caitlinwhetten's review
2.0
Picked this up because I enjoyed what I read of Rhodes' Falling Kingdoms series and was hoping this would be something even better.
It's not.
I should have dnf'd this, but it was a quick read so it didn't feel like much of a loss if I finished it. This book is pretty mediocre, generic YA fantasy. I've read dozens of books like this one and this doesn't stand out. Every twist and reveal in the second half is predictable, the romance is bleh and the characters are cardboard cutout nothings. The worldbuilding is pretty shoddy as it's half medieval fantasy mixed with contemporary and it was really confusing and not well thought out. It's fast-paced, but that's all it really has going for it. I won't remember this by tomorrow and I'll be skipping out on the rest of the duology.
It's not.
I should have dnf'd this, but it was a quick read so it didn't feel like much of a loss if I finished it. This book is pretty mediocre, generic YA fantasy. I've read dozens of books like this one and this doesn't stand out. Every twist and reveal in the second half is predictable, the romance is bleh and the characters are cardboard cutout nothings. The worldbuilding is pretty shoddy as it's half medieval fantasy mixed with contemporary and it was really confusing and not well thought out. It's fast-paced, but that's all it really has going for it. I won't remember this by tomorrow and I'll be skipping out on the rest of the duology.
rsarnelli's review
4.0
I don’t know what it is about Morgan Rhodes books but they are SO addicting. Much like the Falling Kingdoms series, I ended up liking this way more than I thought I would, and in spite of its flaws. Joss is the typical snarky heroine, Jericho is the typical bad boy counterpart, it’s super tropey, and you can see the plot twists from a mile away. But it’s fun and fast-paced and I’ll totally be reading the next book.
olivia_meret's review
4.0
Loved the Falling Skies series and Rhodes’ writing is good but Joss the MC is not likable but I was patient(ish) and by the end of the book she was mostly okay lol. I think I’ll appreciate her a lot more in book 2
briical's review
3.0
This was an average YA fantasy read that I liked; it has a lot of potential for an interesting book two. It ultimately felt a lot like a set-up novel which was entertaining but fell a little flat with certain elements.
For example, the worldbuilding. The world is a weird combination of modern technology and magic - there's cell phones cars, guns, and facial recognition but at one point the characters are in wooden huts in a forest with knives and no plumbing? I know that area is supposed to be primitive because it's a prison, but it did not mesh well with the lack of "outside" world explanation. It's an urban fantasy with a Prime Minister, but also a medieval fantasy with a Queen and her court, castle, and dungeon? And there are witches and warlocks that control elemental magic, but that magic also extends to knockout powder, memory magic, and anyone can use it? Nothing really blended well or made much sense. I hope this is clarified in the next novel, when Drake (and readers) learn this weird magic system.
Drake herself is also not the best protagonist - she starts the book off ignorant, annoying, and unlikable - a frivolous celebrity figure. She does grow throughout the story, so I understand why she needed to start off naive, but I was really bothered by her ultimate lack of AGENCY. She never really DOES anything over the course of this story. Things happen TO her, people put her IN certain situations, but she never really solves anything herself. Drake's skills lie in her words; her ability to charm and acclimate and socialize are constantly emphasized as her "weapons". Thing is, none of this is every used to accomplish anything??
She learns the "truth" because the memory magic shows her - she never really learns how to use it.
She knows where to go to get help for the magic because Rush tells Jericho.
She is brought to the keep by Jericho.
Jericho gets help for his injury because a group of people stumble across them in the Keep.
She is brought back to the palace by guards.
She escapes from the palace because of Jericho's brother.
She finds her father's killer because the killer outright tells her.
She accomplishes NOTHING herself. She investigates NOTHING herself. Nothing happens because of her actions or words. I thought she would at least escape the Keep or free Jericho when he's captured - but no, those things just automatically HAPPEN! A CHARACTER WHOSE STRENGTHS LIE IN POLITICAL AND PERSONAL MANIPULATION IS INTERESTING, WHY IS DRAKE THIS BORING? WHY DOES SHE ACCOMPLISH NOTHING?
So, rant aside, what did I actually like?
