Noteworthy experiences while reading this book: I fall into the trap of pretty covers all the time and this one got me hook line and sinker. Although the book wasn't one I loved it was ok.

Check out author's other books or related books? Maybe, I am kind of torn between wanting to read the rest of this series once it comes out.

Recommend this book? If you don't mind political fantasy check it out

Notes and Opinions: This one should be under Adult Political Fantasy. That is how it made me feel. I was torn between this being young adult to adult. So it kind of falls between which would have it more of a New Adult. This one started off well I fell in love with that cover first off and the story wasn't too bad. I think that it could have been a little better as I felt like it didn't know what age group it wanted to fall under. For the story, I wish it would have focused more on the magic aspect.
I also wish that the side characters would have been better formed as it felt like they were just kind there. This one could have been so much better with a few tweeks. For me I think this is another one that people will either love or hate. For me I kind fall in the middle of that where I kinda want to hate it but I dont. I think that I might even check out book two when it comes out.

Go Into This One Knowing: Political Fantasy


*This book was reviewed by: Lauren

This arc was provided to me for free from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
3 Stars. I had it at 2.5 but I realized I actually enjoyed one character, so she bumped it up.
I find the cover to be absolutely gorgeous and it is what piqued my interest at first. The synopsis seemed like this would be my type of book. I am certain this book could find its audience, but I didn’t find it to be for me.
In this world, those who wield magic are used as essentially soldiers or known in this world falcons and they are tethered to another person known as falconers with the use of a jess (bracelet). The falcons are essentially slaves as they don’t really have a choice in the matter. This book revolves around Amalia, the heir to a powerful house and she accidentally bonds to a falcon, Zaira. A falcon who doesn’t want to serve the city and wants to free. Even though those in power cannot wield a falcon as they control the power of the falcon. As the book continues its lots of politics and lots of people trying to kill other people. I don’t want to give away the ending, so I will say there were a lot of choices made in the end and I still have a lot of questions.
The thing that bothered me the most about the book was the obvious rich girl enslaves a poor girl. Amalia didn’t understand why it was so wrong and I found that to be very annoying. I also have a very hard time understanding how Amalia didn’t know what the jest would do when she tethered herself to Zaira. It seemed like a pretty common thing that everyone knew. Perhaps there is an actual answer and I didn’t catch it, but it doesn’t make any sense to me.
The book definitely had moments where it caught my attention, but I couldn’t get over the whole forced to live in the mews and never allowed to leave unless they were with their falconer. I tried really hard to like this book, but I just didn’t find it to be for me.

My Review: I really haven't seen much about this book but was drawn in by the cover and found the synopsis intriguing enough to give it a shot. I am so glad that I did! While this book has a lot of magic in it, there is also a lot of political intrigue, behind closed door dealings and a lot of puzzles to figure out, my favorite combinations in a book. The characters are so widely varied from political powerhouses and super spies to loyal military members to reluctant/cynical citizens trapped in the system. I thoroughly loved all the thought that went into reading this book, there were a lot of twists and turns to figure out. They were so carefully done you could figure them out but not so easy that you saw it coming a mile away (at least for me). The magic system is really unique, it blends outright power with a little bit of artistry and a touch of steampunk like devices. Then of course you have the element of Falcons and Falconers for an added element of connection and tension throughout the book. This is one that I highly recommend and cannot wait until the next book!

My Rating: This was so much more than I expected! I love that it didn't get bogged down with romance and that there was so much use of mental abilities as opposed to just fighting and magic. If you liked The Winner's Curse definitely check this one out! I give it a rating of Four Paws!

I'll start by saying that this book definitely has potential. As a writer, Melissa Caruso knows how to properly string words together in a way that makes for a compelling narrative. The world building also shows a lot of promise, as does the premise (pre-execution). This book has received a lot of great reviews, and I would definitely give this author another try. Unfortunately, I won't be continuing on with this particular series - it was not for me.

My main problem with this book involves its casual treatment of what seems to be a political system built entirely upon slavery. The fantasy world Caruso has built is one in which mages are bound to soldiers called falconers, and the falconers control when and how they use their powers (along with a number of other facets of their lives). This idea is an interesting one, but the problem is with the protagonist of our story. In this novel, we're reading solely from the perspective of a privileged falconer (and an ignorant one at that). While Caruso definitely tries to address the "tethered mage's" unhappiness with the situation she's in, we don't ever get to see this world from her eyes. Instead, we must listen endlessly to a character constantly justifying and defending this oppressive system. And while I'm sure there's some big "revelation" at the end, I couldn't get there. Reading this from our narrator's eyes made me uncomfortable and infuriated. Even up to halfway through the book, I didn't see any indication that we were ever going to receive the mage's POV - and I'm not about to read an entire book from the lens of the oppressor (even if she's a nice one - cue eye rolling).

