Rhodi's Light

Rhodi Saga #1

by Megan Linski

From bestselling author Megan Linski comes an emotional new series that proves your past can never tame your spirit...

Flight. Hyperspeed. Clairvoyance.

These are some of the powers gifted to the Rhodi, an ancient sect of assassins who defend Crescentia, a dystopian world with a dying hope.

Dyliana Fairsson is one of them. After losing her parents to a suspicious accident, she and her twin brother, Devin, join the Rhodi to avoid starvation. Under the direction of her master, Dylan struggles to learn the strength of her magic …as well as hide the growing scars on her wrists. Can Dylan become the warrior, the hero, she’s destined to be? Or is she fated to fall from the light into the darkness?

The first installment in an epic fantasy series by young adult author Megan Linski, Rhodi’s Light is an action-packed thrill ride that will leave readers begging for more.

Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult, Dystopia, Science Fiction, Young Adult Fantasy, Paranormal, Fiction

264 pages, ebook

First published August 16, 2016

About the author

Megan Linski lives in Michigan. She is the author of more than fifty fantasy and paranormal novels which feature themes of friendship, community, and healthy romantic relationships. She has over fifteen years of experience writing books alongside working as a journalist and editor. She graduated from the University of Iowa, where she studied Creative Writing.

Her passions include ice skating and horseback riding. In her free time she enjoys dancing in the snow and drinking fancy coffee while at her natural habitat, the mall.

Megan advocates for the rights of the disabled, and is an activist for mental health awareness.

Megan co-writes the Hidden Legends Universe with Alicia Rades. She also writes under the pen name of Natalie Erin for the Creatures of the Lands series, co-authored by Krisen Lison.

Awards Megan has won include;

Best Fantasy Book of the Year 2019 by Once Upon a Book

Best Co-Authored Book of the Year 2022 by Once Upon a Book

Author of the Year 2022 by Once Upon a Book

Keynote Speaker at Once Upon a Book 2023

Best Book Friends (Ava and Kallie) 2023 by Once Upon a Book

Featured in the FOX Teen Choice Awards Gift Baskets

Two-time Reader's Favorite Five Star Read (Bronze Medal Finalist)

Winner of Amazon's Kindle Scout Competition

Reviews

[Ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

You can see this and other reviews on my blog: Book Nerd Paradise

The Rhodi Saga is like a cross between fantasy novel and a superhero comic. Here were have the story of four super individuals, or Rhodis as they call themselves. Young twins, Dylan and Devin, after losing their parents manage to find their way to the last Rhodi warriors, Talidin and Tavana, who are also twins. Under their tutelage they begin to hone their skills to become the next generation of warrior. Devin thrives in their new environment, but Dylan struggles with the pressure.

What I liked most about Dylan's character is that's she's very flawed. She's surly, she's combative and she's angry at the world. But underneath it all, she's just scared of losing the new family she's made just like she lost her parents. It make for a compelling character who you just want to root for.

I really liked the relationship between all four characters. They managed to build their own little family, even though some of them butted heads from time to time. Each character grew into their respective roles throughout the novel.

My one gripe about The Rhodi Saga is that I feel the description is misleading. It makes is seem like Dylan is the main character, when in fact it's really four character and four points of view. I'm one of those people that actually doesn't really like multiple POVs, so I like to know beforehand what I'm getting in to. But in the end, all the characters were likeable and each perspective was important to the story.

The overall writing to the story was good, I didn't notice any glaring errors that take away from the story and it gets better and the novel goes on. Final rating is 3.5 out of 5 stars with a recommendation to definitely read. The best part is that it's available on Kindle Unlimited, if you have it.

** I was provided a copy of this book in return for an honest review

[Lillian ☁ Cloud 9 Books ☁ · Rating 4 out of 5]

***** 4 Rhodi Stars *****

Rhodi's Light immediately captured me. It's a YA dystopia with a lot of fantasy. There's action, loss, and love. It was a one of a kind adventure, and I couldn't stop reading.



So what is a rhodi? They are protectors of peace. Almost like jedi knights... but no lightsabers and no Force. Each rhodi has a special power unique to their own. Unfortunately, there are only a handful of rhodi's left in the world because of a war.

Dylan and Devin are twins. They lose their parents in a tragic accident and have no where to go. Rhodis take them in, and Dylan and Devin gain a new family. As young rhodis, they discover their new powers and help their masters in the fight against evil.

This fantasy is so creative, I can't stop thinking about all the unique characters. It's filled with super powers, from rapid speed to crazy transformations. A brilliant beginning to an entrancing series. I can't wait to read book 2!

[Katrin D]

This book was provided by NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

Overall notes:

I really cannot give this book more than 1*, even though the premise sounded amazing and I had great expectations. Maybe this is the problem, I simply expected too much out of a mediocre read. Still, the main problems for me remain the writing and the worldbuilding, the plot - even rushed and overcrowded with action- and the characters - even though not quite developed- were not particularly bad, and if only for them the book might have deserved 3*. As it is, though, I couldn't wait for it to finish, so I cannot force myself to rate it higher.

The Plot

When it comes to the plot, I expected something quite different. 


Dylan and Devin are always on the run along with their parents but they never seem to know the reason. After their parents die in a car crash, they are left alone, hungry and abandoned. In a series of coincidences, they get apprenticed to be part of a group of warriors called the Rhodi, whose numbers have fallen over the last years. From then on, it is basically training and fighting, while Dylan is trying to combat panic attacks. If this was a movie, it would be something like a wuxia, set in the modern-day US, with elements of Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind.

