Review: Of Darkness and Crowns by Trisha Wolfe

Of Darkness and Crowns (Goddess Wars #2) by Trisha Wolfe

The moon goddess has taken up residency within Prince Caben, darkening his mind and soul. Now he hunts the very women he sacrificed his life to save, his conflicting desires for love and power raging a battle within him. Kaliope possesses the key to setting Bale free, and Caben will stop at nothing to see his goddess restored. Even if that means destroying the kingdom he’s sworn to protect, and the infuriating woman who torments his thoughts.
Kaliope, now the leader to the newly formed Nactue Guard, has vowed to save Caben. But with a traitor lurking among her people, and powers she’s unable to fully control, Kaliope’s mission becomes shrouded with doubt. Her new role as watcher over Caben’s kingdom brings a burden she’s unable to bear alone, and appointing the right person in charge of the prince’s affairs has turned a kingdom against the Nactue leader. Saving her stubborn, willful prince from the darkness overtaking him will be the battle of her life, and she needs people she can trust by her side. But bad blood between members of the Nactue obscure Kaliope’s journey, while her feelings for Caben cloud her judgment.
When the time comes to do what she must to destroy the goddess of chaos, will she be able to if it means losing Caben forever?
Book two of the Goddess Wars is told in dual point of view from Kaliope and Caben. New Adult Dark Fantasy, intended for readers 17 years of age and older.

Publishes in US: March 20th 2014 by Trisha Wolfe
Genre: NA Dark Fantasy
Source: sent by author and bought
Series? Goddess Wars #2
My Review: Of Silver and Beasts by Trisha Wolfe

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4.5

    I have been eager to read Of Darkness and Crowns since I finished the first Goddess Wars book. It left me needing to know what happens to Caben after he allows himself to the be the vessel, and I was feeling so much for Kal because she now has the responsibility of trying to see if he can unpossess Caben to have the man she loves back, guarding the Empress as well as running and helping Prince Caben's country while he can't. 

    I love Trisha's writing and Of Darkness and Crowns is no exception. She jumps right into the action and picks up where the last left of. She faces Caben more than once and it is so hard around him, there is a romantic pull, hard to seperate what she sees and remembers as well as something dark from the moon goddess inside his mind. 

    We also get Caben's point of view, and you can tell the lust for power and wild need to dominate and subdue Kal is all from the dark goddess, but he is also warring with the goddess because what he, drunk from power and madness wants and the shard and need to be free that the goddess wants.  

     In Of Darkness and Crown, Trisha really shows us the different layers of Caben and of Kal. Through power some of their desires, the best and worst parts of them are brought to the surface. Also, the parts that aren't them and are the madness, provokes responses--anger, fear, resolve in the other. 

     The romance is in a weird place in this one, obviously, because of the possession and Kal's fear of having to kill him in order to banish Bale, but also her strong fight and what she'll do to keep her vow to save Caben. But there are still some really hot scenes, never fear. It wouldn't be a Trisha Wolfe book without some serious swoon. Though these scenes are ones that make you think, while you can't blame them from giving in to the lust and the attraction between them, I was also glad when they found the strength to say no, until they could be with each other without a goddess of insanity and darkness in the back of his mind. 

    Not only does Kal face war torn nations, trying to save the man she loves, but also changed relationships. Lilly is hard on her mind, but with Kal's priorities, she can't give her the time that she wants, and we see things shift some in that regard. Also, Kal's faith in the goddess as well as in Iana are tested in this one. While I understand to some extent where Iana was coming from, I totally felt the loss with Kal of the trust, closeness, bond and loyalty shifting with certain actions and conversations, decisions made that Kal doesn't agree with or understand. 

     Of Darkness and Crowns leaves us in an okay spot, but it is one that you know the characters will have to do a lot of healing and a lot of growing in order to overcome. There are still big obstacles in front of them before personal, relational and political freedom can be attained, but they are in a relatively peaceful holding point until the next shoe drops for the third book. I will definitely be continuing this series, buying and devouring anything that Trisha writes, and falling in love with her writing, characters and stunning worlds.

Bottom Line: Great second book that left me longing for more in the series.

My question to you, my lovely readers:
Could you kill the one you love if they were evilly possessed?