The book picks up shortly after the end of the previous book in the series and the action starts up almost immediately as Nova is faced with a multitude of tasks with her new position as ruler of the underworld.
The characters even more real and relatable in this second book in the series, as they are faced with extremely trying circumstances that force them to face their emotions and weaknesses. From the very beginning of the book, we see Nova dealing with her grief over the events that took place at the end of the What Blooms from Death, on top of the struggles that come with being a new ruler in a Kingdom that has been steadily deteriorating for years. Despite everything she is faced with, Nova remains strong and makes for a well-fleshed out protagonist. She is by no means perfect, but the flaws are what make for a more realistic character and show her growth as the series progresses. Even more intriguing is this book’s ability to flip the villain on his head, leaving the reader questioning whether he is as bad as previously thought, and if there might not be an even greater threat to come. And of course I adore Aleks, as I have from the beginning, and my heart hurts for everything he is forced to endure.
There is so much that occurs in this book that creates so many questions and kind of turns the direction of the story on its head with how it makes you question everything you thought you knew which made for such an intriguing read. A new threat enters the picture in What Echoes in the Dark which leaves both Nova and the reader uncertain where to direct their energies. I am very much looking forward to the next book to get some of these answers and to figure out what is really going on and what the events of the past have to do with the current situation Nova and the others are dealing with.
This book also manages to bring the heartbreak. Seeing Nova and Aleks experience happiness just so constantly have things turned around on them hurt my heart and I just want the two of them to be able to catch a break. I can only hope that break comes in the third book because these two have been put through it and deserve the chance to actually hold onto that.
I cannot wait for the next book after the way things ended here, and I will be eagerly awaiting it to see how things turn out and what is truly going on. I highly recommend this series and the second book was not a disappointment.
