Scan barcode
fallingwings's review
4.0
Can I just take a minute to gush over this? I wasn't expecting to fall in love as deeply as I did with this book or it's story, but I did! The characters, the bonds, the writing, the fact I got attached to characters like Cera . Still squealing over Reshi and Kestrel, and that good ol' slow burn between them. I don't think I've read such a powerful cliffhanger that left me reeling.
I will say there really isn't any world building until late into the book itself, which is why I took off one star. We get the general idea of the type of time period they live in, but we really don't get to know anything about the world itself until near the end. And suddenly having world building tossed in our faces at the end when we have all these battles going on is a bit jarring ( and at that point, I didn't really care about the world building ).
Unfortunately, I haven't read the best things about the next book, and the fact it will be told from both of their first perspective POVs ( which I am never a fan of in general ). But despite these two mega downfalls, I will still pick up the second book because I just need to know. I NEED TO KNOW HOW THINGS WRAP UP.
Spoiler
even though she was killed off shortly after meeting herSpoiler
when Reshi realized he was in love with Kestral at the very end and Kestral was trying to keep him from taking off and...I can't, I can't. It's too much, my poor heart.I will say there really isn't any world building until late into the book itself, which is why I took off one star. We get the general idea of the type of time period they live in, but we really don't get to know anything about the world itself until near the end. And suddenly having world building tossed in our faces at the end when we have all these battles going on is a bit jarring ( and at that point, I didn't really care about the world building ).
Unfortunately, I haven't read the best things about the next book
Spoiler
I really don't like the idea that Kestral does some abusive/toxic stuff just to force Reshi to stop running and it hurts because I adored them in this bookpshelling's review against another edition
4.0
The book was much better than the sale copy in the description led me to believe. The sample successfully converted me into a buyer with a promising hook and inciting incident, but I did experience some buyers remorse until about the 30% mark when things started to get interesting and fleshed out. I didn't feel any midpoint sag, with the weakest link for me being chapter 2. Once the story gets going, it stays consistently interesting. My biggest complaint is the lack of real ending. The story ends on a cliffhanger and despite Reshi's increasing comfort with his abilities, the ending shows a definitive lack of character growth on his part. Even though the story is clearly Reshi's, Kestral has the strongest narrative/character arc.
mxsallybend's review against another edition
4.0
I have been a voracious reader ever since I was a child. I love a good book, and I love a book that makes me feel good. Fantasy and I have had a bit of a strained love affair over the last decade, though, as so many authors have opted to wallow in darkness, depression, and hopelessness. For me, the genre has always been about wondrous escapism, and to subvert that is to betray it.
A rather long-winded introduction to Sorcerous Rivalry, for sure, but a necessary one. Kayleigh Nicol has bucked all the trends and written a throwback to the glory days of high fantasy - and by that I mean a story of sorcery, magical races, romance, humor, and hope.
That is not to say Nicol's world does have its darkness. It must, if it is to have light, for one cannot exist without the other, and there must be despair if there is to be hope. Here we have a world where magic is a crime, the King's mistress a criminal, and their seven bastard children a dirty secret to be snuffed out by bands of violent mage hunters.
Our portal into this world is one of those children, a shapeshifter named Reshi. A sweet, gentle, likable young man, he is largely androgynous, almost non-binary in his expression, and far more feminine than you might expect of a fantasy hero. I loved him from the first page, watching as he shifted into a cat in order to feed upon the energy of a sleeping guest. By contrast, the sister he is forced to seek out, Cera, is a woman whose powers allow her to see and speak at great distances . . . and who boasts of having killed more than 40 mage hunters.
With the introduction into the story of a cold, focused, soldier turned mage hunter, you might expect things to get dark, but quite the opposite. There is immediate chemistry between Reshi and Kestral, a relationship marked by uncomfortable tension. It takes a long time - half the book, in fact - for the romance between the two men to be realized, but the anticipation is sweet, and the way in which Nicol allows us to get to know the characters is wonderful.