Lia Cooper has a review on her Youtube channel that articulates these thoughts much more eloquently than I have. You can watch that review here.

On top of my moral gripe with this book, the beginning also contains a lot of info-dumping (clearly, Caruso needs a reminder in "show, don't tell"). I tried so hard to push through this, but at some point I needed to stop and ask myself why I was bothering. There are tons of other books on my TBR, and DNFing is feedback enough. Especially since I so rarely do so.

Since I didn't actually finish The Tethered Mage, I will not be giving it a rating on Goodreads. I would never tell you guys not to read a book - you should always form your own opinions. Many people have enjoyed this Caruso's debut, but it just isn't my jam.

Now this is what I call fantasy. I need more people to be excited about The Tethered Mage so I can fangirl with them.

First, can we talk about this magic system?! Now I have a love-hate relationship with magic users being second class in a world because sometimes it just isn't executed well and they become the "magic sidekick" in the story. In Caruso's world, that's not the case. You see it through that lens at first based on how the world is introduced but learn about the intricacies of magic as well as the system in place. It was fabulous and I cannot wait for the sequel because I need more magic and mages and POWER. 

The story itself is just as interesting, composed of a web of character dynamics and politics that create so many questions and curiosities for a reader such as myself that you just have to devour the whole thing. The Tethered Mage focuses on Amalia, the only direct heir to a strong family, who gets mixed up in the "capture" of a rogue mage, Zaira. They become paired through a turn of events and Amalia becomes the other woman's Falconer. The bond provided a lot of conflict between the two young women that totally worked to the book's advantage. These are flawed characters in the best way, both strong but both very different both in personality and upbringing. 

Those differences worked in their favor as the book tackles a multitude of political scheming. Trying to keep track of everything was a bit all over the place for me. So much was happening and with so many names tossed out, it took a while for me to really immerse myself into the world where those connections came quicker. 

Don't get me wrong, I really enjoyed this book, but I had a bit of an issue with the pacing. I ended up reading more for the interesting world (especially at the beginning) and less for the writing itself. And after a while it felt like the story was dragging in general. It ended up falling into the tendencies of epic fantasies which I've come to expect to be long winded. But I wouldn't necessarily consider The Tethered Mage to be an epic fantasy? It's on the fence, I'd say.

Now that this review has started becoming long winded too, in short: read this book. The world-building is fantastic and the characters are both interesting and well-developed. If you're a fan of political fantasies then this will definitely be right up your alley. All in all, a great first book and I'm really excited to see where it goes in the sequel!

The Tethered Mage is Melissa Caruso's debut novel that packs a punch. It features an original world reft with corruption and magic, political schemes and court intrigues. The characters are wonderfully dimensional and it was pleasant to read a book featuring relationships and friendships of strong women. It's a story of people not accepting the roles they were supposedly born into, of breaking molds. The magic system is fascinating, and the writing is top notch. This book will keep you reading well into the night and leave you wanting more. The good news is that there is going to be a sequel!

This book started off at a decent pace for me but as I went on somehow my reading pace slowed. But, I did find the characters and their development intriguing. This book is well written and the political intrigue is enough to keep a reader interested each time they pick up the book. This is a good book for fans of battles of wit more than brawn. It would make a good gift and I will be keeping an eye out for other books by this author.

The Tethered Mage is the perfect blend of politics and adventure where the politics do not overwhelm or drone out the story. Instead they highlight the events that occur. This story has not one but two conflicting heroines bound by a duty thrust onto them. One with politics and the other with the tether of burning fate that she can unleash upon others with just one word to release her. Amalia and Zaira must find a way to tolerate each other as they and their trusted companions try to solve a dire situation that arises.

Character development keeps the reader engaged wondering what is going to happen from page to page. There was not a character that I found uninteresting. I either loved, hated or felt sympathy for many. I have to admit Domenic is my favorite reluctant hero who steps up to the plate even though he would rather stay on the sidelines as the scholar.

If you give the book a chance, you'll find the characters memorable, the world building intricate, and really the politics were my favorite bit. It's not often politics are so well detailed, so intricate and well woven into a story. This is certainly a great beginning to a YA series! I would definitely recommend this book to others.

