Synopsis
One catastrophe is all it takes.
The world of Iona has forgotten the time when dragons ruled the skies and their Viden riders controlled the wind.
The Evandis War, started by the long dead Cinead the Decayed, was won, but at the extermination of every dragon and rider. Evelyn, the last Viden, has been in hiding for her entire life, but no more. Once she bonds with Oretem, the last dragon, her purpose quickly turns from being the shield for those she loves, to the blade that fights to survive.
A Reticent assassin haunts her steps, one who has his own demons to battle. They both seek a single person-Meric, a bounty hunter Venandi, who the assassin endeavors to destroy and the Viden hopes to save. These three lives intertwine in ways that leave them questioning everything they’ve ever known. The roots of Isla’s Reach burrow deep to carry the world, and it won’t be long until they’ve broken entirely.
Review
I received a copy of Isla’s Reach through a giveaway and I’m so glad I did as this book had been on my TBR for a long time. I now know, I should have read it ages ago, as it exceeded my expectations in every way and made me a fan of the fantastic world Francisca has created.
Isla’s Reach is the first book in the Breaths and Depths trilogy set in the world of Iona. This is an adventurous, grimdark novel, filled with themes of family, friendship and trauma and set in a world where dragon companions and magic are the norm.
Isla’s Reach started with a bang, following on from a gut-wrenching prologue, before introducing us to its protagonist and last Viden – Evelyn. Evelyn grew up within the shadow of The Evandis War, sequestered away in a tiny mountain village, with only her grandmother as family. Evelyin is just moments before bonding with her dragon, and all seems perfect. That is before Maun arrives and Evelyins entire life is turned upside down, sending her on an epic quest, fraught with danger, minimal allies and a Reticent assassin on her heels.
Evelyn was a really interesting protagonist, I think her personality really shone throughout the book, alongside her emotional response to such a rollercoaster of events. She also seemed believable. I loved how much importance she placed on family and friends. I also loved her companionship with Sou, who was her guide and teacher throughout the story. The two other protagonists were Meric and Maun. Meric we don’t see until a little later, but I found his introduction fit well into the pace of the plot. I also loved his ragtag group of companions. Maun on the other hand was the antagonist of the story, or should I say Reticent assassin. This man alongside his raptor bird Saiya, who actually communicated for him, made for a very unique antagonist. In my mind these two encompassed an evil pairing, however their depth and trauma revealed later in the book made for some great storytelling and answered questions as to his motivations. There were also some other pretty cool animal companions, but I won’t mention those…
The writing was excellent throughout the novel. Francisca really knew how to keep my on the edge of my seat. The pace was exactly what I look for in such a novel with a delicious grimdark level of violence, alongside emotional moments and a vivid description of Iona.
If you’re looking for an interesting new world to explore, filled with great characters, dragons, animal companions, assassins and more, then you’re looking in the right place. I highly recommend you try this excellent novel… and be ready for some emotional moments!
I should also mention….that cover is stunning!
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