Review: The Last Aether (Royals of Kingwood Academy, #2) by Tessa Hale

                                                          

Print Length: 282 pages

Publisher: Tessa Hale (October 5, 2022)

From Goodreads.com: My universe has been turned upside down. Not only am I no longer human, I’m also the most powerful elemental the world has seen in centuries. And I have no idea how to wield the power coursing through my veins.

Did I mention I also have four fated mates? The charmer, the gentle giant, the psychopath, and the cruel prince who would rather kill me than kiss me. Throw in mean girls, assassins, and kings out for our blood, and I’m having a rough freshman year.

Just as I feel like things might be coming together, a secret is revealed that changes everything. And I’m left wondering if there’s anyone I can trust at all…

  

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My Rating: 2 stars out of 5

Sadly, I did not enjoy this one as much as I did the first one. Sure, there were some interesting plot lines like the truth coming out about Riven, and the fact that the way their bond was created led to more unique abilities. But I felt like not enough time was spent on those things, as well as other important things that were going on. 

Instead it was a constant cycle of Aura gets attacked and/or injured, the guys rush to her aide, she gets mad that she can defend herself (or in some cases makes the point that she SHOULD be defending herself to show she's not weak), and ultimately ends up passing out (sometimes for days at a time). And yet, despite having four highly skilled and trained men at her disposal, she only trains with one of them, and even that doesn't happen until after a series of other things happen first. It was crazy to me how much time and energy was poured into all these different "attacks" on Aura and her men and how little of it was paid to expanding upon their relationship, or learning more about their unique bond. 

On top of the attacks, we also have King Zephyer demanding she be expelled and banished to the human realm after she was (once again) attacked by resident mean girls Drue and Xena. And another student who is somehow able to get his hands on all sorts of potions that should definitely be illegal and flat out tries to murder her.

And okay, I get it, there are a lot of people who don't want the realms united. Who much prefer to keep things as they are and want Aura dead before she can take the throne along with her other men, but there has to be people on the opposite side of that battle that would at least be curious about her. And yet, no other students at the school approach her without open hostility except Kerry (her roommate from the first book), and even she by the end of this one, she too is looking at Aura like she did something wrong when she only did what she was forced to do.  I also wish we would see more opposite from the two kings who are supportive of Aura and everything she represents for the people of the elemental realms. 

I do have the third, and final, book on my kindle and will be starting to read that tonight, because I am curious not only to see how the author is going to end this series, but if things will become less new attack every three pages and more build-up to a final showdown or not.