Dissident

Forbidden Things #1

by Nikki McCormack

Ascard power can strengthen, heal and create. It also has great potential to destroy, enough to topple entire governments. Indigo’s country places strict limitations on the use of ascard so she must channel her talents into the healing arts or risk severe punishment. An orphan from a disgraced family, trapped by her father’s treason, Indigo struggles to reclaim her place in a society that has driven her into an abusive engagement.

Then a mysterious stranger from a neighboring country contacts her using ascard. He needs help escaping his prison so he can bring an end to his emperor's oppressive rule or die trying. His unshakable devotion to his cause and the passion hidden behind his cool arrogance move her to help him at the risk of being branded a traitor herself.

When the politics of society bring them together a second time, Indigo decides to use her growing powers to help him fight his war. If only she dared fight for her own future with such passion. Perhaps she can find the courage to do so by helping the man she has fallen for win his revolution. She might have exactly the power he needs to succeed.

Genres: Fantasy, Fiction

348 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 9, 2015

About the author

Outside of her career as an author, Nikki is a professional technical and creative writer, spider wrangler, animal lover, and devoted cat mom. Writing fantasy and science fiction stories has been a lifelong passion for her. She loves to draw upon her myriad life experiences doing everything from wild cave exploration and competitive horseback endurance riding to practicing iaido and archery. She invites you to join her for some fantastic adventures.

Grand Prize Winner of the Dante Rossetti Award for Young Adult Fiction for The Girl and the Clockwork Cat

Finalist in the Next Generation Indie Book Awards for The Keeper

Finalist in the Cygnus Award for Science Fiction and Speculative Fiction for Dissident

Writers of the Future finalist with the short story In Silence Waiting.

NOTE: No generative artificial intelligence (A.I.) or predictive language software has been or will be used in any part of the creation of my books.

Reviews

[Willow Brooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was scared at first when the heroine was being repeatedly abused by her fiancé, however it all worked out. This story was unique and pretty dang good.

To be honest, this book had me wanting to go inside the story and throw some Bruce Lee chops, with a few Muhammad Ali punches to the throat, and then using some strong Naruto chakra moves on him while Pikachu end him by electrocuting the heck out of him before I call his cute little yellow butt back into my Pokeball.

Good first book. I'm not liking the second book as much though.

[Lee French · Rating 4 out of 5]

It took me a few days to sort out my opinion of this book, a sure sign it made me think. The characters are intriguing and well-developed, the plot is interesting, the action is consistent in its application, and the story offered all-around satisfaction. It offers a good start, middle, and end with a clear path to the next book.

Indigo's relationship with Jayce confused me somewhat, mostly because the social pressures for her to stay with him seemed artificial. Part of the problem came from my not quite grasping her social status situation, which felt more complex than the explanations suggested. Her minor title seems to be derived purely from her engagement to Jayce, and the only thing that allows her to receive training as a healer. Perhaps I'm ascribing my own, modern understanding of "engagement" to the situation when I say this makes no sense, but I was offered no other explanation. Beyond that, I'm at a loss to understand why any ruler, regardless of superstitions or cultural taboos, would allow the waste of magical talent by restricting its training to only those who are titled.

Despite that rather minor setting-related quibble, I enjoyed the story a great deal. The ascard take on magic works, its limitations are reasonable and satisfying, and I was able to follow and accept the arc of Indigo's power growth. Her character growth is well done, and she's strong enough to carry the mantle of protagonist with ease.

I recommend this story for anyone who enjoys high fantasy.

[Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just finished this book and already feel a certain loss, like you do at the end of a great story. However I feel very lucky knowing the next one in the series is most likely being created even now. The worlds designed by Nikki McCormack in this book are unbelievably vivid, tactile and totally immersive. The power known as ascard and how it's looked at, used, restricted and valued felt reminiscent of some intangible aspects of our own ever changing society and the frightening responses by people who have no understanding of their own gut fear. It made for a very interesting comparison between her worlds and our own, not that that was her goal, but an observation that gave the story depth for me. She has most definitely mastered the art of creating a vision for us with just a few words. The characters were each unique with their own story carefully woven to mesh with the stories of the main characters. It's a beautifully written, fast paced but not breathless, engaging story.
I guarantee you will wish you could visit this fantasy world! Definitely recommend this book!

[Hope · Rating 4 out of 5]

** I received a copy from the author in exchange for an honest review. **

First Impression: What a gorgeous cover and interesting premise! I want to learn more about this "ascard" power.

Characters: What I adored about each character in Dissident, is the full realization of personality. Every one is distinct and beautifully drawn. The real issues and struggles between chracters and their world will pull you in like somehow you're one of them. Spoiler****I almost fell in love with Yiloch myself, let alone as an interest for Indigo.****

World Building: I imagined a world somewhere between Middle Earth and a scene from Final Fantasy. Although not overly described, the sense of time and place are easy to discern.

Writing Style: The way McCormack pulls you into relationships is breathtaking. Everything from battle scenes to quiet moments is realistically developed.

What I Enjoyed: I didn't want this first book of the series to end! I want to know what happens to my new friends, and what new challenges await the realm. The ending gives the perfect sendoff for Forbidden Things #2.

Deal Benders: The only complaint I found was a slow beginning. Hang in there because about 1/3 through you won't want to put this book down.

Overall Rating: 4 stars. With a stronger start, this could be a 5 star series!

