ARC Reviews : The Sibyl and The Thief
"Courageous she-heroes on magical quests of friendship, redemption, and life’s meaning in a whimsical, mystical world.”
Book Details
ARC by Book Sirens
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
🛒 The Necromancer's Apprentice
Publication Date : Sept 18, 2024
336 pages
Fantasy, Fiction, Grief, Friendship, Romance, Middle Grade, Magic, Folkores
Booknotes / Review
It’s about a girl who betrayed her people (Sabine) and was cursed with invisibility (not dead, just invisible) and another girl who has been blind (Anora) her whole life. They meet each other and their friendship grows as they uncover their true identities, their abilities, and their destinies in life.
The Sibyl and The Thief by Cordelia Kelly
This book is set in a secondary world, a fantasy realm loosely tied to medieval times (Merlin’s era), where kings and dukes rule the country. While on a quest to untangle their lives, we are introduced to mystical creatures, perfectly described by the author. I love how the world-building is written in this story. The writing style (modern English) is simple yet conveys an ancient experience.
I absolutely love Sabine’s loving mother, who prepared loads of food that made me hungry and miss my mother! ‘A feast was laid out on the table, pasties, morasu cakes, and fresh bread!’ I swear I could smell the freshly baked bread taken out of the stone oven.
Sabine and Anora are lovable and memorable characters who shine as feminine heroines in this story. I am not a fan of romantasy as the main pillar of a story, so I really appreciate how the author embeds small scenes of romance between the hero and heroine as they venture on their adventures. The love and sparks are believable and not cringy, and didn’t make me roll my eyes! I also love how the mystical creatures in this book are described in the most honorable way, focusing on their intelligence rather than their muscles and fierceness. For example, the dragon is portrayed as an intelligent animal with the ability to fly, rather than just a violent, scaled creature that breathes fire.
I admire how the author writes about the societal and political structure, mirroring the actual world. The story highlights how society can pressure individuals, turning them into social climbers to feed their selfishness, and briefly touches on the toxicity of modern society. It’s about the importance of balancing personal needs with those of society and nature. The themes are not too deep but are sufficient to reveal reality to young adult readers, helping them find their own voice and life principles as they come of age. The author did a great job creating believable and whimsical scenes.
This book has a sad ending (just a heads up).
Overall, this book deserves 4.5 stars—a Harry Potter Magic rating from me! It is a spellbinding experience, very engaging, making me laugh at funny moments and hold my breath during tense ones. I love the writing style, the memorable characters, the great plot, and how everything is interconnected with purpose. This is my first book by the author, and I’ve heard she wrote other books too. "The Well of Souls" is a debut novel by Cornelia, and I ought to get my hands on that one next!
Quotes :
“You’re trapped by a soul sucker. It’s making you relive your worst moments. You need to fight back.” “But why?” Her rasp was barely more than a breath. Anora paused, and footsteps rustled toward her. “Because you matter. If you find your fight, you can take on the worst evils of our world. Don’t let despair take that away from you.”
Flying creatures of great intelligence.” “Dragons, you mean.” “A special type of dragon,” Anora said. “Ielzries are born of hope.
Left your people, ignorant social climber. Don’t know your place. Nothing more than a scrap of mud.
“When I first saw you, your beauty took my breath away. But it’s the beauty in your soul that brings me to my knees.”
“Your defiance is more powerful than you can imagine. Nothing in life is certain. No one can tell the future.”
“Rating ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4.5 Stars)
Overall, this book deserves 4.5 stars—a Harry Potter Magic rating from me! It is a spellbinding experience, very engaging, making me laugh at funny moments and hold my breath during tense ones. I love the writing style, the memorable characters, the great plot, and how everything is interconnected with purpose. This is my first book by the author, and I’ve heard she wrote other books too. "The Well of Souls" is a debut novel by Cornelia, and I ought to get my hands on that one next!
Here’s how I rate books I read #fiction #fantasy #mysticalcreatures #arcreviews
Enjoy my book picks? Order 'Book with affiliate link' using this bookshop's link! 📚 By doing so, you not only grab a great read but also support my bookish adventures (at no extra cost to you!). Happy reading! 🌟 #BookLove
