“Maybe it’s time we get candid,” I suggested. Lady Death sighed. “Rune, it’s not as if we have orientation materials. There’s not a training module titled Shit We Keep Secret.
I finished this at 2am this morning and I’m deep in book hangover-mode. Every few years, a series comes along that completely captures my heart, and this is the one for 2023. I adore these books. I am enthralled.
Spoilers for The Hanged Man (book 2) below:
After claiming the Sun throne, Rune is planning his Gala: the inauguration where he formally claims his father’s throne that has remained empty since his death twenty years prior. Strange things are happening in new Atlantis, including a new threat with power the likes of which have not been seen in half a millenia. Despite this, everyone proceeds with the party and the afterparty, and things go to hell quickly.
End of Spoilers
Regardless of the new and deadly threat, Rune must face what he fears the most: losing everyone he loves because of secrets he’s kept since the night of his father’s death and the fall of the Sun Court. The kids go missing, he is separated from Brand, and even his newfound power cannot guarantee victory. Rune is scarred not only by what happened to him, but what might happen if the whole truth is revealed. This realization and reveal is paced beautifully and the confession is devastating. Rune blames himself for so much, for nearly everything that happened. Logically, he knows he was a victim but, even after all of these years, his mind and heart still strive to make sense out of a chain of events that were far beyond his control or his comprehension. Despite this, Rune confesses his fears and is embraced and accepted by the ones he fought so hard to protect in the first place.
These books are so funny you will cry. Then they’ll break your heart while you’re laughing.
That’s all for now. Time for me to dive into Ao3 and bide my time as I wait for news of the book four release date.
Content warning for references to violent sexual assault.