A Book of Spirits and Thieves by Morgan Rhodes
Series: Spirits and Thieves (#1)
Rating: ★★☆☆☆
New York Times bestselling author Morgan Rhodes takes readers into exhilarating new high-fantasy territory with A BOOK OF SPIRITS AND THIEVES. Written in alternating perspectives that shift between modern-day Toronto and the ancient kingdoms of Mytica, Rhodes masterfully weaves the dark, magical world of her Falling Kingdoms series into an epic contemporary saga that will leave you breathless.
Modern-day Toronto: A heavy leather-bound book written in an unrecognizable language is delivered to the Speckled Muse, the antique bookshop owned by Crystal and Becca Hatcher’s mother. When Becca opens it, she’s sent into a coma, leaving Crys behind to uncover a series of terrifying secrets.
Ancient Mytica: A merciless goddess hunts for the elusive treasure that will make her ruler not only of Mytica, but of all the unseen worlds that lay beyond it.
Modern-day Toronto: Rich and aimless Farrell Grayson finally has the chance to prove himself when the mysterious leader of a powerful secret society invites him into his fold.
Ancient Mytica: Maddox Corso has always been different, but never remarkable. Everything changes the day he meets a pretty, unfamiliar girl from a faraway land, only to realize that he’s the only one who can see her.
Fate has brought these young people together, but ancient magic threatens to rip them apart.
DNF at 62%. Finished and updated review after reading the rest of the book (mostly).
Maybe by the time I get to the end of this review I’ll have decided what to rate it. Normally, if I DNF something it gets 1-star. No matter what. But I feel badly doing that to this book. It doesn’t deserve one star. It’s better than that.
The characters are not completely flat, the world (especially Mytica) is fascinating, and the storyline is really well developed. So. Why did I quit, you ask?
Because I was bored with 2 of the 3 story lines. I’m quite sure they all come together eventually. I can even see how they’ll come together (can the book just get there already). But I don’t give a rat’s fig about either Crys or Farrell. Maddox, on the other hand – him, I’d love to read an entire book about.
Things I did like about Crys and Farrell: they did things with multiple driving reasons. Maybe they started out thinking they were doing the “right thing” but – like almost everyone I know – there’s nearly always an underlying, more selfish, reason that drives them as well. They recognize and admit it. I am kind of curious to see what desire wins out in the end for both of them, but…not enough to continue to read the story.
Maddox is truly fascinating. His interactions with Becca and another character totally made the book for me. He’s a little naive, a lot honorable, and quickly finds himself in some very hot water. I’m very interested in seeing how his sections end. I think I’ll do a quick skim for his chapters here….this is going much better now. I’ll report back on how I find the rest of his story and then rate it.
Okay, I finished the book. I read Maddox’s chapters and then the final three chapters. I don’t feel like I missed anything despite skipping a good portion of the end of the book.
Overall, it was pretty disappointing. Before finishing it I probably would have given it nearer to 3 stars (because I honestly thought it was near deserving of that), but now….I don’t think so.
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