This book picks off from the shards of the Phoenix King. We see the world through Elena's eyes, her misgivings, her regrets, losses and the things she needs to sacrifice to take Ravence back. Dangling in her path is the love hate arc with Samson - the prophet of the great Serpent, looking to become Seshar's savior. Elena teeters between ruthlessly securing her kingdom to accepting that part of her which craves power to loving herself, despite it.
At the other end of the spectrum is the Butcher, the prophet and the Blue Star, whose fire is waning and yet his urumi wreaks havoc and sheds blood with abandon. Determined to save Sesharians who have been subjugated, he is already at the peak of his powers, and paranoid on who to trust, even the young queen with her fresh agni.
How these two work together with some other resurrected factions forms the core of this fantasy, with kings and queens and agni ruling rife and myths coming to life with each twist of the tale. With revolution, new kingdoms arising and old feuds and prejudices being tested, Aparna Verma sears a cliffhanger at the end of this book - please write faster to end the suspense!
I personally admired the growth in Elena, it was refreshing! Jaya offered a unique perspective as was Div's unique backstory - Aparna excels in bringing the prejudices and injustices meted out to those that are perceived as different to fore!
Thank you Orbit Books and Netgalley for the opportunity to read the ARC!
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