Hello, everyone! Tonight I’m reviewing All the Hidden Paths by Foz Meadows, which is out in bookstores today. I’ve been looking forward to this sequel after enjoying my recent re-read of the first book. Read on to learn all my thoughts!

The follow-up to Foz Meadows’s A Strange and Stubborn Endurance, a sultry political & romantic fantasy exploring gender, sexuality, identity, and self-worth.

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.

***Thank you to Tor Books for providing a copy of the book via NetGalley. My review contains my honest thoughts about my reading experience.***

All the Hidden Paths served up another helping of intrigue, mystery, sexual tension, and attempted murder. All the things I loved about its predecessor were in this book, too. The story kept me hooked with its relationship dramatics and my need to figure out the attacker. The writing and pace made this book extremely bingeable, and I often found myself regretting the need to put it down. My only complaint about the story/plot would be its incredible similarity to the first book, but I guess it makes sense the author would stick to what they know well.

I loved getting to see more of the queer-normative world of Tithena in All the Hidden Paths. There was so much politics in this book, but I found it easier to follow in this book than the first. I almost always enjoy lots of court intrigue, and this story was no exception. I found the hierarchical structure of the government and citizenry really interesting, and the way that structure played into the power struggles that defined the story’s main conflicts was smart and made for compelling reading. I just wish there had been more magic in the story. It was one of the more interesting pieces from the first book, and it didn’t get explored in this story at all.

Caethari and Velasin were still the same dummies I came to know and love in A Strange and Stubborn Endurance. At the start of All the Hidden Paths, they were trying to get to know one another better and figure out the logistics of their relationship, with Velasin still being unsure of his feelings for Cae. After heading off to the capitol together, they faced yet more people trying to kill them, which led to both men blaming themselves for the other getting hurt. This caused so much unnecessary interpersonal tension in the first half of the book, and I just kept wanting them to HAVE A CONVERSATION. All the horrible things happening just didn’t allow it, though.

Even though I found bits of it frustrating due to their communication issues, I still really enjoyed the journey of Cae and Vel in All the Hidden Paths. They were both neurotic messes who experienced shame, self-worth issues, grief, and anxiety/PTSD. They had so much to overcome, and I’d probably never leave my room again if I was Vel after everything he’s had happen to him in these two books. By the end, it felt like the two of them had a better understanding of themselves and each other. I’d love to see where their story goes next, but I definitely would want it to be a happier tale with a little less murder and relationship strife. lol.

The other characters in All the Hidden Paths were more of a mixed bag. I still loved Markel, and, if anything, he felt even sassier in this story than the first. He had some great banter, and I loved almost all of his scenes. There were many other fascinating characters I’d love to learn more about, including the Silver Chair and the Asa. They both stood out, and I think they would make great centerpieces in stories of their own (fingers crossed). Alternatively, I hated the new POV character, Aserian. His story added so little and felt like it was included just to add in some BDSM scenes. I was often annoyed because his interludes felt disruptive to the story.

Overall, All the Hidden Paths was an entertaining sequel that doubled down on the plot and characteristics that made its predecessor such an engaging read. Despite the story feeling somewhat copied from the first and being mired in miscommunication dramatics, this was still a fun read that I think fans of the first book will enjoy. Just be prepared for Vel and Cae to go through even more pain… Therefore, I rate this book 4.25 out of 5 stars.

Have you read All the Hidden Paths or A Strange and Stubborn Endurance? What did you think? Let me know down in the comments!