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lennie_reads's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Thanks to Netgalley & Titan Books for my ARC.
When I first requested this I thought it was a sequel to Witherward so when i realised it was a prequel featuring Cassia as our MC, I wasn't quite sure what to expect.
This book is set (i think) a couple of years before the events in Witherward, and mostly within the Sorcerer district. Cassia has gone back to her family home to try and improve her magic, but her family are distant and her Grandfather is a tyrannical leader of their faction.
At the same time as Cassia is trying to improve her magic, her brother has found a way out of his banishment from the Otherworld.
The book then follows dual POV of Cassia and her brother, Ollivand. As they learn how to trust each other and get to know one another having been separated for most of their lives.
It took me a bit to get into this book but I genuinely really enjoyed it. I always wanted to see more of Cassia after reading Witherward so was glad of that opportunity. In the context of the whole Witherward series it didn't necessarily need to be written and could easily be a standalone in it's own right, but I enjoyed it.
I appreciated getting to know Cassia and Hester more, as well as having more of a deep dive into the politics of the other factions and all the corruption.
I really love the world building and magic systems that Mathewson has created within the Witherward series and very much look forward to the next installment.
CW: injury, fire, torture, death
When I first requested this I thought it was a sequel to Witherward so when i realised it was a prequel featuring Cassia as our MC, I wasn't quite sure what to expect.
This book is set (i think) a couple of years before the events in Witherward, and mostly within the Sorcerer district. Cassia has gone back to her family home to try and improve her magic, but her family are distant and her Grandfather is a tyrannical leader of their faction.
At the same time as Cassia is trying to improve her magic, her brother has found a way out of his banishment from the Otherworld.
The book then follows dual POV of Cassia and her brother, Ollivand. As they learn how to trust each other and get to know one another having been separated for most of their lives.
It took me a bit to get into this book but I genuinely really enjoyed it. I always wanted to see more of Cassia after reading Witherward so was glad of that opportunity. In the context of the whole Witherward series it didn't necessarily need to be written and could easily be a standalone in it's own right, but I enjoyed it.
I appreciated getting to know Cassia and Hester more, as well as having more of a deep dive into the politics of the other factions and all the corruption.
I really love the world building and magic systems that Mathewson has created within the Witherward series and very much look forward to the next installment.
CW: injury, fire, torture, death
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Torture, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail
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