By: Jodi Meadows
Published: March 10, 2015
Publisher: HarperCollins
Pages: 391
Edition: Paperback
Genre: Fantasy, Young Adult
A PRINCESS. A SPY. A THREAT.
When the Indigo Kingdom conquered her homeland, Princess Wilhelmina and the other orphaned children of nobility were taken to Skyvale, the Indigo Kingdom's capital. Ten years later, they are the Ospreys, experts at stealth and theft. With them, Wilhelmina means to take back her throne.
But wraith, a toxic by-product of magic, pours across the continent, reshaping the land and animals into fresh horrors. Soon it will reach the Indigo Kingdom. Wilhelmina's ability to perform magic might be the key to stopping the wraith, but if the vigilante Black Knife discovers Wil's magic, she will vanish like all others...
I have just finished reading this book so I figured I might as well write a review on it now while it's still fresh in my memory.
This book was an impulse buy. I have not heard anything about it beforehand. I did, however, see a few photos on Instagram of the 2nd book of the series which is "The Mirror King". I wanted to read that but I knew I couldn't if I haven't read the first one yet. So when I was at a bookstore with my family and I saw this, I asked my grandfather to buy it for me (yes, I still ask my grandparents and parents to buy and pay for the things I want).
I was actually excited for it because for the first time since 2016 started, I am not reading a book that is over-hyped. Well, I guess it isn't anymore since it was released last year.
Anyway, I was excited for it like all other bookworms who've just bought a new book.
But as soon as I started reading it, I only ever had one constant thought: this book is a rip-off of "Throne of Glass" by Sarah J. Maas!
Now, before you start hating me, know that I am NOT saying this with a negative connotation. Okay, maybe a little.
But I love Throne of Glass so whatever story I read somewhere else like it is fine by me.
It did, however, make me a little bit lazy to finish the book.
It is basically about a princess who was forced to grow up and live as a criminal because her parents were killed in front of her in their once powerful and magic-filled kingdom. She then plans her revenge for years and voluntarily live in the palace of the royals who have killed her parents and taken her kingdom. Over time, she befriends and ultimately falls in love with the prince who she swore was her enemy. She secretly harbors magic because magic no longer works and is allowed in all the land.
If that does not remind you of Celaena Sardothien, I don't know what will!
I kept hoping that the story will turn into something different but all in all, it was predictable.
Maybe it'll be different by the 2nd book, but for this one, it was really just like Throne of Glass.
My favorite character was probably Black Knife. I honestly got intrigued by the story as we see more of him and yet know so little about him. He is a vigilante and you can tell that he really just wants to help out the people of Indigo Kingdom. His real identity, I predicted. It was so obvious. There were subtle hints since the very beginning: the looking at her like they knew one another, the sleeping in until late in the afternoon, the rumor of not being great at something, etc. It felt so good when my suspicions were correct!
My favorite character was probably Black Knife. I honestly got intrigued by the story as we see more of him and yet know so little about him. He is a vigilante and you can tell that he really just wants to help out the people of Indigo Kingdom. His real identity, I predicted. It was so obvious. There were subtle hints since the very beginning: the looking at her like they knew one another, the sleeping in until late in the afternoon, the rumor of not being great at something, etc. It felt so good when my suspicions were correct!
The writing is beautiful. Simple and easy enough to understand. I like it that way.
It has a certain aspect to it that will make it difficult to put down once you start reading it.
I probably would've enjoyed this book a lot better if I didn't know a story to compare it to. I can't help but compare it. I know it's bad to do that to books since we all know that authors have worked so hard on their books and that not one book is really similar. I'm sorry.
I still recommend this to adventure-seeking bibliophiles! The concept of magic in the story is unique.
Plus, you'll be kept on the edge of your seat as you try to figure out, alongside Wil, who Black Knife is and what they can all do to stop the wraith from destroying not just the Indigo Kingdom but the neighboring kingdoms and probably the entire world, too.
Have you read this book?
Let me know what you thought of it.
I'm excited to read the 2nd book to the series.
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