Format: Hardcover, 352 pages
Release Date: August 10, 2021
Publisher: Blink
Source: Publisher
Genre: Young Adult / Fantasy
From New York Times bestselling author MarcyKate Connolly comes the sequel to Twin Daggers, which follows Aissa and Zandria on their mission to understand their unique magical bloodline, as well as unite the Magi and Technocrats before their sworn enemy can turn the simmering hate between the two peoples into an all-out war.
Aissa has never felt so trapped and alone even with her sister and friend by her side. Zandria—once her other half—has become cold and inflexible after her time in the Technocrats’ dungeon. Their friend Remy may still side with his father, a Magi leader who refuses to believe his spymaster has turned traitor. And Aissa herself is now an enemy of her Magi people after falling in love with—and binding her heart to—Aro, a Techno prince who puts all their lives at stake.
Aissa is determined to
uncover the secrets of the Alchemist Alliance that created her and
Zandria’s unique magical powers ... as well as learn whether the
Alliance’s research holds the key to healing the rift between the Magi
and Technocrats after centuries of war. But with her people preparing
for battle, it will take more than lost spells and hidden secrets to
accomplish her goal. Especially as the bond between her and Aro grows
deeper and threatens everything Aissa has ever believed.
Heartless Heirs, by author MarcyKate Connolly, is the second and final installment in the authors Twin Daggers duology. The story begins right where Twin Daggers left off. No, I am not kidding. In fact, the story continues from where the first installment ended as Aissa, Zandria, and Remy are trying to escape being captured again by the Technocrats. The sisters and Remy are hunted by Technocrats and their machines. When Aissa saved the boy she was supposed to kill, Aro, she created a rift between herself and her sister.
This is going to be a long journey for Aissa who finds herself at odds with both Zandria and Remy for her actions. After being betrayed, tortured, and trapped in the steel helmet, Zandria is having a hard time understanding how Aissa could fall in love with Aro, a Techno prince when they are the very enemy they are trying to take down. She has reason to feel betrayed by her own flesh and blood since they've been doing things together since they could walk. To make matters worse, the sisters and Remy are cast out by the Armory Council who refuses to believe that one of their members is a traitor working on his own grand plans.
Soon thereafter, the group stumbles across a place called The Sanctum which is home to the Alchemist Alliance. The sisters also learned that they are unique because of a group known as Alchemist Alliance which their own parents belonged to. Yes, kind readers, we do get a new character who belongs to the Alchemist Alliance and some interesting twists as well. The group even travels to a far off secretive island where they find Owen, a Magus, who has been stranded by himself since his parents disappeared, and never returned.
Their mission is now to find the key to healing the divide between the Technocrats and the Magi after centuries at war as well as seeing if they can stop the traitor from continuing his diabolical plans of taking over and killing everyone who stands in his way. The bond between Aro and Aissa grows with each day, and if they don’t find the answers, they could literally both die. I think what's is most interesting about this story is learning more about the reason for the Heartless and why there are so many more now than before.
I liked the addition of both Owen, who can do a variety spells out of reach of the sisters, as well as Catoria who belongs to the Alchemist Alliance and provides an even deeper understanding of why the sisters are so different from everyone else. I thought the ending made a whole lot of sense and have no complaints. I am happy that the author didn't wash over the angst between Aissa and Zandria, but instead allowed them to have their own space before realizing that they are better together than parted and angry.
