Keeper Kate has spent weeks searching for her missing brother. Following his trail, studying clues, using the mysterious aenigma box to help reconstruct the story of what had happened to him.
But she’s gotten the story dreadfully, catastrophically wrong.
Now, faced with the losses and scars from her failed search, she and Venn must tackle a new obstacle: the elven White Wood and its ruthless king.
In a desperate attempt to find her brother, Kate finds herself entangled in a deadly quest to find the Warden of the Wood—a search that will lead to Kate’s own death if she doesn’t complete it in time.
Through a cursed ravine, a hidden ancient library, and centuries-old secrets, Kate and Venn struggle to sort out truth from legend and find the Warden before time runs out—for Venn and Kate and the entire human land.
Mistlight by J.A. Andrews (Aenigma Lights #2)
While I enjoyed book one, Mistlight completely hooked me body and soul. It took me a little time to connect with these characters as fully as I did with Andrews’ previous series, but once I did, I was utterly captivated. The story draws you in and refuses to let go, weaving magic, mystery, and adventure with an irresistible rhythm that keeps pages turning long past bedtime.
I absolutely love the magic in this world. Andrews blends classic fantasy elements, like elves, dwarves, and other familiar races, with inventive twists that make the world feel alive and fresh. The magic system is detailed enough to feel grounded without ever slowing the narrative.
The banter and humour are perfect counterpoints to the stakes and tension. Andrews balances light, witty dialogue with heavier moments of betrayal, difficult choices, and moral ambiguity. The characters grow and change in believable ways, and their relationships feel earned and authentic. The found family dynamic is one of the highlights: these ragtag adventurers support each other, argue, laugh, and sometimes break each other’s hearts, but you can’t help falling for them alongside the story.
Mistlight scratches a rare itch for me: the middle ground between grimdark and cosy fantasy. It’s serious enough to carry weight, tension, and real danger, yet it retains warmth, humour, and humanity. The plot doesn’t lean too heavily on bleakness, nor does it skirt challenges or consequences. It’s a story that respects both its characters and its readers, giving them depth, agency, and heart.
I also love how Andrews balances worldbuilding and character focus. You feel fully immersed in the city streets, magical academies, and hidden corners of this world without ever feeling lost in exposition. Each twist and revelation lands with impact because the stakes feel real and earned. The betrayals sting, the victories soar, and the quieter moments of friendship and loyalty linger in the mind long after the book is closed.
I found myself laughing, or on the edge of my seat more than once as I followed Kate and her friends through their triumphs and failures. The blend of humour, heart, magic, and moral complexity is rare, and Andrews nails it. I can’t wait to read more from this series, to follow these characters further, and to explore every corner of this rich, captivating world. Mistlight isn’t just a book, it’s an experience, and one I’ll be thinking about long after I turned the final page.
