Y’all, I love a good long series, but there’s just something about a trilogy that’s just “it” for me. Maybe it’s the pacing or the fact that it feels achievable, I don’t know. I just know that 2026 will be the year of completed trilogies for me, and book 2 of The Sacred Stones series, A Promise of Peridot, is getting me one step closer.
That being said, even in trilogies, the middle book can be a wildcard in terms of quality, especially if the first book was a 4 or 5 star “Roman Empire” type of read. So, did A Promise of Peridot pass its middle book syndrome test? Keep reading to find out!
**Please note that there are some spoilers ahead**
Plot Summary
Picking up immediately from the end of the first book, Arwen and Co. are making a run for it to the kingdom of Citrine after an abysmal time in Peridot. Arwen’s mom is dead, she’s just found out she’s a full blooded fae tied to a deadly prophecy, and obviously she’s pissed with Kane about virtually all of it, because he was being a lying little sh*t, even if for altruistic reasons.
Although their arrival in Citrine is not welcome, Arwen and Kane do manage to befriend Fedrik, the Citrine prince, and convince him to join their rag tag crew along with Mari and Griffin to go find a fancy death sword in some whack *ss possessed cave back in Peridot. Totally normal and nothing to fear – not. After a very close and near-deadly call sans death sword, the squad decides to fly back to Onyx, where a last ditch effort to find the sword, and a shocking betrayal from a close ally, leads to a heart wrenching cliffhanger, sure to throw a major wrench in Arwen and Kane’s plans to finally rid Evendell of Lazarus once and for all.
Quality of Writing
Rating: 5/5
The writing quality and editing of this book was absolutely perfect. While book one set the scene and provided much needed world building, A Promise of Peridot packed on the emotional intensity. Truly, A Dawn of Onyx walked so A Promise of Peridot could sprint.
Plot Development
Rating: 5/5
I am thrilled to report that A Promise of Peridot did NOT fall victim to middle book syndrome. This book gave me the same feeling that I had when reading A Court of Mist and Fury, both with the emotional character development and plot devices.
Much like book one, this book was well paced and stayed consistent without devolving into plot holes or instantaneous resolutions. The additional world building and exploration happened alongside the plot seamlessly and added value to the story.
Characters
Rating: 5/5
While I wouldn’t necessarily consider the relationship between Arwen and Kane a true slow burn, I greatly appreciate that it isn’t flawless insta-love. Given Arwen’s anger toward Kane, this led to a lot of turmoil and necessary healing that did a wonderful job of adding additional character development, both together and as individual characters.
Obviously losing a parent, especially at a young age, is a highly emotional time and Arwen was naturally quite depressed and in a state of grief. Since my husband is going through the same with his father’s death, reading this development at this moment in my own life hit home for me and felt like a genuine representation of what it means to continue facing life through that profound loss. I also loved that through that grief, Arwen was able to find a path to forgiveness, both for Kane and herself, showing that even the darkest moments of your life will give way to some light.
A Promise of Peridot continues to build on some of my most favorite side characters ever, Mari and Griffin. I am obsessed with their opposites attract, will they/wont they dynamic and am chomping at the bit for more. Dagan definitely has less page time in this book, but what little time he does have produced some of the most emotional moments I’ve ever had with a book. Dagan is an absolute sweetheart of a father figure and I will be a mess if anything happens to him in book 3.
I also want to shout out the big bad guy, Lazarus, for legitimately upsetting me and grossing me out. Oftentimes, I don’t find the bad guys in Romantasy to be particularly compelling, but Lazarus is a nasty POS and makes my blood boil, which to me is a sign of good character writing.
Ease of Reading
Rating: 5/5
Much like A Dawn of Onyx, I had to make a point of pacing myself with this book. The addiction that I felt with A Promise of Peridot was even more intense this time around, given the improved writing quality and depth of the plot. I find that this book strikes the perfect balance of a true plot while also being a vibes read.
Ending
Rating: 5/5
Although I did have an inkling of what the ending for A Promise of Peridot would be, I was blown away when I got there. I did expect some sort of death at the hands of Lazarus, but I did NOT expect Arwen’s outcome or Lazarus’s absolutely vile plans for her. All I can say is barf!
Would I Recommend This Book
Absolutely yes. A Promise of Peridot is a prime example of the second book being even better than the first, and I loved A Dawn of Onyx immensely. Even after moving on to different books, I still think about this book all the time.
Overall Rating
A Promise of Peridot is officially my first 5-star read of the year, and it’s easy to see why. This book struck a perfect balance of quality writing and compelling plot, with continuous character development, fantastic vibes, and a cliffhanger that’ll make you squirm.
Book Rating: 5/5 (TW: Blood, Gore, SA (Mentioned), Child Abuse/Endangerment)
Spice Rating: 3/5
Curious about how I rate my reads? Check out my Rating System Blog Post for more!
Let’s Talk
In A Dawn of Onyx, Arwen spends most of her time being a victim of circumstance. In A Promise of Peridot, we see Arwen develop into a powerful being with a deadly mission. Do you enjoy her character evolution into a stronger and more vengeful protagonist, or do you miss her softer side?
Reading Stack
Previous Book: Blood of The Gods
Current Book: The Bond That Burns
Future Book: The Last One
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