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3.8 AVERAGE
3.8 AVERAGE
3.5 stars. not as good as the falling kingdom series but I appreciated the two worlds and one of them being modern.
Carino, ma nulla di più.
Libro che si legge facilmente e in poco tempo, però non mi ha lasciato nulla.
Libro che si legge facilmente e in poco tempo, però non mi ha lasciato nulla.
I can't remember why I put A Book of Spirits and Thieves on my to-read shelf but I'm glad I did, because the fantasy that's crafted here was pretty intriguing and I enjoyed the switching back and forth between present-day Toronto and Ancient Mytica. In fact, I could've done with more descriptions of Mytica, to learn more about the rules of the world and how the gods came to rule the mortals but I realised about midway through the book (and after visiting this website) that Mytica is probably part of the pre-established Falling Kingdoms series — maybe Morgan Rhodes expects that most of the readers of this book are familiar with her previous works?
A Book of Spirits and Thieves switches between the present-day Toronto and Ancient Mytica and three different perspectives. In present-day Toronto, we have Crystal as well as Farrell. Crystal is graduating high school soon, or would be if she bothered to continue attending after her friends moved away. Crystal is also lashing out since her father left the family and she hasn't been getting along very well with her younger sister, Becca recently. Crystal is also not much of a rule-follower and when she opens a package from her aunt intended for her mother, finding a book inside she has no idea how this book would affect their lives. Because when Becca holds the book in her hands, she suddenly goes into a catatonic state. Crystal is determined to find out why her family is in possession of this strange book and to rescue her sister Becca to whenever she has disappeared to.
Meanwhile, Farrell's family is also reeling from a loss of their own. It's been a year but Farrell doesn't feel any closer to moving on. But when his younger brother is initiated into their secret society and Farrell is told that the young leader of the Hawkspear Society intends to bring him into the inner circle, much like how his older brother was part of the inner circle, Farrell feels like things may finally be going his way. He believes in the Hawkspear Society, that the secret society is a force for good but being in the inner circle has its own set of obligations, rules and secrets.
In Ancient Mytica, we have Maddox who is merely a commoner in their society. However, Maddox possesses a secret power that enables him to speak to spirits, which has made him into a profit-making machine for his guardian. In his experience, most of the spirits that Maddox has encountered are accursed and frightening but when he starts seeing a beautiful, young teenage girl who calls herself Becca, he decides to help her in her quest to return to her world. However, Maddox is about to become embroiled in some political intrigue of his own, because his strange powers has brought attention from their goddess and ruler Valoria.
A Book of Spirits and Thieves was a fast-pace read that travels between parallel dimensions. It's just a little bit of everything in it. Family drama for all three characters. There's a secret society that's also a magical cult, whom only Farrell's younger brother Adam seems to have doubts about. As well a quest to retrieve a missing sister and a quest to return to our world. There's also a bit of romance between Becca and Maddox. And it also manages to subvert some of my expectations as well, which was a pleasant surprise!
But, of course, the part that I was most interested in was in figuring out how our two worlds are connected and why Becca was sucked into Mytica. And the answer does not disappoint. I'm interested to see where Rhodes is going to take this series and will definitely be back for the second book.
A Book of Spirits and Thieves switches between the present-day Toronto and Ancient Mytica and three different perspectives. In present-day Toronto, we have Crystal as well as Farrell. Crystal is graduating high school soon, or would be if she bothered to continue attending after her friends moved away. Crystal is also lashing out since her father left the family and she hasn't been getting along very well with her younger sister, Becca recently. Crystal is also not much of a rule-follower and when she opens a package from her aunt intended for her mother, finding a book inside she has no idea how this book would affect their lives. Because when Becca holds the book in her hands, she suddenly goes into a catatonic state. Crystal is determined to find out why her family is in possession of this strange book and to rescue her sister Becca to whenever she has disappeared to.
Meanwhile, Farrell's family is also reeling from a loss of their own. It's been a year but Farrell doesn't feel any closer to moving on. But when his younger brother is initiated into their secret society and Farrell is told that the young leader of the Hawkspear Society intends to bring him into the inner circle, much like how his older brother was part of the inner circle, Farrell feels like things may finally be going his way. He believes in the Hawkspear Society, that the secret society is a force for good but being in the inner circle has its own set of obligations, rules and secrets.
In Ancient Mytica, we have Maddox who is merely a commoner in their society. However, Maddox possesses a secret power that enables him to speak to spirits, which has made him into a profit-making machine for his guardian. In his experience, most of the spirits that Maddox has encountered are accursed and frightening but when he starts seeing a beautiful, young teenage girl who calls herself Becca, he decides to help her in her quest to return to her world. However, Maddox is about to become embroiled in some political intrigue of his own, because his strange powers has brought attention from their goddess and ruler Valoria.
A Book of Spirits and Thieves was a fast-pace read that travels between parallel dimensions. It's just a little bit of everything in it. Family drama for all three characters.
Spoiler
Though I found Crystal's mother a bit insufferable at times, because of how she just steadfastly refused to tell her daughter anything about the book. It felt like a lame plot contrivance for Crystal to just keep digging for info by herself rather than getting help from her mother.Spoiler
Once I realised that part of Farrell's super-secret mission as a member of the inner circle, I was a little disappointed and hoped that this wasn't going to become one of those cliched stories where Crystal unwittingly falls for the wrong guy. Thankfully, she sees through all of it before anything actually happens. There are hints of a potential romance in the future, though since it seems like Farrell does care a bit about her.But, of course, the part that I was most interested in was in figuring out how our two worlds are connected and why Becca was sucked into Mytica. And the answer does not disappoint.
Spoiler
Marcus King, the leader of that magical cult, is connected to Mytica but I'm not sure what exactly he is yet. Becca is the lovechild between Marcus and their aunt.
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Cute but cliché. I personally enjoyed it as a light read, but it's not a dense high fantasy or urban fantasy, and it's plot isn't the most original. Still, it's action-packed and the mix of modern and old is fun. Would've enjoyed better dialogue and more fleshed-out plot points at times.
I thought it was overall pretty good but the ending really pissed me off. 'Dad's final act and sacrifice seemed way too predicable. Would be a good middle fiction book for those have not read enough 'save yourself/self-sacrifice books.' For what is worth, it was an easy read and quick paced.
A Book of Spirits and Thieves is off to a much better start than Falling Kingdoms was. The story is incredibly fast-paced and completely gripping. I’m already heavily invested in the characters . Morgan Rhodes writing remains light, easy to get into and not as info-dumpy as a lot of other writers.