Title: Rebel Spring
Author: Morgan Rhodes
Series: Book #2 in the Falling Kingdoms series
Publisher: Razor Bill
Publication Date: December 3, 2013
Genre: Young Adult – Fantasy
Pages: 401
Format: Purchased Paperback
The second book in the Falling Kingdom series was full of more action, adventure, danger, blood, and romance as the story continued to follow our four main characters: Princess Cleiona Bellos, Prince Magnus Damora, Princess Lucia Damora, and Jonas Agallon. In this sequel we find our main four dealing with their own trials and tribulations (mostly trials) as King Gaius becomes more dangerous and things start to become strange in the land of Mytica with strange weather storms and natural disasters.
From Goodreads:
Cleo is now a prisoner in her own palace, forced to be an ambassador for Mytica as the evil King Gaius lies to her people.
Magnus stands to eventually inherit the new kingdom but is still obsessed with his feelings for his adopted sister, Lucia.
Lucia is haunted by the outcome of the breathtaking display of magic that allowed her father to capture the kingdoms.
Jonas watched at the palace gates a troop of rebels behind him, waiting for him to tell them how he plans to overtake King Gaius.
As this is a sequel there may be spoilers! Read ahead if you’ve read the book!
This book definitely followed through on the story line as it continued into the book. We got to see what it was like for Cleo after her kingdom had been conquered, her father murdered, and her sister dead. (A lot of blows for Cleo.) We got to see Magnus and how he’s dealing with his father’s plans, as well as his own grief for Lucia and later on his mother. Lucia was asleep for a large portion of this book, and we also got to see how her elementia was starting to control her. And we got to see Jonas lead the rebels in one defeat after another.
It was a sequel with loss and heartbreak, with very little triumphs, but for the setting it was in I saw why everything happened the way it did.
There were a few pieces of light in the book, such as Cleo discovering the secret behind the ring her father gave her, or how we meet some side characters that are strong in their own regard, for sure, like Lysandra.
Let me talk about the characters:
Cleo is probably my favorite character in this book, where Lucia was my favorite in the last. She has endured so much heartbreak in such a short period of time (from Theon to her family to her friend, Mira) that I’m amazed she didn’t grieve and drown in her sorrows for more of the book. I thought she was very quick to let go of that grief, which made me think if she cared as much as she said, but I think it was to help forward the plot that we didn’t see as much grief as action. She had false hope several times in this book, which lead to heartbreak, but she tried to keep a strong face throughout it, which showed a strong character, in my opinion.
Magnus was still kind of cold and calculating in this book. I didn’t really feel a certain attachment to him until the last third of the book when he and Cleo went on their wedding tour. I thought the fact that he kept his mask up throughout the book was true to his character, but I wish he’d crack more, show more of himself to the world. I am glad to say that he isn’t like his father like he thought he was: where his father is cruel, he is merciful; where his father won’t listen before acting, he takes the time to gather as much information as possible before acting on a whim. I’m interested to see where he is in the third book.
Lucia was so different in this book compared to the last. She fell in love, she became hateful, and her magic is starting to take control. I thought she was kind of really bitchy in this one, to be honest. I didn’t understand where her sudden desire to kill came from, but once we dove further into the story I got that it was her elementia that was starting to control her. I feel bad in a way, but at the same time I wish she’d get a better grip on her actions. Maybe she’ll lose control in the next book? We’ll see.
Jonas was really reckless in this book. He didn’t really listen to reason when he was given damn good reason as to why they shouldn’t go through an attack, but he did it anything, thinking things could be done easily and smoothly. I thought he was very impulsive and I did wonder where his hatred for Cleo went… I don’t remember him suddenly sobering up to her in the first book, but maybe he did? Anyway, I thought he was trying to act brave, but really he was being reckless.
And then we had some side characters who had their own chapters, like Alexius, a Watcher; King Gaius; Nic; Lysandra. It was cool to see from their perspectives and where the story was going from their points of view.
As for the plot, I did see progression and further questions for the later books to come about. I’m intrigued to see just where these questions go and if they’re answered in ways that I hope: where is the Kindred? What’s going to happen between Nic and Prince Ashur? Will Prince Ashur find the answers he’s looking for to advance his kingdom? Will Melenia conquer? What happened to Alexius? And many more questions. Though I will say that there are still many variables that are unaccounted for and I think that they can go in many different directions. I am definitely interested in the story now than I was before and I think I’m becoming more invested in the series.
Overall I rate this book 4/5 stars and recommend it if you’ve read the first book.
During the week, I was having trouble finding time and motivation to read, but I did manage to actually finish the book I chose with two and half hours left of week one! Yay!
And today begins week two! For week two the theme is Dangerous Love. For this, my chosen book is “The Wrath and the Dawn” by Renee Ahdieh. I’m very excited to read this book and I think that it’ll definitely hold dangerous love as the synopsis says that a prince takes a bride every night, and no one ever sees those women again. But one young woman is determined to beat that statistic and to live past dawn of the next day. Can she?
Reader Rayna 