Member Review
Review by
Adriana G, Reviewer
Rubi Morningtail has no past and almost no power in a land where magic rules all. She's forced by Blake Axefire, leader of the battle tygers of the Dominion of the Silver Tyger, to participate in the kingdom's rider selection, which she not only survives, but she ends up chosen by the only female tyger. Now, she's part of an elite team with members from every kingdom tasked by a goddess to reseal the Anchors to the demon realm. She'll have to face demons, rebels, and infighting within her team and between the kingdoms, all while fighting an attraction to a man who could just as easily be either her redemption or her demise.
It's a very solid romantasy, in that it takes every element of the genre seriously enough to develop it. The world, its magic, and politics are all fully fleshed out. It feels like a place that could really exist, making the stakes and pressures on Rubi feel justifiably intense. The same goes for the characters and the interactions between them. You can feel the hatred oozing off the page whenever Rubi has to deal with the entitled Silvers. You can also feel the tenderness between Rubi and her mother figure, the intense friendship between her and her best friend, and the animal attraction that makes her and Blake feel inevitable.
Romance plays a massive role here, from slight enemies-to-lovers to fated mates and tons of lovely things in between. It's impressive that it's woven so well into all the fantasy elements that you don't notice one or the other; they're indispensable to each other.
The whole deal with the devils and the animosity between the kingdoms feels almost like minor elements when put up against the intense emotions of everything else going on. I am, however, willing to give Kwok the consideration that this is the first book, and a lot of things need to be set up. And boy, is there a lot to explore on so many different levels in this world. Some of the threads that Kwok drops for the next books have me side-eyeing a couple of choices, but I am down for whatever happens next.
Very happy thanks to NetGalley and G.P. Putnam's Sons for the magical read!
It's a very solid romantasy, in that it takes every element of the genre seriously enough to develop it. The world, its magic, and politics are all fully fleshed out. It feels like a place that could really exist, making the stakes and pressures on Rubi feel justifiably intense. The same goes for the characters and the interactions between them. You can feel the hatred oozing off the page whenever Rubi has to deal with the entitled Silvers. You can also feel the tenderness between Rubi and her mother figure, the intense friendship between her and her best friend, and the animal attraction that makes her and Blake feel inevitable.
Romance plays a massive role here, from slight enemies-to-lovers to fated mates and tons of lovely things in between. It's impressive that it's woven so well into all the fantasy elements that you don't notice one or the other; they're indispensable to each other.
The whole deal with the devils and the animosity between the kingdoms feels almost like minor elements when put up against the intense emotions of everything else going on. I am, however, willing to give Kwok the consideration that this is the first book, and a lot of things need to be set up. And boy, is there a lot to explore on so many different levels in this world. Some of the threads that Kwok drops for the next books have me side-eyeing a couple of choices, but I am down for whatever happens next.
Very happy thanks to NetGalley and G.P. Putnam's Sons for the magical read!
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