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aliceinstoryland 's review for:
Secrets of Isoria
by Cristina Macari
“Be a swan. Know who’s a swan.”
First of all, I would like to thank the author for sending me a copy of this book!
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Secrets of Isoria is a new book from the author Cristina Macari. And I have to say that it was a really good surprise!
If I had to define this book, I would say that it’s a mix between Harry Potter and Shadow and Bones, with the addition of a very intriguing mystery. Secrets of Isoria follows the story of Orion, a girl who always lived among normal people and knew that she had something different compared to them: magical abilities. Throughout the book, she learns more about them and about this secret world called Isoria, where 4 different schools of magic are located. Orion needs to learn how to use and control her powers, while also uncovering a secret linked to her grandmother’s death.
I loved reading a story that reminded so much of the Harry Potter series AND I LOVED the plot twists!
The concept of the 4 different schools based on the 4 elements was very intriguing and I hope we will see more of all of them in the next books.
At first I found it a little difficult to really get inside the story, since there was a lot of world building, however that’s almost always the case with the first book in a fantasy series. It was also really intriguing to me that the story is set in the modern world.
More thoughts:
WARNING: This next part will contain spoilers.
Orion
“I couldn’t find a balance. I was either black or white. I wanted to be gray-enough to be noticed, not an eyesore.”
I like her, she didn’t annoy me like a lot of main characters do, so that was great lol. I wondered throughout the whole book why her powers seem to be so out of control; is that only because she never had a chance to learn how to use them or because she’s more powerful than she realizes? I guess I’ll have my answers in the next books.
Alec
“He reminded me of a stray cat. Not belonging to anyone but himself.”
THE BETRAYAL AT END. I really trusted Alec throughout the book and for a while, I was convinced that he was the most trustworthy out of all of Orion’s friends and then… I was shocked. I’m definitely looking forward to seeing how the story will progress. Morally gray character? Yes, please.
Alec + Orion [Arion?]
“Air and Earth, complete opposites. But I think we balance each other out.”
I didn’t know how I felt about them at the beginning. I could tell that there was tension, but I think that the story was way more centered around the mystery than the romance. However, the ending? That’ll make for a great love story moving forward!
Side Characters
I debated for a while if my favorite character was Julian or Rae and I still don’t have an answer lol. I even thought they would end up betraying Orion, but I was glad to find out that they didn’t.
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“Everyone covered pain differently, and sometimes it could disguise itself as someone we weren’t.”
Finally, I decided to rate this book a 4.25 stars because I really enjoyed reading it! I think my favorite part was definitely the mystery surrounding Orion’s grandmother and now I’m very curious to see how the story will evolve!
First of all, I would like to thank the author for sending me a copy of this book!
——————————————————————
Secrets of Isoria is a new book from the author Cristina Macari. And I have to say that it was a really good surprise!
If I had to define this book, I would say that it’s a mix between Harry Potter and Shadow and Bones, with the addition of a very intriguing mystery. Secrets of Isoria follows the story of Orion, a girl who always lived among normal people and knew that she had something different compared to them: magical abilities. Throughout the book, she learns more about them and about this secret world called Isoria, where 4 different schools of magic are located. Orion needs to learn how to use and control her powers, while also uncovering a secret linked to her grandmother’s death.
I loved reading a story that reminded so much of the Harry Potter series AND I LOVED the plot twists!
The concept of the 4 different schools based on the 4 elements was very intriguing and I hope we will see more of all of them in the next books.
At first I found it a little difficult to really get inside the story, since there was a lot of world building, however that’s almost always the case with the first book in a fantasy series. It was also really intriguing to me that the story is set in the modern world.
More thoughts:
WARNING: This next part will contain spoilers.
Orion
“I couldn’t find a balance. I was either black or white. I wanted to be gray-enough to be noticed, not an eyesore.”
I like her, she didn’t annoy me like a lot of main characters do, so that was great lol. I wondered throughout the whole book why her powers seem to be so out of control; is that only because she never had a chance to learn how to use them or because she’s more powerful than she realizes? I guess I’ll have my answers in the next books.
Alec
“He reminded me of a stray cat. Not belonging to anyone but himself.”
THE BETRAYAL AT END. I really trusted Alec throughout the book and for a while, I was convinced that he was the most trustworthy out of all of Orion’s friends and then… I was shocked. I’m definitely looking forward to seeing how the story will progress. Morally gray character? Yes, please.
Alec + Orion [Arion?]
“Air and Earth, complete opposites. But I think we balance each other out.”
I didn’t know how I felt about them at the beginning. I could tell that there was tension, but I think that the story was way more centered around the mystery than the romance. However, the ending? That’ll make for a great love story moving forward!
Side Characters
I debated for a while if my favorite character was Julian or Rae and I still don’t have an answer lol. I even thought they would end up betraying Orion, but I was glad to find out that they didn’t.
——————————————————————
“Everyone covered pain differently, and sometimes it could disguise itself as someone we weren’t.”
Finally, I decided to rate this book a 4.25 stars because I really enjoyed reading it! I think my favorite part was definitely the mystery surrounding Orion’s grandmother and now I’m very curious to see how the story will evolve!