Betrayed by the man she loved and who she helped gain the throne, Mingshin faces her death wishing for a second chance. Then she wakes up two years in the past and is determined to get revenge on Prince Ren and foil his plans. And to never risk her heart again. But as Mingshin makes new plans and allies, she finds herself working closely with Prince Jieh. And finds herself torn between keeping her heart safe or taking a chance that this time she won’t get her heartbroken.
I freely admit that I picked this book up because of the cover, and I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed it. Revenge plots aren’t typically one of my favorite storylines, but it really worked well in this one. It’s a solid title, and I like that it does a few things I haven’t seen before. Mingshin can be a frustrating character, and I can see why she might rub some readers the wrong why. I really enjoyed seeing her grow and change, but it is slow progress, and she’s not the most self aware at times. But I think that if someone enjoys the book or not may come down to if they enjoy Mingshin as a character.
I really appreciated the fact that I did not find the story predictable. I’ve read a lot of YA over the years, and I’m always excited by a story that keeps me on my toes. I also really liked the setting. There are a number of plot threads that still need to be tied up, and the end of the book does set up a sequel, so I’m excited to see where things go and what path Mingshin might choose next. Three out of five stars.