With the plot against them foiled and the city of Qi-Katai in safe hands, Velasin and Caethari have begun to test the waters of their relationship. But the wider political ramifications of their marriage are still playing out across two nations, and all too soon, they’re summoned north to Tithena’s capital city, Qi-Xihan, to present themselves to its monarch. With Caethari newly invested as his grandmother’s heir and Velasin’s old ghosts gnawing at his heels, what little peace they’ve managed to find is swiftly put to the test.
Cae’s recent losses have left him racked with grief and guilt, while Vel struggles with the disconnect between instincts that have kept him safe in secrecy and what an open life requires of him now. Pursued by unknown assailants and with Qi-Xihan’s court factions jockeying for power, Vel and Cae must use all the skills at their disposal to not only survive, but thrive – because there’s more than one way to end an alliance, and more than one person who wants to see them fail.
"We are not tragedies". Foz Meadows' All the Hidden Paths is the surprise sequel to last year's A Strange and Stubborn Endurance, an excellent exploration of abuse and healing that became one of my favorite books of 2022. The first book seemed to be a standalone novel and resolve everything, although it left some threads; these threads are explored beautifully in this sequel, where the question is pretty simple: what next? After facing one's fears and coming out, what is next?
The answer is that of course not everything is finally and magically solved; one has to work through one's issues. Vel struggles for the most part of this novel with his dark thoughts, pulled forth by the turmoil Cae himself is feeling after the events of the first novel. They need to learn to know each other and trust each other, and most importantly, communicate. This novel features a constant push and pull between Velasin's trauma and Caethari's sense of inadequacy that isn't perfectly resolved, setting perhaps the stage for a third book. I would love a final volume in this series; the news of this one sequel had taken me completely by surprise. One can see that there's still material to explore, if the author wanted to.
The mystery is more enticing than the one in the first novel's, less straightforward and thus exciting as the duo, with the help of Vel's valet friend and a reluctant ally, attempt to find the name behind an unnerving number of murder attempts. The appearance of many new characters makes the narration vibrant and well-rounded, with a sharp focus on the intricate politics of the new court setting, building on the rich world-building of the first novel. Caethari and Velasin don't know who to trust, and we are left spinning with possibilities as they navigate such unfamiliar grounds at the same time as they attempt to navigate their relationship and overcome the hurdles coming their way. It's refreshing to see that even despite the conflict building, we never doubt their love for each other. This novel is also definitely spicier than the first, with a good number of sex scenes that range from being intimately sweet to exceedingly intense. Once again, one can only be grateful for the author's decision to put trigger warnings at the beginning of the novel.
Onto the elephant in the room, or rather, the new POV that dominates a few interludes: the character's journey was compelling and his plight made one sympathize with him, but there was perhaps an issue of pacing, where a few more interludes might have been needed to better appreciate his story and how it entwined with the main characters'. As things stand, one finds oneself wanting for more, and his ending especially feels a bit abrupt.
All the Hidden Paths is a stunning sequel that builds on the lovely foundations of the first novel.
✨ 4.5 stars
📚📚📚 IF YOU LOVE THIS, YOU MIGHT LIKE:
* A Taste of Gold and Iron, by Alexandra Rowland
for: anxiety, politics
