A review by bookphenomena_micky
Daughter of the Drowned Empire by Frankie Diane Mallis

adventurous tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes

4.0

Headlines:
From Lady to low
Secrets
World building-heavy

A lot happened in this series starter but I've ended very invested in what's to come for the characters in this series. There was a lot of world building and a rather complex plot but I imagine the burden of set-up will be less in the subsequent books. I also feel like the world-building was worth it and I managed to keep up.

It was a interesting world with a coming-of-age-magic ceremony that revealed so much in terms of disappointment for the protagonist Lyr and her family. These women had big secrets to keep and what started as excitment about the start of the adult life and magic capabilities became full of peril and uncertainty.

I liked the diminished Lyr much more than the entitled young women she was initially. The experiences she had built her character and I really enjoyed her time in the sortorion training. The triangle shaped connection between Lyr, Tristan and Rhyen had me invested and I know who I am rooting for.

There were some nasty characters including those in power and some fellow sotorion trainees. All this was offset by the sortorion Lyr was apprenticed to; he was kindness and empowerment. I can't claim to truly understand one aspect of the world but I hope to get clearer about that as the series progresses.

I am looking forward to the next book I have here. There are also some novellas I want to pick up but the blurb says they have spoilers for book two, so I'll hold off reading those for now.

Thank you to Hodderscape for the review copy.