unForgiven

Okay I didn’t think I could ever like Judica, but after reading this I totally was a fan! Such a good sequel.

I could see in book 1 that the author was gearing us up to dislike Judica. But I was surprised by how much I could change my opinion about her throughout this book. So many characters are on my suspicion list. No one is what they appear to be. I am going to be anxiously awaiting the next book to come out in Audible. This is a good narrator. I like her voice and it makes the experience that much better. As for characters I wasn’t sure what I thought of Roman. After this story I like him better but I am not 100% in favor of him. Unlike Edem who I just loved in book 1 despite the few suspicious things he did. If your looking for a bit of romance along with an adventure and a mystery this is the book for you. Bridget captivates the reader throughout the story. I am not sure I liked the flip flop between the future and the past but I can’t fault the story telling technique either. Anyway, I look forward to book 3.

Judica is heir to the Evian throne, the most powerful position in the world. She has spent her entire life training for this position (how many five-year-olds have to learn battle strategy and diplomacy and hand-to-hand combat?). And at age 17, when her mother unexpectedly dies, she finds herself taking the position she has devoted her life to. Until she discovers that just days before, her mother changed the heir paperwork, naming her twin sister the new empress. Chancery, the sister who received their mother’s affection while Judica received her instruction. The one who knows next to nothing about running a government while Judica has given up her childhood to learn how. On top of that, Chancery formally accuses Judica of killing their mother. Surprisingly, Judica doesn’t really mind being passed over for empress. She fights Chancery, but more out of concern for what would happen to Evian with a young, weak ruler. Because weak is the one thing that an empress of a supernatural race cannot be. As a young child, Judica learned the terrible truth that a ruler cannot show compassion or even affection for anyone who could be a rival…particularly a twin sister who could assert a claim to the throne. So she pushes herself to be perfect, unflawed by any weakness. The one person in whom she could have confided, sharing her struggles and finding relief from the constant tension, is her mother, the empress. And the empress chose to love Chancery. All of the time she spent with Judica was training, teaching her how to be the perfect leader. But what Chancery doesn’t know is that her cold, hard sister actually yearns for her love. That Judica wishes she could fall in love just because of who a person is rather than how he can help her rule. That she deeply loved the mother who only seemed to see her as the heir. That she isn’t cruel because she enjoys being cruel. That she wonders if there’s a possibility of a second chance at being sisters rather than rivals. One of my favorite aspects of Bridget Baker’s books is the depth of character she portrays, and the fact that every single character has understandable and redeemable qualities. I can identify much more with Chancery, both in personality and the way she was raised. I can’t imagine being in Judica’s situation…and yet, I live her life as I read this book. I feel her pain at desperately trying for her mother’s affection while it is lavished on Chancery. And I wonder: how many of the “bullies” I’ve known were in a similar situation, avoiding any display of weakness for their own survival in a harsh situation, but secretly yearning for love? I also like that although there is a strong story arc that goes through the series (this book does not wrap up all the questions), it doesn’t end on an unsatisfying cliffhanger. I strongly recommend that all the “Chancerys” in life, who go through hard things but know love, read this book to understand others better. And I recommend that all the “Judicas” read it to see that there is hope.