by Harlequin
Genre: Fantasy (possibly YA)
Source: netgalley
Laying hands upon the injured and dying, Avry of Kazan assumes their wounds and diseases into herself. But rather than being honored for her skills, she is hunted. Healers like Avry are accused of spreading the plague that has decimated the Territories, leaving the survivors in a state of chaos.
Stressed and tired from hiding, Avry is abducted by a band of rogues who, shockingly, value her gift above the golden bounty offered for her capture. Their leader, an enigmatic captor-protector with powers of his own, is unequivocal in his demands: Avry must heal a plague-stricken prince—leader of a campaign against her people. As they traverse the daunting Nine Mountains, beset by mercenaries and magical dangers, Avry must decide who is worth healing and what is worth dying for. Because the price of peace may well be her life.
I really like Maria Snyder's writing. Something about her stories keeps me turning pages and I have a hard time putting the books down. There were some similarities between this book and Poison Study, but I thought it was unique enough that I wasn't bothered.
I think the writing could have been a little tighter, but since this was an ARC, the final copy could be a bit better. There were also times when I thought the story was getting predictable, but then something would happen, and my guesses about how everything would end changed.
Maria Snyder's books all feel like YA to me, although I'm not sure that they are. They definitely read like it in style, but they don't follow the typical YA pattern, and the characters are usually older.
All in all, this is a fast-paced fantasy adventure that I would recommend, especially to fans of the author. I'm looking forward to the next in the series already.
Grade: B+
I am always compelled by your reviews, especially those which receive a B+ or above.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the honest opinions!