Dance of Thieves (Dance of Thieves #1)by Mary E. Pearson
Releases Today: 07AUG2018
Description:
A new novel in the New York Times–bestselling Remnant Chronicles universe, in which a reformed thief and the young leader of an outlaw dynasty lock wits in a battle that may cost them their lives—and their hearts.
When the patriarch of the Ballenger empire dies, his son, Jase, becomes its new leader. Even nearby kingdoms bow to the strength of this outlaw family, who have always governed by their own rules. But a new era looms on the horizon, set in motion by a young queen, which makes her the target of the dynasty's resentment and anger.
At the same time, Kazi, a legendary former street thief, is sent by the queen to investigate transgressions against the new settlements. When Kazi arrives in the forbidding land of the Ballengers, she learns that there is more to Jase than she thought. As unexpected events spiral out of their control, bringing them intimately together, they continue to play a cat and mouse game of false moves and motives in order to fulfill their own secret missions.
My Review:
Dance of Thieves is a set in a world where civilization was long ago reset by a catastrophic event. Few survived, and that remnant has evolved into a land of politics, war, and a touch of magic. This book picks up a few years after the events in the original trilogy.
Only a few months ago, I came across the trilogy that precedes this book in my local library, eagerly devouring all of them until I ran out. Delightful. This one follows the same winning formula. A touch of lore, a little mystery, a lot of history (future?), and some heart gripping romance and political intrigue.
Kazi is a likeable heroine, and Jase is not so bad himself. I really dig how the author gives each of them an equal measure of importance and attention, building up both sides, and drawing you into their lives and motivations.
Side characters may not get as much play, but they’re built up enough to feel real and to empathize with. I particularly enjoyed the cameos and mentions of others from the original trilogy, which allowed me to reconnect with beloved characters without distracting from the new story.
And, in these stories, I find that happy endings don’t necessarily mean perfect endings. Not knowing or being able to guess the outcomes ups the tension and the excitement, making for a fun read. I’m already looking forward to the next one.
All in all, I found this a satisfying and engaging read. I would strongly recommend this to folks who dig fantasy, strong world-building and lore, and romance. I think this may fall under YA, as well, but it feels more mature than some of those I've read.
I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley.
About the Author:
Mary E. Pearson is the author of several award winning books for teens, including the best-selling Jenna Fox Chronicles. She is a native Southern Californian and writes full time from her home in Carlsbad, California where she lives with her family.
Her awards and honors include the Golden Kite Award, ALA Best Books for Young Adults, the Andre Norton Honor, and The South Carolina Young Adult Book Award.
Her newest series, The Remnant Chronicles, kicks off with THE KISS OF DECEPTION, the first in a trilogy about a defiant princess living in the ruins of a bygone world.
Her website, www.marypearson.com has more information about Mary and her books.
The Remnant Chronicles:
In case you're wondering, I would totally recommend starting with the Remnant Chronicles, which I borrowed and listened to before I read Dance of Thieves. The narration was fantastic and consistent, and I can't wait to hear this one in audio as well.
No comments:
Post a Comment