Title: Floodpath

Author: Emily B. Martin

Pub. Date: March 23, 2021

Pages: 512

Pub: Harper Voyager

Genre: Fantasy

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The epic fantasy adventure begun in Sunshield races to its thrilling conclusion in this imaginative finale in which the fate of four extraordinary young people—and their nations—will be decided.

When their hopes for ending Moquoia’s brutal system of bondage are crushed, unlikely allies Lark and Veran are forced to flee into the harsh desert. With no weapons or horses, they must make their way to safety across the 50-mile expanse of waterless plains known as the water scrape. It is an odyssey filled with unexpected dangers that challenge even a skilled outlaw like Lark—though the farther they travel, the more she wonders if she even fits the fearsome title of the Sunshield Bandit anymore.

Injured in the coup to overthrow the Moquoian monarchy, Tamsin, accompanied by Iano, retreat to a safe house, where they await the return of Lark and Veran. Determined to uncover the traitor in the court, they devise a plan to confront the new palace ashoki, Kimela.

Imperiled by wilderness and their own tenuous alliances, Lark, Tamsin, and Veran each face massive risks to uncover the truth. But even if they find it, will their combined forces be strong enough to stop the evil infecting their beautiful land . . . and transform it into a fairer society for all?

This will be a spoiler free review. Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Voyager for the free copy in exchange for an honest review. Floodpath is out now, so you can grab your copy. You can also grab a copy of the first book – Sunshield – if you’re interested. I have a spoiler free review for the first book, which you can check out here.

It took me a week to read this book – work’s been a little crazy. I found myself much more interested in this second book, over the first one. While Sunshield was good and I did enjoy it, I also found it a tad lacking. I just didn’t really connect with it, found it long and wordy. I didn’t necessarily enjoy the heavy political element, but the world as a whole was vivid and crafted with great detail. All in all, the book was written very well and is a pretty phenomenal book.
I can only say that now having read and finished this second one. Hindsight’s a bitch sometimes.

While this duology isn’t a favorite, I do definitely recommend it.

The care and the immense crafting that the author clearly took in writing this book (this duology) is amazing. The world is lush, vibrant and diverse. It’s very character driven, but the plot doesn’t just sit in the back idling. It’s this wonderful mix that works so well together.

If I hadn’t had to work, I very well might’ve stayed up all night reading it.

I thought I was going to struggle to remember what happened in Sunshield – since it’s been a year – but most of the events came back. I had no problems dropping right back into this world, with these characters.

Maybe I was in a mood or trying to push through a slump when I read the first book, because looking back, I don’t think I was completely fair in my assessment. The writer side of me is kind of in awe of this book. It hooked me in a way the first one didn’t, and I was invested. Yeah, it took me a week to read, but each time I picked my Kindle back up to read a little more, I was instantly drawn back in. And when I had to stop to go to sleep, I kept finding that I didn’t want to. I wanted to keep reading.

I loved Lark and Veran. Somehow, they’re both incredibly capable, strong messes and it’s such a wonderful mix. They’re complex characters, forced to survive and make their own ways in the world. Iano and Tamsin definitely had their own share of struggles and watching them figure out how to navigate each other is a little heartbreaking and painful, but so satisfying. Watching Tamsin come into her own after everything that had happen to her – watching her find her voice again – So Good.

I had no trouble at all imagining and picturing this world the author created. None. At all. It’s so vivid and cinematic at points. It played like a movie in my head, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. There are so many little things in this book that I enjoyed immensely.

I’m actually surprised at how much I enjoyed this book. I initially only requested it on NetGalley because I figured why not see how the duology ends? Though, I don’t know if I would have read the book if NetGalley hadn’t granted my request. I’m glad they did and I’m glad I read this book, because I would have been missing out.

I do definitely recommend this duology – especially now that I’ve read Floodpath. It’s just a good, strong fantasy read that leaves you feeling wholly satisfied. Like, I don’t even want more, because the ending was just that good – it left me content and happy.