City of Secrets (Splinter and Ash #2)

Nijkamp, Marieke. City of Secrets (Splinter and Ash #2)
October 7, 2025 by Greenwillow Books
Public library copy

Princess Ash has returned to Kestral's Haven after having been kidnapped, but things are still rocky between Calinor and Ferisia. She is working closely with her mother, Queen Avelina, and Splinter is training to be a squire. The big test is in a month. Splinter's brother occasionally writes updates about the situation at the border where he is stationed. Splinter is working with Lucen, Ash's brother, and is surprised to see to see that a childhood friend, Briar, joining the squires. Oddly, he won't talk to her. When the two friends sneak out into the city, Ash is enthralled with a girl who is juggling, and arranges to meet her at a local tavern, the Lighthouse. It's not in a great part of town, and both Kit and her brother Nels are leery of Ash. During their jaunts, they hear that the Larks are planning something for the Harvest Festival. After investigating a warehouse and finding it full of spark sand, Ash feels she needs to do something. As a princess, she really wants to help her people, but it's difficult. She sees that the veterans of the war don't do well when they come back home to the Shallows, and finds that the army isn't as well supplied or taken care of as the guards. When Lady Cordeilla and Uncle Elias are overheard making devious plans to support the Larks after an enormous fire in the shallows, Splinter and Ash step up their efforts. The Larks feel that the queen is too weak, and it is because of her that the efforts to deal with Ferisia aren't going well. Splinter and Ash are involved in an enormous fight, but manage to save the day for the city. Kit, however, suffers a large blow and is invited to live in the castle. A surprise visitor lets Ash know that her mother's messages aren't getting to the empress of Ferisia, which is why the efforts at peace talks are failing. There definitely needs to be another book so that we can find out how the situation will be resolved. 

Strengths: Splinter and Ash's adventures are very similar to Pierce's Tortall books or Flanagan's Ranger's Apprentice series, but have an updated feel to them. There's a lot of good female power, but it is also aknowledged that having a queen is causing Calinor problems. The best part of this is, of course, Kids Saving the Day, but I also enjoyed that Ash was truly concerned about the people in the Shallows and really wanted to help. There is a message about what constitutes family when Ash finds out secrets about her past. This also embraces the current zeitgiest:  Splinter meets Cian at the Lighthouse, and is amazed that there is another person who feels the same way she does. Ash asked if Splinter would like to adopt they/them pronouns, and Splinter says that she might at some point in the future. 
Weaknesses: Apparently, the Larks are not very smart, because they are ALWAYS being overheard, which makes it a little easier for Ash and Splinter to take them down! 
What I really think: I don't have quite the readers for fantasy adventures as I used to, so I haven't bought this book yet, even though it came out in October. I will put it on my August order, since I have a couple of readers working their way through Tortall!