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iceboundreader's review against another edition
5.0
I was very heartbroken with the way the Ena of Ilbrea series ended and I'm so thankful that the story didn't end there. This is the first book in the Guilds of Ilbrea series and I can only hope that it has a happier ending. The new characters introduced were very well written. I love Adrial and I'm rooting for him to do great things. I can't wait to read the next one.
afantaseaofbooks's review against another edition
5.0
◦ I've received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review ◦
Adrial Ayres one of the persons “collected” by the Lord Karron has worked the hardest to find his scrap of glory in Ilbrea – the magnificent country that offers fame to those brave enough to seize their place among the Guilds. The Karron “clan” is made from: Adrial the scribe, Allora the daughter of Lord Karron, Kai the sailor, Niko, and Mara the map makers, and Tham the soldier and each one of them has a crucial role in Inker and Crown.
Inker and Crown the 1st book from “Guilds of Ilbrea” lets us explore the world of Ilbrea and the life behind the Guilds. In “Ena of Ilbrea” series we were introduced to the Ilbrea city and the horrors the Guilds have done all around Ilara and other cities, but now, we get to know the real truth behind the Guilds and who controls who.
I love the way Megan writes her stories, they always feel so real, so raw and so powerful that have a very big impact on the reader. The story did develop slowly which felt perfect because in Inker and Crown we get to know the life behind the Guilds and the life in Ilbrea and I felt like these things need time to develop and you can’t rush them. Of course, there are also more fast-paced moments where things develop quicker but the balance between slow and fast is just perfect.
The whole setting of the story gives you such a strange feeling as if this world is actually real as if all the characters are actually real somewhere on this planet and they live this type of life. The setting is of course not set into our world but in an imaginary world, but the world and the way their life is described feels so real as if you’re living between the pages right into their world.
The story is being told from different perspectives from the people in the “Karron” clan, each one of them takes you through the events that are shaping their life as you keep on reading. For me, all the events that happened in the book weren’t easily predictable, if in one moment things were good and peaceful in the next moment things started to turn badly.
I liked the fact you get to know each character involved in the story, and I liked seeing Ena again, she’s just the same, fierce, powerful, and tries to live through the Guilds while at the same time works on bringing them down one way or another. As before or so far, Ena’s the character I really like, I don’t expect a happy ending for her, I don’t think these series are going to have any type of happy ending, to be honest, because they’re way too complicated, way too real and just as in life, not everyone gets a happy ending, sometimes you just get what’s gonna come and that’s it, but nonetheless Inker and Crown gives you a much-waited insight into the life of Guilds and how things aren’t what they seem and the people who have the most power aren’t the ones called royal.
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Adrial Ayres one of the persons “collected” by the Lord Karron has worked the hardest to find his scrap of glory in Ilbrea – the magnificent country that offers fame to those brave enough to seize their place among the Guilds. The Karron “clan” is made from: Adrial the scribe, Allora the daughter of Lord Karron, Kai the sailor, Niko, and Mara the map makers, and Tham the soldier and each one of them has a crucial role in Inker and Crown.
Inker and Crown the 1st book from “Guilds of Ilbrea” lets us explore the world of Ilbrea and the life behind the Guilds. In “Ena of Ilbrea” series we were introduced to the Ilbrea city and the horrors the Guilds have done all around Ilara and other cities, but now, we get to know the real truth behind the Guilds and who controls who.
I love the way Megan writes her stories, they always feel so real, so raw and so powerful that have a very big impact on the reader. The story did develop slowly which felt perfect because in Inker and Crown we get to know the life behind the Guilds and the life in Ilbrea and I felt like these things need time to develop and you can’t rush them. Of course, there are also more fast-paced moments where things develop quicker but the balance between slow and fast is just perfect.
The whole setting of the story gives you such a strange feeling as if this world is actually real as if all the characters are actually real somewhere on this planet and they live this type of life. The setting is of course not set into our world but in an imaginary world, but the world and the way their life is described feels so real as if you’re living between the pages right into their world.
The story is being told from different perspectives from the people in the “Karron” clan, each one of them takes you through the events that are shaping their life as you keep on reading. For me, all the events that happened in the book weren’t easily predictable, if in one moment things were good and peaceful in the next moment things started to turn badly.
I liked the fact you get to know each character involved in the story, and I liked seeing Ena again, she’s just the same, fierce, powerful, and tries to live through the Guilds while at the same time works on bringing them down one way or another. As before or so far, Ena’s the character I really like, I don’t expect a happy ending for her, I don’t think these series are going to have any type of happy ending, to be honest, because they’re way too complicated, way too real and just as in life, not everyone gets a happy ending, sometimes you just get what’s gonna come and that’s it, but nonetheless Inker and Crown gives you a much-waited insight into the life of Guilds and how things aren’t what they seem and the people who have the most power aren’t the ones called royal.
Follow me on my social media for more than just reviews:
BookBub
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peterdavies1027's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
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? It's complicated
4.5
hello_summertea's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
chrys7alin's review against another edition
5.0
Wow! Where do I begin? I have read the Ena of Ilbrea series, and was dying to know what happened to Ena! When the first chapter of this book opened with Ena, I knew that I would not be disappointed! I absolutely loved this book! Megan O'Russell has yet to disappoint. I love getting to see things from the other perspective, per se. In the Ena books, I found myself totally despising the Guild members. This book is a wonderful reminder not to judge a group in the collective. The character development is absolutely fantastic. The characters became real people. And the world building just continues to impress. I can't wait to finish the series!
ap3837's review against another edition
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
ellem_readsalot's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
marci_travels's review
4.0
characters stay with you long after the last page
This is a lovely story of found family and adventure. (My favorite kind.) Six friends: one daughter (Allora), two mapmaker apprentices (Niko and Mara), and three wards (soldier - Tham, sailor - Kai, and scribe - Adrial) have grown up together in Lord Karron’s home. Their talents have taken them in various directions but the bonds they share will get them through. I loved the mapmakers' adventures as they search for wild magic in undocumented places -- these were clearly my favorite story arcs. I also loved the personality of Kai the sailor --when he tipped his head into the wind and soaked up the sea breezes, my heart just gave a little squeeze.
This is clearly a series, the story marches along setting up many future events - the foreshadowing is a little obvious, but that just keeps us reading along. The book does end on a cliffhanger for multiple characters but the next books are published so there is not a long wait.
This is a lovely story of found family and adventure. (My favorite kind.) Six friends: one daughter (Allora), two mapmaker apprentices (Niko and Mara), and three wards (soldier - Tham, sailor - Kai, and scribe - Adrial) have grown up together in Lord Karron’s home. Their talents have taken them in various directions but the bonds they share will get them through. I loved the mapmakers' adventures as they search for wild magic in undocumented places -- these were clearly my favorite story arcs. I also loved the personality of Kai the sailor --when he tipped his head into the wind and soaked up the sea breezes, my heart just gave a little squeeze.
This is clearly a series, the story marches along setting up many future events - the foreshadowing is a little obvious, but that just keeps us reading along. The book does end on a cliffhanger for multiple characters but the next books are published so there is not a long wait.