Arms of Anu (Arrow of the Mist Book 2)

I loved Arrow in the Mist so much I rushed to buy this sequel as soon as it became available and took it to Alabama with me over Spring Break. I read it on the way down in one sitting. Loved it!Immediately after conquering the plague at the borders of Brume (book one), Lia and her cousin Wynn are taken to Anu to face charges for the illegal use of magic and herblore. There, some surprises await them, including further clarification of the royal line, a meeting with a young royal woman not of the same mold as the wicked king, and a surprise alliance with a group also seeking to replace the king. But Lia’s greatest challenge comes when she faces the wraith Draugyrd, who has bound her soul with a powerful blood potion and is slowly overtaking her powers.It’s not often a sequel proves as good as book one, but all the things I loved about book one are present in book two: powerful characters, a gorgeous (fantastic) Celtic setting, the mystery of magic and herblore that makes Lia so intriguing, and high stakes. The romance between Lia and Kelven hinted at in book one also matures into a beautiful, sweet relationship. But best of all is the absolutely beautiful language style that makes Mercer’s work so much fun to read. It’s poetry. To read prose of such skill is pure pleasure.Arrow in the Mist was easily one of the best books I read last year. Arms of Anu takes top honors so far this year. There was no strong promise of another book in the series to come, but I’m hoping. Meanwhile, I’m going to move on to check out some of the author’s other works.

Arms of Anu was every bit as exciting, captivating and attention holding as it's predicessor. Written in such a way that the reader feels as if they are actually IN the book. Christina Mercer has truly found her writing tallent. I just pray she writes another sequel.

This is a sequel as good as the first! Thoroughly enjoyed reading this series. Very enjoyable and such a ride it takes on....

This thoughtful series has beauty in the turning of the phrases. Totally engrossing and thought provoking. Give them a chance and you won't regret it.

After reading Arrows of the Mist, I was waiting impatiently for this book - I love Lia. Christine writes so that you don't want to put the book down and weaves the story beautifully....More?

After all of the White Haired Wonders time in Brume she was finally home, well... Until the Royal guards collected Wynn, he cousin, and her, taking them to the dungeons for spreading their magical tales across the land. Now Kelven and Holly must take many risky paths to sneak into the city and save the two heroes. With the demon residing in Lia, all she can do is fight with Kelven, her lover, by her side. Danger doesn't just spawn from the demon though. Their is a war raging between the Hawks, an army of rebels working to kill all the Royals, and the Royals. Will Lia survive her fight to keep her magic and body? Who will win this war?This book was AMAZING!! I loved the incorporation of the demon's hold on Lia and her thoughts on this demons pull. There was so much conflict, which made it all the more entertaining. The battle scenes were epic and unexpected. I felt part of the book and actually kinda wish I was. This book is a great book for all. Congratulations, Christina Mercer!

Christina Mercer's mythical realm in "Arms of Anu" is richly evocative of the natural world and echoes with lore and legend that might have been. Heroine Lia forges her own true path, igniting passion, loyalty and herb-magic where she wanders. A fresh, invigorating fantasy that spellbinds to the last enchanting page.Mercer's similes and metaphors are rooted in folklore and nature, so well established is the world she created. I love it. The switch between Kelven's and Lia's POV kept the story fresh and left me on cliffhangers at every turn. A refreshing take on the Celtic fantasy, with a satisfying ending leaving me the desire to read more about these daring characters.And Mercer's writing is clean, well crafted and thoughtful. Everything from battle scenes to love scenes feels purposeful, organic, as if pulled from the lost scrolls from some distant land. Real enough to feel bigger than most YA books. Together, both of Mercer's YA fantasies about Lia (Arrow of the Mist and Arms of Anu) make an exciting saga of Celtic fantasy adventure.

Where the fairytales of my childhood left off, Mercer picks up with this much anticipated sequel to Arrow of the Mist. It's glorious to see Lia come into her strength, wisdom and skills and her burgeoning love with young Kelven. Full of fierce battles and mystical Celtic lore, it's a beautiful, rich and wildly entertaining read!

Note: this is the sequel to „Arrow of the Mist“ and best understood, if read in the intended order.ReviewIt’s been a rather long while that I‘ve read „Arrow of the Mist“, but I remembered that I liked it, that Lia was a wonderful main character to follow through the enchanted woods and mists and see her fight demons and shades. Thankfully, it didn’t take me long to get back into the story, which is a good thing, because the plot starts right where the prequel left off: Lia and her cousin Wynn are prisoners of the royal mages and on their way to Anu. There they meet unlikely allies amid the hostile court, plans and plots are made and battles of various kinds are fought. Aside from the rather earthly battles, Lia still has her final confrontation against the demon that bound her to seek and survive. One POV is Lia’s, the other is Kelven’s who went after Lia and Wynn to get them out of their predicament at the palace (again: things turn out differently than anticipated). They’re both likable characters, so both were entertaining to read.The plot wraps up the story of Lia and her quest with a bang and and unexpected twist. The writing feels very much like a classic Celtic tale and it totally fits the story. Overall a good book and something different in the mass of YA fae stories.