One of the most anticipated YA reads of this December is a first book in a new fantasy series and I must say I love the cover! Not many authors get lucky with their cover art, but this one is definitely one of the best ones out there (Yes, I know! Nothing can compare to «The Sun is Also a Star» by Nicola Yoon. We all agree on this one).
Seventeen year-old Britta Flannery is at ease only in the woods with her dagger and bow. She spends her days tracking criminals alongside her father, the legendary bounty hunter for the King of Malam—that is, until her father is murdered. Now outcast and alone and having no rights to her father’s land or inheritance, she seeks refuge where she feels most safe: the Ever Woods. When Britta is caught poaching by the royal guard, instead of facing the noose she is offered a deal: her freedom in exchange for her father’s killer.
However, it’s not so simple.
The alleged killer is none other than Cohen McKay, her father’s former apprentice. The only friend she’s ever known. The boy she once loved who broke her heart. She must go on a dangerous quest in a world of warring kingdoms, mad kings, and dark magic to find the real killer. But Britta wields more power than she knows. And soon she will learn what has always made her different will make her a daunting and dangerous force.
Published: December 27th 2016 by HMH Books for Young Readers
Great cover, interesting blurb, new YA fantasy release everyone talks about – there is nothing else you could wish for! Let’s see what else is there worth looking for!
WHAT I LIKED:
1 – THE FANTASY WORLD AND THE STORY BEHIND IT. A war between Kingdoms. A new twist on magic system. Hunters and silent woods. It was very beautiful to read about and to spend some time in a new magical world.
WHAT I DISLIKED:
1 – FIRST PERSON NARRATION. What?! It’s been AGES since I’ve read a book with first person point of view. And it just didn’t go well for me. My mind had trouble keeping the image in my head, each sentence would pull me out of the story and I felt that I needed twice as much focus to be able to keep the movie rolling. I guess I just couldn’t imagine myself as a young hunter running around the woods.
2 – THE ROMANCE. Lately, I’ve had no tolerance for mushy cringy romances. Am I getting too old? What is happening? I feel like I need some more fantasy and less romances in YA books.
3 – THE REPETITIVENESS OF THOUGHTS AND IDEAS. As the first book of the series it was quite interesting, but there were few moments (ok, more than few) when the same thought was repeated over and over and over again. I feel like that’s one of the downsides of the 1st person PoV. But they could have been avoided and hopefully will be in the future books.
Maybe I am being a bit too harsh on this book. Maybe I was expecting more from it. I am not particularly sure. But it was a good story and a good beginning to a series (trilogy?).
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from NetGalley for honest review and it didn’t in any way influence my opinion.
My Rating:
⭐⭐⭐ 3.5 / 5
With love,
Alex
WhimsyPages 
Very interesting review! I’ve read a couple YAs with first person recently, but I’m horribly at remembering titles, so I can’t say which ones unless I go back through my read list. >.< There do seem to be a lot of repetitive thoughts with that POV, but that world building sounds so intriguing!
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