(4 / 5)

Okay, so Sander, Mattias, and Chey are all back, and holy heck, if you thought there was drama before, you ain’t seen nothin’ yet.

The story picks up just a few days after King and Kingdom left off.  Sander has decided to bring Chey out of hiding and deal with his parents head on.  The king and queen swiftly (and rudely, I might add) decline Sander’s invitation to accept Chey as his newly betrothed.  Within days, the nefarious rulers have figured out a way to exile not just Chey but also Sander, permanently.  Sander and Mattias must work together quickly to uncover their father’s secrets.  Chey isn’t sitting on the sidelines either, and what she discovers might be the biggest secret of all.

Seriously, I read this novel in one sitting.  The drama and intrigue of the royal family totally swept me away.  The story is twisty and turny.  I’m constantly surprised at what happens next.  In this third installment, the king definitely ups his evil ante.  Sander uncovers murders, mayhem, and many mommy issues.  Luckily, his brother Mattias has his back.  In the meantime, Chey seems to be going off the deep end emotionally.  Despite that, she truly finds the key to ending the king’s reign of terror.  In the end, of course, it all works out, but not nearly in the way you think it will.  I can’t wait to read the fourth installment.  What could possibly happen next?

Plot: (4 / 5)

It’s always a wild ride with the Latvala royals, and this book was no exception. The fast paced plot left my head spinning.  As soon as I thought an issue was resolved, it imploded to become something much worse.  That’s what makes these books so fun (besides the sweet love story).

Writing: (3 / 5)

Listen, I’d really like to give this four stars.  Ms. Bourdon sets up wonderful plot twists and definitely keeps the reading exciting.  Still, she includes even more diary entries in this book.  That’s really the only place the writing falls flat.  I’m guessing the diary might be important in the end, but for now I just don’t get it.

Characters: (5 / 5)

The characters totally make this series.  I love Sander, Mattias, and Chey.  They work well together.  I was super happy to see more of Mattias in this book.  (I think he gets his own book later. I definitely have to pick that up.)  The introduction of Prince Gunner at the end of the story is interesting.  I’m anxious to see where his story arc will go.