Format: E-Galley, 395 pages
Release Date: October 1, 2018
Publisher: Entangled: Teen
Source: Publisher
Genre: Fantasy / Romance
Like flowers denied water, people are wilting under the emperor's tyranny.
Rose will not rest until the Gardener is dead. But there are bigger battles to fight, and Rayce—leader of the rebellion and the only man Rose has ever loved—believes their best chance at winning the war is to join forces with her sworn enemy.
Saving innocent people is more important than her quest for revenge. But their new ally can’t be trusted—and he knows her darkest secret. One betrayal could leave the war and Rayce’s life hanging in the balance, and Rose will need to make the ultimate sacrifice to save them all.
War of the Wilted is the second installment in author Amber Mitchell's Garden of Thorns trilogy. The book picks up shortly after the ending of the Garden of Thorns. Protagonist Rose, who we all know by a different name now, has pledged her life to the Zareeni rebellion led by Rayce Sun against Emperor Galen Sun. Rose's real identity is a huge secret. Only a few people, including Rayce, the Gardener, and the Emperor know who she is. And, if her identity is discovered by the traitor who took over the Varshan throne, her life will be forfeit.
If she is captured by the Emperor, he will use her to unite both realms under his brutal dictatorship and the rebellion will be crushed by superior numbers. Rose has fulfilled part of her obligation to the former Flowers and Wilted's. Those who survived the previous installment, are now living among the Zareeni. But, Rose isn't at all happy that she wasn't allowed to kill the man who kidnapped her, forced into learning how to dance, and made her his main attraction.
Rose wants the Gardener dead, but Rayce believes that he can be useful to the rebellion. Rose doesn't want to be a leader, but the Flowers & Wilteds follow her lead. She doesn't want to have to reveal her identity to the people she now calls friends, including Calla, Lily, Arlo, and Marin, but sooner rather than later it will come out. Rose struggles to adjust to her freedom and the rules that Rayce believes are best for the rebellion. The fact that she wants the Gardener to pay for his sins, and knows that he is playing Rayce against her, chaffs more than if she was still forced to dance.
Does she ignore the rules every chance she gets? You betcha. Is she right to do so? In my opinion, absolutely. Rose and Rayce's relationship became such a major part of the story that I have to admit that I wanted to skip over several parts of the story. When the story wasn't about Rose and Rayce's issues, the author provides readers with a ton of action, thrilling battles, and some interesting twists. There are several new dynamics introduced in this book, so it will be interesting to see where the author goes next.
Summation: As I've stated, I
loved the action in this story. But, I didn't enjoy
this book as much as Garden of Thorns mainly because of all the angst and arguments between Rose and Rayce
which seemed to take up 1/2 the story. When all is said and done. Rose
was 100% right with her actions, and Rayce should have seen the light
far sooner than he did. That being said, I have no choice but to finish
this series and see how the author ties up this series. I will keep my fingers crossed that the author will leave the angst and arguments behind and focus on the next step in Rose's adventure.
When I read you had no choice but to finish the series I chuckled to myself.
ReplyDeletesherry @ fundinmental