Marie Rutkoski

In Nirrim's world, there are three types of people: the High Kith, Middlings, and Half Kith. She's one of the latter, the lowest caste, who live within the walled Ward, are highly policed and often punished, and have no opportunities to better themselves. When she is thrown into prison for returning a lost pet, she meets Sid, who is unlike anyone she's known before. For one thing, Sid is a traveler from another land. Nirrim's island country hardly ever sees foreigners, and the residents have long believed that there are no other people beyond the sea. Sid makes Nirrim feel all sorts of feelings that she's never felt before with just a bit of flirtatious banter. Moreover, Sid has the ability to get Nirrim out of prison -- and might be the key to all kinds of adventure, if Nirrim is brave enough to take hold of it.

This book has a very promising start, setting up an interesting world with complicated systems of magic and social structure. Nirrim and Sid are both fascinating characters, and their adventures are enjoyable to read. There were a couple of times something happened and it didn't get the full weight it needed in the writing -- for instance, a character hits Nirrim in the head with a lit lantern, and it barely gets a beat right at that moment, though there's plenty of commentary on the scar it leaves later. I also saw almost all of the twists coming a long time before they were revealed. However, my biggest problem is the ending, which seemed very dark and abrupt to me. I realized after finishing this book that there is a sequel, which presumably will lead to a better resolution. I will probably read it, in order to get a better understanding of what happened there at the end. So, my recommendation is to think of this as the first half of the story, and have the second book on hand.… (mehr)

This flowed seamlessly from the previous book, and as I predicted, it left me feeling very angry that I have to wait for the third and final installment. I need to know what happens noooow.

This book focused more on the politics of the society at the emperor's castle and on Kestrel figuring out ways to get around the emperor.

This book is very plot driven, and there is definitely more action than world development, which is a little disappointing because what world building we do see is very intriguing and leaves me wanting to know more. Rutkoski has quietly built an intriguing and captivating world that I want to know more about.

I enjoyed seeing the conflicts in Kestrel between her family and what she thinks is right, between her love and her allegiances. There is no right solution to many of her problems and it's understandably a struggle for her to accept this. I love seeing the scenarios she's put in and how she reacts--and how she bears through the consequences.

This series is still probably mainly a romance, but there was very little in this book which only makes me have more anticipation to see what happens in the next.

Definitely a good follow up to The Winner's Crime, this book was another solid read and I eagerly anticipate the third.… (mehr)

I used to adore fantasy novels set in worlds like this one, but this is the first I've been able to really get into in a while. Though romance is what drives this book, the characters are very convincing and intriguing.

This book is set in a historical age where two houses seem to have been warring for a while. The Valorians overthrew the Herrani about ten years ago, but kept the Herrani as slaves. I found the houses to be intriguing--more so the Valorians who had a rather distinct personality and a lot of pride.

The beginning felt a little plotted, but later we see how it actually was plotted and as such became forgivable. There were quite a few intricacies working together under the plot, and I enjoyed how this wasn't a simple romance with a girl falling for her slave, but instead was much more complex.

I was a little confused as to how the city fit into the empire as this could raise a few plot holes in regards to the ending--I'd have liked to see more world building as the houses themselves were so fascinating.

I ship Arin and Kestrel so so hard, but it was quite apparent that no relationship could form easily between them. I admire the author for keeping this book plot oriented and not letting romance make it unbelievable.

It was also great that Kestrel was expected to be a soldier. I mean, what? She's not supposed to be a princess? Brilliant! Though I do love my fantasy books where girls disguise themselves as boys to train as knights, it was very refreshing to see a society where gender is irrelevant.

I feel like reading the second might hurt my soul as the final book hasn't been released yet, but there's no way I'm waiting to see what happens next!
… (mehr)