The Immortal Crown (Age of X #2) by Richelle Mead

What can I say about this book??? I absolutely love it!! I still can't understand how Richelle can come up with these amazing stories and characters. She is without a doubt one of my favourite writers. But you aren't here to read about me rambling about how out-of-this world she is, so let's get to the book.

As in the first book (Gameboard of the Gods), we have three points of view.

Mae is struggling with her feelings for Justin, while at the same time she worries about her lost niece and Justin's safety and the goddess that seeks her attention. So you can see that our poor super-soldier has a lot on her plate.

Meanwhile, Justin is dealing with Odin (the god that has him under oath) and Geraki (an annoying individual that happens to be Odin's prophet), plus his work at the IS. And, at the same time, he has to worry about his family's and Mae's safety. The former because of zealots and what-nots that want to harm him through his family, and the latter because he is the one putting her in danger and because of the current war among gods. Last but not least, he is also warring with his feelings towards someone. Can you guess who?? Yes, you are right!! It's Mae. Our poor servitor really has a lot of problems.

Then we have Tessa. Tessa has finally found a school she actually fits in and that gives her freedom to pursue any project she wants. Encouraged by a member of the school she fills a form to apply for an internship. But she might get more than she bargained for.

Before I tell you more about the story, I have to tell you a little secret ;) .... I was ecstatic when I saw Argentina in the book. This is the third time Richelle has mentioned Argentina in one of her books. First she did it in Spirit Bound (book #5 in the Vampire Academy series):

"It moves throughout the year. Right now it's in Alaska. Later, it'll be in Argentina." He gave me a sly smile, apparently wondering how astute I was. "Can you guess why?"

That one wasn't exactly accurate, but it can be forgiven. Then she goes and mention it again in Gameboard of the Gods:

“All I’ve got are Argentinian reds,” he told her. “They drink that stuff like water here, but it’s pretty good.”

There Justin was referring to Argentinian red wine. And then here we find the connection again with our delicious wine:

“Please, help yourself. It’s imported from Argentina. You’re probably pretty familiar with their wines after your stay in Panama.”

So, well, you can see why I was so happy!!

Okay, now that I've taken that out of my chest... let's go on.

Justin and Mae are asked to go on an expedition to Arcadia with Lucian Darling (Justin's old college roommate who's running for consul). Justin refuses to go until Mae asks him to accept it. She doesn't tell him, of course, the reason why. The truth is that, after a weird vision she had, Mae is more certain than ever that her niece is in Arcadia and that she needs to rescue her before it's too late.

Arcadia is a twisted country, to say the least. Women are considered property and are treated more like slaves than actual human beings. While Mae is trying to find a way to get to her niece, Justin is dealing with this country's weird religious leader and the reasons behind his behaviour.

Tessa, on the other hand, is back in the RUNA. There she is dealing with a reporter that wants her to help uncover the truth behind Lucian's campaign. To do that, she has to infiltrate a youth group that works for the campaign. She unveils some information in the process that can end up hurtin Justin in the end, so she has to decide what to do with what she finds.

Back in Arcadia Mae ends up striking on her own with a group of girls she is determined to save. Justin is faced with difficult decisions and with Mae's dissapearance.

When they finally reunite the confess their mutual feelings, but they are met with the cruel reality of their situation and that leads to a horrible attack on Mae and the subsequent fallout.

I have to tell you first that I hate Porfirio with all my heart (you'll understand after you read it), and secondly, I don't have it in me to wait for the third book of the series. I need it NOW!!!!! I don't have enough words to congratulate Richelle on another espectacular book. She is a GENIUS!!!!

 

Gameboard of the Gods (Age of X #1) by Richelle Mead

Gameboard of the Gods

 

 

Up until I read this book I've loved each and every book Richelle has written. I thought this time it would be a bit more twisted tan usual and that I may not like it as much. Boy, was I wrong!!! This dystopian book is marvellous. It is told in three different points of view (POV): Mae's, Justin's and Tessa's.

I should start with Justin's story...

Justin was a servitor for his country, the RUNA (Republic of United North America), but after some discoveries on his part and subsequent report he was exhiled and ended up in Panama (miles away from the technological and cultural superiority of the RUNA). He was miserable and longed to go back home to Vancouver. One night four years later, he sees this gorgeous woman that he can't stop staring at and after a series of events, they end up in his place and things turn hot ;) But there's a catch, he can't have sex with her again or he'll have to do something he really doesn't want to. Imagine his shock when he is asked to come back to the RUNA and have Mae be his bodygard/protector... talk about temptation!!! He is contacted because a series of murders have everybody on edge and there's a video that shows it might be involved with religion (Justin's expertise). He manages to get a student visa for a Panamenian girl named Tessa, the daughter of one of his friends in Panama. He sees some of himself in her and wants to help her.

Once back in the RUNA, after reuniting with her sister and nephew, he and Mae start investigating the case. To do that they have to go back to some of Justin's old contacts and they meet a lot of obstacles. Meanwhile he is dealing with a "gift" that a god left for him: two ravens that talk inside his head.

Mae is another case altogether. She is a soldier for the republic and has an implant that enhances her strengh and abilities, also becuase of the implant she can't sleep. She in incredibly beautiful and an oddity. She has recently lost someone she cared about and is in a weird place. She is assigned to Justin as a kinf of punishment. As she keeps spending time with him she begins to understand him better and see the reason behind his substance abuse and amazing intelligence. But there is a dark force both helping her and clouding her mind that she doesn't understand. And the case they are working on start unravelling things and secrets from her past that are a hard pill to swallow, but that explain what she's going through.

Tessa is a 16 year-old girl that doesn't behave the way the society she lives in requiers from her. She is smart and talks when she shouldn't, and likes reading a lot. She can't see why Justin would pick her to take to the RUNA, even if it is as a favor to her father, but she agrees to go anyway. Once there she struggles to fit in in a society that is completely different from where she grew up. And she can't really shake the way she is treated because she is "provincial".


The whole investigation unearthes a lot of skeletons, but worst of all it brings to life many religious issues that are a threat to the RUNA's ideals. However, there is no way of stopping what they've uncovered and that opens the door for the next book in the series.


Mae's and Justin's relationship is bumpy and hot and you can completely see why they belong together, but Justin needs to keep her away and mad at him in order to avoid temptation as much as possible. I can't wait to see how their story continues in The Immortal Crown, book #2 in the series.


I know it sounds convoluted and hard to keep up, but you won't regret it. Once you get a hold on the story you won't be able to stop reading. And while I'm at it, I highly recommend all of Richelle's other series (Vampire Academy, Bloodlines, Georgina Kincaid and Dark Swan). Richelle is an amazing writer and I hope I get to read more of her stories.