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tabatha_shipley's review
3.0
What I Did Like:
-Kaia. She isn’t the perfect chosen one right from the beginning of this book. I’m a fan of the chosen one trope but I love seeing that twisted and played with as well. This book definitely has her fighting back against it, failing at it, and being ostracised for it. All well done.
-Enemies to lovers … lite. I say lite because even when they were declaring themselves enemies I saw right through them. They’re cute and the side romance works.
-Fantasy creatures. We already know I’m a sucker for dragons. Add in a large cat and I’m SOLD. The fantasy animals in this just worked for me.
Who Should Read This One:
-Fantasy fans who like immersive worlds.
-Readers who enjoy when tropes are played with a little and twisted into new forms.
My Rating: 3 stars. This is a good fantasy story that will appeal to many fantasy readers.
For Full Review (including what I didn’t like): https://youtu.be/GLqg2VbZy5w
-Kaia. She isn’t the perfect chosen one right from the beginning of this book. I’m a fan of the chosen one trope but I love seeing that twisted and played with as well. This book definitely has her fighting back against it, failing at it, and being ostracised for it. All well done.
-Enemies to lovers … lite. I say lite because even when they were declaring themselves enemies I saw right through them. They’re cute and the side romance works.
-Fantasy creatures. We already know I’m a sucker for dragons. Add in a large cat and I’m SOLD. The fantasy animals in this just worked for me.
Who Should Read This One:
-Fantasy fans who like immersive worlds.
-Readers who enjoy when tropes are played with a little and twisted into new forms.
My Rating: 3 stars. This is a good fantasy story that will appeal to many fantasy readers.
For Full Review (including what I didn’t like): https://youtu.be/GLqg2VbZy5w
brittanica_bold's review
4.0
Big thank you to Hayley Reese Chow for reaching out to me and providing me with a copy of this book! The opinions expressed below are voluntary and my own.
What I liked about the book:
1. It has a map! I love when books include maps, because you know some crazy stuff is going to go down and the worldbuilding is going to be insane!
97% of the time a book has a map, I’m guaranteed to fall in love! This was no exception!
2. I love mythology, real and created for the sake of literature, so the fact that this book was driven entirely by legend was very much my jam!
Original Legend: “three ordinary men stepped forward to confront Nifras, the demon necromancer, and his army of the Lost” (basically an army of the undead lead by a super bad guy). “The high spirit, Odriel, blessed them with great gifts to pass down to their Heirs. To the bravest, he gave the power of the Dragon – or fire. He cloaked the cunning in shadow – to walk unseen. And to the kind, he gave his healing touch.”
Add to this a missing (maybe even dead?) heir, a mini-boss that basically looks like Voldemort, an emotional support dog sidekick, a talking cat, and stories of previous heirs doing pretty crazy stuff to summon Odriel’s assistance, and I was a total happy camper!
3. Characters
Kaia – our FMC with the perfect amount of spark and flaws!
I cannot tell you how much I loved that Kaia was such an outcast in her community! She was literally stoned and yelled at for her abilities, but then still had to save everyone when the time came. Isn’t that the mark of a real hero???
Also, the author did a great job showing that she was no Mary Sue. The background and learning that went into her abilities was described as a lifelong experience instead of something she could just magically do, and she still didn’t come out on top in most instances. I loved the background that she was not the strongest in the events the heirs competed in and that she frequently lost in sparring matches with the Shadow Heir her whole life. This did a lot to humanize her character and made her truly relatable. It also made it that much more believable and exciting when she did something incredible! I absolutely loved her as the FMC!
Klaus – our MMC who you just know has one of those delicious bad boy smirks and eyes only for the FMC. I loved his nature of playfulness mixed with strong-will, and how he had her back at every turn. I also liked the bit of jealousy we got to see come out and play
What I liked about the book:
1. It has a map! I love when books include maps, because you know some crazy stuff is going to go down and the worldbuilding is going to be insane!
97% of the time a book has a map, I’m guaranteed to fall in love! This was no exception!
2. I love mythology, real and created for the sake of literature, so the fact that this book was driven entirely by legend was very much my jam!
