I’ve returned to this author for another ARC! Delighted to once again be diving into her work!

Read: July 22 – July 26, 2024

Genre: Epic Fantasy
Audience: Young Adult
Book contains: tyranny, mentioned death of children, death

Purchase a copy from Amazon.ca

[I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.]

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Such a Unique World!

Sabine, a dying invisible girl, has been shunned from society, but when she meets Anora, a blind Seer, everything changes. Now on the run from the power-hungry duke, Sabine, along with her Anora and her brother, venture into the deadly forest to save Sabine from the magic that’s eating away at her.

This book has nothing to do with the other book of Kelly’s, so I was super interested in what it would be about. It’s a standalone, so I don’t need to worry about waiting for the next book to come out (I prefer buying all the books in a series so there’s not such a long gap between books—a little odd, I know). I know it’s sort of medieval fantasy, which I don’t like as much as contemporary fantasy, but I was hooked nonetheless.

This is your typical young adult adventure. It takes place in a magical fantasy world with medieval technology. The plot progresses is a clear, chronological manner—no flashbacks but with hints of mysteries from the past along the way.

Since reading another of Cordelia Kelly’s books The Well of Souls, I was eager to read this book. I downloaded the eBook and used the Read Aloud function to listen along to it while I did repetitive work.

Sabine is the main character, and while she gets lost at times, her morals and sense of justice are strong. She doesn’t always know this about herself, though, so luckily Anora is there to balance her out (and be the gem that she is). Rafi, Sabine’s brother, is kind and a bit rash, but strong and adorable in his own right. Other characters flit in and out of frame, each feeling unique and diverse.

The main trio is Sabine, Anora, and Rafi, who escape the city and traverse into the dark and deadly forest, following Anora as they search for a cure for Sabine’s magic, which has made her invisible and is slowly killing her. I love the strong bond these three share. The alliances they make along the way are vivacious, and some of the plot twists really got me!

The writing of this story is perfect for a young adult audience. Lots of action, lots of twists and turns—a bit of romance mixed in! There were several moving parts, but nothing too complex or over my head either. This book had an excellent overall message and some vital themes sprinkled throughout.

The pacing struck me at times to wander, but overall, it was great. One thing after another drew the plot forward naturally while still giving our heroes time to rest and recuperate.

I highly recommend this book! It’s a fun stand-alone for the YA Fantasy lover!

Related Reviews:

*The Sibyl and the Thief by Cordelia Kelly*
*Port of Lost Souls Book 1: The Well of Souls by Cordelia Kelly*
*Dark Innocence by PJ Alexander*
*Dragonia Empire Book 1: Rise of the Wyverns by Craig Price A. Jr.*
*The Midnight Rose Book 1: The Midnight Rose by Catalina Paris*