Scan barcode
kathydavie's review against another edition
3.0
First in The World of Kinsmen series, a novella revolving around enhanced humans in space. The couple focus is on Meli Galdes and Celino Caravanna.
My Take
An extremely short story that appears to incorporate Indian culture and introduce this world Andrews has created.
I will say that Andrews has created a complex world in these few pages, even though the idea of excision also occurs in her Hidden Legacy series.
Andrews uses third person dual protagonist point-of-view from Meli's and Celino's perspectives. And it's too bad Andrews didn't milk this for tension. Sure there's a bit, but there isn't the depth of emotion I would have liked to see. It's too mellow.
It's not so much action, but a shallow look at their characters. I guess I'll have to read Silver Shark to see if it gets any better. It is, after all, an Andrews.
The Story
It's a chance for revenge. To use part of her family legacy to make Celino Caravanna regret his past actions.
To kill the man who ruined her life.
The Characters
New Delphi is . . .
. . . a city housing twenty-one kinsmen families of note. Families noted for their enhancements who realized the need to keep their enhancements exclusive and maintain their power. There are two types of enhancements: technological, which don't breed through, and biological, which do continue through the bloodline.
Meli Galdes, a.k.a. Meli Asole Grey, Imelda Anara Galdes, is a melder and an assassin who excised herself from her family after her life was ruined twelve years ago.
The Galdes family, a small power, lost on Valemia Inc. Arani Galdes had been its CEO and had been Meli's cousin. Angel, Meli's brother, has trained to mimic. Aunt Nex, Grandmother, and Meli's mom all have a certain something. Lyon is Meli's father. Azare.
Celino Caravanna, the head of their industry and a financial shark, had been Meli's betrothed. Marcus, a walking poison, is Celino's bodyguard along with Romuld and Ven. Naria is his sister. Aunt Rene loves the Rynok Market.
Agostino Canopus, Arbitrator Second Class, is the head of Canopus Inc. Vierra Canopus is Agostino's father. Garcia was another victim. Ascanio runs a café. INSA file. Vinderra Wineries is run by Alfonso. The Arid Foundation. Nicola's Orchard is next door.
A Chronicle of the Reign of Charles IX by Prosper Mérimée. Alexander Green wrote Scarlet Sails.
The Cover and Title
The top two-thirds of the cover is the deep blue of outer space with an abstract of greens and blues of the planet in the bottom third. Superimposed between the two is a translucent white flower. All the text is white, starting with the author's name at the top with an info blurb immediately below it. At the bottom right half is the title with the series info below it.
The title is all Meli, for she is the Silent Blade.
My Take
An extremely short story that appears to incorporate Indian culture and introduce this world Andrews has created.
I will say that Andrews has created a complex world in these few pages, even though the idea of excision also occurs in her Hidden Legacy series.
Andrews uses third person dual protagonist point-of-view from Meli's and Celino's perspectives. And it's too bad Andrews didn't milk this for tension. Sure there's a bit, but there isn't the depth of emotion I would have liked to see. It's too mellow.
It's not so much action, but a shallow look at their characters. I guess I'll have to read Silver Shark to see if it gets any better. It is, after all, an Andrews.
The Story
It's a chance for revenge. To use part of her family legacy to make Celino Caravanna regret his past actions.
To kill the man who ruined her life.
The Characters
New Delphi is . . .
. . . a city housing twenty-one kinsmen families of note. Families noted for their enhancements who realized the need to keep their enhancements exclusive and maintain their power. There are two types of enhancements: technological, which don't breed through, and biological, which do continue through the bloodline.
Meli Galdes, a.k.a. Meli Asole Grey, Imelda Anara Galdes, is a melder and an assassin who excised herself from her family after her life was ruined twelve years ago.
The Galdes family, a small power, lost on Valemia Inc. Arani Galdes had been its CEO and had been Meli's cousin. Angel, Meli's brother, has trained to mimic. Aunt Nex, Grandmother, and Meli's mom all have a certain something. Lyon is Meli's father. Azare.
Celino Caravanna, the head of their industry and a financial shark, had been Meli's betrothed. Marcus, a walking poison, is Celino's bodyguard along with Romuld and Ven. Naria is his sister. Aunt Rene loves the Rynok Market.
Agostino Canopus, Arbitrator Second Class, is the head of Canopus Inc. Vierra Canopus is Agostino's father. Garcia was another victim. Ascanio runs a café. INSA file. Vinderra Wineries is run by Alfonso. The Arid Foundation. Nicola's Orchard is next door.
A Chronicle of the Reign of Charles IX by Prosper Mérimée. Alexander Green wrote Scarlet Sails.
The Cover and Title
The top two-thirds of the cover is the deep blue of outer space with an abstract of greens and blues of the planet in the bottom third. Superimposed between the two is a translucent white flower. All the text is white, starting with the author's name at the top with an info blurb immediately below it. At the bottom right half is the title with the series info below it.
The title is all Meli, for she is the Silent Blade.
arion's review
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
treatyoshelvesxo's review against another edition
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
5.0
fiatlux78's review
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
bookdevouringmisfit's review against another edition
3.0
OMG thank you so much Aj the Ravenous Reader for recommending this to me. YOU ARE THE BEST. Now go check out her amazing review on this one here. I'm too lazy to write my own and besides, her review says it all already. The only thing I could add is that I wish this was longer!!!!
clockworkbook's review against another edition
5.0
10th+ Re-Read after so many re-reads, I must love this series... 5⭐️
Original Read Rating: 4⭐️
Original Read Rating: 4⭐️
katyanaish's review against another edition
4.0
I loved this! I loved the characters and the world, and I would love love love for Andrews to make this into a full-length series. Hooray!
the_lyon_reads_tonight's review against another edition
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
bingley's review
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
fast-paced
4.5
(240318) I thought DAM, this progressed fast, but then I realized it was a novella LOL. Ok, forgiven. But even with that, pacing was solid, world-building solid, characters solid, plot SOLID.
TLDR: Noice. Interesting enough characters and world for me to wish Author would develop this world/series!
Meli had this melder ene-power that I'm not sure how to imagine in my head, but I'm sure if it was given more time to develop (from novella to full length novel), then I would be able to imagine it better XD.
Celino is a callous, arrogant jerk and he stays that way. I do appreciate that the Author didn't try to redeem or brush his asshole-ness under the rug, like I love you and I'm a great person now! So props to some believable consistency/development.
POV: third person, dual.
SPICE: more open door description than kate daniels coming at you, right away too! given it's a novella! I def looked around like, GRL what happened to waiting?? What happened to the plan! Dam, you're really getting into it! Turns out that was her plan. XD
TLDR: Noice. Interesting enough characters and world for me to wish Author would develop this world/series!
Meli had this melder ene-power that I'm not sure how to imagine in my head, but I'm sure if it was given more time to develop (from novella to full length novel), then I would be able to imagine it better XD.
Celino is a callous, arrogant jerk and he stays that way. I do appreciate that the Author didn't try to redeem or brush his asshole-ness under the rug, like I love you and I'm a great person now! So props to some believable consistency/development.
POV: third person, dual.
SPICE: more open door description than kate daniels coming at you, right away too! given it's a novella! I def looked around like, GRL what happened to waiting?? What happened to the plan! Dam, you're really getting into it! Turns out that was her plan. XD