Two weeks have passed since Iris Winnow returned home bruised and heartbroken from the front, but the war is far from over. Roman is missing, and the city of Oath continues to dwell in a state of disbelief and ignorance. When Iris and Attie are given another chance to report on Dacre’s movements, they both take the opportunity and head westward once more despite the danger, knowing it’s only a matter of time before the conflict reaches a city that’s unprepared and fracturing beneath the chancellor’s reign.

Since waking below in Dacre’s realm, Roman cannot remember his past. But given the reassurance that his memories will return in time, Roman begins to write articles for Dacre, uncertain of his place in the greater scheme of the war. When a strange letter arrives by wardrobe door, Roman is first suspicious, then intrigued. As he strikes up a correspondence with his mysterious pen pal, Roman will soon have to make a decision: to stand with Dacre or betray the god who healed him. And as the days grow darker, inevitably drawing Roman and Iris closer together…the two of them will risk their very hearts and futures to change the tides of the war.

If you’re anything like me, the idea of having to wait for a sequel is excruciating. The time between finishing the first book and getting your hands on the second always feels like an eternity. After finishing Divine Rivals, I found myself counting down the days, hours, and minutes until I could read Ruthless Vows, and I am happy to say it was totally worth the wait.

Iris Winnow has returned home tired and a little heartbroken, knowing that Roman has gone missing. So, when she gets an opportunity to return to the frontlines, she immediately accepts the assignment. Reporting on Dacre’s army allows her to warn the unprepared city of Oath that war is not as far off as it seems. Meanwhile, Roman is recovering from extensive injuries in Dacre’s realm while he tries to piece together who he was before he was injured. After initially feeling indebted to Dacre for healing him, Roman begins to question his loyalties after receiving a mysterious letter from an anonymous pen pal. As Iris and Roman each face new challenges, they must risk everything they’ve built and hold dear if they have any hope of ending the war.

If you asked me what my favorite part of this story was, it would probably change every time I answered. It does so many things from world building to introducing scintillating magic and characters so well. Ruthless Vows is a stunning conclusion to one of my favorite series and should not be missed!