Book: The Incendiary by Lj Claren
Reviewed by Karina's Magical Reads
Rating: 6/5
When book two destroys your heart even more than the first amazing book, you know you have a bestseller!! That's what happened in The Incendiary...complete annihilation of my heart and soul. There are a handful of books in my life that have given me this level of extreme emotional damage, and this book did that and more. Aryella finds herself needing to prove to herself and her people that she is strong and capable to be their Queen. The journey that Ary takes in the first half of this book really showcases her growth as a character and her fierce ability to endure and be more than just their Queen. I was so impressed with her ability to be so resilient but also her confidence has also grown so much from book 1. While we get Ary's POV about the things happening currently in their world, we finally get so many new answers about how Gavin Smyth and Aryella met, fell in love with the bonus part being that this history is all from Gavin's POV, which I thoroughly enjoyed.
What I wasn't prepared for in this book was the utter and total destruction of my heart during my reading. The things that happened to Gavin and Ary in early parts of their lives, are not quite as heartbreaking as what they go through now. By the time I hit Chapter 42 I was completely wrecked and sobbing. That chapter was one of the toughest and most heartbreaking scenes I have read to date. It was so well written while making you FEEL everything. But LJ didn't stop there...the remainder of the book will keep you locked in and living on the edge of your seat. But don't think for one minute that the tears stop after Chapter 42, because they keep coming. The twists, the turns and the devastation are unmatched. Just when I thought I could not take another moment, the ending puts you into the WORST cliffhanger ever. This book was a emotional journey through the lives of Ary and Gavin, but you learn so much more about your favorite side characters too. You meet several new characters along their journey who just may steal your heart. Please be prepared with a box of tissues as you read The Incendiary. This is a God Tier series and I will forever recommend this to anyone who loves a book with so much yearning, love, loss and the power to fight for what you believe in. I cannot wait till the next one comes out, even though I know it will continue to destroy my soul.
Thank you LJ Claren and Second Sky books for the opportunity to be on LJ's street team and also this early gifted e-Arc. This review is of my own honest opinion.