Having said all that, this is a fantasy first and a romance second. There are fae who can speak with nature; talk of centaurs and griffons; and magical battles involving fireballs, lightning, telepathy, weather magic, and more. It is a fast-paced story, full of as much adventure as romance. While it has its moments of darkness, plenty of tension, and chaotic violence, the overall tone is uplifting and positive. Sorcerous Rivalry was a wonderful story, everything that I was promised, and perhaps even a bit more. Just delightful.
https://bibrary.blogspot.com/2019/01/sorcerous-rivalry-by-kayleigh-nicol.html
A rather long-winded introduction to Sorcerous Rivalry, for sure, but a necessary one. Kayleigh Nicol has bucked all the trends and written a throwback to the glory days of high fantasy - and by that I mean a story of sorcery, magical races, romance, humor, and hope.
That is not to say Nicol's world does have its darkness. It must, if it is to have light, for one cannot exist without the other, and there must be despair if there is to be hope. Here we have a world where magic is a crime, the King's mistress a criminal, and their seven bastard children a dirty secret to be snuffed out by bands of violent mage hunters.
Our portal into this world is one of those children, a shapeshifter named Reshi. A sweet, gentle, likable young man, he is largely androgynous, almost non-binary in his expression, and far more feminine than you might expect of a fantasy hero. I loved him from the first page, watching as he shifted into a cat in order to feed upon the energy of a sleeping guest. By contrast, the sister he is forced to seek out, Cera, is a woman whose powers allow her to see and speak at great distances . . . and who boasts of having killed more than 40 mage hunters.
With the introduction into the story of a cold, focused, soldier turned mage hunter, you might expect things to get dark, but quite the opposite. There is immediate chemistry between Reshi and Kestral, a relationship marked by uncomfortable tension. It takes a long time - half the book, in fact - for the romance between the two men to be realized, but the anticipation is sweet, and the way in which Nicol allows us to get to know the characters is wonderful.
Having said all that, this is a fantasy first and a romance second. There are fae who can speak with nature; talk of centaurs and griffons; and magical battles involving fireballs, lightning, telepathy, weather magic, and more. It is a fast-paced story, full of as much adventure as romance. While it has its moments of darkness, plenty of tension, and chaotic violence, the overall tone is uplifting and positive. Sorcerous Rivalry was a wonderful story, everything that I was promised, and perhaps even a bit more. Just delightful.
https://bibrary.blogspot.com/2019/01/sorcerous-rivalry-by-kayleigh-nicol.html
zj5's review
3.0
--I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
Sorcerous Rivalry is a picaresque road novel, a buddy comedy, and a rom-com. It’s a tale of action, adventure, family, and love. It’s all charm and wit and feats of daring do. It’s really a rather lovely book.
We start with Reshi, the youngest love child of the King and his mistress. When said mistress was found to be a sorceress she was imprisoned and her seven, mage born children are scattered throughout the kingdom for their own protection. Some end up as nobles while others as warriors or monks but it’s poor Reshi who ends up in an orphanage.
But that’s all in the past. Now, Reshi lives in a small, idyllic village where he spends his time carousing with the tavern patrons, seducing the locals, and using his mage born shapeshifting powers to get both in and out of trouble. He is small and flirtatious with the kind of roguish, devil may care attitude that is immediately endearing. His easy smile and quick tongue ensure that everybody loves Reshi.
But when a bounty is placed on the heads of the seven siblings it ignites a fire under every would be mage hunter in the kingdom and puts Reshi on the defense. So when an ex-soldier comes to town Reshi is understandably cautious. But not cautious enough to keep him too far away from the handsome, brooding young mage hunter.
Kestral is in a lot of ways the opposite of Reshi. He cuts an imposing figure, he’s stoic, and so serious that there is a game made of making the mage hunter laugh. He seems uninterested in romance and completely resistant to Reshi’s charms. His threadbare clothes and worn boots bely a determination of purpose as much as a need for coin.
