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foreverinastory's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Wow this was freaking amazing!! Constantly surprised by this one. Can't wait for books 2 AND 3. Yes I really went into this thinking it was only a duology. Alas, I was wrong.
The Obsidian Tower is about Ryx, a warden of her land. She comes from a family of powerful vivomancers (life energy manipulators), but her own magic only destroys. An important peace signing is coming up which Ryx will be managing, except them one of the dignitaries goes snooping after a dangerous artifact in the castle and Ryx accidentally kills her in self-defense. This also happens to activate the artifact and while Ryx doesn't know what will happen, her grandmother sends her after the Rookery, an agency that investigates strange magical occurrences.
All this to say: this book is fucking tense. So much happens in this book. There are constant plot twists, character revelations and complicated diplomatic relationships to navigate. I fucking loved it. Yes, I was a medium ball of anxiety the whole time, but it was the thrilling type, not the other kind. I also really enjoyed Ryx's character. We see a lot of growth throughout this book with how she sees herself. I was really curious about her magic, and I'm quite happy with how that all developed.
Not to mention there are a ton of queer characters in this book! I need more queer adult epic fantasy. Also, the little found family of the Rookery team made me so happy. I love how much they rely and defend each other. And seeing Ryx become apart of that made me incredibly soft.
Pick this book up if you want to be pleasantly surprised by a lot of chaotic events. I can't wait to finish this series when book 3 comes out. There is no way I will start book 2 before then hahaha.
Rep: white bisexual female MC with anxiety, white elderly female side character, white polyamorous female side character, Black male side character, BIPOC asexual female side character, white sapphic female side character, BIPOC male side character, white nonbinary side character.
CWs: Blood, death, emotional abuse, injury/injury detail, murder and attempted murder, violence, torture, kidnapping. Moderate: Bullying, child abuse, gun violence, grief, alcohol consumption. Minor: suicidal thoughts.
The Obsidian Tower is about Ryx, a warden of her land. She comes from a family of powerful vivomancers (life energy manipulators), but her own magic only destroys. An important peace signing is coming up which Ryx will be managing, except them one of the dignitaries goes snooping after a dangerous artifact in the castle and Ryx accidentally kills her in self-defense. This also happens to activate the artifact and while Ryx doesn't know what will happen, her grandmother sends her after the Rookery, an agency that investigates strange magical occurrences.
All this to say: this book is fucking tense. So much happens in this book. There are constant plot twists, character revelations and complicated diplomatic relationships to navigate. I fucking loved it. Yes, I was a medium ball of anxiety the whole time, but it was the thrilling type, not the other kind. I also really enjoyed Ryx's character. We see a lot of growth throughout this book with how she sees herself. I was really curious about her magic, and I'm quite happy with how that all developed.
Not to mention there are a ton of queer characters in this book! I need more queer adult epic fantasy. Also, the little found family of the Rookery team made me so happy. I love how much they rely and defend each other. And seeing Ryx become apart of that made me incredibly soft.
Pick this book up if you want to be pleasantly surprised by a lot of chaotic events. I can't wait to finish this series when book 3 comes out. There is no way I will start book 2 before then hahaha.
Rep: white bisexual female MC with anxiety, white elderly female side character, white polyamorous female side character, Black male side character, BIPOC asexual female side character, white sapphic female side character, BIPOC male side character, white nonbinary side character.
CWs: Blood, death, emotional abuse, injury/injury detail, murder and attempted murder, violence, torture, kidnapping. Moderate: Bullying, child abuse, gun violence, grief, alcohol consumption. Minor: suicidal thoughts.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Emotional abuse, Torture, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Bullying, Child abuse, Gun violence, Grief, and Alcohol
Minor: Suicidal thoughts
szuum's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Torture, Violence, and Kidnapping
forthesanityof1's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I think Melissa Caruso owns me by now because WOW does she know how to write a damn good book. I've read her other series and had the same feelings about it and all it's wonderful aspects, so when I saw that world coming back in a new, interesting way I jumped on this. Took me a while to get to it, but holy helps is it worth it.
This book exemplifies political intrigue mixed with interesting magic systems and mystery done right. I'm not usually a proponent of heavy political intrigue but the author keeps me on the edge of my seat the whole time. Ryx is a wonderful protagonist (similar to Amelia in her other series) I loved reading from. All the characters were fantastic. I think Whisper is my favorite-a breathtakingly dry humored, neutral beastie that constantly makes you wonder about his true nature? Sign me up. The expected love interest is also dynamic. I like that he's cowardly in some respects, and I hope to see him grow more as we interact with him more. The Rookery was a delight, loved the wlw representation and the nonbinary representation as well. I also loved the human moments with Ryx struggling with certain events. I see why they couldn't be fleshed out in this book, but I hope to see them being more processed in the second and third ones. Plot is so, so, SO interesting, pace is fantastic-it feels like so much is happening when nothing is really happening which helps keep me engaged-world building immaculate as always. I'm so excited for the second book, I can't wait to get my hands on it. I just devour everything she writes and I can't recommend this enough.
This book exemplifies political intrigue mixed with interesting magic systems and mystery done right. I'm not usually a proponent of heavy political intrigue but the author keeps me on the edge of my seat the whole time. Ryx is a wonderful protagonist (similar to Amelia in her other series) I loved reading from. All the characters were fantastic. I think Whisper is my favorite-a breathtakingly dry humored, neutral beastie that constantly makes you wonder about his true nature? Sign me up. The expected love interest is also dynamic. I like that he's cowardly in some respects, and I hope to see him grow more as we interact with him more. The Rookery was a delight, loved the wlw representation and the nonbinary representation as well. I also loved the human moments with Ryx struggling with certain events. I see why they couldn't be fleshed out in this book, but I hope to see them being more processed in the second and third ones. Plot is so, so, SO interesting, pace is fantastic-it feels like so much is happening when nothing is really happening which helps keep me engaged-world building immaculate as always. I'm so excited for the second book, I can't wait to get my hands on it. I just devour everything she writes and I can't recommend this enough.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Death, Emotional abuse, Torture, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, and Murder
oliverreeds's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Emotional abuse, Torture, Blood, and Kidnapping
Moderate: Body horror, Bullying, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Toxic relationship, Violence, Grief, Medical trauma, Murder, and Alcohol
Minor: Suicidal thoughts