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 I really appreciate when authors think outside the box and write something that deviates from the genres that they normally write. Though The Immortal Crown has Richelle Mead's signature literary traits (a kick-ass heroine, an extremely attractive male love interest, lots of sexual tension, heartwarming female friendships, etc.), this series is so different from Mead's previous series and I think she deserves major kudos for diverging from the paranormal genre. The Immortal Crown is a bold, exciting installment in The Age Of X series and it is a fresh take on mythology; this is classic Norse mythology at it's finest. 
 Unwillingly, Mae and Justin are caught up in political web and are forced to go to Arcadia, a hostile country with radical religious views, with Lucian Darling. Lucian is trying to build up his credibility with his voters in preparation for an upcoming election and he enlisted the help of Mae and Justin. Arcadia is a dangerous place for a strong woman like Mae because in Arcadia, women are devalued and are only desired for intercourse. Mae won't be deterred from her mission and she desperately needs to find her niece before it's too late. 
 Richelle Mead does an excellent job of reminding readers of what happened in the previous book and for immediately re-immersing readers in the world of the RUNA. All the terms that are associated with the series: plebian, castal, praetorian came back to me swiftly and I had no difficulty remembering the importance of these words (for those who are unsure about the world's vernacular, there's a helpful glossary in the back of the book). 
 The world-building in this series is extremely strong and Immortal Crown is no exception: Mead expertly has defined this strange, memorable world and I had few questions about the intricacies of this world. The world of the RUNA is no longer confined in this novel and we get to see the world in a whole light with the change in setting. 
 The Immortal Crown is a character-driven book and I felt a strong emotional connection to Mae, Justin and Tessa. We see so many different sides of Mae and Justin, their characters aren't simply black or white -- there are so many layers to their characters and it was interesting to see how much they've developed since Gameboard. While Mae was a bit robotic in the beginning of this series, slowly she's learning to care for Justin and to display her emotions more clearly. Mae is a bit more reserved than some of Mead's other heroines, but readers will still love her character. I think one of the most fascinating things about Justin is how he's at war with himself and he's constantly being conflicted by feelings of doubt. Justin is constantly surprising himself (and the reader) and though we learn more about his character, he's still an enigma. In addition, in this novel, the reader gets a clearer picture of Tessa's motives and the kind of character she is; Tessa has been transported to a foreign world and she's still adjusting socially and academically. 
 The romance in The Immortal Crown is complicated, but Justin and Mae's relationship is a fire that can't be extinguished. Even when Mead continued to throw obstacles at our characters, I still had so much faith that they would emerge victorious and closer than ever. I ship Justin and Mae so much and I truly hope that they continue to be such an incredible pair of characters. I really want this duo to get over issues and realize how perfect they are for each other because they are perfect for each other and it's time that they realized it! 
 The way that Mead tied in religion and mythology in The Immortal Crown was intriguing to me as a reader. The stakes are even higher in this sequel and the gods aren't just going to just sit on the side and watch how everything pan out. There is more intervention from the gods and their presence is becoming stronger in this novel much to my delight. It feels as if Mead is bringing readers closer and closer to a war between the gods and the governments of this post-apocalyptic world, but I could be wrong. Either way, The Immortal Crown handles mythology in an unique way and I loved seeing the Norse gods come to life on the page. 
 The Immortal Crown is an exciting sequel that really builds on the strengths of it's predecessor and is sure to entice fans of classical mythology. So many of Ganeboard's weaknesses are solved in this novel and this novel is much more cohesive and engaging. I really look forward to the next installment in this series and I hope that the 3rd Age Of X is executed just as expertly. Put The Age Of X series on your to-read list, you don't want to miss out on this excellent series.