Leontine's Book Realm

ENDLESS KNIGHT picks up right after the events in POISON PRINCESS and I quickly connected again with Evie, Jack, Selena, Finneas and Matthew. From the first page the tension between the characters is tangible and the foes that lurk in every dark corner are very dangerous.

I am not a zombie fan. I don’t watch The Walking Dead as I can hardly stomach all the gore. However, I was drawn in by the high octane suspense of Gunthrie and his flesh eating followers. The allies and adversaries of Evie, and the battle that is played between the Arcana cards, is providing a page turner of a story! The reader is pulled in to the battle by Kresley Cole’s imaginative writing style and appealing characters. The threat, which lies everywhere, hums throughout the pages and kept me on my toes. The love I have for this series lies not only in the fact that the world building is detailed but also that I have no clue what’s coming. Every chapter reveals new information or thrusts the characters in to new dangers to overcome, surprising me at every turn. It brings new light or deepens the interpersonal relationships between the main characters; Evie, Jackson, Death, Selena, Finneas and Matthew.

The plot twists made me gasp, there were layers upon layers to unravel with each character and I couldn’t get enough of it. Why did Evie and Jack ‘do it’? I expected slow burn kisses, taking it step by step but emotions combined with their attraction were an explosive combination and they were going for it. All.The.Way!! It baffled me a bit but as I read the chapters away a game changer was revealed that connected the dots for me. It put a new perspective on everything. The connections Kresley Cole is weaving between the characters, both allies and adversaries, is formidable.

Evie’s life and emotions are in turmoil. After the Flash its survival of the canniest and the strongest. Evie’s still discovering her powers as The Empress as she needs to fight off many enemies like the Bagman, an army and other Arcana. I love the complexity of her external circumstances. Everything she does, every decision she makes and all she feels is portrayed for the reader to absorb.

Selena is still tough-as-nails. Matthew is vague as ever. Finn is still a charmer and Jackson is still the coolest guy on the block. Changes are coming for all of them and some changes reeled me on my axes. New characters also come in to play. Like Lark, quirky but with a certain humor, I enjoyed her role in Endless Knight. Death however rocked me to my core. He is the enemy, the one to defeat. Evil to the core and scheming every minute of the day. Or so I thought in Poison Princess.

Kresley Cole equals formidable characters, they brim the story with their electric personalities, as did Death.  Kresley Cole hit my weakness for bad-boys with heart. Death is still dangerous to the core but I was shown a side to him that surprised me. An even greater surprise was that in the end I liked him, a lot!! Perhaps some readers might think; Oh no, what the hell?! But I was all; Oh yes!! Give me more!!

The story contains pulls pounding action scenes but also takes time to unfold background stories of various characters. Main and supporting characters weren’t just there on paper, they came alive in my mind, keeping my attention at an all-time high. It was no surprise that I read this book cover to cover in one day. This is something only a story can do if I’m fully emotional invested. Something Kresley Cole can do like no other!

Kresley Cole set the bar real high with POISON PRINCESS but she shattered it for me with ENDLESS KNIGHT. It is all there; edge of your seat suspense, characters to connect and root for, game changing plot twists and a breathtaking love. I will never look at my Tarot cards the same! The Arcana Chronicles is a Young Adult series to savor, page by page.

Quotes;

With a shrug, I reached for my jeans. “If you can’t take the heat, stay out of the cabin.”

He swallowed audibly. “Brûlant.” Sizzling hot. “And believe me, cher, I plan to take that heat.”

You likin’ ole Jack now?”

 “I never stopped liking you. Even when you were warding me away with the power of Catholicism.” “Can’t help the way I was raised—anything supernatural is supposed to be either a miracle or satanic.” I rolled my eyes. “And you’re still trying to figure out which I am?” “Non. I’m trying to figure out if I’m still Catholic.” He grinned that heart-stopping grin

There was French kissing, and then there was Cajun French kissing. Spicier, harder, wilder.

That’s how it was with Jackson. Burning out of control. Probably just as destructive as an inferno. And I didn’t care.

 If Jack had awakened my desire, Death was enlivening my mind, attracting me in a way I’d never experienced before.