A Curse of Blood and Stone

I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.A Curse of Blood & Stone by K. A. Tucker is the second book in the Fate & Flame series and what an awesome sequel. Branded a traitor to the throne, Romeri flees Cirilea. Zander’s decision to escape with her resulted in the loss of his throne to his brother. Tucker delivered a delightful mix of magic, action, suspense, romance and humor in this long-awaited sequel to A Fate of Wrath & Flame. A Curse of Blood & Stone picked up from where book one left off. I was worried that I would be lost having read book one more than a little over a year ago. My worries were for naught. As soon as I began reading, it all came back. I enjoyed book one, but A Curse of Blood & Stone was so much better. Action, suspense, adventure, romance, political intrigue and humour all combined made for an exciting and unputdownable read.  While book one focused on the world building, the focus of A Curse of Blood & Stone was on the development of Romeria’s magical abilities. She is the key to unravelling the meaning behind the prophecy, saving the people of Islora and aiding Zander to regain his throne. Hence the need to ensure she honed and control her magical abilities. She came a long way since book one. Her bravery, strength and kindness amid the turmoil she faced showed how great a queen she would make. The perfect person to stand beside Zander when he reclaims his throne. The story introduces new characters which added depth to this installment.  The relationship dynamics between Romeria and Jareck, the guard tasked with protecting her amused me. There was lots of mistrust between the two. However, as the story progressed, the dynamics of their relationship shifted. Soon, they shared a healthy respect for each other. I loved how Zander and Romeria’s relationship developed throughout the story. Zander is determined to keep his distance, but Romeria is not about to make it easy for him. A force of nature she is and one who will keep him on his toes. This fun, fast-paced, and page turn story kept me thoroughly entertained from start to finish. This book delivered all I expected and more. My only issue is the wait for the next book, to learn what next is in store for these awesome characters. This review was originally posted on Totally Addicted to Reading