Sapphique by Catherine Fisher

Sapphique!!! Oh yes, the follow-up to Incarceron. WARNING: If you have not read Incarceron please do not read the following review as it does contain mild spoilers... just know that it rocked just as much as the first and you should quickly run to your nearest bookseller and get both books stat.

In this sequel to Incarceron, Finn has left the only world that he's ever known he can remember and is now in a new one... the outside. But it definitely is not the paradise that he envisioned. As future king of the Realm, he is under heavy scrutiny as to his whereabouts for the years he was missing. He still does not remember that he was Prince Giles, his seizures and blackouts continue, and to make matters worse, an impostor acting as the "real" Prince Giles has come to challenge Finn's claims.

Claudia believes Finn is the missing prince but there is so much court intrigue, deception and even death threats that she has to constantly be on guard, all while Jared spends his time trying to re-open the portal to Incarceron and, of course, keep himself alive long enough to get it done - since his health is rapidly declining.

Meanwhile, Keiro and Attia are still in Incarceron. It's been months since Finn escaped and they no longer trust nor believe that he will be back for them. They have decided that if they want out, they must do it on their own. Thus, they are on a mission to find Sapphique's Glove - rumored to be an emergency exit out of the prison. But as always, the prison has its own agenda and it wants the glove for itself and will stop at nothing to get it.

What an amazing adventure Sapphique was. I honestly felt much more comfortable reading this second installment. Ms. Fisher's writing felt more fluid, it was more fast-paced, there weren't as many ups and downs as there were in Incarceron, it was more steady when it came to action, adventure and just keeping you at the edge of your seat - it was a definite thrill ride. Once again I really felt connected to these characters. I went through the same emotions they were going through - and let me tell you this was one angst-filled book. I felt my heart at my throat more than once. There were so many things going on that I just was never sure where it was going to go.

All in all, this was a very satisfying sequel. I think I might even like it more than Incarceron. It is full of adventure, danger, excitement, and a few surprises (which I didn't see coming). My only concern is whether or not this is the end of the story...? I mean, it does resolve satisfactorily, and most of my questions were answered, and this seems like the end (and very likely is the end) but I still felt like there should be more. I think (and hope) Ms. Fisher left an opening for a possible third book... that's my opinion. Then again I am biased since I am in love with the world created in these books. I'll just keep my fingers crossed in the hopes that she'll succumb and give me us more. Phenomenal.

This book was reviewed as part of a blog tour through Book it Forward ARC Tours and