Book Review #48: A Pool of Peony by E.S. Barrison

Hello Dear Reader!

Welcome to an indie book review! This is another book by E.S. Barison, who wrote The Mist Keeper’s Apprentice, which I did a review on many months back. I am so happy I got the opportunity to read its sequel, A Pool of Peony. Like its prequel, this book continues with its heavily detailed and dark dystopian setting filled with magic and fantasy aspects. I thought the world was already dark, but it gets darker in this book. another book review. With that being said, a few triggers include: violence, death, blood, some profanity, sensitive topics such as various representations of mental health, and just… it’s dark. It’s dark, and a lot of it is heavily implied, and I really don’t know how else to describe it.

Before I get into the review, here is the synopsis (from Goodreads):

The mist has thickened with a vendetta. A bounty has been offered for answers.

And no one’s story is safe.

It’s been six months since the Storm of Nightmares and Bria has not gone home. With wanted signs plastered throughout Rosada, she has been stuck chasing the so-called Story Collector throughout the Independent City of Mert. Yet, when a break-in occurs in Todd Dray’s shop, it unleashes a chain of events that sends the city into disarray.

With his mind tormented by demons and flashes of his past catching up with him, Brent has been navigating Mert as a half version of himself. When a masked figure offers to help, he accepts, unknowingly stepping into a conflict that has riddled the world for centuries.

The City of Mert has become a target for both the Order of the Effluvium and the Council of Mist Keepers. With fear mounting, Bria, with the help of a mysterious, red-eyed woman, a palaver of immortals, and a silver pool, must decide what part she plays in this oncoming storm.

Can she find the Story Collector before it’s too late?

End synopsis! Now, let’s get into the review!

A Pool of Peony takes place several months after the end of The Mist Keeper’s Apprentice, and in addition to Rho and Brent, the author has included the story of the sweet and devout Jemma and her journey to save Newbird’s Arm and the Effluvium, this mystical force that stands at the center of what is essentially the main religion mentioned in this world. These three make up a diverse trio of dynamic main characters.

Bria is as kind as ever, and seeing her exploring her potential when it comes to her powers was amazing! Brent, though his personal story starts off pretty dark in this book, is as caring and goofy as he was in the prequel, only more mature because of recent events. His ability to tell stories is still very charming, and he and Bria are a force to be reckoned with, both as a cute couple and a duo on the battlefield. Watching their blossoming relationship and seeing them care for each other made me feel so warm. They’re legitimately one of my favorite book couples. Their level of support and commitment is what I like seeing in my fictional romances.

So many new characters are introduced in this book, and when paired with all the old characters from the prequel, they make for a rather large cast of characters, but the author did a fantastic job of making them distinct and dynamic in looks, personality, and the way they act and speak. Keeping track of everyone wasn’t much of a hassle at all, and I enjoyed getting to know all of them… most of them. There were definitely supporting characters I personally couldn’t help but get annoyed at because of their actions, but they’re still so realistic. I am convinced that I could meet people very similar to these characters in real life. That much thought went into the mentalities of these characters.

The world of A Pool of Peony is as well-developed and detailed as ever, easily one of the more well-thought-out worlds I’ve ever read. In this book, the characters travel to even more locations that exist in this world, outside of Mert and Newbird’s Arm, which was introduced in the prequel. The abuse of power is as present in this story as the previous book, if not more so, and it was even more disturbing than what I’d read in The Mist Keeper’s Apprentice.

I enjoyed A Pool of Peony more than The Mist Keeper’s Apprentice, which I know can be a worry when reading sequels. I didn’t get the dragging feeling I got while reading its prequel; however, there were scenes that didn’t hit me as hard as I personally would’ve liked, but that is a personal thing. The writing was absolutely beautiful, and I loved reading the continuation of the story.

So, A Pool of Peony rating:

4.75/5 and looking to read the sequel, because E.S. Barrison is really good at writing cliffhanger endings. I seriously recommend this book, especially if you like really dark dystopian settings with magic and fantasy elements integrated into the setting.

That is all for this book review, dear reader! I really do hope you give The Mist Keeper’s Apprentice and A Pool of Peony a try and check out indie author @esbarrison_writing on her Instagram.

Thanks for reading!