The book picks up right where we left off in the first book: Ning had to flee from the palace together with Princess Zhen and Riyu, the princess‘s personal guard. Ning could safe her sister Shu from the poison. Meanwhile Kang‘s father and Chancellor Zhou prepare everything in the palace for Kang’s father to become the new emperor.
We switch back and forth between Ning on the run and Kang who lives through the changes happening in the palace, which I quite enjoyed. It kept the story at a steady quick pace and didn’t linger too long on traveling and other transitions. More and more things get dicovered and the goal and reason become clearer and clearer.
In book 1 I didn‘t really enjoy the romantic aspect. And this book couldn‘t change my mind either. Also because the romance aspect has been reduced to a once known but lingering connection that has (almost) been severed by betrayal. Every time it came to their „relationship“ the writing became rather descriptive and „listy“ (several times they listed things and feelings that happened instead of showing them). But it was better for the story as well.
The tea magic also got (if even) a secondary role. I remember wanting more of the tea magic in book one because it was calming and enchanting to read. But the structure of this book with the back and forth as well with everything that is happening didn‘t leave room for more exploration in the magic sector.
Overall it was a satisfying second part and ending. I enjoyed it more than book 1.
