Onyx and Ivory
Author: Mindee Arnett
Release Date: May 15, 2018
Publisher: Balzer + Bray
ISBN: 0062652664
ISBN13: 9780062652669
Genre: Young Adult Fantasy
Review Copy Source: Edelweiss
They call her Traitor Kate. It’s a title Kate Brighton inherited from her father after he tried to assassinate the high king years ago. Now Kate lives as an outcast, clinging to the fringes of society as a member of the Relay, the imperial courier service. Only those most skilled in riding and bow hunting ride for the Relay; and only the fastest survive, for when dark falls, the nightdrakes—deadly flightless dragons—come out to hunt. Fortunately, Kate has a secret edge: she is a wilder, born with magic that allows her to influence the minds of animals. But it’s this magic that she needs to keep hidden, as being a wilder is forbidden, punishable by death or exile. And it’s this magic that leads her to a caravan massacred by nightdrakes in broad daylight—the only survivor her childhood friend, her first love, the boy she swore to forget, the boy who broke her heart.
The high king’s second son, Corwin Tormane, never asked to lead. Even as he waits for the uror—the once-in-a-generation ritual to decide which of the king’s children will succeed him—he knows it’s always been his brother who will assume the throne. And that’s fine by him. He’d rather spend his days away from the palace, away from the sight of his father, broken with sickness from the attempt on his life. But the peacekeeping tour Corwin is on has given him too much time to reflect upon the night he saved his father’s life—the night he condemned the would-be killer to death and lost the girl he loved. Which is why he takes it on himself to investigate rumors of unrest in one of the remote city-states, only for his caravan to be attacked—and for him to be saved by Kate.
With their paths once more entangled, Kate and Corwin have to put the past behind them. The threat of drakes who attack in the daylight is only the beginning of a darker menace stirring in the kingdom—one whose origins have dire implications for Kate’s father’s attack upon the king and will thrust them into the middle of a brewing civil war in the kingdom of Rime.
ONYX AND IVORY started out strong, but slowed down and lost some of my excitement thereafter.
I honestly liked the characters in ONYX AND IVORY. Kate's story quickly drew me in and I really wanted her to come out on top after all that she had been through. Corwin had a few annoying moments, but he had some good growth throughout the book. The romance between the two was slow, but I enjoyed learning about their past and friendship.
I found a few things lacking in ONYX AND IVORY. The world building wasn't fantastic. I felt like I would have gotten more into things if I knew a bit more about the world. The plot didn't totally draw me in, there wasn't really anything that made it stand out among other books in its genre and I found the pace too slow at times. Let's talk about the ending, it was very quick and a little confusing. I really wanted it to blow me away, but it didn't.
I am a bit on the fence about if I would read more if this was a series. I feel like things were left open in a few spots and there could be another book, but I wouldn't be disappointed if there wasn't.
I gave it 3/5 stars
* This book was provided free of charge from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.