Ayla Marie
🌕🌕🌕🌕🌕
Leo, Cael, Saiph, Altair, Antares and Byrne have all escaped the Gold-eye domain island city of Wate – but at a cost that almost feels too high for the family to comprehend. They left Cass, the youngest of the Hael brothers, bleeding and broken on the shore of the river – pierced by the arrows of Cassien’s soldiers along with Byrne’s older sister, Elana. Now, they’re in the capital city of Illena, Arkezo, and as they fight through their grief, they must try to navigate the complex rules of the Blood-Eye royal Court. Leo must learn that he isn’t just simply an orphan – but the Crown Prince of Ilena – and that he must continue to fight with everything he has to keep the family he chose together; as well as fight his own very personal demons and the growing feelings he has for Elana, the daughter of his greatest adversary. If he can contend with all of that, he might just have a shot at the peaceful life he’s always craved, with his family by his side. But the Blood-eyes have a different agenda, and soon, Leo, Cael and Elana realise that not everything in Arkezo is as perfect as it first seems.
The Uncrowned King is the second book in the Marie’s trilogy that kicked off with The Blood Prince, and although we had to wait for a year for this incredible book, it was most definitely worth the wait. Marie has continued with her stunning prose, immaculate world-building and intense character arcs. We, of course, meet new people through the novel as the action moves to different parts of the Four Kingdoms – and we get a fair few answers about Leo’s mysterious and tragic past. We begin to find out exactly what the Blood-eye and Gold-eye people are, as well as how they were created – and we begin to delve deeper into the history of this violent, complicated world.
Try as I might, I can’t recommend this book (and its predecessor if you haven’t already read it), enough. It is honestly, that good. And it bears reminding you that Ayla Marie is only 17. Because this world she’s written about is brutal, beautiful and beyond imagining. It’s truly a masterpiece.
S. A.
The Uncrowned King is available to buy on Amazon and other book retailers.
I was sent The Uncrowned King directly from the author in return for a fair, honest review.