THE DEMON WORLD

An unlikely group of heroes must find a way to survive—and save a nation.

Picking up immediately after events in The Smoke Thieves (2018), the battle over Rossarb rages, and it quickly becomes clear that the city is lost and the only choice left is to flee to the Northern Plateau, into demon country. Catherine, a princess fighting against her own country; Ambrose, her knight, protector, and possibly more; Edyon, the illegitimate son of a prince; March, a servant with mixed allegiances; and Tash, a scrappy young demon hunter, along with a few loyal soldiers, run for their lives with the Brigantine army on their heels. Entering the demon world leads them into a lair of magic and violence that pushes each toward their own destiny. In this uneven book, some elements feel well thought out, particularly those relating to the construction of the demon world. However, the characters are mostly one-dimensional, making it hard for readers to feel invested in whether they live or die or even in their romances (which lack chemistry). Considering the length, there is very little progress or action, and showing often takes precedence over telling, making certain points feel heavy-handed.

A lot of creative ideas that don’t quite come together, but fans of the first book will enjoy the continuation of the story.