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Stardust & Shadows #2
The Kingdom of War and Vipers
The Conroicht have not fallen as the legends say and I have found myself in a union with their King. Though I am the Queen of Shadows and Wolves, King Aeron of Krigare still plagues my life. Is Uncle aware of the Conroicht surviving the great fall? If they live, does that mean that the Enkeli are not a myth as well?
King Caelum says the alliance between Cysgod and Krigare is a ruse, meant to stop Uncle's thirst for blood. Should Uncle discover that the once mythical Conroicht exist, he will push for war and bloodshed, using the wolven to do his bidding. If the Conroicht are honorable as the legends proclaim, why would the ally themselves with the darkness that surrounds Krigare and Uncle? Is it the only way to inflitrate the enemy and save all Fae?
My emotions tell me one thing while my mind desperately questions everything I have ever known. What role do I play in Uncle's dealings? Am I a viper in disguise, sent destroy the Conroicht from the inside?
King Caelum says the alliance between Cysgod and Krigare is a ruse, meant to stop Uncle's thirst for blood. Should Uncle discover that the once mythical Conroicht exist, he will push for war and bloodshed, using the wolven to do his bidding. If the Conroicht are honorable as the legends proclaim, why would the ally themselves with the darkness that surrounds Krigare and Uncle? Is it the only way to inflitrate the enemy and save all Fae?
My emotions tell me one thing while my mind desperately questions everything I have ever known. What role do I play in Uncle's dealings? Am I a viper in disguise, sent destroy the Conroicht from the inside?
ebook
First published September 24, 2024
About the author
Martha Sweeney
37 books600 followersAfter the age of thirty, Martha realized that her life as a terran was not what it was cracked up to be. Knowing that there was more to life, she embarked on a journey that has tested her resolve, heart, and soul many times over. It continues to do so at this very moment.
She’s astounded that anyone takes any author bio seriously. Why would anything that’s written here be believed when authors are known to invent stuff out of thin air? Martha likes to thank the ether and her higher self for the enlightenment and odd sense of wonderment about life, the universe, and what exactly she was thinking when she wrote that one obscure story that no one has yet to read, but her husband has heard about.
The oddity of society, particularly the book community, has flabbergasted her, making her curious about how an em-dash or ellipses can make people think that AI had any hand in aiding an author to write. She could be sharing complete truths, complete lies, or a mixture in this very bio as you continue to read this. Why are you still reading this, she asks in your ear as if she’s sitting right next to you, right now? Does anyone really care if she’s telling the truth, I mean, come on, she’s an author for God sake? Books are written to pull you from reality with fantasy, though there is much of reality in books to some extent. Where was she going with this thought? I don’t know, don’t remember, so let us continue. What were we discussing? Oh, right, Martha Sweeney’s author bio.
She would like to sum up with this single thought: believe what you want about anything, even her. Beliefs are just thoughts you keep thinking. Whether you think you’re wrong or right, you’re right either way, so why should she care what’s written in her bio? We both know you just want a story that makes you feel. That’s the purpose of books or any form of entertainment. It’s to feel something. She hopes your emotions are kicked in the ass one way or another. If you like a character, she’s content. If you hate a character, she’s content. All in all, she made you feel.
If you’re still reading this, Martha is quite impressed and is giving you an astral projected hug and hopes to meet you in person one day, or not. According to Martha, we’ve already met if you understand entanglement.
If you are literally thinking, or saying out loud WTF?, Martha wants you to know that very same thought has entered her mind at least twenty times while dictating to me what to write. Whom am I, you ask? That’s not important. My role is simply to write Martha’s author bio and let you know that she’s a multi-genre author, so there’s a chance you might be interested and like at least one of her currently published books. Enjoy, or not, that’s up to you.
B&N Bestseller: Snowed In With Him Amazon & Apple Bestseller: Breathe In (Just Breathe #1) Amazon Bestseller: Knight Takes Pawn (Red Knight #1)
website: www.marthasweeney.com
facebook: facebook.com/authormarthasweeney
TikTok: tiktok.com/@authormarthasweeney
instagram: instagram.com/marthasweeneyauthor
Pinterest: pinterest.com/MSweeneyAuthor
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/marthatswee...
She’s astounded that anyone takes any author bio seriously. Why would anything that’s written here be believed when authors are known to invent stuff out of thin air? Martha likes to thank the ether and her higher self for the enlightenment and odd sense of wonderment about life, the universe, and what exactly she was thinking when she wrote that one obscure story that no one has yet to read, but her husband has heard about.
