Book two is where this series found its groove. Casteel's kingdom was genuinely cool — a whole new world that made me want to explore every corner. And Poppy? She finally opened up. The banter between them went from tense to playful to electric, and watching her personality bloom outside of the Maiden cage was everything.
This is the book where I went from "this is fine" to "okay I'm INVESTED." The dynamic shifted, the stakes got personal, and the chemistry between these two stopped simmering and started boiling over.
I cannot for the life of me tell you specific plot points — my memory said goodbye — but I remember the FEELING. I remember not wanting to stop listening. I remember being fully hooked. Sometimes that's enough.
👑 5/5 stars. The vibes were immaculate even if the details escaped me.