Genre: Adult Fantasy
Release Date: March 7th, 2023
Pages: 400
Publisher: Orbit Books
My Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Publisher’s Synopsis:
“In this lush, romantic new epic fantasy series from New York Times bestselling author Hannah Whitten, a young woman’s secret power to raise the dead plunges her into the dangerous and glamorous world of the Sainted King’s royal court.
When Lore was thirteen, she escaped a cult in the catacombs beneath the city of Dellaire. And in the ten years since, she’s lived by one rule: don’t let them find you. Easier said than done, when her death magic ties her to the city.
Mortem, the magic born from death, is a high-priced and illicit commodity in Dellaire, and Lore’s job running poisons keeps her in food, shelter, and relative security. But when a run goes wrong and Lore’s power is revealed, she’s taken by the Presque Mort, a group of warrior-monks sanctioned to use Mortem working for the Sainted King. Lore fully expects a pyre, but King August has a different plan. Entire villages on the outskirts of the country have been dying overnight, seemingly at random. Lore can either use her magic to find out what’s happening and who in the King’s court is responsible, or die.
Lore is thrust into the Sainted King’s glittering court, where no one can be believed and even fewer can be trusted. Guarded by Gabriel, a duke-turned-monk, and continually running up against Bastian, August’s ne’er-do-well heir, Lore tangles in politics, religion, and forbidden romance as she attempts to navigate a debauched and opulent society.
But the life she left behind in the catacombs is catching up with her. And even as Lore makes her way through the Sainted court above, they might be drawing closer than she thinks.”
My Review:
The beginning (first few chapters) is a little rough for me. I wish it had been reworked just a tad during the editing phases. It took me some time to really get a firm grasp on the world-building and magic system.
I needed the concepts to have further explanation when they were first introduced, because it can be a lot to take in (for example, there are eight names in the first four pages). But once I fully understood the nature of Lore’s abilities and the landscape of the political/social workings, I was completely immersed.
Death magic is so freaking cool! I love the juxtaposition between life and death, light and dark, and the sun and the moon. The lore of gods and balance of church and kingdom make for a very compelling environment for this story.
It feels simultaneously mythological and historical in context. I truly couldn’t put this one down, I was so invested in everything that was happening.
I just love a fierce, intelligent female protagonist and Lore is exactly that. Her past is mysterious and intriguing.
I’m a sucker for the grumpy, over-protective male like Gabriel.
And I couldn’t help falling for Bastian’s charm.
The witty banter and hilarious dialogue are a delight. I love these characters. Their dynamics are so much deeper than a cheesy love triangle and the romantic aspects of the story do not overpower or overshadow everything else.
The relationships between these three are tangled. There is tension, lust, affection, connection, desire, history, destiny, and warring motivations, that all intertwine to create something emotional and provocative.
One thing that really stood out to me about this story is the cohesion between plot, characters, and world-building. All three were equally balanced and played a crucial role in my enjoyment of the story. I really felt each of these narrative aspects to be strong and given the appropriate amount of development.
Even if you (like me) didn’t absolutely love this author’s first duology, I still highly recommend picking this one up because it is so much better. I feel like this author is growing in their craft (as are we all constantly improving our writing) and it really shows.
The world is complex, the characters are nuanced, and the plot is thrilling. Forbidden romance and forced proximity tropes work wonders in this story. I can’t wait to see where it takes us next. The ending is a satisfying completion of act one of this saga and it leaves me dying to know what happens next.
Disclaimers:
Huge thank you to Netgalley and Orbit Books for gifting me an early copy of this amazing story! I voluntarily read and reviewed this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
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