I had marginally high hopes for this book because I have read Dylan’s debut novel. Since that was sci-fi and I prefer fantasy, the genre of this book, to sci-fi, I thought that this one might work even better. I did temper my expectations after reviews came out expressing disappointment. Unfortunately, my experience feel in with the majority. The magic in this world held promise. It focused on colors with each color providing a
different ability. The basics of this magic system makes me wonder if Dylan used Mistborn as inspiration. Obviously, Sanderson does it much better. People who can use magic are called shades. People who cannot use magic are typics. The two groups are not supposed to mix but of course they do. Their offspring can use magic but in a different way and are called Hues. I don’t know if Dylan explained the difference between Shades and Hues early on but if she did, I missed it and did not put that together until more than halfway through. The magic system also includes the gray, a somewhat nebulous region that if Hues stay in too long (or something like that) they shatter, aka literally fall apart. The gray also has shadows which you eventually learn are sentient somehow. This is just too much. Dylan’s world suffers from inadequate world-building in the sense that seh tried to cram way too much information into the book but all of the pieces end up butting against each other, not connecting and leaving the reader confused. Dylan also gave the narrative far too many characters including a love interest that supposedly works for someone extorting the main character and her crew to steal something that could end the world. The guy goes back and forth so many times that it gives the reader whiplash from trying to figure out wether you should trust him or not. This all combined to make for an unsatisfying reading experience.
This novel provided a lot of food for thought. The main character (whose name, unfortunately, I do not remember) lives in a motorhome with her father although he spends the vast majority of his time with a woman he eventually marries. The main character’s mother left years previously so she has basically raised herself although her boss, a former love interest of her father, tries her best to love the main character the
best she can. The main character ends up dropping out of school and, after an argument with her father that ends in her shattered guitar and a bruise on her face, packs up as much as she can, steals her father’s truck and runs away. The remainder of the story shows the life that she tries to make with the little that she has ultimately seeing the influence that the people she met along the way. She makes some legitimately questionable decisions but Larkin, with care, explores how these decisions arise out of the main character’s earlier trauma. This is a fascinating narrative that I normally would not have sought out.
If you leave off the strange epilogue and plot point introduced in the last 5% of the main narrative, this conclusion really nailed the landing. I found the way that Taylor shifted the narrative in each installment masterful. The first book read primarily as urban fantasy, while the second book leans into the alternate fantastical world while this book blends the two. It also introduces a new, fascinating perspective which kept me
intrigued. Thanks to that odd turn at the very last moment, I’m not sure how I will ultimately rate this book. I am glad though that I went back to this series even though it took me 10 years after reading the first book for the first time.
Yikes. Although this was a quick read, I should have DNF’d it. Since I had already DNF’d a book earlier that day, I pushed through. (I have a separate post for all of my January DNFs coming in a couple weeks.) This book has a dual perspective between a thief with a crew (remarkably and unfortunately similar to Until We Shatter) recruited for an impossible heist and a woman known as the Queen of Days. This
book lacks so much specificity to the world building. The author probably has a firm idea of the world in her head but it does not come across to the reader. The characterization also has issues. For example, Balthazar (one of the pov characters), reads like a woman. At first, I thought that the first chapter was from the titular character’s point of view. He, Balthazar, is simultaneously a proficient thief but only six years separated from being the heir to the governor of their city. Then there’s the Queen of Days perspective. When Balthazar first meets her she comes across as mysterious and inscrutable, something difficult if not impossible to maintain with a first person perspective. She is not human but her origin, even though over-explained, never really makes sense. On top of that, the side characters, including the 12 year old sister of Balthazar whom Kelly made read much younger than her stated age, had no depth in their characterization. Since the plot really does not make much sense, I will not spend time and words on attempting to describe it. This book will be getting unhauled.
After starting and DNF’ing The Winds of Fate thinking I was reading this book, I am so glad that this one worked so well for me. This book read like old school fantasy in the best possible way. For years I have had Marillier on my TBR since several BookTubers whose tastes align with me have loved her work. She has such an extensive backlist which excites me after my positive experience with this book. This book alternates between three
points of view, all characters who train at a mysterious, remote island – perhaps this ties back to previous works from Marillier. These three characters are all striving to reach the top of their class so that they can say but there are only two spots available. They are all chosen to undertake a mission to find and restore the mythical harp of kings, a crucial item for the crowning of the next king. Without the harp, this king’s coronation would be illegitimate which could plunge the kingdom into chaos. Each of these characters has deep backstories and connections which develop authentically throughout the narrative. I loved the world that Marillier created, set deep in traditional Celtic mythology with the Folk, the interesting and thought-provoking kind not the brooding, tall, dark, and handsome romantasy character way. This narrative engaged me from start to finish.
This book is quite the difficult, necessary, and thought-provoking book. I did not read the book to find out details about the whole saga since, unfortunately, for all of the children – Shari included – nearly every detail has been laid bare, picked apart, and overanalyzed online by so many people. Rather, I read so that I could listen to Shari’s story, hear how this life lived constantly online as well as the toxic influence of the woman who believed
herself the ultimate arbiter of truth, changed and affected Shari. This book, even though short and written incredibly close to the events which does not leave much time for Shari to reflect and heal, holds so many profound, hard-hitting reflections. I hope that Shari and all of her siblings are able to continue to get the help and healing that they need.