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nevarrum's review against another edition
4.0
I had mo expectations coming into this but had read good things.
Let me start by saying this exceeded my expectations it is a great page turner once I got into it I found it hard to put it down this is always a good thing in a book.
Hugely character driven with very good world building, I tend to like fantasy that is set in it's own world but has nods to specific historical places and periods, Venetian society is certainly a new one on me.
The author also creates a compelling political system which drives a lot of the story and I really found myself drawn in to the intrigue and machinations of the Empires elites.
The magic system hopefully will be something that is developed more, there is good depth here but I feel there is more to know and understand and hope we can learn with the characters.
Straight onto book 2 for me.
Let me start by saying this exceeded my expectations it is a great page turner once I got into it I found it hard to put it down this is always a good thing in a book.
Hugely character driven with very good world building, I tend to like fantasy that is set in it's own world but has nods to specific historical places and periods, Venetian society is certainly a new one on me.
The author also creates a compelling political system which drives a lot of the story and I really found myself drawn in to the intrigue and machinations of the Empires elites.
The magic system hopefully will be something that is developed more, there is good depth here but I feel there is more to know and understand and hope we can learn with the characters.
Straight onto book 2 for me.
hattiesbooks21's review against another edition
4.0
This was a very interesting read. I am so glad that I have picked up this book to read finally after it being on my TBR for too long. I loved the writing style of this book as it definitely gripped my attention. With the story and plot of this book was very interesting and with the way the characters developed throughout the book, helped make the story very interesting. And with how the story ended, I am definitely curious to what's going to happen next.
jessielrod89's review against another edition
3.0
I was intrigued by the concept, however the pace of the book made it difficult to get into. I also wanted more character development, from Zaira in particular. The last several chapters were much more enjoyable than the first two-thirds of the book, but I still don't feel inclined to read the second book at this point.
laceanddaggerbooks's review against another edition
3.0
I have mixed feelings about this book. The world building is fantastic and the plot really interesting. But there were a lot of places where it felt so slow and I'd struggle to focus.
The bits I enjoyed I really liked and I'll definitely read book 2. But this isn't a book that you can devour easily. It takes a little bit of time and focus but in the end it's worth it.
The bits I enjoyed I really liked and I'll definitely read book 2. But this isn't a book that you can devour easily. It takes a little bit of time and focus but in the end it's worth it.
unabridgedbibliophile's review against another edition
4.0
4.5 stars This read a lot more like a young adult high fantasy novel then I was expecting. I really enjoyed the confrontations and dynamics between the two female main characters. I also really enjoyed all of the political rivalries and machinations.
lorintheninth's review against another edition
3.0
I can’t quite decide between a 2.5 or a 3 star rating so it’s sitting at a 3 for now.
I really enjoyed the world building in this book, it felt like the different regions in this world were all quite distinct by the end. I will admit it took some getting used to at the beginning as it’s a lot of information - I think this book would have benefitted from a map of some kind to help with that.
There are lots of different characters that kept things fresh. Again, quite an adjustment at the beginning but by the end it’s all clear.
One plot point I took issue with was that the rich white girl trapped the poor non-white girl, like almost every other book of this kind. It’s boring and repetitive and I really didn’t like that this was the way the author chose to start this book off.
I love a political fantasy novel, but this missed the mark somewhat for me. There were definitely some scenes I was surprised by, and I really enjoyed the majority of the characters we came to know. The character development was particularly noticeable in two of the protagonists which felt natural.
I think for a lot of this book I wasn’t entirely sure what was going on so I had to re-read a few pages to make sure I didn’t miss anything.
If you’re intrigued by the synopsis and are looking for a politics heavy, somewhat slower paced historical fantasy book, this is the one for you.
I really enjoyed the world building in this book, it felt like the different regions in this world were all quite distinct by the end. I will admit it took some getting used to at the beginning as it’s a lot of information - I think this book would have benefitted from a map of some kind to help with that.
There are lots of different characters that kept things fresh. Again, quite an adjustment at the beginning but by the end it’s all clear.
One plot point I took issue with was that the rich white girl trapped the poor non-white girl, like almost every other book of this kind. It’s boring and repetitive and I really didn’t like that this was the way the author chose to start this book off.
I love a political fantasy novel, but this missed the mark somewhat for me. There were definitely some scenes I was surprised by, and I really enjoyed the majority of the characters we came to know. The character development was particularly noticeable in two of the protagonists which felt natural.
I think for a lot of this book I wasn’t entirely sure what was going on so I had to re-read a few pages to make sure I didn’t miss anything.
If you’re intrigued by the synopsis and are looking for a politics heavy, somewhat slower paced historical fantasy book, this is the one for you.
madnehrkorn's review against another edition
3.0
This book was 99.9% plot and the plot was basically politics and war. Which I like but there were a lot of factions and characters that were difficult to keep straight at times. Loved Zaira and wanted more of her! I think this would have been great with a dual Amalia/ Zaira POV.
robinbridgefour's review against another edition
4.0
Sale Alert: Kindle Daily Deal 20May20 for $2.99
Have you ever bought a book just because you really liked the cover? I fall into this trap every once and awhile and I will say that I sometimes it bites me in the butt but at least this time the inside of the book was about as substantial as the outside.
Political intrigues aren’t really my cup-o-tea. I’m more action/world building oriented in my fantasy but the Tethered Mage did a pretty decent job of holding my attention even so.
Amalia is heir to a powerful position on the council of nine. They pretty much run the Serene Empire. Her mother has spies everywhere, is two steps ahead of everyone and has been testing and training Amalia her entire life to be the most powerful woman in the Empire one day.
