Poisoned Blade by Kate Elliott (Court of Fives #2) | REVIEW

Poisoned Blade by Kate Elliott (Court of Fives #2)
Published by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers on August 16th 2016
Genres: Young Adult, Fantasy, Action & Adventure
Pages: 448
Format: Hardcover

LINKS: Good Reads | Amazon | Indigo | Book Depository

Jessamy is moving up the ranks of the Fives—the complex athletic contest favored by the lowliest Commoners and the loftiest Patrons in her embattled kingdom. Pitted against far more formidable adversaries, success is Jes’s only option, as her prize money is essential to keeping her hidden family alive. She leaps at the chance to tour the countryside and face more competitors, but then a fatal attack on Jes’s traveling party puts her at the center of the war that Lord Kalliarkos—the prince she still loves—is fighting against their country’s enemies. With a sinister overlord watching her every move and Kal’s life on the line, Jes must now become more than a Fives champion…She must become a warrior.

🌟🌟🌟🌟

4 Stars

*** CHECK OUT THE REVIEW FOR BOOK ONE: COURT OF FIVES ***

** MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS: READ AT OWN RISK!!!**

* Received an ARC from Hachette Book Group for a honest review *

First Line:

No one must suspect what I plan to do tonight.

---

Review

COVER 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟           PLOT 🌟🌟🌟🌟

CHARACTERS 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟    ROMANCE 🌟🌟🌟

WRITING 🌟🌟🌟🌟        WORLD 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

---

The Good

Poisoned Blade by Kate Elliott continues right after the end of Court of Fives. Jessamy has saved her mother and sisters from the being tombed by Lord Gargaron and she has won her spot at the Garon stable at the expense of Lord Kalliarkos. With even more sneaking around the plot begins to thicken as characters’s true motives come into light.

With war on the horizon, Jessamy must stay on her toes as she is constantly reminded that people like her will never be safe and free. Elliott continues with her lyrical and descriptive writing that keeps you immersed and on the edge of your seat. She dwells deeper into the history and customs of the world she has built without holding anything back when it comes to the touchy subjects of racism and sexism.

I love all the strong female characters in Poisoned Blade. Jess continues to grow and adapt to her surroundings while never forgetting who she is where she comes from. She is always thinking about others before herself and will do anything to protect her family. Amaya has left the safety of her family’s safe house to be at her best friend/lover’s side behind the walls of the Gargaron’s Palace. Hidden behind her disguise she sneaks around to gather important information and would place herself in danger’s way to protect the ones she loves. Of course we have Kiya, the girl’s mother being the totem of wisdom and figure of peace everyone needs in times of trouble. Surprisingly, Lady Menoe shows she can be a real human being from time to time which was nice to see.

This was definitely a step up and forward for the series and of course the cliffhanger leaves you begging to find out what happens next. Too bad we have to wait for next year!

The Bad

I had very few issues with Poisoned Blade. My one big complaint comes from the many side plots popping up here and there. I felt it took away from the overall impact of the story and I found myself skimming through the ones that didn’t interest me too much.

My other complaint is with the romance. I feel like it isn’t quite consistent between Jess and Kal to the point where I am a bit irritated with the way they interact with each other. I mean I get it, Jess screwed him over in the first book, but come on Kal, pick up you big boy panties and move on. You were never really good at the Fives anyway.

Other then that, Poisoned Blade was magnificent and the one of the reasons I love the fantasy genre so much!

---

Fantastic sequel. I can’t praise this series enough. It definitely needs to be read by more people! Let me know what you guys thought of Poisoned Blade by Kate Elliott! I would love to hear your opinions as well!

Until next time,

TWITTER | GOOD READS | INSTAGRAM | BLOG LOVIN’

#SheMustFightAWar

As a child in rural Oregon, Kate Elliott made up stories because she longed to escape to a world of lurid adventure fiction. She now writes fantasy, steampunk, and science fiction, often with a romantic edge. It should therefore come as no surprise that she met her future husband in a sword fight.

When he gave up police work to study archaeology, they and their three children fell into an entirely new set of adventures in dusty Mexican ruins and mouthwatering European pastry shops. Eventually her spouse’s work forced them to move to Hawaii, where she took up outrigger canoe paddling.

Also, there is a schnauzer.