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The Godforged Chronicles #1
Shadows of Ivory
An undying king. A relic of rune-carved bronze and ivory flames. A war for powers only a god could fathom.
In the centuries since rising up against a cruel, twisted dynasty, the Seven Cities have done much to move past their horrid histories, the memories of ancient monarchs who once fed on the life and blood of their own people. Those with a talent for magic are no longer hounded and slain. The lands beyond the Cities are safe, spared the atrocities the Alescuans once wrought upon them. For 300 years, there has been peace.
Then Eska de Caraval, head of the prestigious Firenzia Company, finds herself framed for murder.
Soon hunted for the strange bronze disc she most certainly did not steal, Eska is forced to pit both wit and blade against all manner of adversaries who would eagerly see her dead. An assassin in the shadows. A monster in the deep. A rival looking to burn her alive. From sword and fang and flame Eska must defend herself, struggling all the while to prove her innocence and unravel the mysteries of a dangerous artifact.
But unbeknownst to Eska and her enemies, the cruelest of those tyrants of old is stirring in his grave.
In the centuries since rising up against a cruel, twisted dynasty, the Seven Cities have done much to move past their horrid histories, the memories of ancient monarchs who once fed on the life and blood of their own people. Those with a talent for magic are no longer hounded and slain. The lands beyond the Cities are safe, spared the atrocities the Alescuans once wrought upon them. For 300 years, there has been peace.
Then Eska de Caraval, head of the prestigious Firenzia Company, finds herself framed for murder.
Soon hunted for the strange bronze disc she most certainly did not steal, Eska is forced to pit both wit and blade against all manner of adversaries who would eagerly see her dead. An assassin in the shadows. A monster in the deep. A rival looking to burn her alive. From sword and fang and flame Eska must defend herself, struggling all the while to prove her innocence and unravel the mysteries of a dangerous artifact.
But unbeknownst to Eska and her enemies, the cruelest of those tyrants of old is stirring in his grave.
500 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 1, 2020
449 people are currently reading
1800 people want to read
About the author
T.L. Greylock
9 books216 followers
T L Greylock's first series is The Song of the Ash Tree, a Norse saga featuring plenty of axes. She loves wild rice, Rafael Nadal's forehand, and driving on small, twisty roads. She also considers herself a baker of pies, but this is debatable.
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August 5, 2020
“Knowledge is my greatest treasure. But it is also my greatest weakness. And now that I am here, now that I have been led to the vault out there,” she went on, gesturing to the lake, “I cannot let it go.”
Shadows of Ivory by T.L. Greylock (and publishing partner Bryce O’Conner), is the first instalment in The Godforged series. Greylock describes this book as ‘Indiana Jones meets renaissance Italy’, and if ever there were a description that could entice me into wanting to read a book - that would be it. I’m already a big fan of the Indiana Jones franchise (apart from the fourth film which I will not utter hear of) and then coupled with the gorgeous cover art, both the original by Billy Christian and the new design by YAM and Shawn King… well I couldn’t wait to get my hands on a copy.
It all begins with a theft. In the opening chapter the reader finds themselves following Eska de Caraval, our main protagonist, as she escapes the clutches of the Iron Baron, along with his priceless reliquary. We quickly discover that Eska is no mere thief after riches though - she is in fact working as an archaeologist in her family’s Firenzia Company. Unbeknown to Eska, the reliquary holds more significant value and is far more dangerous than she could ever fathom. Following on from there is a turbulent journey as Eska and her rival Manon traverse the Seven Cities searching for more treasures. Eska embarks upon an excavation in Toridium, in the hopes of finding ancient pottery of importance, yet what she uncovers may just bring about the fall of the entire Seven Cities. The story is far more complex than this, but I don’t wish to give anything else away.
It’s fair to say the first half of this novel is slow paced, and it does take a while for the plot to start to come together, but this by no means was a negative aspect for me. You see, Greylock spends a lot of time building up the political players of the world and the wonderful cast of characters - there may be three main POV’s but in Shadows of Ivory, the side characters, even the fleeting ones who only enter a scene or two, are just as well constructed and fleshed out.
Our first main protagonist Eska, who is the driving force of the novel, sees the world through a scholar’s eye - a place to be sifted for nuggets of knowledge, and to gain a deeper understanding. I loved Eska’s passionate personality and her strong will to overcome any obstacle set before her. Whereas our second protagonist Manon, who took some time for me to warm to, is a more fiery force of nature - she’s quick tempered and certainly narrow minded in her quest to regain her family's wealth and status.
Then there was Albus, our loveable librarian! I absolutely adored his character - his bookish ways and his naive view of the world made him the kind of character that you immediately want to protect at all costs. His scenes always delivered a lovely dose of humour which I very much appreciated. I would say here that Albus needed to shine more, despite him having his own POV, I felt we didn’t get enough time with his character even though his narrative is prominent.
‘Fourteen pairs of eyes stared across the deck at Albus. Some were resentful, some fearful. All were making it abundantly clear that they did not trust Albus with their lives. And why should they? He was not of their crew. He was a stranger, a temporary passenger. Worst of all, he preferred the company of books to the company of people.’
I have previously mentioned the side characters in Shadows of Ivory play key roles too, and I’m utterly impressed by the way Greylock managed to make me feel invested by them all. The three characters whom I found most noteworthy were Perrin, Eden and Alexandre (Sascha). Perrin is (and excuse the cliche) a lost soul, I very much enjoyed his arc development which took quite the turn near the end. I have many theories on where his narrative will lead in the next instalment - eek! Eden on the other hand is a man of much more mystery, and I don’t entirely trust him yet. But his interactions with Eska made my cold heart melt a little - but is he too good to be true? As for Alexandre, his presence in the earlier part of the novel was fascinating, I adored him. Kind, gentle, endearing - a soldier who never wanted to fight, yet was damn good at it, his backstory intrigued me no end. However, his narrative kind of trailed off in the second half, so I hope to see him develop more throughout the rest of the series.
As you can see Greylock writes characters with such flair.
Through Eska’s chapters, it also becomes abundantly clear that her character not only harbours a deep passion, bordering on obsession, for archeology but she also illustrates great respect for it. All of which I found truly refreshing. Greylock deals with important themes such as the morality of taking holy artifacts away from the cultures they rightfully belong to, either to sell them or display in museums, and I loved how thought-provoking this was. I did a bit of research myself, (I asked Laura Hughes and we interviewed Taya on The Fantasy Hive!) because I was curious whether Greylock also shared this love and where her inspiration for this theme came from. Well, in fact it turns out that Greylock undertook a MA in Classical Archaeology at university in London, and is an official archaeologist! And to her credit, her knowledge of the subject really shows within the narrative.
Many of the scenes are rich with culture; from the twin deities of ‘Onaxos’ - ‘Toora ’& ’Taalo’ and all the mythology behind their story, to the picturesque descriptions of Eska’s homeland and other sites of the Seven Cities. History is also an important theme throughout - not only in the main narrative, and the histories of cultures and artifacts which are uncovered, but also within the character’s pasts. Here is where I must note how much I enjoyed reading the interludes, which is something I thought I’d never say, as usually interludes have the effect of pulling me out of the story. However Greylock’s interludes are a series of articles, letters, reports, and journal entries. They work not only to enrich the story with historical background, but they also provide much needed backstory to the characters and even to the magic system.
As for the magic system well Greylock introduces the concept of Carriers - those who are believed to be marked by divinity, and can wield fire or water, and even possibly more. They are known to have inhuman insight and perception. At first the magic system felt vague and not a particularly prominent aspect, yet during the second half we really sink our teeth into the concept of carriers and it became greatly fascinating. Greylock’s writing is immersive to say the least, and throughout the entire novel I felt a strong compulsion to read on and discover more. The ending was left wide open and surely sets up the sequel to be an epic one.
‘Dig well, my love. I hope you find a lost civilization - or at least an interesting tool or piece of pottery from which your remarkable mind can gleam astounding things.’
Puzzles aplenty, monsters, magic wielding, culture and history - are these ticking your boxes? Well allow me to tell you that Shadows of Ivory is a captivating fantasy, one that’s filled with charismatic characters and a plot that will fill the hearts of treasure-hunting quest fans with glee. Move over Dr Jones, Eska de Caravel is here now.
Arc provided by the author - TL Greylock, in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for the copy Taya. Shadows of Ivory is out today and you can order your copy here; https://www.amazon.co.uk/Shadows-Ivor...
Shadows of Ivory by T.L. Greylock (and publishing partner Bryce O’Conner), is the first instalment in The Godforged series. Greylock describes this book as ‘Indiana Jones meets renaissance Italy’, and if ever there were a description that could entice me into wanting to read a book - that would be it. I’m already a big fan of the Indiana Jones franchise (apart from the fourth film which I will not utter hear of) and then coupled with the gorgeous cover art, both the original by Billy Christian and the new design by YAM and Shawn King… well I couldn’t wait to get my hands on a copy.
It all begins with a theft. In the opening chapter the reader finds themselves following Eska de Caraval, our main protagonist, as she escapes the clutches of the Iron Baron, along with his priceless reliquary. We quickly discover that Eska is no mere thief after riches though - she is in fact working as an archaeologist in her family’s Firenzia Company. Unbeknown to Eska, the reliquary holds more significant value and is far more dangerous than she could ever fathom. Following on from there is a turbulent journey as Eska and her rival Manon traverse the Seven Cities searching for more treasures. Eska embarks upon an excavation in Toridium, in the hopes of finding ancient pottery of importance, yet what she uncovers may just bring about the fall of the entire Seven Cities. The story is far more complex than this, but I don’t wish to give anything else away.
It’s fair to say the first half of this novel is slow paced, and it does take a while for the plot to start to come together, but this by no means was a negative aspect for me. You see, Greylock spends a lot of time building up the political players of the world and the wonderful cast of characters - there may be three main POV’s but in Shadows of Ivory, the side characters, even the fleeting ones who only enter a scene or two, are just as well constructed and fleshed out.
Our first main protagonist Eska, who is the driving force of the novel, sees the world through a scholar’s eye - a place to be sifted for nuggets of knowledge, and to gain a deeper understanding. I loved Eska’s passionate personality and her strong will to overcome any obstacle set before her. Whereas our second protagonist Manon, who took some time for me to warm to, is a more fiery force of nature - she’s quick tempered and certainly narrow minded in her quest to regain her family's wealth and status.
Then there was Albus, our loveable librarian! I absolutely adored his character - his bookish ways and his naive view of the world made him the kind of character that you immediately want to protect at all costs. His scenes always delivered a lovely dose of humour which I very much appreciated. I would say here that Albus needed to shine more, despite him having his own POV, I felt we didn’t get enough time with his character even though his narrative is prominent.
‘Fourteen pairs of eyes stared across the deck at Albus. Some were resentful, some fearful. All were making it abundantly clear that they did not trust Albus with their lives. And why should they? He was not of their crew. He was a stranger, a temporary passenger. Worst of all, he preferred the company of books to the company of people.’
I have previously mentioned the side characters in Shadows of Ivory play key roles too, and I’m utterly impressed by the way Greylock managed to make me feel invested by them all. The three characters whom I found most noteworthy were Perrin, Eden and Alexandre (Sascha). Perrin is (and excuse the cliche) a lost soul, I very much enjoyed his arc development which took quite the turn near the end. I have many theories on where his narrative will lead in the next instalment - eek! Eden on the other hand is a man of much more mystery, and I don’t entirely trust him yet. But his interactions with Eska made my cold heart melt a little - but is he too good to be true? As for Alexandre, his presence in the earlier part of the novel was fascinating, I adored him. Kind, gentle, endearing - a soldier who never wanted to fight, yet was damn good at it, his backstory intrigued me no end. However, his narrative kind of trailed off in the second half, so I hope to see him develop more throughout the rest of the series.
As you can see Greylock writes characters with such flair.
Through Eska’s chapters, it also becomes abundantly clear that her character not only harbours a deep passion, bordering on obsession, for archeology but she also illustrates great respect for it. All of which I found truly refreshing. Greylock deals with important themes such as the morality of taking holy artifacts away from the cultures they rightfully belong to, either to sell them or display in museums, and I loved how thought-provoking this was. I did a bit of research myself, (I asked Laura Hughes and we interviewed Taya on The Fantasy Hive!) because I was curious whether Greylock also shared this love and where her inspiration for this theme came from. Well, in fact it turns out that Greylock undertook a MA in Classical Archaeology at university in London, and is an official archaeologist! And to her credit, her knowledge of the subject really shows within the narrative.
Many of the scenes are rich with culture; from the twin deities of ‘Onaxos’ - ‘Toora ’& ’Taalo’ and all the mythology behind their story, to the picturesque descriptions of Eska’s homeland and other sites of the Seven Cities. History is also an important theme throughout - not only in the main narrative, and the histories of cultures and artifacts which are uncovered, but also within the character’s pasts. Here is where I must note how much I enjoyed reading the interludes, which is something I thought I’d never say, as usually interludes have the effect of pulling me out of the story. However Greylock’s interludes are a series of articles, letters, reports, and journal entries. They work not only to enrich the story with historical background, but they also provide much needed backstory to the characters and even to the magic system.
As for the magic system well Greylock introduces the concept of Carriers - those who are believed to be marked by divinity, and can wield fire or water, and even possibly more. They are known to have inhuman insight and perception. At first the magic system felt vague and not a particularly prominent aspect, yet during the second half we really sink our teeth into the concept of carriers and it became greatly fascinating. Greylock’s writing is immersive to say the least, and throughout the entire novel I felt a strong compulsion to read on and discover more. The ending was left wide open and surely sets up the sequel to be an epic one.
‘Dig well, my love. I hope you find a lost civilization - or at least an interesting tool or piece of pottery from which your remarkable mind can gleam astounding things.’
Puzzles aplenty, monsters, magic wielding, culture and history - are these ticking your boxes? Well allow me to tell you that Shadows of Ivory is a captivating fantasy, one that’s filled with charismatic characters and a plot that will fill the hearts of treasure-hunting quest fans with glee. Move over Dr Jones, Eska de Caravel is here now.
Arc provided by the author - TL Greylock, in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for the copy Taya. Shadows of Ivory is out today and you can order your copy here; https://www.amazon.co.uk/Shadows-Ivor...
November 23, 2021
This was s one of the finalists for this years SPFBO and I’m reading through as many of them as I can to see who my personal winner would be.
This story follows Eska de Caraval, head of the prestigious Firenzia Company which specialises in ancient artefacts, archaeology and exploration of the old world. She’s framed for murder and hunted for stealing an artefact and finds herself in quite a few sticky situations. Her story was a fun one to follow and I liked her ambition to uncover and her dedication to preserving the past.
Manon Butler is a character who rivals the Firenzia Company. Her family are desperate to prove themselves and they are ruthless and determined to do whatever is needed to stand out, causing rifts and even imprisonment.
The magic here is focused on Carriers who have magic they can wield. It was something I’m interested to see more of as what glimpses we do see were really cool.
As a general note, the cover for this makes it look like it’s a grim dark book which it most certainly isn’t. I would say this is much more exploration fantasy and a story of family rivalries and plots which span civilisations and the width of the world.
The story was fast moving and easy to get into but the characters had depth and were interesting and complex at times. I like the unique take on the focus of the book and I enjoyed seeing the way the storylines overlapped. It also seems like there’s a lot more to come in future books so I’m excited to follow on with the story and see what’s next. 4*s
This story follows Eska de Caraval, head of the prestigious Firenzia Company which specialises in ancient artefacts, archaeology and exploration of the old world. She’s framed for murder and hunted for stealing an artefact and finds herself in quite a few sticky situations. Her story was a fun one to follow and I liked her ambition to uncover and her dedication to preserving the past.
Manon Butler is a character who rivals the Firenzia Company. Her family are desperate to prove themselves and they are ruthless and determined to do whatever is needed to stand out, causing rifts and even imprisonment.
The magic here is focused on Carriers who have magic they can wield. It was something I’m interested to see more of as what glimpses we do see were really cool.
As a general note, the cover for this makes it look like it’s a grim dark book which it most certainly isn’t. I would say this is much more exploration fantasy and a story of family rivalries and plots which span civilisations and the width of the world.
The story was fast moving and easy to get into but the characters had depth and were interesting and complex at times. I like the unique take on the focus of the book and I enjoyed seeing the way the storylines overlapped. It also seems like there’s a lot more to come in future books so I’m excited to follow on with the story and see what’s next. 4*s
August 20, 2020
This review was originally posted on Books of My Heart
3.5 Stars.
Review copy was received from Publisher. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
I read quite a bit of fantasy and so for me Shadows of Ivory is a good story and a good start to the Godforged Chronicles . It does everything it is supposed to do. It sets up the main characters, starts all the world building, lays out the general conflicts and gives the reader just enough to become invested in characters and plots. That said, it is a little bit slower paced but still extremely interesting.
This reminds me a little of National Treasure and Indiana Jones if they were set somewhere during the renaissance and there just happened to me some magical people. Told mostly from two PoVs with a third PoV on a few chapters, and interludes set to give the reader some background information, was a really good layout for the story and made sure the reader is aware of some of the things that the characters are not aware of. It was a really good way to help the reader with some of the context of the entire world.
Eska and Manon are from rival archeological families. We find in the early stages that Manon’s family has been backed into a corner so to speak and needs a big win in order to survive. Manon is willing to cut and corners and even hurt people in order to save it. Eska, on the other hand loves archeology and finding treasures of the past. She is in it for the history and not really the money. She is just as enamored of pottery as she is of jeweled items. I liked how the contrast to their situations made them very different characters and while it is easier to root for Eska, I could see where Manon was coming from most of the time.
Both women can be impetuous and rash and are alike in a lot of ways. Still I don’t think they will ever find a way to friendship especially since Manon is a carrier and can wield fire magic and she tried to blow Eska’s ship up once.
The world and lore really are the most interesting things in the book. There is a strange bronze disk for the cruel past when magic wielders ruled violence and steal. So many atrocities were committed by them until they were overthrown centuries ago. As the details are teased out, I became more invested in the story and anxious to find out what the disks mean and how the ghosts of the past might be haunting the present and future. There is a lot of potential for where the next book can go.
The characters are decently developed. Manon and Eska both seem slightly single minded and sometimes that is a bit frustrating for me. Albus is the sparse but important third PoV and he is a wonderful change up from the women. As a Librarian, he holds a lot of knowledge and ends up in a pretty precarious position. His story became my favorite as he was absconded by pirates. I’m definitely invested in the trouble he has gotten himself into.
Overall a solid story with some great set up for more to come, a decent amount of action coupled with political intrigue and demons from the past. But pay attention or the important details might pass you by.
Narration:
Kate Reading is a narrator I know well. I've listened to her for all of the Stormlight Archives series and Wheel of Time. She presents epic fantasy well and is really good with the large cast of characters in this. I was able to listen at my usual 1.5x speed.
Listen to a clip: HERE
3.5 Stars.
Review copy was received from Publisher. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
I read quite a bit of fantasy and so for me Shadows of Ivory is a good story and a good start to the Godforged Chronicles . It does everything it is supposed to do. It sets up the main characters, starts all the world building, lays out the general conflicts and gives the reader just enough to become invested in characters and plots. That said, it is a little bit slower paced but still extremely interesting.
This reminds me a little of National Treasure and Indiana Jones if they were set somewhere during the renaissance and there just happened to me some magical people. Told mostly from two PoVs with a third PoV on a few chapters, and interludes set to give the reader some background information, was a really good layout for the story and made sure the reader is aware of some of the things that the characters are not aware of. It was a really good way to help the reader with some of the context of the entire world.
Eska and Manon are from rival archeological families. We find in the early stages that Manon’s family has been backed into a corner so to speak and needs a big win in order to survive. Manon is willing to cut and corners and even hurt people in order to save it. Eska, on the other hand loves archeology and finding treasures of the past. She is in it for the history and not really the money. She is just as enamored of pottery as she is of jeweled items. I liked how the contrast to their situations made them very different characters and while it is easier to root for Eska, I could see where Manon was coming from most of the time.
Both women can be impetuous and rash and are alike in a lot of ways. Still I don’t think they will ever find a way to friendship especially since Manon is a carrier and can wield fire magic and she tried to blow Eska’s ship up once.
The world and lore really are the most interesting things in the book. There is a strange bronze disk for the cruel past when magic wielders ruled violence and steal. So many atrocities were committed by them until they were overthrown centuries ago. As the details are teased out, I became more invested in the story and anxious to find out what the disks mean and how the ghosts of the past might be haunting the present and future. There is a lot of potential for where the next book can go.
The characters are decently developed. Manon and Eska both seem slightly single minded and sometimes that is a bit frustrating for me. Albus is the sparse but important third PoV and he is a wonderful change up from the women. As a Librarian, he holds a lot of knowledge and ends up in a pretty precarious position. His story became my favorite as he was absconded by pirates. I’m definitely invested in the trouble he has gotten himself into.
Overall a solid story with some great set up for more to come, a decent amount of action coupled with political intrigue and demons from the past. But pay attention or the important details might pass you by.
Narration:
Kate Reading is a narrator I know well. I've listened to her for all of the Stormlight Archives series and Wheel of Time. She presents epic fantasy well and is really good with the large cast of characters in this. I was able to listen at my usual 1.5x speed.
Listen to a clip: HERE
May 27, 2020
Decent/nice/fairly good/adequate/satisfactory. That's the word that comes to mind when I read this book.
This book has a decent plot, decent characters, decent writing and is decent in every way. This is a decent time pass but not something you will chomping at the bit to read.
This book has a decent plot, decent characters, decent writing and is decent in every way. This is a decent time pass but not something you will chomping at the bit to read.
November 29, 2022
What a fun, fun read that was!
Indiana Jones meets renaissance Italy is how this book is described. Having never seen any of the aforementioned films (but having a passing familiarity with what they entail), I thought I had a decent idea of what to expect going in. It did well to set the scene and made this book particularly enjoyable.
Shadows of Ivory contains some of my very favourite tropes - ancient artefacts, powerful magic, and lots of unexplained, yet-to-be-uncovered treasures. As well as gods that may or may not interact with their subjects, and how people respond to their beliefs. So it immediately ticked boxes, and it was a thrilling adventure to be part of!
Mostly I love to read for escapism and exploring another world, however I really came to care for several of the characters in this book. Perrin had my heart from the first page we meet him (I just want to protect him, he’s too pure), but I also loved Albus. These two absolutely stole the story for me and I want to hug them both very tightly!
Of the main characters, I sympathised a lot with Manon. She’s at a disadvantage for starters, but also comes from a complicated, somewhat criminal family. It’s not to say that Eska’s family is any “purer” or “better,” however they have far more power and privilege which means they (and by extension, Eska) can get away with a lot more.
Manon’s resentment is completely understandable, along with trying to hide her own secrets as well as the burden of responsibility she has for her brother. Manon and Perrin have been completely let down by their families, by the people who are supposed to show up for them unconditionally, and been thrown into the deep end to, essentially, sink or swim.
I also sympathised with this fractured family and relationship Manon has with her father, as well as what the rest of her family might or might not have done. She is incredibly well-layered as a character, although I admit that I disagreed with many of her decisions (which made it difficult to root for her at times) but I found her story incredibly fascinating. She goes through an amazing journey and ends up in places I could not have predicted.
Eska has a good heart and is far less judgemental of others, which is admirable considering the environment she has grown up in. I could see why Manon thinks of her as spoiled and entitled, and she is to an extent, but Eska is incredibly likeable and carries herself with confidence (and unapologetic fierceness), which I absolutely respect. I never grew tired of seeing what she would do or say next, to get herself into or out of a sticky situation. She never gives up, rarely doubts herself, and really is the leader to her people. It’s easy to see why and how she inspires love and loyalty.
She is not without flaws, of course, and I love how much the world building fits into the characters’ journeys. As an example, Eska is reliant on harrow root powder, which for all intents and purposes, is a stimulant drug that heightens her senses, reflexes, and even sharpens her mind. There are some huge consequences to using this, which she often ignores. She ends up embroiled in difficult situation after difficult situation, and though it seems she runs a lot, she’s always moving forward to her next step.
Carriers are the name given to those in this world who can use magic. I honestly feel we have only scratched the surface of what this is and the depths of power we’ll be able to see. We meet two Carriers, one of fire and one of water, and there are other types discussed and hinted at. I imagine we get to explore this in later books, which is incredibly exciting, and one thing I am really looking forward to in the sequel. Additionally, there are other powders and substances that can increase the power of a Carrier’s magic, which gives the magic system some fluidity and rules that will no doubt be bent or broken.
I also really loved the interludes, which added a bit of extra world building or dialogue between characters to flesh everything out a bit more while adding a break from heavier story beats. They also were brilliant at hinting some things to come in the future or what had occurred in the past, which goes a long way to show how alive this world is.
Underlying this entire story is a vast amount of history, which really brings everything to a cohesive whole. Most of the political issues, culture classes, desperation for revenge etc. are driven by hundreds or thousands of years of history. War and oppression runs deep, and whether it’s a skeleton in the wrong place, a forgotten city trying to rise up, or a pirate captain trying to “fix” things before she dies, it is clear a huge amount of work has gone into building this world up into the stunning read it is now.
Shadows of Ivory is very well-written, and the world building is absolutely incredible. I would have loved a map or an encyclopaedia to study as much as Eska studies her dig sites!
Highly recommend if you want a fresh fantasy not set in typical medieval-style locations, full of brilliantly-written female characters and a treasure trove of world-building and history (both ancient and recent) to devour!
Indiana Jones meets renaissance Italy is how this book is described. Having never seen any of the aforementioned films (but having a passing familiarity with what they entail), I thought I had a decent idea of what to expect going in. It did well to set the scene and made this book particularly enjoyable.
Shadows of Ivory contains some of my very favourite tropes - ancient artefacts, powerful magic, and lots of unexplained, yet-to-be-uncovered treasures. As well as gods that may or may not interact with their subjects, and how people respond to their beliefs. So it immediately ticked boxes, and it was a thrilling adventure to be part of!
Mostly I love to read for escapism and exploring another world, however I really came to care for several of the characters in this book. Perrin had my heart from the first page we meet him (I just want to protect him, he’s too pure), but I also loved Albus. These two absolutely stole the story for me and I want to hug them both very tightly!
Of the main characters, I sympathised a lot with Manon. She’s at a disadvantage for starters, but also comes from a complicated, somewhat criminal family. It’s not to say that Eska’s family is any “purer” or “better,” however they have far more power and privilege which means they (and by extension, Eska) can get away with a lot more.
Manon’s resentment is completely understandable, along with trying to hide her own secrets as well as the burden of responsibility she has for her brother. Manon and Perrin have been completely let down by their families, by the people who are supposed to show up for them unconditionally, and been thrown into the deep end to, essentially, sink or swim.
I also sympathised with this fractured family and relationship Manon has with her father, as well as what the rest of her family might or might not have done. She is incredibly well-layered as a character, although I admit that I disagreed with many of her decisions (which made it difficult to root for her at times) but I found her story incredibly fascinating. She goes through an amazing journey and ends up in places I could not have predicted.
Eska has a good heart and is far less judgemental of others, which is admirable considering the environment she has grown up in. I could see why Manon thinks of her as spoiled and entitled, and she is to an extent, but Eska is incredibly likeable and carries herself with confidence (and unapologetic fierceness), which I absolutely respect. I never grew tired of seeing what she would do or say next, to get herself into or out of a sticky situation. She never gives up, rarely doubts herself, and really is the leader to her people. It’s easy to see why and how she inspires love and loyalty.
She is not without flaws, of course, and I love how much the world building fits into the characters’ journeys. As an example, Eska is reliant on harrow root powder, which for all intents and purposes, is a stimulant drug that heightens her senses, reflexes, and even sharpens her mind. There are some huge consequences to using this, which she often ignores. She ends up embroiled in difficult situation after difficult situation, and though it seems she runs a lot, she’s always moving forward to her next step.
Carriers are the name given to those in this world who can use magic. I honestly feel we have only scratched the surface of what this is and the depths of power we’ll be able to see. We meet two Carriers, one of fire and one of water, and there are other types discussed and hinted at. I imagine we get to explore this in later books, which is incredibly exciting, and one thing I am really looking forward to in the sequel. Additionally, there are other powders and substances that can increase the power of a Carrier’s magic, which gives the magic system some fluidity and rules that will no doubt be bent or broken.
I also really loved the interludes, which added a bit of extra world building or dialogue between characters to flesh everything out a bit more while adding a break from heavier story beats. They also were brilliant at hinting some things to come in the future or what had occurred in the past, which goes a long way to show how alive this world is.
Underlying this entire story is a vast amount of history, which really brings everything to a cohesive whole. Most of the political issues, culture classes, desperation for revenge etc. are driven by hundreds or thousands of years of history. War and oppression runs deep, and whether it’s a skeleton in the wrong place, a forgotten city trying to rise up, or a pirate captain trying to “fix” things before she dies, it is clear a huge amount of work has gone into building this world up into the stunning read it is now.
Shadows of Ivory is very well-written, and the world building is absolutely incredible. I would have loved a map or an encyclopaedia to study as much as Eska studies her dig sites!
Highly recommend if you want a fresh fantasy not set in typical medieval-style locations, full of brilliantly-written female characters and a treasure trove of world-building and history (both ancient and recent) to devour!
November 6, 2021
I didn’t know archaeology was so cool. Eska de Caraval comes from money. She’s smart, good-looking, and driven. She also has little interest in trivial matters; scientific work is her priority. Manon de Barca, on the other hand, pursues archaeology to make money. Their rivalry keeps things exciting.
Eska gets framed for murder and hunted for the bronze disc she did not steal. Her wits and focus (enhanced by a drug she consumes excessively) help her face many opponents. When Manon loses everything, she must sell her unique gifts (Carrier magic) to protect her family.
I loved almost everything about this book. It’s done with such a great spirit of high adventure and excitement that you barely have time to catch your breath between the adrenaline-fueled action scenes. The protagonists’ storylines kept me engaged by keeping the stakes personal.
The world inspired by Renaissance Italy hides many secrets and there’s a lot of power play and politics going on in the background. It gives context to the events but never eclipses them.
That being said, the first half of the story was slower, and the second got grand in scope. So grand that it left a lot of questions unanswered and served as a set-up for the sequel. Don’t get me wrong - I’ll be getting the sequel as soon as I can, but I would like a better conclusion.
The main issue I have with Shadows of Ivory as a product is its cover. It’s misleading about the tone of the story. It suggests something bleak and can discourage readers from trying it. And that would be a shame. In reality, it’s an exciting adventure fantasy with a few darker moments. I think the original cover conveyed the story and the tone of the book much better.
I had a blast reading Shadows of Ivory and I’m excited for the next chapter.
Eska gets framed for murder and hunted for the bronze disc she did not steal. Her wits and focus (enhanced by a drug she consumes excessively) help her face many opponents. When Manon loses everything, she must sell her unique gifts (Carrier magic) to protect her family.
I loved almost everything about this book. It’s done with such a great spirit of high adventure and excitement that you barely have time to catch your breath between the adrenaline-fueled action scenes. The protagonists’ storylines kept me engaged by keeping the stakes personal.
The world inspired by Renaissance Italy hides many secrets and there’s a lot of power play and politics going on in the background. It gives context to the events but never eclipses them.
That being said, the first half of the story was slower, and the second got grand in scope. So grand that it left a lot of questions unanswered and served as a set-up for the sequel. Don’t get me wrong - I’ll be getting the sequel as soon as I can, but I would like a better conclusion.
The main issue I have with Shadows of Ivory as a product is its cover. It’s misleading about the tone of the story. It suggests something bleak and can discourage readers from trying it. And that would be a shame. In reality, it’s an exciting adventure fantasy with a few darker moments. I think the original cover conveyed the story and the tone of the book much better.
I had a blast reading Shadows of Ivory and I’m excited for the next chapter.
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March 16, 2022I haven't read this book yet, but it's currently heading the leader board in the 7th Self-Published Fantasy Blog-Off (SPFBO) - ahead of 299 other books, so it's probably pretty good!
https://mark---lawrence.blogspot.com/...
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https://mark---lawrence.blogspot.com/...
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August 26, 2020
This and more reviews on superstardrifter.com
This is the story of Eska de Caraval, who is the daughter of a noble family, and also the head of the Firenzia Company, a group of archaeologists. After arriving on their latest dig, Eska finds that someone is trying to frame her for murder. It seems to have something to do with the bronze disc that she technically didn’t steal from the terrifying Iron Baron. Shenanigans ensue.
This one had a lot of characters that I liked. I enjoyed Eska, for a start. She’s smart, snarky, and quick-thinking. She’s not afraid to do what needs to be done, or of hard work. Her friend and librarian Albus Courtenay was also a really great character, and the banter between he and Eska brought a smile to my face more than once. Perrin and Eden were even more characters that I liked a lot. And Manon. I started out not really liking her much at all (she is Eska’s rival, after all) but I ended up cheering for her too.
This was a really well written adventure, with plenty of great dialogue. The plot unraveled slowly and left mysterious things mysterious (not that it stopped me from making every possible prediction). The characters were endearing and grew even more so over the course of the story. This is one of those books that has characters that you want to trust, but you don’t quite, because it’s entirely plausible that just about anyone could be behind the shenanigans. I was suspicious of just about everyone. Even the characters that I really, really wanted to believe were as good as they appeared.
About halfway through this book, life caught up with me (again) and left me very little time for reading (but a ton of time for listening!) and so I ended up starting again (from the beginning, because why not have the whole experience) in audio. This audiobook is narrated by Kate Reading (!!!), so one would expect the narration to be great, and one would be correct. I think, in fact, that I enjoyed this story in audio even more than I was enjoying it in print, so there’s that. Kate Reading has not historically been one of my favorite narrators, but I think that this has changed now. This was fantastic narration. Super, super good.
All told, this was a really entertaining archaeological romp with really compelling characters and tons of magical and archaeological shenanigans. I can’t wait to see what comes next!
This is the story of Eska de Caraval, who is the daughter of a noble family, and also the head of the Firenzia Company, a group of archaeologists. After arriving on their latest dig, Eska finds that someone is trying to frame her for murder. It seems to have something to do with the bronze disc that she technically didn’t steal from the terrifying Iron Baron. Shenanigans ensue.
This one had a lot of characters that I liked. I enjoyed Eska, for a start. She’s smart, snarky, and quick-thinking. She’s not afraid to do what needs to be done, or of hard work. Her friend and librarian Albus Courtenay was also a really great character, and the banter between he and Eska brought a smile to my face more than once. Perrin and Eden were even more characters that I liked a lot. And Manon. I started out not really liking her much at all (she is Eska’s rival, after all) but I ended up cheering for her too.
This was a really well written adventure, with plenty of great dialogue. The plot unraveled slowly and left mysterious things mysterious (not that it stopped me from making every possible prediction). The characters were endearing and grew even more so over the course of the story. This is one of those books that has characters that you want to trust, but you don’t quite, because it’s entirely plausible that just about anyone could be behind the shenanigans. I was suspicious of just about everyone. Even the characters that I really, really wanted to believe were as good as they appeared.
About halfway through this book, life caught up with me (again) and left me very little time for reading (but a ton of time for listening!) and so I ended up starting again (from the beginning, because why not have the whole experience) in audio. This audiobook is narrated by Kate Reading (!!!), so one would expect the narration to be great, and one would be correct. I think, in fact, that I enjoyed this story in audio even more than I was enjoying it in print, so there’s that. Kate Reading has not historically been one of my favorite narrators, but I think that this has changed now. This was fantastic narration. Super, super good.
All told, this was a really entertaining archaeological romp with really compelling characters and tons of magical and archaeological shenanigans. I can’t wait to see what comes next!
September 26, 2024
Indiana Jones meets fantasy and incredible character work and great writing!
Expect gods, magical abilities, a hunt for powerful characters, pirates, and midnight rendezvous.
Eska de Caraval is an archeologist from a wealthy and educated family who becomes embroiled in politics after being framed, increasing the urgency of her mission and the stakes.
On the other hand, Manon’s magical abilities make her a source of distrust. Following a failed assassination attempt, Manon and her brother are thrown in prison. To restore her family’s name and her freedom, Manon must resort to desperate means.
There is also a pov from a bumbling scholar called Albus who I adored! I definitely want more interactions between him and Eska!
Fourteen pairs of eyes stared across the deck at Albus. Some were resentful, some fearful. All were making it abundantly clear that they did not trust Albus with their lives. And why should they? He was not of their crew. He was a stranger, a temporary passenger. Worst of all, he preferred the company of books to the company of people.
The opening of the book was incredibly fun! If I had any hesitancy listening to this audiobook after hearing nothing about it beforehand, I was quickly convinced and addicted.
The dialogue was a delight - funny, tense, and realistic; supplemented by a steady pace of tension and quieter important character moments.
Whilst the ending started to drag slightly and I did find myself yearning for the more fun, lightheartedness of the start, this could also be a result of me binging this in one day following an eye surgery stuck in a dark room.
With strong characters, an engaging premise, and with sharp enough to be wielded as a blade, this was a delight!
Rounded up to four stars!🌟
Bookstagram
Expect gods, magical abilities, a hunt for powerful characters, pirates, and midnight rendezvous.
Eska de Caraval is an archeologist from a wealthy and educated family who becomes embroiled in politics after being framed, increasing the urgency of her mission and the stakes.
On the other hand, Manon’s magical abilities make her a source of distrust. Following a failed assassination attempt, Manon and her brother are thrown in prison. To restore her family’s name and her freedom, Manon must resort to desperate means.
There is also a pov from a bumbling scholar called Albus who I adored! I definitely want more interactions between him and Eska!
Fourteen pairs of eyes stared across the deck at Albus. Some were resentful, some fearful. All were making it abundantly clear that they did not trust Albus with their lives. And why should they? He was not of their crew. He was a stranger, a temporary passenger. Worst of all, he preferred the company of books to the company of people.
The opening of the book was incredibly fun! If I had any hesitancy listening to this audiobook after hearing nothing about it beforehand, I was quickly convinced and addicted.
The dialogue was a delight - funny, tense, and realistic; supplemented by a steady pace of tension and quieter important character moments.
Whilst the ending started to drag slightly and I did find myself yearning for the more fun, lightheartedness of the start, this could also be a result of me binging this in one day following an eye surgery stuck in a dark room.
With strong characters, an engaging premise, and with sharp enough to be wielded as a blade, this was a delight!
Rounded up to four stars!🌟
Bookstagram
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February 16, 2022This book is described as "Indiana Jones meets renaissance Italy" and I am not fan of either which is why I was bored reading it and I decided to DNF it as ~20%.
Read this as a guest judge (With FanFiAddict) for SPFBO 7. I won't leave a rating because I am trying to support indie authors which is the point of the competition!
Read this as a guest judge (With FanFiAddict) for SPFBO 7. I won't leave a rating because I am trying to support indie authors which is the point of the competition!
May 6, 2021
Shadows of Ivory follows Eska, an archaeologist who also doubles as a diplomatic aid to her mother. After ‘finding’ a mysterious artifact, Eska finds herself in a heap of different problems, including being framed for murder while on a diplomatic job.
Shadows of Ivory was SO much fun! Archaeology is my weak spot, so having a book about an archaeologist that also includes political intrigue and magic, it basically stole my heart before I even got started. That means this review is just a teensy bit biased because I went in knowing I’d love it, but I challenge anyone to not fall hard for a book with this premise.
Eska is such a fun character. She’s smart, she’s adventurous, she’s sassy, and she is what made this book all the better. While she is the highlight of the story, she’s not the only interesting character. Her librarian friend Albus is almost as fun as she is. Bit more dry humour, definitely not as intentionally adventurous, but ends up having some of the most interesting storyline as well. Basically, all the characters were wonderfully written, and I loved them all. Even the side characters feel like real people, just from bits about them you feel like you know them.
Greylock’s writing is phenomenal. I loved every bit of the book, and found the writing to just pull you in and keep you there. As much as I keep saying the story was exciting and there is adventure, there is a great balance between serious moments, heartbreaking moments, introspection and suspicion, and it all balances so well. The pacing flows so nicely, you never feel as if you’re waiting for the story to pick up again or as if there is any filler.
I can’t recommend this one enough. Shadows of Ivory is definitely already one of the highlights of the year for me, and if magic and archaeology wasn’t enough to convince you, I don’t know what would be. This is the first in the series as well, so once everyone reads it and loves it as much as I did, we still have more to look forward to. If you’re a fan of Indiana Jones, go give this a shot.
Shadows of Ivory was SO much fun! Archaeology is my weak spot, so having a book about an archaeologist that also includes political intrigue and magic, it basically stole my heart before I even got started. That means this review is just a teensy bit biased because I went in knowing I’d love it, but I challenge anyone to not fall hard for a book with this premise.
Eska is such a fun character. She’s smart, she’s adventurous, she’s sassy, and she is what made this book all the better. While she is the highlight of the story, she’s not the only interesting character. Her librarian friend Albus is almost as fun as she is. Bit more dry humour, definitely not as intentionally adventurous, but ends up having some of the most interesting storyline as well. Basically, all the characters were wonderfully written, and I loved them all. Even the side characters feel like real people, just from bits about them you feel like you know them.
Greylock’s writing is phenomenal. I loved every bit of the book, and found the writing to just pull you in and keep you there. As much as I keep saying the story was exciting and there is adventure, there is a great balance between serious moments, heartbreaking moments, introspection and suspicion, and it all balances so well. The pacing flows so nicely, you never feel as if you’re waiting for the story to pick up again or as if there is any filler.
I can’t recommend this one enough. Shadows of Ivory is definitely already one of the highlights of the year for me, and if magic and archaeology wasn’t enough to convince you, I don’t know what would be. This is the first in the series as well, so once everyone reads it and loves it as much as I did, we still have more to look forward to. If you’re a fan of Indiana Jones, go give this a shot.
March 16, 2022
Biggest Pros:
Female leads, and scientists too boot!
Amazing audio version as well
Biggest Flaw - It took me a while to fully form the characters in my head, and keep them apart from each other.
Once we learned more about them and their backstory I got fully sucked into the world and got a firm footing in the world. And the world is a rather big one! I loved all the history and cultures to be found. It never felt like just a backdrop for the story, but rather like you could lift every stone, and actually find more underneath it, or behind every horizon.
So despite taking a bit to get in, I really loved both our destitute and well off archaeologists, and I especially liked the friendship between Eska and Albus. I wish more books had a strong friendship as a bond, instead of always going for romance! More friends please! Once we saw more of each of them they quickly became well rounded and three dimensional characters, who I was more than happy to follow on their adventures!
Female leads, and scientists too boot!
Amazing audio version as well
Biggest Flaw - It took me a while to fully form the characters in my head, and keep them apart from each other.
Once we learned more about them and their backstory I got fully sucked into the world and got a firm footing in the world. And the world is a rather big one! I loved all the history and cultures to be found. It never felt like just a backdrop for the story, but rather like you could lift every stone, and actually find more underneath it, or behind every horizon.
So despite taking a bit to get in, I really loved both our destitute and well off archaeologists, and I especially liked the friendship between Eska and Albus. I wish more books had a strong friendship as a bond, instead of always going for romance! More friends please! Once we saw more of each of them they quickly became well rounded and three dimensional characters, who I was more than happy to follow on their adventures!
April 3, 2022
I read 'Shadows of Ivory' for the SPFBO7 contest as part of the last batch of remaining finalists (10!) My review will be part of FanFiAddict's. This will reflect only my personal rating and opinion and is not the final score for FFA.
January 25, 2021
Fantasy featuring archaeologists, ancient mysteries and deadly magic? I was sold on this book's premise right away. I can't resist books with heists, murder plots, puzzles, treasure-hunting and digging up ancient reliquaries that probably should not be opened.
November 4, 2021
SPFBO7 FINALIST
Placed in the Fantasy-Hive's batch of 30 books, you can read our reviews here:
Making it to semi-finalist:
https://fantasy-hive.co.uk/2021/09/sp...
Final Review:
https://fantasy-hive.co.uk/2021/10/sh...
Happy Reading!
(Star rating 4.5/5 reflects my personal opinion)
Placed in the Fantasy-Hive's batch of 30 books, you can read our reviews here:
Making it to semi-finalist:
https://fantasy-hive.co.uk/2021/09/sp...
Final Review:
https://fantasy-hive.co.uk/2021/10/sh...
Happy Reading!
(Star rating 4.5/5 reflects my personal opinion)
August 4, 2020
If you like fantasy novels with engaging prose, compelling characters, deadly politics and dark archaeological mysteries, you will LOVE this.
December 28, 2022
In the backdrop of a Renaissance-Italy inspired world, the women of two opposing noble houses employ archaeology to find powerful, dangerous artifacts.
One woman is a formidable magic user. The other relies on her considerable political connections and influence through her mother to achieve her ends. High stakes adventure ensues, ancient secrets are revealed, and both women discover their quest may be much more than they initially bargained for.
So begins "Shadows of Ivory", Book One of "The Godforged Chronicles", by T.L. Greylock and Bryce O'Connor. This book received a lot of acclaim as a finalist entry in the 2022 Self Published Fantasy Blog-Off (SPFBO 7).
First, I must point out that the cover of the novel is somewhat deceiving, in my opinion, of the book that I read. Based on the fearsome cover art, I was expecting to be immediately thrown into a world of dark sorcery, mayhem, quickly confronting demons, sorcerers, undead creatures, etc.
Not exactly. Instead, I read a book about largely enterprising archaeologists, court intrigue, romance, and complex family and interpersonal dynamics. Not exactly, but this did not detract from my enjoyment of the novel whatsoever.
This is definitely a character-driven book, and that's just what I love.
Main characters Eska de Caraval and Manon Barca both come from money, and are noble born. However Barca's house has fallen on hard times, while de Caraval's house blooms at the height of its power. Barca's magical abilities make her a source of distrust. A failed assassination attempt on de Caraval points toward Barca as the culprit, and it lands her and her brother in prison.
Meanwhile de Caraval navigates the courts of the aristocracy's most influential elites, all the while single-mindedly focused on pushing her scientific research. Except for the distraction of lingering mutual feelings with a former lover, a suave and powerful military man, the clever and resourceful de Caraval lets nothing stand in her way, as she's poised to take the reins of her family's treasure hunting and shipping empire, and uncover ancient relics that will only enhance her riches.
The broken Barca, a 'Carrier' (magic-user) must resort to desperate means to restore her family's fortune, earn her freedom, including selling her magical abilities. But the determined Barca, an experienced mercenary archaeologist, will not rest until she's redeemed her family's glory, and has no intention of letting de Caraval get in the way.
Both women covet bronze discs, secured inside containers belonging to a long-dead line of monarchs. Their mission to recover these discs will bring their rivalry down interesting and surprising paths.
While the secondary characters - especially for me the scholar Albus, who also has a POV in the narrative - were excellent, the two primary players truly dominated the action, and were exceptionally well-written. I preferred Barca, of course, because I love my more morally uncertain, flawed, even damaged characters, and the drug-addicted, downtrodden, mercurial, but fierce and ultimately caring Barca was definitely my speed.
De Caraval is more invulnerable (except when it comes to her romantic interest), more utterly confident and self-assured. Still, she is fascinating, intellectual, and knows how to use her physical beauty, charm, poise, and impeccable family name to get what she wants. Yet she's also a tireless worker, who's more than willing, if required, to get her own hands dirty to attain her goals, rather than only let her subordinates do all the difficult work, despite her aristocratic upbringing.
The worldbuilding is fantastic, very immersive, in "Shadows of Ivory". Tons of history, involving feudal nation-states, puissant nobles and panderers, tense political opposition, grand courts of decadence, all of it incredibly well laid out. I loved the magic system in the book, where the 'carriers' meld elemental magic or use blood, or metallurgy, and the explanation of potential consequences of magic use, such as carrier fever.
The pace was great, and the action sequences, though infrequent, were explosive, and boy, that diving scene! Wow! Tense, gripping, and unputdownable.
Truly enjoyed the intelligent, smooth, subtle, and highly digestible prose in this book. There were some very elegant passages, and the dialogue was tight, terse, and kept the tension high, and the flow of the book moved along quite well.
The themes in "Shadows of Ivory", such as addiction, revenge, retribution, shame, prejudice (especially against the carriers), elitism, love, found family, were all compelling.
What looks like the start of a highly intriguing series, "Shadows of Ivory" was well worth the read, and no doubt deserving of the accolades and hype that came with reaching the finals of SPFBO7!
Five stars!
One woman is a formidable magic user. The other relies on her considerable political connections and influence through her mother to achieve her ends. High stakes adventure ensues, ancient secrets are revealed, and both women discover their quest may be much more than they initially bargained for.
So begins "Shadows of Ivory", Book One of "The Godforged Chronicles", by T.L. Greylock and Bryce O'Connor. This book received a lot of acclaim as a finalist entry in the 2022 Self Published Fantasy Blog-Off (SPFBO 7).
First, I must point out that the cover of the novel is somewhat deceiving, in my opinion, of the book that I read. Based on the fearsome cover art, I was expecting to be immediately thrown into a world of dark sorcery, mayhem, quickly confronting demons, sorcerers, undead creatures, etc.
Not exactly. Instead, I read a book about largely enterprising archaeologists, court intrigue, romance, and complex family and interpersonal dynamics. Not exactly, but this did not detract from my enjoyment of the novel whatsoever.
This is definitely a character-driven book, and that's just what I love.
Main characters Eska de Caraval and Manon Barca both come from money, and are noble born. However Barca's house has fallen on hard times, while de Caraval's house blooms at the height of its power. Barca's magical abilities make her a source of distrust. A failed assassination attempt on de Caraval points toward Barca as the culprit, and it lands her and her brother in prison.
Meanwhile de Caraval navigates the courts of the aristocracy's most influential elites, all the while single-mindedly focused on pushing her scientific research. Except for the distraction of lingering mutual feelings with a former lover, a suave and powerful military man, the clever and resourceful de Caraval lets nothing stand in her way, as she's poised to take the reins of her family's treasure hunting and shipping empire, and uncover ancient relics that will only enhance her riches.
The broken Barca, a 'Carrier' (magic-user) must resort to desperate means to restore her family's fortune, earn her freedom, including selling her magical abilities. But the determined Barca, an experienced mercenary archaeologist, will not rest until she's redeemed her family's glory, and has no intention of letting de Caraval get in the way.
Both women covet bronze discs, secured inside containers belonging to a long-dead line of monarchs. Their mission to recover these discs will bring their rivalry down interesting and surprising paths.
While the secondary characters - especially for me the scholar Albus, who also has a POV in the narrative - were excellent, the two primary players truly dominated the action, and were exceptionally well-written. I preferred Barca, of course, because I love my more morally uncertain, flawed, even damaged characters, and the drug-addicted, downtrodden, mercurial, but fierce and ultimately caring Barca was definitely my speed.
De Caraval is more invulnerable (except when it comes to her romantic interest), more utterly confident and self-assured. Still, she is fascinating, intellectual, and knows how to use her physical beauty, charm, poise, and impeccable family name to get what she wants. Yet she's also a tireless worker, who's more than willing, if required, to get her own hands dirty to attain her goals, rather than only let her subordinates do all the difficult work, despite her aristocratic upbringing.
The worldbuilding is fantastic, very immersive, in "Shadows of Ivory". Tons of history, involving feudal nation-states, puissant nobles and panderers, tense political opposition, grand courts of decadence, all of it incredibly well laid out. I loved the magic system in the book, where the 'carriers' meld elemental magic or use blood, or metallurgy, and the explanation of potential consequences of magic use, such as carrier fever.
The pace was great, and the action sequences, though infrequent, were explosive, and boy, that diving scene! Wow! Tense, gripping, and unputdownable.
Truly enjoyed the intelligent, smooth, subtle, and highly digestible prose in this book. There were some very elegant passages, and the dialogue was tight, terse, and kept the tension high, and the flow of the book moved along quite well.
The themes in "Shadows of Ivory", such as addiction, revenge, retribution, shame, prejudice (especially against the carriers), elitism, love, found family, were all compelling.
What looks like the start of a highly intriguing series, "Shadows of Ivory" was well worth the read, and no doubt deserving of the accolades and hype that came with reaching the finals of SPFBO7!
Five stars!
March 24, 2022
Shadows of Ivory is an entertaining adventure story full of interesting characters and memorable scenes. When a young noble woman steals an ancient artifact from a dastardly aristocrat she stumbles onto a secret buried in the pages of history. What follows is a globe spanning hunt for a set of powerful relics shrouded in mystery. Over the course of her pursuit, Eska de Caraval, uncovers competing factions hellbent on recovering these magical MacGuffins for nefarious purposes.
The main character, Eska, is a daughter of privilege, raised in the opulence of the aristocracy and reared to one day lead her family’s shipping and treasure hunting company. She is intelligent, attractive, and adventurous. I love in-world lore, and unearthing the history of a fantasy setting, so I was immediately intrigued by the prospect of a protagonist who was an archeologist. While I wouldn’t go so far as to compare her character to Indiana Jones, I think anyone who enjoyed those movies and loves fantasy can expect to be entertained by a lot of the same elements in this book. The supporting cast was also interesting. Over the course of the novel we are acquainted to various degrees with a few other POV characters and I think in general they are interesting and compelling.
There were, however, a couple of aspects to the novel that I felt could have been handled better. First and foremost was the pacing. There were quite a few scenes that paid excessive attention to extraneous details. A scene might linger a couple of pages after the major purpose has transpired or we might get a lengthy description of someone’s attire or equipment. None of it was too excessive, but when you stretch a paragraph here and a page there over and over, it added up to a few spots that dragged a bit. Overall, I still enjoyed the read, but felt that trimming some of these may have improved the story’s flow.
I also wanted more information on the MacGuffins earlier. The relics Eska is seeking are a critical element of the story. Toward the back half of the narrative, we get a bit more historical info on them, but I wanted more early on. I wanted to know what the stakes were as I was investing in the story. I also wanted to know more about what these magical artifacts were capable of. Since sinister powers are after them for mysterious purposes, it may have heightened the drama and made the consequences of failure feel more dire to have a bit more concrete of an idea what these gewgaws were capable of.
I found the setting fairly unique and thought it added a great element of style to the story. I got strong Medici vibes, almost a fantasy Renaissance period piece. I always enjoy a bit of a departure from the standard medieval fantasy setting. The defunct Alescuan dynasty provided a historical boogieman which gave the archeological aspect of the story firm footing. The variety of locales felt well fleshed out and created a globe-trotting atmosphere that gave things the grand feel of a good adventure story.
In general, I enjoyed this novel. Shadows of Ivory had a few memorable scenes that were creatively told and really stood out with cinematic flair. I liked the prose, the characters, and the adventurous mood. It was a well imagined tale that I would recommend to anyone who loves fantasy infused with a sense of history.
The main character, Eska, is a daughter of privilege, raised in the opulence of the aristocracy and reared to one day lead her family’s shipping and treasure hunting company. She is intelligent, attractive, and adventurous. I love in-world lore, and unearthing the history of a fantasy setting, so I was immediately intrigued by the prospect of a protagonist who was an archeologist. While I wouldn’t go so far as to compare her character to Indiana Jones, I think anyone who enjoyed those movies and loves fantasy can expect to be entertained by a lot of the same elements in this book. The supporting cast was also interesting. Over the course of the novel we are acquainted to various degrees with a few other POV characters and I think in general they are interesting and compelling.
There were, however, a couple of aspects to the novel that I felt could have been handled better. First and foremost was the pacing. There were quite a few scenes that paid excessive attention to extraneous details. A scene might linger a couple of pages after the major purpose has transpired or we might get a lengthy description of someone’s attire or equipment. None of it was too excessive, but when you stretch a paragraph here and a page there over and over, it added up to a few spots that dragged a bit. Overall, I still enjoyed the read, but felt that trimming some of these may have improved the story’s flow.
I also wanted more information on the MacGuffins earlier. The relics Eska is seeking are a critical element of the story. Toward the back half of the narrative, we get a bit more historical info on them, but I wanted more early on. I wanted to know what the stakes were as I was investing in the story. I also wanted to know more about what these magical artifacts were capable of. Since sinister powers are after them for mysterious purposes, it may have heightened the drama and made the consequences of failure feel more dire to have a bit more concrete of an idea what these gewgaws were capable of.
I found the setting fairly unique and thought it added a great element of style to the story. I got strong Medici vibes, almost a fantasy Renaissance period piece. I always enjoy a bit of a departure from the standard medieval fantasy setting. The defunct Alescuan dynasty provided a historical boogieman which gave the archeological aspect of the story firm footing. The variety of locales felt well fleshed out and created a globe-trotting atmosphere that gave things the grand feel of a good adventure story.
In general, I enjoyed this novel. Shadows of Ivory had a few memorable scenes that were creatively told and really stood out with cinematic flair. I liked the prose, the characters, and the adventurous mood. It was a well imagined tale that I would recommend to anyone who loves fantasy infused with a sense of history.
December 20, 2021
I'm not sure who the armor-clad skeleton on the cover is -- this is a rousing story of archeological adventure, the politics of rival families, and the recovery of strange, magically-powerful artifacts that have some connection to the gods. It's a very down-to-earth fantasy, with a subtle magic system limited to a select few gifted individuals.
Our Heroines are rivals, both sympathetic in their own ways, and I'm honestly rooting for both of them. Our other Hero is a librarian, so I'm predestined to like him *chuckle* Also we have pirates, a bit of romance, some creepy cultists, and the promise of an ever-thickening plot. Really Good Stuff.
Our Heroines are rivals, both sympathetic in their own ways, and I'm honestly rooting for both of them. Our other Hero is a librarian, so I'm predestined to like him *chuckle* Also we have pirates, a bit of romance, some creepy cultists, and the promise of an ever-thickening plot. Really Good Stuff.
June 20, 2022
The Seven Cities past lies ever alluring to some. It’s lost treasures & secrets sparking dangerous rivalries. There are also some pursuits that could very well shake up these lands to their core. Full of history, culture, mystery & adventure. Great characters. Really fun read!
April 2, 2022
I read this for SPFBO. My review only. More about the contest and links at the bottom.
I actually won a copy of this book last year on twitter and have been dying to get to it.
Initially, I loved the cover. It drew my interest immediately but, that was before I read the book and realized that this is more an adventuring archeologist kind of story, than the darker, Forgotten Realms kind of thing that the cover implies. I probably would have tossed everything aside and read it sooner, if I had known, just because ‘adventuring archeologist’ is more my speed of reading, and I generally try to break up the grim reads a little bit.
Anyway…
I enjoyed Shadows of Ivory a lot.
The writing style suits the story setting and it has that great combination of adventure, legend, and magic. (The same kind of style that made me fall in love with movies like Raiders of the Lost Ark). It’s fun and the characters are memorable- there wasn’t a pov that I didn’t enjoy and/or want to get back to their story and to see what was happening with them.
There are several pov’s, and a lot peripheral characters – I totally lost track of who was who with the powerful dukes, and some of the others ‘bad guys’ but the main players and their entourages, were on-screen interacting with each other enough that I was able to keep up with them with no problems.
(Sometimes it felt like incredibly long between pov’s depending on the circumstances that pov was left in. Like Albus- it nearly killed me waiting to see what befell him after he left with Keleut)
I really liked the way the history and world building were done through items, artefacts, and treasures and little stories. There was an easy enjoyable feel (the characters felt like they loved their jobs) to the way the information was imparted that never felt stodgy or dry. But I do think this could have been reigned in a little. (The characters weren’t the only ones who loved this part of the storytelling)
A lot of the histories felt very unconnected for a long time. And the tales and the interludes filled in past stories and hinted at other things, enriched the world but also somewhat muddled the direction the story was going at times, leaving me feeling like we weren’t gaining much ground in the plot.
(There wasn’t a moment that I didn’t enjoy the world building but there were a lot of moments that I wondered where the story was going because it seemed to have lost some focus in its excitement to tell me about an artefact, making me wish for a little less looseness to what was going on.)
The magic.
Users are called carriers with elemental type magic; fire, water, etc. also metals, even blood. Some had ability others do not and there seemed to be a bit of a stigmata upon those who could…the typical kind of prejudice against them.
There is powder that aids in the use of their magic by extending range, and power, and also dangers to users from things like carrier fever or just other users that have the power to sap it away.
I feel like this only touched the surface of the magic and the part it will play, and that we are in for interesting things to come.
*
There were things I loved about this book and it started off great, like ‘we are in for a ride’ kind of great- a huge discovery is going to be made and Eska is fleeing from the city to go in search for it, all while avoiding murder charges- you just knew you were on the tipping point of a rollercoaster ride! But it never quite pushed past that point.
The characters were consistently good, though a lot of times I was wishing Mannon and Eska were a team instead of rivals. But I’m always wishing for a good girlfriend buddy read. The story was always interesting and I was always on board for what was going on even when it felt a little meandering and I would forget for awhile about certain plot points that kicked things off in the beginning.
Other notes-
The diving scene was straight out of my nightmares- it was every worry I have ever had about diving rolled into one. Very tense.
I was so impatient with Eska, when she would find exciting stuff and not open it right then and there….
The honey substance was the best scene. (All the Lost Ark vibes in this one)
spfbo score - 8 or 4 stars (6.5-8/10)
Phase one is here-
https://mark---lawrence.blogspot.com/...
Finalist board is here
https://mark---lawrence.blogspot.com/...
I actually won a copy of this book last year on twitter and have been dying to get to it.
Initially, I loved the cover. It drew my interest immediately but, that was before I read the book and realized that this is more an adventuring archeologist kind of story, than the darker, Forgotten Realms kind of thing that the cover implies. I probably would have tossed everything aside and read it sooner, if I had known, just because ‘adventuring archeologist’ is more my speed of reading, and I generally try to break up the grim reads a little bit.
Anyway…
I enjoyed Shadows of Ivory a lot.
The writing style suits the story setting and it has that great combination of adventure, legend, and magic. (The same kind of style that made me fall in love with movies like Raiders of the Lost Ark). It’s fun and the characters are memorable- there wasn’t a pov that I didn’t enjoy and/or want to get back to their story and to see what was happening with them.
There are several pov’s, and a lot peripheral characters – I totally lost track of who was who with the powerful dukes, and some of the others ‘bad guys’ but the main players and their entourages, were on-screen interacting with each other enough that I was able to keep up with them with no problems.
(Sometimes it felt like incredibly long between pov’s depending on the circumstances that pov was left in. Like Albus- it nearly killed me waiting to see what befell him after he left with Keleut)
I really liked the way the history and world building were done through items, artefacts, and treasures and little stories. There was an easy enjoyable feel (the characters felt like they loved their jobs) to the way the information was imparted that never felt stodgy or dry. But I do think this could have been reigned in a little. (The characters weren’t the only ones who loved this part of the storytelling)
A lot of the histories felt very unconnected for a long time. And the tales and the interludes filled in past stories and hinted at other things, enriched the world but also somewhat muddled the direction the story was going at times, leaving me feeling like we weren’t gaining much ground in the plot.
(There wasn’t a moment that I didn’t enjoy the world building but there were a lot of moments that I wondered where the story was going because it seemed to have lost some focus in its excitement to tell me about an artefact, making me wish for a little less looseness to what was going on.)
The magic.
Users are called carriers with elemental type magic; fire, water, etc. also metals, even blood. Some had ability others do not and there seemed to be a bit of a stigmata upon those who could…the typical kind of prejudice against them.
There is powder that aids in the use of their magic by extending range, and power, and also dangers to users from things like carrier fever or just other users that have the power to sap it away.
I feel like this only touched the surface of the magic and the part it will play, and that we are in for interesting things to come.
*
There were things I loved about this book and it started off great, like ‘we are in for a ride’ kind of great- a huge discovery is going to be made and Eska is fleeing from the city to go in search for it, all while avoiding murder charges- you just knew you were on the tipping point of a rollercoaster ride! But it never quite pushed past that point.
The characters were consistently good, though a lot of times I was wishing Mannon and Eska were a team instead of rivals. But I’m always wishing for a good girlfriend buddy read. The story was always interesting and I was always on board for what was going on even when it felt a little meandering and I would forget for awhile about certain plot points that kicked things off in the beginning.
Other notes-
The diving scene was straight out of my nightmares- it was every worry I have ever had about diving rolled into one. Very tense.
I was so impatient with Eska, when she would find exciting stuff and not open it right then and there….
The honey substance was the best scene. (All the Lost Ark vibes in this one)
spfbo score - 8 or 4 stars (6.5-8/10)
Phase one is here-
https://mark---lawrence.blogspot.com/...
Finalist board is here
https://mark---lawrence.blogspot.com/...
March 9, 2022
Shadows of Ivory is a fun, light-hearted read with clever writing and action-packed pacing. It feels like going on a grand adventure with friends, and while some conflicts are greater than others in scope (which can be expected when dealing with mysterious ancient artefacts—or rather, when Eska deals with mysterious ancient artefacts), the heart of the story is rooted in family rivalry. It adds a personal and slightly petty touch to the stakes that was fun to read.
Eska as the main character is very relatable to me. No matter what she does, she always starts off by rolling a 2 on luck. Or maybe diplomacy? A lot of things happen because she doesn't know when to stop talking, but it's so hilarious and relatable that it keeps the story going. There are a lot of "Oh, Eska" moments, but I thought she was a delightful protagonist.
On the other hand, Manon is an intriguing, conflicted, and at times equally petty antagonist. As much as I enjoy massive casts of fantasy POV characters, I appreciated how contained the story was in its (for the most part) two POVs, despite the wealth of (at times academic) worldbuilding we see through their eyes. We also have family conflicts within families, which adds another layer and makes characters... well, relatable.
Shadows of Ivory may be light-hearted in tone, but it packs swift, well-timed emotional punches. I really enjoyed the journey it took me on, and it was definitely a nice break from the grim, dark, and grimdark fantasy I usually read. Looking forward to the next one!
Some key words to help you decide: multiple POV, lighthearted fantasy, archaeology, adventure, mysterious artefact, quest fantasy, family rivalry, plucky female protagonist, plucky female antagonist
P.S. Times I used "relatable": 3
Eska as the main character is very relatable to me. No matter what she does, she always starts off by rolling a 2 on luck. Or maybe diplomacy? A lot of things happen because she doesn't know when to stop talking, but it's so hilarious and relatable that it keeps the story going. There are a lot of "Oh, Eska" moments, but I thought she was a delightful protagonist.
On the other hand, Manon is an intriguing, conflicted, and at times equally petty antagonist. As much as I enjoy massive casts of fantasy POV characters, I appreciated how contained the story was in its (for the most part) two POVs, despite the wealth of (at times academic) worldbuilding we see through their eyes. We also have family conflicts within families, which adds another layer and makes characters... well, relatable.
Shadows of Ivory may be light-hearted in tone, but it packs swift, well-timed emotional punches. I really enjoyed the journey it took me on, and it was definitely a nice break from the grim, dark, and grimdark fantasy I usually read. Looking forward to the next one!
Some key words to help you decide: multiple POV, lighthearted fantasy, archaeology, adventure, mysterious artefact, quest fantasy, family rivalry, plucky female protagonist, plucky female antagonist
P.S. Times I used "relatable": 3
May 1, 2020
I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This book is an ambitious fantasy book. Very big. Very epic in its world-building. You will see traces of historical influnces from Rome to Carthage in this novel. I sometimes think it’s a sort of a 16th century Renaissance world mixed with the Ancient World. The politics of this world is extensive, and is bascially archaeology in fantasy except its mixed with the following: Politics of the Arch-Duke, of the Seven Cities, of the numerous Kingdoms, the history, everything in it is pretty much that.
The two main characters: I liked Manon a little more than Eska. Eska is a cunning, devious, and clever lady that will stop at nothing to get what she wants. But she is also kind and caring. Whereas Manon? She is a character that goes through thick and thin. I liked Perrin and Alexandre more because their stories were more personal – As Eska is the daughter of the De Caravel family, you get to see a lot of stuff in this. It’s too hard for me to summarise all the details.
Both the authors, TL Greylock and Byrce have done an immense job of introducing the reader to the world. The prose is well written although I believe the novel could have been at a shorter pace, and there was a little dragging because of the explanation of the world that is needed. What I wanted to see was a map. I need a map to help me understand the big world – because this is a world of Gods, a world of history, a world of unexplained stories, of unexplained history that needs to be discovered. This is the set up, and the second novel will go much more into detail. I enjoyed and believe it is WORTH your time. Pick this up as it is free on KU, and really an engaging read. Really engaging. 9/10 from me!
This book is an ambitious fantasy book. Very big. Very epic in its world-building. You will see traces of historical influnces from Rome to Carthage in this novel. I sometimes think it’s a sort of a 16th century Renaissance world mixed with the Ancient World. The politics of this world is extensive, and is bascially archaeology in fantasy except its mixed with the following: Politics of the Arch-Duke, of the Seven Cities, of the numerous Kingdoms, the history, everything in it is pretty much that.
The two main characters: I liked Manon a little more than Eska. Eska is a cunning, devious, and clever lady that will stop at nothing to get what she wants. But she is also kind and caring. Whereas Manon? She is a character that goes through thick and thin. I liked Perrin and Alexandre more because their stories were more personal – As Eska is the daughter of the De Caravel family, you get to see a lot of stuff in this. It’s too hard for me to summarise all the details.
Both the authors, TL Greylock and Byrce have done an immense job of introducing the reader to the world. The prose is well written although I believe the novel could have been at a shorter pace, and there was a little dragging because of the explanation of the world that is needed. What I wanted to see was a map. I need a map to help me understand the big world – because this is a world of Gods, a world of history, a world of unexplained stories, of unexplained history that needs to be discovered. This is the set up, and the second novel will go much more into detail. I enjoyed and believe it is WORTH your time. Pick this up as it is free on KU, and really an engaging read. Really engaging. 9/10 from me!
August 4, 2020
I received an ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.
It was with some anticipation I set down to read this latest offering from Bryce O'Connor and T.L. Greylock.
This book did not disappoint. I loved the combination of politics and the thrill of the archaeological hunt for long-forgotten artefacts.
I was enjoying the book so much that I was disappointed to find that I had already reached the end of the story, all I can say is, bring on the next instalment!!
It was with some anticipation I set down to read this latest offering from Bryce O'Connor and T.L. Greylock.
This book did not disappoint. I loved the combination of politics and the thrill of the archaeological hunt for long-forgotten artefacts.
I was enjoying the book so much that I was disappointed to find that I had already reached the end of the story, all I can say is, bring on the next instalment!!
August 3, 2021
A fun tale of magic set in a grim world trying to better itself featuring a wrongfully accused archaeologist trying to clear her name. The world is interesting, the story moves at a good pace and the characters are solid. I listened to the audio and the narrator did a good job keeping the story moving and bringing life to the characters.
March 14, 2022
This is a book you shouldn’t judge for it’s cover. I mean, it’s gorgeous, but it gives you the idea that the setting is quite grimdark; however, it’s adventurous and light.
This book was a great surprise, and I enjoyed every part of it. At the beginning I felt like nothing was really happening, but the writing was so compelling I couldn’t stop reading. It clearly is the first book of a series, and I have high hopes for the next books!
This book was a great surprise, and I enjoyed every part of it. At the beginning I felt like nothing was really happening, but the writing was so compelling I couldn’t stop reading. It clearly is the first book of a series, and I have high hopes for the next books!
June 15, 2021
Rating: B+
A few thoughts, not enough for me to write a review cuz I probably couldn't do it well right now haha.
I have marked my review as spoilers.
- I was really drawn in by the world-building. It is very rich, the seven cities being affluent and rich, and those outside being forgotten and poorer - and this directly driving one of the characters in the book to make their choices.
- I liked Eska's perspective the most. It was nice to see where Albus fit into the story, but I felt like his perspective was mostly to drive the story, I would have liked to spend more time with him learning more about his history and personal goals.
- I didn't really like Manon very much; it felt like she had protective armour on the entire time, she was immensely lucky. I did like Perrin a lot. I found myself confused about people's ages. Luca was also feeling like a late addition.
- I found the relationship between Eska and Alexandre to be the most compelling, as well as that between Eska's uncle and herself. The scorned(!) lover trope really gets me. Their interactions are so sad but also really cute. I could have done without the letter to Albus explaining her choice, though. It would have been nice to have some mystery remaining around their split (and you can tell that there could still be something there depsite Eska sleeping with another person as soon as she meets them). In the same vein as this, I felt like this was almost a reverse harem. There were too many boys and too much hand holding lol. It was a bit overbearing.
- I loved the archaeology focus of the story and the mysteries.
- The magic powers are interesting - elemental based, sliding scale of skill, and people feeling mixed towards the magical-users. I did feel like the book mentioned the basic powers, and then mentions an extention of these powers / alternate kinds of powers, but then immediately shows their hand with Luca and his ability to temporarily steal powers, and discussing the scene where the Carrier held his blood inside his own body at the execution that Eska was invited to watch.
- Alexandre practically disappears halfway through the book.
- The tryst with Eden starts out almost purely sexual and then we are supposed to believe there are emotions behind it. C'mon, just let it be what it is lol.
I felt like there were too many plotlines in the book to follow after. To review:
- the murder of the diplomat
- the skeleton in the gravesite
- the potential to discredit a historical scientific theory by proving inter-clan trade (sub-subplot)
- the missing godforged discs
- the Seycherran pirate kidnapping Albus and taking him to a random city to get an army to destroy the seven cities
- the duke and Manon seeking the godforged
- Perrin going missing
- the mysterious honey that kills Gabirel
- what Aurelia and Aurelian want
- Valerian and Eska going overseas suddenly
- Love triangle
It was all very political and mysterious, but there is so much potential in the future books I dunno if you could finish it in a trilogy.
A few thoughts, not enough for me to write a review cuz I probably couldn't do it well right now haha.
I have marked my review as spoilers.
- I was really drawn in by the world-building. It is very rich, the seven cities being affluent and rich, and those outside being forgotten and poorer - and this directly driving one of the characters in the book to make their choices.
- I liked Eska's perspective the most. It was nice to see where Albus fit into the story, but I felt like his perspective was mostly to drive the story, I would have liked to spend more time with him learning more about his history and personal goals.
- I didn't really like Manon very much; it felt like she had protective armour on the entire time, she was immensely lucky. I did like Perrin a lot. I found myself confused about people's ages. Luca was also feeling like a late addition.
- I found the relationship between Eska and Alexandre to be the most compelling, as well as that between Eska's uncle and herself. The scorned(!) lover trope really gets me. Their interactions are so sad but also really cute. I could have done without the letter to Albus explaining her choice, though. It would have been nice to have some mystery remaining around their split (and you can tell that there could still be something there depsite Eska sleeping with another person as soon as she meets them). In the same vein as this, I felt like this was almost a reverse harem. There were too many boys and too much hand holding lol. It was a bit overbearing.
- I loved the archaeology focus of the story and the mysteries.
- The magic powers are interesting - elemental based, sliding scale of skill, and people feeling mixed towards the magical-users. I did feel like the book mentioned the basic powers, and then mentions an extention of these powers / alternate kinds of powers, but then immediately shows their hand with Luca and his ability to temporarily steal powers, and discussing the scene where the Carrier held his blood inside his own body at the execution that Eska was invited to watch.
- Alexandre practically disappears halfway through the book.
- The tryst with Eden starts out almost purely sexual and then we are supposed to believe there are emotions behind it. C'mon, just let it be what it is lol.
I felt like there were too many plotlines in the book to follow after. To review:
- the murder of the diplomat
- the skeleton in the gravesite
- the potential to discredit a historical scientific theory by proving inter-clan trade (sub-subplot)
- the missing godforged discs
- the Seycherran pirate kidnapping Albus and taking him to a random city to get an army to destroy the seven cities
- the duke and Manon seeking the godforged
- Perrin going missing
- the mysterious honey that kills Gabirel
- what Aurelia and Aurelian want
- Valerian and Eska going overseas suddenly
- Love triangle
It was all very political and mysterious, but there is so much potential in the future books I dunno if you could finish it in a trilogy.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 9, 2022
Such a good book. A fantasy twist of Indiana Jones, Lara Croft and The Mummy, as in adventurous archaeologists and treasure hunters and librarians making discoveries and trying to save the world.
Impeccable world building, paired with some great archeological and treasure hunting episodes; as somebody who studied art history these moments were some of my favourite to read.
and I just loved the characters! Eska and Manon are polar opposites but i just loved them equally. Also Perrin, Luca, Keleut and Albus were characters I particularly loved too.
The plot itself is great mix of adventure, mystery and political scheming.
The book was co-authored but the writing didn’t suffer from it at all, it’s was really well written and flowed perfectly. I love the little interludes that ranged from scientific reports to letters to newspaper articles, they really added to the world building in a very organic manner.
The ending, especially the future of three characters, makes me really anticipate the sequel to this wonderful book.
Impeccable world building, paired with some great archeological and treasure hunting episodes; as somebody who studied art history these moments were some of my favourite to read.
and I just loved the characters! Eska and Manon are polar opposites but i just loved them equally. Also Perrin, Luca, Keleut and Albus were characters I particularly loved too.
The plot itself is great mix of adventure, mystery and political scheming.
The book was co-authored but the writing didn’t suffer from it at all, it’s was really well written and flowed perfectly. I love the little interludes that ranged from scientific reports to letters to newspaper articles, they really added to the world building in a very organic manner.
The ending, especially the future of three characters, makes me really anticipate the sequel to this wonderful book.
September 8, 2021
Ancient mysteries, magic, archaeologists and adventure all together, so I knew it was the book for me, but it was even better than I expected.
Absolutely brilliant.
I hope I will not have to wait too long for the next book in the series.
Absolutely brilliant.
I hope I will not have to wait too long for the next book in the series.
March 2, 2022
3.5 stars. Solid start to this new series from T. L. Greylock (really enjoyed The Song of the Ash Tree) and Bryce O'Connor. A blend of National Treasure and Indiana Jones with some murder, mystery and magic. I am looking forward to the protagonists clashing in the future.
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