Launching at the exact moment we left our main protagonists, Of Tainted Heart is as equally captivating and gripping as its predecessor. Strong characters, a believable and pacy plot line, and twists and turns lie within the pages of this novel, giving the reader everything to be desired from this genre, and then some. The book takes us on the exciting journey within the town of Brume as our young heroines race to defeat the Quatrefoil and finally unleash magic into the world. But whilst the initial trials faced in Of Wicked Blood were difficult, the challenges to be overcome in this book are even more deadly, sinister and perturbing. The setting for this tale is definitely one of the strengths of the novel: Brume is more than a fictional town. It’s alive and dangerous, and draws the reader in, and is so aptly described and woven into the novel, it convinces everyone that it actually exists somewhere within France. The authors very cleverly interweave the main plot with subplots concerning the relationships between the various characters within the story, and this makes for an even more absorbing read; as before, the protagonists are extremely well-developed and feel like actual living, breathing people who actually exist somewhere within the world. Slate in particular is a loveable rogue with a perfect balance of positive traits and character flaws whilst our main villain is subtly concealed within the book with small hints as to his actual dark past gently teased to the reader. The entire book has you asking who, what and why with every chapter. The dialogue never falls short of reality, with the characters conversing in a way that is a reflection of the real world. The Book Dragon has had the pleasure of reviewing this book on behalf of the authors and is extremely sad that the series, comprised of two books, has come to an end. However, it was a timely and befitting ending that means the authors leave the reader on a high note, and consequently, the novel deserves its 5 star review.
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