"The Wicked and the Damned" by Rebecca Robinson

 

"The Wicked and the Damned" is the second romantasy novel in Rebecca Robinson’s Dark Inheritance Trilogy, and just as intense—if not more. It continues right where the first book ended, with stakes that are just as high, if not higher.

The first book introduced Vaasa Kozár, a princess of Asterya, and Reid of Mireh, a ruthless foreign ruler—characters one can't help but fall in love with, along with their story. The book ended with a deal made between Vaasa and Ozik, her father's counselor and a Zetyr witch. In return for Reid's life, Vaasa agreed to give Ozik access to her magic. The book ends with her being dragged back to her homeland in chains to be used as a political pawn and figurehead.

Ozik annuls her marriage to Reid and forces her to choose a noble to marry in order to gain more power and control. Forced to comply, Vaasa pretends to be obedient while scheming her way to freedom. She will have to use all her wits and her training to outwit her enemies. And there are many of them. 

Meanwhile, Reid has his own plans to rescue her and will do whatever is necessary, be it war or consorting with pirates—and their leader, Sachia—to achieve his goals. Sachia has her own agenda, and trust is slow to build. Betrayal, intrigue, revenge, conspiracy, found family, friendship, magic, and love all intertwine in this sweeping tale.

I was afraid of the second book syndrome, but this book is just as complex and good as the first one. Told in dual POVs, we get to know more about Vaasa and Reid, especially Vaasa. The author continues to develop the world, revealing more of its history and magical system. Vaasa learns more about her magic and how to control it. There is also a bit more political maneuvering here than in the first book, and Vaasa handles herself perfectly among all the underhanded dealings.

I loved the introduction of new characters, mainly Sachia, and what unfolds is an intriguing tale that blends political intrigue, action, magic, and moral dilemmas. One of the things I liked about this book was how creative it was. It combines an interesting plot with compelling, complex fantasy and plenty of twists. The characters are finely drawn, and we get just enough of the backstory in bits and pieces, which is how I prefer it to an info dump.

While the book mainly focuses on Vaasa and Reid, we also get a brief look into Ozik, which I loved. Even some of the villains have a human side, making all the characters feel fully realized. The book has everything I enjoy: a fantasy world with magic, heart, and a heroine caught in the middle of a dangerous game that tests her strength.
 
The story opens with a bang and builds to an explosive climax. The middle was a bit slow and could be tightened, but the action-packed ending is impossible to put down. There were a couple of spicy scenes that felt out of place, some occurring in the middle of danger, which felt out of place. There is a bit of a cliffhanger, but not as huge as in the first book.

One needs to read the first book before this one, as it doesn’t stand on its own. There is some recapping to remind readers what happened, but it isn’t enough for new readers to fully get into the story. Overall, I loved the book despite those small misgivings, so I rate it 4.5 out of 5 stars, rounded up to 5. I can’t wait to read the final book in the series. I recommend the book to those who read and enjoyed the first book and love books with strong heroines, a complex magic system, and political intrigue.

Note on content: The story includes elements that may be intense for some readers such as: Torture, violence, spicy scenes, imprisonment/captivity, manipulation & coercion.

*  Thank you NetGalley and (publisher) for the opportunity to read this arc.  All opinions are my own.

* For more info about the book: "The Wicked and the Damned" by Rebecca Robinson