3/5

For fans of: Dual POV, morally grey characters, political intrigue, mysterious diseases, revolution, roller coaster of emotions, lots of tropes

The Big Questions:

• What genre is this in? YA fantasy

• Are there any swoon-worthy characters? Wes is mysterious, breaks the law to help people, and a hopeless flirt

• Is it spicy? Very steamy, but not spicy

• Is it violent or gory? There are action sequences, but nothing gory

• Should I buy, borrow, or pass on this book? If you are a fan of Brigid Kemmerer’s work, borrow it!

Synopsis: The kingdom of Kandala is on the brink of disaster. Rifts between sectors have only worsened since a sickness began ravaging the land, and within the Royal Palace, the king holds a tenuous peace with a ruthless hand.

King Harristan was thrust into power after his parents' shocking assassination, leaving the younger Prince Corrick to take on the brutal role of the King's Justice. The brothers have learned to react mercilessly to any sign of rebellion--it's the only way to maintain order when the sickness can strike anywhere, and the only known cure, an elixir made from delicate Moonflower petals, is severely limited.

Out in the Wilds, apothecary apprentice Tessa Cade is tired of seeing her neighbors die, their suffering ignored by the unyielding royals. Every night, she and her best friend Wes risk their lives to steal Moonflower petals and distribute the elixir to those who need it most--but it's still not enough.

As rumors spread that the cure no longer works and sparks of rebellion begin to flare, a particularly cruel act from the King's Justice makes Tessa desperate enough to try the impossible: sneaking into the palace. But what she finds upon her arrival makes her wonder if it's even possible to fix Kandala without destroying it first.

Review: If you are looking for a fantasy that is light on world-building and heavy on tropes. This is the one for you. It just wasn’t the one for me. I like the premise very much and the characters are fun, but the tropes were too heavy handed to make this stand out in a sea of trope-filled YA fantasy. I will say, this is a fun roller coaster of events that are quite jarring and keeps you on your toes. I also enjoyed the dual POV of Tessa and the King’s Justice as they try to do what they can to save as many people as they can in their respective roles. The political intrigue is also really well done with consuls plotting for control while the King’s Justice and King Harristan do their best to maneuver it all as young men abruptly placed in power. I also appreciate the characters being a bit older than your typical YA characters, making them a tad bit more believable.

The problems I had with the story stem from so many tropes being thrown in without any finesse. I won’t mention any here that will be spoilers, but repetitive quotes is a big one that I can’t stand. I love a good phrase being associated with a character, but it was done too much here and became very annoying instead of endearing. It was giving, “I have a question” rather than “I will not be afraid.” Oh, and lots of gasping, lustful looks, and heat that constantly gets interrupted. I like a good tease and I get its YA, but just fade to black instead of cockblocking I beg of you. Also, the twist in the middle was so incredibly cruel, thoughtless, unforgivable, and uncharacteristic that I couldn’t believe it. Finally, the resolution was too quick and clean. It left no desire for me to continue the series despite there continuing to be an overarching issue. So, while a fun time, I won’t be continuing the series.