Rebel Spring by Morgan Rhodes

 

Rebel Spring by Morgan Rhodes is the second book of the Falling Kingdoms series.  Much like its predecessor, it contains narratives from most, if not all of the major characters in the book, even if they only got one chapter.  Last time we left Cleo, Jonas, Magnus, and Lucia Auranos had fallen in to the clutches of King Gaius.  Lucia played a very integral part in this acquisition, as she is the prophesized sorceress.  Cleo has lost her father and sister at the hands of King Gaius, along with her kingdom and freedom.  Magnus is still his father’s, King Gaius, shadow; meanwhile Jonas is the leader of the rebels.  Too much happened in this book and my head is still spinning.  To summarize the main points: people will die in this book, people will marry in this book, there are a few surprise kisses (one will be extremely “ship” hot, while the other is so awkward and surprising it isn’t hot until a couple of pages, and then you will think… really, well I fancy those two together, Go Nic!), treachery and double crossing, weird alliances, more death, the Watchers are now making a big presence, new crazy villain, a resurrection, oh and more death.

Magnus really grew on me in this book.  There was definitely more of him in this book than the previous; the first book really centered on Cleo and Jonas.  Now that Magnus is the heir to the new kingdom of Mytica and Lucia is stuck in “The Sanctuary” since she is in a coma, they both seem to have bigger roles in this book.  Lucia is also going through this crazy sorceress stage, while Magnus is trying to cut the umbilical cord attached to his father.   The ending was too swift, almost as if you have been running a marathon for the past 2 hours and then all of a sudden some hand juts out to stop you.  Now your defenses are up, your heart rate is askew, and you no longer have anything to keep running to.  That is how it ends.  The next book will most likely zero in on Cleo and Lucia, since one holds the key to the other’s power.  That will be interesting to see: 

“And you’re not afraid of me?”

Terrified beyond words.

“No, I’m not afraid of you.”

 

4 out of 5 stars.  Thank you to the publisher and Edelweiss for the ARC.