Our Deadly Designs by Kalyn Josephson (This Dark Descent book 2)

 

SPOILER ALERT! If you haven’t read the first book in the series, This Dark Descent, Stop! I don’t want to ruin the story for you.

“The Illinir may be over, but the race for Enderlain’s future has just begun. The hunt for the old king’s lost heir is on, and the first to find them will win the throne.

Mikira has allied herself with the rebels in pursuit of the lost heir, but the deeper her search takes her, the closer she gets to the royal family's wicked past.

Ari is struggling to control her own growing power as she grapples with a dark secret that may be her undoing — and the truth behind Damien's greatest foe.

Damien, the new head of House Adair, joins the race to find the heir and secure the crown. But as his influence at court grows, so does his paranoia and hunger for power.

Reid is trying his best to stay true to the friend who's always had his loyalty — and the flame who has his heart — while trapped in a web of chaos and lies.

But a darker force is festering in Enderlain’s underbelly, and Mikira, Ari, Damien, and Reid will need to find a way back to each other — and themselves — before the kingdom is torn apart.” - taken from Goodreads.

The Illinor is over but things didn’t end well for everyone. This book does start off slow as the next phase of the story unwinds. Secrets pull our main characters apart but an unforeseen threat forces everyone to work together. Told from three points of view, our characters struggle until the end to work together to save Enderlain.

Visit Kalyn Josephson’s website.

This Dark Descent by Kalyn Josephson (This Dark Descent book 1)

 

“Mikira Rusel’s family has long been famous for breeding enchanted horses, but their prestige is no match for their rising debts. To save her ranch, Mikira has only one option: she must win the Illinir, a treacherous horserace whose riders either finish maimed or murdered. Yet each year, competitors return, tempted by its alluring prize money and unparalleled prestige.

Mikira’s mission soon unites her with Arielle Kadar, an impressive yet illicit enchanter just beginning to come into her true power, and Damien Adair, a dashing young lord in the midst of a fierce succession battle. Both have hidden reasons of their own to help Mikira -- as well as their own blood feuds to avenge…

Steeped in Jewish folklore, This Dark Descent is a pulse-pounding new fantasy full of forbidden magic, sizzling romance, and epic stakes. In a world as dangerous as this, will the need for vengeance butcher Mikira’s chances of winning the Illinir … or will another rider’s dagger?” - taken from Goodreads.

This book was incredible! It’s full of romance, magic, and a high stakes game where the winner takes all and the loser is left with nothing. With everything dependent on winning the Ilinar, a deadly horse race, Mikira must place her trust in two people who have their own reasons for wanting Mikira to win the Illinar. Can she survive to win or wil she lose it all? Perfect for fans of Maggie Stiefvater’s The Scorpio Races, one of my favorite books.

This story will conclude with Our Deadly Designs on September 24, 2024.

Visit Kalyn Josephson’s website.