The Summer Marked Hardcover – September 22, 2015

This picks up where Winter People left off and it is a amazing story. I love how Gareth is with Salome. Those two are so perfect together. Kadie I have some serious issues with. Not issues as in writing issues issues as in she truly is just a not nice person. She harbored all this anger and jealousy towards Salome and this made her a good target for Griselle. Griselle we see her evil ways a lot here. We see how truly manipulative she is but we also get some background into her if you can believe her that is. I have reservations about her and the story she told.

This is told from the POV of Salome and Kadie and as you see in Kadie’s thoughts you see a different Kadie than what was in the first book. This Kadie is more wanting and green in jealousy and boiling over with anger. Her feelings about her friendship with Salome is really raw and sad. We see her go from survivor to a changed person. She goes from fierce and loyal to mean and nasty. I see why Etienne falls for her at first and tries so hard to protect and help her. In the end though she doesn’t deserve him.

Etienne you will feel for. This poor guy has sacrificed so much for his people and to fall for Kadie only to see her twisted in the end had to hurt. I love how he gains strength and courage again to fight Griselle. Him at the end will leave you wanting to know more and wonder what is up.

Darach wow. His anger is really masked hurt. He gives us more insight into Nevin and their story is so beautiful and sad. His helping Salome is great to see. I hope she can help him and maybe we can see him and Nevin get a happy ending. I think thought the Winter Queen will find a way to ruin this as well. That woman is true poison.

Gareth this is a great guy. What he goes through so endears you to him. He loves his people so much and his love for Salome is so evident. I mean to agree to what he does tears at you. His strength and love is what helps Salome cope with everything.

Salome we see grow leaps and bounds here. She is in a new place but her core character is the same. She is still one to stand for what she believes and her love for Gareth is beautiful. The decision in the end was heart wrenching. Watching the events unfold as to how she is marked is incredible. Her journey is one of growth and character building. We see her learn about herself, her new abilities she is getting, the marks she is coming to have, the history of this faerie land and her gain strength and more compassion for others.

The story is action packed, romance sweet and sad. We truly learn how much people have suffered and endured because of the power hungry Winter Queen Griselle. We get more insight into Nevin and how much he truly sacrifices and loves his people. He is still selfish but he is growing more and more and coming into his own. We see the story grow in depth and deception. There is more mystery behind it that has us with questions but we also have many answers about the faerie history and Salome. We get insight into characters and a little foreshadowing of what is to come. We have betrayal and sacrifice occur that will tear at the heartstrings but the romance of Gareth and Salome truly will endear you to them. War is upon this land and lots of the story is yet to unfold. Rebekah Purdy has done a great job of trickling in what we need to know while keeping you wanting more and wondering more about this land and its people. This chapter in the series is more dark and we get more insight as well.

A book of revenge, power and desire to rule. Of sacrifice and love. One that answers some questions but leaves more and has you wanting the next in the series so that you can see what is going to happen to Nevin, Darach, Etienne, Gareth and Salome.

Received an advance reader copy in exchange for a fair review.
Thanks to NetGalley and Entangled Publishing for the opportunity to read and review The Summer Marked by Rebekah L. Purdy, the second book of The Winter People series! The story opens with a taste of Shakespeare's writing. Salome is now living with Gareth in the Faerie realm and the opening of the book shows us more about her grandmother and her secrets. Kadie receives a message from Salome asking her to meet at a club. Kadie goes, but Salome is not there and she ends up being captured by the Winter Queen's helpers. They demand to know where Salome is but Kadie doesn't know, so they keep torturing her. I love the descriptions of the beautiful tattoos Salome receives as she becomes a part of each season and she gains power to help the Fae. The character pool grows in this second book of The Winter People series, making the story more complex and interesting. As people and their relationships evolve, the danger grows. I'm very happy there is a third book to this series because I am not ready to let these characters go. 5 stars for dialogue that matches and portrays the characters perfectly in this fantasy story!

I absolutely adored the 1st book in this series, so I was desperately awaiting the release of The Summer Marked. I am so glad to say Rebekah didn't disappoint! This book explores the darker side of the Fae and just how far you're willing to go in order to survive. Old characters will shock the hell out of you, and new ones will make you fall in love all over again. Even though this is a series, one of my favorite things about it is that the books don't feel like a series. Rebekah does a great job of wrapping up enough things to leave you satisfied and make the next book feel almost like a new story, yet somehow they flow seamlessly together. This book was the literary equivalent of an action hero walking away from an explosion, and I for one can't wait to see what happens behind the inferno.

I loved this book! Just a warning it is rather dark and gritty but the writing style sucks you in.