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jenglandk's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-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
5.0
Thank you NetGalley and Kali Wallace for giving me an advance reader copy in exchange for an honesty review!
This book is about 12yr old Octavia who lives in the walled city of Vittoria, the last city and home to the only survivors from the mass destruction of a Sorcerer's war 50 years ago, and is loathing her 13th birthday when she will have to pick up an apprenticeship with a local crafter instead of becoming what she really wants: a hunter. Despite the dangers of traveling alone outside of Vittoria's walls alone, Octavia escapes the city one afternoon to practice her hunting skills her recently missing-and-presumed-dead sister, Hana, taught her only to be faced with the largest Ferox she has ever seen. Ferox, created by an unnamed Sorcerer, are monsters made up of wood, metal, soil, and EVIL that lurk outside of Vittoria killing unlucky residents caught outside the walls at night. Octavia tries to escape, but is unable to lose the large Ferox that is seconds away from eating her alive when an arrow strikes the Ferox down. An arrow belonging to someone Octavia doesn't recognize...a stranger...someone not from Vittoria. Octavia is suddenly faced with the truth that the world after the war is bigger than she knew, but not everyone in Vittoria is wants this truth to get out.
Wallace's world building is masterful, full of diverse people, experiences, cultures, environments, and magic. The book did not end like a sequel is the plan, but the world is expansive enough that I think it is a possibility.
Super rewarding twist throughout that put some of the thrillers I have read to shame. Some of them were predictable, but the timing of each was perfect and there were no loose ends.
Octavia is lovable, so is Sima, but Rufus...Rufus must be protected at all costs<3
By developing morally grey characters, providing a host of truths and lies, and leaving the ending realistically open, Wallace invited her young readers to consider complex topics such as power, good and evil, and freedom in a magical landscape.
All in all, such a fun, fast-paced middle-grade fantasy that I will likely purchase for my high school library!
This book is about 12yr old Octavia who lives in the walled city of Vittoria, the last city and home to the only survivors from the mass destruction of a Sorcerer's war 50 years ago, and is loathing her 13th birthday when she will have to pick up an apprenticeship with a local crafter instead of becoming what she really wants: a hunter. Despite the dangers of traveling alone outside of Vittoria's walls alone, Octavia escapes the city one afternoon to practice her hunting skills her recently missing-and-presumed-dead sister, Hana, taught her only to be faced with the largest Ferox she has ever seen. Ferox, created by an unnamed Sorcerer, are monsters made up of wood, metal, soil, and EVIL that lurk outside of Vittoria killing unlucky residents caught outside the walls at night. Octavia tries to escape, but is unable to lose the large Ferox that is seconds away from eating her alive when an arrow strikes the Ferox down. An arrow belonging to someone Octavia doesn't recognize...a stranger...someone not from Vittoria. Octavia is suddenly faced with the truth that the world after the war is bigger than she knew, but not everyone in Vittoria is wants this truth to get out.
Wallace's world building is masterful, full of diverse people, experiences, cultures, environments, and magic. The book did not end like a sequel is the plan, but the world is expansive enough that I think it is a possibility.
Super rewarding twist throughout that put some of the thrillers I have read to shame. Some of them were predictable, but the timing of each was perfect and there were no loose ends.
Octavia is lovable, so is Sima, but Rufus...Rufus must be protected at all costs<3
By developing morally grey characters, providing a host of truths and lies, and leaving the ending realistically open, Wallace invited her young readers to consider complex topics such as power, good and evil, and freedom in a magical landscape.
All in all, such a fun, fast-paced middle-grade fantasy that I will likely purchase for my high school library!
emmycd's review against another edition
4.0
Nearly a month since I finished this and I FINALLY can sit down and actually write a review for this book. This is not because of the book itself, but because I have been so snowed under at work that I could barely read, never mind write a review. But now, I am on my Christmas break!
First of all, thank you to Kali Wallace and Netgalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Octavia has grown up in Vittoria, the last populated city after the rest of the kingdom was decimated in a horrific magical war. Outside the city walls, ferox roam and will attack anyone outside the city gates after dark. Octavia longs to be a hunter of ferox, but is being forced into another path after the death of her sister and the injury of her mother at the hands of a ferox. That doesn't stop Octavia roaming outside the walls though and is then that she encounters a girl who claims she is from another city. Who is telling the truth in this world?
I really enjoyed reading this novel and I know that a lot of my KS3 students would enjoy this too. It reminds me of a YA version of The Village and I think it is executed really well. All the characters are believable and you become really invested in the story. I highly recommend it.
First of all, thank you to Kali Wallace and Netgalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Octavia has grown up in Vittoria, the last populated city after the rest of the kingdom was decimated in a horrific magical war. Outside the city walls, ferox roam and will attack anyone outside the city gates after dark. Octavia longs to be a hunter of ferox, but is being forced into another path after the death of her sister and the injury of her mother at the hands of a ferox. That doesn't stop Octavia roaming outside the walls though and is then that she encounters a girl who claims she is from another city. Who is telling the truth in this world?
I really enjoyed reading this novel and I know that a lot of my KS3 students would enjoy this too. It reminds me of a YA version of The Village and I think it is executed really well. All the characters are believable and you become really invested in the story. I highly recommend it.
ozshark's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Vittoria has been shut off from the rest of the world for over 50 years, since the great Sorcerer's Battle, In fact, their citizens have been led to believe there is nothing beyond their walls but monsters - they are the last humans left alive. Hunters venture outside the city to gather resources and fight these sorcerer-created monsters, the Ferox. Octavia wants to be a Hunter, like her now injured mother and her older sister who died facing one of the Ferox, but her mother will not let her as she doesn't want to lose her also.
I thought most of this novel would be about Octavia's journey to becoming a Hunter anyway, but instead this is just a device to get her outside the city walls, where she meets another human! This starts to open her eyes to her world not being as she thought. What else has she been lied to about?
This was a very interesting story, and I am intrigued to know how it may be developed from here. Some elements of this fantasy novel were quite unique. I liked the way the leaders were significantly older than usual, and also that nearly all the main characters were women. I presume these were concious choices to redress the imbalance that often occurs in fanatsy writing. I also liked that the "villains" were multi-faceted and ambiguous for much of the story.
The weakest element for me was the motivation and big confrontation between two of the major characters. Other than their desire for personal power, it was very unclear why this confrontation was happening now, after fifty years, or why no other avenues were explored. Still a highly enjoyable read. 3.5 stars. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this eARC.
I thought most of this novel would be about Octavia's journey to becoming a Hunter anyway, but instead this is just a device to get her outside the city walls, where she meets another human! This starts to open her eyes to her world not being as she thought. What else has she been lied to about?
This was a very interesting story, and I am intrigued to know how it may be developed from here. Some elements of this fantasy novel were quite unique. I liked the way the leaders were significantly older than usual, and also that nearly all the main characters were women. I presume these were concious choices to redress the imbalance that often occurs in fanatsy writing. I also liked that the "villains" were multi-faceted and ambiguous for much of the story.
The weakest element for me was the motivation and big confrontation between two of the major characters. Other than their desire for personal power, it was very unclear why this confrontation was happening now, after fifty years, or why no other avenues were explored. Still a highly enjoyable read. 3.5 stars. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this eARC.
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