When I stumbled upon ‘Kingdom of Tomorrow’ by Gena Showalter on Netgalley I knew I had to read it, I actually didn’t know it got uploaded on release day and it was more a review read than an advanced read but I loved the story all the same. So, when in the same month I saw the prequal on Netgalley… Duh! The request was sent rather quickly.

The second book in the book of Arden series is called ‘Kingdom of Today’ and what a whirlwind of a story this has been. Gena is a queen in knowing how to end a story to keep the reader yearning for more. Having read this one, I just need to know how the story progresses, what’ll happen next; One thing is for sure, it will be the best endgame book I have read in a while. I can’t imagine the next one to be any less spectacular that what has been written up until now.

Let’s dig in! So, at the end of the first book a lot of lady and lords in training were killed in the battle between Cyrus and his father Tagin. Arden knew that killing his father would way heavy on Cyrus’ heart so she did it for him. Tagin not wanting to part with Astan, there was no other way. Kill or be killed and that is what she did.

While the gods that have been put to sleep by Soal are on the verge of waking, they start hunting for hosts; People believing in Astan and his cause to host these gods and to bent to their will. With Astan having set his eyes on Cyrus and Cyrus losing more of himself before Arden’s eyes, she is adamant to stop the alliance from happening. Letting Cyrus know what they are fighting for and finally telling him she loves him very much, but can’t and won’t be with him if he accepts Astan.

With the king murdered, all of his offspring are summoned. They all have a chance to take the throne but it won’t be easy. High Prince Felix is someone Cyrus has been closest to, since they grew up within range of each other. High Prince Summit and High Princess Lolli are also attending and another HP. An elite Lord and Lady in training are chosen to be training in the land of the feeders, the land where Cyrus’ grandfather is condemned to; not knowing only the best of them will still stand in the end to function as hosts for the gods.

The executioner AKA Mr. Vyle has the task of seeking out Soalians that are within the program but that isn’t as easy as it sounds. There are a lot of things happening, a lot of things the CURED let the team of in training see to smoke out the Soalians once they are found they will be executed.

Arden is doing everything to bend the future, to ensure that what she has read won’t come to pass. Because the book holds a version of the future, you can bend it with the actions leading up to it. Will she be able to? Will she be able to keep Cyrus at her side, strong enough to deny Astan? Will she be able to be strong enough to deny a god of her own? What will become of this war?!

I’m giving this book a ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5 stars because damn! It was such a good book!