More for the younger end of YA but this was fast paced and fun. Personally I’d have preferred more detailed world building and magic systems but perhaps that’s a sign that I’m drifting from YA fantasy a bit. Still an enjoyable read.

Thanks to Netgalley and North Star Editions for the free advance.

This book was a fast yet fun read. Definitely more of a 'young' than 'adult' but still a good experience for the latter! The cover is gorg, and Ren is a spunky underdog of a protagonist. I enjoyed the world it was set in, with the politics of the kingdom and the rich vs poor districts.

Sadly, I did have a few issues with the book - I felt as if it was an odd combination of time periods. With fantasy you can often get away with a lot, as it's all about worlds you couldn't even imagine, but for the first couple of chapters, I had been imagining that it was set in a more urban world. It may have been the language that was used, but when you read about a leather-clad girl gambling, followed by her breaking into a shop and stealing a jacket off a mannequin, you picture a more modern society like ours. When a King was mentioned, it completely shattered the idea I had of the world.

I also have to say that I felt like I didn't really get to know Ren. Yes, she has this deep shame and covers it up with a hard edged exterior, but at times her reactions felt forced and unatural. I didn't get a sense of her as a whole, only those two aspects, and how men seem to react to her. In fact, I felt as though I knew Prince Kellen more than Ren. It may be because there were so many characters that there wasn't enough time to really focus on her.

I also thought the magic mechanics were meh. 'I never learned to use it, I just know somehow, like it's a limb.' She just flicks her hands around and knows how to use it? There was a small mention that if she doesn't use it regularly it becomes wild and out of control. Would have loved that to be expanded upon, maybe with her discovering how her magic actually works. She can do all these crazy tricks with no real education behind it. It doesn't seem logically possible - we all have hands but we don't automatically know how to write without someone teaching us.

ANYWAY I may have gone too in-depth about this. However, on a lighter note, I did really enjoy the story as a whole, I thought the rebellion was an interesting idea and there were a few unexpected twists, so if you're on the look out for a light fun fantasy read, give this a go.

3 stars.

I was super excited to receive this book! It kept me engaged, it was well written and had fully fleshed out characters and a great plot! It really held its own against the books in my favorites :)

I was so excited about this book! This plot is right up my alley and i loved this book. I read this book in a day because it was so good! I will be recommending this book to everyone!!

I really liked everything about this dark fantasy book.
The magic was really great in it with a cool. The descriptions of the world is very detailed witten. The authors writing is very incredibly and it's like watching a movie. The characters were also different and great described.

This book was received as an ARC from North Star Editions - Flux in exchange for an honest review. Opinions and thoughts expressed in this review are completely my own.

This book reminded me a lot of the Red Queen series in the ways of the Rebels fighting for their lives and with their gifts of magic being frowned upon in the culture, they have no choice but to form an alliance and start a rebellion. This time it's Ren with her gift of being a silver wielder and joining the Rebel leader without seeing a single coin until they defeat the King. Then come the pack called The King's Children as they compete to earn their spot as the King's Fang. With Ren and the Rebel leader on the loose, they will stop at nothing to destroy them and earn their spot as their King's right hand. Political tensions arise and time is running out and Ren and the rebels will stop at nothing to take the throne from the King. The action, the drama, and the suspense was jaw dropping that it took you on a thrill ride you will never forget.

We will consider adding this title to our YA collection at our library. That is why we give this book 5 stars.