by Ley Hayley
The Elemental Royals, book two
Publication date: June 4, 2014
Rose has lost everything she's ever known.
Her father has been murdered. She has fled her home in the Forested Land to take refuge with King Andrew Rivers in a foreign kingdom.
Her home is under the control of a tyrant king, one who will stop at nothing to see Rose and all of her family dead. She has to fight to stay hidden, stay alive, and find a way back home.
Now Rose must find a way to organize a rebellion to get back to her homeland, as well as win the hearts of a kingdom that doesn't know her. With lords scheming with hidden agendas and her own secrets threatening to be exposed, Rose must face enemies she never expected and find a destiny she never planned for. (description from goodreads.com)
Today, I'm happy to be part of Ley Hayley's blog tour for her second book in the Elemental Royals trilogy, THE FIRE'S PRINCESS. I had read and thoroughly enjoyed the first book, The Forest's Heir, back in March and was happy to read the sequel.
Again, I really loved the setting and historical details. I'm always fascinated by period dress and I loved reading about how naked Rose felt training in men's breeches, and the trouble she has getting dressed on her own when she injures her arm and it's in a sling. I really feel as if I'm in the middle ages when reading about the ladies mending and sewing in front of fires...it's fun to sort of fall back in time.
I also couldn't help but admire Rose's character even more in this book. She takes all of her responsibilities on without question. When her mother and sister had been brutalized and traumatized, she works to make them feel safe and whole once again. When she decides to pursue her life in the River Kingdom, she researches their history and strives to become as knowledgeable as she was about her own Kingdom. When she knows that Andrew will go to war for her, she convinces him to let her learn to fight on her own so that she can accompany him and convince her people that the River Kingdom is there to help them.
Though Rose is torn in this book between the love she once had and the new love she feels now, watching the romance unfold was delicious. I have to admit that I truly like King Andrew and I will root for them thoroughout the end of the tale ... though Andrew's brother, Phillip, is also quite swoonworthy... *sigh*
I can't wait to see how things finally work out in the end!
Full disclosure: eARC provided by author for tour
