This is literally one of the best starts to a series I have ever read, and I want more...now. I'm actually really surprised by the rating of this book because I expected it to be so much higher. This is a must read for fans of fantasy, action,adventure, magic, and strong female leads. I could not put this book down, and I was heartbroken by the cliffhanger ending. Seriously, it should be a rule that you can't end a book like that. Jodi Meadows has created such a wonderfully original and unique book that truly stands out among competing fantasy books. Scenes are richly described, characters are amazingly well-developed, and the world-building is perfect. I could read this book all over again, and would never get tired of the story.
One of the things I loved the most about this book was the world-building. It was so thorough and richly described that I felt I truly had a sense of the world from the beginning. A lot of times these days, most of the world-building you receive is from the inside cover description. It's something that irritates me because I don't want to have to keep going back to the description to understand the world. Ms. Meadows does what every author should, weaves the world into the story with finesse and grace, and gives the reader a very good understanding of what has happened in the past as well as the what the world is like now. You honestly are never confused as to what has happened and what is going on. The scenes are also richly described, and I felt like I could picture every single thing in the scene; from what the characters looked like and how they dressed, to the tension in the room. Seriously, you could feel the character's emotions coming off the pages.
Any reader will quickly love Wil, our lead character. She is strong and fights with everything she has in her. Wil is extremely brave and selfless. She truly wants to do what is right, and seeks justice to right the wrongs of the past. Wil has a very thorough process in thinking, which I appreciated. She didn't rush into things and just make rash decisions. Granted, there were times where she did that, but it wasn't a constant recurrence, and even in those times, she did think about the consequences of her actions. I loved that she didn't back down, especially when it came to Patrick. She held her own, and stood up for herself and others.
Some of my favorite scenes were when she was kicking some major butt with the Black Knife (a vigilante who is fighting for peace in the kingdom by taking care of the dangerous wraith creatures roaming the streets). The Black Knife and Wil has an amazing dynamic, and I had my guesses of who the Black Knife was. I will tell you that the Black Knife's identity is somewhat predictable, but enjoyable nonetheless. The Black Knife is one of the many amazing secondary characters that furthers this book, and makes reading an even more enjoyable experience. I also loved Melanie, Wil's best friend. However, she made me question her many times, especially in regards to her true loyalties. But I think at the end of the day, she is truly with Wil. James and the prince were also wonderful additions to the story. The secondary characters never fade into the background, and each have a crucial part in the story.
The romance in this book is present, but it is not the main focus, which I greatly appreciated. However, I can't say too much on it because it's better left for the reader to discover. But I will say that it's not insta-love (THANK THE LORD), and it adds yet another exciting element to the story. Now the ending was exciting, action-packed, and set up the next book perfectly, but the last page just broke my heart. And I do not want to wait for the next one because I NEED to know how the events of the ending will turn out.
I highly recommend this to everyone. This is an action-packed fantasy novel that will put you on the edge of your seat. If you like a well-written novel (and who doesn't?), that has a richly described, unique world and even more amazing characters, you will adore this book. I can't wait to see what happens next!
Happy reading :)
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Kelly B
) What I loved about this book was that the reader was not ...
Reviewed in Australia on August 30, 2015