Orchestra of Treacheries (The Dragon Songs Saga #2) by J.C. Kang
Kaiya’s voice could charm a dragon.
It’s been two years since she put down a rebellion with the magic of the Dragon Scale Lute. With the instrument destroyed, her musical talents are inconsequential compared to her value as the last unmarried child of the ailing emperor.
Potential suitors see her as a stepping stone. One ruthless cousin would rather step on her gravestone. Not one to get walked over or buried, Kaiya is holding out for the exiled foreign prince who inspired her to sing. The only one who appreciates her abilities more is the world’s last dragon, Avarax, and it’s not because he enjoys a good song.
Conspiracies eat away at the empire from the inside, while aggressive neighbors wait to consume what’s left. Raw and unproven, Kaiya faces tasks worthy of an imperial princess: defuse escalating conflicts between rival lords. Negotiate peace with foreign powers. Vanquish a dragon.
The magic of her voice is untrained. However, as crisis jolts her from a pampered palace life into an adventure of court intrigue and international diplomacy, Kaiya finds mentors in unlikely places. An elf courtier. An ancient healer. A martial arts master. And an evil sorcerer. She’ll need their guidance to survive the final showdown between a girl finding her voice, and a dragon who has no intention of being fooled a second time.
Purchase Link: Amazon.com
Orchestra of Treacheries on Goodreads
Review
Rating: 4 stars
*I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review*
Two years after the events of Dragon Scale Lute, Princess Kaiya has grown in both wisdom and beauty. With potential suitors and threats around every corner, Kaiya finds herself being relied on more and more by her father to try and keep the diplomatic peace between nations. Her father also presses her to choose a husband, not knowing that his daughter is in love with the exiled Prince Hardeep.
An Orchestra of Treacheries delves deeper into the intricate games of the court and the minds of the many different lords vying for power. Sensing the kingdom is weakening, they betray not only the royal family, but each other in order to ascent to the throne themselves. I enjoyed reading from different points of view and how the plots weaved together to shape the direction of the second novel in the series. Kaiya is as strong as ever and what I like most about her character is her resilience and that she very much knows her own mind. She is determined to make her own way but still remaining sensitive to her ailing father’s wishes and her duties.
Book two paves the way for things to come and I really look forward to reading further novels in the series.
I’m glad you liked the book. Dragons are scary and fun! It sounds like a multi-layered story with a protagonist you want to cheer on.