This was better than the first book. The power play, the politics, the betrayal! You can't trust anyone! ( )

*This is a review of an ARC copy of Treason

I don’t think I’ve had as great of a reaction to any book as I have this one; well not since I read The Grimoire: Lichgates back in February. S.M. Boyce comes back with book two of the Grimoire trilogy, and comes back STRONG! I honestly didn’t think Lichgates could be topped on my all-time favorites list. Treason surpassed it with flying colors.

For those readers who have read Lichgates already, they know how talented Boyce is in creating the world of Ourea. For those who don’t know, let me tell you. Boyce’s world-building skills haven’t diminished since book one. They may even have gotten better. Ourea, all of its kingdoms, hidden nooks and crannies, the glimpses of the real world that the reader gets, they all show such beauty while having constant danger everywhere. Ourea is a dangerous place. It goes with the territory. Despite the danger it’s a place I’d love to visit if it were to be real.

What I also enjoyed were the new characters in Treason. All the old favorites from Lichgates are back as well, don’t worry about missing them. They come back even better this time! The complexities of all S.M.’s characters allow for plot twists, extensive and unfolding histories, hope and fear for the future. Each character has an agenda and each character influences others whether they know it or not.

It’s this complex world and character system that makes Treason, and The Grimoire Trilogy in general, what it really is. It’s an epic movie unfolding before the reader’s eyes. I don’t know if I was really reading the words on a page, as much as I was watching vivid images play in my head. I couldn’t not turn the page even when a chapter was over. I wanted to keep reading in order to find out what was in store for Kara, Braeden, and the rest of my favorite characters (especially the adorable fur-ball Flick).

I could go on for hours pointing out what I loved about this book. I also am confident in saying I have nothing negative to say…nothing at all…about this book. There are plot twists galore. There’s also one MAJOR twist that even after reading it a few times to make sure I read it correctly I still didn’t see coming. I can’t believe it really. It was so seamlessly and stealthily thrown in there, it was like “*POW* I’m a ninja.” If I had the space to do so, I would have been flipping and bouncing off the walls of my room. No lie.

I only have one last thing to say. Boyce, please for the love of all things bookily holy…please go write Heritage. I NEED to complete my journey through Ourea with Kara!!!!! ( )

After finishing Lichgates, the first in the Grimoire Saga, I was pleased but not quite hooked. I was hoping the second book would have more action, develop the relationships, and draw me more into the magical world of Ourea. I was not disappointed. The writing remained beautiful. "Pearl blue light congealed over her fingers until it formed the shape of a sword" (p.10)-a lovely image. The only complaint I had was that the writer played so much with light imagery that it lost some of its magic. Nevertheless, I still found it beautiful. The romance heated up. "Her soft hair pooled against his neck, so he ran a hand through it without thinking" (p.23).

Other quotes I liked were:

"Love isn't a weakness. It's not leverage" (p.17)

"Sometimes impossible just means you have to try harder" (p.228)

Favorite words:

versatile
convoluted
peripheral
shards
pensive

Also, in this second book to the series, more characters were introduced while the characters the reader had already met became more complex and interesting. There were many surprises and new alliances were formed. Perhaps my favorite new character is a charming little "red teleporting ball of fur" named Flick. He's called a Xlijnughl (pronounced Zyl-LEYN-guhl). A big name for such a little guy, but he often came in handy. I have decided that I want one.

I also liked the vyrn - a large, fast, potentially dangerous creature that is fiercely loyal but cannot be tamed. She can read thoughts as well. I pictured it as looking like a graceful buffalo. An oxymoron, I know, but that's the image I got in my head.

I also have to include my favorite simile because it was a great image without any cliche: "Her tangled hair clung to her face like a deflated tennis ball" (p.261). I nearly laughed out loud at that comparison.

The most engrossing part of the book had to be the huge battle that erupted between the kingdoms. It contained bravery, surprising alliances, sacrifice, and was prefaced by unbearable torture. There is plenty of good versus evil in this saga, but what makes it unique is that it is impossible to trust most of the characters. All the more excitement for the next installment.

In summary, I enjoyed the book very much and the series is definitely one I would recommend to fantasy lovers. As I understand it, there are two more to come in the saga. I expect the story will only get better as there are more battles on the horizon and love will continue to bloom.