Original Legend: “three ordinary men stepped forward to confront Nifras, the demon necromancer, and his army of the Lost” (basically an army of the undead lead by a super bad guy). “The high spirit, Odriel, blessed them with great gifts to pass down to their Heirs. To the bravest, he gave the power of the Dragon – or fire. He cloaked the cunning in shadow – to walk unseen. And to the kind, he gave his healing touch.”
Add to this a missing (maybe even dead?) heir, a mini-boss that basically looks like Voldemort, an emotional support dog sidekick, a talking cat, and stories of previous heirs doing pretty crazy stuff to summon Odriel’s assistance, and I was a total happy camper!
3. Characters
Kaia – our FMC with the perfect amount of spark and flaws!
I cannot tell you how much I loved that Kaia was such an outcast in her community! She was literally stoned and yelled at for her abilities, but then still had to save everyone when the time came. Isn’t that the mark of a real hero???
Also, the author did a great job showing that she was no Mary Sue. The background and learning that went into her abilities was described as a lifelong experience instead of something she could just magically do, and she still didn’t come out on top in most instances. I loved the background that she was not the strongest in the events the heirs competed in and that she frequently lost in sparring matches with the Shadow Heir her whole life. This did a lot to humanize her character and made her truly relatable. It also made it that much more believable and exciting when she did something incredible! I absolutely loved her as the FMC!
Klaus – our MMC who you just know has one of those delicious bad boy smirks and eyes only for the FMC. I loved his nature of playfulness mixed with strong-will, and how he had her back at every turn. I also liked the bit of jealousy we got to see come out and play
chantelspeaks's review
4.0
For more reviews, head to my blog Chantel Speaks
“Light the darkness, Dragon”
Okarria has always been protected by the Heirs; three individuals with special gifts from the god Odriel that together protect their homelands. Seventeen-year-old Kaia is the latest descendent of the Dragon Heir. It is she who must stand tall and fight a necromancer who is raising an army of the undead. Together with the Shadow Heir, Klaus, and her faithful rage hound, Gus, they journey to protect Okarria before the undead consume the land. Complications arise, as the Time Heir is missing and Kaia and Klaus must work together better than ever if they are to survive without him.
This book really moves right off the bat. From the first chapters, you’re thrown in the middle of Kaia’s world as the Lost, the army of the undead attacks her home. Though young and unsure of herself, she’s armed with the power of her dragon fire. She fights them off and leaves to find her father and the Shadow Heir Klaus to fight back against the growing hordes of the Lost.
“Sometimes when I’m scared, I just tell myself that I’m brave, over and over.” She clenched her fist. “Then, I take the first step” She smiled at him. “That’s the hardest part.”
Kaia is coming into her own throughout this book, and the story has strong coming-of-age vibes. Kaia and Klaus are similar ages and without the Time Heir, lack adult figures to guide them through. The fate of Okarria rests on the strength of her dragon fire to hold off the undead, while Klaus must use his shadows and cunning to stop the necromancer. Both Kaia and Klaus are unsure of themselves, with an uncertain future thrust at them.
Gus and Kaia’s relationship was one of my favourite parts of the book. It’s been a while since I’ve read a Fantasy with an animal sidekick, and I just loved it. Gus is tough, loyal and loving every step of the way. Any scene he was in whether it was protecting Kaia or trying to keep her dragon fire under control, he was just the best. 10/10, what a good boy.
“If you ever need a light, remember the one that burns within you that never goes out”
This book touches on the complications of family and destiny, against a backdrop of loyalty, love and sacrifice. It truly fits nicely into the Young Adult genre, and I think Kaia and Klaus are both characters that teenage and adolescent readers would enjoy and relate to.
Though I enjoyed the world building in this book, don’t read this with an expectation that Odriel’s Heirs will reinvent the Fantasy wheel. Okarria has the potential to be a far-reaching Fantasy with intricate world building. However, the level of detail is just not there. What Odriel’s Heirs is, is a highly-enjoyable Fantasy read, with enough action and adventure to keep you turning the pages.
This was a pretty quick read for me. I really got into it as the plot unfolded. This is a Fantasy that hits in the right places. It’s an enjoyable read and I look forward to following the series.
