A review by claire_loves_books
Blades of the Old Empire: The Majat Code, Book 1 by Anna Kashina

2.0

Blades of the Old Empire just didn't really capture my interest or imagination. I don't understand where the Majats get their skills from- you can train someone to be a decent fighter but some of the stuff they did wasn't just good training but superhuman speed and skill (being able to knock multiple arrows out the air, moving extra fast ect.). I just don't believe that one person can take on dozens of fighters.

I didn't buy into the relationship between Kara and Kyth- there was no background to it and no chemistry.
Spoiler Mai being in love with Kara came out of nowhere- I'd believe him respecting her skill but they barely spoke to each other
. All the characters were pretty one dimensional and pretty interchangeable.

It also felt like everyone was a speshul snowflake Kyth has super rare magical powers (only one in the world with the power), Ellah has rare magical powers, Aldar is super unique
Spoiler consort or whatever to Ayella- either way he's the only one in the world who makes her sane when they have sex
Kara is special- youngest diamond ever, best diamond ever and resistant to the evil magic men. And these people just happen to all hang out together