I really enjoyed this book, especially the characters and their development. However, it was a slow and increasingly political read that took me quite a while to really get into the story. As such, I almost didn't finish The Tethered Mage. Zaira and Amalia were the only reason I finished; I couldn't wait to continue to see their story develop. Overall, it was a pretty good novel, and I will definitely pick up the second one.

This book is so good. I feel that I should mention that this book, while fast-paced it's not what most would call "action-packed". Most of the book is a lot of political intrigue, and less battle/fighting. I find political intrigue very interesting and exciting but I am aware that there are people who don't. Which is fine, but if you are one of those people then this book might not be for you, but I do hope you still give it a chance.

Now the characters. Amalia is a really interesting character. She's pretty different from other characters from books I've read who are in a similar position as she is. For one, her parent is 110% invested in her life, verging on controlling, but since she's the heir her mother stands back enough to make sure her daughter can lead but is still in her life enough to make her make tough decisions. She's not a fighter, she's not very good at the deceptiveness that comes with her possition. She's a scholar, she likes reading and studying magic she can't wield.

Zaira is really sassy. and very blunt. She never hides her opinion on anything. But considering the how she's had to survive, it's understandable why she is the way she is. Though there is a lot about her that is kind of a mystery in a way. Since the book is told from Amalia's POV, we don't ever get to see what's going on inside Zaira's mind, or how her thought process works. She's not educated, but she's also not dumb.

There is a slight romance in this book, but it doesn't really take up any page time. It's mostly vague flirtation and attraction. But not really much beyond that. It stays very much in the background of the book.

I am very much looking forward to the sequel.

Fans of Sarah J. Maas should enjoy this one... the start of what promises to be a new fantasy series filled with intrigue, mystery, adventure... and hopefully happy endings for our two favorite females.

Political intrigue, magic, and romance combine to make this a generally fun read, if with a slow start.

Amalia's heir to her mother's place on the Raverran Council of Nine, but right now she's more interested in Alchemy than politics. That changes when she accidentally becomes a Falcon -- those charged with tethering the empire's magicians to control their magic. Fire warlock Zaira is now her charge, except she's unwilling to be anybody's slave. And Amalia isn't so sure the system is fair either, but the handsome Lieutenant Falcon Marcello is an added bonus to her new, unlooked for job.

Things get even more complicated when political intrigue and civil unrest threaten several of the empire's kingdoms, and what better way to quell the unrest than with the threat of a fire warlock? And so Amalia, Zaira, and Marcello find themselves in the middle of a possible war, unless they can stop it.

Some say this is YA, some not, but it definitely read like YA to me. The characters are probably a bit older -- 19-20 -- but the plot and writing struck me as YA. I found the 2nd half more engaging than the 1st, with lots of cliffhangers, so if you're a little bored at first, it does get more interesting. Mainly, this suffered from my own comparison of it to The Fifth Season, which is entirely unfair. But The Fifth Season has a similar political system, where the magic users are used and essentially enslaved, yet it presents a far more nuanced portrayal of slavery than The Tethered Mage.

However, I did find this a fun read. While I probably won't pick up book 2, I would still recommend the series to those who enjoys political and YA fantasy. The romance isn't too heavy, if that's something you try to avoid, though it is there for those of you who love that.

Thanks to Netgalley and Orbit for providing me with a free copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Posted on Goodreads 11/21]
[Posted on Amazon 11/21]
[Will post on personal blog in early December]

This is a very imaginative series, and would make a good gift for a teenager.

Awesome YA fantasy novel! I couldn't put it down- I literally stayed up all night just to finish (yay to responsible adulting). The heroine, Amalia, had some great character development and the romance angle is not the all consuming "I'll die without you" theme which I really appreciate in a YA novel. Set in a different world with varying political structures, the author does a good job of giving you some background to the world without dumbing it up or putting in a pointless conversation between characters to explain something. A good paced novel, with some intriguing characters, I enjoyed the plot twists and character motivations. I hope to see more development with Amalia's Falcon, Zaira, since the only vibe I got from her was the deeply wounded inside and tough as nails outside. Definitely reading the sequel!

