Onyx & Ivory Hardcover – May 15, 2018

I read through the entirety of this book and, honestly, I'm a bit mixed on it. I feel like it started off good and interesting but ultimately failed me in the end. It just ended up not being my type of story and I'm not going to discourage others from reading it, only share my thoughts on it:I'll start out with the positives:-The world-building. Oh boy, do I love this world. The magic is one thing, because I'm a sucker for that, but the trials Corwin has to go through in order to become king, the lore behind Corwin's family tree and all the little tidbits that we hear of how towns and cities operate? I love it, I love it all. The politics, the layout, the geography, the operations of couriers, and every little detail in-between really had be enthralled with what Mindee Arnett has built.-Nightdrakes and (SPOILERS) daydrakes. I'm kind of sad that these featured less and less as the story grew on but I think there's something wonderful about the idea of the human-murdering draconic creatures that prey on any who wander foolishly in the night. This was actually the idea that drew me into the book in the first place, and from the first few pages alone I was infatuated with the idea of nightdrakes. And when the daydrakes showed up? Oh, wow, the summary had warned about such possibility but it was almost startling to discover the existence of such murderous creatures being allowed to frequent in the light. I really admired the concept of both the night and day drakes and I think Arnett did wonderfully on portraying these beings as horrifying and yet somehow beautiful in their terrifying, killing machine-like nature-I liked the plot. I especially liked the plot when it involved (SPOILER FOR ABOVE) daydrakes. I enjoyed knowing that Kate could use her powers to control them and the mere fact that daydrakes had, of all things, a hive mind. There were other aspects I enjoyed too, and generally the plot was enough to keep me reading, but i admittedly have to say that the more the book progressed the less the plot became a page-turner for me and more a "eh guess I'll finish this since I have time" feelingCons:-The title doesn't make sense to me. I get why it exists and it is relevant to a scene in the book but, overall, Onyx and Ivory isn't really a title you can apply anywhere else in the book and be like "ah, yes, this title describes the whole book quite well in its subtlety". Maybe I missed some hints but the only way this book title applies is with the black and white foal and with the black and white swords, the former of which holds some importance and the latter of which is just an..."eh" kind of scene-Characters. I like Kate. In fact, she might be the only character I like. All the other characters (especially Corwin) I don't like. Corwin I never become fond of and thus I suffered because I was stuck with his POV because I couldn't be bothered to sympathize with him.-Sort of insta-love. I don't mean insta-love in the sense of "two strangers lock eyes and they fall in love" but, rather, "two people who were in love before fall in love again and it gets irritating and boring real fast". I'm not the type of person who enjoys requited pining. I enjoy seeing only one side of the story and not both when it comes to romance so this was just very much a "ugh, we get it, they like each other, plot please instead?" moment. I enjoy romance, but not this kind of romance. I was also uncomfortable with one scene that kind of pushes the boundary into sex but that's just because sexual scenes are generally uncomfortable for me and I usually ignore their existence or avoid books with them altogether.All in all I give the book 3 stars because it was decent enough to be worth my money in terms of reading it but I also felt like it just ended up not being my thing, either, especially at the half-way point in the book. I'd recommend it for people who are probably into more mature fantasy books with great world-building but it's not the kind of book I find myself completely enjoying.

Kate's father attacked the King: now she lives as an outcast. Corwin is the prince that Kate had a crush on, but everything is thrown to the ashes after she begged him to save her father and he turned away. Now, they've been living separate lives until fate brings them back together right as the creatures that haunt the night start to get worse...Yes, this is another generic YA fantasy, but I enjoyed it! Yes, it seemed a bit longer in places than needed, but it didn't take away from the story itself. The magic system is nothing new but done in a way that I could easily understand and follow.I loved the romance between Kate and Corwin for the most part. There's a scene that sorta made me feel that Corwin was really dumb for how he acted and what he assumed. Then it just got swept under the rug towards the end and now they're together. I did enjoy watching Corwin slowly coming into his own and finally standing up for what he believed in. I'm also glad that Kate now knows the reason her father did what he did.I've already got the squeal ready to go and am excited to read it, even if I've heard mixed things.

The E-ARC was provided by Edelweiss. But the cover was so cool that I also bought it.This book started off with a Scorpio Races feel. A girl and her horse, and a fiery heart. I was drawn in right away. Since Scorpio Races is one of my all-time favorite books in the world, I was so sucked in, and I could not put the book down.This book is told in two POV's, Kate and Corwin. Let's start with Kate. She is a nineteen-year-old Relay rider (basically a mailman on horseback) who is also a wilder, able to influence animals. Not only that, she is the daughter of a man who tried to kill the king of Rime. People call her Traitor Kate. But for all she's been through, she has developed a thick skin. She loves horses and is pretty good with a bow.Then there's Corwin. He's the second born son of the king and child-hood friend of Kate before she was exiled and her father put to death. It's by chance that their paths cross some three years later while Corwin is investigating a rise in Nightdrake (lizard-like creatures) attacks. Kate saves Corwin, and their lives begin to change.Corwin hires Bonner, Kate's friend, to make revolvers. The thing is, Bonner is also a wilder and being a wilder is pretty much illegal and will get you a death sentence. But the deal is too good for Kate, Bonner, and their friend Signe and they all start new lives at the royal palace. Things become complicated when Kate begins a mission of finding out what really happened the day her father attacked the king. She knows her father was a dedicated and honorable man and that he wouldn't have done such a thing without being compromised. Meanwhile, the nightdrakes have become daydrakes, and the whole land is going crazy. Corwin is up to start three trials to take the crown from his brother, Edwin and his relationship with Kate becomes more and more complicated.Pretty much, this book was magical in every way. The writing was superb and never-mind that world-building. Holy cow. This is a book to learn from. I was a tad POed at Corwin at one point, but he sort of redeemed himself. The side characters were great and sometimes more interesting than the main characters. If you can ignore the tropes (secrets abilities, royal rivalries), you'll love this book. I, for one, didn't mind them at all.All in all, I loved this book, and I cannot wait for the sequel!

