I have mixed feelings about this book. Although I totally enjoyed it, I was not hooked. I don’t know if it’s because I was expecting something different, but it was just not as great as the first one. Still, I had a great time reading this and the characters were really amazing.

The ending was, I think, my biggest issue with this book. I was not expecting the first big thing that happened (I’m trying to avoid spoiler here, but if you have read the book you will know what I’m talking about) but what follows was kind of expected. I’m not saying it was a bad thing but it was too predictable and I would have liked the book to end differently (but this is my own personal opinion).

Apart from that, Shahrzad was totally amazing. I love how hot-tempered she is and how she will never let people dictate her what to do; she really is a strong woman. We also got to know Khalid a little bit more in this book and I loved that, he is a really interesting character.

The love triangle was also handled perfectly; it was not annoying like most love triangles are (to me). Shahrzad has a really mature reaction to all of this and I definitely enjoyed that.

In brief, I loved the book and its characters but it did not blow my mind. I liked books that made me think and this one did not. However, it did make me travel because the reality in this book is so far from my own, and it was great. I still recommend this book, because it was good!

The darker the sky, the brighter the stars.

In a land on the brink of war, Shahrzad is forced from the arms of her beloved husband, the Caliph of Khorasan. She once thought Khalid a monster—a merciless killer of wives, responsible for immeasurable heartache and pain—but as she unraveled his secrets, she found instead an extraordinary man and a love she could not deny. Still, a curse threatens to keep Shazi and Khalid apart forever.

Now she’s reunited with her family, who have found refuge in the desert, where a deadly force is gathering against Khalid—a force set on destroying his empire and commanded by Shazi’s spurned childhood sweetheart. Trapped between loyalties to those she loves, the only thing Shazi can do is act. Using the burgeoning magic within her as a guide, she strikes out on her own to end both this terrible curse and the brewing war once and for all. But to do it, she must evade enemies of her own to stay alive.

The saga that began with The Wrath and the Dawn takes its final turn as Shahrzad risks everything to find her way back to her one true love again.

3 ½★

If you follow my reviews you know I absolutely loved book one and was very much looking forward to book two.

Sadly this book felt sort of short for me and I can’t say I enjoyed it nearly as much as the first.

It starts off pretty much where we were left in book two and things are starting to fall apart fast for everyone. Shazi is is separated from Kahlid some major parts of the book and “stuck” with Tariq. I still enjoyed Shazi for the most part but must say she defiantly had her stupid moments in this book. I also enjoyed that we learned more about her family history.

I was not a huge fan in book one of Tariq and that did not change if anything I just dislike him more than before.

I loved Khalid and I loved seeing how he handled things, the good, the bad and the ugly. Though he also had his moments of annoyance.

The pace of the book felt a little all over the place, some things were too long and seemed to go on forever other the complete opposite.

Oh….   Despina and Jalah story … again while a bit predicable at part overall I enjoyed it very much.

Overall, I enjoyed the ending and the book but I thought it was not as good as the first book. But I’m still very glad that I read them

I rate it 3 ½★

Spoilers possible and I'm going negative here.
Audiobook- not recommended
Narration 2.5 stars
Book 3.5
-the elders & men's voices were so terrible. I wanted to laugh, it took me out of the story. I didn't enjoy this second book nearly as much as the first. I think the narration destroyed the serious edge of the seat moments when the villain would squeak out a poor example crinkled Disney cartoon type voice. Dang it, I really wanted to listen to this authors words brought to life on audio, such a shame.
That was my only issue with this story. Tariq, WTH ? He did some crappy things, head banging creepy guy things. He turned into this ultra control freak, that Shahrzad should have never gone along with, where did the real Shahrzah I loved in Book 1 go ? This chick is a wobbler. This problem went on for too long and the time between Shahrad and Khalid was too brief.
I loved her discoveries, her realizations during the last 1/2 of the book. Everything and everyone moved into their roles, justice was coming and finally we got out the weirdness that was in the first half. Oh I love the stories, I'd wished there had have been more.
Sadly I don't think I'll reread it in print, I didn't love it enough. If it ever makes it to the screen I'll be there.

This is cheesy, this stand off, like an old western. The second romance was not developed and just didn't do anything for me. I am sad to say this one is not as good as the first book. The magical feeling is missing for me

Awwwwwwwwwww <3 <3 <3 <3