After the first book was one of my highlights last year and it was written as a potential standalone I was so to say sceptical how the second book would work out. But oh my god, I was not disappointed. We now also get Kadras POV which I didn‘t know I needed before but it added so much depth to his character, I loved it. Also learning about his youth and his real age was heartbreaking and perfect as once. Like what do you mean this grumpy man is 3 years younger then me? In my head he was at least 40… Sarai was again an amazing fmc and I enjoyed reading about her again but also to see how she developed compared to the first book was really well done. So to say she grew on her difficulties/ the shitty behaviour others regarded her with. On top the romance between the both of them was not in extreme focus but the main focus again was on the intrigues they faced together. We also get (of course) some betrayals I absolutely didn‘t see coming, family drama par excellence and political intrigues that were perfectly annoying described. Most heartbreaking however was throughout the book how people treated Sarai and to see her nearly breaking on it while Kadra needs to learn that he can not solve everything with weapons… The ending was absolutely perfect for the two of them. To see how Kadra solved his family problems, both of them held each others back - it was completely perfect and couldn‘t have been a better ending of this dilogy. thanks to Netgalley for the eARC!