The Stone's Heart

The Stone's Heart

by Jessica Thorne

4 out of 5

Synopsis
Something evil is gathering power in the kingdom. It knows the secrets in your heart, and nobody is safe… 

Petra Kel – young and headstrong – has been named General of the Queen’s Guard. But while Petra’s head may be in rebuilding the war-torn kingdom alongside her childhood friend Queen Belengaria, she left her heart miles away in their homeland, the day she turned her back on the only man she ever loved and fled.

But then Petra’s past – in the form of Bel’s roguish brother Zander – comes crashing in, just as rumours of dark magic begin to swirl at court. Petra can’t afford to be distracted… but the unfinished business between herself and Zander is like a vice upon her heart.

When evil takes hold of the kingdom and threatens Bel, Petra is forced to make the impossible choice between love and loyalty. And will the insidious magic of the Stone’s Heart reveal the heart-breaking reason why she left Zander behind all those years ago?

A gripping and magical read that will captivate you from the very first page.



Review
After overthrowing the Gravian attackers, Bel finally takes her place as leader of her new world. With the help of General Petra Kel, they have new threats creeping in from every direction.

I received a free copy from Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.

This is the second book in The Queen's Wing series, and I highly recommend you read it in order, because this jumps straight in where the last book left off, and there's a lot of background knowledge needed.

Bel continues to be one of the narrators, but this second book sees Petra Kel become a lead narrator (in place of Con, Bel's fiance).
Petra is a great character. She's a more Vairian version of Bel, a warrior and a general, she is entirely confident in her own capabilities. She would rather train and spar, than have to deal with court and politics, but she is Bel's right-hand-woman and is incredibly loyal.
Petra is completely business-focused, and it really pushes her out of her comfort zone when her royal ex, and a mysterious noble guy turn up, to play with her heart.
I really liked Petra - her narratives definitely felt stronger, and the story came alive in her scenes.

Bel continues to be a good, likeable character, as we continue to follow her story. After the disastrous first attempt in the first book, she finally gets married to Con.
The event draws a lot of attention from the Empire, who are keen to assert control in any way they can.
Bel's narrations were a little slower than Petra's, as they are initially concerned with politics and stabilising their new government.
Mid-way through the book, Bel becomes something of an unreliable narrator, for reasons that become obvious; but I found these sections difficult to follow and they just gave me a headache.

Mirroring the pattern set in the first book, the second half of The Stone's Heart kicks off, and definitely makes up for the slack.
This book didn't grip me immediately, but I ended up really enjoying it, and I am looking forward to the next pert of the series. I hope to see more Petra!

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