Though it’s been two years since I picked up the first book in this series, I fell into The Heart Forger by Rin Chupeco with ease. The familiar world Chupeco masterfully crafted in the first of the series, The Bone Witch, continued to grow and flourish, while the characters she initially developed were memorable enough in the first in the series, that we pick up from where they left off seamlessly. Though this is the middle book in what is possibly a trilogy, there are definite beginnings and ends, rising action, climax, and resolution so that the reader feels satiated but still eager for more.
We continue unraveling Tea’s backstory as to how she became so feared and hated, how her romance began with Kalen and what became of Kance, while simultaneously living through her plan to use the resurrected daevas. It was so well crafted with the perfect balance of suspense and answers between the past with pieces clicking easily into place. I can’t say much more without giving away spoilers, but the writing continued to excel, the pacing was on point, and the world remains real and un-white, which is refreshingly welcome.
The Heart Forger by Rin Chupeco easily surpasses the first in the series. Having me shed tears on a number of occasions, it leaves you feeling connected to the characters and understanding the desperation in their choices and actions. If you’ve read The Bone Witch and were on the fence, please do yourself a favor and pick up The Heart Forger. You will not be disappointed!
