a GREAT read: BLOG TOUR: ARC Review--Ally by Anna Banks

Sep 25, 2017

BLOG TOUR: ARC Review--Ally by Anna Banks

Princess Sepora of Serubel and King Tarik of Theoria have formed an uneasy truce between their kingdoms since the deadly plague began to rip through Theoria. Since their feelings for each other are entangled in politics and power, they must use their own trusted resources to find common ground.

But when traitors with powerful allies arise from unexpected places, Tarik and Sepora face challenges that will change both of their kingdoms forever. Will they learn whom to trust—including each other—in time to save their kingdoms, their relationship and even their lives?

I received this ARC from a fellow blogger in a fair trade. This review is completely voluntary and honest, nor was I compensated for my opinions.

While I had a hard time getting into Nemesis, that was not the case for the followup, Ally! Anna Banks starts things off with a bang and there was a nice run of action, tension, and buildup! For me it was a far more engaging read and I couldn’t get enough of it!

Sepora and Tarik are set to get married, but as Tarik was a bit deceptive and his motives not seeming as heartfelt as she would like, Sepora is none too happy with him. And the fact that her parents have come to visit the palace and have helped arrange the engagement, things aren’t looking so peachy for Sepora. Both her father and Tarik think that she will be more than willing to Forge to aid them in the looming war that is to come from the other countries, but Sepora remains steadfast in her decision not to Forge.

There’s a great deal of tension going around in this one. Sepora has mixed feelings about her engagement to Tarik. True, she has feelings for him, but can’t help but feel he wants her for what she can do. As it is, he’s still trying to find a cure for the Quiet Plague that continues to effect his people. Sepctorium is the key ingredient to the cure and with Sepora refusing to produce more, things remain tense between them as well.

And then Sepora is kidnapped and everything thereafter changes.

This book was really, really good! I liked that when it started we’re immediately thrown into the thick of things. Or close to immediately. Sepora gives Tarik a good roundabout way of the cold shoulder and he remains baffled by her behavior! At times, Tarik really drove me nuts. I get his conflicting feels for her, she lies to him easily and readily and he knows she knows that he knows when she lies (that’s a mouthful!). Sepora herself has conflicting feelings towards him as well. She can’t help but feel that he wants her for her what she can do. That it’s not love driving the desire to marry her. Of course, he was set to marry another and he pretty much breaks off the engagement as soon as it’s set.

So as you can see there’s a lot of miscommunication between these two. Yes, there are lies between them, but it seems they are both guilty of lying. And I guess it made me madder when Tarik got madder at Sepora for this and that and for not willingly Forging for him and the upcoming war. It’s like you could see how it may have possibly been for Sepora and her father when she was forced to Forge. Make it start out as something small, the desire to protect people, to heal people, and then greed takes over and soon she’s locked in a room forced to Forge all day and night. I can easily see this fear haunting Sepora and what guided her to make her decisions despite the animosity it created between her and Tarik.

I have to say that in this one, Sethos really grew on me! I had a brief worry about a love triangle but my fears were quickly put to ease. Sethos was definitely the necessary humor when it came to moments that were just rife with that dreaded tension. That he challenges his brother at every turn was kind of delightful! Being the younger sibling myself, I couldn’t help but root for him and his antics!

This one wasn’t without its feels either! Why I went through a range of emotions when it came to the hot and cold romance between Sepora and Tarik, there was one moment that had me on the verge of hysteric tears! That I was in a public place was probably my only saving grace for saving face! I won’t get into what happened that caused my near tears, but it was a doozie! That’s all I’ll say!

I was quite surprised with how things ended! There were so many shocking revelations that I didn’t see coming nor felt prepared for! My mind was blown! I have to admit, despite my initial reservations about this duology it has become one that I will look back on with good feelings! And the ending was definitely one that had me gushing with delighted feels! I truly didn’t know how things would go after all the events came to pass, but I can happily say that Anna ended things in a way that will please all readers!

Overall Rating 4.5/5 stars

Ally releases October 3, 2017

Here is some amazing artwork created by David North! Anna had these made and they work perfectly for the tour! Each stop will have a piece to admire! So here's the first one you shall see:

About Anna

NYT Bestselling YA author of The Syrena Legacy series: OF POSEIDON (2012), OF TRITON (2013), OF NEPTUNE (2014).

Repped by rockstar Lucy Carson of the Friedrich Agency.

I live with my husband and daughter in the Florida Panhandle. I have a southern accent compared to New Yorkers, and I enjoy food cooked with real fat. I can’t walk in high heels, but I’m very good at holding still in them. If you put chocolate in front of me, you must not have wanted it in the first place.

Favorite Books:

Shatter Me, Cinder, Linger, Shiver, Forever, Pushing the Limits, Unravel Me,Shadow and Bone, Enclave, Divergent, Candor, Graceling, Fire, The Hunger Games Trilogy, The Host, Most of James Patterson, and Janet Evanovich makes me laugh through my nose in an unfeminine sort of way.

Visit Anna’s website, like her on Facebook, and follow her on Twitter.

Now for the giveaway! 12 winners will receive a complete set of the exclusive pieces of art created for the series by David North (the images revealed during each tour stop), US Only.

a Rafflecopter giveaway