I though the banter was really fun - it was refreshing to have Jericho, the hero with the emo backstory, be a quippy asshole instead of a mopey edgelord (though he did have his moments...but I LIKED those; they gave him depth). The reveal of his dagger tattoo straight up made me laugh. Life is just taking him along for an absolute ride and he is just trying to vibe with it.
The plot was a fast-paced information-fetch quest which is always fun to follow. Though I did guess two of the plot twists, the others genuinely caught me by surprise, and I can't wait to see the ramifications. I liked the political drama in the plot revealed through the memory magic. Without even meeting certain characters, you get absolutely invested.
The villains were well established - Valery does not even appear in this book but her set up is already perfectly established as this horrible foreboding presence. The drama is there!
I want more from this story, which is a great sign, but I hope book2 really delivers.
For example, the worldbuilding. The world is a weird combination of modern technology and magic - there's cell phones cars, guns, and facial recognition but at one point the characters are in wooden huts in a forest with knives and no plumbing? I know that area is supposed to be primitive because it's a prison, but it did not mesh well with the lack of "outside" world explanation. It's an urban fantasy with a Prime Minister, but also a medieval fantasy with a Queen and her court, castle, and dungeon? And there are witches and warlocks that control elemental magic, but that magic also extends to knockout powder, memory magic, and anyone can use it? Nothing really blended well or made much sense. I hope this is clarified in the next novel, when Drake (and readers) learn this weird magic system.
Drake herself is also not the best protagonist - she starts the book off ignorant, annoying, and unlikable - a frivolous celebrity figure. She does grow throughout the story, so I understand why she needed to start off naive, but I was really bothered by her ultimate lack of AGENCY. She never really DOES anything over the course of this story. Things happen TO her, people put her IN certain situations, but she never really solves anything herself. Drake's skills lie in her words; her ability to charm and acclimate and socialize are constantly emphasized as her "weapons". Thing is, none of this is every used to accomplish anything??
She learns the "truth" because the memory magic shows her - she never really learns how to use it.
She knows where to go to get help for the magic because Rush tells Jericho.
She is brought to the keep by Jericho.
Jericho gets help for his injury because a group of people stumble across them in the Keep.
She is brought back to the palace by guards.
She escapes from the palace because of Jericho's brother.
She finds her father's killer because the killer outright tells her.
She accomplishes NOTHING herself. She investigates NOTHING herself. Nothing happens because of her actions or words. I thought she would at least escape the Keep or free Jericho when he's captured - but no, those things just automatically HAPPEN! A CHARACTER WHOSE STRENGTHS LIE IN POLITICAL AND PERSONAL MANIPULATION IS INTERESTING, WHY IS DRAKE THIS BORING? WHY DOES SHE ACCOMPLISH NOTHING?
So, rant aside, what did I actually like?
I though the banter was really fun - it was refreshing to have Jericho, the hero with the emo backstory, be a quippy asshole instead of a mopey edgelord (though he did have his moments...but I LIKED those; they gave him depth). The reveal of his dagger tattoo straight up made me laugh. Life is just taking him along for an absolute ride and he is just trying to vibe with it.
The plot was a fast-paced information-fetch quest which is always fun to follow. Though I did guess two of the plot twists, the others genuinely caught me by surprise, and I can't wait to see the ramifications. I liked the political drama in the plot revealed through the memory magic. Without even meeting certain characters, you get absolutely invested.
The villains were well established - Valery does not even appear in this book but her set up is already perfectly established as this horrible foreboding presence. The drama is there!
I want more from this story, which is a great sign, but I hope book2 really delivers.
maeganisreading's review
4.0
Rating: 4⭐️
Thank you to the publisher for sending me an arc via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Magic, enemies to lovers, forbidden romance, twists. So much happens in this book but somehow it works. When Josslyn Drake ends up as a magic container, she has to ignore everything she grew to fear of magic, and embrace it to help those who she cares for.
I loved the magic system. It’s constructed very well and I think it’s been fleshed out nicely. I felt that the beginning moved a little fast but it levelled out as the book continued on. After the halfway mark I was captives and I didn’t want to put it down.
I really liked the cast of characters and o think Rhodes set the end up nicely for the second and final instalment in this new duology.