Amalia however just happened to be in the wrong place at the right time and ended up saving the city but at a cost. She is now the proud Falconer of a Mage. Which means she has bound a powerful mage to her and can turn that mage’s magic on and off with a word.
Zaira is the powerful mage in question and she isn’t really happy about being saved and having a falconer. So at first there is some dissention between them. No matter how pretty the cage it is still a cage. Zaira takes awhile to warm up to she is somewhat of a brat through most of the book but the enemies to friends transition is one I usually like in a book
There is a bad guy or a few actually but the main bad guy probably won’t play into the story much until the next book. Ruven is a mage that can control your body. With just a touch of his skin he can seize control and cause pleasure, pain, numbness, healing etc. He was creepy, like over the top creepy.
There is a good guy Marcello and I can’t believe I’m going to say this but he is too good. I was actually hoping that he was tangled up in the plot somehow to make him a little more three dimensional. He just seemed too good to be true for most of the book and he is also the inappropriate love interest for Amalia. I feel just so-so about the very subdued love story that was thrown in.
Overall the book is too long. It just seemed to keep going and going and I was ready for a wrap up to the story about 2/3rds in. I liked Amalia but most of the other characters I didn’t form any emotional attachment too. I really wanted to explore a little more of the magic in this world and would have liked to have done some training with Amalia and Zaira while in the Mews (the place all mage marked live).
I’m hoping for a little more action in the next book in the series and not as much bickering. While well written I would have liked to cut at least 100 pages out of the book overall.
thank you to netgalley and the publisher for the digital copy
Have you ever bought a book just because you really liked the cover? I fall into this trap every once and awhile and I will say that I sometimes it bites me in the butt but at least this time the inside of the book was about as substantial as the outside.
Political intrigues aren’t really my cup-o-tea. I’m more action/world building oriented in my fantasy but the Tethered Mage did a pretty decent job of holding my attention even so.
Amalia is heir to a powerful position on the council of nine. They pretty much run the Serene Empire. Her mother has spies everywhere, is two steps ahead of everyone and has been testing and training Amalia her entire life to be the most powerful woman in the Empire one day.
“You’ll do fine, child. Just remember who you are.”
Who I was, or who she wished me to be? My throat tightened. “I’m not good at these games. Not like you are, Mamma.”
“Then don’t play. Figure out what you are good at, and make that the game.”
Amalia however just happened to be in the wrong place at the right time and ended up saving the city but at a cost. She is now the proud Falconer of a Mage. Which means she has bound a powerful mage to her and can turn that mage’s magic on and off with a word.
Zaira is the powerful mage in question and she isn’t really happy about being saved and having a falconer. So at first there is some dissention between them. No matter how pretty the cage it is still a cage. Zaira takes awhile to warm up to she is somewhat of a brat through most of the book but the enemies to friends transition is one I usually like in a book
There is a bad guy or a few actually but the main bad guy probably won’t play into the story much until the next book. Ruven is a mage that can control your body. With just a touch of his skin he can seize control and cause pleasure, pain, numbness, healing etc. He was creepy, like over the top creepy.
There is a good guy Marcello and I can’t believe I’m going to say this but he is too good. I was actually hoping that he was tangled up in the plot somehow to make him a little more three dimensional. He just seemed too good to be true for most of the book and he is also the inappropriate love interest for Amalia. I feel just so-so about the very subdued love story that was thrown in.
Overall the book is too long. It just seemed to keep going and going and I was ready for a wrap up to the story about 2/3rds in. I liked Amalia but most of the other characters I didn’t form any emotional attachment too. I really wanted to explore a little more of the magic in this world and would have liked to have done some training with Amalia and Zaira while in the Mews (the place all mage marked live).
I’m hoping for a little more action in the next book in the series and not as much bickering. While well written I would have liked to cut at least 100 pages out of the book overall.
thank you to netgalley and the publisher for the digital copy
tyraleann's review against another edition
4.0
4.5/5 stars
This is the most bingeable thing I've read in awhile. It is on the cusp of YA/NA, the main characters are 18/19 years old. However, this is a series that I could see becoming more and more adult as characters grow up.
The entire magic system hinges on a pair: falcon/falconer. Falcons are magic users: warlocks, artificers, alchemists etc. Falconers are their binders. The falcons are tethered to their falconers by magical means of a bracelet. The inciting incident sees Lady Amalia, heir to a set on the Council of Nine, become a falconer when an out of control fire mage threatens the city. From there a complex political plot takes off with the Empire's seat of power potentially dragged into war on multiple fronts.
The plot is fast-paced and full of political intrigue. The prose is flows really well in compliment to the plot. I can't wait to continue the series.
This is the most bingeable thing I've read in awhile. It is on the cusp of YA/NA, the main characters are 18/19 years old. However, this is a series that I could see becoming more and more adult as characters grow up.
The entire magic system hinges on a pair: falcon/falconer. Falcons are magic users: warlocks, artificers, alchemists etc. Falconers are their binders. The falcons are tethered to their falconers by magical means of a bracelet. The inciting incident sees Lady Amalia, heir to a set on the Council of Nine, become a falconer when an out of control fire mage threatens the city. From there a complex political plot takes off with the Empire's seat of power potentially dragged into war on multiple fronts.
The plot is fast-paced and full of political intrigue. The prose is flows really well in compliment to the plot. I can't wait to continue the series.
imds's review against another edition
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
3.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Gun violence, Torture, Violence, Blood, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, and Abandonment