I read this very quickly and found it engaging. My Summary (4/5): Overall this starts a bit slow and politics-heavy, but picks up in the second half and ends up being a very good read. I am excited to see how the story wraps up in the final book and hope the third book is action-packed rather than boardroom politic heavy. I ended up reading this book in just a few sittings. I continue to love Kemmerer’s writing style, it flows well and is easy to read. However, some of the new characters added made up for this. The romance between Tessa and Corrick is a bit on again and was irritating at times. There are some excellent new characters introduced here as well. I was very engaged in the second half of the book but a bit bored by the first half. The story switches POV between Tessa, Corrick, and a mysterious outlaw. Once the emissary from a new country comes things pick up pace quite a bit and we go into more of an adventure mode. Thoughts: This starts very slow, the first quarter of the book is all twisty turny politics and sitting through meetings with our characters. I got a copy of this book through NetGalley to review. Series Info/Source: This is the second book in the Defy the Night trilogy. But they’re shocked to discover that a craven betrayal may be much closer than they think. But with tensions brewing on deck and the sea swirling below, Tessa and Corrick must decide who they can trust–including each other. When an emissary from a neighboring kingdom arrives with an intriguing offer, Tessa and Corrick set out on an uncertain journey to find a new source of the lifesaving elixir. Prince Corrick is trying to find a new way to lead, but it isn’t easy to repair the rift between the royals and the people–or the one growing between himself and Tessa. And the kingdom’s supply of Moonflower elixir dwindles all the while.

“Tessa Cade has gone from masked outlaw to palace advisor, but even with her newfound power, she can’t stop the sickness still raging.

Source: eGalley from NetGalley for Review Stand Alone or Series: 2nd book in the Defy the Night trilogy

Defy the night book 2 release date