Which, in all honesty was weird. In is not often we see mental problems explored in fantasy. Why is that? Because it is super hard to unite the two. I'm not saying the characters in a fantasy setting are not likely to suffer from mental issues. I'm saying that when you want to explore such a problem in a book, for me, personally, it is more appropriate to focus on it properly and this is very hard when you have to build a world and create multifaceted characters. What we had here was a half-assed attempt at all three. I'm sorry, but I'm very angry at the way the panic attacks and self-harm was explored here. I have been having panic attacks since I was 10, so I know. Believe me, I know. And this gem here:

“You have panic attacks.”
“I...think so,” Dylan said. “Know how to stop those?”
“I do,” Talidin said. “Though it takes practice. You have to breathe, and keep telling yourself that you’re not in any danger. With time they should go away, though it helps if you’re not stressed.” Talidin sighed. “Maybe we should stop your training for a while until you get better.”

is the most useless piece of advice for tackling panic attacks. This is what people, who have absolutely no idea how it feels, tell you to act when you have one. I feel if the author wanted to include a serious issue like that, maybe more research was needed. Just a thought.

So, basically the plot tried to unite a growing up, self-discovery story with a serious mental illness, while the action is set in a fantasy world, which needed more development. The result was a steaming hodgepodge. None of these three aspects was properly developed and I feel if the focus was only one, maybe then result would have been better.

The Worldbuilding

It certainly is interesting to have a dystopian world, which is not a future version of our own, but if this is the case, then I feel more worldbuilding was in order. As it was, the clash between Earth-like technology and a fantasy setting, where magic exists was not done in believable way. It seemed almost as if the author wanted to include the cool elements that come with a fantasy setting, but also needed to have technology. Which is certainly intriguing, if done right. In my opinion, however, it was not done right here.

Example:

They use cars, but fight with staffs and knives - so I am a little lost as to what exactly this world is. For me, it makes no sense to have knowledge of the engine, but no technology to make guns. And if they do have the technology - then why not use guns? It is as believable as having people nowadays fight with swords.

One of the hardest tasks when creating a new world is making it believable. Normally, in fantasy this means creating either a completely different, invented world or using our own. When there is a fusion between these two the task in front of the author becomes a lot harder and is only up to very experienced writers to make it right. Sadly, for me, this was not a successful attempt at uniting those two options and it just left me disappointed.

Moreover, we don't really get enough information about this world - there is a Far East, Areos and a city, where the characters grew up. What are the differences between these? How are they defined? What is their culture like? None of these was properly addressed.

On the other hand, I do realise there simply wasn't a way to include this information since at every page of the book there was something happening, so it hardly left any time/space for worldbuilding.

The Writing

My biggest problem with this book was the writing.

Long story short: it was forced. There was a lot of telling, instead of showing and I felt like there were elements which surely made sense in the author’s head, but when put on the page, the narrative and the dialogue just seemed unnatural.

What I mean by forced? Well, the dialogue, for one, was not following logical sequence - people randomly said things just because. The same was true for whole scenes, the story was not flowing, it was rushed.

Example of a random scene:

“Devin ran over to her and cupped a hand over her mouth. “Dylan, we’ve already disobeyed Tavana by letting Tito in! Do you want the Hunter’s Guild to hear you? They could be watching the house!” he said.
She pushed him away and whispered back, “We didn’t let him in, he let himself in, the jackass!”
“Well, I couldn’t get in through the door. It was locked,” Tito complained.
“Don’t you think there was a reason for that?” Dylan said, her voice cracking. “Tavana and Odon are gone. They have to go rescue my master because he got kidnapped by the Hunter’s Guild.”
“Are you serious? That’s insane,” Tito said.
“Tell me about it. My master is going to die, all because of me.” She put her head in her hands and slumped into a chair, devastated.

There were attempts at witty banter, but again they didn’t work for me. It was pretty clear the "jokes" were put there on purpose, not because it was natural to have them as a response to the dialogue prior to that moment.

“End of the world, drama queen?” Odon teased, taking a book down from the shelf.”

This is definitely not something an old, martial arts master would say.

Overall, in my opinion, the writing was the weakest link.

The Characters

There were a lot of characters introduced and for all of them there was some sort of a heart-breaking personal story, which was neither developed, nor explored in detail. Which makes me wonder why exactly were they there?

I felt zero connection with any of the characters - which given the fact that both the protagonist and I suffer from the same mental illness is a hardly achievable "feat". I am not going to go into detail, evaluating each character separately, but I will include several quotes, so you can get a vague idea what we are dealing with:

Dylan, the MC:

“Did you ever figure out why your parents were running from the Guild?” Tito asked.
“It doesn’t really matter now,” Dylan said, speaking for the first time. “We spent our whole lives trying to escape from them, but it didn’t matter. They got what they wanted in the end. What’s the point in finding out why?”

How can you not sympathise with such an intelligent, inquisitive approach to life?

“Devin peered around the corner, and then said, “I don’t know. But I think there’s more to our master’s pasts than they’ve been telling us.”
“More? How can there possibly be more?” Dylan said, shaking her head.”

Well, how can there be more? You've known them for a few months at best and you surely, must have discovered everything there is about a person's life in this time.

Devin, the MC's twin brother:

This is his question when he finds out he needs to learn how to communicate telepathically:

“It’s a crazy feeling. Why do we need to learn this?” he asked.
Tavana bowed her head. “Because sometimes you will be alone without means of communication, and speaking will cause great danger. It’s best at most times to be silent.”

Not the sharpest tool in the shack. I don't really think I've ever encountered a fictional character, who's asked what are the benefits from telepathy.

Saffron, MC's nemesis:

She's got the best lines in the whole book, I swear:

“She let out another maniacal laugh. “I am Saffron. I am the second in command, apprentice to Rachel, Red Huntress and leader of the Hunter’s Guild.”

