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When Selly and Leander began their treacherous voyage to the Isles of the Gods, the captain’s daughter and the playboy prince were strangers. But amid talk of war and a deadly attack on their ship, the unthinkable happened.
They fell in love.
Leander’s ritual at the island temple was meant to prevent a war between the gods. Instead, it nearly cost him his life, and drew the goddess Barrica back from exile. Now, as her Messenger, Leander is imbued with her deadly magic, and only Selly’s presence can stop it from consuming him.
But Barrica wasn’t the only immortal roused from sleep. The God of Risk, Macean, was awakened by an enemy all thought dead, and across the sea he’s calling for war.
The fight to save their world will take Selly and Leander from the gilded ballroom of the royal palace to the hallowed halls of an ancient library. Battle lines will be drawn, and bonds will break.
With the wrath of gods and the machinations of power-hungry rulers straining their loyalties, can their love withstand the trials that await them?
MY THOUGHTS
The Heart of the World was a satisfying conclusion to the Isles of the Gods series. Picking up exactly where Isles of the Gods left off, the sequel begins with Prince Leander, Selly, and Keegan returning to Alinor from the Isles of the Mother, greeted by cheering citizens upon their arrival. Unlike the first book, which focused on foreign lands and high-seas adventure, this installment thrusts readers into a new setting: political intrigue.
While the stakes in The Heart of the World remain high with the looming threat of war, the tone of this book feels distinct from its predecessor. In the first book, tension came from direct conflict, as the trio navigated dangerous waters while being pursued by Laskia and her crew. In the sequel, the tension is more subtle, as Selly, Keegan, and Jude work behind the scenes to research and find a way to prevent war. I appreciated this shift in focus, as it offered a refreshing contrast between the two books. I also enjoyed seeing the interaction between the two kingdoms and their gods and seeing them discover that the gods weren't quite as how they imagined.
As in the previous book, The Heart of the World is narrated by the five main characters, but we also get a brief point of view from Keegan's fiancée, Kiki, whom I absolutely adored. She fit in so well with the group, and her friendship with Selly was particularly sweet. I also loved seeing more of Jude’s perspective—his story was sad and heartbreaking, but I was glad to see him get the happy ending he deserved. Selly’s character growth throughout the duology was the most compelling to me; her transformation felt the most complete and rewarding.
However, I did feel that the two Messengers’ points of view didn’t develop much in this book, and their arcs suffered from stagnation. The resolution for their storylines felt abrupt and somewhat anticlimactic, which was a bit of a letdown after the buildup from the previous book.
Overall, while I preferred the first book, The Heart of the World was still an enjoyable read, and I’m happy with how the series ended. If you haven’t read this duology yet, I highly recommend it!
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