Kestral’s intentions are clear so when Reshi receives an offer of protection from his long lost sister he takes the chance to get out of harm’s way only the mage hunter is hot in pursuit. But when a violent encounter with Reshi’s eldest brother, who seeks the throne by way of siblicide, an uneasy alliance is formed. Reshi and Kestral will travel together finding the remaining siblings before Eagan has a chance to kill them.
From there we follow Kestral and Reshi as they do their odd couple routine across the land, bickering and bantering and trying to figure each other out as they look for and avoid the rest of the seven. This adds an episodic nature to the story that usually means each stop results in an encounter of some sort and Nicol never skimps on the action. Every battle is written fluidly and with great care given to establishing rules that help balance magic vs might. So even as each confrontation escalates and more and more magic gets involved the combat feels both unrestrained and grounded all at once. It’s easy to draw comparisons to something like The Last Airbender where different magic styles are pit against each other in a sort of balancing act and here even Reshi’s growing shapeshifting powers feel like they could be a challenge to a pyromancer.
Even when the duo picks up a third for a chapter or two this is very much a two hander. We’re following the relationship of Reshi and Kestral as it slowly turns from one of animosity to respect to something more. While the action is going to be a draw for some this is where the book really shines. Their back and forth and their Sam & Diane style will-they-won’t-they is what’s going to keep you flipping pages.
There are some mysteries thrown in there to keep you intrigued but I don’t know the the reveals are worth the wait and had they and their aftermath come earlier I think some of the decisions made at the end wouldn’t have felt as jarring as they do. I understand their purpose in helping set up part two but it feels like you can see the sausage being made.
But it’s a small thing and as far as I am concerned the mysteries and the plot are only there to facilitate the relationship between the two disparate characters who have been put into this situation where they have to rely on each other to survive. I would have happily followed these two through a novel length trip to the market or their journey to a friends wedding. They are what kept me reading and even if I felt that the decisions at the end were a little forced I am excited to see how it all plays out.
So if you’re looking for a fun Xena style road trip story punctuated with bouts of spirited action or have ever been embroiled in an intra-family battle royale I would recommend checking out Kayleigh Nicol’s Sorcerous Rivalry.
Sorcerous Rivalry is a picaresque road novel, a buddy comedy, and a rom-com. It’s a tale of action, adventure, family, and love. It’s all charm and wit and feats of daring do. It’s really a rather lovely book.
We start with Reshi, the youngest love child of the King and his mistress. When said mistress was found to be a sorceress she was imprisoned and her seven, mage born children are scattered throughout the kingdom for their own protection. Some end up as nobles while others as warriors or monks but it’s poor Reshi who ends up in an orphanage.
But that’s all in the past. Now, Reshi lives in a small, idyllic village where he spends his time carousing with the tavern patrons, seducing the locals, and using his mage born shapeshifting powers to get both in and out of trouble. He is small and flirtatious with the kind of roguish, devil may care attitude that is immediately endearing. His easy smile and quick tongue ensure that everybody loves Reshi.
But when a bounty is placed on the heads of the seven siblings it ignites a fire under every would be mage hunter in the kingdom and puts Reshi on the defense. So when an ex-soldier comes to town Reshi is understandably cautious. But not cautious enough to keep him too far away from the handsome, brooding young mage hunter.
Kestral is in a lot of ways the opposite of Reshi. He cuts an imposing figure, he’s stoic, and so serious that there is a game made of making the mage hunter laugh. He seems uninterested in romance and completely resistant to Reshi’s charms. His threadbare clothes and worn boots bely a determination of purpose as much as a need for coin.
Kestral’s intentions are clear so when Reshi receives an offer of protection from his long lost sister he takes the chance to get out of harm’s way only the mage hunter is hot in pursuit. But when a violent encounter with Reshi’s eldest brother, who seeks the throne by way of siblicide, an uneasy alliance is formed. Reshi and Kestral will travel together finding the remaining siblings before Eagan has a chance to kill them.
