VILEST THINGS

At the end of Immortal Longings (2023), the first book in Gong’s trilogy about the twin cities of San-Er, Princess Calla Tuoleimi got what she wanted—the head of her uncle, King Kasa. But her problems are just beginning.

Calla saw killing the oppressive monarch as her only means of getting justice for the people of San-Er, and it was her sole reason for taking part in the fight to the death that is the king’s games—even though everyone thought she was dead. The last person standing in her way was someone she’d grown to care about, someone who’d discovered her secret and still loved her: Anton Makusa. But while Calla was willing to sacrifice Anton and all they were to each other, even accepting her own death in order to free the cities from the tyrant’s reign, Anton had plans of his own. To survive Calla’s fatal blow, Anton took advantage of an ability some people have in Gong’s world: He jumped bodies, guiding his qi into the most powerful person in San-Er—Prince August Avia, the heir and soon-to-be-crowned monarch. Now in control of August’s body, Anton enjoys the power of being king if only for a moment, and then everything spirals out of control. Calla and Anton dance around each other interminably while mysterious deaths occur in the provinces, a once fringe cult grows more powerful, and the most unlikely adversary emerges, waking up from an incurable coma. This book introduces new characters and bloodlines, new feuds and rivalries. It’s all pointing fingers and swaying allegiances until everyone is pushed to their wits’ ends. The rollout of qi rule bending through the larger ensemble continues at an unsustainable rate, and the book loses depth and connection with its main characters in pursuit of plot twists and big reveals.

This sequel stumbles where the first book soared, but a compelling setup for a third points to hope of recovery.