Rating: ★★★
Audience: YA Fantasy
Length: 464 pages
Author: Rebecca Ross
Publisher: HarperTeeen
Release Date: February 6th, 2018
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads
BOOK SUMMARY:
When her seventeenth summer solstice arrives, Brienna desires only two things: to master her passion and to be chosen by a patron.
Growing up in the southern kingdom of Valenia at the renowned Magnalia House should have prepared her. While some are born with a talent for one of the five passions—art, music, dramatics, wit, and knowledge—Brienna struggled to find hers until she chose knowledge. However, despite all her preparations, Brienna’s greatest fear comes true: she is left without a patron.
Months later, her life takes an unexpected turn when a disgraced lord offers her patronage. Suspicious of his intent, she reluctantly accepts. But there is much more to his story, for there is a dangerous plot to overthrow the king of Maevana—the rival kingdom of Valenia—and restore the rightful queen, and her magic, to the northern throne. And others are involved, some closer to Brienna than she realizes.
With war brewing, Brienna must choose whose side she will remain loyal to—passion or blood. Because a queen is destined to rise and lead the battle to reclaim the crown. Who will be that queen?
With gorgeous description and detailed rendering of a world where not everything is what it seems, debut author Rebecca Ross weaves an intricate tale of revenge, loyalty, and, ultimately, self-discovery.
SLOW START.
I feel like I don’t have a lot to say about this one? It was a good audio read, but left a lot to be desired in the YA fantasy genre.
Things got off to a very slow start and it took until about halfway before they really picked up. I could have used a little less school time and more development in multiple other places. For instance, the romance. Super underdeveloped. Also didn’t love the teacher/student angle (even though they’re in the same age range)? Something wasn’t clicking for me. It was better when they were completely out of that setting at least.
I really wish the main character, Brienna had more power. When I found out what her role was for the book I was a bit let down. I thought it was going in different direction (and maybe book two does this?).
It’s a pretty typical YA fantasy, which isn’t a bad thing. I think reading it would have been tougher than being able to speed up the audio. I love Ross’s newer books and wanted to try out one of her backlist.
Overall audience notes:
- Young Adult Fantasy
- Language: None
- Romance: kisses
- Violence: medium
- Trigger/Content Warnings: loss of loved ones, war themes, teacher/student relationship
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