Kirkus
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A conflicted leader confronts tainted magic and a family’s sins in this follow-up toThe Beasts We Bury (2024). After unseating her corrupt father from his position as the Prime, Mancella “Mance” Cliff has spent months wrestling with the burden of leading the Cliff Realm. Unsure of whom to trust and unwilling to burden those she loves, such as the former thief Silver, she utilizes her newly inherited power, which allows her to physically manifest and consult aspects of her character, such as Heart, Poise, and Asset, for counsel. However, a marriage proposal from the Prime of the Forest Realm, along with signs of corrupted magic, pushes Mance to face the part of herself she fears the most—and forces Silver to fight for their love. This installment is light on the backstory and requires readers to be familiar with the first book. Mance’s existing ability to summon and wield the animals she’s killed is secondary to her new powers of multiplicity. The chapters are narrated by Mance, Silver, and Mance’s various personas. While the dark magic is less graphic than in the previous book, this entry does feature body horror. The romance between the white-presenting leads is secondary to Mance’s journey toward self-acceptance. The new characters are well rounded, but the returning supporting characters feel underutilized, and the book overall lacks the emotional depth of the previous volume. This tidy conclusion to an ambitious duology should satisfy returning fans. (content warning)(Fantasy. 14-18) Copyright © Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.