Starts with a Punch!
- Book: Rejected Royalty (ARC)
- Series: Rime & Pyre Book 1
- by: C.M. Cevis
- Rating: 3/5
Quite literally, this book starts with a punch. If you don’t believe me, read the first page. Ms. Cevis puts you right into the midst of the main character’s conflict and will hook you into this quick novella. The start to Rime & Pyre Book 1 is heart wrenching, but launches into a modern or fantasy that is relatable to urban fantasy readers. However, it has some of the elements in the societal structure that would be intriguing to a classic or high fantasy reader. It’s an afternoon read, so giving this little gem a try will cost about as much time as going to the movies.
Sen, the female lead, is the most tragic of the characters as she’s constantly beaten the King, who is also her father. She is strong and spunky, and when her father gets himself into some trouble and wants to barter her off in an arranged marriage, this series launches into a fascinating play between two realms. Seth is her twin–identical, yet Sen’s polar opposite. He comes into his powers just before his sister and helps her when her powers explode (quite literally). Onan is their younger brother who is a carefree and innocent character. He’ll cause all those protective instincts to kick in for the reader, just like they do with Sen and Seth.
In Ms. Cevis’s world, magic comes from the Fae, it’s passed genetically, and it’s a rare thing. So when Sen does agree to marry the prince from another realm and saves his mother using her magic, it raises quite a few brows. The book ends with a push forward to the next in the series which is planned to be available at the end of August.
All that being said, there were some minor hiccups in the writing that caused me a bit of pause and put my rating at a 3/5. I’d like to see some further diversity in the dialog between the characters, and I would have liked the climax to have a bit more of an “explosion.” But all-in-all, it made for a fun Saturday afternoon.
Happy reading, Loves!
Keep turning the page, another adventure awaits…
