Ivory

The Ivory Saga #1

by F.M. Sherrill

As a child in the desert kingdom of Gryth, Ivory witnessed the brutal murder of her parents at the hands of a sinister race known as the Lecs.

Now Queen of her people, a vengeance-fueled Ivory launches a final battle to annihilate the enemy once and for all. But on the eve of war, betrayed by her own kind and left in the hands of the Lecs, she's forced to learn the shocking truth about their two peoples, and the diabolical curse that's plagued them for centuries.

Armed with newfound knowledge and unexpected allies, Ivory must face the real enemy that's haunted her all her life, and make a choice that will mean the difference between a new beginning and the end of the world.

Ivory is an exercise in duality made reality; an exploration of darkness and light, male and female, sun and moon… seen through the eyes of two cultures ripped apart by an ancient evil whose pain resonates through the ages like the beating of a drum.

Genres: Fantasy, Dystopia

300 pages, Paperback

First published July 7, 2013

Reviews

[Dianne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Two peoples, polar opposites, ancient feuds and fears, like two halves of a whole; do they have a common history? Has the time come to put aside their differences and stand together against a common foe and an ancient curse to save the existence of their world?

Ivory by F. M. Sherrill is a tale of contrasts and conflicts. Written with bold strokes and crisply staccato sentences, the overriding feel is dark and chaotic, with a hope for a brighter, more contented future, just like the lives and emotions of the main characters. With intriguing twists, unexpected deceit and loyalties throughout, Ivory, the Queen of her people learns long-hidden secrets that begin to crumble the hard-edged walls she has kept around herself. A fierce warrior, haunted by the brutal deaths of her parents and needing to avenge them, Ivory has become cold and unfeeling to those around her, but inside she has the same need for acceptance and love that we all crave. Can she trust the words of her sworn enemy, the ruler of the Lecs when her own people have betrayed her? With the weight of the world on her shoulders, Ivory must choose a path into an unknown future while learning to use the past as a tool of knowledge and the present to prepare.

With constant world-building deftly expanding this tale throughout and glimpses into the past, cementing the actions and emotions of the present, this dark tale moves along a twisted path to a conclusion that begs for a continuing sequel. The writing is intense; there is no middle of the road to F. M. Sherrill’s style, no brilliant flashes of rainbows, just hardcore, thought-provoking prose that transports the read into another realm.

I received a review copy as part of F. M. Sherrill's Ivory Tour and Giveaway stopping at Tome Tender January 29-February 16, 2014.

Series: Ivory Saga
Genre: Fantasy/Action
Publisher: Red Frog Publishing
Release Date: July 7 2013
Available from: Amazon|Barnes
and Noble|Books
A Million |Book
Depository

[Merredith · Rating 3 out of 5]

It’s the future, or maybe another world, and there are two groups of people – one can only be in the light or they get sick, and one in the dark. Ivory is queen of the light people, and everything they do is almost Vulcan-like. They’re not supposed to have any real emotions. Everything is bright, clean, measured, the same. Oh, and women die whenever they have female babies, so at this time she is one of only two women alive. They are all warriors and spend their time fighting against the other group. In that group, women die having male babies, so there are only a couple men alive. One day, she is taken over to the other group and has to deal with the truth of her origin, the origin of both peoples, and the war between them. This is the start of a series. It was not a bad book, but I’m not sure I would want to read more. Ivory is not a super likable person, and she is extremely abrasive and racist. I did find it interesting to think about it from her point of view – she’s grown up her whole life being taught to hate a group of people, see them as less than, and now she’s having to reconcile her whole belief system with what she’s seeing before her very eyes, that these people are people like her, ones who even live a more fuller life, with games, and music, and dancing, and real food that has tastes. It helped me understand racist, homophobic, etc. type people better.

[Madeleyne · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great read

So refreshing and so different from what I'm used to reading in this genre. I can't wait to read the rest!

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bumped up from 3.5 stars.

