Bright Burns the Night: Sara B Larson

Ten years ago, King Lorcan of the Dark Kingdom Dorjhalon defeated Queen Evelayn and cut her conduit stone from her. Since then, he has kept her trapped in her swan form. With the loss of balance between Dark and Light, winter has descended and the Draíolon of Éadrolan lose more power every day. But once a year, Lorcan transforms her back to her Draíolon form and offers a truce. And every year Evelayn refuses -- for he requires her to Bind herself to him for life.

But now, with an Ancient power bearing down upon them, everything may change. Evelayn will learn that the truths she once believed have shattered, and that she may need her enemies even more than her allies. Lorcan and Evelayn become partners in a desperate quest to return the balance of power to Lachalonia. How far will this partnership go? Can friendship -- perhaps even love -- bloom where hatred has taken root?

Sara B. Larson delivers a thrillingly romantic and hauntingly satisfying end to this extraordinary duology.
(Goodreads)

So I'm back! And I decided to read the second one even though I really didn't like the first one, I thought I may was well finish the duology. It's just two books, this one can't be worse than the first one right?
Wrong, I was wrong
So this one picks up 10 years after the first one, and it had the most underwhelming thing opening EVER. So in the last book she gets turned into a swan. And as the story of Swan Lake goes, a declaration of true undying love is what saves her. But! How is that going to happen when Tanvir is dead? Whatever will she do? Well, the spell Lorcan put on her Just. Stops. Working. That's it. The spell suddenly stopped working and now he has to scramble to figure out what to do with her. And in a moment of clique, Lorcan's brother is fatally wounded, and Evelayn helps save him... which somehow softens her heart to look at Lorcan differently??? The person who has kept her captive for 10 YEARS? And she finds him interesting? What?? Did? I? Just? Read? Where did this come from?
From here the plot moves extremely fast because of some unknown evil that was actually the actual true villain in these books is attacking. And Lorcan was forced to follow their evil deeds for safety of his kingdom. To go along with the cliques, Tanvir is alive, and Evelayn needs to renounce her love for him. Therefore marrying Lorcan, or else he won't help her retrieve her jewel thing.
And off they go on a journey to save their kingdoms and get her jewel thing I seriously cannot remember what it's called. I know it's important Tanvir is livid that they're going to get married and he is determined to stop it, though he fails and they are wed. But determined as ever, he tries to remind Evelayn of who she truly loves. Evelayn is having these feelings for Lorcan and just rolls with it, while Lorcan is also fighting these new found feelings that have sprouted for Evelyan
Conflict wise there wasn't a lot, it was mainly bargaining, and overall the story felt rushed.
The relationship between Lorcan and Evelayn was rushed and underdeveloped. And pretty confusing, considering how it all started.
Things come to light, hearts change and its a happily ever after for the King and Queen.
I'm okay with having finished the books, I just wish I had enjoyed them more
Until next time readers <3

Love Kat 

Dark Breaks the Dawn: Sara B Larson

On her eighteenth birthday, Princess Evelayn of Eadrolan, the Light Kingdom, can finally access the full range of her magical powers. The light looks brighter, the air is sharper, and the energy she can draw when fighting feels almost limitless.

But while her mother, the queen, remains busy at the war front, in the Dark Kingdom of Dorjhalon, the corrupt king is plotting. King Bain wants control of both kingdoms, and his plan will fling Evelayn onto the throne much sooner than she expected.

In order to defeat Bain and his sons, Evelayn will quickly have to come into her ability to shapeshift, and rely on the alluring Lord Tanvir. But not everyone is what they seem, and the balance between the Light and Dark comes at a steep price.
(Goodreads)

Considering this is one of the books that had been highly recommended to me by a friend, and then meeting the author at a book signing prompted me to finally read the book.... I expected more. Much more than what was delivered. This book from the get go, is mediocre, its sporadic hard to follow. It's nothing amazing and the plot is very lacking in everything that would make it better. The writing was sub-par and I felt like she tried to shove as many things as she could in the first book and yet the plot felt stagnant.
The world was very underdeveloped, and the rules and customs of the world were hard to understand. Larson tried to give us background knowledge of how her world worked, but it just didn't work out well. This book was described to me as a beautiful love story paired with the devastation of failure and a broken heart. And it was a failure, it failed the characters and the lackluster story line. And nothing about this book was memorable.
The end was a failure, and I understand this book is a LITERAL representation of the authors fight with depression.... I just didn't like the book
Until next time readers <3

Love Kat