The oddity of society, particularly the book community, has flabbergasted her, making her curious about how an em-dash or ellipses can make people think that AI had any hand in aiding an author to write. She could be sharing complete truths, complete lies, or a mixture in this very bio as you continue to read this. Why are you still reading this, she asks in your ear as if she’s sitting right next to you, right now? Does anyone really care if she’s telling the truth, I mean, come on, she’s an author for God sake? Books are written to pull you from reality with fantasy, though there is much of reality in books to some extent. Where was she going with this thought? I don’t know, don’t remember, so let us continue. What were we discussing? Oh, right, Martha Sweeney’s author bio.
She would like to sum up with this single thought: believe what you want about anything, even her. Beliefs are just thoughts you keep thinking. Whether you think you’re wrong or right, you’re right either way, so why should she care what’s written in her bio? We both know you just want a story that makes you feel. That’s the purpose of books or any form of entertainment. It’s to feel something. She hopes your emotions are kicked in the ass one way or another. If you like a character, she’s content. If you hate a character, she’s content. All in all, she made you feel.
If you’re still reading this, Martha is quite impressed and is giving you an astral projected hug and hopes to meet you in person one day, or not. According to Martha, we’ve already met if you understand entanglement.
If you are literally thinking, or saying out loud WTF?, Martha wants you to know that very same thought has entered her mind at least twenty times while dictating to me what to write. Whom am I, you ask? That’s not important. My role is simply to write Martha’s author bio and let you know that she’s a multi-genre author, so there’s a chance you might be interested and like at least one of her currently published books. Enjoy, or not, that’s up to you.
B&N Bestseller: Snowed In With Him Amazon & Apple Bestseller: Breathe In (Just Breathe #1) Amazon Bestseller: Knight Takes Pawn (Red Knight #1)
website: www.marthasweeney.com
facebook: facebook.com/authormarthasweeney
TikTok: tiktok.com/@authormarthasweeney
instagram: instagram.com/marthasweeneyauthor
Pinterest: pinterest.com/MSweeneyAuthor
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/marthatswee...
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
June 8, 2025
Rating: 4.5/5
I received an ARC for my honest opinion
This is book two of the Stardust and Shadows Trilogy, and it picks up where book 1 left off. You will be with Aurora going through her training, you will see that more of her hardened shell start to crack open and to see the strong female that was hiding all these years, but she has more of a chance now with Caelum then she ever did alone.
I really loved that this book had more action, tension and at the same time there are mysteries that need to be figured out and understanding about the world that people thought might not be that way. (I can’t really see more without giving things away). You will learn more about the politics of the other kingdoms, the creatures that live there, and the understanding about courting and mating that wolves do. The plot is a great mix of character driven and plot driven, and I love that we still get a great world building with all the lore that is mixed in. I loved that we got a lot of information in this book but not too much that you would be sick of it but show you more of their world and it made me want to have book 3 right away because I needed to know more. This book isn’t slow or fast but just the right pace for the reader to really invest into the information that is given in this book. I found the characters’ development to have been what really stood out to me.
I loved going on the journey with Aurora in this book. You will see how much and has changed from the first book, but you will see that she is still flawed because she is still worried about who to trust and if everyone is her enemy or to be trusted and if you read book one, you will totally understand that this is understandable and isn’t something that can be rushed. I loved that we got to see her coming out of her shell in this book and watching her learn so much was exciting. Caelum is a great character, he really does care for Aurora so much, he is a strong king who wants nothing more than for his queen to shine like she is supposed to. He is understanding with her but also hard on her as well… and I can’t say more lol. Just know that Caelum is a golden retriever cinnamon roll MMC, and I loved getting to know him more in this book.
I can’t wait to dive into book three.
I received an ARC for my honest opinion
This is book two of the Stardust and Shadows Trilogy, and it picks up where book 1 left off. You will be with Aurora going through her training, you will see that more of her hardened shell start to crack open and to see the strong female that was hiding all these years, but she has more of a chance now with Caelum then she ever did alone.
I really loved that this book had more action, tension and at the same time there are mysteries that need to be figured out and understanding about the world that people thought might not be that way. (I can’t really see more without giving things away). You will learn more about the politics of the other kingdoms, the creatures that live there, and the understanding about courting and mating that wolves do. The plot is a great mix of character driven and plot driven, and I love that we still get a great world building with all the lore that is mixed in. I loved that we got a lot of information in this book but not too much that you would be sick of it but show you more of their world and it made me want to have book 3 right away because I needed to know more. This book isn’t slow or fast but just the right pace for the reader to really invest into the information that is given in this book. I found the characters’ development to have been what really stood out to me.
I loved going on the journey with Aurora in this book. You will see how much and has changed from the first book, but you will see that she is still flawed because she is still worried about who to trust and if everyone is her enemy or to be trusted and if you read book one, you will totally understand that this is understandable and isn’t something that can be rushed. I loved that we got to see her coming out of her shell in this book and watching her learn so much was exciting. Caelum is a great character, he really does care for Aurora so much, he is a strong king who wants nothing more than for his queen to shine like she is supposed to. He is understanding with her but also hard on her as well… and I can’t say more lol. Just know that Caelum is a golden retriever cinnamon roll MMC, and I loved getting to know him more in this book.
