Stardust in Their Veins: Castles in Their Bones #2

by Laura Sebastian

Book Overview

Immerse yourself in the second book in a fantasy trilogy from the New York Times bestselling author of the Ash Pricess series. The sequel to Castles in Their Bones is the story of three princesses and the destiny they were born for: seduction, conquest, and the crown.

Princesses Daphne, Beatriz, and Sophronia have trained their entire lives for one purpose: to bring down nations. Their mother, Empress Margaraux of Bessemia, is determined to rule the continent of Vesteria, and her daughters are her weapons. Promised for marriage since birth, they are her ticket across enemy lines. And also her decoys.

Still, not even Empress Margaraux can control the stars. Sent to their new kingdoms, orders in hand, the princesses have found their own paths, changing the course of their mother's plans entirely--and tragically. Sophronia chose love, and for that, she lost her life.

Daphne and Beatriz can hardly believe their sister is dead, but both are determined to avenge her. And now, separated by a continent--and their mother's lies--they see more clearly with every passing day that they might not be working toward the same end.

The stars whisper of death, but Daphne and Beatriz are just beginning to understand the true power coursing through their veins. And their mother will do anything to keep them under her thumb--even if it means killing them all.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0593118200
• ISBN13: 9780593118207
• Release Date: February 2023
• Publisher: Delacorte Press
• Length: 576 Pages
• Weight: 1.60 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.7" x 5.9" x 8.5"
• Age Range: 14 to 17 years
• Grade Range: Grades 9 to 12

Customer Reviews

Dark but good

After the ending of the first book and its heartbreaking death of Sophie and the realization that they are all expendable by their mother in order for to gain control of all the kingdoms to become empress, I was eager to see what Beatriz and Daphne would do to survive and hopefully put an end to this madness. While not as strong as the first book, I did enjoy this one, and I liked the new viewpoint of Violie and getting to know her better and how Sophie's death affected her. And it is not surprising that Beatriz went darker in her anger (I mean, her sister was killed and their mother betrayed them!) and how Daphne had such a hard time accepting the truth, even as more of what their mother had done comes to light. Yes, it is a dark story and though this book was more set up for the last one. I think it was well written and I need to read that third book now to see if we can have a happy ending after all that darkness and death and betrayal.