Author: Rachel Aaron
Book Link

This is the fourth book in Rachel Aaron’s Heartstriker series and true to her form, it delivers.

My first interest in Aaron came about after reading her non-fiction 2k to 10k book, which led me to her Legend of El Monpress series. I enjoy Aaron because:

a) She’s a great writer
b) She creates imaginative worlds with characters you can get lost in
c) There are no loose ends in her series

To get a writer that exhibits all three of those qualities is something to hold on to.

This book starts right where the last one left off and ends by answering all the questions that have led up to this point. Then, it leaves you hungering for how it will all conclude by opening a few more mysteries that make you go, “What!?”

While there was a bit of info dumping in this book, it didn’t detract from wanting to know what happened next.

What impressed me the most is how the series has matured.

The first book was fun and campy – reminding me of the anime shows and video games I used to play (coincidentally, Aaron is a fan of both). Heck, the great all-powerful seer of the Heartstriker clan is named Bob.

Side note: Bob is awesome and you love him more as the series continues.

Each book gets progressively darker, more desperate and more mature, reminding me of the progression Rowling took in her Harry Potter series. Even the character of Julius, the “nice dragon,” is shedding his persona.

Not a single character is immune from transformation… except maybe Bob… but we already established Bob is awesome.

If you made it this far in the series, you’ll love reading this one and will grab the fifth when it gets released.

If you haven’t started it, you won’t be disappointed with where it goes.