Debut author, brand new YA fantasy series, badass female characters, creative plot line - yep, I was hooked. In the Raverran Empire, children who are 'mage-marked' (ie. they can do magic, insane magic like out of control fire, melting peoples' bones, building mirrors to trap intruders) are taken by the government at a young age and 'tethered.' Think falconry, as these young magicians, now known as Falcons, are imprisoned by a magical bracelet and a couple words that when spoken by their Falconer, release their devastating magic. Problems are inherent in this system, with underlying themes of enslavement, devotion to war, and political machinations to gain the upper hand with the empires that surround Raverra. Enter two incredibly powerful female characters: Amalia, daughter of a powerful council member and the Falcon she ensnares, Zaira, who has been able to avoid capture for all of her seventeen years and definitely does not want to be anyone's Falcon. This is an exciting first installment to a new series that has great potential. I do feel like it would have benefitted from further editing (definitely too long), and some stronger character development for some of the males. However, I did appreciate the way in which Caruso dealt with the cultural mores of Raverra, noting that many of their leaders are women, that Falcons and Falconers could be in a same sex marriage, that skin colors were different. All these ideas were just part of Raverra society, acceptable and nothing that really raised eyebrows; it's just the way their society works. That is powerful.

Are you looking for a diverse fantasy with kickass, strong and intelligent females, an amazing magic system and political scheming that will blow your mind? If your answer is YES, then this book is for you!

We follow Amalia Cornaro, an heir of one of the most powerful families in Raverra, as she accidentally gets herself stuck in the web of politics and scheming, by becoming the Falconer of a balefire mage, Zaira.

The story had a pretty promising premise and for the most part it delivered. The action starts from the very first pages and we are introduced to this new world and magic system. At first it was all very confusing, but as the story progresses things -fortunately- do become clearer.

The magic system is fascinating. There are people called the mage-marked, and they possess some kind of magic. The most common mage-marked are alchemists and artificers. Then there are vivomancers, mages who can control thunder(!) and the most powerful mages are the ones who control balefire, a fire that can destroy anything. My complain is that I wanted a liiiitle bit more focus on the mages, because they are so exciting!

Politics. The Tethered Mage is all about politics. YOUR MIND WILL BE BLOWN. For the most part of the story I had no idea who was an ally to who, who betrays who. And the plot twists DAMN! I couldn’t keep up with them. If you like your fantasies more on the political part rather than the action part, then definitely pick up this book!

Characters. The two main characters are Amalia and Zaira, and they couldn’t be more different. Amalia comes from a very privileged background, she has always had everything she wanted, whereas Zaira has lived her whole life as an orphan, stealing in order to survive. What I liked about those two is that they are both extremely strong but in total different ways. Amalia can get herself out of situations by using her mind and intelligence, by manipulating the others around her and exerting the power of her name. Zaira on the other hand, she is the stereotypical badass; if she decides to kill you, you don’t stand a chance.

Another character I adored is Marcello *heart eyes* HE IS SO CUTE! Marcello is another Falconer who has been assisgned to protect Amalia and Zaira. He is kind and patient, an an idealist, and the slow burn romance between him and Amalia had me ajdhsajgdD!!!!

Leaving the best for last, ZAIRA IS BISEXUAL! You have no idea how happy this makes me, seeing bisexual representation in a fantasy book. Also THERE IS A GAY MARRIED COUPLE!! And what is best, is that being a part of the LGBTQA+ community in The Tethered Mage is completely normal. There is no prejudice, or people having to hide who they truly are.

Overall I totally recommend The Tethered Mage to people who are funs of fantasy, magic and politics!

I received this e-ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. A big thank you to the publisher. All opinions are my own.

This was a good fantasy with some excellent political intrigue. However, I felt it tried to avoid truly discussing the forced labour of the Falcons, and I couldn't help feeling it would have been more interesting with Zaira as the main character.

I really loved this book. I was a bit dubious about Net Galley's claim that the book is in the vein of Leigh Bardugo, and I think that comparison actually doesn't do this book any favors It's in a style of its own and doesn't need to be marketed that way. The book was admittedly a bit slow to get into, and some of the terminology comes off as a bit cheesey (falcon, falconer, jess), but after a few chapters I didn't want to put the book down. Can't wait for the series to continue!

What a fantastic story! I give this book one of my highest recommendations. It absolutely transformed me into the world that Melissa Caruso created. I was so focused on the story that I missed my subway stop during a particularly good chapter. High praise indeed.

The characters and world are all well-formed and engrossing. In the main character, she created a strong woman who's not afraid to question the world around her and do what she thinks is the right thing.

The story started a little bit slow but then picked up with such a pace that I didn't want to put it down. I get really excited when a new author writes a great fantasy novel and Melissa Caruso definitely did that. I'm very much looking forward to reading the rest of the books in this trilogy.