This picks up right where the first book left , and when I tell you my jaw was on the floor for the first couple chapters. THAT is quite a finale! It made me wonder

what the rest of the story would entail now that they’ve achieved what they needed to do

Unfortunately after this storyline died down, the rest of the story didn’t really feel important. Peter and Cole and the whole Blackbourne-Volkov gang were enjoyable to read but I had so many questions, that were sidelined by a not half as thrilling second plot.


Also I think I figured out my confusion with the chronology of the books. I think the true order is:

Family Ties > Rise of the Phoenix Ch 1-9 > FourPlay > Hackers with(out) Remorse > Rise of the Phoenix Ch 10-16

That has to be the only logical explanation for why Book 1 of NOLA leaves me in shambles and then segways into the kumbaya crossover event in Fourplay. Chapter 9 in Rise of the Phoenix seems to be the chapter where the crossover in 4Play happens, which means the previous chapters occurred beforehand, and the latter chapters subsequently afterward.

Regardless, I enjoyed this sequel. It feels bittersweet that this is the end of Kiara’s story. The third book in this saga is apparently a POV switch and not a sequel and I am curious what this book spells for Kiara’s future fate,

the book wraps everything up in a nice bow but there are several questions that remain  —-what is the extent of Kiaras Phoenix witch powers? What even is a Phoenix witch / it’s origins? Who is Jackson?Will Kifo’s prediction ring true? And also what exactly is this mort de l’âme disease that Kiara and Gabrielle are researching?? In Family Ties Marshala tells Kiara that the disease is not real, that it was used to cover up the murders that William committed, and Evangeline’s condition was revealed to be related to the after effects of Melissa’s curse—so why are we seeing this disease spawn in the real mortal world?—

. IMHO, the #NOLA series should’ve been a 4 book series, (there’s no reason this series is shorter  than Sons of the Elite). But I’m sure we’ll get more answers in the Death Do Us Part Series !