Member Review

On the cubic planet of Arrei, human Braviael's life is forever changed when a roaming group of catlike clom destroys her village, kills her father, and curses her mother. She's rescued by Dithyn Noorlander, another clom, who takes her to the capital city of Delgany. It's there that Braviael learns of the prejudice and strife between the races and of the existence of a magical stone that could save her mother or doom the world in the wrong hands.

It's a solid fantasy that depends on many of the typical fantasy tropes but makes them feel original thanks to engaging characters and good writing. Braviael is easy to connect with thanks to a story that pulls you in. The many clom characters have distinct personalities that help drive the story through interactions that range from sweet to enraging. All happening in a world that feels familiar enough that Perry doesn't have to spend much time explaining things.

My one complaint is that the ending feels super rushed. So much build-up and then it fizzles when it could have been exhilarating. I kind of get the why of it, as the page count was getting up there and a resolution needed to happen, but it still felt like too soft after everything that came before it.

The narration by Emma Andreasen Moore is great. Scenes are suffused with the perfect emotion without losing any clarity. There are so many unusual terms and names that I loved getting to hear how they're pronounced because I have a feeling I would not get any of them right otherwise.

Very happy thanks to NetGalley and the author for the advanced preview of the audiobook!