Piper Prince

Stolen Enchantress was one of the best books I read last year, and I’ve been counting down the days until its sequel ever since I read the last page; craving to know what happens next for Larkin and her friends. When I finally had Piper Prince in my hands, I finished it in less than a day, savouring every page and every word. It was everything I could have hoped for in a sequel, and more. It is a total page-turner, filled with everything I loved about the first book – the fairy-tale feel, love, family, magic, suspense, adventure, friendship and a battle between good and evil. As always, the writing is beautiful, and it has a lyrical touch that fits so well with story. The creative and rich world-building, the vivid descriptions and the captivating plot make my own reality disappear for a while and I am transported to Larkin’s world of magical places and dangerous creatures. I truly feel like I am there, in the centre of the action, breathing the same air, feeling the same feelings and fighting the same battles as the characters. I really enjoyed coming back Larkin’s world and continuing to follow her on her journey as she grows and evolves. She is still very loyal and caring, but as she is faced with impossible decisions, she is forced to realise that sometimes there are limits to what she can do to save the ones she loves. Is it right to save one life, if it may result in the death of thousands of others? Throughout the book, Larkin is put to the test many times. I really feel that this is the book in which she finds out who she truly is, what her strengths and weaknesses are, and comes to terms with it. She is faced with her past and discovers secrets long buried that will change her life forever. While struggling to master her magic, and the responsibility that comes with it, Larkin shows that she is a real survivor and that she will stop at nothing to save the world from the Wraiths’ darkness. We are introduced to some new characters in Piper Prince, but for the most part we are reunited with familiar faces and are given the chance to get to know them even better. Many of them have very interesting stories of their own to tell and I really like how their stories are intertwined with Larkin’s story. The themes of sisterhood and empowerment were visible already in Stolen Enchantress, but even more so in Piper Prince, which I really enjoyed. There were some very strong moments that genuinely left an impact on me. The battle between good and evil is even more prominent in Piper Prince than in Stolen Enchantress, and the world of the Wraiths is explored in more depth. Although the overall feeling is darker, Argyle still manages to keep a good balance between happiness and sadness. Heartbreak may be lurking behind every corner, but there are also much happiness, hope and laughter sprinkled among all the darkness. After reading and loving Piper Prince, the Forbidden Forest series has made its way to my favourites, placing itself close to Argyle’s Fairy Queens series, which I love to pieces. I have high hopes for the final two books in the series, Wraith King and Curse Queen, and I am dying to know what will happen next. The wait is long, but I know it will be worth it. In the meantime, I will devour the prequel novella, Lady of Shadows, which will be released in June this year.