From there we follow Kestral and Reshi as they do their odd couple routine across the land, bickering and bantering and trying to figure each other out as they look for and avoid the rest of the seven. This adds an episodic nature to the story that usually means each stop results in an encounter of some sort and Nicol never skimps on the action. Every battle is written fluidly and with great care given to establishing rules that help balance magic vs might. So even as each confrontation escalates and more and more magic gets involved the combat feels both unrestrained and grounded all at once. It’s easy to draw comparisons to something like The Last Airbender where different magic styles are pit against each other in a sort of balancing act and here even Reshi’s growing shapeshifting powers feel like they could be a challenge to a pyromancer.
Even when the duo picks up a third for a chapter or two this is very much a two hander. We’re following the relationship of Reshi and Kestral as it slowly turns from one of animosity to respect to something more. While the action is going to be a draw for some this is where the book really shines. Their back and forth and their Sam & Diane style will-they-won’t-they is what’s going to keep you flipping pages.
There are some mysteries thrown in there to keep you intrigued but I don’t know the the reveals are worth the wait and had they and their aftermath come earlier I think some of the decisions made at the end wouldn’t have felt as jarring as they do. I understand their purpose in helping set up part two but it feels like you can see the sausage being made.
But it’s a small thing and as far as I am concerned the mysteries and the plot are only there to facilitate the relationship between the two disparate characters who have been put into this situation where they have to rely on each other to survive. I would have happily followed these two through a novel length trip to the market or their journey to a friends wedding. They are what kept me reading and even if I felt that the decisions at the end were a little forced I am excited to see how it all plays out.
So if you’re looking for a fun Xena style road trip story punctuated with bouts of spirited action or have ever been embroiled in an intra-family battle royale I would recommend checking out Kayleigh Nicol’s Sorcerous Rivalry.
malus23's review
4.0
This was very cute. Reshi is adorable. The background with the mages being killed off but not exactly, for "reasons", was a little too light on detail, but since almost every character except the viewpoint one seems to understand what happened, maybe we'll find out along with him in another book someday.
queerlyread's review
4.25
Loved this book and raved about it to my friends while I was actively reading it. The concept of magic and how it was used was fascinating and I found the MC's relationships (and lack thereof) with his siblings really striking.
Despite that, I will never recommend it because of how angry book two made me. It will forever be a standalone in my mind even though it ends on a cliffhanger.
Despite that, I will never recommend it because of how angry book two made me. It will forever be a standalone in my mind even though it ends on a cliffhanger.
saraishelafs's review against another edition
4.0
Great cast well written
The plot evolves quickly and continues at a fast pace. The characters are engaging and at times it is difficult to decide who to root for.
The plot evolves quickly and continues at a fast pace. The characters are engaging and at times it is difficult to decide who to root for.
sukino's review against another edition
5.0
As soon as I started reading, I knew this book was right up my alley. I'm a bit picky when it comes to my fantasy books, so when I got hooked in the first pages I knew it was gonna be good. The writing style reminds me of my other favorite fantasy writers and the pacing was well done as well. It didn't feel like it dragged or glazed over things for the sake of story progression.
The characters. THE CHARACTERS. I have to say I loved everyone and that's saying something because I had strong feelings of hate toward a few early on. Though I have to say that Kestrel takes my top spot because he really grew on me, I was a hater and indifferent to start and then I was flinging things and screaming by the end of it when he did or said things. Reshi is a precious child. . . who has insane siblings
I hated to see it end because I enjoyed it so much and I am looking forward to the next book because I need more and I need it like yesterday!