For Fans Of: Rhapsody by Elizabeth Haydon, The Stormlight Archives by Brandon Sanderson

[Rachel Barnard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Indigo has always suppressed her Ascard power because society does not allow the use of powerful Ascard. She can use a limited amount as a healer but has worked all her life to hold in her inner aspect and connection to Ascard. Her power does not go completely unnoticed, as an exotic stranger contacts her through Ascard, seeking her help. Intrigued by him and ruffled by her rocky relationship with her fiancé, she follows the stranger into his prison. After she helps him escape, she thinks she will never see him again. Fate brings them together again, but he still needs her help.

This novel had a great balance between romance, fantasy and plot. I was pulled in by Indigo’s struggles to live up to others’ expectations in her restrictive society and her struggles with her fiancé. The intrigue and quick attraction between Indigo and Yiloch pulled me into the romantic aspect of the book and the plot kept the entire novel together as action wove through until the end.

Indigo is a role model for female characters. She’s strong, not in relation to man, but in relation to her enemies and her friends. She doesn’t have to stay in her relationship. She has control over her fiancé in a way he can’t even fathom. She isn’t smug about her skills and she doesn’t look down on others, even though she is stronger than everyone around her, even her teacher.

I enjoyed the writing style of this fantasy novel, just as much as the clean writing of McCormack’s steampunk series – Clockwork Enterprises.

[bex · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 star

There is immense potential in this book, but several weaknesses keep me from giving a higher rating. The author needs more polish, especially with regards to using proper adverbial forms when needed. Also some other wrong word errors.

The satisfaction of the ending is undermined by a blatant hook scene. A few other bad guy POV scenes also contribute by putting too much investment in setting up things that are not relevant in this book--things that shouldn't be revealed until the next volume when they become relevant to the plot line and character arcs. Tightening those aspects would make this book far more effective and enable the author to reach the potential the story carries if combined with proper editing.

However, despite these frustrations, the author's talent has me curious what else she can come up with.

[C.A. Craven · Rating 3 out of 5]

I won this in a GoodReads giveaway, and I'm glad I did! I love the world-building in this, the different kingdoms and how magic ("ascard") is used in each one. The story was really good - sometimes I could tell where the plot was going and sometimes it was a complete surprise - and all of the characters were well-written and well-rounded. I also liked that the romantic aspects of the plot were well done and not overwhelming.

I am very much looking forward to book #2!

[Thelma · Rating 4 out of 5]

Indigo is the heroine , she has asgard talents which in her country may only be in strictly delineated roles such as healing. However she meets a man who bewitches her. Her current fiance certainly doesn't approve and uses his fists to bolster that. The relationship goes downhill. She leaves to help a foreign prince win his throne. We are left hanging when she is on the ship back to her country

[Dina Rae · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ms. McCornack was a guest on my blog while promoting her book tour for Dissident. I liked the book's blurb.
Dissident is a fantasy novel that primarily takes place in two kingdoms, Lyra and Caithin. Indigo, the book's heroine, lives in Caithin and is engaged to Jayce. Her fiancee is a wife beater and a jealous brute. She lives with him while going to school. Their coming marriage is an arranged one. Indigo is from a noble family and expected to marry into nobility. Despite her birthright, she is basically on her own. Her father died when trying to start a revolution and her uncle is now her benefactor.
Indigo has strong powers in healing. Soon she comes to realize that she can also read other people's minds, cast spells, block information, and many other mystical things. One night after a fight with her fiancee, she walks through town and meets a Lyran named Yiloch. He doesn't tell her his real name at first because she would instantly recognize him as the son of the Emperor of Lyra. His father had him locked up because he was a threat to the crown. The Lyrians believe in slavery and oppression. Yiloch wants to reform the country.
The first night that they meet, Yiloch takes her into his prison cell that he frequently escapes from and makes love to her. Their tryst seems like a dream one-night stand. Later on she realizes who he is when she meets him at a state dinner. At this point, Indigo's powers stand out among her class. She has private lessons with the school's headmaster who shows her more magic. Some of Caithin's leaders decide to ally themselves with Yiloch with the goal of overthrowing Yiloch's father from the throne. Indigo volunteers herself as a healer and goes to war.
My Review: McCornack's writing is descriptive, clear, and exciting. I enjoyed the story immensely. The book was definitely original, but there were parts that reminded me of Game of Thrones and Harry Potter. I loved Indigo and Yiloch. McCornack did a tremendous job developing these very unique characters. The story was a love story, but also a political story where good triumphs over evil.
I don't want to spoil the ending, but it's not predictable. McCornack sets it up for a sequel, but it also works as is. Great book for fantasy and romance fans. I plan on reading her other book as well. Instant fan! 5/5 Stars

[Nola Decker · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an unusual action-packed adventure with great world building and interesting, complex characters, just what I expected from this author having recently read THE GIRL AND THE CLOCKWORK CAT. Really, you don't want to ever be a character in a Nikki McCormack book because she mercilessly shoves her characters into the most dreadful situations. I can't wait to see how the adventure continues in book 2!

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked this one a lot. The Indigo chapters in particular. I liked how she got out from under the thumb of her jerk fiance and became this super powerful witch. I hope we get to see his reaction in the next one. HAHA, sucker!

[Gail Graham · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book

Started a tad slow, but picked up speed as we went along. The ending was quite a surprise! Very intriguing, I will definitely be reading the rest of the series.