“Light the darkness, Dragon”
Okarria has always been protected by the Heirs; three individuals with special gifts from the god Odriel that together protect their homelands. Seventeen-year-old Kaia is the latest descendent of the Dragon Heir. It is she who must stand tall and fight a necromancer who is raising an army of the undead. Together with the Shadow Heir, Klaus, and her faithful rage hound, Gus, they journey to protect Okarria before the undead consume the land. Complications arise, as the Time Heir is missing and Kaia and Klaus must work together better than ever if they are to survive without him.
This book really moves right off the bat. From the first chapters, you’re thrown in the middle of Kaia’s world as the Lost, the army of the undead attacks her home. Though young and unsure of herself, she’s armed with the power of her dragon fire. She fights them off and leaves to find her father and the Shadow Heir Klaus to fight back against the growing hordes of the Lost.
“Sometimes when I’m scared, I just tell myself that I’m brave, over and over.” She clenched her fist. “Then, I take the first step” She smiled at him. “That’s the hardest part.”
Kaia is coming into her own throughout this book, and the story has strong coming-of-age vibes. Kaia and Klaus are similar ages and without the Time Heir, lack adult figures to guide them through. The fate of Okarria rests on the strength of her dragon fire to hold off the undead, while Klaus must use his shadows and cunning to stop the necromancer. Both Kaia and Klaus are unsure of themselves, with an uncertain future thrust at them.
Gus and Kaia’s relationship was one of my favourite parts of the book. It’s been a while since I’ve read a Fantasy with an animal sidekick, and I just loved it. Gus is tough, loyal and loving every step of the way. Any scene he was in whether it was protecting Kaia or trying to keep her dragon fire under control, he was just the best. 10/10, what a good boy.
“If you ever need a light, remember the one that burns within you that never goes out”
This book touches on the complications of family and destiny, against a backdrop of loyalty, love and sacrifice. It truly fits nicely into the Young Adult genre, and I think Kaia and Klaus are both characters that teenage and adolescent readers would enjoy and relate to.
Though I enjoyed the world building in this book, don’t read this with an expectation that Odriel’s Heirs will reinvent the Fantasy wheel. Okarria has the potential to be a far-reaching Fantasy with intricate world building. However, the level of detail is just not there. What Odriel’s Heirs is, is a highly-enjoyable Fantasy read, with enough action and adventure to keep you turning the pages.
This was a pretty quick read for me. I really got into it as the plot unfolded. This is a Fantasy that hits in the right places. It’s an enjoyable read and I look forward to following the series.
wasauthor's review
4.0
I received an advance reader copy of Odriel’s Heirs for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Odriel’s Heirs offers a new fantasy world replete with magic and mythological creatures, a new society, and how these elements all fit together. Not long after I started reading, I was taken by its world. Okarria has been brought to vivid life by the author, a world that feels lived in by its occupants, with an intriguing magic system including necromancy and the zombie-like “Lost,” dragons, unique fantastical creatures, the god Odriel, and Odriel’s titular heirs: the Dragon Heir, the Shadow Heir and the Time Heir. And on top of all that, a talking cat. As the novel continues, the author expands upon the world, deepening it and adding to its vibrancy, without sacrificing the story or its characters.
If there is one star of Odriel’s Heirs, it’s the prose. The writing is arresting, presenting the world, those who inhabit it, and the story in beautiful, picturesque detail. The writing transports the reader into the book, seeing everything through its protagonist’s eyes. Sentences flow together poetically, drawing the reader in and keeping them there. I marvelled at the beauty of how well the words fit together to tell the story. Unfortunately, the occasional typo and some sentences, including excess words, stood out.
The prose's beauty serves as a double-edged sword, given its target audience . This is a YA story; a coming of age tale about seventeen-year-old Kaia. Its language is elaborate, and while adult readers should appreciate it, I can see younger readers struggling with it and the amount of metaphors weaved throughout it. It’s a digestible length, but feels longer, thanks to its complexity.
As a coming of age story, Odriel’s Heirs succeeds beautifully. Kaia serves as the sole POV character: the Dragon Heir with the ability to conjure fire, and feared by others as well as herself. Kaia is a chosen one, and through the story, she grows from a young girl full of self-doubt to one confident in her abilities. Kaia’s burgeoning romance is handled wonderfully, in a rarely natural way. Rather than feeling a “slow burn romance,” it felt like two characters finding each other and their feelings simply growing for each other as the story progresses.
Kaia is an engaging protagonist. She is put through a lot, both physically and emotionally, and she reacts to everything in a natural, human way. Her growth serves not just the story, but Kaia herself, and experiencing this growth is a joy. The major supporting character, Klaus, is a pure joy to read. In many ways the opposite of Kaia, he acts as a great foil, and the interactions between the characters sing. The other characters fill smaller roles within the book, but are all enjoyable to follow.
The book moves at a speedy pace. The plot is full of thoroughly entertaining action sequences that flow well, moving swiftly towards its end, but never rushed. At parts, particularly during the novel’s first half, the story feels a little episodic, but overall, the story flows well.
If you’re wary of starting a series, the book stands on its own and feels like a self-contained story. The epilogue teases what’s to come next, but you won’t be left feeling like you paid for part of a story.
Odriel’s Heirs is beautifully written. While it might be a little difficult for younger readers to parse, adult readers who enjoy YA stories will find much to love, and fantasy fans will discover a wonderful world. While some of the plot feels episodic, largely, the narrative flows together incredibly well.
My full review will be available on my website from 8 February 2023. To read it, my reviews for the other books in the Odriel's Heirs series, and a host of other reviews, click here.
Odriel’s Heirs offers a new fantasy world replete with magic and mythological creatures, a new society, and how these elements all fit together. Not long after I started reading, I was taken by its world. Okarria has been brought to vivid life by the author, a world that feels lived in by its occupants, with an intriguing magic system including necromancy and the zombie-like “Lost,” dragons, unique fantastical creatures, the god Odriel, and Odriel’s titular heirs: the Dragon Heir, the Shadow Heir and the Time Heir. And on top of all that, a talking cat. As the novel continues, the author expands upon the world, deepening it and adding to its vibrancy, without sacrificing the story or its characters.
If there is one star of Odriel’s Heirs, it’s the prose. The writing is arresting, presenting the world, those who inhabit it, and the story in beautiful, picturesque detail. The writing transports the reader into the book, seeing everything through its protagonist’s eyes. Sentences flow together poetically, drawing the reader in and keeping them there. I marvelled at the beauty of how well the words fit together to tell the story. Unfortunately, the occasional typo and some sentences, including excess words, stood out.
The prose's beauty serves as a double-edged sword, given its target audience . This is a YA story; a coming of age tale about seventeen-year-old Kaia. Its language is elaborate, and while adult readers should appreciate it, I can see younger readers struggling with it and the amount of metaphors weaved throughout it. It’s a digestible length, but feels longer, thanks to its complexity.
As a coming of age story, Odriel’s Heirs succeeds beautifully. Kaia serves as the sole POV character: the Dragon Heir with the ability to conjure fire, and feared by others as well as herself. Kaia is a chosen one, and through the story, she grows from a young girl full of self-doubt to one confident in her abilities. Kaia’s burgeoning romance is handled wonderfully, in a rarely natural way. Rather than feeling a “slow burn romance,” it felt like two characters finding each other and their feelings simply growing for each other as the story progresses.
Kaia is an engaging protagonist. She is put through a lot, both physically and emotionally, and she reacts to everything in a natural, human way. Her growth serves not just the story, but Kaia herself, and experiencing this growth is a joy. The major supporting character, Klaus, is a pure joy to read. In many ways the opposite of Kaia, he acts as a great foil, and the interactions between the characters sing. The other characters fill smaller roles within the book, but are all enjoyable to follow.
The book moves at a speedy pace. The plot is full of thoroughly entertaining action sequences that flow well, moving swiftly towards its end, but never rushed. At parts, particularly during the novel’s first half, the story feels a little episodic, but overall, the story flows well.
If you’re wary of starting a series, the book stands on its own and feels like a self-contained story. The epilogue teases what’s to come next, but you won’t be left feeling like you paid for part of a story.
Odriel’s Heirs is beautifully written. While it might be a little difficult for younger readers to parse, adult readers who enjoy YA stories will find much to love, and fantasy fans will discover a wonderful world. While some of the plot feels episodic, largely, the narrative flows together incredibly well.
My full review will be available on my website from 8 February 2023. To read it, my reviews for the other books in the Odriel's Heirs series, and a host of other reviews, click here.
the_horror_maven's review
5.0
Quick Take
Odriel's Heirs by Hayley Reese Chow is a captivating fantasy adventure filled with a storm of female power and breath-taking world-building.
Tell Me More
Odriel's Heirs is one of those rare novels that you read once maybe every ten years or so and can't get it out of your head. Hayley Reese Chow's writing provided me with an emotional catharsis for experiencing and releasing passion, rage, and excitement, and I am changed after reading her astonishing novel.
Our story begins with Kaia - the Dragon Heir and our protagonist - who has inherited the power of the flame to protect her people from the necromancer's undead army. Unfortunately, the necromancer is now a thing of legend, and Kaia is outcast because others fear her power. Kaia is forced to manage her gifts on her own while living remotely until the undead begins to terrorize her people once again, and her powers are needed so she joins the battle.
There is some ambiguity when it comes to interpreting Kaia's circumstance, but I found it interesting how she was feared because of her power and outcast; however, as soon as her powers were needed, she was "useful" for once. Kaia's situation echoes some of the dilemmas facing modern women (such as others being intimidated by a woman's talents and successes) and I found the ideology of feminism to be present throughout the novel. I am a sucker for kick-ass female protagonists, and Kaia is the epitome of a world-rocking female. Rather than taking on fighting the undead herself, Kaia teams up with the Shadow Heir - her rival - to embrace her power and bring justice back to their land and protect the people she loves. Kaia is powerful while keeping her sights on protecting others and using her powers for the good of all. She is a wildly complex character, and I simply fell in love with her.
But there is a reason behind why Kaia's story is so powerful, and that is Chow's writing style. Her writing blew me away. I found her world-building technique to be flawless and without wordiness that can often be present in high fantasy novels. I floated away on her charming words and I was fully absorbed by the third page of the novel - a record for me. Odriel's Heirs filled all of my fantasy dreams, and I look forward to reading more of Chow's work.
If you are a fan of high fantasy and strong female protagonists, then you are going to adore Odriel's Heirs! It is a book that will stick with me for a very long time, and I am so grateful to the author for allowing me the chance to enter her awe-inspiring, richly imagined world. I didn't want to give away too much of the story, so go pick up a copy and find out for yourself what happens! You will be glad you did.
Odriel's Heirs by Hayley Reese Chow is a captivating fantasy adventure filled with a storm of female power and breath-taking world-building.
Tell Me More
Odriel's Heirs is one of those rare novels that you read once maybe every ten years or so and can't get it out of your head. Hayley Reese Chow's writing provided me with an emotional catharsis for experiencing and releasing passion, rage, and excitement, and I am changed after reading her astonishing novel.
Our story begins with Kaia - the Dragon Heir and our protagonist - who has inherited the power of the flame to protect her people from the necromancer's undead army. Unfortunately, the necromancer is now a thing of legend, and Kaia is outcast because others fear her power. Kaia is forced to manage her gifts on her own while living remotely until the undead begins to terrorize her people once again, and her powers are needed so she joins the battle.
There is some ambiguity when it comes to interpreting Kaia's circumstance, but I found it interesting how she was feared because of her power and outcast; however, as soon as her powers were needed, she was "useful" for once. Kaia's situation echoes some of the dilemmas facing modern women (such as others being intimidated by a woman's talents and successes) and I found the ideology of feminism to be present throughout the novel. I am a sucker for kick-ass female protagonists, and Kaia is the epitome of a world-rocking female. Rather than taking on fighting the undead herself, Kaia teams up with the Shadow Heir - her rival - to embrace her power and bring justice back to their land and protect the people she loves. Kaia is powerful while keeping her sights on protecting others and using her powers for the good of all. She is a wildly complex character, and I simply fell in love with her.
But there is a reason behind why Kaia's story is so powerful, and that is Chow's writing style. Her writing blew me away. I found her world-building technique to be flawless and without wordiness that can often be present in high fantasy novels. I floated away on her charming words and I was fully absorbed by the third page of the novel - a record for me. Odriel's Heirs filled all of my fantasy dreams, and I look forward to reading more of Chow's work.
If you are a fan of high fantasy and strong female protagonists, then you are going to adore Odriel's Heirs! It is a book that will stick with me for a very long time, and I am so grateful to the author for allowing me the chance to enter her awe-inspiring, richly imagined world. I didn't want to give away too much of the story, so go pick up a copy and find out for yourself what happens! You will be glad you did.
millennialbookreview's review
5.0
The author provided me with an advanced copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
I loved this book more than I expected to. It told an amazing story and it doesn't read like an author's first novel. While not perfect, it's a solid, enjoyable story. I recommend it to any fantasy reader that finds the premise intriguing. I'm eagerly awaiting the sequel's release, which doesn't have a release date, but the author has announced that there will be one.
My full review can be found here
I loved this book more than I expected to. It told an amazing story and it doesn't read like an author's first novel. While not perfect, it's a solid, enjoyable story. I recommend it to any fantasy reader that finds the premise intriguing. I'm eagerly awaiting the sequel's release, which doesn't have a release date, but the author has announced that there will be one.
My full review can be found here
amberraetoro's review
5.0
Great story with all of the makings of a classic fantasy adventure. I liked all of the characters and the sweet romance. I loved the unique mystical creatures Chow developed. It was a very enjoyable read, my one complaint would be that I would have loved to see everything fleshed out more. The world building, the characters, the story, all of it was engaging I just wanted more. There are more books so I am hoping to see some of this tackled in the sequel which I will definitely be reading next.
popthebutterfly's review
3.0
Disclaimer: I received this book from the author. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: Odriels Heir
Author: Hayley Reese Chow
Book Series: Odriels Heirs Book 1
Rating: 3/5
Publication Date: February 23, 2020
Publisher: Indie Published
Pages: 197
Recommended Age: 15+ (violence, some mature scenes)
Synopsis: The brave, burning with fire, harnessed the Dragon's Rage....
As the Dragon Heir, seventeen-year-old Kaia inherited the power of flame to protect her homeland from a godlike necromancer’s undead army. But after centuries of peace, the necromancer has faded to myth, and the Dragon Heir is feared by the people. Persecuted and cast out, Kaia struggles to embrace and control her seemingly useless gift while confined to her family’s farm.
But when the necromancer’s undead terrorize the land once again, Kaia runs away to join the battle.
With the help of her childhood rival, the handsome Shadow Heir, and a snarky, cursed cat, Kaia must figure out how to control both her fire and her confidence in time to save Okarria. If she fails, she will sacrifice her family, her new friends, and the enchanting world she has only just begun to see.
And time is running out.
Review: For the most part this is a great fantasy. The story is intriguing, the world building is fantastic, and the writing was well done.
However, the character development lacked a bit for me. The main character wasn't very likable and while that can be done amazingly in some book I felt it lacked in this one.
Verdict: An excellent fantasy read!
Book: Odriels Heir
Author: Hayley Reese Chow
Book Series: Odriels Heirs Book 1
Rating: 3/5
Publication Date: February 23, 2020
Publisher: Indie Published
Pages: 197
Recommended Age: 15+ (violence, some mature scenes)
Synopsis: The brave, burning with fire, harnessed the Dragon's Rage....
As the Dragon Heir, seventeen-year-old Kaia inherited the power of flame to protect her homeland from a godlike necromancer’s undead army. But after centuries of peace, the necromancer has faded to myth, and the Dragon Heir is feared by the people. Persecuted and cast out, Kaia struggles to embrace and control her seemingly useless gift while confined to her family’s farm.
But when the necromancer’s undead terrorize the land once again, Kaia runs away to join the battle.
With the help of her childhood rival, the handsome Shadow Heir, and a snarky, cursed cat, Kaia must figure out how to control both her fire and her confidence in time to save Okarria. If she fails, she will sacrifice her family, her new friends, and the enchanting world she has only just begun to see.
And time is running out.
Review: For the most part this is a great fantasy. The story is intriguing, the world building is fantastic, and the writing was well done.
However, the character development lacked a bit for me. The main character wasn't very likable and while that can be done amazingly in some book I felt it lacked in this one.
Verdict: An excellent fantasy read!
rwrozell's review
5.0
What a wonderful book. It has a strong female main character. The plot has been used before, but this is a refreshing interpretation. The characters are well-formed, and interesting, learning about themselves and what they are capable of.
