A review by booksblabbering
All The Hidden Paths by Foz Meadows

3.5

We love communication. We do not like self-flagellant characters. 

Cae is still grieving and feeling guilty over his sister’s treachery and his father’s death. 

Vel is anxious about the future of their marriage. What if Cae gets bored of him? What if he becomes too much or too boring? 

We get a new perspective in Asrien who is blackmailed into following Cae and Vel to Tithena to seduce them away from each other to end their marriage and the diplomatic union. 

I liked how we got to see Cae develop into his desires. He knew how to want in secret, but wanting openly was something else altogether and now suddenly he is allowed. Having to navigate this is almost as difficult as the constant assassination attempts. 

<b>“I love him,” I choked out, cheeks burning with the admission. “I don’t know when it started, but I—I love him, Markel.” I laughed. “It’s terrifying.” Markel raised an eyebrow. “More terrifying than half a dozen people trying to kill you?”

</b>

This was not quite as strong as book one for me.

This was a lot spicer which isn’t my thing and the addition of Asrien felt unnecessary and weird. 

This had so much potential for more political machinations and yet this felt hard to follow and rushed when Meadows suddenly wanted the plot to progress to add drama or better pacing to/for the relationship. 

There is a shout out to Stray Kids in the acknowledgements and I had to mention that because I snagged tickets to see them and I cannot wait.