Title: Urram: Rekindled Hope
Series: Princess of the Highlands (Book 2)
Author: Cheyenne van Langevelde
Genre: Historical Fantasy
Rating: 4/5 stars
FTC Disclosure: I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. I was not required to leave a positive review. All thoughts and opinions expressed herein are entirely my own.
My heart hurts now. This book takes us on a true rollercoaster ride, filled with tender moments, agonizing decisions, and brutal wars. It wasn’t what I expected, but it was exactly what was needed. And that ending… Gah!! But I get ahead of myself…
Characters: Fiona is such a good heroine! She’s a great example of how to write a strong female character: she has her own opinions and can take care of herself, but she also recognizes her need for others. She learns some hard lessons in this story, and I’m excited to see where the final book takes her!
Angus… My sweet, troubled lad. Don’t you know how much we all love you? He grows up a lot across these pages. I’m eager to see what’s in store for him.
Malcolm is still Malcolm, still thinking with his stomach but maturing nonetheless. I’d love him for a little brother.
And I’d officially like to join the King Cynfael fan club, if I may.
Content: This is in some ways a war story, and there’s lots of death and bloodshed. (Nothing’s gratuitously graphic, though.) Characters take a blood oath requiring them to cut their palms.
A few characters are said to swear. (One character is severely told off for this.)
Much of the story focuses on a budding romance between two characters. There are a few kisses, none detailed. It’s so innocent and sweet!
Writing: Van Langvelde has a delightfully poetic writing style, giving us some space from the horrors of the story while not shying away from how brutal life is for the characters. The story is a bit slow during the first half, but the ending more than makes up for that. And the cliffhanger ending nearly had me chucking my Kindle across the room. (Read the author’s note… That’s all I can say.)
Summary: If you enjoyed Dìlseachd, this sequel is a must-read! It will make you laugh, it will frustrate you, it will drive you to tears if you’re not careful. It’s a story of halting hope, a message we especially need in light of the ending. You will not be disappointed with this one!
Urram: Rekindled Hope releases on May 7th. You can pre-order an ebook copy here, or get a signed copy from the author here! The pre-order goodies form lives here.
Read my review of the first book: Dìlseachd: A Stolen Crown