Book 2 of the Isle of the Gods Duology, YA Fantasy
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The Heart of the World by Amie Kaufman
ISBN 9781761067389
Published 27 August 2024
Pages 432
Genre YA Fantasy
They fell in love in the shadow of war.
But can their love withstand the ambitions of the gods?
When Selly and Leander began their treacherous voyage to the Isles of the Gods, the captain’s daughter and the playboy prince were strangers. But amidst talk of war and a deadly attack on their ship, the unthinkable happened. They fell in love.
Leander’s ritual at the island temple was meant to prevent a war between the gods. Instead, it nearly cost him his life, and drew the goddess Barrica back from her exile. Now, as her Messenger, Leander’s imbued with her deadly magic, and only Selly’s presence can stop it from consuming him.
But Barrica wasn’t the only immortal roused from sleep. The God of Risk, Macean, was awakened by an enemy all thought dead, and across the sea he’s calling for war.
The fight to save their world will take Selly and Leander from the gilded ballroom of the royal palace to the hallowed halls of an ancient library. Battle lines will be drawn, and bonds will break.
With the wrath of gods and the machinations of power-hungry rulers straining their loyalties, can their love withstand the trials that await them?
What is The Heart of the World by Amie Kaufman about?
Selly and Leander, once strangers on a perilous voyage to the Isles of the Gods, fell in love amidst the threat of war and a deadly attack. Leander’s ritual to prevent a war between the gods instead awakened the goddess Barrica, who made him her Messenger, endowing him with dangerous magic that only Selly can control. Meanwhile, the God of Risk, Macean, has also been awakened, calling for war. As the couple is thrust into a world of divine wrath, political intrigue, and betrayal, they must fight to save their world—and their love—from destruction.
My thoughts about The Heart of the World by Amie Kaufman
I absolutely loved this! From start to finish, I was completely hooked, fully immersed in the story. It’s even better than the first book, with even higher stakes that had me on edge the entire time.
The character growth was phenomenal. Every POV character evolved so much, coming into their own and pursuing their own desires, and I couldn’t be happier for all of them. I’m so emotional about it!
Jude has always been a complex, lost character, but the strength, purpose, and sense of direction he found in this book filled my heart. He sacrificed so much to become someone he could be proud of, and in the process, he discovered more than he ever thought possible.
Laskia’s journey captivated me as well. I was so proud of her for realizing her worth didn’t depend on others’ approval. The resolution to her story felt so peaceful and fitting. For a character who was so angry, scared, and ready to fight, it was beautiful to see her finally pause and start finding herself.
The love and trust between Keegan, Selly, and Leander held their story together and became the beating heart of this duology. I loved seeing how their bond was tested and how they fought for each other until the very end.
The fast-paced, high-stakes plot made it impossible to put this book down. It’s a fantastic conclusion to an incredible duology!
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