Rating: ✮✮✮✮✮
Synopsis:
I am Renata Convida.
I have lived a hundred stolen lives.
Now I live my own.
Renata Convida was only a child when she was kidnapped by the King's Justice and brought to the luxurious palace of Andalucia. As a Robari, the rarest and most feared of the magical Moria, Renata's ability to steal memories from royal enemies enabled the King's Wrath, a siege that resulted in the deaths of thousands of her own people.
Now Renata is one of the Whispers, rebel spies working against the crown and helping the remaining Moria escape the kingdom bent on their destruction. The Whispers may have rescued Renata from the palace years ago, but she cannot escape their mistrust and hatred--or the overpowering memories of the hundreds of souls she turned "hollow" during her time in the palace.
When Dez, the commander of her unit, is taken captive by the notorious Sangrado Prince, Renata will do anything to save the boy whose love makes her place among the Whispers bearable. But a disastrous rescue attempt means Renata must return to the palace under cover and complete Dez's top secret mission. Can Renata convince her former captors that she remains loyal, even as she burns for vengeance against the brutal, enigmatic prince? Her life and the fate of the Moria depend on it.
But returning to the palace stirs childhood memories long locked away. As Renata grows more deeply embedded in the politics of the royal court, she uncovers a secret in her past that could change the entire fate of the kingdom--and end the war that has cost her everything.
Review:
Zoraida Córdova is, without a shadow of a doubt, a master of her craft and this book is the perfect proof of this. Córdova is meticulous in the construction of her story, from the fascinating world to this compelling magic system to her endearing protagonist to pacing and conflict - her skill is undeniable.
The story starts quietly and mysteriously, making you a little unsettled and unsure where it may go, yet compelled to read on to find out. No need to wait, my friends, for Córdova clearly lays out the stakes from the very beginning. Magic, murder and rebellion, what else could you need to start with a bang?
I found myself absolutely fascinated by the world of Puerto Leones. This is most definitely one of those gorgeous cases when you just know the author has many more cards hidden up their sleeves than they are letting on; it is the most subtle yet striking details of passing conversations or descriptions that offer readers a vivid picture of what the countries outside Puerto Leones may be like and how this kingdom maintains that broader ecosystem. Córdova's analog to this historic Spanish landscape is familiar, yet she skillfully crafts her own world separate from it, vivid and lush in its own history and lore.
The magical system is equally intricate and alluring and, in many ways, unlike what I've encountered before. Not only is the precarious position of the Moria made clear from the very beginning, but Zoraida introduces complicated dynamics between the different types of magic wielders. Thus, her protagonist is alienated by not only a kingdom that hates all magic, but also by her own people, afraid as they are of her mysterious power. All their magics feel palpable because of the tactile elements involved - the touch/ connection with those they're working their magic on, the connection with the metals they draw power from, they're all a fascinating additional layer.
I fell in love with all of Zoraida's characters, be it in a love-to-hate-them way, wow-I'd-love-to-know-more-about-this-person way, they-did-some-fucked-up-stuff-but-it-seems-justified way and so on. Her main cast of characters are such different people with such striking voices that it is easy to see why the peace between them would be a delicate thing, so watching the tension of those ensemble scenes was a whole capital E Experience. I love all the different dynamics between the people of this one group, all their tender friendships and wholesome best-friends-to-lovers liaison, to the icy rivalry always on the verge of conflict. The overall effect was so verisimilar that I felt as though I was in the middle of the group witnessing their discussions.
I fell in love with Ren's character in no time at all. She is, most certainly, a girl of many contradictions and with a lot of inner turmoil to work through. Renata is, at the core of it all, alone and unsure who to trust in the outside world when she is working so hard on learning to even trust herself. She has witnessed the memories and lives of countless people because of her magic, yet she cannot allow herself to live through her own. She is fighting for what is right even if she has to make the wrong choices to ultimately achieve this. She is trying to learn to trust people, but also trust herself. She is not sure who the right people to trust are, but she is diving head first towards what she thinks is right and she is ruthless in her pursuit.
Renata's own journey, as well as the path towards greater social change within the kingdom that Puerto Leones is bound towards is so fascinating and immersive and I could not get enough of it. You may have guessed that I have not been able to stop talking about this fantastic novel to everyone who's more or less willing to listen & I cannot wait for whenever the sequel comes out.
PS: special mention to the fab use of the good ol' seemingly evil prince with a tragic backstory narrative. it hasn't failed me before and I certainly remain a sucker for it in this particular case, more of this in book 2 miss Córdova pls & thx
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Until next time,
Gabbie
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