The characters. THE CHARACTERS. I have to say I loved everyone and that's saying something because I had strong feelings of hate toward a few early on. Though I have to say that Kestrel takes my top spot because he really grew on me, I was a hater and indifferent to start and then I was flinging things and screaming by the end of it when he did or said things. Reshi is a precious child. . . who has insane siblings
Spoiler
and a life that was thrown straight into disarray by one moment of using his magic to save his ass and Kestrel's ass too. My favorite sibling is Kila because her level of insanity was equal with badassary and she wasn't actively trying to kill Reshi from the get go which you know was refreshing after his punk ass brothers. Plus she made me laugh and she was just got better as the book progressed after we met her.I hated to see it end because I enjoyed it so much and I am looking forward to the next book because I need more and I need it like yesterday!
jessicafee86's review against another edition
5.0
Wasn't sure about this one at first but man did it grow on me fast!!! I was so sad when I turned that last page and realized that it was over. I really loved this one and hopefully I can write a review that will do it justice. Plan on posting an entire review in the next few days.
Updated review:
There's something oddly endearing about the idea of a damsel in distress story, we always know how it'll turn out. It's like canned chicken noodle soup, a classic, cozy comfort food that always makes you smile. But just like the canned stuff it's even better when you get the real, homemade version; it's meatier, more filling, and sometimes you can mix up the ingredient list for an out of this world version of the childhood classic. Sorcerous Rivalry is the homemade soup equivalent of that classic damsel in distress story. Kayleigh Nicol brought a whole new list of ingredients to the table and it couldn't have turned out better. Our damsel is actually a male, as is the unsuspecting hero, and the badass barbarian is a woman with loads of smarts and personality.
He must have been a soldier once, judging by his steady, solid gait and the way his eyes swept the room, as if evaluating it as a potential battle field. His face held no expression at all, even as he approached the bar and gestured to the inn keeper. He looked perfectly balanced, perfectly aware and perfectly prepared for anything.
My favorite part about this book is that the story starts exactly when it should. No backstory or introduction to the characters, Kayleigh just puts us right into the exact moment that the plot starts moving. Reshi (our main character) doesn't know it of course, neither he or the soldier do, but it doesn't take very long for everything to change.
Reshi is one of seven bastard children born to the king. All seven of them were born with the ability to wield magic. Reshi's ability is that he can take on the shape of any animal that's known for being a witch's familiar (cat is his favorite). But when society decides to hunt down anyone with magic, Reshi and his siblings run and escape to various areas around the kingdom. Reshi had been hiding with a fairy named Wix until a mage hunter named Kestral came to collect the bounty on him.
He glanced up, meeting my gaze for the first time since we sat down.
"You have unusually colored eyes. Mage blood?"
I looked away hurriedly. Dust it, what had I gotten into?
"Possibly. I grew up in an orphanage in Giltner until they kicked me out. Ended up here after a time." I shrugged. "Are you a mage hunter? Should I be running?"
But Reshi still has a few tricks up his sleeves and is able to escape the inn before Kestral can hunt him down. Now that Reshi is being hunted again he decides to find his sister Cera, and maybe get his siblings to protect him. Cera is as helpful and loving as he had hoped, so he decides to stick with her and wait for his brother, Velyn to show up.
Velyn is like Cera, he's charming, friendly, and full of affection for his new found siblings. But for Velyn, being a loving sibling is all an act. He has other plans for his new found family. This is where things start to get spoilery, so I'll stop before I give away to much of the story. There are a lot of other characters that pop up (we get to meet all of Reshi's siblings) but my favorite character of them all was Reshi's older sister Kila. She is everything that a classic barbarian should be. She reboots her power with the blood of her enemies, swears like a sailor, and can drink anyone under the table; the only thing that differs from the classic is that she isn't male. She has all the things we love about barbarians with just a touch of feminine style that makes her absolutely perfect.
I knew most of us had gone into hiding after our bounties had been posted. But our sister Tekilashan had announced that anyone who wished to kill her could find her on the bloodiest battlefield in the kingdom. The last thing I had heard was that she had killed over forty mage hunters, all while participating in border skirmishes and house wars.
