Format: Hardcover, 448 pages
Release Date: January 10, 2023
Publisher: Balzer + Bray
Source: Publisher
Genre: Young Adult / Fantasy
From acclaimed fantasy author Mindee Arnett comes an epic, adventurous story of a young mercenary magic user trying to escape the oppressive island of Riven—and a young noblewoman trying to change it forever.
Mars Darksvane wants out. Out from under the thumb of Una, the crime boss who pulled him off the streets as a child and trained him as an assassin; out from the island country of Riven, where magic, in the form of a dangerous material called Ice, allows the rich to live in luxury and keeps the poor in thrall. Mars is a secret adept—a person born with the ability to channel the magic that flows beneath Riven—and while his power gives him abilities useful to an assassin, it also makes him a target. And when his last mission ends in tragedy, Mars finally decides it's time to escape to the mainland. No magic, no history, a new life on his own.
But Una has other ideas. If Mars wants his freedom, he's going to have to perform a final job: protecting Fura Torvald—the heiress of the rich and powerful Torvald kith, and the daughter of the last man Mars was sent to kill—and stealing from her a mysterious object known only as the Primer.
Mars has no interest in Fura or
whatever the Primer is, nor in Riven's corrupt and oppressive politics;
he just wants to do his job and get out. But as Mars comes to know more
about Fura, the Primer, and the true nature of the power in Riven, he
realizes that he will soon have to take a side in a fight he has avoided
his entire life. Which side, however, he does not yet know.
From acclaimed fantasy author Mindee Arnett comes an epic, adventurous story of a young mercenary magic user trying to escape the oppressive island of Riven—and a young noblewoman trying to change it forever. The author has constructed the world of Riven from touchstones in Nordic and Icelandic culture, giving the land, architecture, technology, and mythological aspects of the world their own flair and flavor.
Mars Darksvane wants out. Out from under the thumb of Una, the crime boss who pulled him off the streets as a child and trained him as an assassin; out from the island country of Riven, where magic, in the form of a dangerous material called Ice, allows the rich to live in luxury and keeps the poor in thrall. Mars is a secret adept—a person born with the ability to channel the magic that flows beneath Riven—and while his power gives him abilities useful to an assassin, it also makes him a target.
10 months ago, after a mission went sideways, Mars tried to walk away from Uma. He began saving money as a fish monger in order to escape. But Una has an ampoule of Mars blood which binds him to her until she decides he can leave. She knows where he is at all times. So, if Mars wants his freedom, he's going to have to perform a final job: protecting Fura Torvald—the heiress of the rich and powerful Torvald kith, and the daughter of the last man Mars was sent to kill—and stealing from her a mysterious object known only as the Primer.
Mars has no interest in Fura or whatever the Primer is, nor in Riven's corrupt and oppressive politics; he just wants to do his job and get out. But as Mars comes to know more about Fura, the Primer, and the true nature of the power in Riven, as well as her friend Katrin, he realizes that he will soon have to take a side in a fight he has avoided his entire life. Which side, however, he does not yet know. All he does now that if he can help Fura with her mission, he can finally get away from Riven, and especially Uma.
There are times, I admit, that I don't like a duality of narratives, but in this case, I think the story would have benefited from having certain storylines filled by Fura and or Katrin who seem to have a strong depth of their own outside of what readers see through Mars narration. Props to the author for the strong world building. Magic is dependent on Ice, a toxic resource that needs to be mined. The structure of the society, the environment, the abuse of the adepts (those who can do magic) really tell a great story.
However, I would also be remiss by not saying the prologue had no bearing on the overall story. It was just there to apparently tell readers how Riven is slowly dying. Also, the ending really is open ended to the point where I believe that a sequel would be pertinent to see what happens next.
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