RULING DESTINY, by Alyson Noël, Entangled: Teen, June 6, 2023, Hardcover, $19.99 (young adult, ages 14 and up)
A newly minted time traveler finds herself at odds with the very people who taught her to Trip in Ruling Destiny, the sequel to Stealing Infinity, by Alyson Noël.
The second I stepped through the doors of Gray Wolf Academy, my world disintegrated. Here, time is malleable. It can be manipulated, shifted. Changed. And for those of us who Trip ― or travel through time ― the possibilities are infinite and perilous.
Now my life is caught in the secrets of everyone around me. Arthur, the eccentric billionaire who rules this school. Killian, who could be the only honest person here…or the biggest liar. And Braxton, magnetic, gorgeous, and unfathomable. The only thing I trust about him is our electric connection.
Whether we’re Tripping through Renaissance Italy or thieving from a ball in Regency England, my life’s become a web of lies and strange truths. And beneath the surface is an elaborate puzzle, filled with cryptic symbols and priceless treasures scattered across history ― all somehow connected to my strange ability to see through time.
But Arthur has a dangerously ambitious agenda. And if what my dad taught me is true, I’m not just a threat to everyone at Gray Wolf.
…I’m a threat to time itself. —Synopsis provided by Entangled: Teen
First and foremost, Ruling Destiny has to be read after Stealing Infinity, and I highly suggest reading them one right after the other. It’s been a year since the first book came out, and a refresher read will do wonders when it comes to certain plot lines and nuances.
Second, the books are grittier, with elements (including an attempted rape) that are better suited to more mature, older teens.
That said, Ruling Destiny certainly has the same devour-worthy essence as its predecessor. The pacing is strong, though it doesn’t quite have the same new luster, making it a fairly strong second book in the series.
Once again, time travel, tarot cards, numerology, art, history, mystery, intrigue, adventure and romance all play a role with some bits working better than others. For instance, readers without a background in tarot might get a bit lost there while others may get a bit bogged down in history. Still, there’s enough that overlaps to keep interest and fill in the gaps.
In Ruling Destiny, Natasha is still the main character, and she seems to have figured herself out a bit better. She’s grown in confidence and isn’t afraid to push some boundaries. And it’s fun to solve puzzles alongside her.
There’s a love triangle that comes into play in Ruling Destiny, which creates a nice bit of tension, but the love interests — Braxton and Killian — remain under developed. I really wanted more depth from both of them.
One of the highlights of Ruling Destiny is its cliffhanger ending, which makes me more than a little excited for the next book in this series. Noël has created an enticing setup there that I look forward to exploring.
Copyright © 2023 Cracking the Cover. Unless otherwise noted, all books — digital and physical — have been provided by publishers in exchange for honest and unbiased reviews. All thoughts and opinions are those of the reviewer.
