★★★★☆
The Guidal: Unearthing Secrets is the second book in Roxy Eloise’s dystopian series, which she began publishing after landing a contract in a Twitter pitch event.
In The Guidal, we return to Boulderfell Institute, where Aurora makes a shocking discovery. I enjoyed watching Tayo and Aurora grow closer and seeing their personalities develop.
I also appreciated the world-building in this book. I respect it when an author can completely immerse you in a world wholly of their own creation. With Mando-sleep, a Khakidemy, a complex societal structure, and intricate magic, Eloise has created a unique backdrop for her stories.
Many familiar characters are present in Book 2, including Tayo, Pax, and Nanny Kimly, although Nanny Kimly only makes occasional appearances.
As the title suggests, secrets — many, many secrets — are the main feature of the plot in Book 2. A love triangle also creates a lot of tension and drama. There’s more heat in this book than I remember in the first book, although the love scenes are still pretty tame and tastefully done.
The book ends on a cliffhanger, leaving you wanting to know Aurora’s fate and setting the stage perfectly for a third book.
Thank you to Roxy Eloise for providing a free e-review copy. The opinions expressed in this review are my own.
Eloise’s books, and other book-related merchandise, are available on her author site, https://www.roxyeloise.com/