“This isn’t over, tigress. Know that from now on, you and I are sworn enemies. I will be hunting everyone and everything you love. And I won’t stop until I’ve taken everything from you.”

So. A bad 90s movie script, anyone?

BONUS: I can’t read the name Tito with a straight face. All I think about is Yugoslavia. Bad name choice.

[Chelsies Reading Escape · Rating 3 out of 5]

Actual Rating: 3.5 Stars

This book needs a content warning for self harm.

I really wanted to love this book. I had such high expectations and I think that made the disapointment worse. The premise sounded really interesting. Twin orphans join the Rhodi assassins (not really) in order to get off the streets and protect themselves. They're not really assassins since they dont take money to kill random people. They're more like really good soldiers with super powers that we dont hear about until halfway into the story. The Hunters and their leader the Red Huntress are more what I would consider assassins.

There isnt many Rhodi left and I didnt really understand the reason why they have a hard time recuiting people. They could give the community an incentive by letting them know about the magical abilities and then pick the best candidates. For some reason, that didnt really make sense to me, they didnt want to tell people about the abilities because they would get too many people wanting to become Rhodi. However I dont see how thats a problem since they complain they dont have enough members.

Then theres my issue with the immature main character Dylan. She makes bad decisions and she complains way too much. I know shes been through a lot but so has her brother and you dont see him being a brat. Hey maybe Im not suppose to like her. Dylans only friend Tito isnt much better. His enthusiasm to spend time with Dylan came off kind of fake. At least I like her brother Devon and his Master Tav. I thought Devons friend was heartbreakingly sweet. I also enjoyed old Odon with his infinite patience and Yolanda with her grumpy wisdom.

Dylans Rhodi training Master Tal who acts more like a child than an actual Master. He was told the night before that Dylans and her family was in car crash and her parents didnt survive but he still speeds like a maniac the second they all get in the car. Tal was also way too easily captured in my opinion. Tal eventually grew on me and I started liking him. I thought he and Dylan made a good match since their both short tempered and stubborn. Tal sister April was a really intriguing character. She had this wise and mysterious atmosphere about her.

Im a plot driven reader so I can usually get over not liking a character if theres a good story and this story was fairly entertaining. I never felt like the reading was forced and the book went by quickly but I think the characters needed to be developped a bit more. The plot was pretty straight forward and simple but a lot of the characters kept secrets which added some much needed layers to the story. The writting and the characters felt a bit like middle grade but with themes of self harm and grief were more suited for an older audience.

For example, I read "But then" twice in the matter of 4 sentences. Theres also things like this: " you can be able to talk to them". Im sure theres a better example but I didnt slow down enough while reading to mark it down. It wasnt terrible writing by any means. Ive read a lot worse. These issues should have been caught by an editor and who knows maybe they will be in the finished edition.

I think this book sets down a good foundation for the following books in the series. I can definitely see myself liking Dylan more as her characters develops. Theres a lot of potentiel for a great character arc. I think the concept was fascinating and I would love to see where the plot goes from here. If given the chance I would definitely review the other books in the series. Now that I know what to expect from the world and the characters I see myself enjoying the following books a lot more.

*Received a copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review*

[Kirsty (Amethyst Bookwyrm) · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thanks to Netgalley and Patchwork Press for giving me this book to review.

Rhodi’s Light has an interesting story idea but I found it severely lacked world building. I could not tell if this book was a fantasy or dystopian novel as it had magic and swords but also cars and phones, which made it a confusing read. It also didn’t grab me as I was not at all curious about what was going to happen next.

I felt sorry for Dylan but mostly I didn’t really like her as she was a brat, immature and not at all likeable, I preferred her brother Devin. I didn’t care both of those and their masters Tavana and Talidin, especially Talidin who a day after learning that Dylan and Devin’s parents died in a car crash drives them around fast and very recklessly.

It had potential but I was just too confused with the lack of world building and DNF at 39%.

This and my other reviews can be found at Amethyst Bookwyrm

[Melissa Souza · Rating 4 out of 5]

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

4 stars!!!

Well, that was one heck of read. My emotions seem to be all over the place but I'm going to try my best to put down my thoughts as coherently as possible in this review.

This is definitely a different sort of dystopian read. It had bits of fantasy thrown in which I loved. From the way it was written and the way the characters were portrayed, it had a distinctive Anime feel to it which I thought was really unique.

The worldbuilding was done really well. I liked that a map was given of Crescentia so we knew where places were. The world that Megan created was a modern one filled with cars and other hi tech stuff but there is a distinctive undercurrent of something ancient and primal underneath it all. The magic system of Crescentia was intriguing, there's like a kung fu vibe going on with the two guilds - Rhodi and the Hunters. We also get to see a range of special abilities like mind speaking, shapeshifting and so on. I would like to point out that there were instances in the book where I felt there was a bit of info dumping going on. This was a tad bit confusing because we aren't given an explanation for things. But, I'm going to let it go because the book is part of series and I'm hoping these things will be clarified and developed further on.

I think what really grabbed my attention were the characters. My favourite would have to be Dylan. I really liked how Megan dealt with the issue of mental illness in the book. The emotions portrayed were so raw and real, that I could easily connect with Dylan as a MC. I found myself constantly rooting for her and hoping she overcomes her fears and guilt. I also loved her relationship with Talidin. It was so heartwarming and gut wrenching at the same time. I found myself close to tears especially towards the end of the book. The other characters were equally well done. I felt Megan gave equal weight to each of them which resulted in all of them being well rounded. I never felt any of them to be flat. We got to see parts of each of their backstories throughout. I also liked Devin and Nellie's friendship. That one was exceptionally cute. I can't wait to find out how things pan out for both of them. I am hoping for a bit of romance in book two although I have to admit, I didn't really miss it in this one.
With regards to the villain, I would have to say the Red Huntress has mystery coming up in spades. We aren't given much of her story but she is definitely someone not to be taken lightly.

The battle scenes between the Hunters and the Rhodi throughout the storyline were definitely epic. I thought the plot and twists were placed strategically enough to keep my interest going. The revelation, however, at the end wasn't really shocking to me though (when we find out Tavana is the queen). I felt it was a bit jarring and was kind of placed there for like a "big moment" but fell flat instead. That would be one of my small negatives with the book. Also there were few grammatical errors here and there which I am sure will be edited out before the book hits the shelves.

Overall, despite there being a few minor faults, I would really recommend "Rhodi's Light" to anyone who loves dystopian and fantasy reads. It should really go on your TBR list. It's not a story you would want to miss out on. I can say for sure that I'm really looking forward to reading the sequel :)

[Uma | Books.Bags.Burgers · Rating 3 out of 5]

( I received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review)

BLURB

Flight. Hyperspeed. Clairvoyance.

These are some of the powers gifted to the Rhodi, an ancient sect of assassins who defend Crescentia, a dystopian world with a dying hope.

Dyliana Fairsson is one of them. After losing her parents to a suspicious accident, she and her twin brother, Devin, join the Rhodi to avoid starvation. Under the direction of her master, Dylan struggles to learn the strength of her magic …as well as hide the growing scars on her wrists. Can Dylan become the warrior, the hero, she’s destined to be? Or is she fated to fall from the light into the darkness?

CHARACTERS

I started the book hoping to really like the characters but the only person I really connected with was Nellie, and she wasn't even one of the main characters! While I did like the twins and Talidin and Tavana, I couldn't just connect with them. At the beginning of the book Dylan is said to be 15 but throughout the book I couldn't picture her as being more than 10. As a matter of fact, all the characters in the story seemed younger than they actually were. Truthfully I think younger readers might be able to connect with the characters...

PLOT

The first chapter held so much promise but the plot kind of became confusing soon. I had a hard time getting a proper grip on the setting and time. I started out looking at a dystopian universe but most of the time it felt an old time fantasy setting. I had to keep reminding myself that it was not the case.

There were info dumps every now and then when the masters suddenly decide to tell Dylan and Devin something about the Rhodi or their own secrets.

There are too many unrealistic coincidences and many scenes left me saying, "OK am not buying that." A lot of things in the book happen without a reason.

Truthfully, the plot by itself is pretty good but the way it has been presented to the readers is not. It's confusing at times and feels incomplete.

WRITING

The writing was actually good and fast paced. I read the book in one sitting without feeling bored. The story moves quickly and doesn't dawdle at any point. The descriptions in the book were good enough for me to form images in my head as I read the book.

WHAT I LIKED ABOUT THE BOOK

- The fast paced writing
- The plot as a whole

WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE ABOUT THE BOOK

- The way the plot is presented
- The characters
- The confusing setting and unrealistic coincidences

CONCLUSION

It definitely wasn't a bad book. The plot is decent and the writing is fast paced. I actually think it would be a good read for younger readers.

[Constance Roberts · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was really anticipating this series because Megan Linski has earned herself a spot on my favorite authors list ever since her Arabian fantasy "Kingdom From Ashes". This new series doesn't seem to be much like that at all in terms of tone, setting, and era. The overall "feel" of the setting and characters, with their dormant magic and dark pasts, reminds me of a modern Final Fantasy universe. (think FF13-2 or 3) I definitely felt nostalgic all throughout reading it and I'm DYING to play FF now!

But anyway, the first installment in the Rhodi's Saga has good qualities, as well as a few things I hope improve with the next book. For example, Linski puts us in a very unique, yet somehow familiar world, with out the reader getting to explore much of it. And I don't mean like they didn't go anywhere. It's just that I would have liked to have known more about culture a little about the people in the background, not just the handful of characters we get to interact with. The Rhodi are another thing. Their history is very intriguing, but they're so secretive, no one knows who they are. So I didn't really understand why they mattered to the Hunter's Guild so much. Or why they continued even after their numbers nearly died out.

But speaking of characters, Linski doesn't fail to make great ones. The main characters, Dylan and Devin, who are twins, felt very realistic since they were close, but not presented as carbon copies of each others mind, body, and spirit, like so much of media would have us believe. The two definitely had different personalities and that was very refreshing. Dylan has a darkness in her. One she's trying to overcome. I think that's something we all can appreciate. But don't worry, there's no shortage of comic relief with the teens and their quirky friends. It didn't take long for me to fall in love with Taladin's soft heart and the other characters all got my attention, too. The villains didn't really get fleshed out until the end and even though they were the main problem, I felt their influence was lacking throughout the story. But at the end of book one, it's clear what the villain's motives are.

Overall this book just felt like the introduction to something bigger. There are still questions to be answered. Still places that need to be filled in on my mental map. There are definitely still things the Rhodi need to do and I'm tagging along for the ride.

[Kel (Faerie-bookworm) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Title: Rhodi’s Light
Author: Megan Linski
Genre: YA Fantasy
Format: Ebook
Shelf: Review
Pages: 204
Rating: 4
Heat: 1

Thoughts: I've only read book 1 so far but will definitely be continuing the series. I would have to say that book one is more of a prequel, it's setting the story up so we already have the how's and why's. I can't wait to see where this goes next. The characters are interesting, both young and old. There are still many mysteries about the Rhodi and what they can do, along with Dylan and Devin's parents that I assume will come to light as the story continues and I LOVE when that happens. We get enough to speculate, a hint of why they were constantly on the run, but very little of the reasoning behind it. Which I think is a great talent for any author to be able to do, keep the reader hooked but leave so many questions unanswered. Throw in some twists and turns with unexpected results and you've got a great story. For me the unexpected is the best, I love not knowing what might happen. I get excited when what I think might happen doesn't, predictability is boring. If you follow my blog (https://lovesgreatreadsblog.wordpress...) I will have reviews for book 2 and 3 up within in month (hopefully lol).

Please note that I received a complimentary copy of this work in exchange for an honest review.

[Esther Haddie's Haven · Rating 4 out of 5]

DISCLAIMER: I received a copy of this book in exchange for honest review.

Firstly, I always have great admiration for independent authors and publishers. Secondly, this book was a great read. I will be honest, it took me a while to get into reading this. I guess with so much on my mind, I couldn't focus. I ended up reading this during late night hours because I couldn't sleep and have loved it.

The characters in this book are so . . . they're so real. What Dylan goes through in her mind after losing her family, and then gaining a new family when she and her brother, Devin, choose to become a Rhodi. The bond that forms between Dylan and Talidin is heart-stabbingly-amazing. A new father-daughter type relationship, and it is so beautiful.

4.5 of 5 Stars.
I cried at some parts. I did not expect a book quite like this. I am a little overwhelmed at how brilliant it is.

[Kat · Rating 3 out of 5]

To read or not to read: Read. Overall, Rhodi’s Light is all I was expecting – a good YA dystopia with strong characters. Whilst the plot itself felt a little lacking, the characters made up for it and I am excited to read the sequel.

Full review here

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's about the twins Dylan and Devin, they are 15 years old. Dylan is stubborn and hot tempered, determined were as devin is the peace holder and more patient.
-they escape woth their parents to Areos, but dylan gets a panic attack- carcrash!!!
Tavana and Talidin: Rhodi: assassins, they fight for justice against the Hunter's Guild: lesder the Red Hunter/ Rachel. They rage war
Their master Odon is going to look for new recruits. The twins were attempting to stral form him, he gave them money and they are the perfect choice
In the supermarket Tavana and talidin caught the twins 'stealing' but they wanted to pay for it. Later they are breaking into their home to ask for food. They are orphans, have nothing and are helpless- tav and tal ask them to be Rhodi warriors!!! Tavana trains Devin for they are the perfect match and talidin trains dylan which proves almost impossible for they don't get along at all!!
Rachel is hunting the Rhodi, after talidin told dylan about Lianni (she was his fiancé and pregnant, but lost her child due an attack) he was kidnapped by the Hunter's Guild
Dylan wants to rescue him, together with Devin and her friend Tito they go to headquarters- the twins were Rachel's followers, she gave them food but later tortured Dylan so she could use Devin's powers
He was forced to rescue her cat after she killed a family, Dylan saved Devin and the Chain broke so they could escape!!!
After saving Talidin- dylan has to learn to trust her master. She has nightmares about the accident and blames herself, she cut's herself and shuts everybody out
April (tav and talidin's sister) told them about Craft: Rhodi's power, Devin has super speed but Dylan is blocking hers because of grief
-saffron (Rachel's second in command) broke the veil and attacked Talivin!! To save him Dylan changed into A TIGRESS!! Saffron fled
-emotional scene, dylan blames herself and cuts her wrists to deep!! She almost died!!! Master Odon healed her (his craft)
-HEARTBREAKING SCENE!!! Talivin opens up about his past, (he used to self harm too) they have an unremarkable bond and she calls him Daddy!!! He considers her his daughter!!!! THE EMOTIONS!! he helps Dylan through her recovery and keeps training her.
EMOTIONAL SCENE with Devin!!!!
Tito is angry with her, she explains her agony and he KISSED HER!!! she did NOT like that
-april explained Tavana is the Rhodi QUEEN incarnation!!! Her destiny is to bring peace again!!!
Suprise birthday party!!! THE CUTEST!!
their UNCLE AND AUNT ARRIVED!!! they want to take them away!!! HEARTBREAKING SCENE!!!!
They at last allow them to stay!!!! But then Saffron and Rachel BROKE AMBUSED THEIR HOME!! Huge fight!!! Saffron wasn't able to break the veil again and Rqchel TORTURED her!!! She is banished from the Hunter's guild!!!
Uncle and aunt TAKE THEY AWAY!!!! for they need to go into hiding HEART-WRENCHING SCENE!!! SOO UNFAIR!!! THEY LOST THEIR FAMILY AGAIN!!!!
Devin promised to come back to Nellie if she fought for herself too (she has cancer) dylan promised to come back too 'a tigress isn't meant to be in a cage'

[Kariny · Rating 5 out of 5]

*I RECEIVED A FREE ARC FROM THE AUTHOR IN EXCHANGE FOR AN HONEST REVIEW*

I loved Megan Linski's kingdom saga but i ADORE the Rhodi Saga

Crescentia is a country where some states are fighting to maintain their freedom. And standing between The Hunter's Guild and the enslavement of some of the countries are the Rhodi soldiers. But their numbers are dwindling. Twins Dyliana and Devin find themselves orphaned in the midst of an accident and join the Rhodi under the care of two Rhodi siblings Tavana and Talidin.

The characters in this book are all amazing. True you had the main characters but ALL of them were 3-dimensional and so well developed with their unique personalities. Dylan (Dyliana) was the fierce sister who suffered alone, Devin was the nerdy and sweet twin. 

For me the reason i loved this book so much was because i could relate to Dylan's loss and all her emotions, And when Talidin comforted her i felt like he was talking directly to me. I loved watching her reconnect and learn to trust other people and to allow someone to help her, was so touching and again, quite relatable. I'm trying to make this review less "personal" but i just connected on a personal level with this character. Honestly speaking, i have never ever connected with a book and character as much as this one and Dylan.

If you're looking for a romance book then this only has a a little bit because i think it only comes in the second book. This book is about a girl finding a family after she lost everything and most of all it was about a daughter and a father finding each other.

I cannot explain how much i cried when i read this book. It was a vivid roller coaster of pure and raw emotions for me especially. And her relationship with Talidin was gold, it made me cry and it made me so happy i can't even describe it. Their relationship blossoms under the harsh circumstances and I found myself getting attached to these characters as much as they were to each other.

I may have mentioned this before but i am a total sucker for brother-sister relationships and this book had loads so i was completely satisfied! On one side you had Dylan and Devin and the other Tavana and Talidin.

Aside from all the crying there were some moments you just couldn't help to but laugh like when Talidin and Dylan were paired up as master and student their reactions where gold!!!!!!

Before they were like

and then after a LOT of work they were like

Amazing feels and beautiful character building aside, the plot was very well developed and really interesting. There were loads of unexpected twists the author revealed and i loved watching everything play out! 

Awesome unique characters, action, comedy, twists, love, friendship, the power of family, everything collides in this gripping roller coaster of raw emotion!

[Cranky - The Book Curmudgeon · Rating 3 out of 5]

***** 3 Cranky Stars*****

This was a curious read.



It’s a tale about a group of assassins/ninja/heroes who lived in Crescentia, a fantastical dystopian world. The group flew under the name Rhodi and they have an age old enemy called The Hunter’s Guild.



The story started off well, with the twins Dylan and Devin traveling with their parents. Running away from something or someone the twins knew nothing of. Their whole life had been consistently like that: running and hiding, assuming identities to avoid being found. Then a tragedy happened leaving the twins orphans and nowhere to go.



They got picked up by yet another set of twins, Tavana and Talidin who are Rhodi warriors looking for new recruits. In exchange for food and safety, the young ones agreed to be their pupils.



What followed next was the curious bit.



More than 50% of the book had been spent training Dylan and Devin to be Rhodi. There’s definitely action and the pace kept moving...just stuck in training. The enemy made and appearance and loads of action sequence resulted in that.



Then things started happening and what little world building there was to begin with was made even more complicated by new ideas. To cap it all off, mental health issues had been thrown into the mix.



It felt like the author tried to write about all the things she felt strongly about. Only problem was they were all major key points of a story and would have been better if they were told in separate books to deliver the message.



In the end, it was just too much for this reader who was still trying to figure out why Dylan and Devin’s parents were running in the first place.



Well, it looks like the rest of the books in the series are going to be released soon after this one, so if you liked the book and left a bit confused like me, you’d get your answers in the succeeding books soon after.

[Vera · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'll be honest, this is probably a great read for younger readers, but for an adult reader the character voices came out far too...immature. Across the board. It was rather unpleasant since the book is supposed to be serious, yet had a joking tone throughout.

To start in this tale, we follow Devin and Dylan as they are fleeing with their parents for what seems to be the 100th time. None of the kids is happy about moving once more, but the urgency of their parents spurs them on. They end up losing both parents and end up trying to survive by themselves. The first chapter started out very interesting, it had promise, however once we skipped over to Tavana & Taldin things just took a turn for the weird. I felt like we had fallen into a parallel world since T & T were siblings as well, who were quite similar to D & D....along with similar personalities even though there was an age gap.

The world building utterly confused me, as I am used to more in depth sci-fi fantasy builds. I could never tell if we were being pushed into a current era, a fantasy medieval world, or something in between. There's technology and then an instant feel of a group walking through some marketplace in your typical sword and sorcery book. Except it just didn't mesh right...wish there had been more conversation on culture, the different lands, history, etc.

The thing that made this book super hard for me to read was the character personalities. I could not stand Dylan at all, her voice was like a grating bratty eight year old for a good portion of the book. Alongside that, EVERYONE seemed to have the same 'witty comeback' sort of tone as if everything was being made into a joke. I felt like I could not tell the difference in the characters just by tone...they would have blurred into one without the names to tell me the difference. It is nice to have a few witty / sarcastic characters in a book, but seriously not ALL of the characters.

Overall, the writing was decent. I didn't see any mistakes while reading through. The book simply wasn't for me. I prefer an adult read and usually like some YA books, but generally the YA books that can be attractive to older readers. This one just wasn't up my alley, unfortunately. I wanted to like it since the summary sounded intriguing, but couldn't help but feel that it just was a book meant for teenagers completely and it never hooked me in.

I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review via NetGalley.

[Dejah · Rating 5 out of 5]

It can’t be! A 5 star book? It’s been a while since I read one of those. Can I just say that this book had me hooked from the 1st page right until the last. I liked the beginning a lot because it gave a little background on Devin and Dylan’s lives before the main event. You can tell it was just set up but it didn’t feel that way because I just found myself wanting to know why they were on the run and why they couldn’t trust anybody.
So now let’s talk about the plot. It was very intense from start to finish. I didn’t want to put the book down because it was just that good. There wasn’t much from the bad guys per se but when they made their presence know, it was very enjoyable. All the action scenes were written very well and I could actually picture it in my head instead of it being a jumbled mess.
I’m really happy to say that I enjoyed all the characters, even the bad ones. Dylan who is our MC was written perfectly. Not to say she was made out to be this perfect warrior because she wasn’t. Like most people, she had flaws and they came about in the most perfect way. The revelation about her trigger situation was heartbreaking and I can definitely say that she has the most character growth out of everyone.
My favorite character by far was Talidin. He was the mentor/master to Dylan. Their interaction from beginning to end was realistic considering what Dylan has been through. I got to see them grow together and trust each other making their relationship my favorite in the book.
I gotta say that one of my other favorite things about this book was the lack of romance. I feel like sometimes authors think you need romance to carry a book and make people like it but this is proof that you don’t. Granted, I’m not really into romance novels to begin with but this story keeps you so interested in the main plot that you kind of forget that there isn’t any romance involved. (Except for Devin and Nellie. I’m rooting for them but in the back of my mind, I know it won’t work out).
So there you have it. Overall I would definitely recommend this to all fantasy and dystopian lovers or anybody really. My first 5 star read of the month! Make sure you guys add this to your TBR. It gets released September 4th and I promise you won’t be disappointed.

[Alyssa Janine Busia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rhodi’s Light is a great fun read.

All ideas put into one – that’s how I’ll describe this book. Looking for a fantasy book? Check! Wanting to read an action story? You might be looking for this. Finding a book that can make you emotional? I think this will help you there.

This might not be the best out there, but I liked how it was told. This is a story of a twin that loses their parents in an accident. After that, a Rhodi takes them, and through their help, they soon discover what’s been hiding all along with with themselves – magic.

I liked this book. The actions and the way it can make you emotional. The book cover also captured me together with the synopsis.

Some things I don’t like here are the character named Dylan. I just find her not likable. Then, there’s some part where the scenes seemed rushed because it is more of a tell than a show kind of story.

Overall, this is a fun read. Just beware because it contains some scenes where the character hurts herself.

Disclaimer: I received a reader copy from the author via Xpresso Book Tours.

BLOG POST LINK: http://bit.ly/2cjilY8

[Eimear · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a free copy of this book in return for an honest review.
This book is so well written! The book was able to bring me into it's world each time I opened up it's pages. It was a book I savoured and read a few chapters at a time. That being said there were a few things that really annoyed me about this book (though not many). The first being Dylan's attitude at the beginning of the book. It changes dramatically at the halfway point and she is a much more loveable character from then on and I hope to see Dylan continuing to have a positive attitude in future books. The second being Devin's habit of calling his sister "sissy". It's just not something I enjoy.
Apart from that this books fight scenes were extremely enjoyable and I couldn't wait until the next time we saw the good vs. evil battle. The authors notes on self harm were beautifully written.

[Angie ~aka Reading Machine~ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dyliana "Dylan" Fairsson along with her twin brother Devin has never really know safety or a real home either. Yet when a terrible tragedy strikes the twins and leaves them orphans to fend for themselves. Odon, a Master Rhodi, comes across Devin and Dylan bringing them to his home. Odon along with his students Taldin and Tavana slowly rebuild Dylan and Devin's lives day by day. Slowly the two grow stronger with the training. Dylan is hiding a secret from everyone including her twin. What is Dylan hiding? Will Devin and Dylan complete their training? Your answers await you in Rhodi's Light.

This story to mean is a modern twist on a fantasy with cars. The characters and story are complex, compelling, gritty, raw, real, honest, dark, and down to earth. I'm really looking forward to the next book in this series.

[Ashley Martinez (ilovebooksandstuffblog) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was excited to start this series as I loved the author's Kingdom of Ashes series. The story centers around four main characters Dylan, Devin, Talidin, and Tavana. These characters were intriguing to read and I easily grew to love them, although my favorites are Dylan and Talidin.
I loved how real and original they were! It was great to read all their different personalities, it really made them jump off the page and into reality.
The story itself was fun and exciting to read. From moments of danger to drama and some comic relief there was never a dull moment.
There were a lot of questions left unanswered and I hope to discover more of this world and uncover the hidden secrets of the Rhodi and the characters past.
I received a copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Deborah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Review originally posted at:http://Hills of Books

I obviously liked the sound of this book when I first requested it from netgalley, however I put off reading it for quite a while. I finally decided to pick it up and - as you can see from the number of stars I have given it - it wasn't my kind of book.

Source: E-book received via Netgalley in exchange for honest review.

Even from the first chapter I stared to notice things that weren't to my taste. Although this first chapter was great for introducing the mystery of the characters family history - something that I think will have some greater impact in the sequels??. It also repeatedly laboured that Dylan was pretty, Dylan was beautiful, which really got on my nerves in the first chapter, thankfully this suddenly stopped at the end of the first chapter.

As the story progresses the is a small group of more secondary characters which are introduced. These characters to me however felt flat. The only character which I felt any kind of tie to was out main character Dylan, and think that connection was only due to her character having to open up more. My favourite part of the book was reading the friendship and bond grow between Dylan and her master.

Despite this book being (I think) marketed as a Young Adult book, the storyline felt more middle grade level, slightly too simplistic at this stage in the series -with little world building - for a YA in my opinion. Although the YA genre does seem to be increasingly encompassing a wide range of literature levels.

I think the thing which brought my rating down the most was the way in which the author -in my eyes- as the story continues tries to make the Rhodi increasingly "cooler". Firstly, they were a group of assassin/ninja/heroes, then they had magic, which then not only did one thing but allowed them to do an range of impossible things (keeping it vague, so I don't ruin any surprises). In some ways it almost felt like the author stared with a contemporary/ urban fantasy setting which they tried to change into a fantasy world, by adding things that were increasing unrealistic.

I never enjoy writing such a negative review, however some books just aren't to everyone's taste. Rhodi's Light was one of those that just wasn't to my taste.

[Mandy Walkden-Brown · Rating 2 out of 5]

Should have a trigger warning added to the book's synopsis!

A plot and premise with promise, but the execution left a lot to be desired.

This book actually felt much more like a first novel where an author can't quite work out which ideas to include and dumps them all in, whether or not they add to or detract from the story. In this case it was more the latter. The lack of awareness of plot holes was also a concern.

I didn't think the self-harming issue added to either the plot or the character of Dyliana and is a potentially dangerous trigger lurking for the unwary younger, suggestible reader. Yes, there is a very brief warning at the beginning of the book, but, if reading on a kindle or via a kindle app the book opens at the 'beginning' and totally misses the trigger warning page and, unlike me, few readers probably reverse to check what comes before the page that opens the story. At the very least there should be a warning posted within the synopsis on the page where the book is sold. It's alarmingly irresponsible of the author to not have this clearly stated. Disappointingly so.

Too much of the book focused on their training, which quickly became quite repetitive and tedious to wade through.

People also seem to have a habit of talking or becoming aware of things whilst dozing or asleep. No, not a super-power, just rather untidy writing.

The ending too was disappointing - didn't make any logical sense and it actually encompassed a rather large plot hole, which I can't expand on without including a massive spoiler.

There are some great characters with interesting gifts, but the plot at times stretches incredulity well beyond breaking point and I'm mostly willing to totally suspend belief. Too far over the line for even me.

In summary, the ideas and characters have a great deal of potential, which is presently being undermined by problems easily be remedied by having an adept editor addressing them.

This is a series that I won't be following. But I will check out other books by this author in the hope that problems apparent in this book were a one-off occurrence as the potential is definitely there.

[Maryalice O'Connell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rhodi's light by Megan Linski
Book 1 of 3

Plot summary:
Teenage twins finding friends and family, while learning to become supernatural warriors. Also having to battle dark forces, all while dealing with their own personal issues.

Personal opinion:
I love how this author includes medical issues in her books. It really shows how well informed she is about each one that she includes in the book. The imagination that shows in the supernatural powers and magic really shows in this book. I really enjoy the way the author can mix together the fiction with the real life disabilities. However, there is a few things I didn't like in this book. I think it's mostly because these things confused me. Some of the characters' names, like I've never heard Dylan be used as a female's name. There was a few times I felt like things jumped around a lot, and I thought I was reading a different book. But once I got pasted that part, it did all make sence again.

Comparing:
I do all of my book reading threw audiobooks. This is my 32nd book by author Megan Linski, that I have listened to. This one is very similar to other fiction books she has written, but I feel like this one has not captivated me the way other ones have, but I am still looking forward to listening to the last 2 books in this series.

Recommendation:
If you like fiction or the supernatural, and yoy have an imagination, this book is definitely a book for you to read!

[Destany Galliand · Rating 5 out of 5]

To say I am a fan of Megan‘s books would be an understatement if you are looking for books that show the main characters do Not have to be perfect barbies and Ken's start here with any of her books or series and you will not stop reading until you have read them all!!

Rhodi’s Light( but of course)did not disappoint.
NO spoilers!! BUT , I am used to the beauty and depth of the world building as well as the details that go into her characters as of you can truely see them! This book and the storyline definitely live up to the rest of her other books.(if you enjoy audio it's like they are right their)
She made Dylan out to be an incredible character that you end up falling in love with even in the beginning when you wanna hate her because she is just so against the world.
But she made her so relatable , especially to someone who deals with depression and mental health issues.just as anyone might!

By creating a twin character in Devin, she just added more depth by showing the complexities and the loyalty that you see with twins. And that just becouse they look similar and are siblings they are also different in their own perfect ways

I am absolutely looking forward to book 2!!
I find myself forcing time to put it down to get things done or I will fly through the books and I actually before writing this review reread it a second time!

[Shane Velilla · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am a major fan of Megan‘s books!

Rhodi’s Light did not disappoint !
Without trying to give away spoilers , I am used to the complexity of the world building as well as the details that go into her characters. This book and the storyline definitely live up to the rest of her other books.
She made Dylan out to be an incredible character that you end up falling in love with even in the beginning when you wanna hate her because she hates the world.
But she made her so relatable , especially to someone who deals with depression and mental health issues.
By creating a twin character in Devin, she just added more depth by showing the complexities and the loyalty that you see with twins.

I am absolutely looking forward to book 2!!!

[Jennean · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book had much potential. I loved the concept but felt like the plot fell pretty flat.

My own personal opinion:

I don't love the martyr thing. I find it to be a turn off. I understand the fmc was only 16 but the misplaced blaming herself for everything was too much

I loved that this story touched on grief and harder topics like self harm. That was something I liked a lot.

I found the pace of the relationship development a bit fast. At one moment she hates her master then BAM she is calling him her daddy. It was a bit cringe.

Overall it was a nice easy read.

[Natalie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a good wholesome book. That shows characters with real problems and how to eventually deal with the issues the right way. I love the way Megan dose that with her books.

Will give u a heads up let u know it is written in 3rd person which took me a loop for a minute.

The story is good for young adults and adults. I went into this book without expectations and actually enjoyed it was a nice break from my dark romance books i typically read as of lately.

[Jo-anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm glad that one of the chapters had a warning about self harm although I believe that it should state that at the beginning of the book.

I really enjoyed reading this first installment. It was easy to connect with the characters, especially the twins, Dylan & Devin. It will be interesting to see how their story develops.

[Arceli · Rating 5 out of 5]

*Rhodi's Light* is an engaging urban fantasy about two twins, Dylan and Devin, who join an elite group of supernatural warriors. As Dylan struggles to find her power, the novel explores themes of trauma, self-acceptance, and family. With its magical battles and emotional depth, it promises a captivating series ahead.

[Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s a lovely fantasy book. The characters are twins which is awesome since I’m a twin myself. I love the close bonds that they have with each other. It did took the characters awhile to trust each other. I can’t wait to continue in book 2.