ODYSSEY

In the second book in the Fractured Kingdom trilogy, Persephone and Azriel must search for a mythical location in order to protect their own lives and the fate of their country.

The people of the kingdom of Glyndoria have yet to learn the shocking truth that Persephone and Azriel discovered about Mordesius’ role in the current king’s birth. Hoping to avoid execution, Azriel strikes a bargain with the Regent Mordesius: He and Princess Persephone will find the healing Pool of Genezing, which may only be the stuff of legends. Greedy, power-hungry Mordesius is desperate to heal his body, which was badly damaged in a fire; if the two fail to deliver, he’ll kill Persephone’s brother. Azriel and Persephone set off with their entourage on their quest, facing peril and deception. Their interactions, which run hot and cold, lead them to question whether they have a future together. Throughout all their challenges, Persephone and Azriel wonder how the prophecy of the kingdom’s future will come to pass and what their roles in it might be. With time running out and lives hanging in the balance, the stakes couldn’t be higher, and readers will be kept in suspense by this epic page-turner. The characters largely present white. As in the previous volume, the portrayal of Mordesius’ physical disability at times feels reminiscent of ableist villain tropes.

Dramatic and romantic.