About the Books:
Title: Royal Spy
Series: Fate of Eyrinthia #2
Page Length: 467
Publication Date: May 20, 2021
Synopsis: A DECOY recruited to be a spy.
A PRINCE compelled to become an assassin.
A SERJAH pressured by an unwanted crown.
A WORLD covered in shadows.
Mere months ago, Clare was just a kitchen maid. Now, she is a decoy for Princess Serene and a novice spy, caught in the royal family’s web of secrets. While journeying to Mortise to finalize the princess’s betrothal to Serjah Desfan, Clare lives for the stolen moments she has with Bennick, the bodyguard who is quickly claiming her heart. But when a notorious assassin is hired to kill her, Clare’s life and the alliance hang in the balance.
In Ryden, Grayson prepares to leave for Mortise with his brother, Liam. Their orders are to ignite a war between their enemies, and Grayson has been tasked with assassinating Princess Serene. It may cost his soul, but he is ready to comply, as long as he gets something in return: freedom for Mia, the girl he loves. But the more time he spends with his brother, the more he begins to wonder if Liam is what Grayson wishes he had the courage to be . . . a traitor.
Desfan feels trapped. By his disapproving council, his impending marriage to a stranger, and the imminent arrival of enemy princes who may not want the peace they profess. When a dangerous drug threatens his people, Desfan jumps at the chance to rely on his swords instead of politics. But his investigation uncovers more than he bargained for–a plot that may destroy Mortise from within.
Eyrinthia hovers on the edge of war. Spies. Rebels. Traitors. All must choose a side.
Title: Royal Captive
Series: Fate of Eyrinnthia #3
Page Length: 728
Publication Date: March 18, 2022
Synopsis: A DECOY trapped in a dangerous lie
A SERJAH searching for the truth
A PRINCE caught in a deadly game
A WORLD choked by secrets
Abducted during a devastating ambush, Clare is now the captive of ruthless mercenaries. Dragged through the wilderness while grieving heart-rending loss, she must maintain the illusion that she is the princess. Because if she lets the mask slip, even for a moment, the Mortisians will have no reason to keep her alive.
After arresting traitors close to the crown, Desfan fights to rebuild his court, knowing that the imminent arrival of the Devendran princess will further upset the precarious balance in Mortise. But Desfan’s world is rocked when he discovers a rumor that rewrites the most devastating event in his life. He will stop at nothing to find the truth–no matter where it leads.
As Grayson struggles to find his footing in Mortise, he discovers new friends and enemies. His life is further complicated by the tenuous alliance with his spymaster brother. With secrets deepening around him, Grayson must decide where his loyalties truly lie. Through it all, his heart remains in Ryden with Mia. Unfortunately, his love for her is no secret, and the Black Hand is a coveted weapon . . .
Eyrinthia holds its breath as allies and enemies collide. Secrets. Lies. Betrayals. Nothing will be the same.
My Review:
I decided to review Royal Spy and Royal Captive together since I binged them back-to-back. I absolutely loved both books as much as I loved Royal Decoy, the first book in the series. (You can check out my review for Royal Decoy here.) Heather Frost is a master storyteller with a gift for creating layered and compelling worlds and characters as well as intricately developed plots.
The books are told from multiple points of view, which is fantastic! Each character has a distinct voice, and their character arcs are brilliant. Each character goes through their share of obstacles, and it’s interesting to see how their journeys parallel, contrast, or complement each other. You really get to understand the thoughts and feelings of all of the major characters, and it’s hard not to become emotionally invested in each of their stories. I loved Clare and hoped she wouldn’t fall victim to the threats that shadowed her. I cheered for Clare and Bennick and so hoped they would reunite with her brothers and find happiness together. I hoped beyond hope that Grayson and Mia would reunite and that he would free her and himself from the prisons that held them. I rooted for Desfan and wanted to see him grow into the leader he was destined to become. I could go on and on! There are so many characters to love and plots to become invested in, and the way Frost weaves such layered and complex characters and stories so that they are equally compelling and inexorably tied together while still having separate journeys is brilliant.
My favorite part of stories is almost always the romance, and there are so many swoon-worthy love stories in this series! I want to say that Bennick has my whole heart, which he totally did in book one, but now he has to share it with Grayson and Desfan. Ahhh, I love them all, and their love stories are all so wonderful! There’s a ton of angst and longing, and I’m curious to see what will happen to these men and the women they love as the series continues. I think they all have difficult and dangerous roads ahead of them!
Betrayal, assassination attempts, kidnappings, murder, secrets, and more plague the characters. The plot is smart and tense, and the stakes are constantly high for all characters, though for very different reasons. There are so many twists and turns, and both books end with shocking, yell-at-the-book, cliffhangers. And the world-building is massive. The story takes place in many different locations, each with its own unique landscape. They are all dynamically described and vivid, and I like Frost’s use of sensory language and how it immerses you even more into the story. Like the characters, many of the homes and towns contrast each other and highlight the good and bad of each.
I loved this series and am eager to continue it, though I have a feeling Frost is going to rip my heart out again in the next book, as she does in all of her books. I’ll thank her for it too. lol This is one of the best series I’ve read all year!
I would definitely recommend starting the Fate of Eyrinthia series from book 1, Royal Decoy. These books are not standalones. If you like romantasy, enemies-to-lovers romance, high-stakes adventures, political intrigue, and more, you should totally check this series out! I’m so thankful to Heather Frost for providing me with copies of these books. All thoughts are my own.
Rating:
Favorite Parts:
- The romances!
- The intrigue and suspense.
- The world building.
- The characters.
- EVERYTHING!
Recommendations:
I would definitely recommend starting the Fate of Eyrinthia series from book 1, Royal Decoy. These books are not standalones. If you like romantasy, enemies-to-lovers romance, high-stakes adventures, political intrigue, and more, you should totally check this series out!
This book series sounds amazing!!
I loved it!
Amazing review. I’m adding this series to my Goodreads TBR as it really does sound like something I would love.
Thank you! It’s really good. Definitely recommend if you like YA romantasy
I’ve seen this series around a few times and I need to get to it! It looks great.
I loved it! Definitely recommend if you like YA romantasy
Hoping I can squeeze this series in soon. Glad you’re loving it!!
Oooh, I think you’ll really like it. And the author has a new series – the first book releases soon. It’s called Esperance.