Review by Booklist Review
The end of Immortal Longings (2023) saw Anton inhabiting August Shenzhi's body for his coronation, assigning Princess Calla, who killed King Kasa, as his advisor. A mass murder similar to one that occurred in San-Er sends Calla rushing back to the palace after a distant mission, discovering that the likely culprit, Leida, the former captain of the guard, is still incarcerated. Meanwhile, Anton's first love, Otta, conscious after years in a coma, is ultimately revealed as Leida's original information source for stealing qi. Otta has her own agenda, announcing the divine crown as a fake, sending treasure hunters, including Calla and Anton (still in August's body), out towards Rincun as the city rebels with the news that their royalty is not divinely ordained. Calla and Anton continue to bicker, eventually reaching a compromise that leaves them poised to face off against an ancient power. The second in the Flesh & False Gods series is a fast-paced adventure, balancing each of the main characters' dubious morality with the tension of the prior relationships Anton had with both Calla and Otta. Readers will excitedly await the next adventure.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Bestseller Gong dials up the tension of her Flesh & False Gods series with this pulse-pounding follow-up to Immortal Longings. Princess Calla Tuolemi, having won the city of San-Er's bloody tournament--in the process killing her lover, Anton Makusa--now moves forward with her plan to murder King Kasa. She's astonished, however, to learn that Anton is still alive and has taken over Prince August Shenzhi's body. Though Anton feels betrayed, the two agree to a truce as they confront a serious threat to their rule: there's been a rash of strange killings in the provinces and Calla fears they are linked to insurgent groups. This is compounded by the sudden awakening of Anton's former lover, Otta Avia, from a seven-year coma and her shocking address to the people in which she calls the current monarch's power into question. Gong nimbly expands the series's scope, taking the fight outside of San-Er and offering more insight into the body-swapping magic system. Complete with thrilling fight scenes and plenty of romantic angst, this keeps the series going strong. Agent: Laura Crockett, Triada US. (Sept.)
(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Review by Kirkus Book Review
At the end ofImmortal Longings (2023), the first book in Gong's trilogy about the twin cities of San-Er, Princess Calla Tuoleimi got what she wanted--the head of her uncle, King Kasa. But her problems are just beginning. Calla saw killing the oppressive monarch as her only means of getting justice for the people of San-Er, and it was her sole reason for taking part in the fight to the death that is the king's games--even though everyone thought she was dead. The last person standing in her way was someone she'd grown to care about, someone who'd discovered her secret and still loved her: Anton Makusa. But while Calla was willing to sacrifice Anton and all they were to each other, even accepting her own death in order to free the cities from the tyrant's reign, Anton had plans of his own. To survive Calla's fatal blow, Anton took advantage of an ability some people have in Gong's world: He jumped bodies, guiding his qi into the most powerful person in San-Er--Prince August Avia, the heir and soon-to-be-crowned monarch. Now in control of August's body, Anton enjoys the power of being king if only for a moment, and then everything spirals out of control. Calla and Anton dance around each other interminably while mysterious deaths occur in the provinces, a once fringe cult grows more powerful, and the most unlikely adversary emerges, waking up from an incurable coma. This book introduces new characters and bloodlines, new feuds and rivalries. It's all pointing fingers and swaying allegiances until everyone is pushed to their wits' ends. The rollout of qi rule bending through the larger ensemble continues at an unsustainable rate, and the book loses depth and connection with its main characters in pursuit of plot twists and big reveals. This sequel stumbles where the first book soared, but a compelling setup for a third points to hope of recovery. Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
