bookbriefs's review
4.0
**You can see this full review and more at Book Briefs: https://bookbriefs.net**
Art of Death is a new adult urban fantasy by author Becca Vincenza, and is the first book in the curse breakers series. Art of Death was a quick, but action packed read that really got me interested in this new series. I cannot wait to get my hands on the second book in the curse breakers series, Secrets of the Dead, which is out now as well. Fans of fast paced, action filled stories will devour Art of Death. There is a smidge of romance in this one as well, but it is not an overly heavy part of the story. I wish there was a bit more romance, but the romance that was there was good, and I am hoping to see even more in the second book. In Art of Death we meet twins, Rowan and Abel. I so loved the two of them, both together and as individuals. We see so many dysfunctional and unhealthy sibling/family/friend relationships in young adult books, that it was pleasantly refreshing and wonderful to see how well Rowan and Abel get along. You can tell they really care for each other, and not simply because they happen to be twins. We see a lot more of Rowan in Art of Death because she is on a mission to rescue her twin brother Abel. I think that is why I felt a deeper connection to Rowan in this story. I really enjoyed learning about the curse that plagues Rowan and Abel's family and I really enjoyed learning more about necromancers. They are a branch of magic that has always intrigued me and one where I have not read too many books featuring a necromancer as the main character. Most of my encounters with them have been as secondary characters in a more ensemble cast set up. It is nice to see them front and center. In fact, I would love to hear other book recommendations that you have for me featuring necromancers. (Leave them in the comments below) Art of Death is a great first installment to the curse breaker series. I can't wait to read the sequel and see what is going to happen. Becca Vincenza does a great job writing a fast paced tale that grabbed me immediately and did not let me go until after I had finished the last page. I am eager to read more from her.
This review was originally posted on Book Briefs
Art of Death is a new adult urban fantasy by author Becca Vincenza, and is the first book in the curse breakers series. Art of Death was a quick, but action packed read that really got me interested in this new series. I cannot wait to get my hands on the second book in the curse breakers series, Secrets of the Dead, which is out now as well. Fans of fast paced, action filled stories will devour Art of Death. There is a smidge of romance in this one as well, but it is not an overly heavy part of the story. I wish there was a bit more romance, but the romance that was there was good, and I am hoping to see even more in the second book. In Art of Death we meet twins, Rowan and Abel. I so loved the two of them, both together and as individuals. We see so many dysfunctional and unhealthy sibling/family/friend relationships in young adult books, that it was pleasantly refreshing and wonderful to see how well Rowan and Abel get along. You can tell they really care for each other, and not simply because they happen to be twins. We see a lot more of Rowan in Art of Death because she is on a mission to rescue her twin brother Abel. I think that is why I felt a deeper connection to Rowan in this story. I really enjoyed learning about the curse that plagues Rowan and Abel's family and I really enjoyed learning more about necromancers. They are a branch of magic that has always intrigued me and one where I have not read too many books featuring a necromancer as the main character. Most of my encounters with them have been as secondary characters in a more ensemble cast set up. It is nice to see them front and center. In fact, I would love to hear other book recommendations that you have for me featuring necromancers. (Leave them in the comments below) Art of Death is a great first installment to the curse breaker series. I can't wait to read the sequel and see what is going to happen. Becca Vincenza does a great job writing a fast paced tale that grabbed me immediately and did not let me go until after I had finished the last page. I am eager to read more from her.
This review was originally posted on Book Briefs
lifewithnoplot's review
4.0
Okay, first of all, this book is so much fun! I really enjoy these modern urban fantasy stories that take something mystical and magical and plop them into familiar settings and circumstances. If done right, it makes the story so much more believable and rich. And this story was done very, very right. Of course there are large necromancer families living in Alaska and Seattle! Why not? And werewolves! And vampires! Will-o-the-wisps! Gargoyles! Nymphs!
A very interesting magic setting, focusing mostly on death magic since the main character and her family practice it. Rowan is a fun character – a bit headstrong and stubborn, but hey, if my family was keeping secrets from me and had made all these deals about my life without telling me about them, I’d be a bit miffed too. I love how she is the youngest of all these big, burly brothers, but still manages to hold her own. I also really enjoyed the relationship between her and her twin brother, Abel, as well as their friendship with Indigo, a member of the werewolf clan that has allied itself to their family.
There is a lot more to learn and a LOT of things set up for the next book in the series, and I am very anxious to learn more. Especially about a certain something (no spoilers) that happened to Rowan’s body while she was captured (although if you read the preface at the very beginning, you probably have an idea of what happened). I’m sure that will have ramifications down the road.
Final thoughts on this one: this is a fun, fast paced read that anyone who loves a good urban fantasy story will enjoy.
A very interesting magic setting, focusing mostly on death magic since the main character and her family practice it. Rowan is a fun character – a bit headstrong and stubborn, but hey, if my family was keeping secrets from me and had made all these deals about my life without telling me about them, I’d be a bit miffed too. I love how she is the youngest of all these big, burly brothers, but still manages to hold her own. I also really enjoyed the relationship between her and her twin brother, Abel, as well as their friendship with Indigo, a member of the werewolf clan that has allied itself to their family.
There is a lot more to learn and a LOT of things set up for the next book in the series, and I am very anxious to learn more. Especially about a certain something (no spoilers) that happened to Rowan’s body while she was captured (although if you read the preface at the very beginning, you probably have an idea of what happened). I’m sure that will have ramifications down the road.
Final thoughts on this one: this is a fun, fast paced read that anyone who loves a good urban fantasy story will enjoy.
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