The way that Preto showcases complex sisterhood with a capital C.

Wings of Shadow will hit all your emotional highs and lows. This has not impacted my review which is unbiased and honest.) (Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher. Val is willing to destroy everything to get her revenge on a world that rejected her, and if Veronyka wants to bring peace to the empire and Pyra alike, she must face down her sister once and for all. But when she discovers that Avalkyra has bonded with a strix-a legendary creature of darkness that feeds off the life force of others-Veronyka realizes she has more to deal with than an encroaching war with the empire. Veronyka is determined to do whatever it takes to get Tristan back, even if that means revealing her identity to the world and inheriting a throne she’s not sure she wants. W as it always going to come down to this? Sister against sister? Darkness against light?

Except for her beloved phoenix, Xephyra, of course, and her new friend, Kade, who has his own reasons for wanting to save Tristan. Now that the secret is out, everyone at the Eyrie treats Veronyka differently, and with Tristan still a hostage of the scheming Lord Rolan-and Sev with him as a spy-Veronyka feels very much alone. Veronyka is no longer an orphaned stable boy or a nameless Phoenix Rider apprentice: she is the daughter of Pheronia Ashfire, the last queen of the Golden Empire…and the niece of Avalkyra Ashfire, the resurrected rebel queen who tore the empire apart. Keep reading this book review for my full thoughts. It’s sheer majesty and if you finished Heart of Flames and loved it, then you don’t need me to tell you to read Wings of Shadow. There’s a cosmic rightness to this book, moments where you step back and want to appreciate all the threads Preto is weaving together. Preto delivers a satisfying, tear inducing ending that will make you want to re-read from the beginning.

Wings of Shadow is the finale I was waiting for from the beginning.

Wings of shadow by nicki pau preto