This is a spoiler-free review! You can read my review of The Rose in the Shadows on my blog, now! The Crown of the Dark Prince will be available on May 8, 2025.
I would first like to thank NetGalley and Victory Editing for providing me a copy in exchange for an honest review. I absolutely loved The Rose in the Shadows, and was incredibly excited to dive back into the world and see what was in store for these characters. Thea is now even deeper into Athenian Court and Council member life, and as she continues her internal battle between following her feelings and looking for the truth, she finds herself more isolated than ever. After the events of The Rose in the Shadows, she is essentially moving through life with determination to understand what the God of the Dead has in store for her.
Her attraction to Clay and their complicated relationship continue in this installment, and the will-they-wont-they is addicting. Every interaction they have is like adding fuel to the fire to their story, and I found Thea's complex and guarded actions towards Clay an intriguing part of her character that made her more nuanced as the story went on. Clay's reactions to her approach were completely valid, and his determination toward understanding the situation really solidified him as a character and as a potential love interest.
The Dragon continues to be one of the most vile characters in this series and the introduction of another foe only causes Thea, Clay, and the rest of their friends to face even more difficulties and loss throughout this installment. Thea is truly put through the ringer at every chance, and I felt as though she could never catch a break - there would be fleeting moments where she was content or at ease, but two chapters later, she would be fighting for her life or trying to save someone. That being said, she certainly had her moments and needed to lock into her common sense skills - I think she would become so overwhelmed at the state of the madness that she was unable to focus on how to solve issues.
Friendships in this series have been at the root for logical thinking and holding each other accountable. The majority of the characters either go through something horrific or bear witness to something of that nature, and the outcome tends to impact their relationships with one another. Considering what occurred in The Rose in the Shadows, it comes to no surprise that particular characters are not acting like their usual selves, while other characters attempt to aid those affected in the best way possible. Secrets are uncovered and loyalties are put to the test as everyone seeks to end the suffering around them.
Once again the ending of this book was insane and now I cannot believe I have to wait for the third installment. I had a feeling things were going in that direction, but when it actually happened, I still could not believe what I was reading. Rayne does such a fantastic job at pulling readers into the story, and coming off the intense battles these characters fight in, it felt like another blow by a sword, in the best way possible. I absolutely will be continuing on with this series, and cannot imagine what trials and tribulations this group of friends will have to endure.
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