Two worlds. One dark and one bright. Gryth lives in eternal sunlight and Lectra in moonlight. After witnessing the brutal deaths of her father and mother, King and Queen of Gryth, Ivory is left as the sole heir and wages war against the Lec. Part of a three warrior group called the Blood Pack she roams the outside walls of Gryth, killing anyone and anything in her way. Ivory’s people are dying and she sets out to a final battle to destroy her enemies. Captured, she is made to relive all the truths, lies, and truths within lies that are her past, present, and future. Facing possible death multiple times, betrayal from her closest allies and winning and losing love within a few months, her plate is quite full. She must face herself, her past sins, and her heritage. Now facing the true enemy that is out to destroy their whole world Silver, King of the Lecs, and Ivory must stand together or lose everything and everyone they love.

The author’s style of writing is very fluid and poetic. Most books I like to listen to audibly using a special program, but the writing was too quick and descriptive. The reader definitely needs a quiet nook and a few free hours to be able to follow this author’s extremely fast descriptions and actions sequences. The story is very gripping and a lovely dark fantasy. The author does a great job of setting the scene, character building, and generally making the reader dizzy with all the twists and turns. My only complaint is the story seemed to peter out at the end. Ivory was coming to grips, adapting, and all of a sudden she’s back to bad-attitude-I-hate-everyone sequence. It’s like all of her growth went down the drain and she’s back to be a witchy woman with no compassion or heart. The book ends on a funky cliffhanger and no closure. Hopefully the author will wrap up the series and Ivory can finally get some lovin’, defeat the bad guy, and save her people.

Note: I received a copy of this book from I.O. Book Tours in exchange for an honest review.

[Lissette · Rating 4 out of 5]

All her life, Ivory has lived to serve the desert kingdom of Gryth. She's done her best to do right by it, vowing to destroy the Lecs at every turn. Her parents brutal death her driving force, she's become cold and unyielding to the world around her. So much so, that many consider her an ice queen when it comes to consorting with others. For her, such thoughts and considerations don't matter. She has a mission to fulfill, and she'll do everything possible to do what she's set her mind to.

Determined to end the Lecs reign, once and for all, Ivory sets a series of events into motion that will change her life forever. The unexpected aftermath leaves her at the enemy's mercy, and she finds herself foundering in a dark abyss. Part of her wonders if she'll overcome the adversities now headed her way. Will she find a helping hand to guide her through? Will she ever make it home again?

Those questions and more tumble through Ivory's head as she tries to grasp the enormity of her plight. As the secrets of her past start to surface, she soon realizes there's more at stake than she knew. The new knowledge is difficult to bear. If she's to set all wrongs to right, she'll need to place her trust in the one person she never thought she'd trust. The question is, will she be able to overcome her uncertainties when the time comes in order to do what's right?

Ivory hooked me in from the moment I began reading. F. M. has crafted a quite versatile world where light and darkness collide. In this case, though, both are tied to each other in more ways than one. The author's unique storytelling immerses you in the story, and doesn't let go at any moment. F. M. has given us a complex character who struggles with who and what she is on a daily basis. Ivory might be tough and unreachable, but she gets things done. I truly enjoyed this book, and look forward to more of the author's future works.

[Jonel · Rating 4 out of 5]

The almost poetic writing of this story contrasts with and complements the storyline of this captivating tale. It is intense and fast paced while remaining intriguing and thought provoking. Sherrill's brilliant, albeit dark, descriptions bring this story forward. These dark overtones carry the mood of the story forward in a very intriguing manner. She walks a fine line between hopelessness and salvation, creating a story that's difficult to put down. Sherrill also develops some quite intriguing curses and beings around which this storyline is developed. They add a very unique and captivating element to the story.

Throughout this story you not only get to know the main character as she is, but also as she gets to know herself and who she will become. The main character's flashbacks not only let the readers know where she came from and what she's fought through, they also fill in the history of the story and the land itself without breaking the fast forward pace of the story.

The supporting cast is well developed to suit their roles within the story without ever overshadowing or eclipsing the main character. Many of the plot twists in this story come from the supporting cast themselves. They are quite surprising at the time, yet in retrospect make perfect sense.

Murder, intrigue, and acceptance all make their way into this story, leading to plot twists and turns that keep you on your toes. This was a unique tale that I hope continues on into a sequel. I'm dying to know what happens next.

