Kristen Ciccarelli
⭐⭐⭐⭐
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Release Date: 12th October, 2017
UK Publisher: Gollancz
Synopsis:
In the beginning, there was the Namsara: the child of sky and spirit, who carried love and laughter wherever he went. But where there is light, there must be dark—and so there was also the Iskari. The child of blood and moonlight. The destroyer. The death bringer.
These are the legends that Asha, daughter of the king of Firgaard, has grown up hearing in hushed whispers, drawn to the forbidden figures of the past. But it isn’t until she becomes the fiercest, most feared dragon slayer in the land that she takes on the role of the next Iskari—a lonely destiny that leaves her feeling more like a weapon than a girl.
Asha conquers each dragon and brings its head to the king, but no kill can free her from the shackles that await at home: her betrothal to the cruel commandant, a man who holds the truth about her nature in his palm. When she’s offered the chance to gain her freedom in exchange for the life of the most powerful dragon in Firgaard, she finds that there may be more truth to the ancient stories than she ever could have expected. With the help of a secret friend—a slave boy from her betrothed’s household—Asha must shed the layers of her Iskari bondage and open her heart to love, light, and a truth that has been kept from her.
Review
The Cover
The cover for Ciccarelli's debut has grown on me. Quite a bit, even if I do still, kinda, prefer the cover that was used on the proofs.
It's a lot different to the one that Gollancz had originally used for the proofs that were sent out a few months back. Red and gold, with a dragon emblem that spoke of hunting and medieval tones that dragon fantasies seem to embroil. But, as I keep looking at it and seeing the final finishing (the GOLD FOILING?!) overall it's rather pretty.
The Content
This is a fantastic debut novel.
The concept unique and well put across.
The characters were well written and their motives believable. And I really connected with the protagonist and her journey to free herself from the binds of her betrothal- let's be honest, what woman wouldn't? Asha is fearless and doesn't let her emotions shroud her decisions, which I really appreciated. Whether or not those decision were bad or not, you'll have to go out and pick up a copy.
There were moments where Ciccarelli's writing fell into writing cliches. Which made it that defining fact of feeling like a debut. And yes, I am talking about the use of: "I let go of the breath I didn't know I was holding" thing that has become rather laughable in YA. So if that makes you see red, please skip over the words and keep reading. (Like I'm going to tell you to not buy this book.)
I'm not too mad, I did roll my eyes a little but nothing could be done for that.
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Nice review :)
ReplyDeleteI think the cover is stunning, I had to take the dust cover off to I'd stop staring at it instead of reading.
Cora ❤ http://www.teapartyprincess.co.uk/