This was one of the most rocking sci-fi thrillers I have read in recent times. Jessica Thorne has done it again. In the first book she had pitched Bel’s world against the invaders. In this round, Bel had to face an enemy from the bowels of the earth – the Stoneheart. And there was nobody better than her best friend and her general Petra to help her vanquish it.
Book 1 has to be read to understand this book and to love the characters as I did. Petra had always been a fighter and this time too, she does not disappoint. Her mind and resistance to the power of the Stone was mind blowing. There was a force to her when she came on the scenes in this book. She was both strong and yet so vulnerable to the people she loved and trusted. She had 2 suitors in this story Zander and Teel. It was fun to see the General flustered at the attention. But nothing was ever as it seemed till the very end.
Jessica Thorne has dipped her pen into the ink of valor to write this book. The story had everything fights, action sequences, travel to space, magical beings Rondet who were both humane and crystalline, the evil magical stone wanting blood and power, humans and animals who were made machines, the Mecha, the Empress who wanted to control the world, the mad scientists, sleeping sickness, and more. Whew!! I could barely breathe while reading it all.
Fun books should not have niggles, but this one did, just teeny tiny ones. Few parts felt a bit rushed. Time was spent in explaining the power of the Stoneheart, but the vanquishing was done in a jiffy. I wanted more of the camaraderie between Petra and her soldiers. But they were minor, didn’t affect the overall flying pace of the book.
There is a book 3 in waiting, or I should say in writing, and you bet I am eagerly waiting to get to it!!
I received an ARC from NetGalley and publisher Bookouture, and this is my journey into its pages, straight from the heart
My review of book 1 can be read here
All my reviews can be found here
Petra Kel – young and headstrong – has been named General of the Queen’s Guard. But while Petra’s head may be in rebuilding the war-torn kingdom alongside her childhood friend Queen Belengaria, she left her heart miles away in their homeland, the day she turned her back on the only man she ever loved and fled.
But then Petra’s past – in the form of Bel’s roguish brother Zander – comes crashing in, just as rumours of dark magic begin to swirl at court. Petra can’t afford to be distracted… but the unfinished business between herself and Zander is like a vice upon her heart.
When evil takes hold of the kingdom and threatens Bel, Petra is forced to make the impossible choice between love and loyalty. And will the insidious magic of the Stone’s Heart reveal the heart-breaking reason why she left Zander behind all those years ago?
Publication Date: 19th February 2019
Publisher: Bookouture
37 Responses
Yay glad you loved it! Wonderful review!💕
Yayy.. I got over my previous book 😂
Sounds like a good series. A few niggles in a book are okay with me as long as the plot and characters rock.
Exactly… They certainly rocked for me. Thank you ❤️
I am glad to see that you enjoyed this book! But hey, the sleeping sickness was explained 😛 It was caused by the Coparius!
Oh yeah, I forgot… 😂 😂 But why did the stone cause sleeping sickness. The Rhondet said it destroyed everyone previously only Rhondet went to sleep, rest died… Ah sleep led to their death… Oh yes that was explained
Excellent review, Shalini. Glad you enjoyed both books. The cover grabbed me right away!
Cover looks great.. I loved it.. And loved the story too
Great review
Thank you ❤️
Sounds like an exciting read and the action scenes sound like something I’ll enjoy! And I love books that feature bad-ass female heroines (or even anti-heroines). Awesome review, Shalini!
I love them too..
These heroines are great. In both the books 💕
Wonderful review! Also, I love your Valentines Day graphics ♥
Yayy thank you 💖 😍 😍… I just need a valentine to celebrate love… 😂 😂
You have to love a kickass heroine!
That’s why I love you DJ 💕 your vocabulary kicks my ass all the time 😂😂
I’m glad the niggles didn’t prevent you from enjoying the book! Great review! 🙂 x
Thanks Meggy it was a fun read… ❤️
Great review! Never heard of this series but love the synopsis and the cover. I really need to check it out!
Thanks Raven it was a fun read ❤️
As long as you enjoy the ride and journey, a few niggles here and there are forgivable I’m sure 😉great review my friend!
I agree Jee this was a great book
So glad this one was good!!! Sounds like you’ll have another great one to look forward to!!!
I agree.. I was a fun read ❤️
Jessica Thorne has dipped her pen into the ink of valor to write this book. …. Love that line. Lovely review.
The women were braver than me ❤️ 🤷🏻♀️
Thank you Shalini. It’s always a pleasure to read book reviews by my favourite person
Aww thank you Kurian 💖
Most welcome Shalini ❤️
Strong and vulnerable—a great combination for a heroine. I love that cover!
Cover is simply amazing.. Story rocked in most parts
An eye-catching review of this series; added the first book to my TBR.
Oooh I hope you like it… Book 1 is really good. But the initial part is a bit slow till the main character travels to the different planet… Then the book is happening.
Wonderful review Shalini. I have both of these books on my kindle and need to get to them, After this comment, “This was one of the most rocking sci-fi thrillers I have read in recent ” I need to move them way up the TBR.
This was a fun book with everything happening fast.. Hope you like them♥️
I hope I do. Reviews have been good.