In Fae’s Ascent: Clover Book 2, Nicole Kilpatrick continues Clover’s story in Faerie. Clover and Finn have begun dating. Clover is still dealing with the discovery that her mother Meara is a powerful mermaid and that she has inherited those fae abilities. Queen Helena’s assistant Liz is upset about Finn’s relationship with Clover. She sneaks into the dungeon and releases the sorceress Iekika and King Boris. Instead of killing Clover, Iekika kills King Boris and disappears. Queen Helena appoints Scobert and Kean to transport King Boris’s body home, but Scobert and Helena’s relationship becomes strained. Alistair McCabe is elected the new Unseelie King and meets with the Queen and Finn in the palace. He wants Clover back or there will be war. While he was in the meeting, Iekika attacked Clover, but Meara managed to take Clover to safety. In the meantime, Alistair has a backup plan to close the portals between Faerie and Earth.

Nicole Kilpatrick has increased the suspense with new details and the introduction of additional characters. Alistair becomes a much more powerful figure due to his backup plan. Finn’s recruiting mission causes Clover to doubt his feelings for her, especially after an argument before he left. Every scene was vivid and I could picture myself swimming under the water with Clover. Her immaturity is made apparent by her insecurity in her relationship with Finn. The fight she has with him over his saving her grandmother proves how unreasonable she has become. The perspectives transition between several characters seamlessly. I liked being able to see the story unfold through each particular viewpoint. I recommend Fae’s Ascent to readers who enjoy romantic fantasy stories full of action and suspense.

Fae’s Ascent by Nicole Kilpatrick continues the adventurous story of Clover as she fights to separate herself from the power-hungry Alistair, a leprechaun who, unbeknownst to her, is closely connected to someone she loves. She struggles to manifest the powers available to her from her mermaid mother and falls in love for the first time. As Clover is on her own personal journey to fully embodying her powers, evil lurks in the darkness waiting to overthrow Queen Helena by whatever means necessary. Clover’s love interest, Finn, is also under tremendous pressure between what is right versus what is needed to protect the kingdom. Along the way, Clover encounters friends and family, old and new, and finds her place in her homeland.

Fae’s Ascent by Nicole Kilpatrick is a fast-paced fantasy story with mystery and action. Each chapter keeps the reader engaged with the multi-layered plot and the unexpected encounters and incidents each character faces. I love the lead female character and the strength and determination she shows, learning to let go in order to fully embrace her capabilities. The author writes the female lead with courage and grit, a fantastic example of a kind and wise young woman navigating a challenging period of her life. Each type of fantasy creature is represented in this book and written with authenticity. I appreciate the fullness of the plot and the clever setup for a sequel to this splendid series. Lovers of fantasy and adventure will thoroughly enjoy this story.