Review: Onyx and Ivory

Author Mindee Arnett

Format e-book

Print Length 512 pages

Publisher Balzer +Bray

Published May 15, 2018

They call her Traitor Kate. It’s a title Kate Brighton inherited from her father after he tried to assassinate the high king of Rime.

Cast out of the nobility, Kate now works for the royal courier service. Only the most skilled ride for the Relay and only the fastest survive, for when night falls, the drakes—deadly flightless dragons—come out to hunt. Fortunately, Kate has a secret edge: She is a wilder, born with forbidden magic that allows her to influence the minds of animals.

And it’s this magic that leads her to a caravan massacred by drakes in broad daylight—the only survivor Corwin Tormaine, the son of the king. Her first love, the boy she swore to forget after he condemned her father to death.

With their paths once more entangled, Kate and Corwin must put the past behind them to face this new threat and an even darker menace stirring in the kingdom.

My Opinion

WOW! What a way to start off a new series! Dual perspectives, a traitor, a prince and a fight for the kingdom. Throw in some magic and the drakes (dragon like animals) to make the story more captivating. You got the beginnings of an epic tale.

Growing up in the castle with Corwin was not hard for Kate. She and him knew that they would be together, that is until that night three years ago. Now she works as a Relay Rider, and Prince Corwin, is still a prince. One who has no hope of getting the crown, believing that it would go to his brother, Edwin. While on a royal trip, Corwin is rescued by none other than Kate.

There is a lot of anguish in the beginning of the story. Kate’s struggles with what her father attempted and was later murdered for. Her fall from grace, and ability to pick herself back up. The heartache of Corwin’s actions and his role in what happened. Corwin’s despair of his and Kate’s relationship. His nickname among the royals, and the truth about him. As well the contest for the kingdom that he now must go through. Even with the anguish none of it was woo is me. Every single time, it was this stinks or sucks how am I going to deal with it.

Both characters grow in the book, visibly growing. Corwin’s may have been a little bit slower than Kate’s but it is there. Their's is an established relationship so there is not a lot of tension between the two. This does take away from some of the chemistry but not from their familiarity.  I really wish the next book in the series, gives them more chemistry together.

This is a good fantasy novel and I cannot wait for the next one in the series. The world building took away from the story, which sometimes is to be expected with the first book in a fantasy series. The pacing was a little on the slow side, when there was action is was full throttle. Just took a while to get there.  After that ending, I am looking forward to the next book in the series.  How could I not, while not a cliffhanger, it does end with a where do they go from here stance.

My Rating 4 out of 5 stars

Favorite Quote “We are all human, your highness, whether we’re possessed of magic or not. And any human is capable of treachery.”

Other People

Kiran- a child

Signe-Kate’s bestie

Booner- Kate’s friend

Dal- Corwin’s bestie

Edwin- Corwin’s brother