Lost Crow Conspiracy

Lost Crow Conspiracy (Blood Rose Rebellion #2) by Rosalyn Eves (2018)
-ARC Review-

lost crow conspiracy

YA Fiction | Historical Fantasy
Blurb:

“Sixteen-year old Anna Arden was once just the magically barren girl from an elite Luminate family. Now she has broken the Binding—and Praetheria, the creatures held captive by the spell, wreak havoc across Europe. Lower-class citizens have access to magic for the first time, while other Luminates lose theirs forever. Austria and Hungary are at odds once more.

Anna Arden did not know breaking the Binding would break the world.

Anna thought the Praetheria were on her side, content and grateful to be free from the Binding. She thought her cousin Matyas’s blood sacrifice to the disarm the spell would bring peace, equality, justice. She thought her future looked like a society that would let her love a Romani boy, Gabor.

But with the Monarchy breathing down her neck and the Praetheria intimidating her at every turn, it seems the conspiracies have only just begun.

As threat of war sweeps the region, Anna quickly discovers she can’t solve everything on her own. Now there’s only one other person who might be able to save the country before war breaks out. The one person Anna was sure she’d never see again. A bandit. A fellow outlaw. A man known as the King of Crows. Matyas.”
–Goodreads

Expected Publication Date: March 27, 2018

Read Book One: BLOOD ROSE REBELLION

pooled ink Review:

Thank you so much to Rosalyn Eves for sending me an ARC of her sequel to the stunning debut, Blood Rose Rebellion! I was absolutely thrilled to receive it!

The story picks up about eight months after the epic finale of Blood Rose Rebellion. We left Anna heart-broken but strengthened in victory for Hungary, but as we continue the story we see just how naïve she was to believe freedom could be so simple.

Written in the lovely prose that I fell in love with in Blood Rose Rebellion, this sequel spins together the tale of the aftermath of rebellion. While we watched Anna and her friends gather forces to fight for Hungary’s freedom, for equality and justice, and to break the Binding spell that hoarded magic for the wealthy elite, we now must endure the backlash of those actions and accept the harsh truths of politics. It is never over.

Austria will not relinquish Hungary so easily, even so there are several other political powers eagerly eyeing Hungary to snatch up for their own. More pressingly magic has been siphoned from the powerful and given to unsuspecting others and standing in the way of it all are the praetherian who were released when the Binding spell was broken. Kings, Czars, and Emperors fight for power, magic moves ungoverned, political and social tables have been turned, and running amok the country are all manner of creatures once thought fictitious fairytales told to scare children.

If you felt Blood Rose Rebellion didn’t quite satisfy your bloodthirsty taste then fear not for much is spilled over the course of this sequel, of allies and enemies, of the innocent and the guilty.

Eves writes a fantastic balance of politics, romance, magic, action, and intrigue. It never gets too heady or dull, but throughout the plot there remains a depth, a weight of importance that continually raises the stakes. I think it’s brilliant of her to choose this historical time of turmoil within Hungary to use as a foundation for her fantasy series. Something about that part of the world feels naturally enchanted, and to craft together a story that weaves together folklore and fantasy feels seamless.

The plot moves rather steadily for the most part, although things do move a bit faster now that we’re familiar with the main cast of characters and the basic world-building. However the world continues to expand in this sequel, branching out into the mystical realm connecting humanity to godlike guardians. Furthermore we are given two alternating POVs: Anna’s of course, as well as one that may come as quite a surprise. While Anna fights on the ground for freedom, this other POV flies from destiny.

Anna charges forth slowly gaining courage, boldness, and a vision of what she could be. Determined to save Hungary she learns to stoke those embers in her souls and to raise her voice, becoming a fierce advocate who demands to be heard even if she must sacrifice all she has known to do so.

This second POV takes a different approach to the quickly unraveling chaos sweeping across Austria and Hungary and those who surround their borders. But despite best efforts to remain insignificant, good men and hopeful praetherian flock towards this stubborn soul. It only remains to be seen what tides they may turn if working in tandem.

Several new characters are introduced to us in this sequel as well as many interesting creatures and they each make their mark on the plot. Friends, foes, and those who seem to dance in the vexatious gray fog in between, all have sharp opinions and unyielding plans to see their futures through.

Oh, and if you are curious about the romance between Anna and Gábor that left off in Blood Rose Rebellion then worry not for he shows back up in this sequel. Their path to be together is still nigh impossible, but if it is true love then there is surely always a way. Although that does not mean it won’t be without courage and sacrifice, if anything at all.

There remains much to be done, but between Anna and Hunger this world has been irreversibly altered. As for whether it is for better or for worse, it continues to be shrouded in uncertainty. Hungary simmered long ready for revolution, but that goal now achieved leaves its future and its people in great turmoil. The final page may end tied in a bow of hope and reunion, but a few vital loose ends create a sort of staggered cliff-ending that will leave you desperate to read the next installment. Without a doubt I eagerly await the conclusion of this enthralling series!

Brace yourself for the intensely exhilarating sequel that is Lost Crow Conspiracy. Rife with political machinations, nightmares come flesh, forbidden romance, and a patriotic fire that faces the storm with resolution, this YA Historical Fantasy is sure to halt your breath and leave you clamoring for more. Do not miss out on this tale of revolution taken from our very own history books and spun with faeries of the dark.

Cheers.

Purchase here: Lost Crow Conspiracy