Genres: NA Fantasy, New Adult, Romantic Fantasy | Release Date: 27 February 2025 | Series: The Sundering of Rhend | Series Book: #2 | Pages: 404 | Indie Author | Review
“There’s anger on both sides. That’s the price of war.”
Ciara Hartford
Overview:
A very big thank you goes to Ciara Hartford, for letting me read an e-ARC of The House of Amfithere! Book two in The Sundering of Rhend series, this NA fantasy picks up where we left off in The House of Starling. It is such an enthralling read, so let’s dive straight into the overview, shall we?
Gastel has sacrificed so much in his attempt to restore the magical balance within Rhend. Now as his own magic becomes chaotic and his anger threatens to overwhelm him, Gastel wonders if he can survive what’s to come. His task isn’t over, and if Gastel doesn’t restore the balance? Rhend will be irrevocably shattered as the Sundering takes hold. But the magic isn’t all that’s in peril… Belkin has been given a fractured kingdom, and if he can’t stop their brother Roulin? War will erupt, and no one will live to see the restoration of Rhend. What will Gastel have to sacrifice next, in his quest to save everyone? Can Belkin fight his own brother and win? Is a desperate, impossible hope all that stands in the way of the Sundering?
Happiness Boost:
The House of Amfithere is a romantasy which delves into the consequences of sacrifice, as well as what it means to be broken. I love how Ciara explores these themes, even as we also experience an unbreakable bond of loyalty and love. Gastel is a tortured hero, a battered but noble spirit. And I adore that with him, we don’t get perfection. We get a male who has been through the worst of times, but still refuses to stop doing what is right. How could that not be a happiness boost?!
Can we take a moment to talk about Belkin? I forgot just how much I liked his character in the first book, but it’s in this second one that he really comes into his own. Belkin has never been a cookie-cutter warrior, but it’s within The House of Amfithere we truly see the shadows in his heart and mind, the desire to do the right thing and the fear that he’ll get it wrong. This is a male who has an entire kingdom’s fortunes thrust upon him, when all he’s ever known is how to lead armies in war. This romantasy isn’t about an easy quest, or even about a clear villain when it comes to Rhend. Instead, it focuses on how a heart can either break or mend a soul. I’m so in love with it!
I don’t want to give away anything, so I seriously need to hold back a lot of my happiness boosts. But in this tale we get unlikely allies, forced proximity and an ancient magic which can change the course of the future. There’s also political machinations, heart-breaking confessions and wonderful found family. If that doesn’t persuade you that you need this book in your life, I’m doing it wrong!
Downside:
I honestly have no downside!
Final Thoughts:
The House of Amfithere by Ciara Hartford is a romantic fantasy full of difficult choices, chaotic souls and an impossible hope. I’m definitely a fan, and I badly need more people to read this series so I can finally fangirl with someone! Love what you’ve heard from my review? Just click on any of the links below to order yourself a copy! Happy reading, glitterbugs!
You can order The House of Amfithere via these links:
