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aleinakay's review against another edition
4.0
A little bit slow to start, but things get good once they leave Raverra, and they keep getting better from there. Looking forward to the next one.
knatreads501's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Physical abuse, Slavery, Violence, Kidnapping, and Fire/Fire injury
iancann's review against another edition
4.0
Fast, furious and clever - like an angry owl on a motorbike. This is a very involving tale of fantastical intrigue and politics with a fantasy stand in for 16/17th century Venice
The way that the relationship between the 'falcons' - the tethered mages and their falconers to whom they are tethered is explored makes for thought provoking and powerful story telling as the characters are rounded, interesting and believable and strong female characters all over the shop.
The story is handeld within the book but the future of the series is set up to go forward in what I'm sure will be a terrific way.
The way that the relationship between the 'falcons' - the tethered mages and their falconers to whom they are tethered is explored makes for thought provoking and powerful story telling as the characters are rounded, interesting and believable and strong female characters all over the shop.
The story is handeld within the book but the future of the series is set up to go forward in what I'm sure will be a terrific way.
the_one_and_only_lyra's review against another edition
2.0
—2.5 stars—
“There is nothing more attractive than power.”
————about the book————
Age: YA?? (Maybe? I have no fucking clue)
Genres: fantasy
Cliffhanger: nope
Writing: 4/10
Quotes: 5/10
World building: 4/10
Characters: 4/10
Romance: 3/10
My rating: 5/10
‼️spoilers below‼️
———my feelings———
You know when you read books and they’re just kind of bland?
This was that book.
While the setting of the world really interested me, we never got enough actual information about it! No history, no explanations, NOTHING.
What are the witch lords I ask? What is the magic system? Why do people want a war? These are all questions I wanted answered. Did they get answered?? NO
Another thing that annoyed me was the fact that I couldn’t tell how old Amalia was meant to be! I thought she was 18/19 but she acts so naively, I honestly don’t know.
AND another thing. The romance. Far far FAR too instalovey. If you write a series, SPREAD THE ROMANCE OUT. Let it evolve.
(this is turning into a rant so I need to say the things I enjoyed so I don’t feel bad)
I really, really liked Amalia’s mother! She was so clever and always five steps in front of everyone else.
Oh, I liked Marchello’s sister! And quite a few of the secondary characters...
———Characters ———
Amalia: brave and naive, she’s kind and won’t give up on people.
Zaria: headstrong and scathing, she’s a powerful mage but that won’t stop her standing up for the things she cares about.
Marcello: calm and steadfast, but annoying as fuck.
————Quotes————
“True power wields a light touch, because a light touch suffices.”
“You do not tell me what I can and cannot do.”
———Random extra thoughts———
I think I made it sound worse than it actually was. (Oops)
But when I’m writing reviews I remember all the things I didn’t like
“There is nothing more attractive than power.”
————about the book————
Age: YA?? (Maybe? I have no fucking clue)
Genres: fantasy
Cliffhanger: nope
Writing: 4/10
Quotes: 5/10
World building: 4/10
Characters: 4/10
Romance: 3/10
My rating: 5/10
‼️spoilers below‼️
———my feelings———
You know when you read books and they’re just kind of bland?
This was that book.
While the setting of the world really interested me, we never got enough actual information about it! No history, no explanations, NOTHING.
What are the witch lords I ask? What is the magic system? Why do people want a war? These are all questions I wanted answered. Did they get answered?? NO
Another thing that annoyed me was the fact that I couldn’t tell how old Amalia was meant to be! I thought she was 18/19 but she acts so naively, I honestly don’t know.
AND another thing. The romance. Far far FAR too instalovey. If you write a series, SPREAD THE ROMANCE OUT. Let it evolve.
(this is turning into a rant so I need to say the things I enjoyed so I don’t feel bad)
I really, really liked Amalia’s mother! She was so clever and always five steps in front of everyone else.
Oh, I liked Marchello’s sister! And quite a few of the secondary characters...
———Characters ———
Amalia: brave and naive, she’s kind and won’t give up on people.
Zaria: headstrong and scathing, she’s a powerful mage but that won’t stop her standing up for the things she cares about.
Marcello: calm and steadfast, but annoying as fuck.
————Quotes————
“True power wields a light touch, because a light touch suffices.”
“You do not tell me what I can and cannot do.”
———Random extra thoughts———
I think I made it sound worse than it actually was. (Oops)
But when I’m writing reviews I remember all the things I didn’t like
bibliobeka's review against another edition
I dnf'd this at about 5o%, as it was mostly just boring. There was a lot of telling through unsubtle dialog and not a lot showing.
eternitea's review against another edition
4.0
3.5/5 Political fantasy series modeled on powerful Venetian families with a magical hierarchy system that I absolutely loved. Churned through the whole trilogy in about 2 weeks and was quite entertained, though I couldn't empathize with one of the romantic interests. Like pining over a graham cracker.
vinayvasan's review against another edition
3.0
Old wine in new Italian bottle but goes done so perfectly smoothly
Melissa Caruso's debut novel is a remarkably assured one even if it doesnt rock the boat too much. The differences really crop up in terms of the setting - a fire mage and her Falconer, aka someone who can control. Falconers are typically not associated with the ruling class but in this, when circumstances force Lady Amalia Cornaro, heir to the house of Cornaro to become a Falconer, politics and magic intersect
Zaira, the fire mage, is a gritty survivor from the poorer sections, with no ties but with immense power, the power to burn cities. The equation between Amalia & Zaira is pretty much what sets up the book even as there are outside powers that threaten the unity of the Raverran empire.
The complications make the story proceed smoothly even as its fairly obvious where its heading to. The identity of the conspirators is also fairly guessable and lacked any real twist there. The tease however of an external threat for the following books might be the one that may sustain interest in this. The forbidden romance angle is also kind of there, harking back to the YA nature of the book
Melissa Caruso's debut novel is a remarkably assured one even if it doesnt rock the boat too much. The differences really crop up in terms of the setting - a fire mage and her Falconer, aka someone who can control. Falconers are typically not associated with the ruling class but in this, when circumstances force Lady Amalia Cornaro, heir to the house of Cornaro to become a Falconer, politics and magic intersect
Zaira, the fire mage, is a gritty survivor from the poorer sections, with no ties but with immense power, the power to burn cities. The equation between Amalia & Zaira is pretty much what sets up the book even as there are outside powers that threaten the unity of the Raverran empire.
The complications make the story proceed smoothly even as its fairly obvious where its heading to. The identity of the conspirators is also fairly guessable and lacked any real twist there. The tease however of an external threat for the following books might be the one that may sustain interest in this. The forbidden romance angle is also kind of there, harking back to the YA nature of the book
hillaryhere's review against another edition
4.0
the love interest was pretty bland, but I love the two female leads and the world-building.
debbieg's review against another edition
4.0
Very enjoyable. So far, I'm really liking the characters, the political machinations, and the little touches of humour.