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A review by queer_bookwyrm
Incendiary by Zoraida Córdova
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
4 ⭐ CW: violence, murder, torture, child abuse, descriptions of blood, desecration of corpses, oppression
"You are not a girl. You are vengeance in the night."
Incendiary by Zoraida Córdova is book one is the Hollow Crown duology. We get a great magic system, an unreliable narrator, a South American inspired world, and some unexpected twists!
We follow Renata Convida, a Robari (memory thief) with the Moria, a rebel group of magic users who are being exterminated and oppressed by the King of Puerto Leones. The king has utilized religion to spread fear of the Moria among the people.
Renata was once kidnapped by the Arm of Justice and forced to use her memory stealing powers against people like her when she was only a child. She now has to grapple with the guilt and memories of those she turned into Hollows (when she removes all memories and thoughts, but the body still lives). When she accidentally steals a memory from the boy she loves that makes his escape possible, he dies and Renata makes it her mission to finish what he started.
We get some great court intrigue, though I could have done with a bit more world building. I want to know more about both of the religions talked about. Leo is my favorite, and I love that this is a queer normative world. Since Renata is an unreliable narrator since she doesn't have access to her memories from the palace, she finds things aren't what they seem and people aren't either. She also grapples with the fact that bad people can do kind things. Córdova explores the complicated and conflicting emotions of having to face your abuser/oppressor again and the feeling anger and love or comfort at the same time.
The one theme I loved the most in this was the idea that you get to choose who you want to be instead of just being what everyone tells you you are. I loved the magic system in this! Along with Robári that can steal memories we also have Persuári, who can manipulate emotions, and Illusionári, who can create illusions, and Ventári, who can read minds. Certain metals can act as amplifiers to their respective powers: gold for Illusionári, silver for Ventári, copper for Pursuári, and platinum for Robári.
We get a major twists at the end, one of which I predicted, the other I did not. Definitely excited for Illusionary!
"You are not a girl. You are vengeance in the night."
Incendiary by Zoraida Córdova is book one is the Hollow Crown duology. We get a great magic system, an unreliable narrator, a South American inspired world, and some unexpected twists!
We follow Renata Convida, a Robari (memory thief) with the Moria, a rebel group of magic users who are being exterminated and oppressed by the King of Puerto Leones. The king has utilized religion to spread fear of the Moria among the people.
Renata was once kidnapped by the Arm of Justice and forced to use her memory stealing powers against people like her when she was only a child. She now has to grapple with the guilt and memories of those she turned into Hollows (when she removes all memories and thoughts, but the body still lives). When she accidentally steals a memory from the boy she loves that makes his escape possible, he dies and Renata makes it her mission to finish what he started.
We get some great court intrigue, though I could have done with a bit more world building. I want to know more about both of the religions talked about. Leo is my favorite, and I love that this is a queer normative world. Since Renata is an unreliable narrator since she doesn't have access to her memories from the palace, she finds things aren't what they seem and people aren't either. She also grapples with the fact that bad people can do kind things. Córdova explores the complicated and conflicting emotions of having to face your abuser/oppressor again and the feeling anger and love or comfort at the same time.
The one theme I loved the most in this was the idea that you get to choose who you want to be instead of just being what everyone tells you you are. I loved the magic system in this! Along with Robári that can steal memories we also have Persuári, who can manipulate emotions, and Illusionári, who can create illusions, and Ventári, who can read minds. Certain metals can act as amplifiers to their respective powers: gold for Illusionári, silver for Ventári, copper for Pursuári, and platinum for Robári.
We get a major twists at the end, one of which I predicted, the other I did not. Definitely excited for Illusionary!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Violence, and Torture
Moderate: Child abuse and Blood