment for all it’s worth, with villains reveling in their villainy and heroes wallowing in their sacrifices, this book levels up the drama and action.

An over-the-top tale that vacillates between engrossing and tiresome.