This would be a good read for Teens and anyone who like fantasy.
This would be a good read for Teens and anyone who like fantasy.
princessleopard's review
4.0
I am voluntarily reviewing this novel after receiving a free copy.
Actual rating: 3.75 stars
TW: This novel contains a surprisingly amount of violence for a YA book. We got people slittin their own throats, people being burned alive, child and animal murder, the whole 9 yards.
This novel isn't all that unique in terms of its content. Angsty YA heroine hated by society wants to protect it anyway. Has a kinda emo shadowy love interest. Befriends magical beings/animals, has a cool dog, develops her powers, saves the world from the shadowy big bad, etc. etc.
What really set this book apart for me is the pacing. This story isn't long (I think it's less than 300 pages) but it MOVES. I feel like a normal story like this would be drawn out into a whole trilogy, but Chow wastes literally none of our time. Our characters are zipping all over the place, meeting tons of new characters, making new friends, developing their powers/relationship, etc. etc., and somehow none of it seems rushed. There's a scene that would be the climax in a normal fantasy novel, where the hero has to really dig deep to save the day, sustains some losses, etc. etc...and it's only at the halfway point!! It's nuts, and as someone who struggles with writing bloat, genuinely impressive. At no point did the novel feel like it was dragging, but it never felt like the author was in too much of a hurry, either. It really was paced perfectly.
I also found myself endeared to a lot of the side characters. Again, none of them get too much screentime, because we're constantly moving to someone knew, but I feel like they were all deftly captured in the few scenes they had, and were varied/interesting enough that it did hurt when we had to let them go. (One in particular was very upsetting/unfair, and I'm sure Chow knows exactly who it is. ;-;)
The story does have other flaws - again, it is SUPER violent for a YA book, especially compared to how chaste the romance is. I think our heroes share a single kiss at the end? Maybe a make-out session? But heads are rolling literally the entire series, and often they're characters who would be largely exempt from terrible violence in other series. And, again, it's also pretty generic. It does try to be a bit different with its magic system - three Heirs destined to stop the Big Bad over and over - but nothing about it or the world really hooked me.
Overall, though, this was a satisfying read. If you want something quick and well-paced with a cute romance in the background, this will hit the spot.
Actual rating: 3.75 stars
TW: This novel contains a surprisingly amount of violence for a YA book. We got people slittin their own throats, people being burned alive, child and animal murder, the whole 9 yards.
This novel isn't all that unique in terms of its content. Angsty YA heroine hated by society wants to protect it anyway. Has a kinda emo shadowy love interest. Befriends magical beings/animals, has a cool dog, develops her powers, saves the world from the shadowy big bad, etc. etc.
What really set this book apart for me is the pacing. This story isn't long (I think it's less than 300 pages) but it MOVES. I feel like a normal story like this would be drawn out into a whole trilogy, but Chow wastes literally none of our time. Our characters are zipping all over the place, meeting tons of new characters, making new friends, developing their powers/relationship, etc. etc., and somehow none of it seems rushed. There's a scene that would be the climax in a normal fantasy novel, where the hero has to really dig deep to save the day, sustains some losses, etc. etc...and it's only at the halfway point!! It's nuts, and as someone who struggles with writing bloat, genuinely impressive. At no point did the novel feel like it was dragging, but it never felt like the author was in too much of a hurry, either. It really was paced perfectly.
I also found myself endeared to a lot of the side characters. Again, none of them get too much screentime, because we're constantly moving to someone knew, but I feel like they were all deftly captured in the few scenes they had, and were varied/interesting enough that it did hurt when we had to let them go. (One in particular was very upsetting/unfair, and I'm sure Chow knows exactly who it is. ;-;)
The story does have other flaws - again, it is SUPER violent for a YA book, especially compared to how chaste the romance is. I think our heroes share a single kiss at the end? Maybe a make-out session? But heads are rolling literally the entire series, and often they're characters who would be largely exempt from terrible violence in other series. And, again, it's also pretty generic. It does try to be a bit different with its magic system - three Heirs destined to stop the Big Bad over and over - but nothing about it or the world really hooked me.
Overall, though, this was a satisfying read. If you want something quick and well-paced with a cute romance in the background, this will hit the spot.