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A review by jenglandk
Hunters of the Lost City by Kali Wallace
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Thank you NetGalley and Kali Wallace for giving me an advance reader copy in exchange for an honesty review!
This book is about 12yr old Octavia who lives in the walled city of Vittoria, the last city and home to the only survivors from the mass destruction of a Sorcerer's war 50 years ago, and is loathing her 13th birthday when she will have to pick up an apprenticeship with a local crafter instead of becoming what she really wants: a hunter. Despite the dangers of traveling alone outside of Vittoria's walls alone, Octavia escapes the city one afternoon to practice her hunting skills her recently missing-and-presumed-dead sister, Hana, taught her only to be faced with the largest Ferox she has ever seen. Ferox, created by an unnamed Sorcerer, are monsters made up of wood, metal, soil, and EVIL that lurk outside of Vittoria killing unlucky residents caught outside the walls at night. Octavia tries to escape, but is unable to lose the large Ferox that is seconds away from eating her alive when an arrow strikes the Ferox down. An arrow belonging to someone Octavia doesn't recognize...a stranger...someone not from Vittoria. Octavia is suddenly faced with the truth that the world after the war is bigger than she knew, but not everyone in Vittoria is wants this truth to get out.
Wallace's world building is masterful, full of diverse people, experiences, cultures, environments, and magic. The book did not end like a sequel is the plan, but the world is expansive enough that I think it is a possibility.
Super rewarding twist throughout that put some of the thrillers I have read to shame. Some of them were predictable, but the timing of each was perfect and there were no loose ends.
Octavia is lovable, so is Sima, but Rufus...Rufus must be protected at all costs<3
By developing morally grey characters, providing a host of truths and lies, and leaving the ending realistically open, Wallace invited her young readers to consider complex topics such as power, good and evil, and freedom in a magical landscape.
All in all, such a fun, fast-paced middle-grade fantasy that I will likely purchase for my high school library!
This book is about 12yr old Octavia who lives in the walled city of Vittoria, the last city and home to the only survivors from the mass destruction of a Sorcerer's war 50 years ago, and is loathing her 13th birthday when she will have to pick up an apprenticeship with a local crafter instead of becoming what she really wants: a hunter. Despite the dangers of traveling alone outside of Vittoria's walls alone, Octavia escapes the city one afternoon to practice her hunting skills her recently missing-and-presumed-dead sister, Hana, taught her only to be faced with the largest Ferox she has ever seen. Ferox, created by an unnamed Sorcerer, are monsters made up of wood, metal, soil, and EVIL that lurk outside of Vittoria killing unlucky residents caught outside the walls at night. Octavia tries to escape, but is unable to lose the large Ferox that is seconds away from eating her alive when an arrow strikes the Ferox down. An arrow belonging to someone Octavia doesn't recognize...a stranger...someone not from Vittoria. Octavia is suddenly faced with the truth that the world after the war is bigger than she knew, but not everyone in Vittoria is wants this truth to get out.
Wallace's world building is masterful, full of diverse people, experiences, cultures, environments, and magic. The book did not end like a sequel is the plan, but the world is expansive enough that I think it is a possibility.
Super rewarding twist throughout that put some of the thrillers I have read to shame. Some of them were predictable, but the timing of each was perfect and there were no loose ends.
Octavia is lovable, so is Sima, but Rufus...Rufus must be protected at all costs<3
By developing morally grey characters, providing a host of truths and lies, and leaving the ending realistically open, Wallace invited her young readers to consider complex topics such as power, good and evil, and freedom in a magical landscape.
All in all, such a fun, fast-paced middle-grade fantasy that I will likely purchase for my high school library!