Andrew Shvarts has done it again – City of Bastards is every bit as much fast-paced, action-packed fun as last year’s Royal Bastards. I wasn’t sure that this sequel would be able to live up to my high expectations (because I LOVED Royal Bastards so much for its originality), but I was glad to be proven wrong here.
City takes place in the capital of Lightspire, where Tilla is now attending University. A fellow classmate is murdered and a conspiracy quickly begins to unfold with Tilla at the center of it all.
I really liked the mystery of this book – I was so caught up in solving it that I basically flew through the story trying to get to the bottom of all the betrayals, conspiracies, and plots. It was such a fun read! Seriously, I cannot believe how insane this story was. I mean, it zigged when I thought it was going to zag and just completely uprooted my expectations at every freaking turn. It was fabulous.
And THAT ENDING. OH MY FRIGGIN’ GOODNESS. IT GOES THERE. I can’t tell you where THERE is, of course, but DANG this book is unafraid to do the unexpected and to just totally rip your still beating heart out of your chest just for the fun of it. I was in shock and I still have not recovered. In fact, you probably shouldn’t speak to me about it until I have the third book in my hands safely because I will be completely unstable until then. I need that book. Cliffhangers will truly be the death of me one day.
Overall, this was an exciting second book in a trilogy, one that does not suffer from “middle book syndrom” but instead was every bit as fresh and exciting as the first. Lightspire was amazing, the drama is deep, and you will not want it to be over.
Rating: 5/5 stars