If you like slow burning romances, lgbt characters, intriguing magic systems, and enthralling world building, you should definitely give Sorcerous Rivalry a try. The only complaint I have is that it was a little confusing in the beginning with Reshi, but I didn't have to wait very long to figure it out. This book was the perfect mix of action and magic with just a touch of romance to give it some extra flair, I can't wait to read what Kaleigh Nicol puts out next!
http://bookstocombattherain.blogspot.com/
Updated review:
There's something oddly endearing about the idea of a damsel in distress story, we always know how it'll turn out. It's like canned chicken noodle soup, a classic, cozy comfort food that always makes you smile. But just like the canned stuff it's even better when you get the real, homemade version; it's meatier, more filling, and sometimes you can mix up the ingredient list for an out of this world version of the childhood classic. Sorcerous Rivalry is the homemade soup equivalent of that classic damsel in distress story. Kayleigh Nicol brought a whole new list of ingredients to the table and it couldn't have turned out better. Our damsel is actually a male, as is the unsuspecting hero, and the badass barbarian is a woman with loads of smarts and personality.
He must have been a soldier once, judging by his steady, solid gait and the way his eyes swept the room, as if evaluating it as a potential battle field. His face held no expression at all, even as he approached the bar and gestured to the inn keeper. He looked perfectly balanced, perfectly aware and perfectly prepared for anything.
My favorite part about this book is that the story starts exactly when it should. No backstory or introduction to the characters, Kayleigh just puts us right into the exact moment that the plot starts moving. Reshi (our main character) doesn't know it of course, neither he or the soldier do, but it doesn't take very long for everything to change.
Reshi is one of seven bastard children born to the king. All seven of them were born with the ability to wield magic. Reshi's ability is that he can take on the shape of any animal that's known for being a witch's familiar (cat is his favorite). But when society decides to hunt down anyone with magic, Reshi and his siblings run and escape to various areas around the kingdom. Reshi had been hiding with a fairy named Wix until a mage hunter named Kestral came to collect the bounty on him.
He glanced up, meeting my gaze for the first time since we sat down.
"You have unusually colored eyes. Mage blood?"
I looked away hurriedly. Dust it, what had I gotten into?
"Possibly. I grew up in an orphanage in Giltner until they kicked me out. Ended up here after a time." I shrugged. "Are you a mage hunter? Should I be running?"
But Reshi still has a few tricks up his sleeves and is able to escape the inn before Kestral can hunt him down. Now that Reshi is being hunted again he decides to find his sister Cera, and maybe get his siblings to protect him. Cera is as helpful and loving as he had hoped, so he decides to stick with her and wait for his brother, Velyn to show up.
Velyn is like Cera, he's charming, friendly, and full of affection for his new found siblings. But for Velyn, being a loving sibling is all an act. He has other plans for his new found family. This is where things start to get spoilery, so I'll stop before I give away to much of the story. There are a lot of other characters that pop up (we get to meet all of Reshi's siblings) but my favorite character of them all was Reshi's older sister Kila. She is everything that a classic barbarian should be. She reboots her power with the blood of her enemies, swears like a sailor, and can drink anyone under the table; the only thing that differs from the classic is that she isn't male. She has all the things we love about barbarians with just a touch of feminine style that makes her absolutely perfect.
I knew most of us had gone into hiding after our bounties had been posted. But our sister Tekilashan had announced that anyone who wished to kill her could find her on the bloodiest battlefield in the kingdom. The last thing I had heard was that she had killed over forty mage hunters, all while participating in border skirmishes and house wars.
If you like slow burning romances, lgbt characters, intriguing magic systems, and enthralling world building, you should definitely give Sorcerous Rivalry a try. The only complaint I have is that it was a little confusing in the beginning with Reshi, but I didn't have to wait very long to figure it out. This book was the perfect mix of action and magic with just a touch of romance to give it some extra flair, I can't wait to read what Kaleigh Nicol puts out next!
http://bookstocombattherain.blogspot.com/