Armistice: Survival, Subterfuge and a Spectacular Sequel

Armistice (The Amberlough Dossier 2)

by Lara Elena Donnelly

Published by Tor Books. Release Date 15th May 2018

Armistice follows on three years after the end of Amberlough and is set in the neighbouring country Porachis, which to me read like a mixture between 1930's Hollywood and India and what a beautiful setting it was.

I am so glad that our protagonists from Amberlough returned, with Cordelia and Aristide, although very much changed in the years of oppression. Cordelia is now a revolutionary leader for a group called Catwalk and Aristide, who is very much still in the throngs of grief, almost bubble like in the way he wont let emotions touch him, is now a film director for Pulan, a woman who will stop at nothing to protect her country. We are also introduced to Lillian DePaul, Cyril's older sister and the spitting image of her brother. Our three protagonists find themselves united by one goal as scandals unfurl and secrets are unleashed, all in the way of undermining the Ospies. What I loved most about Armistice was seeing Cyril and Aristide through Cordelia and Lilian's eyes. Lillian, Cordelia and Aristide's grief over Cyril killed me and it was done so well. Never have I known a dinner party to be one of the tensest scenes in the whole book and I loved it! Donnelly doesn't hold back anywhere on drawing out the most painful conflicts and moments, which is exactly what I love in fiction. And with this novels focus very much on grief and love, anger and injustice and how this drives our characters, there was so much material for Donnelly to play with our heartstrings. I loved all of this book and can't believe I read it in a day. I kept wanting the book to magically grow more pages. Armistice was definitely worth the wait, and I cannot wait to see where Amnesty (book 3) takes us from here.

Donnelly is a superb writer who knows exactly how to show her reader the story rather than tell, and I know that I will adore anything she writes.

Overall a fantastic second book and one I can't wait to re-read.