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World of Kyrni #1

Hand and Talon

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Steal the bag. Don’t get caught. Repeat. Not the most glorious existence, but Krea likes it just fine.

When Sorin, a cranky old soldier, barges in and decides to take over her life, Krea is less than enthused. Sure, he saved her from a brutal death at the hands of the guards, and he did stop decrepit faerie monsters from eating her. But declaring she isn’t human and dragging her through a cursed forest to the Royal City is going too far.

Now, she is eyeball deep in magic wielding nobles, shapeshifting dragons, assassins and an ancient elf war that could destroy the Empire. Her cloak is too small. Her horse thinks she wants to eat it and her companion resents her very existence.

And then there’s Dane.

399 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 3, 2017

160 people are currently reading
261 people want to read

About the author

Melonie Purcell

5 books65 followers
Melonie is a Las Vegas native—a rare species to be sure. She grew up riding horses in the desert, camping and fishing her way through the state of Utah and exploring ruins in Arizona.

As an adult, she still traipses around the desert and mountains, but now she does it in cooler shoes and usually carrying a camera.

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5 stars
243 (44%)
4 stars
185 (33%)
3 stars
94 (17%)
2 stars
18 (3%)
1 star
9 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 65 reviews
Profile Image for Maraya21 (The Reading Dragon).
1,835 reviews266 followers
June 21, 2018
🐲 BRed dis dragony sweetness with tha MacHalos, which is basically me & me Waifu 🐲



Not sure if 4 Stars or 5 Stars. But! Daymn¡ Read in one sitting!

Review to come, need to get my notes in order.. :D





Pre-Reading Thingy

Now, she is eyeball deep in magic wielding nobles, shapeshifting dragons, assassins and an ancient elf war that could destroy the Empire. Her cloak is too small. Her horse thinks she wants to eat it and her companion resents her very existence.

And then there’s Dane.


Sooold! 😏
Profile Image for Emma Jaye.
Author 49 books681 followers
December 25, 2017
Five star classic fantasy with a twist.
Suspicious heroine, reluctant father-figure hero/mentor. A journey quest and exploring magic, its all here and beautifully executed. Characters are believable, and have impressive story arcs as they learn to slowly trust each other and get over past trauma.
Add in shape-shifting dragons griffons etc and evil elves, and this is a romp that will have you blurry-eyed the next day.
Highly recommended for gripping escapism.
Profile Image for ★Me Myshelf and I★.
292 reviews556 followers
June 24, 2018
Was a bit nervous starting this, but with a recommendation from Maraya21 and Brandy, also wanting to get away from the RH world for a while I decided to give it a go. Knowing there is no real love interest didn't help the anxiety, but whats one book right??



I'm not going to lie, it felt like I was reading this for 100 years



OK so it was 3 days...but it felt like more

Nothing was really grabbing me and making me want to turn pages until it hit the 70% mark where it really started to take off.

If I had read this as a teenager I probably would have loved this! The world building, the descriptive monsters and Fae creatures, it was all really well done. But as an adult the first 70% was a bit slow for me now. It all felt like a really long prologue. I was waiting a long time for something to happen, even the father like relationship with Sorin was slow to develop.
I really like the addition of Dane to the crew, he added a bit of comedy and a bit of brother/sister like banter.

The best and more interesting character turned out to be a not-so-inanimate bloodthirsty object! sign me up for more of that please!

Fans of Fantasy and YA in particular will love this - it's got that classic horseback journey feel to it and the creatures are very imaginative. It really did pick up at the end and deserved a 4 star

now to go and download a 250-ish page romance with some adult content and *fingers crossed* a bit of insta-love preferably with a vampire or alien
Profile Image for Stephen Levesque.
2,806 reviews
August 26, 2017
This a great story for everone to read! Great characters and writing will keep you turning the pages and when you get to the end you'll want more. Can't wait for the next in the series. Great Reading Everyone!
6 reviews
September 4, 2017
Fantastic

This was such a wonderful book I hope you take the opportunity to read it for yourselves 's authors development of your characters make you want to be part of the story itself
Profile Image for Jesslyn.
471 reviews142 followers
August 27, 2017
Nice Indie edition

It was a little rough in places, but thoroughly entertaining and we'll written. A good start to a series and I recommend to YA fantasy readers. I'm hoping for an audio edition when I come back for a reread.
Profile Image for April.
965 reviews32 followers
March 13, 2018
4.5 Stars!

Honestly, I wasn't sure what to expect with this novel. I am thrilled to say that it completely captured my attention and held it; in fact it kept me up late last night finishing it. I will admit that it wasn't an immediate grab, but it doesn't take long to get swept away with the storyline and the mystery of Krea. In fact, there is still a bit of mystery about her that I am hoping to see come to light in Book 2! All that said, Book 2 is going to be hard to wait for!

One of the things I loved about this YA fantasy is that it was character and plot driven. It was about people, relationships... tossed in with some well done world building, fantasy, action and adventure. In fact, it only hinted at romance and that was towards the end. It was nice... no love triangles, or forbidden romance, etc.

For parents who have those barely entering into the stages of YA novels, here are a few things I did notice. There was one instant of mild language that I could remember and there are moments of fighting/violence. I didn't find it overly done but you know your child best, so caution maybe there. And there are topics that are brought up, that may not be appropriate for some (ex. Enslavement, abuse, prostitution). While none of this was part of the storyline, as I said the topic is mentioned.

Overall, I found it to be engaging, creative and a fun read! Really hoping Book 2 is not too far from publication!?!
29 reviews3 followers
August 17, 2017
Good read

Well written. Good story. Good characters. And thank you, dear author, for being or finding good proofreaders. I want more
Profile Image for Jonathan.
129 reviews4 followers
October 15, 2017
The mystery kept me...

...reading until the end. The characters were damaged, imperfect (in a cool, perfect way), and generally worth knowing. The style of writing told the story in a personable way while using a familiar storyteller’s manner.

In other words, the 5 stars is for keeping me entertained, caring, and mystified.
Profile Image for Kurt Springs.
Author 4 books90 followers
January 26, 2019
This review was first published on Kurt's Frontier.

Synopsis:

Krea is a young thief searching for marks on the streets of Trasdaak. When a theft turns sideways on her, a magic-wielding soldier saves her. This soldier tells her she is a Kyrni, a magical shape-shifting being. He also tells her she is nearing her first change and has to be trained. With that, they set off for the royal city. They happen upon another young thief named Dane, who also is more than just a thief. Their adventures take them through a magical forest. Soon she is embroiled in a magic elf war that threatens to bring down the empire.

Review:

Melonie Purcell has brought together the elements of high fantasy to write an epic adventure. Krea is unaware of her heritage as she prowls the streets of Trasdaak. A bit of filching goes awry, and she finds herself saved by Soran, a caller who recognizes what she is. What follows is an adventure with a reluctant partnership. Krea can’t quite leave her old habits behind. All the while, an ancient enemy dogs their steps. Meanwhile, the empire is preparing for a royal wedding that has the entire population in a tizzy.

The world building in this book is solid. Krea, Soran, and Dane seem less like a team and more like a family. Krea and Dane squabble like siblings but are there for each other, with Soran acting as the tired mentor. The story was fun, the action believable, and the magic made sense. I’m looking forward to Book 2 (Claw and Steel).
3 reviews1 follower
October 11, 2017
Solid world building. Fun story, paced well. Characters that "feel" real, with great interactions between them. Enjoyable read, looking forward to the next one in the series.

Profile Image for Hugh Floyd.
18 reviews4 followers
August 7, 2017
Much better than I expected.

Fun read. The book moved at a good pace. Can't wait for book two.
Was expecting a three star at best. Got a five star.
Was pleasantly surprised.
1 review
August 7, 2017
Wonder full

A tale that grows with every character. A plot that can't be ignored, had
to finish as soon as possible.
16 reviews1 follower
October 1, 2017
Great read!

Interesting magic. Complex, fully realized, flawed, but not stupid characters. I really enjoyed reading this book and can't wait to read the next one!
Profile Image for djp56.
7 reviews
September 26, 2017
Good Start

Wasn't sure about purchasing this book. I have recently run through a spell of not so good ones. You know the ones where you quit about a third of the way in because the plot is so familiar the writing so poor, or the editing so bad. This book has none of that. I enjoyed the storyline. The writing flows well and is intelligent and the editing is good. I am looking forward to the next book in the series.
77 reviews2 followers
September 22, 2017
A Brand New World

This is a well fleshed out brand new world. Characters are growing as the pages turn. Callers and their counters, elves, humans! They all have a pretty good build up so you know how they all fit together. Can't wait for the next installment!
Profile Image for Michael Hobson.
84 reviews
September 17, 2017
Very good fantasy

Hand and Talon is a brilliant fantasy that looks like it will be the start to a great series. It introduces a well realised world with faerie, elves, magic and shape changers. The characters are fully rounded and likeable. There is lots of action, just enough suspense to keep your attention. If you are looking for your new fantasy fix you've found it.
Profile Image for Jacqueline Simonds.
79 reviews15 followers
September 9, 2017
The world Melonie Purcell has created is richly populated—I’m not just talking about people, I mean everything—forests, water, skies are crowded with fae creatures of one kind or another. It’s a perilous place if you don’t understand where you are and how to appease them. And the young thief Krea is just beginning to understand that. Krea has no idea of her past, and cannot recall where she came from. All she has is a fierce will to survive. When Sorin, an apparent noble, comes upon her during a critical moment, they are bound—although not willingly. Then they add another young thief... who may be a mage. Together, they travel to the main city that is preoccupied by a royal wedding... or are they? Nothing is quite as it seems in HAND AND TALON. I’m very much looking forward to the next book in the series!
51 reviews
September 13, 2017
I really enjoyed this book and I can't wait for the second one. Krea was strong and independent but she knew when to accept help. The different groups were fascinating.
Profile Image for Leighton Dean.
Author 5 books15 followers
November 23, 2023
It’s often done so wrong, when you have two characters who don’t appreciate each other’s company – but Melonie plunges her young thief with a higher calling and a reluctant older (but not old) sage into a fantastic tale with grace and good humour.

Young Krea is a lovely addition to the patchwork quilt of high fantasy – she is a great tilt on the scrappy archetype and blesses her with a far more interesting curse that I first took it for. As the main character I found her a pleasure to follow. In fact, every one of the characters met are instantly relatable and when intentional, likeable.

It’s a journey fraught with peril and continues to balance effortlessly with a sense of adventure and excitement. It is pure escapism and a delightful read for all ages, even though I would say the target audience is young adult.

The editing is solid, the beginning is a little slow but serves its characters well, and picks up around the middle at which point, never drops below a swift cantor.

In closing, great book – I thoroughly enjoyed it, gobbling most of it up on an eight hour flight from Chicago to Heathrow.
Profile Image for Sandra Radons Arneson.
1 review
October 5, 2017
Overall a good book. It started out a little rough and I wasn't convinced by the writing style, wordage or plot. But about mid-way it started to pick up (seriously the longest ride ever), and then it really caught my attention. Now I can't wait for book 2. It's maybe not the best read ever, but I'm very pleased and worth the kindle price.
Profile Image for Noor Al-Shanti.
Author 11 books36 followers
July 28, 2018
Hand and Talon is a well-written fantasy adventure with great world-building and excellent characters. It goes at a leisurely pace, taking the time to introduce the world in a way that feels very natural as the characters travel through it on their way to the capital city. As the story goes on the threats and action increase and the stakes rise so that the ending is action-packed and fast-paced. By that point the world-building has already been established so well that we understand all the little details and alliances and can just be swept up in the action. It has a satisfying ending, while being the first of hopefully many more parts to come. There are enough little threads hanging to make me want to read on, but not so much that I feel annoyed by a cliffhanger or anything.

I also want to comment on the characterizations. The main characters: Krea, Sorin, and Dane are very different people. We have a young, female thief who has lived her life on the streets and runs into a pretty tough situation when one particular theft goes wrong and she gets in trouble not just with the guards, but also strange and terrifying creatures. She is saved by an old man that seems to be a magician and lives in a fancy manor. She's a little bit thankful for his help, but at the same time she wants to be away from him - and the complications he brings to her life of theft - as quickly as possible. As they travel together - and are eventually joined by a young boy named Dane - all three characters grow and develop in very believable ways. They feel like real people. They don't automatically trust or care for each other's company, but they learn more about each other and themselves. And sometimes they don't. Sometimes they make mistakes that get them in trouble. It's great, masterful character development.

I would highly recommend this book to lovers of fantasy and good world-building. And I'll be waiting for the next installment!
1,451 reviews26 followers
November 23, 2017
Krea is a thief who just stole the wrong moneybag. But when she's about to be captured, an unlikely intervention changes the course of her life. Her rescuer, Sorin, is an old caller. He tells her about the kryni, the shapeshifters, and insists she is one---and that she needs to be linked up with a caller before her first shift or she will lose her humanity forever. Krea doesn't agree with him, but they journey together towards the capital in hopes of finding help for her. But unexpected dangers dog their journey, and what seemed to be relatively simple keeps getting more complicated . . .

The description of shapeshifters who need callers to stay human admittedly gave me pause, because I was expecting something along the lines of a cheap hook for a romance. Thankfully, this is nothing like that---and Sorin makes a few vehement points about interbreeding totally not being a thing, so at least the story quickly loses any suspicion that this is going to go in a sketchy direction.

I really liked Sorin. He's old and grumpy and emotionally closed-off, especially to Krea, because of some things that went on in his past. He tries to do his best by her, but realizes time and again he's unconsciously holding back.

Krea, for her part, isn't taking anything for granted. (Actually, she's probably taking everything anyone else took for granted.) She is a thief, through and through, and her kleptomaniac tendencies often get her far more than she bargained for. The knife is especially good. What initially looked like an amazing find becomes something she can't even give away, much as she wants to.

And Dane plays off Krea perfectly. They're both thieves, but their different ages and abilities lead to squabbles more often than solidarity.

All in all this was a strong story. It leaves off with a clear hook for a sequel, which I will be eagerly anticipating. I rate this book Recommended.

See my reviews and more at https://offtheshelfreviews.wordpress....
Profile Image for Colin Rowlands.
240 reviews2 followers
December 23, 2017
"Conventional starting point does not limit book"

Plot devices such as the world-weary mentor taking on a teaching role to a young chosen one that doesn't yet understand his/her power is not an uncommon starting point for many fantasy series, but the crucial thing is what they do from that starting point and this book proceeds to deliver an engaging start to a new series with some interesting ideas fleshing out the world and the magic system in use there.

Krea is the teenage thief with the unrealised power of shifting (the Kyrni of the title) and Sorin is the older mentor, a kind of mage known as a caller who is basically an anchor to tether the shifter to their human side as otherwise when they shift they are basically lost to whatever animal (or counter in the book's vernacular) they become when they change.

The author does a good job of introducing us to these characters and others they meet along the way, while at the same time fleshing out the world with information of the politics, conflicts and particularly the magical creatures that inhabit the world.

The narrator of this book gave a great performance, giving distinctive personalities for a wide age range of characters from Dane via the teenage Krea to the more senior Sorin, at the same time helping to bring the rest of the book alive and you would hope that she returns for any subsequent books in the series.

Overall, this was a very enjoyable book with a quality narration too and my main issue with it is probably that there is no second book available yet.

[I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.]
Profile Image for Samuel.
Author 11 books58 followers
June 16, 2018
I didn't know what I was getting into when I grabbed this book for Rose Montague's 12 days of Bookmas, but after being suck in after the first few pages, I was hooked!

Ms Purcell has marvellous creativity, her grasp of the lore she created for this book was fantastic! From the Callers to mages to the fae and most of all Kyrni, each was given a perfect amount of time to drip the information into your imagination.

I did also grab the audiobook, and the narrator Kristan James was spot on with her tone, pace and brilliant skill of bringing Melonie's book to life.

This is a book to remember, and I might delve into it soon. Highly recommended!
Profile Image for Curly's  Ramblings.
2,034 reviews6 followers
November 29, 2017
Audiobook review: I’m hooked. This book is for teens, YA, & adult fantasy fans. The story is interesting and captivating from the start with an action scene that leads to a trek across the kingdom filled with danger, fighting, mythological creatures, and exploring magic. The characters are believable and likable and have depth. The narrator did an awesome job with providing unique voices for each character and appropriate tone inflections to meet the scenes. I received a free copy of this audiobook and have voluntarily left this review.
Profile Image for Wyrdness.
499 reviews38 followers
December 31, 2017
An interesting idea told in a really boring way with really unlikable protagonists. I also didn't appreciate the entire story revolving around a prophecy I was only let in on near the end of the book when the main character was told. By all means keep your characters in the dark, but readers tend to appreciate being slipped subtle hints and bits of information along the way. Especially if the story is an otherwise rather bland "traveling" tale.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 65 reviews

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