My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Title: Red Tigress (Blood Heir, #2)
Author: Amélie Wen Zhao
Format: Hardcover (borrowed)
Pages: 464
Publication Date: 3/2/21
Publisher: Delacorte Press
Categories: Young Adult, Fantasy, Monarchy, Rebellion, Romance
Ana Mikhailov is the only surviving member of the royal family of Cyrilia. She has no army, no title, and no allies, and now she must find a way to take back the throne or risk the brutal retribution of the empress. Morganya is determined to establish a new world order on the spilled blood of non-Affinites. Ana is certain that Morganya won’t stop until she kills them all.
Ana’s only chance at navigating the dangerous world of her homeland means partnering with Ramson Quicktongue again. But the cunning crime lord has schemes of his own. For Ana to find an army, they must cross the Whitewaves to the impenetrable stone forts of Bregon. Only, no one can be certain what they will find there.
A dark power has risen. Will revolution bring peace–or will it only paint the streets in more blood.
I was excited to find this book at my local library and forgotten that it was even out. We are back with Ana and Ramson as they try to gain allies for Ana to retake the throne from Morganya and Ramson is trying to find out his nemesis’ plans. It all leads to Bergon, the kingdom where Ramson is from but the journey there like anything else that has occurred in this book, is not easy.
Ana and Ramson are an unlikely team, the conman and the princess in hiding but that’s why I like them together. There isn’t much time for romance between them in this sequel but they do finally share a kiss. Still – I hope things work out for them in the next book. They both have unfinished business – Ramson hunting down Kerlan’s people and Ana going to take her throne back. I like that we get to know more about Ramson in this one.
I really like the element of the rebellion, the Redcloaks, led by Ana’s ex-friend (it seems now), Yuri. He has a cold killer warrior on his side though, Seyin, and I wonder how he comes into play later. I don’t trust him.
This book has awesome side characters, one of them being Ana’s friend Linn. She kicks ass with all her affinities and fighting ability. She’s also loyal to the death – I love her. Kais is an interesting character, he was an enemy in book one and now…is he trustworthy? Also…Sorsha – oh wow, this girl is psycho but she was sadly made that way and she definitely added a lot of danger to this story. I don’t like her but as an enemy she will be an exciting foe to defeat.
This story moves fast and had so much action – and it got pretty bloody at times too. There were a lot of things in play, Yuri and the rebellion, the kingdom of Bergon and it’s secrets and people finding out the princess is alive so I was definitely invested in the story.
Triggers: death, violence, human trafficking
I wanted more of Ransom and Ana together but I get they had their own business to take care of. Obviously they care for one another and I just hope in book three they can have their happy ever after.
Why you should read it:
- great world building and magic system
- fast paced with lots of action
- characters you can root for – get to know more about Ransom
Why you might not want to read it:
- if fantasy isn’t for you
My Thoughts:
I think this was an entertaining sequel to Blood Heir. Only thing I wish it had more of was the Ana and Ransom scenes I enjoyed in book one. My favorite character from this book is Linn though – she was strong, such an amazing fighter, and a good friend. I like how there are different factions in play and that Ana not only has to fight her aunt for the throne, but Yuri her ex-friend and rebel leader. Add in Sorsha who is scary psycho – she loves pain…I mean, how do you fight someone like that? I think book three will turn out to be very exciting and I hope Ana and Ransom can come together again.
📚 ~ Yolanda
Past Midnight 