#BookReview: The Heartwood Crown (The Sunlit Lands #2) by Matt Mikalatos

Synopsis: After destroying the Crescent Stone, Madeline returns home, bringing Shula and Yenil with her. As her health continues to deteriorate, Madeline feels the Sunlit Lands calling her back. Meanwhile, Jason, Darius, and the rest of the inhabitants of the Sunlit Lands fight for survival and freedom. The magic that fuels the land is failing, threatening to destroy them all. Will Madeline's return save the land and its people? Matt's signature humor and epic storytelling are once again on full display in The Heartwood Crown. 



Goodreads | Amazon

Rating: 1 Star
My Review: The first one was pretty good however, this one just didn't work for me at all. I was so bored. 

Review

A dying girl, a failing world. In this sequel to The Crescent Stone (2018), Madeline has returned to Earth still sick after rejecting the Elenil magic that allowed her to breathe freely at the cost of another. However, the crumbling magic system and unfolding secrets draw her back to the Sunlit Lands. Though Madeline is key, the story focuses on Shula Bishara, a Syrian refugee and ex-Elenil soldier; Jason Wu, the boy who pledged never to lie; and Darius Walker, Madeline’s ex and a Black Skull. The main plot points are blatantly laid out―no need to guess who will die at the end―but it is the journey and the choices made along the way that make this story shine. Despite prophecies, fire powers, a magical sword, and the silliness of a kitten-sized rhinoceros, these are sympathetic teens who struggle to make hard decisions in lives complicated by revenge, guilt, and sacrifice. More so than in the previous book, this volume focuses on parallels with current race relations and considers modern history and literature from the viewpoint of the disenfranchised and oppressed. Madeline is white, and there is ethnic diversity in the rest of the cast. Navigating this world and its characters may be daunting for those seeking a quick read, but others will find much to delve into and unpack. A fantasy for thoughtful readers. (notes, cast of characters, appendix, lexicon, legends, poem, excerpts, stories) (Fantasy. 13-17) -- Kirkus Reviews

From the Back Cover

A refugee searching for a new purpose . . .
A warrior who questions the blood on his hands . . .
A storyteller on the run . . .

The Crescent Stone has been destroyed, but the balance of power is still unsteady in the Sunlit Lands. Madeline and Shula have returned home to earth, but Darius and Jason have remained behind to fight with the Scim in their centuries-long battle against the Elenil.

As Madeline’s health worsens, she and Shula feel called back to the fantastical world. Will they return and take their place among the citizens of the Sunlit Lands? And can they help save the land and its people?

If they are to have any hope of restoring justice, the friends must work together to find an artifact called the Heartwood Crown. Whoever wears the crown will be able to alter the nature of the land itself . . . and rewrite the rules that govern the Sunlit Lands.

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Posted in: 1 Star, Promo, Young Adult