In this second installment of The Divided Kingdom series, things are changing on the Island of Mirror. Tensions rise in the aftermath of Adeline’s defiance against the Originator and her escape from the city, and everything and everyone she loves is in danger of being lost—if she hasn’t lost them already. Matthias and Cayde begin to show her a different way of life, oriented toward El Roi and free from the oppression of the Originator, but can she really escape? With Representatives crawling the Island, and her own father hunting her and her friends, Adeline must decide whether she will stay in the land she’s always known, or attempt to find the fabled Island of Memory. As events unfold and the curtain is slowly drawn back from the mysteries of Mirror’s—and Adeline’s own family’s—past, not only are shocking evils revealed, but also new hope. As their adventures continue, Adeline, Cayde, Lincoln, and Ellen not only discover truths behind the island’s darkness, but that El Roi has greater plans for them than they ever dreamed for themselves.

Fans of dystopian sci-fi fantasy, and even fans of romance, may enjoy this second book of the Divided Kingdom Trilogy. Careful readers may recognize the three mysterious helpers who arrive to accompany our main characters in various parts of their quests, and supernatural elements again tip this dystopian sci-fi into the fantasy realm. One of the aspects of book two that I enjoyed most was the gradual development of Ellen and Lincoln’s relationship. I’m a sucker for romance, so those elements drew me in. Readers familiar with the book of Tobit will notice similarities and find fun parallels. I look forward to seeing where things go in book three. Readers who enjoy or don’t mind blatant Catholicism in their stories are the best fit for The Exile, as it leans even further into its Catholic identity than the first book.

As in the first book, The Exile grapples with the value of the human person, and the dire consequences that result when human dignity is disregarded. We learn even more about what function, exactly, the Island of Mirror serves, and more about who is behind its nefarious operations. That said, there are still a few mysteries left unsolved, and I expect these themes will be further explored in book three.

One of the primary themes in this book is that of human weakness, the brokenness that results, and the choice between resentment and mercy. Many of the characters have pasts they regret, mistakes they made, and people they hurt. Each of the characters deals with these regrets in their own way. Some have taken the path to self-destruction, while others find mercy and reconciliation. Ultimately, the story offers hope for healing, even in the case of bitter betrayals and utter failures. God is bigger than all of it.

Towards the end of the book, there was a beautiful scene that actually brought me to tears, and brought one piece of the storyline to a satisfying conclusion. At the same time, it felt like it ended a bit abruptly, and I would have liked just a bit more closure. 

As in the first, book two has a couple of moments of sci-fi/fantasy violence that may disturb sensitive readers. There is also a mention of forced sterilization during a conversation between Ellen and Ruth, followed by a brief comment about how women can use Natural Family Planning to work with their bodies’ fertility. The mention of NFP felt a bit forced, but it needn’t concern careful parents. 

Overall, I enjoyed The Exile even more than Divided Kingdom. I recommend reading book one first (find the review HERE), since there are many things set up in that story that will be confusing in book two if the reader is unfamiliar. Returning readers are likely to get some thrills from the gradual revelations of both Mirror’s and Memory’s pasts, as well as more about Cayde’s mysterious condition, Adeline’s family history, and the true identities of some of the other characters. There are also some twists at the end that will feed reader anticipation for the third and final installment. (Due to release September of 2026!) Keep it on your radar!