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This ARC was gifted to me by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
This review can also be found on Bookstacked: https://bookstacked.com/reviews/book-reviews/mageborn-jessica-thorne/
Actual rating: 4.5 stars
"Mageborn" by Jessica Thorne starts with the key event the plot hinges on centuries later before introducing us to Grace and her team of officers.
From the beginning, "Mageborn" is dynamic. The opening was intriguing, and the story was unpredictable. There was a lot going on from the beginning, and the intrigue took off early on as well, but it was written in such a way that I had no trouble keeping up with what was happening.
The world of "Mageborn" is also very rich. Between the different kingdoms and political tension, the magic system, and the folklore, Jessica Thorne made it come alive in a way that captivated me all my attention. I can’t wait to learn more about it and how it’ll play into the sequel. I did, however, find that I had trouble connecting the type of wizard to the magic, because they weren’t always explained and there was no glossary at the end.
The strongest point of the novel was the characters and particularly the relationships they build. Grace is incredible. She’s incredibly layered, with a fierce protective streak when it comes to her friends whom she considers family. This bond between them is at the forefront of everything and it’s all I’ve ever wanted out of the found family trope. As for Bastien, he’s even more complicated. His reputation doesn’t quite match up with his personality, so seeing through Grace’s POV and then getting to know him through his own chapters was great. I really enjoyed how their relationship develops, even though it went a little fast for my taste.
My only real issue with this book comes from the side characters. There are a couple women that were one dimensional. Their only characteristic was how power hungry they were, which didn’t lend any complexity especially when contrasted with the third such woman and the lackeys who formed a great evil team.
"Mageborn" by Jessica Thorne was an incredible start to a new fantasy series and I can’t wait to get my hands on the second book.
This review can also be found on Bookstacked: https://bookstacked.com/reviews/book-reviews/mageborn-jessica-thorne/
Actual rating: 4.5 stars
"Mageborn" by Jessica Thorne starts with the key event the plot hinges on centuries later before introducing us to Grace and her team of officers.
From the beginning, "Mageborn" is dynamic. The opening was intriguing, and the story was unpredictable. There was a lot going on from the beginning, and the intrigue took off early on as well, but it was written in such a way that I had no trouble keeping up with what was happening.
The world of "Mageborn" is also very rich. Between the different kingdoms and political tension, the magic system, and the folklore, Jessica Thorne made it come alive in a way that captivated me all my attention. I can’t wait to learn more about it and how it’ll play into the sequel. I did, however, find that I had trouble connecting the type of wizard to the magic, because they weren’t always explained and there was no glossary at the end.
The strongest point of the novel was the characters and particularly the relationships they build. Grace is incredible. She’s incredibly layered, with a fierce protective streak when it comes to her friends whom she considers family. This bond between them is at the forefront of everything and it’s all I’ve ever wanted out of the found family trope. As for Bastien, he’s even more complicated. His reputation doesn’t quite match up with his personality, so seeing through Grace’s POV and then getting to know him through his own chapters was great. I really enjoyed how their relationship develops, even though it went a little fast for my taste.
My only real issue with this book comes from the side characters. There are a couple women that were one dimensional. Their only characteristic was how power hungry they were, which didn’t lend any complexity especially when contrasted with the third such woman and the lackeys who formed a great evil team.
"Mageborn" by Jessica Thorne was an incredible start to a new fantasy series and I can’t wait to get my hands on the second book.