I love reading sequels which are told from a different perspective, but in the same world and timeline. If you haven’t guessed by now, Dark Skies is the amazing sequel/companion novel to Dark Shores.
Summary
A RUNAWAY WITH A HIDDEN PAST
Lydia is a scholar, but books are her downfall when she meddles in the plots of the most powerful man in the Celendor Empire. Her life in danger, she flees west to the far side of the Endless Seas and finds herself entangled in a foreign war where her burgeoning powers are sought by both sides.
A COMMANDER IN DISGRACE
Killian is Marked by the God of War, but his gifts fail him when the realm under the dominion of the Corrupter invades Mudamora. Disgraced, he swears his sword to the kingdom’s only hope: the crown princess. But the choice sees him caught up in a web of political intrigue that will put his oath – and his heart – to the test.
A KINGDOM UNDER SIEGE
With Mudamora falling beneath the armies of the Corrupter, Lydia and Killian strike a bargain to save those they love most—but it is a bargain with unintended and disastrous consequences. Truths are revealed, birthrights claimed, and loyalties questioned—all while a menace deadlier and more far-reaching than they realize sweeps across the world.
Review
(Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher. This has not impacted my review which is unbiased and honest.)
I just want to start off by saying that I enjoyed Dark Skies even more than Dark Shores! Not only was Lydia exactly my type of heroine – wearing glasses, impulsive, and guided by a compassionate heart – but it has some really fantastic ships! Dark Skies tells the story of Lydia, Terianna’s best friend and her adventures in Mudamora on the other side of a triangular conflict from Dark Shores. It is a fantastic sequel that not only opens up the world, but sets up a fantastic premise for the next installment!
Lydia is a scholar, more at home in books than in battlefields, so when she’s thrust headfirst into danger she has to be quick on her feet. It was fantastic to see the events unfolding from Lydia’s POV, since she’s mostly a distant voice in the first book. The other POV we are introduced to in Dark Skies is Killian. I really loved Killian’s character because he introduces a whole new aspect of the world, but also he’s a gentle hearted, snarky, bleeding heart. I fell in love with these two, especially as they get to know each other better, and they’re now my favorite in the world.
Overall,
I also loved the ethical dilemmas that both characters undergo. Without spoilers, I can just tell you that they have to constantly examine the differences between what is best for them, and for those around them. The ones they love. The kingdom. Dark Skies also examines the ways ambition corrupts. While we may have good intentions, they ed up turning into dust.
Find Dark Skies on Goodreads, Amazon, Indiebound, Bookshop.org & The Book Depository.