Emma Newman
Diversion Books
February 21st, 2016 (Re-issue)
We re-join Cathy on her wedding day. Her unwanted arranged wedding to the overconfident Will Iris. Things begin to develop as Will is told his patron Lord Iris intends for Will to take the title of Duke in Londinium. They take residence in a huge mansion that Cathy is expected to fill with staff and furniture. During her adjustment to life in Society again, she also finds out more about the Agency, who provides all of the staff for the Great Families in the Nether. The governess who introduced her to feminism and thinking for herself is still alive, and the Agency has done something to her.
The Arbiter Max is also interested in the Agency, and he is trying to find out more about them for the Sorcerer. Something strange is going on. They need to find the remaining Rosa for questioning, to find out how corrupted the Arbiters are in London.
Sam has figured out that the people he saw in Exilium are the missing people he’s seen on TV. He finds one of Lord Poppy’s fairies to take him to Exilium to rescue them, only to end up indebted to the Fae Lord.
The conspiracy continues in this book, sequel to Between Two Thorns. I’ve read this in preparation for the release of book 4, which I’ll be reviewing. The most interesting character development has happened with Sam and Max, who seem to be finding more out about themselves. Sam loses his wife to a strange and sudden illness and makes a powerful new connection. Max seems to be learning more about himself through the gargoyle, who is currently in possession of Max’s soul. Will, on the other hand, gets a bit more annoying, and makes some questionable (and reprehensible) decisions. I’ll be interested to see what happens in book three.
JL Jamieson is a strange book nerd who writes technical documents by day, and book news, reviews, and other assorted opinions for you by night. She is working on her own fiction, and spends time making jewelry to sell at local conventions, as well as stalking the social media accounts of all your favorite writers.