Please note that I received this novel free of charge from the author in exchange for an honest review.

[Sabrina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Two races in a revenge fueled war. Ivory the Queen of the Gryth people saw her parents brutally murdered by the Lecs. Nothing but wiping out their whole race will help calm her vengeance and maybe give her piece of heart. But everything changes for Ivory when she is betrayed by some one she trusts. She is handed over to her enemy, Silver the King of the Lecs. But what happens next will tear apart everything Ivory thought about herself, her people, the hatred she holds her heart against the Lecs, and her very existence.

So this is one of those books where I feel like I started reading it in the middle of the book. I was confused for awhile trying to figure out what was going on but after sticking with it I started to understand the story line and even connect with Ivory and Silver.

Ivory is one of the heroines that you feel everything she is feeling. You can feel her rage, vengeance, pain, betrayal, confusion, love, but most of all her devotion to her people. She is a Queen who will do anything for her people even if it goes against everything she believes as long as it’s what is good for them.

Silver is my new book crush. I just fell in love with him immediately. His devotion to Ivory is breath taking and heart breaking at the same time. Even with all his power never once does he hurt Ivory or her people which to me is the true definition of a King.

What truly makes this book good though is FM’s way with words. She paints both kingdoms so vividly that I felt like I could feel the orbs that heat the Kingdom of the Gryths and see the shadows of the Lecs. I can’t wait to read more of this story. 4/5 Bloody Fangs

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

When Ivory was young, she witnessed her parents being murdered by a Lec, a race of people that can't survive in the sun. Ivory is now Queen of the people of Gryth. Her people, completely opposite of the Lecs, can not survive long in the dark. The night before a the big battle between the two, Ivory is betrayed by one of her own, kidnapped, and taken to Silver, the King of the Lecs. He wants to unite their people. Can he convince her that they're stronger together? What really happened on that horrible night when her parents died?

I really hate when I do that..I start a book before I realize it is part of a series. Don't get me wrong, I love my series books. But, I was a little taken back by the ending because I didn't know this book was part of a series. That being said, I really did like this book. This book is so different, the author created a completely new world where humans don't seem to exist. Once I started this book, I couldn't put it down.

F.M. Sherrill did an awesome job of painting vivid images in my mind which made it so much easier to relate to the book and the characters.. The reader can almost see the orbs that warm the kingdom of Gryth, and the shadows of the Lecs.

This book is well written and expertly delivered. Now that I know it is part of a series, I can't wait to see where it goes!

[Bookish Satty · Rating 3 out of 5]

I got this book from the author, free of cost, in exchange of an honest review.

Firstly I would like to thank the author and the publisher of Ivory, for giving me this opportunity of reading and reviewing this fabulous book.

The characters were a little sketchy and I couldn't link with Ivory so the whole story didn't seem to reach me but I liked the plot and the concept very much. The story has potential but the author didn't nourish and utilize its full potential so I was able to enjoy the experience half-heartedly.
The action scenes are remarkable and I liked the detailed descriptions of the surroundings and the scenes but due to the under developed characters I couldn't get the full flavor of the fabulous plot. The mystery regarding who is the enemy and who the ally, kept me hooked in the story and the unexpected revelations shocked me very much.
I liked the writing style of the author very much, it’s crisp and enriched but I felt that somewhere the author just couldn't bring the characters to life; maybe the author couldn't connect with the characters while developing the story. Anyways, it is worth a shot definitely, so if you guys want you can go on with it. I’ll recommend it for the plot and the concept which I liked very much. Enjoy reading folks!

[Jamie · Rating 4 out of 5]

When Ivory was young, she witnessed her parents being murdered by a Lec, a race of people that can't survive in the sun. Ivory is now Queen of the people of Gryth. Her people, completely opposite of the Lecs, can not survive long in the dark. The night before a the big battle between the two, Ivory is betrayed by one of her own, kidnapped, and taken to Silver, the King of the Lecs. He wants to unite their people. Can he convince her that they're stronger together? What really happened on that horrible night when her parents died?

