Synopsis:
A page-turning, unforgettable fantasy set in a city peopled with ruffians, spies, malcontents and murderers. Experience out-of-this world adventure and dangerous politics as Maggie tries to survive waking up in her favourite fictional world.
A heart-pounding epic from No. 1 New York Times bestselling author duo Ilona Andrews.
When Maggie wakes up cold, filthy and naked in a gutter, it doesn’t take her long to recognize Kair Toren. It’s a city she knows intimately from the pages of a famously unfinished dark fantasy series – one she’s been obsessively reading and re-reading, while waiting years for the final novel.
Her only tools for navigating this gritty world of rival warlords, magic and mayhem? Her encyclopaedic knowledge of the plot, the setting and the characters’ ambitions and fates. But while she quickly discovers she cannot be killed (though many will try!), the same cannot be said for the living, breathing characters she’s coming to love.
Maggie joins a motley band that includes a former lady’s maid, a deadly assassin, various outrageous magical creatures and a dangerously appealing soldier. Soon, instead of trying to return home, she finds herself enmeshed in the schemes – and attentions – of duelling princes, dukes and villains. This all while trying to save them and the kingdom of Rellas from the ending she’s seen on the page: a cataclysmic war.
Review:
This was the most fun I’ve had reading a book in a long time.
For anyone who’s ever wanted to step inside their favourite books – whether you’re likely to survive or not.
It’s February, and this is potentially a favourite romantasy of the year.
However, I would argue this is more fantasy romance in this first instalment.
Imagine going to bed only to wake up in your favourite unfinished book series. Not the cosy kind, but the kind where danger and death and magic lurks everywhere. Oh, and it seems like you can’t die, but you can feel a lot of pain.
This is a blend of humor and high stakes. Romantic teasing with an utterly independent heroine who won’t take any nonsense.
It is self-aware and cheesy, yet never cringy. A fine-line when you’re writing portal fantasy, one relying on tropes and an obsessive reader’s perspective.
You have a heroine who makes the most of her knowledge of what she knows from the books. She is compassionate and kind, but shrewd and sharp.
The reveals kept me gasping (even if they were slightly cheesy at times), the will-they-won’t-they kept even skeptic me giggling and fanning myself.
When I tell you this is slow-burn, I mean the slowest.
There is A LOT of info dumping, explained away by the lore every obsessed reader will know of the series they reread fanatically – also known as our first-person, relatable perspective.
I do think this was longer than it needed to be and the info-dumping was slightly too much at times. However, I am desperate for the sequel after that VERY mean cliffhanger.
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