_edited.jpg)
4.75 STARS!
Non-Spoilery Summary: (will contain spoilers if you have no read book one!)
Rebel Spring is the second installment in the Falling Kingdoms series. If you have not read the first book, this review will have spoilers for that book obviously so go away and read Falling Kingdoms because its awesome!
This sequel was FABULOUS! So Rebel Spring picks up right where Falling Kingdoms ends and getting back into the book was no problem at all. The King of Blood, Gaius Damora, has conquered Auranos and is attempting to unite all three kingdoms with pretty lies and a false sense of security by building a road that will span from Auranos to Limeros. Cleo is a prisoner in her castle, by the king and she having only the ring her father left her, is trying to piece together the mystery behind it all while keeping her head in a palace filled with her enemies. Lucia is in a coma after her burst of magic that broke the wards around the palace. Out in the crowds of Auranos, Jonas and Brion are leaders of the rebel cause. They are trying take down King Gaius or at least show his true self to the ever oblivious Auranians. Magnus is by Lucia’s side hoping she will wake soon while also concocting his own ways to gain power in a place where all the power goes to his father. He’s trying very hard to prove to himself and his father that he can be ruthless and stern and without compassion, but struggles with that internally. The story goes on with many twists and turns AND DEATHS!
Have no favorites in this series because you never know who will die! I promise this sequel did not drag at all for me. I was sucked in right away, but I did literally live for the Magnus chapters because he is my absolute favorite in this series right now. Warning: I say that A LOT in this review/discussion.
Things I loved about this book:
Obviously the land. The scenery is described really well and the map provided helps with following the story. I like how the map gets more and more detailed as the books continue too.
I also love the diversity in all the personalities of the characters. Sometimes when there’s many characters in a story, a few will seem way too alike, but in this they are al very distinguished from one another.
In this book specifically, I like the new characters that were introduced: Lysandra and we get to see more of Alexius, there’s also the a small glimpse of Prince Ashur who I’m sure we will see more in books to come.
My ships!! I can’t really mention who they are without potential spoilers soooooo.. After you read it go below and then you an see who they are.
Things I didn't like about this book:
If I had to pick something that I didn't like about this book is that emotions flipflop really fast between some characters. Just like in my review of the first book, I felt that there was a lot of instalove. In this it was like hate-insta-turns-to-I-don't-think-you're-all-that-bad. Of course, when I did see this happening I knew it was important to the plot so it did not deter me in any way.
Another thing is when the POV switched to someone in the Sanctuary. You never know who's POV will come up next, but even when it was not Magnus, Cleo or Jonas, I only found myself disappointed when the POV was someone from the Sanctuary because they were so slow. I know we needed them for plot purposes, but I just didn't really care for them.
*SPOILERS BEGIN HERE!*
Plot Discussion:
In the beginning I really did not know what to expect besides knowing that the king wanted to rule all of Mytica and that Cleo’s ultimate goal was to get her kingdom back and Jonas just wanted to see the King and Aron dead.
Speaking of the slimy king Gaius, he has this advisor that is supposedly super gorgeous and powerful and OLD because she’s an elder Watcher. I can already see she’s playing him a fool, just using him for her own plans which remain a mystery.
Cleo isn’t annoying anymore! Yay! Still cannot believe that she saved Aron from getting his tongue cut off, I would have been fine with that. He is such a kiss ass. I actually enjoy the fact that Magnus agrees that Aron is a little weasel.
Lucia and Alexius! Is this gonna be a thing?! Apparently he’s beautiful and she’s definitely attracted to him. I wonder what will happen between them.
Jonas and Brion are probably some of my favorite chapters besides Magnus’/Cleo’s. And when they encounter Lysandra I was thinking “yessss, she saved your guys butts!” She was extremely cool in that moment.
Also when Jonas managed to sneak into Cleo’s room I was stunned. I really didn’t think anyone would get in without getting caught, but he did. This part was sooooo funny to me. Jonas was like “you’re denying me?” all confused. Cleo said “I assume that doesn’t happen often.” I was laughing like wow, these two really don’t like each other if we go by their words. But I think Jonas is going to start liking her. He’s always thought she was beautiful… Why not? By this point, with all the girl and guy interactions, I couldn’t decide who I shipped with who because I was desperately looking for a romantic sub plot to enter the story. Later on, Jonas ends up kidnapping Cleo and though I knew he won’t hurt her I was anxious for their next chapter!
When Magnus and the king are talking about her capture, I’m not surprised by the kings coldness, but I am surprised that Magnus is starting to caaaareeee. Aw, Magnus you’re starting to worry about a different female that just your sister! Then Lucia wakes up and the queen comes in and tells Magnus to leave.. Then the queen does this thing I did not expect.. She freakin’ puts Lucia back to sleep! No wonder she’s been expressing such love for her kids so much. Trying not to show her true plan to kill Lucia. That was crazy.
Back to Jonas kidnapping Cleo, I feel like he almost rescued her. She’s found a way to leave the kingdom and he doesn’t plan on killing her so why isn’t she happy. Then she finds out about the king killing everyone in his path to find her again. Their camp gets raided and they have to hide in a grotto just Jonas and Cleo and I’m just reading along thinking omgomgomg something steamy is going to happen.. They’re all alone and being nice to each other (mostly). AND LO AND BEHOLD. JONAS KISSES CLEO. Or well, I always thought Jonas would go for it, but I still freaked out either way (in a good way). Then afterwards, they were both like “I don’t hate you anymore” and I’m just like, well that was quick flip. Not sure if I ship them, but this moment was pretty cute!
