"An animated cast energizes this grand tale of faraway kingdoms and magic." - Kirkus Reviews Winner of SIX awards including Honorable Mention for Fantasy for the Eric Hoffer Award and Winner (Fantasy) in the Book Excellence Award as well as Finalist (Fantasy) in the Feathered Quill Award. What lurks in darkness cannot hide from the light. Jasce Farone, previously known as the Angel of Death, has returned to Orilyon as commander of the Paladin Guard in hopes of locating his long-lost sister and settling down with his fiancée, Kenz. But now that peace has come to Pandaren, Queen Valeri is hosting the Gathering—a meeting of five kingdoms, and among those invited are the Vastanes, whose war crimes have not been forgotten. And though the rulers of each kingdom claim they want peace, ulterior motives hide in the shadows. As the Gathering begins, lethal magic-hunting creatures terrorize the people, and Spectrals are reported missing. Jasce is forced to choose between the search for his sister and the survival of the kingdom he has sacrificed everything to save. In this second installment of the Darkness Trilogy by award-winning author Cassie Sanchez, Jasce, Kenz, Kord, and Amycus return and are joined by a new cast of characters to battle political intrigue, foreign magic, and mystifying beasts. Jasce will need all his magic—and more—to defend those he loves, while resisting the familiar embrace of the Angel of Death, who demands blood at any cost. " Sanchez's follow-up to Chasing the Darkness (2021) squeezes a huge cast into its lively narrative. This results in an abundance of engaging subplots...The exhilarating final act opens the door to an unexpected denouement that only intensifies the saga." Kirkus Reviews "Cassie Sanchez is a master at balancing a complicated and multi-faceted plot with detailed imagery and incredible visuals for readers. With strong main characters, tastefully done romantic scenes, and an engaging plot, Sanchez's fantasy delivers it all from cover to cover." Literary Titan "Readers will find the fantasy and romance components in Embracing the Darkness continue to drive a powerful saga of change, redemption, and transformation." D. Donovan, Sr. Reviewer, Midwest Book Review "Action-packed and passionate, Embracing the Darkness had me hooked from the moment I read the first few lines... The world-building is phenomenal, each aspect is crafted to perfection and you can tell author Cassie Sanchez worked hard on it." - Readers Review, Rabia Tanveer Spoiler Alert: If you haven't read Chasing the Darkness (Book 1), there are spoilers in book 2. Writing this sequel was challenging and thrilling at the same time. Thrilling because I love my characters, and I was excited to put them on a new adventure and make their world bigger. Challenging because this was my first sequel, and I wanted to make sure it kept you turning the pages, like the first one. Plus, there are a lot more characters in this book, which made things interesting. I hope you enjoy Embracing the Darkness!  And please stop by my website for more information and to stay in the loop.   The content within is for mature readers which may be sensitive to readers. What lurks in darkness cannot hide from the light. Jasce Farone, previously known as the Angel of Death, has returned to Orilyon as commander of the Paladin Guard in hopes of locating his long-lost sister and settling down with his fiancée, Kenz. But now that peace has come to Pandaren, Queen Valeri is hosting the Gathering—a meeting of five kingdoms, and among those invited are the Vastanes, whose war crimes have not been forgotten. And though the rulers of each kingdom claim they want peace, ulterior motives hide in the shadows. As the Gathering begins, lethal magic-hunting creatures terrorize the people, and Spectrals are reported missing. Jasce is forced to choose between the search for his sister and the survival of the kingdom he has sacrificed everything to save. In this second installment of The Darkness Trilogy by award-winning author Cassie Sanchez, Jasce, Kenz, Kord, and Amycus return and are joined by a new cast of characters to battle political intrigue, foreign magic, and mystifying beasts. Jasce will need all his magic—and more—to defend those he loves, while resisting the familiar embrace of the Angel of Death, who demands blood at any cost. Growing up, Cassie Sanchez always wanted superpowers and to be a warrior princess fighting alongside unlikely heroes. Suffice it to say, she lost herself in books, from fantasy to sci-fi to a suspenseful romance. Currently, Cassie lives in the southwest with her husband, Louie, while pestering her two adult men-children. She can usually be found drinking too much coffee while working in her office with her dogs, Gunner and Bullet, warming her feet. When she isn't writing about magic and sword fights, she enjoys golf, spending time with friends, or partaking in a satisfying nap. You can