Thank you to the publisher for sending me an arc via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Magic, enemies to lovers, forbidden romance, twists. So much happens in this book but somehow it works. When Josslyn Drake ends up as a magic container, she has to ignore everything she grew to fear of magic, and embrace it to help those who she cares for.
I loved the magic system. It’s constructed very well and I think it’s been fleshed out nicely. I felt that the beginning moved a little fast but it levelled out as the book continued on. After the halfway mark I was captives and I didn’t want to put it down.
I really liked the cast of characters and o think Rhodes set the end up nicely for the second and final instalment in this new duology.
the_coriolis_effect's review
4.0
I didn't realize this was an urban fantasy! It was weird because it FELT like a high fantasy... but then they'd be like, "He pulled out a cell phone." And I'm like, "Oh." So it was a weird kind of mix that I'm not 100% sure how to explain.
I did enjoy this, but I think I've realized I prefer my fantasies to have more than one perspective (I especially don't think I like first person fantasy anymore) and to just be more expansive, much like Fallen Kingdoms was. I did enjoy this, and I enjoyed the budding romance.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
WAIT WAIT I DIDN'T KNOW MORGAN RHODES WAS WRITING ANOTHER BOOK!!!!!
I did enjoy this, but I think I've realized I prefer my fantasies to have more than one perspective (I especially don't think I like first person fantasy anymore) and to just be more expansive, much like Fallen Kingdoms was. I did enjoy this, and I enjoyed the budding romance.
Spoiler
I loooove necromancy in stories, so I did like the Elian storyline. Kind of wished he'd been more zombie-like at the end. But still, excited to see where this goes.~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
WAIT WAIT I DIDN'T KNOW MORGAN RHODES WAS WRITING ANOTHER BOOK!!!!!
oliviaangelixx's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
2.25
kilobravo's review
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
raenydayreads's review
3.0
I received this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. ARC provided by Penguin Random House Canada Young Readers.
I love the magic is evil trope and when paired with enemies to lovers, everything feels right.
Josslyn Drake, a privileged and snarky 17-year-old, knows three things about magic: it’s rare, illegal and always deadly. While attending the Queen's Gala, she finds herself in the wrong place at the wrong time as a thief attempts to steal a mysterious box. The botched robbery quickly turns Joss' life upside down, as she becomes infected with forbidden and dangerous magic. Worried she'll be executed for treason, Josslyn makes a deal with Blackheart criminal Jericho Nox, promising to give him the magic in exchange for extracting the magic from her body. As the two work together, Josslyn begins to discover the world isn't as black and white as she had been taught and begins to question what she thought she knew about magic, power, the empire, and even herself.
At the beginning I was enjoying the pace of the story, but as it progressed, I felt it moved very slowly. In other words, while I loved the concept, I struggled to really engage with the characters and their arcs. Echoes and Empires didn't go exactly in the direction I expected, despite being able to figure out some of the twists in advance; maybe I've gotten a little too used to the formatting of dystopian stories. I felt slightly let down. That said, I would still read the concluding book in the duology as I'm curious to see where the author takes it next.
I love the magic is evil trope and when paired with enemies to lovers, everything feels right.
Josslyn Drake, a privileged and snarky 17-year-old, knows three things about magic: it’s rare, illegal and always deadly. While attending the Queen's Gala, she finds herself in the wrong place at the wrong time as a thief attempts to steal a mysterious box. The botched robbery quickly turns Joss' life upside down, as she becomes infected with forbidden and dangerous magic. Worried she'll be executed for treason, Josslyn makes a deal with Blackheart criminal Jericho Nox, promising to give him the magic in exchange for extracting the magic from her body. As the two work together, Josslyn begins to discover the world isn't as black and white as she had been taught and begins to question what she thought she knew about magic, power, the empire, and even herself.
At the beginning I was enjoying the pace of the story, but as it progressed, I felt it moved very slowly. In other words, while I loved the concept, I struggled to really engage with the characters and their arcs. Echoes and Empires didn't go exactly in the direction I expected, despite being able to figure out some of the twists in advance; maybe I've gotten a little too used to the formatting of dystopian stories. I felt slightly let down. That said, I would still read the concluding book in the duology as I'm curious to see where the author takes it next.