Hello friends, happy Wednesday, I hope you’re having a good week! Today I’m posting my review of book two in the Royal Bastards series, City of Bastards by: Andrew Shvarts,

You can read my review of book one: Royal Bastards

City of Bastards by: Andrew Shvarts: Tilla and her friends have safely made it to Lightspire, the home of her best friend, Princess Lyriana and Lyriana’s father the Volaris King. Upon their arrival the King has granted her and her boyfriend, Zell protection from the war that rages. But when her roommate is killed, left to look like a suicide, and she is attacked, Tilla begins to think something is truly wrong. Her friends want her to stay silent, but she can’t. The more she questions, the more she uncovers, and the more betrayals and lies start to come undone. This novel didn’t wow the reader like the first one did, but it was still an astounding second novel that didn’t fall victim to second book syndrome. What the reader liked a lot about this was that it didn’t just serve as a bridge to the final novel, but it stood on its own with so much happening the reader was left to catch up. The first book was easy to follow; this one took a little more to stick with it. The plots were a lot more intricate and the twists and turns and reveals were unexpected that’s for sure. The reader truly appreciated that Shvarts elevated the plots and the characters’ stories; made the stakes higher, while not losing the plot and going off on a wild goose chase. The world building definitely opened up and we got to see how the magic worked and who used magic and who wasn’t supposed to use magic; it was all really complex but really well written that it didn’t feel confusing. In the beginning, some of it was unclear, but as we got into the novel, things began to make more sense. The characters really started to open up too; our main character was placed in a new environment, and watching her find her way left for a lot of good development because we got to see her in a world she’d always dreamed of having. The new characters introduced played a great role and helped to move the plot; their stories stood alone, while also worked at bringing everything back to the main plot and it was really well weaved together, so seamless. The emotions these characters went through with each other was heart wrenching, we thought it pulled at the heartstrings in the first book, that was just preparation for this one. The reader liked how this one ended, these characters have been through hell and back and they’re ready for one last fight because the battle has been won, but the war isn’t over yet. This was a fun, mysterious at times, fast-paced, heart racing novel that left us wanting more.