One Blood Ruby

By: Melissa Marr

Narrated by: Therese Plummer

Length: 8 hrs and 37 mins

Publisher's summary

In this gripping follow-up to Melissa Marr's lush Seven Black Diamonds, Lily and her friends are forced to reckon with the truth of their own lineage and to protect one of their own, no matter what - or who - comes between them.

Now that Lilywhite Abernathy is the heir to the Hidden Lands, everything is about to change.

The Queen of Blood and Rage wants Lily to help broker peace with the human world, but Lily knows that harmony won't come easily. After decades of waging war on the humans, who cost the queen her firstborn daughter, the fae are struggling to accept Lily, a half-human monarch. And the humans, while no match against faery affinities, will hardly agree to the queen's détente without resistance.

Lily wants to be a fair ruler but fears having to abandon the life she's known. Now that she and Creed are more than just fellow Black Diamonds - operatives for the queen - her priorities have shifted. But her worries about assuming the throne are derailed when it becomes clear that someone - or some fae - is masterminding violent attacks to discourage peace. Who can end the war between humans and fae?

©2017 Melissa Marr (P)2017 HarperCollins Publishers

Surprises and Heartbreak

After finishing the first book, I was put-off because I felt like I didn't know who the characters were. There was definitely more development in this book, but I'm really upset that the characters still feel a bit distant. I wish there had been more emphasis on understanding the characters, if there was a way that could work with the rapid plot developments and changes.

I feel like there is still a lot of unresolved arcs that came fairly close to completion but are still loose.

I like seeing the princess slowly losing herself. The eventual explanation for it was what I had guess but very well done. I wish it had been explored more because the control of Nature over her is incredibly intriguing and I'm dying to know more!

Nick's fae ancestry was deliciously surprising and did make sense. I liked seeing Lily interact with the criminal underground after 1 being socialized with normal people and 2 after learning her royal lineage. Seeing the world that was previously the only home she had known with fresh eyes was very interesting.

I liked seeing Eric again and his interaction and integration into the Black Diamonds. I wish there was a bit more resolution with the tension and "fatedness" between him and Violet though.

I was really heartbroken when Alchemy died, although when she had said that the day was literally perfect in every way I knew she would, which was a bit cliche.

Absolutely stunning imagery and faeries extremely creative likable world and characters

Read this book if you like books with the Fae and magical powers but not the predictable cheesy ones. I've been hopelessly struggling to find a new favorite book and this is IT. Makes me constantly read until over. Best fiction I've read in agessss.

AWESOME SERIES

I thought that was a great ending. I was so happy with the entire story and the characters. This was my first experience with this author but I so hope to see more ESPECIALLY from this series!!!! :)

Life

This story didn't go as I thought it would, and it was far shorter than I wanted it to be. I really enjoyed the characters and Therese Plummer did such an amazing job :) Love the book MM.