Of Blood and Bone by Nora Roberts

When I really love a book in a series - and all of the characters - I find myself reluctant to start the next book because I know some of the main characters will be different, and/or the focus will be different. Definitely the main characters were different in this book - and the focus was on the new main characters - but I loved it anyway! 

I loved the relationship between Fallon and Mallick. Mallick is a wise old man and he taught Fallon a lot. I was a little worried about his stamina at times! I was hoping that we would see him again after Fallon went back home, but I guess we have to wait until Book 3. (Hopefully). Obviously the budding love story is between Fallon and Duncan. They will make a powerful couple, to be sure. I think we just got a taste of what's to come. Fallon needs to grow up a bit before she has a full-blown love affair. ;) So, off Duncan goes to train with Mallick. That's a win-win.

Since this is the "middle book", I didn't expect Eric & Allegra to be a huge part of it. The story needs to build to the ultimate Good vs. Evil conclusion. I was actually surprised that Eric was killed! We really didn't see much of him at all. Good riddance. Since Petra was introduced as a child when she came to New Hope, I am pretty sure she was conceived after Eric had already killed Max. Petra seemed younger than Fallon. Her character was the big surprise for me in the book. She seemed so innocent. With Eric dead, that leaves Allegra & Petra to battle it out with Fallon I guess. I am sure both sides will have plenty of support when the time comes.

Fallon's focus was destroying all the nuclear weapons. She didn't want to just "disarm" them; she wanted to destroy them so that no one else could come along and re-activate them. Although it's part of her overall plan to beat the dark side with her light, I was surprised at that focus. I did think that the "battle" that reintroduced Eric & Allegra - and exposed Petra - was a little confusing. I picked up on Petra's cupcakes the same time Duncan did because of the "fruit and flowers" comment, but after that, things happened fast and furious and I wasn't sure what was going on! Even though we didn't know him that well, I did feel bad that Denzel was killed.

So, now we wait for The Rise of Magicks, due at the end of November 2019.  I hate waiting....

Wendy's Rating: *****