The Culling Trials 2 is the second book in the Shadowspell Academy series by K.F. Breene and Shannon Mayer. First published 2019 by Hijinks Ink Publishing. I listened to the audiobook narrated by Khristine Hvam. The book is a YA with paranormal and fantasy elements and is a direct sequel, almost like they are the same book, of the first book.
The story continues were the last one left off, revealing Wild to be a girl to more and more of her team while she handles the second trial. Wild will also slowly encounter the mystery of who killed her brother, and see more about her childhood friend Rory who has a secret of his own. She will encounter trolls, unicorns and fight off vampires along with guarding her back for betrayal.
We meet few new people, encountering more of the old ones. The newest being the one that seem to become Wild’s love interest, Colt, though the story suggest a love triangle with Rory. Though there are still some mystery characters being thrown around such as the Sandman and they keep talking about the abomination who won all the trials, suggesting that he might have a larger role in the future.
I’m not sure how to react to the suggested romance, I should not be surprised since every female main character seem to get one, preferably several so they can fight for her, but at least the story is very low key about it. The suggested romance is no where near the centrum of the story so it won’t bother people who dislike romance too much.
This story has a lot more focus, not introducing more and more characters which allows it to focus on the plot and added humor on top of it. I mean, Wild fights of a troll by swinging around a honey badger. How can that not make you laugh? I also like that the mystery around who wants her family dead isn’t just threated as an afterthought like in the first book where it is mentioned at the beginning as the reason why she joins the trials, and some few moments as to remind us that it still exists. It feels like they take up that loose thread here and weave it into the story.
Wild feels still really overpowered. Now starting to get more and more powers, over being physical superior and a master strategist. Seemingly being able to copy abilities. Since this was one of my greatest dislikes in the first book, I really don’t like that they push her godhood status even more, but this is only a problem for does who dislike overpowered characters.
Overall, the story has become far better than the first book and the narrator do a good job conveying the story. It still has some downsides for me, Wild is overpowered, forced romance, the story feels a bit cliché, I still don’t know the houses and what they signifies, but it does add some positives such as more focused story, less introduction of random characters at the end, more humor and the like. All in all, I would give it a 7 out of 10. It’s above average, depending on the reader this might be someone favorite book. Not mine but I still liked it enough to read the next book, even if I might not read the series again.
With Kind Regards
Senefer.
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