a perfectly executed, absolute must-read YA fantasy
Genres: YA Fantasy
Release Date: August 16th, 2022
Pages: 352
My Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
SYNOPSIS
Eighteen-year-old Mererid is well accustomed to magic and conflict. As the last living water diviner, she was captured as a child by prince Garanhir, to be used for her abilities.
While in his service, Mer was unknowingly an accessory to hundreds of horrific deaths. After realizing what was done, she fled and has been on the run and in hiding for years.
Renfrew, her old mentor from the kingdom and the closest thing she had to a father during her time in captivity, finds her and offers her a chance at true freedom.
She can use her powers to locate the ancient source of power that protects the kingdom and undermine the power of the prince who abused her.
In exchange, the treasures she will find hidden there will grant her the means to finally be free and safe.
But this will be a dangerous and deadly quest, as the ancient well of power is heavily guarded by both soldiers and magic.
So Mer and Renfrew pull together a crew of allies to help them on their heist.
REVIEW
I absolutely loved every minute of this! It is a fun, easy read that I couldn’t put down – a perfectly well-executed YA fantasy that any lover of this genre will enjoy reading.
I am officially joining the guild of Emily Lloyd-Jones fans who will auto-purchase all the books.
Written in fairytale fashion, the prologue dips you into this intricate story world and the epilogue wraps the story in a satisfying conclusion.
The detailed language and descriptions bring the story to life. There are so many punchy, quotable lines of dialogue that make the characters likable and relatable.
The action starts quickly and builds continuously, leading to unexpected twists. There is never a dull moment, with all the plotting and scheming and questing, and the ending is exquisite.
The characters have to be my favorite part about this book. Their development is impeccably interwoven with the plot and I felt like I was experiencing the story alongside them.
We are shown a lot about the characters through the way they interact with each other and the world around them. I loved getting to know more about their pasts as the story progresses.
The two main players are Mer, a girl with water magic who is snarky and tenacious, and Fane, a sullen but strong boy who bargained to obtain fae magic. Let the witty banter begin.
The author has an ability to give depth to all the characters through a natural insight into the human plight, drawing on your emotions in both the good times and the bad. In other words, this book gave me all feels.
Even the side characters are quirky and fun to get to know – shout out to the dog, a corgi spy and our comic relief who is incredibly adorable the entire time.
There is a bit of romance, though I would hesitate to call it that because it isn’t a typical romance, but rather the beginning of something that could be.
Nonetheless, it is slow and sweet and their connection to each other stems from a mutual understanding and shared consequences of past tragedy that they work through together.
The story world…. I need more! The lore and magic systems are so rich and intricate, yet never too complex or confusing. And yet I feel like we have barely touched the surface of this world that the author has created.
The entire atmosphere is electric and exciting. There is room for so much more, and here’s to me hoping my need for more stories within it will be met.
(Side note: I will immediately be going to get The Bone Houses, a previously published book that is set in the same world.)
If you love a good fight against corrupt kingdoms, faery forests, and elemental magic, this is an absolute must read for you!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher (Little, Brown Books for Young Readers) for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review!
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