Book Review: The Romeo Catchers (The Casquette Girls #2)

About the Book:
Title: The Romeo Catchers (The Casquette Girls #2)
Author: Alys Arden
Pub. Date: May 23, 2017
Publisher: Skyscape
Pages: 604
Rating: 4.5/5 stars

Synopsis:

Is blood thicker than magic in La Nouvelle-Orléans?

Adele scours Storm-ravaged New Orleans for the truth about her family’s magical past, tormented by the fate she condemned her mother to, and by the lies she’s forced to tell to cover it up. But every turn leads her back to the one person she’s determined to forget: Niccolò Medici. Not even the multitude of enchanted locks on the attic door trapping Nicco within can break their connection.

Isaac tries relentlessly to keep Adele from exploring paths too dark that would endanger them all. But a new threat is rising: the Medici’s presence has attracted something else to New Orleans…an older enemy, one that will bring Isaac’s haunted past to life, test the witches’ friendships, and jeopardize Adele and Isaac’s blossoming relationship.

In this spellbinding continuation of The Casquette Girls saga, Adele must draw on the past—from seventeenth-century Florence, a time bubbling with alchemy and fraternal betrayal—and sort history from fantasy if she is to have any chance of saving her mother, her coven, and her magic.

Review:

Okay, so it hasn't been that long, but it's been 4 years, and I've been wanting this novel in my hands ever since 2013 (the book was later re-released in 2015 so it might not be as long of a wait for other readers). And I'm exciting to say this sequel to The Casquette Girls was well worth the wait! This was everything you could want in a sequel and more!! Alys Arden impressed me a great deal yet again in The Romeo Catchers and I honestly never wanted this book to end. Even though this book is HUGE topping out at just over 600 pages...I loved every single sentence. Ms. Arden has a way of making you feel like you aren't reading a super long book--you are engrossed from chapter 1 until the very end--and before you know it, you've read a 600 page novel! 

Her writing is absolutely gorgeous and captures the horror that is post-Katrina life in New Orleans. From the setting to the characters, the story is richly told and beautifully described. You feel as if you are watching a movie play out in front of you, or as if you are walking (or flying) among the streets of New Orleans with the characters. The story is told in multiple POVs: Adele's, Isaac's, and Niccolo's (kinda...you'll see what I mean when you read it). I loved this much more than I thought I would as it allowed us to delve deeper into these characters and understand their actions/motivations. Even though I already thought Ms. Arden did an excellent job in the first book at developing her characters and the supernatural world, she further developed everything and we were still learning new things throughout the story. I loved that she added even more depth to the story and it sets up the third book perfectly for new and exciting things!

I will say that I'm still not the biggest fan of the love triangle, but I am incredibly sad that my ship is sinking!!! This cannot happen and I am sincerely hoping that Ms. Arden finds a way for things to be remedied. I hated how things ended (not actually hated the ending mind you, just hated how things happened for a certain character) and want everything to just be okay again. Ms. Arden also did an excellent job (once again) at weaving in the history of New Orleans into the plot (and also having it play a large role in the supernatural elements). Everything just makes sense and I adore her creative mind!!

Even though we had to wait awhile for this sequel, it was worth every second! Alys Arden delivered in a big way and made me desperate for the third book in this series! The cliffhanger is brutal and will rip your heart out, but that makes the story even better (I'm still living in denial and trying to convince myself that everything will be okay...don't mind me). From rich descriptions to wonderfully developed characters, this book has a little something for everyone. You definitely need to read this one now!!

Happy reading :)

~Cassie