Y'all. I've been dying to read this book since the first one, A Shadow in the Ember. It's not that I don't like the FBAA series, but I much prefer Sera's story to Poppy's. I haven't had a ton of time for stuff like this, but I did reread A Shadow in the Ember just before diving into this beauty!
Book one left off on a lot of uncertainty. Everyone's secrets were bared: Sera had been training to kill Nyktos in the hopes it would save her people; Nyktos had his ability to love removed. But, they both had an undeniable pull toward the other.
Book two picks up right where book one left off.
JLA has a habit of dropping bombs and ending books. I don't always like it, but it was really well done here, especially for folks who don't have to worry about waiting for the next book.
In ALITF, we dive deeper into fate, love, and redemption.
Sera learns that her mentor is actually a Fate who was just shy of intervening, but he did it with a purpose: to train Sera. While she was raised believing everything she did was to destroy Nyktos, in fact, she was being trained to kill Kolis (the big bad wolf!). Pair that with the embers of life hidden in Sera's bloodline and we've got a whole host of things going on.
I also have to say: this is the kind of romance I look for in almost every book I read. I want sizzling chemistry, consent, and lots of inappropriate behavior between the love interests. That even though they are technically enemies, they can't help but be drawn to one another.
This book was a rollercoaster from start to finish, but I truly loved every second of it. There were times where I just wanted to shake Sera and Nyktos and make them see sense, but I was engaged completely, and I think that is the mark of a good story.
This one left on an even bigger cliffhanger than the first and left me wishing for more. Unfortunately, JLA won't be publishing it until late 2023, so I'll be waiting with baited breath until then!
Abbie