Book Review: HIDDEN HOPE by Amy Patrick

Book: Hidden Hope

Author:  Amy Patrick

Publisher:  Oxford South Press

Genre:  Science Fiction & Fantasy; YA Fiction

Release Date:  September 28, 2015

Blurb via Goodreads:

Ryann is torn between two kings… two brothers.

Lad, the king of the Light Court, is her first love. Nox, the new king of the Dark Court, came through when she needed him most and won her heart. 

But Lad has revealed a secret to Ryann that devastates her and tears at her loyalties. And though Nox and Lad are fierce rivals for the girl they both claim to love, an even bigger problem threatens them all.

The unsuspecting human population of the world hangs in the balance of an approaching war between Dark and Light. Powerful fan pods have transformed the face of the country. It’s abnormal NOT to be in one now. 

The Dark Council’s plan is almost accomplished, and they are nearly ready to reveal themselves and take back rulership of the world, as it was in the old days, before the history books were written.

Ryann can’t believe the Nox she knows and loves would allow that to happen, though he is now deeply entrenched in the Dark Court and seems to be changing by the day. Is his love for Ryann strong enough to give him the strength to stand against his people and their plot?

Or should she side with Lad and the Light Court, who appear to have the welfare of humans in mind? He is fighting the looming danger hard as he can, fully involved now in the world of Fae politics he tried so hard to avoid. 

And what can Ryann-- only partial Fae-- personally do?

She will have to learn to balance her own Dark and Light sides-- and somehow make a the right choice between two tempting Elven guys-- or face the consequences of a wrong decision eternally and watch her family and the entire human world fall under the oppression of the Dark Court.

My Review:

Strange flutterings in my stomach came and went as I was reading this last book in the Hidden series, particularly when the scenes had anything to do with Nox, the new King of the Dark Court.  As I explicitly shared in my review of the 2^nd book, Hidden Heart (click here for the review), I love Nox and am all for him getting the girl and his happily ever after.  Now the question in reading Hidden Hope is if it is the girl I’m rooting for that he gets the happily ever after with.  THAT one, I can not answer obviously as I do not want to spoil anything for you.

The story picks up about a month after it ended in Hidden Heart.  Nox is now within the Dark Court, navigating the dangers of it with Vancia, the former King’s adopted daughter and the current fiancée of Lad who now heads the Light Court.  Vancia is extremely beautiful and is openly devoted to Nox, who happens to be the boyfriend of Ryann, our main protagonist.

Ryann loves Nox and is trying her best to follow Nox’s instructions for her own safety which is to stay away from the former king of the Dark Court, who happens to also be her long lost biological father, Davis.  But trying and doing are two different things especially when Davis threatens the life of Ryann’s mother.  Davis is one of the most powerful Elf in the world, he has The Sway, which means he can make people do whatever he wants them to do.  The ability to influence at it's best and worst. What he doesn’t know and what Ryann is trying to hide, is that she inherited that power from him.  She also inherited the power of empathy from her mother’s side of the family.  She has two great powers which she believes are not useful enough…..or that she is not strong enough to use at least.

Nox wants Ryann but is unable to be with her since he is trying to keep their togetherness a secret from his world lest she be put in more danger than she already is.  Lad on the other hand, sees her as much as he can, despite being affianced to Vancia, the childhood friend of Nox.  This is no love triangle.  It’s a quadrangle filled with thrilling moments and sweet words that romantics would gobble up.  I sure did.

Much as I was sure in Hidden Heart that I wanted Nox to end up with Ryann, mid book I didn’t know where I wanted to go.  Lad is a dream, Nox equally so.  Vancia was an extra I thought I could do without….but no…. she is one of the most important “twists” in the series that I’m sure readers would also come to love. 

The Lad who was first introduced in Hidden Deep (click here for the review), the honest yet innocent Lad is back with a vengeance and all ready to finally fight for what or who he REALLY wants.  Nox is too... but at what point can one measure someone’s love in their world?  How can one understand where true love ends and elven glamour begins? Just who belongs to whom? Oh so very hard to answer indeed.

Overall, I love how the author navigated the plot points in the series.  Everything was put in their proper places and no question was left unanswered by the end of the book.  I was satisfied with the pairings as well.  However, should author Amy Patrick decide to write an alternate ending for those rooting for the OTHER team, I’m sure I would enjoy that as well (hint*hint**). 

Have I given you guys enough hints? No? well….take my word for it.  Read this series.  I happily recommend it.