What a perfect second book to the series! I was so enthralled and on the edge of my seat with everything that happened. I loved it!

Let me just say this upfront: Crown of the Dunes shattered me in the best possible way.

After book one (Blood of the Sands) hooked me with its scorching enemies-to-lovers slow burn and complex desert politics, book two came in hotter, messier, and even more emotionally charged.

This is Keera and Erix at war with the world, with themselves, and worst of all… with each other.

Keera is battle-worn, broken in places we can’t see, and so incredibly tired but still, she stands. She never asked to be Kelvadan’s Champion, and now that she’s earned the city’s shaky trust, she’s forced to decide: defend it… or betray it for the one person who ever truly saw her.

I love how her story doesn’t shy away from the trauma of what she’s been through. She’s fierce, but she’s also human. And watching her try to hold the line between love and duty? Devastating. And so real.

Erix (formerly the Viper)…..Now He's the One in Chains…
Erix stepping into a leadership role? Not something I expected but oh, did it deliver. This man is spiralling, torn between loyalty to the desert, grief for his former mentor (despite how monstrous he was), and the loss of Keera, which haunts him in every scene.
He’s no longer the ruthless enemy from book one. He’s unraveling, and the emotional whiplash of watching him try to become something better while the desert and his enemies test him at every turn? Chef’s kiss. And yes, I still simp for him. Harder than ever.

If book one was tension, book two is yearning. Erix and Keera are on opposite sides of a brewing war, and yet everything in them aches to find a way back. It’s forbidden, painful, and honestly so freaking intense.
Every shared memory, every near-meeting, every time one speaks the other's name like it hurts? That’s my kind of heartbreak. And when they do collide again? You will feel it in your chest.

This isn’t just romantic tension, it’s two people who should be enemies, who keep choosing each other anyway. Over and over.

This is why I love romantasy. Crown of the Dunes gives us a world rich with lore, moral grey zones that make your brain hurt, and characters so achingly flawed that you root for them even when they’re tearing everything apart.

There’s no easy path in this story. Just sand, shadows, and two broken people trying to find each other in the storm. And I am so here for it.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read an early copy! I received an advance copy in exchange for an honest review, which I have posted on Goodreads and will post on Amazon once released. Book one (Blood of the Sands) is currently available, and book two will release mid-August.

I was already on edge after the ending of Blood of the Sands, and Crown of the Dunes kept me there the entire time. While some parts slowed down a bit, the story itself was packed—so much happened, and I was fully invested, especially in the scenes that had me emotionally spiraling. The harsh beauty of the Ballan Desert, its living presence, and its magic continue to amaze me.

Erix and Keera continue to own my heart. Their bond deepens in ways that are raw and real—I love them more with every scene. The way they yearn for each other pulls at my heart every time. And once again, this world completely pulled me in—the magic, the politics, and the emotion woven through every choice. I’ll be anxiously (and desperately) waiting for the next book.