Tuesday, March 3, 2015

Review: Empire of Night by Kelley Armstrong


Empire of Night by Kelley Armstrong
Book Two of the Age of Legends series
Publisher: HarperCollins
Publication Date: April 7, 2015
Rating: 4 stars
Source: ARC sent by the publisher

Summary (from Goodreads):

Sisters Moria and Ashyn are the Keeper and Seeker of Edgewood. Or at least, they were.

Their village is gone. Their friends have betrayed them. And now, the emperor has sent them on a mission to rescue the children of Edgewood—accompanied by Prince Tyrus and a small band of imperial warriors. But the journey proves more perilous than they could have imagined. With treachery and unrest mounting in the empire, Moria and Ashyn will have to draw on all their influence and power to overcome deadly enemies—not all of them human—and even avert an all-out war.

What I Liked:

Guys, I almost don't want to write this review because LET ME CRY AND SUFFER IN PEACE, OKAY?! This one was soooo good. It was amazing and thrilling and heartbreaking and MY FEELS. They are broken. I hate when people talk about their "feels", but right now, it just fits. Sea of Shadows was excellent, and Empire of Night does its predecessor justice. Yes, Empire of Night didn't get five stars from me (like Sea of Shadows did), but that's mostly because of the cliffhanger ending. It's a great ending, but high on the heartbreak and cliffhangers. I did the same with the rating of The Winner's Crime - darn these heartbreaking-ending-sequel novels! Where is the third book, I need it!

Ashyn and Moria are almost-prisoners in the emperor's palace. They hate court life, but they must stay and gain allies and power if they want to find the children of Edgewood. An opportunity is given by the emperor for Moria and Prince Tyrus to rescue the children, and Ashyn comes too. So does Ronan, who basically told Ashyn that he didn't want anything more from the kiss they shared in Sea of Shadows. We all know this is not true, but Ronan is determined to leave Ashyn alone. And Gavril - Gavril has betrayed the empire (and Moria). Moria and Ashyn must find the children, and battle shadow stalkers and other creatures, and watch their backs in the midst of war.

In Sea of Shadows, I loved both Ashyn and Moria. Usually, when we have two female protagonists, I'll like one and dislike one. Not the case with this book. This book is broken into chunks of each girl's third-person perspectives (the girls aren't together all the time, so it's also like there are two separate plots). I think the author focused a smidge more on Moria in this book, but that might just be my perception of the book. I didn't mind at all.

Moria is the fierce warrior of the pair. She is fearless, and guards her heart. She and Gavril cared about each other, but weren't lovers. I had really hoped that they would be A Thing, but their "romance" in book one wasn't a huge thing... it almost wasn't a thing at all. So when Gavril betrays everyone, including Moria, Moria is hurt and angry, but she isn't heartbroken and devastated. She doesn't like mentioning his name though, so, there's that.

I really like the direction of Moria's story in this book. She actually falls for someone else, and it's a palatable, tangible relationship, not like her relationship with Gavril. This guy - Prince Tyrus - has a good heart and a kind soul. I like him a lot. He's brave yet cautious, determined and loyal, and a courageous warrior. He's a bastard prince, but a prince nonetheless. I might have been all OMG-NO-IS-THIS-A-LOVE-TRIANGLE, except that Gavril and Moria were barely A Thing in Sea of Shadows (I kept mentioning how subtle the romance was in that book), and they never did anything... you can tell that Moria genuinely loves Tyrus and vice versa. It's endearing, because Moria is very hardened.

Not like Ashyn. Ashyn is the softer of the two, the healer to her warrior sister. Both of them are fierce and unafraid and forces to be reckoned with, but Ashyn is an anchor, whereas Moria is a rock. Ronan straight-up tells Ashyn that he didn't want more from her, and he didn't want her to want more from him. This hurts Ashyn deeply, and she carries this hurt with her throughout the book. But it's SO OBVIOUS that it's hurting him too. There is a reason why he shut things down, and I don't believe for a second that it's because he doesn't love her or want her. So, I'm pretty optimistic about that relationship. No love triangle there either.

The story is fast-paced and quite engrossing. The book is a tad bit on the long side for Young Adult literature, but I don't mind "long" books - and this one just flies by. Seriously, you'll reach page 300 and by like, wooaaahhh, I've gotten this far already?! It's about 430 pages, but it doesn't feel that long at all. Armstrong has a way with weaving a beautiful story that is interesting and complex and heartbreaking. There is a lot going, not just the search for the children. The politics, the threat of Kitsune, the shadow stalkers... the romance is by no means the central part of the story. There is too much else going on!

