Reaper of Souls | Book 2 of Kingdom of Souls | ARC Review

Thank you to HarperTeen, Rena Barron and her assistant, and Netgalley for the review copy in exchange for an honest review. This does not change my opinion in anyway.

After so many years yearning for the gift of magic, Arrah has the one thing she’s always wanted—at a terrible price. Now the last surviving witchdoctor, she’s been left to pick up the shattered pieces of a family that betrayed her, a kingdom in shambles, and long-buried secrets about who she is.

Desperate not to repeat her mother’s mistakes, Arrah must return to the tribal lands to search for help from the remnants of her parents’ people. But the Demon King’s shadow looms closer than she thinks. And as Arrah struggles to unravel her connection to him, defeating him begins to seem more and more impossible—if it’s something she can bring herself to do at all.

Reaper of Souls continues a few weeks after Kingdom of Souls. Arrah struggles to find her place back in the city. And soon she has to leave yet again to see if she can find the last of her parent’s people.

I read this book a while ago but I struggled finding the words to review this book for a while. As a whole I feel that the book just isn’t as strong as the first book. That book and plot was so incredibly solid. This book didn’t quite feel that way. I’m not sure if it was the switch between point of views between Arrah and Rudjek precisely. But it did jolt me out of places in the story.

I will also admit that I didn’t find Rudjek’s storyline as interesting as Arrah’s and I would have preferred to have spend a little less time with him. It just continously felt that I was getting my chain yanked around in his storyline. Where as Arrah’s was much more focused. Sure, there were some headplays there and I might never trust anyone ever again, but her line was very goal orientated. Clouded by her own doubts and the doubts that the demon king placed within her.

It just feels a bit like the middle book syndrome in places. It is used to propel the story forward for that end countdown in the last book. Especially in Rudjek’s story and the ending of Arrah’s in this book. It didn’t feel quite satisfactory or that I needed the next book immediately.

Having said that, the book is still a good continuation of the first book. It propels forward with every chapter and in places it keeps you filled with tension. It also sets up the next book well. And while I might not have wanted the book right away I do still really want to read on in this series.