The Second Son

by Adrienne Tooley

Overview

An epic clash of deities explores the two facets of pain—rage versus sadness—in this rousing followup to The Third Daughter, a dark crown fantasy duology with a sweeping sapphic romance.

The centuries-old prophecy has been fulfilled at last: the New Maiden has returned to Velle. Unfortunately, so has a malicious demi-god, whose elusive prophet is intent on converting the New Maiden’s followers. The Second Son is a vengeful, angry deity, whose psalm resonates with the disenfranchised.

With Elodie on the throne and Sabine in her own unique position of power, it should be easy enough to track down the culprit. Yet even as they're falling in love, both girls are keeping dangerous secrets from each other. While the cult of the Second Son threatens to overthrow not only the Church of the New Maiden but also Velle’s monarchy, Elodie and Sabine must navigate impossible odds to dismantle the root of his power, all while their lives hang in the balance. 

The Second Son is a must-read for fans of:

• BookTok Romantasy
• ​Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard 
• These Violent Delights by Chloe Gong
• Friends to Enemies / Betrayal
• Slow Burn Romance / One Bed 

 

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780316465908
Publisher:	Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Publication date:	07/16/2024
Series:	Betrayal Prophecies , #2
Pages:	320
Sales rank:	59,417
Product dimensions:	8.40(w) x 5.80(h) x 1.20(d)
Age Range:	14 - 18 Years

About the Author

Adrienne Tooley is the author of The Third Daughter; Sweet & Bitter Magic; as well as the Indie Next List selection Sofi and the Bone Song. In addition to writing books, she is a singer-songwriter and has released several EPs which are available on Spotify & other streaming sites. Adrienne, her wife, and their dog live in Brooklyn. 

Editorial Reviews

Praise for the Betrayal Prophecies:

"Subtly vicious and achingly tender, with a charming cast and delightful twists to boot. In the queendom of Velle, divinity and royalty clash, romance and intrigue simmer, and betrayals abound—but at the novel’s gentle heart is a story about the healing magic of being known. This is Adrienne Tooley at her most powerful."—Allison Saft, New York Times bestselling author of A Far Wilder Magic

"This gripping sapphic fantasy portrays the anti-hero princess taking on the patriarchy. Just when readers think they have this sorted out, a twist ending alludes to a second book in the planned duology. Immersive and intense; hand this royal fantasy to readers of Kendare Blake’s Three Dark Crowns and Victoria Aveyard’s Red Queen series." —School Library Journal

"Spectacularly emotional and majestically dark, The Third Daughter is a glittering jewel of a novel certain to win over even the most hard-hearted readers."—Morgan Rhodes, New York Times bestselling author of the Falling Kingdoms series

"Emotions run high in this engaging fantasy, where sparks fly between Elodie and Sabine and royals battle. The dangers of dictated religions and the manipulative power they can wield provide an interesting undercurrent to the narrative. A quick, magical, and interesting read."—Booklist

"Emotionally gripping and devastating—I held my breath the whole way. Adrienne Tooley deftly weaves prophecy, mystery and intrigue into a deeply intimate story. I ached with Elodie and Sabine, and I utterly fell in love with this exquisite sapphic fantasy. I’m already yearning for the sequel!"—Leslie Vedder, author of The Bone Spindle

"This sprawling fantasy features romance and charismatic, take-charge heroines."—Publishers Weekly

From the Publisher

2024-04-05
Enemies loom for new rulers in this sequel to The Third Daughter (2023).

Sabine has stepped into her role as the reascended and revered New Maiden, even though she no longer possesses her magical healing tears, nor can she hear the voice of her darkness, once her constant companion. The church she’s supposed to be leading is crumbling, both literally and metaphorically, under pressures from another religious faction that’s awaiting the Second Son. Meanwhile, Elodie is the Queen of Velle, and she’s busy dealing with the constant requirements of her station. When a snubbed diplomat makes threats against her realm, none of her advisers take him seriously. The two young women are still infatuated with one another, and they try to steal precious moments alone. Against this backdrop, the Second Son, the New Maiden’s theological adversary, is rising—and tempting Sabine in strangely familiar ways. This duology closer adds more intricacies to an already convoluted fantasy world. Amid stilted dialogue and abrupt scene changes, the characters often conveniently forget or ignore details that would move the plot forward. Moments of frustrating misunderstanding due to a lack of communication between the characters are frustrating and make little sense.

Strictly for fans of the first volume. (Fantasy. 14-18)

Kirkus Reviews