It’s a young book with good characters, far more interested in the side characters than the main ones. The world building is brilliant and the knowledge behind horses and weapons shows the research the author has put in.The plot and the villians is easy to see where it’s going but certain events don’t add up, the errant Prince is too perfect and the flaws are too obvious, the heroine makes you want to kill her, typical tomboy but wants love but ready to take on everything and be perfect.I love the heroine best friends they are good and enjoyed the first third of the book, the middle dragged and the needless over long points of the errant prince facing his trial and Kate facing her old life was boring but the twists were good.I won’t comment on the last third but say you could see where it would lead.Overall a good story but needs condescending of the love story of the main characters

If you enjoy YA Fantasy Fiction with a new magical concept, new take on ‘Dragons’ that’s fast paced with an interesting mixture of Characters, then you need to read this book, and soon!I haven’t previously encountered the Author, but at a friends suggestion, I ordered a copy to read. I loved it so much, it is now our Book groups January readalong! Also. That cover is just so gorgeous 😍 I may be more than a bit envious of said friend, who has the sprayed edges edition from Fairyloot, but I’m getting distracted.I adore the characters, they’re each so different! And each are likeable for very different reasons. I particularly loved the fact that we know from the very start who the romantic interests are, and as we alternate between the two peoples perspectives for the story, we were given a very unique view of each persons personality and individual misgivings regarding the others feelings. For me, thus made it so much more relatable and fun!Each Character had very real reservations, and each was confused. But yet, I think having both peoples views made this easier to understand, and less angsty. Instead, we get to see both sides of the situation, we get to understand both their attitudes in each situation.That’s just the romance, but alongside this you have the Fantasy and magical element, there are secrets and revelations as we go. There are interesting turns of event, shocking reactions from some, and some interesting ‘badies’When I sit and think through the book, I am hard pressed to come up with one section in particular that I enjoyed, because they all blended so perfectly! The story is far from slow paced, and having read the blurb I was fully expecting to spend the first 1/4 of the book waiting to get to the action. Don’t worry, this Author gets you stuck in quickly, and still managed to wonderfully create the world you find yourself in the middle of.There are elements of intrigue, there are action scene, there magic and mayhem... there are so many things I have enjoyed about this story, and I would very very happily read this again! I truly loved it, and I can’t wait to see what comes next for the series!

This is a YA fantasy. This follows Kate, a royal courier, who lives with the moniker of Traitor Kate, after her father attempted to kill the king. As a courier, Kate longs for respect, but lives in fear of someone discovering her magical ability – talking and going into the minds of animals. In a land besieged by drakes, Kate discovers a battered caravan and with it, Prince Corwin – a lone survivor and the man she once loved… This felt a very generic read, but not in a good way. I feel like not enough happens and the prose is overly lengthy, with long-winded descriptions. The perspectives of Kate and Corwin are too similar, and I found I didn’t really like either character. The selling point of this is the drakes, and I feel like they don’t get enough time on the page, and the information about them is scarce. When they appear, they’re almost pushed aside. It’s very slow paced, dragging out politics and court betrayals, and romances that don’t seem to go anywhere. This being said, there is potential. This could be so much more, but it just falls flat. I think it’s doubtful I will pick up anymore of the series.

predictable, standard quest and adventure story, with the regulation evil powerful villains, the brave band of freedom fighters, led by the feisty, magic-wielding heroine....echoes of several other, like-minded plots sound throughout the text...the land of valdemar, the witch world, damar and the land of fitz and the fool...the plot is simple, the action straight-forward, the magic rules and systems a bit too bureaucratic, much like the similar ones in bujold's worlds, but, on the whole, a good read at a fair price...i thought the romance/love tension unnecessary, but i suppose a young reader might enjoy it...it leads into the next volume of the story, with even more conflict, magic and villainy...will i get it? if it is cheap enough, i might...

Opening Line: “Out here, darkness meant death”The kingdom of Rime is plagued with Nightdrakes, these dragon like creatures that come out at night to devour whatever they can. The only thing that saves the people are the ward stones supplied by the magists at a heavy cost. Kate Brighton inherited the title ‘traitor Kate’ after her father tried to assassinate the high king of Rime. Kate feeling betrayed by those around her ran to an outpost town to start afresh. She secures a position with the relay courier service delivery mail, however her past soon catches up with her in the form of Prince Corwin ‘her lost love’ when she saves him from a nightdrake attack during the day...“But no amount of wishing could change their hearts, and desire could not be mined, only ignited.”..Kate and Corwin find themselves on an adventure full of political intrigue, mystery and a race against time to save the kingdom and the people they love. Can Kate trust Corwin with her deepest secrets? Can Corwin throw off the shackles of duty and do what he believes is right?..The secondary characters in this book contribute immensely to the world building! I loved Bonner and his gentle but fierce personality, Signe and her tall tales were an absolute blast. Dal was an amazing friend for the prince who kept him humble and grounded. I would give this book 4 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Slightly predictable at times however brilliantly written and quite an interesting storyline! I can’t wait for the next instalment...