Nina Harrow and Patrick Colson are twelve years old when they are whisked away from the shadows of their disenfranchised mining towns to dazzling Belavere City to discover their magical potential. Those who pass Belavere’s test will become Artisans, wielders of powerful elemental magic destined to fulfill the city’s grand ambitions. For Nina, the Artisan School symbolizes a dream and an escape from her harsh reality, while Patrick yearns to return to his Craftsman family, whose extraordinary physical strength serves the idium mines keeping the city alive.
And then they uncover a devastating truth: Artisans aren’t born, they’re chosen. They part ways on very different paths, leaving them to carry the burden of this secret alone.
In the years that follow, a Craftsman revolution ignites, thrusting Nina and Patrick into opposing factions of a brewing war. Now an elite Artisan with the very rare talent for charming earth, Nina has turned her back on the fight, haunted by the loss of her found family. But fate intervenes when she is captured by Patrick’s rebel group. Despite the years and conflict that separates them, Patrick hasn’t forgotten Nina. He desperately seeks her help for a mission that could shift the tides against Belavere City. Reluctantly, she agrees, battling the sparks flying between them. But when Nina’s first love reappears, asking her to betray Patrick for the sake of the Artisans, Nina faces an impossible choice that could alter the fate of their world.
---------------------
First line:
I took the name of a dead canary.
---------------------
Source:
Source:
eARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
---------------------
Publication Date:
July 1, 2025
---------------------
Rating:
4.75 Vials out of 5
---------------------
This book consumed me from the start. We start with Nina and Patrick age 12 as they are called into the city to be sorted as an Artisan (those who can produce magic after consuming Idium) or Crafter (those who can’t produce magic). Though they have similar backgrounds, both being poor children of miners, they have different dreams. Nina wishes to stay in the city and will do whatever necessary to do it. Patrick just wants to go back home to his parents and brothers. While in the city and before they are sorted, they discover a secret the government has been keeping from everybody. The two part ways and must decide what they must do with this knowledge.
The next few chapters consist of glimpses of Nina’s six years in school. Sometimes, I get frustrated with time jumps like these, but Stacey did a great job at making it seamless. I also loved that reading Nina’s 1st person POV, especially the early chapters, felt very much like she was telling the story. I don’t often notice whether a book is written in 1st or 3rd person, so when I notice, it tends to be when it’s done very well. You can feel Nina’s sorrow and regret as she reminds readers and herself that she was a child.
The tension between Nina and Patrick is so delicious. I loved every single minute of them together.
I hope in the sequel we get to see more of Nina’s inventive mind. I loved the skirt she made when she was 12, but then we never really saw anything like that from her again. Hopefully, spending more time with the Colsons will help draw that inventive side out again.
Definitely the must read fantasy of the summer! Don’t miss out on this book full of love, betrayal, and magic!
Comments
Post a Comment