I loved this book. I almost gave it a five, but I was a little disappointed how it ended. I didn't realize this would be part of a series. This book is so different, the author created a completely new world where humans don't seem to exist. With the exception of a few times I fell asleep reading from exhaustion, I couldn't put the book down. I'd wake up after an hour or so and start reading again. F.M. Sherrill paints a vivid picture. The reader can almost see the orbs that warm the kingdom of Gryth, and the shadows of the Lecs. I can't wait to see what she comes up with next. I'd love to see how the story progresses from here!

[Mindy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story was somewhat disconcerting. I felt like I jumped into the middle of the story and left before it ended. Therefore I felt slightly off balance though the whole book. It worked for the type of story it was, but was disconcerting all the same.

I love the idea of a people separated and then in one person or a couple people reconnected, but it was kind of like falling into the new world in a Jules Vern novel. As I stated, it was like being off balance though the whole story. I didn’t dislike it, but I was never comfortable or in sinc with the characters in the novel. I’m not used to reading novels where I don’t either love or at least relate to the characters on a personal level and I never really felt that connection and yet on another level I could relate to Ivory’s feeling of not quite belonging.

On the whole, I think it is a good book to read. I give the story 3.5 out of 5 clouds and think it’s one of those stories I’ll have to sleep on and re-read later to fully get the impact of the story.

[Meghan · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a really good read. There is so much packed emotion in this story, it will have your heart all over the map.
The story and the main characters, Ivory and Silver, are such a mystery throughout most of the book. There is so much going on behind the scenes and we are given little pieces of the puzzle every now and then. It was very intriguing and kept me interested and wanting to read more and more. Wanting to know more about Ivory and Silver and their interwoven and seriously complicated histories.
At times I found myself so frustrated with Ivory and her way of thinking. She could come across as entirely pig headed severely narrow minded. But like every detail on this story, it had its reason and it all comes together.
I was however quite disappointed with the end. I kept trying to find more thinking there was no way it could end that way. But aside from the unfulfilling ending, I really enjoyed the story and I would probably recommend it.

[Hayley · Rating 4 out of 5]

A pretty good read. A different style - good use to the present tense - and an interesting premise. Ivory was a hard to like main character, and I can see why some other rivers didn't like the book because of her, but I thought she was an excellent example of how ignorance isn't bliss. She was angry and frustrated and that made you angry and frustrated at her, because she couldn't see past her own grief and ignorance to open up to other views, but that was the point. You weren't supposed to like her, and I liked that. It's also hard to do, and I feel like Sherrill has pulled it off quite well.

The plot was interesting and fairly fast-paced, though at times there was too many paragraphs of Ivory just thinking that got a bit boring. Her entire relationship with Blitz was just frustrating! And it would sometimes jump POV in the middle of passages which was hard to keep up with.

But all in all, a good read. 4/5.

[Joline · Rating 4 out of 5]

I very much got into this book. It was a great story, but then by the end I was disappointed with how little was resolved, even for a series. Also, the main character got really really annoying by the end with her refusal to change despite all the facts. If a second book comes out, I will probably read it, but if it continues to be dragged out like the first one with the main character being obnoxious, I will stop. It has a lot of potential though.

[Cat · Rating 2 out of 5]

This story is all over the place. Narration is 3rd person, present tense and follows Ivory. I found her really stubborn and, while a great warrior, a terrible leader. Altogether she was a harsh character - really nothing redeeming about her personality, though I think this is done deliberately, made it hard to sympathize with her. Ignorance is a big pet peeve for me, and Ivory's willful ignorance is frustrating.

[Kelley · Rating 4 out of 5]

A new addition to the library

This is an unusual story...that I really liked. It has rich detail and a compelling tale of two peoples dying out who must learn to live together if they are to survive.

[Cerenity · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really loved this book and can not wait to read the rest of this series. I have not been able to find a book that captured my interest as much since the hunger games. I am glad I was able to find this.

[a_tiffyfit]

review to come. tour.

[Caitlin Yawger · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great read

Great read with two powerful characters. Ivory is a bit strongheaded, which gets frustrating... but still, I recommend this book!

[Jenny Whetzel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this book! I thought the concept was unique and I had difficulty putting it down. I can't wait for the sequel!

[Yaara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Has potential

Some parts intriguing; others slow moving and redundant.