Modern-day sisters discover deadly ancient magic in book 1 of this Falling Kingdoms spin-off series!
Worlds collide in this suspenseful, page-turning Falling Kingdoms spin-off series, which explores a whole new side of Mytica—and an even darker version of its magic.
Crystal Hatcher, Modern-day Toronto: It’s a normal afternoon in her mother’s antique bookshop when Crys witnesses the unthinkable: her little sister Becca collapses into a coma after becoming mesmerized by a mysterious book written in an unrecognizable language.
Maddox Corso, Ancient Mytica: Maddox Corso doesn’t think much of it when he spots an unfamiliar girl in his small village. Until, that is, he realizes that she is a spirit, and he is the only one who can see or hear her. Her name is Becca Hatcher, and she needs Maddox to help get her home.
Farrell Grayson, Modern-day Toronto: Rich and aimless Farrell Grayson is thrilled when the mysterious leader of the ultra-secret Hawkspear Society invites him into the fold. But when he learns exactly what he has to do to prove himself, Farrell starts to question everything he thought he knew about family, loyalty, and himself….
Fate has brought these young people together, but ancient magic threatens to rip them apart.
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When I looked at the summary of A Book of Spirits and Thieves, I wondered how exactly this was going to work out. I mean, it's not some alternative universe that you can travel to (even though it's kind of, well, many-worlds). I have finished this book for quite some time now, and can still hardly believe that the whole thing works out so well. No messiness, no confusion. Just plain awesomeness. Good job, Morgan Rhodes. You have managed to outshine all imaginations.
Crystal was a typical teenager in Toronto. Suffering from the mysterious departure of her father, she had been distant and detached from her family, until her little sister Becca fell into a coma after touching the book. Crys was determined to find the answers and save her sister. What she got though wasn't exactly the answer she wanted. Someone was hunting her (sort of) and wanted something she had. Throughout the chase and the battle of wits, I'm quite astonished that she was very smart. I didn't expect her to be an inane blonde at all. But putting two and two together in record time is very impressive. Of course, she did make mistakes, some could get her killed. Her street-smart personality and quick-thinking, though, is still something that I thoroughly enjoy. Especially when she squeeze the hell out of a certain someone's tattoo.
And that certain someone is, well, Farrell Grayson. My feelings are divided. He's quite a complex character, with polar-opposite personalities (just like Magnus). I feel sympathy and hatred and admiration and despise and whole bunch of contradictory emotions for him. At the start of the book, he was trying to deal with his grief for his older brother. But throughout the course of the events, he fell deeper and deeper into the abyss, to the point where I'm afraid there was no return. His actions were questionable, to put it mildly. He was cruel, arrogant and cold. But there were moments of vulnerability and care that couldn't be concealed. And that's why I have such contradictory feelings for this guy. His dark side will become a problem in the next book, and I'm excited and terrified to find out.
Maddox was more innocent. Of course, he came from an entirely different world and he was slightly younger than both Crys and Farrell. His presence in Mytica was like fresh air to the intense war in the modern world. His side of story linked with the events happening in Toronto, and I wonder if he will ever meet Crys and/or Farrell. His story was mainly about self-discovery and defying everything he knew about himself and his world, as well as helping a spirit girl name, surprise, surprise, Becca Hatcher. The interactions between Maddox and Beccan was quite humorous and endearing, because of the good-natured culture shock. I look forward to seeing more of that again.
If you have read Falling Kingdoms, Mytica is divided. In this book however, the author takes us way back before the three kingdoms, way before the political struggle, to the point of history where everything starts to fall apart slowly. The times of the two goddesses, Cleiona and Valoria. The world is every bit as brutal and dangerous as that in Falling Kingdoms. It is also every bit as gorgeous. This book has gotten me hooked in possibly every aspect.
It's unimaginable that the two series haven't gotten worldwide attention. The epicness is simply awe-inspiring.
Rating: 9.5/10 (Oh yeah)
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