Synopsis from Amazon Books:
New York Times bestselling author of Furyborn, Claire Legrand, enchants with a lush, steamy enemies to lovers fantasy romance perfect for fans of Bridgerton and A Court of Thorns and Roses.
THE OLD WAR IS OVER. A NEW ONE IS JUST BEGINNING.
The curse plaguing the Ashbourne and Bask families has finally been broken, but Farrin, the eldest Ashbourne daughter, still struggles to find peace. Unflappable and tireless, her composure masks a seething sorrow. Since her mother abandoned the family, Farrin has been their rock—managing her father’s temper, running the estate, keeping tight control over her dangerous musical power, and ignoring her own need for rest, distraction, and most of all, love.
In Ryder Bask, Farrin’s stubborn strength has met its match. The man infuriates her. He’s coarse, arrogant, annoyingly handsome. He’s as tired of their feuding parents as she is, and he brims with some secret anger that mirrors Farrin’s frustrated rage.
But Farrin must work with every ally she can—even the man she has been raised to hate. With every rising dawn, the Middlemist weakens further. Anointed magicians are disappearing. A fiery Olden creature is stalking Farrin. Strange visions haunt the High Queen Yvaine. And as Farrin and Ryder race to find stolen loved ones, they begin to realize a horrifying truth:
The gods are not dead. They’re waking up. And someone is hunting them.
Review
Let me start by stating if you haven’t read Book 1: A Crown of Ivy and Glass, do that before reading this one. While this CAN be a standalone book (if you squint really hard and don’t mind missing a lot of details), it’s meant to be read in chronological order. ACoIaG sets the stage for A Song of Ash and Moonlight – without it, the reading experience feels more opaque – like you’re trying to see through watery glass instead of clear crystal.
Where ACoIaG was written from Gemma’s perspective, ASoAaM tells Farrin’s story – the eldest of the Ashbourne daughters. Farrin is an angry female lead who isn’t as broken as she would like to believe. She carries trust issues (don’t we all) that cause a perpetual war in her mind. She feels isolated, alone, unloved. However, as the story develops, we see a change in her. She starts to see just how adored she is under her thorny exterior, proven over and over again by the support given from those close to her. She shows slow character growth throughout the story in small realistic ways while still clinging to her anger, insecurities, and fear. Hers is a journey that both frustrates and blooms appreciation for growth.
The plot is a continuation of its predecessor picking up where ACoIaG left off: a now named evil continues to plot against human kind; the sisters trying to unearth the mystery behind their new found power; a kingdom in chaos while their queen is dying. Fortunately, Legrand takes pity on the devoted reader by answering these questions, and then wrenches that sweet release away as she creates even more perplexing questions that will (hopefully) be answered in book 3. Seh offers well placed enticement that makes the long wait for each book worth it. It’s full of action, raw emotion, romance (wink), and mystery. The bond among the characters we met in book 1 increases tenfold in this fast-paced adventure which is both endearing and relieving.
Legrand’s writing style presents the right amount of detail while progressing the story forward at an engaging pace. She infuses detail without losing momentum – especially in more active scenes.
My only grievance is that book 2 is a bit more repetitive than necessary. The emotions with Farrin are less dynamic than with other characters. After reading book 1 and seeing the transformation of both Gemma and Talan, book 2 seems to fall short with emotional diversity. Farrin’s emotions are limited which matches her character well but gets exhausting over time. The other repetitive form is the ending which is surprisingly similar to that of the first book. It makes the villain feel like he isn’t worthy of the buildup that he received throughout the story; that Legrand ran out of ideas at the end of the book and rushed the ending by recycling the one from the previous book. Vast opportunities to make the villain into something truly imposing were missed which is disappointing.
However, despite these thoughts, I am still excited for book 3 of the Middlemist trilogy (that has yet to be named). It will be written from the third sister’s perspective which should tie up the entire adventure nicely.
Overall, I love Legrand’s writing. She has an exceptional talent for plot progression paired with detail offering a unique story that is delightful and engaging. I have thoroughly enjoyed my time in the world of the Middlemist; I look forward to returning soon.
You can find these books at any of your local booksellers, on Amazon books, at your local library, or on your favorite reading app. Subscribe and follow me on social for more reviews, book announcements, and original stories made for your reading (and listening) pleasure!Â
