Synopsis:
Following the brutal deaths of her sister and aunt, Rosa Alcantara has become what she never thought possible: the very rich and very powerful head of the Alcantara clan. Saddled with this immense responsibility, Rosa must now conduct all business matters--legitimate and not--while negotiating among the greedy, bloodthirsty members of her own family. Not to mention convincing everyone that her blossoming relationship with enemy Alessandro Carnevare won't put the family business in danger.
But loving Alessandro comes at a price. As Rosa continues to fall for him, she discovers the dark secrets of his family's dealings and how they intersect with her own painful past. She wants to believe she can trust Alessandro, but they're so different: Alcantara and Carnevare, snake and panther. How can she love someone whose family wants her dead?
When Rosa and Alessandro uncover an ancient conspiracy intent on destroying both clans, they will do anything to stop it. Racing to put the pieces together, evading their relatives' murderous feud, and learning what it means to control the most influential families in all of Sicily--the two teens must risk everything to love each other and survive.
After reading Arcadia Awakens earlier this year, I couldn't wait to get the next Arkadien book in my hands. Author Kai Meyer has resulted to be one of my new discoveries this year, and I love everything by him that I've read until now, and I can't wait to read more things by him.
Just like I thought when I read the first book, I liked the story way more than I thought I would when I first knew what the story is about. People turning into animals, a Romeo-and-Juliet-type love story, betrayal and friendship, Mafia clans... this story has everything anyone could ask for. The idea for this trilogy is great, really original, which is what makes it good.
In this second part, the story is mainly focused on Rosa's past and what happened the night she was raped, the night she erased from her memory. When she travels to New York looking for some answers that her mom can maybe give her, she'll find out more than she imagined she would, not only about her questions but about that fatal night. When everything seems to turn up to be about the Carnevares, Alessandro's family, both teens will have to trust each other to help themselves. This second book is also about Rosa and Alessandro's relationship, forbidden because they belong to families that have been enemies for centuries; and also about getting to know how to control their transformation to animals, both Rosa into a snake and Alessandro into a black panthera.
I love how Kai Meyer writes, how he gives the exact amount of information needed, not too much action, but enough more relaxed scenes to make it believable. While the story is getting more and more complicated with TABULA and Rosa's discoveries about her dad and her grandmother Constanza, Alessandro's always there for her, like a rock that can't be moved by the ocean, no matter how strong is the wind.
I must confess that I expected Alessandro to betray Rosa at some point, because he's capo of the Carnervares and he's the one who really knows what his family expects from him. I don't really know why I expected that, but I'm more than glad that Alessandro has appeared to be the best boyfriend anyone could ask for, with his true "I love you" and his soft paws and panther fur.
I love how Kai Meyer makes her characters deep, as in with second intentions or who seem to be different people than what they really are. Everything seems to go in one direction and there's suddenly a twist that makes everything complicated again. And the introduction of new characters has been perfect, not too many and introduced at the best moment, which is something that I really admire, because I hate it when dozens of characters are presented in a couple of chapters, and I hate it because that's what I unconsciously do when I start a novel.
So, anyway, everyone should read the Arkadien series, and I can't wait to read the next one! Kai Meyer isn't that well-known worldwide, but it's only matter of time until everyone knows the name and, when vampires, werewolves and angels stop ruling the world, it will be the turn of the Arcadians.
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