I received this book for free in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.

Goodreads Summary:

Poppy is discovering a purpose for her powers in Africa, but she is haunted by a vision of her own death. Taken in by a boy and his great-grandmother, a healer, they vow to keep her safe-even if that ultimately means holding her captive. But Poppy never stops longing for Leo and, when she feels his magic begin to spark, she will do anything to be reunited with him.

Desperate to regain Poppy’s trust and bring her home, Charlock embarks on a plan to reunite Leo with his mother. What Charlock doesn’t foresee are the string of consequences that she sets into motion that leave Ember all alone and prey to manipulation, the clan open to attack from other witches, Sorrel vulnerable to Raven’s ghost, Betony determined to protect her son from his father’s fate, and which leave both Leo and Poppy in terrible danger.

My Thoughts:  This book picks up pretty immediately from where the first leaves off. I really enjoyed this book, the surprises, the explanations, the ups and downs.

Everyone in this book is a mess, and in disarray, from the start of this book. Poppy’s absence leaves the clan in danger, unprotected without the queen. Ember is struggling, as is Leo, to adjust to life in regular society, and life without Poppy. Charlock is busy trying to hold things together and to keep Poppy’s position safe, but her good intentions lead to not so good results. She reunites with her old BFF Betony, who has no memory of her life as a young girl. Sorrel is finally free of her mother – or so she thinks. Things start to go really south for everyone, as the story spins on, leading to a big dramatic finish.

I absolutely loved all the backstory in this book. All the information about Ember/Poppy’s mom, Charlock and her friend Betony; Charlock and Raven’s youth together. We learn more about the coven, and the lengths they will go to protect their secrets. I loved these flashbacks.

There were some things I didn’t love too. I didn’t love Ember’s slow crumble into a character completely unrecognizable from the delightful girl from Prophecy. I didn’t love her loneliness and new hardness. I didn’t enjoy either, what happened to Leo. I really felt that part was unnecessary. I have to say, I hated that part. It was super ugly and distasteful, and then hard to reconcile later on.

Overall though, I really enjoyed this book. And I wonder if there is a third in the works? If so, I will for sure read it.

Thank you Little Bird Publicity for the chance to read and review this book!