I’m ridiculously excited to be sharing my review for the second book in the Hollow King series, Nightborn by Jessica Thorne. Big thanks to Noelle at Bookouture for the opportunity and the ebook for review.
About the book
Grace Marchant has been many things: streetwise orphan, rebellious servant, and now beloved companion of Prince Bastien, heir to the throne of Larelwynn. But their sunlit happiness is not destined to last. The golden magic which brought them together in purest passion is threatened by strange and ancient forces. Innocent people are becoming nightborn – cruel, deadly, unrecognisable to their loved ones – and these two young lovers are the only ones with power enough to stop it.
In times of peace, striking a deal with their closest enemy would be unthinkable, but now their only hope is to ally with the neighbouring Valenti royal family: manipulative, cunning, and always with an eye on the Larelwynn throne. The partnership comes at a devastating price… if Grace wants to defeat the nightborn, she must watch Bastien marry a Valenti princess.
Grace knows she must make this heart-wrenching sacrifice for the good of the whole kingdom – but she also fears the magic in her veins, usually so warm and bright, is turning cold as deepest midnight. A beguiling darkness whispers to her from within. Is Grace herself becoming nightborn?
Time is running out. With Bastien promised to another, and a stony distance growing between them, will Grace find the source of the nightborn curse before every last soul is consumed by the darkness?
Combining sizzling romance, courtly intrigue, and heart-in-your-mouth action, this dark and addictive fantasy series is perfect for fans ofGraceling and Emily R. King.
Nightborn is available to buy now – Amazon
My thoughts
Nightborn is the second book in the Hollow King series and after reading the first, Mageborn, I’ve been desperate to find out what happens next. Also look at that cover, it’s stunning.
It’s been three months since Grace, Bastien and the team managed to escape from evil Aurelie, Asher and Celeste. They are now in the Valenti Islands hoping to find support so Bastien can claim the throne. Since their departure though something is happening to the Mageborn, the deep dark is taking over and causing carnage and turning them into Nightborn.
When Grace died and Bastien brought her back it triggered the deep dark to surface again and only Grace and Bastien have the power to stop it but there’s always something to get in the way and the couple have a tremendous amount of obstacles thrown in their path.
Nightborn from the get go is action packed and it was fantastic being back with Grace and Bastien. I love that Mageborn gave us the character and world building so for this book we just get straight into it and know the characters.
Grace is a great character, she’s strong and courageous but not showy with it and she seems to have grown more into her skin in this second book. Her passion to protect her friends and Bastien and the fact that she’s more in tune with her power make her standout.
All the previous characters that feature in this story all seem to be well etched on my brain. It was easy to visualise them as I had before and sometimes when there’s a space between books it can take a little while for me to build them up again but as soon as one was mentioned they just popped into my mind, fully formed.
There are some new characters and as with the regular ones you’ll love the goodies and you’ll love hating the baddies.
Nightborn really took me on a roller coaster of a ride, it’s tense, it’s violent, it’s romantic, it’s thrilling and it’s just a pure joy to read. I’m not going to say anything about the plot, no spoilers here but be prepared for a journey that is magical and dark and full of surprises. It will have you’re pulse racing and the pages turning as fast as you can make them.
I’d highly recommend you read Mageborn first so you can get the full experience and understanding of Nightborn and not only that, it’s a blooming good book too. I can’t wait for the next instalment, this is series I never want to end.
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About the author
Sometimes she is Ruth Frances Long and won the European Science Fiction Society Spirit of Dedication Award for Best Author of Children’s Science Fiction and Fantasy, 2015.
You can connect with Jessica Thorne at the following – Facebook | Twitter | Website
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