Take a photo of a barcode or cover
abby_ace_of_books 's review for:
The Nightward
by R.S.A. Garcia
"'How he loves you, and yet hurts you, all the same? That's what people can do, if you give them your trust. This lesson I teach you freely. Never give people your trust. They will only betray you.'"
The Nightward is the first book in a new sci-fi/fantasy series that follows the story of a princess and her bodyguard. I've seen some reviews calling this novel "too ambitious" and confusing, and while the worldbuilding and characters take a few chapters to get used to, I didn't think the scope was too large. In fact, I'm excited to see where the next book goes in terms of worldbuilding.
The story begins with the assassination of a queen. Princess Viella is escorted to safety by her bodyguard, Luka, sparking a game of cat-and-mouse with the mysterious dark magic plaguing the land. There are multiple POVs, which I found unexpected but welcome, as it allowed me to better understand what was going on in the court Viella left behind. The pacing was relatively fast, although I do think it slowed down at the end (when I was desperately seeking answers about a specific character's chance of surviving). That being said, there was enough action to keep me occupied throughout, and there were a few plot twists that I sort of predicted but still found amusing.
I actually found myself liking the majority of the characters. Mordach reminded me of the evil sorcerer from Elena of Avalor, and I will not elaborate. I also thought Sophia was incredibly cool, and I'm excited to see what she'll do in book 2. I really hope Valan and Enoch are okay and that they'll get their happy endings. Eleanor grew on me eventually, although I'm not sure how I felt about her relationship with Luka (because I pictured her as way older than him). Viella and Luka's dynamic gave me so much happiness with their unconditional trust, and I am extremely excited to see what happens to them in book 2.
The Nightward is the beginning of a new sci-fi/fantasy series that deals with trust, duty, and the consequences of oppression.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the free e-ARC!
4/5
The Nightward is the first book in a new sci-fi/fantasy series that follows the story of a princess and her bodyguard. I've seen some reviews calling this novel "too ambitious" and confusing, and while the worldbuilding and characters take a few chapters to get used to, I didn't think the scope was too large. In fact, I'm excited to see where the next book goes in terms of worldbuilding.
The story begins with the assassination of a queen. Princess Viella is escorted to safety by her bodyguard, Luka, sparking a game of cat-and-mouse with the mysterious dark magic plaguing the land. There are multiple POVs, which I found unexpected but welcome, as it allowed me to better understand what was going on in the court Viella left behind. The pacing was relatively fast, although I do think it slowed down at the end (when I was desperately seeking answers about a specific character's chance of surviving). That being said, there was enough action to keep me occupied throughout, and there were a few plot twists that I sort of predicted but still found amusing.
I actually found myself liking the majority of the characters. Mordach reminded me of the evil sorcerer from Elena of Avalor, and I will not elaborate. I also thought Sophia was incredibly cool, and I'm excited to see what she'll do in book 2. I really hope Valan and Enoch are okay and that they'll get their happy endings. Eleanor grew on me eventually, although I'm not sure how I felt about her relationship with Luka (because I pictured her as way older than him). Viella and Luka's dynamic gave me so much happiness with their unconditional trust, and I am extremely excited to see what happens to them in book 2.
The Nightward is the beginning of a new sci-fi/fantasy series that deals with trust, duty, and the consequences of oppression.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the free e-ARC!
4/5