Jay Kristoff
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐+
Synopsis:
Mia has many names: The Pale Daughter, The Crow, or Kingmaker; she is the killer of killers and destroyer of empires; but her story begins when she is only ten years old and forced to watch her father hang as a traitor.
At the time of his death, her shadow deepens and a darkness joins Mia. A darkness that takes the shape of a cat and helps her to escape the men tasked with her disposal.
She calls him Mister Kindly, and he drinks her fear.
Review:
Holy sh*t! Where do I even begin?
First, let us discuss this cover. This alone I would give five stars, who wouldn't? I have never seen a more beautiful fantasy cover -- that is for a first edition print-- HarperVoyagerUK did an amazing job at selecting the right artist. The thing I love most about this cover is that, the more you read and loose yourself in Kristoff's world of Itreya, the more you notice the details that the artist, Kerby Rosanes, has put into the illustration design. The Barrel, the masquerade mask, the not-cat- everything so beautifully placed within the body of the crow. The motif for the Covere familia.
A while ago I sent out a tweet for recommendations for a book with a 'kick-ass female assassin protagonist" this book not only delivered this but, rather had the added bonus of this well-developed world. Itreya is a world like no other- the title "Nevernight" you learn to derive from how in this world you never get night because of this unfortunate factor that there are three different suns. All giving variant types of light; only becomes "Truedark" after every certain number of years.
Kristoff builds both the world and the voice of our narrator through the use of footnotes, these tended to be something that didn't offer a whole lot to the overall plot but was something that I enjoyed and brought to life the rich, Italian, medieval setting that Kristoff has based Itreya on. Other times these footnotes were an added sense of humour that really spoke to my sense of humour that just had me giggling.
There was a lot of character growth that felt natural for the duration of the novel, Mia learning about herself and what she feels is important to keep certain traits close to her heart and not loose then when in actual fact where is finds herself is somewhere that could have ultimately stripped them away. Not only was their growth but the plot itself took various twists and turns. I am pretty sure Kristoff through in some red herons in there when I was trying to work out some of the cruicial parts of the plot-- and yes, when I got to page 553 I did have a WTF moment.
I am still not over it.
At all.
This book left me broken and hurt. A double edged blade- one side left you broken and crying the other giggling long into the night. A balance only a wielder of words could manage. My salutes, sir.
This, so far, is one of my favourite books I have read this year. I can't wait to get my finished copy in August. Only to speed through it once more before I head off to Bangor.
First, let us discuss this cover. This alone I would give five stars, who wouldn't? I have never seen a more beautiful fantasy cover -- that is for a first edition print-- HarperVoyagerUK did an amazing job at selecting the right artist. The thing I love most about this cover is that, the more you read and loose yourself in Kristoff's world of Itreya, the more you notice the details that the artist, Kerby Rosanes, has put into the illustration design. The Barrel, the masquerade mask, the not-cat- everything so beautifully placed within the body of the crow. The motif for the Covere familia.
A while ago I sent out a tweet for recommendations for a book with a 'kick-ass female assassin protagonist" this book not only delivered this but, rather had the added bonus of this well-developed world. Itreya is a world like no other- the title "Nevernight" you learn to derive from how in this world you never get night because of this unfortunate factor that there are three different suns. All giving variant types of light; only becomes "Truedark" after every certain number of years.
Kristoff builds both the world and the voice of our narrator through the use of footnotes, these tended to be something that didn't offer a whole lot to the overall plot but was something that I enjoyed and brought to life the rich, Italian, medieval setting that Kristoff has based Itreya on. Other times these footnotes were an added sense of humour that really spoke to my sense of humour that just had me giggling.
There was a lot of character growth that felt natural for the duration of the novel, Mia learning about herself and what she feels is important to keep certain traits close to her heart and not loose then when in actual fact where is finds herself is somewhere that could have ultimately stripped them away. Not only was their growth but the plot itself took various twists and turns. I am pretty sure Kristoff through in some red herons in there when I was trying to work out some of the cruicial parts of the plot-- and yes, when I got to page 553 I did have a WTF moment.
I am still not over it.
At all.
This book left me broken and hurt. A double edged blade- one side left you broken and crying the other giggling long into the night. A balance only a wielder of words could manage. My salutes, sir.
This, so far, is one of my favourite books I have read this year. I can't wait to get my finished copy in August. Only to speed through it once more before I head off to Bangor.
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