GOSH so many people are dying. Of course not the important ones like Jonas, Cleo and Magnus, but Mira and the queen herself are gone. The queen was kinda stupid, but I see her point in doing what she was doing to Lucia. Mira on the other hand did noooooot need to die. Cleo just lost anotherrrrr important person in her life.
Have I mentioned I love Magnus chapters, I have, haven’t I? Well when it came to the part where he woke up from a nightmare that started with him hugging a girl with ebony hair (Lucia) to the girl having pale blonde hair (assuming its Cleo), I really started thinking he cares for her. Another thing, I love the funny entertainment of Magnus totally putting down Aron and all his hastiness. Magnus’s sarcasm towards the runt is so obvious, I’m surprised Aron still tries to talk to him.
So Cleo and Magnus’s wedding rolls around and I’m reading in anticipation for the rebel attack and oh geez, it goes so horribly wrong. Jonas is injured. The king and the prince live. The king still forces Cleo to marry Magnus. BUT something interesting does happen after. We find out that Prince Ashur is actually in Mytica to seek out the Kindred. Later that night Magnus and Cleo do not have their “first night” together, but she does succeed in infuriating him more. Like goodness gracious can they not just get a long already..
On their wedding tour Magnus shows some kindness to the princess! He brings Nic along and a small layer of ice between them starts to thaw. Once they get to Limeros and Magnus catches her when she begins to faint, he shows kindness again and takes her for a walk in the labyrinth. He’s starting to show more of himself to her, though little by little, I SO want them to be on each other’s side already (if that will ever happen). Then on the balcony after Magnuc gave his speech, the crowd asked for a kiss and boyyyy did he deliver! She liked it. He liked it. THEY like it. AH! Cleo is just going around kissing everyone (she did accidentally kiss Nic too).
Back to the rebels, Jonas is the only one who makes it back and this makes everyone fill with grief over the loss of so many. Lysandra though, defends him! and Brion realizes she’s in love with Jonas. Poor Brion.. Poor Brion who actually ends up getting killed! Goodness me, we are getting so many more deaths in this one. The rebels plan to attack Magnus, Aron and Xanthus now that they have their location. Hopefully Aron dies SOON. He is so freakin’ unbearable. He’s an annoying, pompous jackass. And when Magnus called him a “little shit” I was WEAK. Yes Magnus honey, you are so right.
So Nic go and visits Cleo in the garden. She tells him about her ring. He asks her to run away from the castle with him so he can protect her. She says no, obviously. So he professes his love to her and she just brushes it off like he’s playing. His heart broken, Nic turns to alcohol to drown his unrequited love and guess who shows up? Prince Ashur. With Nic in a drunk stupor he loses his way home and prince Ashur is following him. The prince manages to corner Nic and while trying to say he can’t give the prince any answers to his questions, Ashur KISSES Nic. OMQ. This caught me and apparently Nic off guard. And Nic likeddddd it! Who knows what this could mean.
Up in the forbidden mountains, Magnus and Aron arrived at camp and immediately Aron is taken with Franco’s daughter. He tries to rape her, but Magnus interferes. Aron’s loose tongue gives away the secret of the queen’s true murderer, him. Magnus manages to coax it out of Aron and I’m surprised he could keep his cool at first, then Aron attached and he had to kill him. Aron’s death was so anti-climactic. Very disappointing because I wanted it to be grander since he was such a huge nuisance. Then Jonas goes ahead and dies during the camp raid! Phaedra had to turn human and save him just to have his life threatened again by Magnus. Then Xanthus, Phaedra freakin’ brother, kills her. The fight between Jonas and Magnus was pretty epic. I could feel all the injuries and each time how close Magnus got to get speared. I was so scared for him. Thankfully, both of them survived. Unfortunately, Lysandra and the rest of the rebels were caught.
Back in the castle, Cleo is piecing together pieces of the puzzle surrounding the mystery of her ring and goes to Lucia to find that she crying. Lucia killed her pet bunny! And when Cleo touches Lucia, the evil is kept at bay. They end up making up so fast… I keep getting stunned by how quickly feelings switch sides in this series. I wonder how their friendship will play out and how Magnus will feel about it. Hopefully Cleo and Magnus work things out in the next book!
Thoughts on the Characters:
Cleo: Cleo is learning to not be so whiney and impulsive! Finally! She’s starting to think about her actions and she’s learning to be smart about who she strong hands and who she sweet talks with fake cordiality. She’s learning to hold in her temper too. When she hands Lucia’s poisonous words back on a silver platter, I was deeply impressed. Of course later on they get on each other’s good side, but still, in the library she held up her own.
Magnus: He’s trying to find the least threatening yet most efficient way to gain power to finally be seen by his father and to make a great king. He’s thinking that attaining the Kindred will help. Within Magnus I see a lot of hinted differences. I feel like he’s going to get over Lucia’s denial or his love because of Cleo. I definitely think he’s starting to care for her and I really really want to see where that ship sails to. Gods I also love everything Magnus says. Like all his dialogue parts are just so amusing to me. I live for his chapters when I’m reading this series. He’s so sassy. Sassy boys are the best!
Lysandra: The prologue introduced to us a new character Lysandra and I already knew she had to be a bomb character because her name is Lysandra, like duh. I love that she’s a genius with a bow and arrow and she very strong willed. She knows she wants to be a savior for her people and she will be even if it kills her.
Jonas: He is always the one to survive. Like no matter what, he always gets out of situations.
Lucia: She is severely confused. Bipolar almost, what with her magic tempting her to become evil, but her true conscience is good. I cannot wait to see how Cleo and Lucia become closer as “sisters” and to see how Magnus will deal with that.
My ships: Magnus & Cleo. Jonas & Lysandra. Prince Ashur & Nic. These may always change as I read the books to come. Who knows, maybe someone will die? Hope not though!