Review: Diamond & Dawn (Amber & Dusk #2) by Lyra Selene

Diamond & Dawn
(Amber & Dusk #2)
by Lyra Selene

December 3, 2019
384 pages

Goodreads      Indigo

Goodreads Summary:

Lyra Selene returns to the incandescent magic of Amber & Dusk in a second installment about the corrosions of even the most dazzling dreams, and the strength of hope amidst darkness.

Mirage, triumphant in her coup of the Amber Empire, returns to the palais prepared to take her place as Empress. With the support of her friends, Luca and Lullaby, and a tentative, blossoming romance with Sunder, Mirage is on the cusp of taking hold of everything she has wanted.

However, her place in the sun is not as sure as she expected; nor is it quite as bright as she imagined. 

When the Empress Severine's body is recovered from the battle, she is not dead after all -- in a coma, she still represents a threat to Mirage's newfound power. Worse, a distant cousin, Gavin d'Ars, Duc de Douane, appears in court to challenge both women with his blood claim, and to propose a series of trials to determine the most deserving heir. In Mirage's fight to defend her vision for the empire, she begins to splinter all of her networks. Will the battle for control leave anyone untainted? 

Review

Where to start with Diamond & Dawn... I have very mixed feelings about this surprise sequel. While I loved seeing the characters again, this second book felt all over the place plot-wise.

I hate to say this but Diamond & Dawn wasn't a very engaging book. The plot was kind of messy and more often than not I found myself confused. The writing is still beautiful but I think the book lacked clarifications. Where there were some, they felt disconnected- pieces of information were just popping up left and right.

A redeeming part of the book was Mirage's incredible character growth. I particularly enjoyed watching her come to understand that she wasn't owed anything. Her belief in Amber & Dusk is shattered and in Diamond & Dawn she comes to realize that if she wanted something, she had to earn it. Her road to worthiness was full of obstacles and risks but she navigated them with courage and determination. I really applaud her for being able to make the tough calls and seeing them through.

In terms of romance, Diamond & Dawn had more of it than book one. Certain barrier(s) prevent Mirage and Sunder from really being together but that doesn't stop them from sharing some intensely emotional scenes. I very much enjoyed moments where they were vulnerable in each other's presence. Oh the bittersweet love~ I desperately wanted them to have their HEA.

Diamond & Dawn wasn't the perfect sequel I imagined but I was invested enough in the characters and romance to want to know their ending. The conclusion is one that I can accept so I would recommend giving Diamond & Dawn a shot if you loved Amber & Dusk.

*I received a cop of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own and not affected in any way. Any quotes included in my review were taken from the copy I received.