This is the sequel to The Sting of Victory- if you haven’t read that book yet, it’s kind of necessary to understand this one and I highly recommend it; see my review here.
Before I get into the premise, if you haven’t read the first one- I’ll be giving away spoilers as it’s hard to discuss the plot here in depth without doing so. Fair warning.
This book continues right where the first one left off. Flowridia leaves Staelash to accompany the tyrant of Nox’Kartha, Casvir, in finding a magical artifact, unearthed when Flowridia exhausted emotional anguish at Ayla’s passing. The notion itself is pretty romantic. During this quest we learn a lot more about Casvir. I’d say next to Flowridia, he was the main character in this book, which was nice since he didn’t get much play time in The Sting of Victory. Casvir is an interesting character who dismantles common tropes and stereotypes. He’s a ruthless leader who doesn’t see the harm in bending social norms to benefit the lives of his people, employs a strict sense of chivalry, and has fierce ambitions to reach godhood. If anyone has seen Berserk, he actually reminded me a little of Griffith in that way. The God of Order is still roaming around for orbs and I don’t want to give too much away but there may or may not be an epic battle scene involving Casvir and The God of Order. Simper knows how to throw down a fight sequence.
During their travels, Casvir becomes something of a mentor to Flowridia, helping her mourn and grow. I thought Casvir’s ideologies not only lent a lot to his character, but also set the tone for this book. The lines between good and evil are discussed and dissected throughout the book. Flowridia struggles inwardly with the concept of morality and this is paired nicely with Casvir’s thoughts and beliefs which are seen as unconventional to say the least. However, I even felt myself question whether raising the dead should be such a taboo if it means a thriving economy.
The romance in this book is a little more subtle than the first. With nothing but a dark legacy left behind, Ayla’s past haunts Flowridia as she struggles to accept her lover for all she is; a ruthless monster. I don’t want to say too much here because this story line is a ride. I enjoyed learning about Ayla and I still “shipped” her and Flowridia after learning everything, but, if I’m being honest, I also shipped Flowridia with someone else from the very beginning, and I am even more intrigued with how things will work out in the next installment.
This book isn’t as jam packed with action as The Sting of Victory, but is more reflective, and I definitely feel like it’s setting us up for something big. The next installment, Blood of the Moon, will be released this March/April. Thanks, Simper, for pumping these bad boys out so quick. If you’re a fan of this author’s work, like I clearly have become, also keep an eye out for a new trilogy she will be releasing featuring mermaids, set for this summer.
You can order Among Gods and Monsters here https://www.amazon.com/
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