Review: Admonition by Kathryn Amurra

Synopsis
Sabina is a young noblewoman who, based on her soothsayer aunt’s prediction, believes her words are dangerous and will hurt those she loves. Following the death of her beloved husband, she takes a vow of silence to protect others from suffering the same fate. Ignored and scorned by those around her, who believe her to be cursed by the gods who took her voice, she is content to live in the shadow of her former life, avoiding society as best she can and staying away from the politics and drama of Rome’s inner circles.

Lucius is an unwilling front-runner to inherit the title of Emperor from Rome’s childless leader, Trajan. Although the soothsayer warns him to steer clear of a pretty face that hides a cursed soul, Lucius cannot help but be drawn to the silent and beautiful Sabina. After learning her secret, he is as determined to help her shed her cloak of silence as she is to keep him at a safe distance. But when Lucius becomes the target of a political plot, Sabina must decide whether breaking her silence will save his life or merely seal his fate.

What I thought
I received a copy of this book from the Author, in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I didn’t think it was possible but I enjoyed this book so much more than the first one.  

I loved how this story picks up during the events in the first book, and the way that it is done is perfect. You do not get a retelling of the events in the first book this story just branches off in a whole new direction. To the point we didn’t even meet these characters in the first book. I think that the way that it was handled was done so well.

Sabina who believes that her aunt’s (the Soothsayer) reading is the reason for all the horrible things that happen to the ones she loves.  We also have Sabina’s sister who is very naïve but has a good heart. Anyone who has ever been around teenagers would understand the struggles Sabina has of having to keep her in line as her chaperone all the while not being able to speak.  

Lucius, who has seen how politics can affect men and their families doesn’t care for it.  I don’t know what it is about him but I liked him from the beginning.  It may have to do with the way he always treated Sabina.  Everyone thought she was cursed by the Gods so they avoided her, but Lucius looked beyond that from the start.  He saw something in here that no-one outside of her family dared look for. When Lucius is pulled into a political plot where he could save himself at the cost of others his response to that situation just showed how wonderful of a person he really is.

This story teaches a lesson about reading into things.  The four main characters in this book all have a reading by the Soothsayer.  Each one is interpreted differently and none of them was right.  I did like how at the end of the story you see them piecing the readings together after the fact.  Though I do have to agree with Sabina what good are the predictions if you can’t figure them out until after the fact.

My Rating: /5

Have you read this book? If so what did you think? Tell me in the comments below.