In compliance with FTC guidelines, please note that I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

( )

This review has been crossposted from my blog at The Cosy Dragon . Please head there for more in-depth reviews by me, which appear on a timely schedule.

I had high expectations for this book, and it met all of them. All of the action and romance and awesomeness that was in the first book of this series was present here as well, and I was really gripped.

Kara matures in this novel quite a bit. Her love interest, Braeden, also have to come to terms with what he is. It seems that as their characters progress, all the other Bloods are deteriorating into madness or some other such idiocracy.

I didn't see Kara's family history coming at all. The bit of foreshadowing that was included in 'Lichgates' for this I'd almost forgotten about, but then rediscovered that nibbly bit in my mind. Poor Kara, it seems like she'll never have peace.

The title of 'Treason' is very fitting. There are so many kinds of treason and betrayal going on, it's hard to pick which is my favourite. Am I allowed to have favourite betrayals? I'm sure that a rereading of this novel wouldn't do any hard, as I'm sure I could pick more up from it.

I would have liked to see a bit more of the muses, and I felt that part was left pretty open. I can't say too much, or I'll give away all the surprises, but Adele wasn't exactly thinking rationally about that I can tell.

There are definitely some deeper themes in this novel. The original Vagabond suffered and died, and he couldn't keep his love safe, so he wants Kara to do the same. It's entirely unreasonable of him. Kara gets the chance to choose life again, and of course, she needs something big to come back for. But for her, it's not uniting the yakona who she never had a blood link to, it's about peace.

The same thing that bugged me about the first one that I forgot to mention was Kara's relationship with Twin. I didn't really see very much development, except the tiara episode, because Kara is away so much. Maybe I missed something? You should get your hands on a copy of this trilogy and tell me if I did!

I actually have applied to get the ARC of this trilogy, which doesn't come out until Fall next year. I think that means October for me, since that will be our spring. It's far too long to wait in my opinion! If you don't have copies of these books, get your hands on them immediately and read them. Or, if you can't stand the suspense of reading them but not having the third book, buy them anyway and keep them for then.

Adults and teenagers alike would enjoy this novel. There are no sex scenes, basically no bad language, and only positive depictions of making hard life decisions the right way. Five stars from me. ( )

This review has been crossposted from my blog at The Cosy Dragon . Please head there for more in-depth reviews by me, which appear on a timely schedule.

I had high expectations for this book, and it met all of them. All of the action and romance and awesomeness that was in the first book of this series was present here as well, and I was really gripped.

Kara matures in this novel quite a bit. Her love interest, Braeden, also have to come to terms with what he is. It seems that as their characters progress, all the other Bloods are deteriorating into madness or some other such idiocracy.

I didn't see Kara's family history coming at all. The bit of foreshadowing that was included in 'Lichgates' for this I'd almost forgotten about, but then rediscovered that nibbly bit in my mind. Poor Kara, it seems like she'll never have peace.

The title of 'Treason' is very fitting. There are so many kinds of treason and betrayal going on, it's hard to pick which is my favourite. Am I allowed to have favourite betrayals? I'm sure that a rereading of this novel wouldn't do any hard, as I'm sure I could pick more up from it.

I would have liked to see a bit more of the muses, and I felt that part was left pretty open. I can't say too much, or I'll give away all the surprises, but Adele wasn't exactly thinking rationally about that I can tell.

There are definitely some deeper themes in this novel. The original Vagabond suffered and died, and he couldn't keep his love safe, so he wants Kara to do the same. It's entirely unreasonable of him. Kara gets the chance to choose life again, and of course, she needs something big to come back for. But for her, it's not uniting the yakona who she never had a blood link to, it's about peace.

The same thing that bugged me about the first one that I forgot to mention was Kara's relationship with Twin. I didn't really see very much development, except the tiara episode, because Kara is away so much. Maybe I missed something? You should get your hands on a copy of this trilogy and tell me if I did!

I actually have applied to get the ARC of this trilogy, which doesn't come out until Fall next year. I think that means October for me, since that will be our spring. It's far too long to wait in my opinion! If you don't have copies of these books, get your hands on them immediately and read them. Or, if you can't stand the suspense of reading them but not having the third book, buy them anyway and keep them for then.

Adults and teenagers alike would enjoy this novel. There are no sex scenes, basically no bad language, and only positive depictions of making hard life decisions the right way. Five stars from me. ( )