Moria, Ashyn, Tyrus, and Ronan set out together to find the children of Edgewood (Tyrus hires Ronan to be a guard of a sort). The group is split up multiple times, and with each time, my heart grew a little heavier. You could tell that something terrifying was going to happen in the end, and separate the group for quite some time. And it does. And my heart broke a little (a LOT).

Heartbreaking. Oh my gosh, don't even get me started. Throughout the book, I was sad for Ashyn and Ronan, because duh, you two belong together (stupid Ronan). I was happy for Tyrus and Moria, because duh, they belong together (and they know it). But then... sad things happen... and I'm SAD! The ending is cruel! Heartbreaking! Cliffhanger-y! Why, Armstrong, why?! I NEED BOOK THREE!

What I Did Not Like:

I'm giving this one four stars (as opposed to five stars) ONLY because of the cliffhanger ending. I hate cliffhangers, I hate waiting, and I hate feeling heartbroken! I love this book, and it's logical, the way the author ended the book, but gosh. I feel like EVERYONE was hurt in some way, physically or emotionally or mentally or something. There is so much going on! That cliffhanger though...

Would I Recommend It:

YES! I would totally recommend this book! And series! Oh my goodness do yourself a favor and read Sea of Shadows! And Empire of Night! Although, I can't blame anyone who might want to wait until closer to book three's release (I'm assuming there will be a book three, though I haven't seen any information about it). There is NO WAY the author can end the series the way this book ends, so I'm just going to go ahead and assume that a book three is in the works. NEED.

Rating:

4.5 stars -> rounded down to 4 stars (remember, this is only because of the cliffhanger). This series definitely will be a favorite series, because fantasy! Subtle romance! Totally shipping the couples! Except... book three will tell all. Seriously, the ending of this book leaves so much to want. Please don't disappoint, Kelley Armstrong!


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12 comments:

  1. Ooooh nice review! My blogging friend just told me she'd send me her ARC of this because she hasn't read the first one and doesn't currently have time!

    I had heard there was a cliffhanger and I don't think I am prepared for it! Not at all! Kelley did say on Twitter there is a book 3! I can't remember is she said she was editing it or something else. But there is! I know that much! But I cannot remember when or if she even said when it will release. Should be next year. Because cliffhangers are evil!

    Great review though!! But I am scared to read it! My heart can only handle sooo many cliffhanger endings! LOL!

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    1. I hope you love this book when you read it, Jessica!

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  2. *stocks on tissues and chocolate* Better to be forewarned about the awful cliffhanger!! But I'm so gonna be reading the heck out of this book sure!

    And thank you Jessica for the confirmation of a book 3 in the series, HOOORAY!!

    Fantastic review Alyssa!

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    1. YES! I hope you enjoy this series, Pili! And actually, I was the one that asked Kelley, and Jessica saw that tweet on Twitter and favorited Kelley's response. Just to clear that up, it matters to ME, if not anyone else :)

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  3. AHHH! NOW I AM CURIOUS. I must know about the ending, lol :D Amazing review Alyssa. <3 I am so happy that you loved this book so much :D I haven't read book one yet, but I shall, after I get my pre-order of this one. <3 So curious. And so happy you love them both :) But omg. Sounded sort of like a love triangle :( SOOOBS. But then, maybe not, since you say she wasn't really with the first boy.. and.. after she gets together with the new one. Does she ever want to be with the old one? Does she kiss him (again)? I'm curious, hih :) Anyway. Gorgeous review sweetie. <3 Thank you for sharing :D

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    1. Dude no, don't worry about the romance at all. My recommendation to you would be to binge-read the entire series in succession. Like, one after the other (so, wait until 2016).

      Thank you!

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  4. sound like this book is getting better with each book :) Lovely Review

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    1. In that vein of thought - I hope book three is the best one! Thank you, Alreem ^_^

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  5. Okay, you're really not helping me here. I've been trying to cut down on the books in my TBR pile but, errrrgh, now I really want to read this! An approval from you means it must be good :D

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    1. Mwahahaa, it's all part of my evil plan >:) I really recommend this series! I hope you read/love it, Rachel ;D

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  6. Oh my! Heartbroken? Feels? Cliffhanger? I loved the first book and I cannot wait to read this one!!!! Great review Alyssa :)

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    1. All of that good stuff! You'll love/hate this one (when I say that, I mean LOVE), I promise :D Happy reading, Liza! And thank you!

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