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Hello everyone and welcome back to my blog! Today’s review is of a book that I’ve recently finished (which is something totally new as I’m usually behind on reviewing backlist books). And I totally adored this book so without further ado let’s start with my review!
Goodreads Synopsis:
They call her Traitor Kate. It’s a title Kate Brighton inherited from her father after he tried to assassinate the high king years ago. Now Kate lives as an outcast, clinging to the fringes of society as a member of the Relay, the imperial courier service. Only those most skilled in riding and bow hunting ride for the Relay; and only the fastest survive, for when dark falls, the nightdrakes—deadly flightless dragons—come out to hunt. Fortunately, Kate has a secret edge: she is a wilder, born with magic that allows her to influence the minds of animals. But it’s this magic that she needs to keep hidden, as being a wilder is forbidden, punishable by death or exile. And it’s this magic that leads her to a caravan massacred by nightdrakes in broad daylight—the only survivor her childhood friend, her first love, the boy she swore to forget, the boy who broke her heart.
The high king’s second son, Corwin Tormane, never asked to lead. Even as he waits for the uror—the once-in-a-generation ritual to decide which of the king’s children will succeed him—he knows it’s always been his brother who will assume the throne. And that’s fine by him. He’d rather spend his days away from the palace, away from the sight of his father, broken with sickness from the attempt on his life. But the peacekeeping tour Corwin is on has given him too much time to reflect upon the night he saved his father’s life—the night he condemned the would-be killer to death and lost the girl he loved. Which is why he takes it on himself to investigate rumors of unrest in one of the remote city-states, only for his caravan to be attacked—and for him to be saved by Kate.
With their paths once more entangled, Kate and Corwin have to put the past behind them. The threat of drakes who attack in the daylight is only the beginning of a darker menace stirring in the kingdom—one whose origins have dire implications for Kate’s father’s attack upon the king and will thrust them into the middle of a brewing civil war in the kingdom of Rime.
Author – Mindee Arnett
Title – Onyx and Ivory
Publisher – Balzer & Bray
Publication date – May 12th, 2018
Pages – 512
Price – 9.99$ (paperback)
Series – The Rime Chronicles #1
Version – Hardcover (Fairyloot Edition)
Genre – Fantasy
Trigger Warning – Violence, Animal Death (in the beginning)
Language – English
This book was just WOW! I did have some troubles getting into it but in the end, I’m glad that I continued reading it! First of all the world building was amazing. It may sound or even be similar to other worlds in the fantasy genre but it still felt unique to me. In my life, I’ve read a lot of fantasy books and I’m rarely ever bored. Same here. After getting myself into the book and imagining that I’m accompanying Kate and Corwin in this adventure, the book was sold to me and now I’m a big fan of Onyx & Ivory. Which is not cool, because now I want to read the sequel. And that’s absolutely not okay. I’m broke guys, I can’t keep buying more books.
The Characters! I’m in love with these characters! To clarify some things, I only liked the good ones! (No I wasn’t fooled by the bad guy. I swear!)
Arnett really had the capacity to make us like her characters and be heartbroken afterwards. Why can’t people stay good when you think that they are nice?
The pairing was exactly how it has to be. I’m not sure if I can make this clearer but the characters had a chemistry that was felt through the lines of the author. It felt real. When they were heartbroken you were as well. t was authentic and not forced. So I can officially say that the romance was okay. It may not have been needed but it was totally fine. I don’t even have anything bad to say about the romance!
And last but not least can we please talk about the fighting scenes? Especially the ones with Kate they were badass.
I definitely want to see more of Kate and Corwin in the future. When can I hold book two in my hands? Because I have a feeling that I’m getting very impatient.
# Favourite Character
Kate of course. Signe and Dal as well. But Kate was by far my favorite character in this book.
Overall I’d recommend this book to every fantasy lover out there. Try it, it really is amazing and there are things happening in Onyx and Ivory that you don’t even see coming. I swear! I was speechless. Mindee Arnett, I’m ready for book two!
Amazon
Barnes & Noble
Waterstones
TBD
Wordery
And that was everything for this review! How about you? Have you read Onyx & Ivory? Or do you want to read it in the future? Please let me know in the comments below!
The cover and synopsis come from their respective Goodreads page.
This book has been on my TBR for so long! Glad you enjoyed it. I loved your review!
Thank you! 🙂
I hadn’t heard of it but the moment I saw ‘Wilder’ I was like ‘I could totally like this’ I’ve added it to my tbr, and your review was really fun to read (also appreciate the Waterstones link!), again, great review!