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ashley_apairofreaders's review
5.0
4.5/5
Wonderful, easy to read, plot-drive fantasy. I really enjoyed the multiple POVs, the introduction of new characters, the return of some old characters, and the return to the worlds of elves, dwarves, and other magical creatures. Excellent spinoff to the Chronicles of Pelenor.
Wonderful, easy to read, plot-drive fantasy. I really enjoyed the multiple POVs, the introduction of new characters, the return of some old characters, and the return to the worlds of elves, dwarves, and other magical creatures. Excellent spinoff to the Chronicles of Pelenor.
aliasaurora's review
2.0
This story just didn’t grab me.
This book, marketed as a fantasy romance, interweaves three completely separate tales, only one of which is remotely romantic, and none of them pay off by the end. Guess you have to read the whole damn series if you wanted there to be romance in your fantasy romance. I don’t like the narrative style wherein you are dragged through a plodding chapter which begins to build to something that might be exciting, only to cut away to the B- and C-plot each time. 75% of the way through this book, I realized that there’s no way the three tales were going to collide in any way, and I was correct. It ends on a cliffhanger for one of the MCs and a boring “waking up in the hospital and all is resolved” scene for the other 2 plot lines. I suspect that if you split up all three of these tales into their own books, it would become obvious that each plot is too short on its own, and not really interesting enough to keep you reading, so they must be interwoven and leave you on a cliffhanger so that you’ll maybe care enough about one of the characters to want to continue. But I don’t.
This book, marketed as a fantasy romance, interweaves three completely separate tales, only one of which is remotely romantic, and none of them pay off by the end. Guess you have to read the whole damn series if you wanted there to be romance in your fantasy romance. I don’t like the narrative style wherein you are dragged through a plodding chapter which begins to build to something that might be exciting, only to cut away to the B- and C-plot each time. 75% of the way through this book, I realized that there’s no way the three tales were going to collide in any way, and I was correct. It ends on a cliffhanger for one of the MCs and a boring “waking up in the hospital and all is resolved” scene for the other 2 plot lines. I suspect that if you split up all three of these tales into their own books, it would become obvious that each plot is too short on its own, and not really interesting enough to keep you reading, so they must be interwoven and leave you on a cliffhanger so that you’ll maybe care enough about one of the characters to want to continue. But I don’t.
scareads's review
5.0
I had a fantastic time with this one. Four povs, two are related, only two have any interactions, and there are three different stories I'm assuming are parallel - to be seen in book 2.
Per the flowery cover, I assumed this would be a fantasy romance. It most definitely is not even though I predict that a romance subplot will come to play in book 2. I think I enjoyed this more because it wasn't a romance.
The plot was absolutely scrumptious especially in how much the three storylines differed. I am curious to find out more about each character's backstory as only two really got elaborated on here. If I had to give a weakness, it would be the amount of depth each character had. But the story was fast-paced and so gripping that it didn't take away from my enjoyment. Can't wait to dive into book 2.
Per the flowery cover, I assumed this would be a fantasy romance. It most definitely is not even though I predict that a romance subplot will come to play in book 2. I think I enjoyed this more because it wasn't a romance.
The plot was absolutely scrumptious especially in how much the three storylines differed. I am curious to find out more about each character's backstory as only two really got elaborated on here. If I had to give a weakness, it would be the amount of depth each character had. But the story was fast-paced and so gripping that it didn't take away from my enjoyment. Can't wait to dive into book 2.
bani's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.25
bittie_bee's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
constant2m's review
5.0
I thought the Chronicles of Pelenor were perfection, but Meg has outdone herself with her latest book. Set 25 years after the war, Aedon is now - still - a captive of Queen Solanaceae in Tir-na-Alathea. He has lost the will to live, has been stripped of his magic, and is stuck in solitary confinement where the only person who even talks to him isn't even a person but a door. At least they have finally let him have some books to read. But something evil has come to the world and Aedon is accidentally released. And due to his "noble disposition," as he puts it, he is compelled to stay and try to help the enemy, rather than escape. He quickly meets up with Lief, a sassy wood elf, and while they mostly feel stuck with each other, they gradually develop a grudging friendship.
Back in Pelenor, two siblings also fight against family shortcomings to make a life for themselves, one joining the legendary Winged Kingsguard, the other training to become a librarian. The Winged Kingsguard has recently lost one of the patrols and must see if the Order of Valxiron is back and be behind the missing dragons and riders. The library isn't your typical book storage facility, and part of the librarian's job is to work with the grimoires, many of which are dangerous. Flight of Sorcery and Shadow moves between all three storylines, never bringing any of them together, yet telling stories of high stakes in all three contexts.
Meg is a fantastic storyteller. She finds ways to leave us at cliffhangers throughout the book while returning to someone else's story. She also has loads of new characters, but their stories were so different, it was easy to follow the changes in stories. And we know that the stories will eventually converge, although I have no idea how she's going to do it. I also love that after the Pelenor chronicles alluded to and then pushed aside Aedon's personal struggles, hiding them behind his charm and humor, his journey with Lief in Flight of Sorcery and Shadow has forced him to begin to deal with them. I have high hopes for him in this new saga. As far as the siblings' stories, their family history is not their fault, nor is it their parents' fault, and that's something I don't often see addressed in fantasy. For them to carry burdens not of their own making and choose to not succumb to the darkness that promises an easy out, well, I'm rooting for them all the way. Also, one of the grimoires reminds me of Garth Nix's Mogget. Maybe it's just me, but he (it? - does a grimoire have gender?) makes me so happy!
Why do I have to wait for the next book?
I received an ARC from the author and have reviewed it because it's amazing, and everyone should read it, and all the libraries should get it, and did I mention that it's really, really good?
Back in Pelenor, two siblings also fight against family shortcomings to make a life for themselves, one joining the legendary Winged Kingsguard, the other training to become a librarian. The Winged Kingsguard has recently lost one of the patrols and must see if the Order of Valxiron is back and be behind the missing dragons and riders. The library isn't your typical book storage facility, and part of the librarian's job is to work with the grimoires, many of which are dangerous. Flight of Sorcery and Shadow moves between all three storylines, never bringing any of them together, yet telling stories of high stakes in all three contexts.
Meg is a fantastic storyteller. She finds ways to leave us at cliffhangers throughout the book while returning to someone else's story. She also has loads of new characters, but their stories were so different, it was easy to follow the changes in stories. And we know that the stories will eventually converge, although I have no idea how she's going to do it. I also love that after the Pelenor chronicles alluded to and then pushed aside Aedon's personal struggles, hiding them behind his charm and humor, his journey with Lief in Flight of Sorcery and Shadow has forced him to begin to deal with them. I have high hopes for him in this new saga. As far as the siblings' stories, their family history is not their fault, nor is it their parents' fault, and that's something I don't often see addressed in fantasy. For them to carry burdens not of their own making and choose to not succumb to the darkness that promises an easy out, well, I'm rooting for them all the way. Also, one of the grimoires reminds me of Garth Nix's Mogget. Maybe it's just me, but he (it? - does a grimoire have gender?) makes me so happy!
Why do I have to wait for the next book?
I received an ARC from the author and have reviewed it because it's amazing, and everyone should read it, and all the libraries should get it, and did I mention that it's really, really good?
sydneysbooknook's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
4.0
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