version (it was on sale, mind you), you can understand that it’s a problem, and I know I have it.

We have all established that I’m a cover junkie, so when I tell you I bought the U.K. copy, simply bc I love that gorgeous cover. I included both covers bc I have both copies…I received one free on Netgalley, which is the one I read, and I bought a U.K. This review can be found on my Blog, TeacherofYA’s Tumblr, or my Goodreads page I think it suffered slightly from being the middle book in the series but I'm confident that Vic James will wrap everything up with a shocking finale when 'Bright Ruin' is published next year.** I received a copy of this book freee from Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review** Whereas I loved the first half of the book which was really fast paced and gripping, I found the second half quite a bit slower and the action seemed to drag at times. It's also true of the character of Dog who I initially felt sorry for but who I came to dislike immensely. This was particularly true of the Jardine brothers who are incredibly difficult to read and often seemed to have an agenda of their own. Good and evil are interchangeable and this led to my feelings about various people in the story fluctuating throughout. I like the way that people in the series seem to be constantly changing. I found that this just drew me even deeper into the lives of the characters and I was on the edge of my seat for a good part of the book. There are some truly dark themes in this series and some parts of the story are pretty shocking. Meanwhile, the Jardines are desperate for power over the country and a terrible fate for the people of Britain hangs in the balance. The story begins with Abi determined to rescue her brother Luke, who has been condemned of a crime he did not commit. While ultimately I don't think it turned out to be quite as absorbing as 'Gilded Cage', it was still hugely enjoyable. I loved the first book and had my fingers crossed that this one would be just as good. You definitely need to have read the first instalment of the series because the story follows immediately on and just wouldn't make sense without already knowing about what has happened previously. 'Tarnished City' is the second book in the Dark Gifts trilogy.

Vic james books