Title: The Cruel DawnAuthor: Rachel Howzell Hall
Series: Vallendor #2
Pages: 512
Publication Date: Aug. 19, 2025
Publisher: Red Tower Books
Genres: Fiction / Romance / Fantasy / Romantasy
Synopsis:
A god’s wrath is unforgettable. Her love, even more dangerous.
Kaivara Megidrail was once worshipped as the Grand Defender of Vallendor—until betrayal, punishment, and exile left her Diminished. Now, the realm she abandoned teeters on the edge of collapse. Monsters roam free. Gods whisper in shadows. And one man—Jadon Wake, prince, blacksmith, liar—may be the key to her salvation…or her final ruin.
Haunted by the past, hunted by divine enemies, and armed with only fractured Memories and an unrelenting will, Kaivara must reclaim her power and face the truth about Jadon, or watch Vallendor fall to a traitorous god’s rising.
The realm called her a destroyer. This time, they’ll learn what she was truly made for.
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The Cruel Dawn is an action-packed and suspenseful read that picks up right where The Last One left off. The story throws you right into Vallendor’s chaos and violence, where Kaivara, once the Grand Defender and now Diminished, is grappling with betrayals, exile, as well as the frustrations of having fractured memories. The realm she left behind is in even worse shape now, with monsters roaming freely and a traitorous god on the rise.
Kai’s character growth was one of my favorite parts of the story. She is still fierce, stubborn, and willing to fight for what she believes in, but she’s also defeated and frustrated and conflicted. In this book, Kai knows way more about herself, and I like that we get to see her softer side as she rebuilds trust, strengthens her relationships, and tries to find the truth amidst all the lies and deception.
The romance with Jadon was riddled with complications and complex feelings, made all the more intense because of the dangerous and deadly situations they’re constantly thrust into. Lies, betrayal, captivity, and so much more seem like insurmountable obstacles that will always stand between them, and it’s interesting to see how they work through and face everything. There’s also a bit of a love triangle, which definitely complicates things and makes Kai’s choices even more complex and confusing. I have to say, I’m not a huge fan of love triangles, but this one had a really satisfying resolution.
The world-building is more expansive than the first book, with new creatures, politics, and hidden truths that are slowly revealed, and the plot is gripping. Kai is so determined to save her world and right some wrongs, and it is an action-packed and intense journey.
Thanks to NetGalley and Entangled for providing me with a copy of the book. All thoughts are my own.
- Slow-burning romance
- love triangle
One day, I will wake up to a kiss instead of a kill. I will stretch and sing instead of crouching and growling. Maybe tomorrow will be that day because today, right now, and otherworldly being with the shrewd blue eyes of a man, the cupped ears of a man, and the sharp teeth, short fur, and claws of a bear roars at me.
“Can you really punish people and expect them to love you in return?”
“ I want companionship. I desire friendship. I crave love.”
RACHEL HOWZELL HALL l is the critically acclaimed author and Los Angeles Times Book Prize finalist for And Now She’s Gone, which was also nominated for the Lefty-, Barry-, Shamus- and Anthony Awards and the Audible Originals bestseller How It Ends. A New York Times bestselling author of The Good Sister with James Patterson, Rachel is an Anthony-, International Thriller Writers- and Lefty Award nominee and the author of They All Fall Down, Land of Shadows, Skies of Ash, Trail of Echoes and City of Saviors in the Detective Elouise Norton series. Her next thriller, These Toxic Things, out in September 2021, recently received a starred review from Publishers Weekly, calling the novel ‘cleverly-plotted’ and ‘a refreshing take on the serial killer theme.’
Rachel is a former member of the board of directors for Mystery Writers of America and has been a featured writer on NPR’s acclaimed Crime in the City series and the National Endowment for the Arts weekly podcast; she has also served as a mentor in Pitch Wars and the Association of Writers Programs. Rachel lives in Los Angeles with her husband and daughter. For more information, visit www.rachelhowzell.com
