Title: Beyond the Shadowed Earth

Series: Beneath the Haunting Sea #2

Author: Joanna Ruth Meyer

It has always been Eda’s dream to become empress, no matter the cost. Haunted by her ambition and selfishness, she’s convinced that the only way to achieve her goal is to barter with the gods. But all requests come with a price and Eda bargains away the soul of her best friend in exchange for the crown.

Years later, her hold on the empire begins to crumble and her best friend unexpectedly grows sick and dies. Gnawed by guilt and betrayal, Eda embarks on a harrowing journey to confront the very god who gave her the kingdom in the first place. However, she soon discovers that he’s trapped at the center of an otherworldly labyrinth and that her bargain with him is more complex than she ever could have imagined.

Set in the same universe as Joanna’s debut, Beneath the Haunting Sea, Beyond the Shadowed Earth combines her incredible world building and lush prose with a new, villainous lead.

I am loving this author so when I saw this book I dived straight in (well, to audio!)

Unforts I spent the majority of the book hating the main character, Eda. She was childlike and really self centred. It got right on my wick! I will admit for the last part of the book I did warm to her a little bit but I felt sorry for her!

I love this authors writing style though, its just so, oh what’s the word….beautiful, haunting…….The world building was thought out and described perfectly and the political intrigue was fascinating and the story was great but it didn’t quite grab me because of Eda.