Review Detail

Fairytale traditions blend with the modern fae trend in a drama and romance that's haunting yet snappy, with dances, dark corners, and sisters that stick together.

This second novel in the Thirstwood series stars warrior princess Thea, older sister to Cassia who was the heroine in the first installment. When a mysterious dress appears on her hearth, she knows not to trust it, but as secrets and half-truths pile up, Thea finds herself testing this unknown magic and entering an unknown realm where the shadows claw, a fearsome ruler lurks, and a too handsome stranger makes her start to question her power and her past, including the fate of the mother who left her.

This is one of those books that flies by. Fans of fae stories will love the various magical creatures, the brooding love interest wrapped in shadows, and bad guys who deserve to be taken down at the hand of those they hurt. The pixies are quirky and fun, and Thea tries out quite a few pretty outfits. Some of the story beats didn't land for me - this side character is kind of built up for nothing, and her dad the king just sucks (yes, he's not supposed to be nice, but he should still be logical?). On the other hand, Thea's assertiveness, the sparking romance, and the commitment to bittersweet solutions demand attention and set this book apart.

While this companion novel could be read on its own, I'd recommend starting with The Forest King's Daughter to get the full context of events before this (all helpfully summarized in the opening chapter) and the history between the sisters who are the heart of the series.