THE SEVERED THREAD

A team of treasure hunters and an enchanted prince must save a magic kingdom while evading magic-hating pursuers.

Filore, Shane, Briar Rose, and Red continue their journey in this sequel to The Bone Spindle (2022). Briar, now free of his sleeping curse, must find a way to defeat the Spindle Witch and save his lost kingdom with more than a little help from Fi. Shane, the huntsman, is still struggling with her feelings for Red, who betrayed them. On the run from the Spindle Witch and the vicious Witch Hunters, the group seeks out the hidden Witch city of Everlynd. The story is inspired by fairy tales without being a simple retelling. Both the action and the romance are heart-pounding, but perhaps the most touching aspects are the friendships among the characters: Their world is full of magic, mysteries, and danger, and they support each other through it all with love and compassion. Unfortunately, this novel does suffer from a common problem affecting second books, lacking a clear narrative arc and largely feeling like a setup for Book 3. Luckily, there is enough excitement and a climactic conflict to leave readers satisfied. Briar and Shane are White; tan-skinned Fi and Red have dark hair.

Fans of the first book should definitely not miss this second entry.