J'nell Ciesielski: To Free The Stars

By Kelly Bridgewater

This white-knuckled conclusion to The Brilliance of Stars takes readers on a breathless adventure from the speakeasies of America to the Horse Guards Parade in London, an ancient cemetery outside Paris, and back to the Eastern European strongholds where the Vales’ tragedy first began.

“Fate is fickle and the stars are silent, but I do know this: No matter how difficult the circumstances or how savagely the world tries to tear us apart, I am here with you.”

Ten years have passed since Jack and Ivy, elite operatives for the secret agency Talon, rescued their friend Philip and completed their fateful mission. The 1920s are in full swing as American speakeasies thrive amid Prohibition, and despite the team’s best efforts, the deadly cult, the Order of the Rising Moon, lives on in the shadows. Which is no surprise to Ivy; nothing has gone as she expected since that day after Poenari Castle.

When a wave of assassinations strikes world leaders, intel confirms the Order’s involvement. Ivy holds them responsible for the tragedy that changed her life, and she is determined to find and destroy the villains once and for all—but she must do so before their relentless assassin eliminates his next target. Her.

Except, there’s something oddly familiar about the way he moves, the way he anticipates each of her moves. It’s as if he knows her. But that’s not possible. Is it? Ivy will have to rely on every skill she’s learned if she hopes to survive—and save those she loves. No matter the cost.

Bestselling author J’nell Ciesielski wraps up the Jack and Ivy novels with yet another thrilling adventure filled with glamorous espionage and a boundless romance.

 

My Thoughts:

To Free the Stars by J’nell Ciesielski happens ten years after The Brilliance of Stars. I highly recommend readers read the first book before they dive into this one. Yes, the novel could stand alone; however, there are many plot points that reference moments in the first novel. Again, plenty of moments of action. Chasing through the globe in different locations as the Talon try to destroy the enemy. Ivy and Jack must overcome some obstacles together to solve and stop the assassination attempts. While the plot could be interesting because of the spy element and chasing around the world, it was a little dry for a good chunk of the novel. The romance is building a little more in depth this time around. If readers were thrown for how much romance was in the first book, then one is kicked back a notch, but it is there. Ciesielski does a wonderful job at inviting readers into her settings. She uses just enough description to keep the readers actively involved in the story and the setting. The writing is wonderful. Nicely shown and dived deeply into the character’s train of thoughts. Overall, To Free the Stars by J’nell Ciesielski does tie up the story from The Brilliance of Stars; however, there were moments that the story was pretty dry for me. I wanted more action.

I received a complimentary copy of To Free the Stars by J’nell Ciesielski from Thomas Nelson Publishing, but the opinions stated are all my own.

My Rating:  3.5 out of 5 stars

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