I received a copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This review contains spoilers and my attempt at being fun, so please read at your own discretion.
First off, thank you Hayley for writing this brilliant sequel to Odriel's Heirs.
Idriel's Children takes place 28 years after Odriel's Heirs (but the beauty is that it's okay if you have not read the first book. Although, I would highly recommend it.) and follows Klaus' and Kaia's youngest Aza, the next Shadow Heir. She hears a voice calling her in a world called the Shadow Plane and like any normal person would do decides to investigate, but her trips end up bringing danger back to the ones she loves (ooo 👀). The parents are called away to go battle what they think is the Lost (creepy corpses that are controlled by necromancers 😱). The children are told to stay at the school and continue teaching the classes (much to Aza's chagrin and Zephyr's, -probably spelled that wrong- her older brother and the next Dragon Heir, delight.)
The children are then visited by the Malbador (again probably spelled it wrong and I'm going to be evil and not tell you what they are. Read the book if you want to find out you are not getting all the secrets out of me 😉) who have trouble in their home. Aza realizes that this would be an excellent opportunity to get away and her older brother agrees to help for his own reasons (is it for love 😘 or glory 😏? Read the book to find out.) On the road, Aza decides to leave and strike out on her own for answers, but of course that does not go as planned. She finds herself accompanied by Makeo (her childhood friend and a Malbador), Witt (Zephyr's friend and he reminds me so much of another character, but you will have to read it and make your own conclusions, but food 😏) and Shad the poor person who is cursed into servitude by a magi who turned Shad into a cat (he's been a cat for a century guys, he is tired and just wants the world to stop going to hell. It's not too much to ask is it? 😾). She goes on an epic journey to the Tazgar Marsh with her fellow companions, but the things that are like the Lost, but not are following them and not everyone might make it to their destination... (intrigued yet (:-)? Well, then ignore the rest of this raving review and pick up a copy of this book and read it. Even if you don't find this intriguing that is too bad because you are missing out.)
What didn't I love about this book? The characters were flawed and had struggles to deal with while Aza tried to push everyone away because "the Shadow walks alone" and how the characters tried to prove her wrong by being there with her every step of the way. The creatures in the world were terrifying for the most part because damn the dolabora is 😱, but the rage hounds are *chef's kiss* (Gus 😭).
I started ugly crying when everyone kept telling Aza that her parents were dead and she tried so hard to prove them wrong (Kaia and Klaus are my loves and OTP for this series so yeah there was a lot of 😭 going on from me).
Ugh, Keo he reminds me so much of Klaus and anyone who sticks by Aza even when she tries to push them away (and he almost died for her y'all) Keo deserves all the love and respect because damn Aza did not make it easy.
The world building is perfection and I loved Aza's journey of being able to go through the Shadow Plane in a way that is not taxing and meeting her ancestor. It is absolute love.
I will not say more because you all should support indie authors because you will miss out on gems like this. (Also, I find myself unable to say more without giving away crucial plot points).
500 out of 5 stars.
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