I can’t wait to dive into book three.
September 8, 2024
Love and trust doesn’t come easy to one who has lived without.
This sequel of the first book of the Stardust and Shadows series continues after the events of the first book, with Aurora going through her training.
The world-building and lore stays true to the book’s predecessor with as much beautiful imagery and revealed information about the other kingdoms and their heads. So much has been introduced to us but not in a way that overwhelms, if anything, I’m more intrigued towards the world left to be discovered.
Plot-wise, we find that there’s more action and politics at play now than previously. Many plot points progressed smoothly and organically, with a faster pace compared to the first book, with a lot of tension and excitement just hooking you in.
The journey Aurora has gone through has been nothing less than satisfying to follow. You can see how much she’s changed from when she was first introduced. Of course, a lot of her own self-doubt and worries remain, but that’s perfectly normal and valid. But when you see her shell slowly crack open, it’s just amazing.
Caelum, my precious. He’s so wonderfully smitten and adores her. He is so much a golden retriever cinnamon roll, while also being a strong king who wants nothing else but the good for their people. So much was revealed about him and I love it.
Their romance has definitely taken a step up. There’s more actual conversations and decisions they make together, more sweet and intimate moments, and spice. Considerably less misunderstandings have happened out of her triggers, showing how much she’s grown to trust him, meaning them growing as a couple.
This sequel of the first book of the Stardust and Shadows series continues after the events of the first book, with Aurora going through her training.
The world-building and lore stays true to the book’s predecessor with as much beautiful imagery and revealed information about the other kingdoms and their heads. So much has been introduced to us but not in a way that overwhelms, if anything, I’m more intrigued towards the world left to be discovered.
Plot-wise, we find that there’s more action and politics at play now than previously. Many plot points progressed smoothly and organically, with a faster pace compared to the first book, with a lot of tension and excitement just hooking you in.
The journey Aurora has gone through has been nothing less than satisfying to follow. You can see how much she’s changed from when she was first introduced. Of course, a lot of her own self-doubt and worries remain, but that’s perfectly normal and valid. But when you see her shell slowly crack open, it’s just amazing.
Caelum, my precious. He’s so wonderfully smitten and adores her. He is so much a golden retriever cinnamon roll, while also being a strong king who wants nothing else but the good for their people. So much was revealed about him and I love it.
Their romance has definitely taken a step up. There’s more actual conversations and decisions they make together, more sweet and intimate moments, and spice. Considerably less misunderstandings have happened out of her triggers, showing how much she’s grown to trust him, meaning them growing as a couple.
December 18, 2024
The Kingdom of War and Vipers by Martha Sweeney
adventurous emotional hopeful medium-paced
Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
I could not wait to get my grubby little paws on this! And it did not disappoint! It's still burning slow - but #fatedmates are now a real thing! Wolves, secret powers, fae, mysteries, and intrigue... this series has it all! The world building is phenominal, and the characters make you choose to love them or hate them right from the start! This story tells us more about the world outside their kingdom, the creatures in it, the politics of neighbouring kingdoms, and the courting and mating habits of the wolves.
I genuinely can't recommend this series enough! Book 3 comes out tomorrow right ?
adventurous emotional hopeful medium-paced
Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
I could not wait to get my grubby little paws on this! And it did not disappoint! It's still burning slow - but #fatedmates are now a real thing! Wolves, secret powers, fae, mysteries, and intrigue... this series has it all! The world building is phenominal, and the characters make you choose to love them or hate them right from the start! This story tells us more about the world outside their kingdom, the creatures in it, the politics of neighbouring kingdoms, and the courting and mating habits of the wolves.
I genuinely can't recommend this series enough! Book 3 comes out tomorrow right ?
October 7, 2024
I was on the fence after reading book one (Kingdom of Shadows and Wolves) but now have come down firmly on the side of wanting to see how Aurora and Caelum's journey plays out. Aurora's ability to change and to grow is shown clearly by how she begins to respond to challenges and how she feels about the changes her life is undergoing. Her relationship with Caelum is only in the early stages. Trust is hard to extend when all you know is lies. I am looking forward to seeing how book 3 will resolve the questions that have only been hinted at so far.
September 27, 2024
I knew in my gut that this series was going to get better and better and I was completely right. I love the world building in the series. The characters are very well done.This book was fantastic! It sucked me in and I can not wait for the third one. We'll done Martha! 👏
March 26, 2025
LOVED the expansion and continuation of Aurora and Caelum. I want a Caelum. You want a Caelum. That ending....gah! I need book 3 NOW!
February 11, 2025
I enjoyed write the next part of Aurora and Caelum. You might like reading it.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews