I absolutely loved this book! There were so many positives and I feel like I could rave about this book forever and ever. I didn't think I would find another fantasy series that I adore like "Children of Blood and Bone" or the "Shadowhunters", but this man *Chef's kiss*.
We are introduced to Zahru and her friend Hen who are trying to sneak into a royal party to see the selection for the Firsts of the Royal Heirs for their Crossing. The Crossing will determine who will be the next Mestrah or ruler. There is a mix up and Zahru ends up with the selection for the Firsts instead of with the spectators. At the party for the eldest heir's (Kasta) selection Zahru meets and catches the eye of the middle heir, Jet. This prompts Kasta to choose Zahru as his first. Kasta later, thinking his brother is trying to set him up, carves the sacrifice into poor Zahru. Now instead of being Kasta's first, Zahru is the sacrifice that an heir must kill at the end of the race, to claim ancient powers from a knife.
Zahru spends time with each of the heirs and gets to know them. Sakira is the youngest heir and the only daughter of the Mestah. She is thought of as a party girl, but we learn that she is much more than that. Jet is the middle heir and is by far my favorite. He doesn't want to take part in the Crossing and especially doesn't want to be Mestrah after his father; even though he is their father's pick to be the next Mestrah. A romance even brews between Jet and Zahru; honestly Jet's team of Marcus and Melia feel like a little family and Zahru enjoys her time spent with them.
There are some fantastic characters in this book that aren't just limited to Zahru. We are told the story through Zahru's eyes. She grows from just thinking about herself as a lowly Whisperer (Someone who speaks to animals) to someone who does have power. Jet was my favorite male character and you can see the internal conflict he has about wanting to protect the people he cares about. I'm very curious to see what Kasta's development will be in the second book (Thank goodness there is a second book-especially with that ending!). Besides Zahru I think my favorite female characters we Melia (Jet's healer) and Maia (Kasta's first). Maia's development was so well done. She can't "speak" per say, so it complicates things a little bit. The epilogue is told from her point of view and it is so worth the read!
Honestly after I read this book there was no question that it deserved five stars!
We are introduced to Zahru and her friend Hen who are trying to sneak into a royal party to see the selection for the Firsts of the Royal Heirs for their Crossing. The Crossing will determine who will be the next Mestrah or ruler. There is a mix up and Zahru ends up with the selection for the Firsts instead of with the spectators. At the party for the eldest heir's (Kasta) selection Zahru meets and catches the eye of the middle heir, Jet. This prompts Kasta to choose Zahru as his first. Kasta later, thinking his brother is trying to set him up, carves the sacrifice into poor Zahru. Now instead of being Kasta's first, Zahru is the sacrifice that an heir must kill at the end of the race, to claim ancient powers from a knife.
Zahru spends time with each of the heirs and gets to know them. Sakira is the youngest heir and the only daughter of the Mestah. She is thought of as a party girl, but we learn that she is much more than that. Jet is the middle heir and is by far my favorite. He doesn't want to take part in the Crossing and especially doesn't want to be Mestrah after his father; even though he is their father's pick to be the next Mestrah. A romance even brews between Jet and Zahru; honestly Jet's team of Marcus and Melia feel like a little family and Zahru enjoys her time spent with them.
There are some fantastic characters in this book that aren't just limited to Zahru. We are told the story through Zahru's eyes. She grows from just thinking about herself as a lowly Whisperer (Someone who speaks to animals) to someone who does have power. Jet was my favorite male character and you can see the internal conflict he has about wanting to protect the people he cares about. I'm very curious to see what Kasta's development will be in the second book (Thank goodness there is a second book-especially with that ending!). Besides Zahru I think my favorite female characters we Melia (Jet's healer) and Maia (Kasta's first). Maia's development was so well done. She can't "speak" per say, so it complicates things a little bit. The epilogue is told from her point of view and it is so worth the read!
Honestly after I read this book there was no question that it deserved five stars!