8/10, this was another fantastic book in the Keeper of the Lost Cities series, I can't wait to read book 3, Everblaze. The characters and story were just as good as the first book if not even better but I liked the story more since it just has a lot packed in it and it just culminates in a great execution in just 600 pages. It begins with Sophie discovering a flying alicorn much to some councilors' disapproval and chagrin but that left her unperturbed. The identity of the Black Swan which is a major part of the book is still unknown but at least it provided cryptic clues to lead Sophie on a quest to meet a gnome who gave her some sort of solution to counteract her limbium allergy but I wonder why she was allergic to that. I don't even know what it even is yet nor do I know the other elements like the Lodestar and magsidian in much detail either. She goes back to Foxfire when she discovers she's an elite student and then I think she was sent to a prison known as Exilium to meet an insane pyromaniacal criminal whose name I forgot.

There were a couple of action scenes but this time the book focuses more on the characters and the mysteries which made this book a bit of a slow burn but it was enjoyable all the way. The ending was just Sophie returning the alicorn to the Sanctuary but not before she took her on one last chase and the alicorn even teleported her to some forest in who knows where. If you like this series, read the first book before you read this one but I still highly recommend it. ( )

Das magisch überbegabter, wunderhübsche Mädchen mit drei Verehrern hat jetzt auch noch ein magisches Pferd!

Ich bin weiter mit meinem Versprechen an meinen kleinen Bruder seine Bücher auch Mal zu lesen, und ganz ehrlich? So abgesehen von den super vielen Klischees und der Tatsache, dass wirklich alle weiblichen Charaktere außer Sophie, die "nicht wie andere Mädchen" ist, sich nur für Klamotten, Jungs, Sophie mobben oder die Mutterrolle interessieren (ist es denn wirklich so schwer, nuancierte weibliche Charakter zu erschaffen in einem Buch, dass sich um ein Mädchen dreht? Ja? Anscheinend schon.) ist es eine wirklich interessante Geschichte. Und auch die Welt baut sich immer mehr aus. ( )

I really like these characters and hope to read more about them! ( )

In which:
- Fitz is throwing a tantrum and seeping in fury (isn't he always?),
- Keefe gets major screen time (and some added depth, shocking, I know),
- Biana is pretty much ignored (family drama and Fitz are to blame I suppose),
- Dex suffers pangs of jealousy, and is in denial of his inborn ability (well I think it's pretty cool, both Sophie and Keefe are in agreement with me on this one),
- Sophie learns to trust herself and, possibly, those around her, acknowledges the need for qualified help and accepts it,
- a lot of things happen (family bonds get tested and strengthened, among other things going on),
- while we don't actually learn a whole whooping lot (unless you count funerals).

And what about a forever-half-filled nexus?
We were promised an explanation in the first book but never actually got it (I triple-checked!). And now she has two of those thing, both full. Explain!

The guilt bit makes me sceptical but we'll see how it pans out in the long run. It does make some sense in reference with Tribunal where Sophie's claim about overhanging guilt had palpable impact. But then again...

This book feels somewhat lacking, but I cannot pinpoint the exact problem. It just is.

The whole book and all the events happened in the span of two or three weeks. That leaves the rest of the school year still ahead.
If there's time-skipping involved in the next book I will get cross.

Oh and I'm totally rooting for Dex.
And waiting for the next book. ( )

RTC ( )