Summary: In the remote city of Ilvernath, the Blood Moon rises, signaling the start of this generation’s tournament curse. Every twenty years, the seven great families of Ilvernath send their children to fight to the death to determine which family will be able to wield the world’s most powerful and dangerous resource: high magick, thought to be long-depleted to the outside world. However, this year’s tournament will be different - once kept a secret within the town’s borders, with the publication of a certain book, the tournament is brought under the international spotlight. The book, with an unknown author, tells the bloodcurdling story of the curse that causes six children to die, including each of the families’ strategies and weaknesses. Plus, that doesn’t seem to be the only thing playing behind the scenes - there are other forces at play, trying to manipulate the tournament and its Champions, hoping to make the competition turn out the way they want it to go. The champions are Alistair Lowe, rumored to be the most cunning and cruel of them all; Gavin Grieve, the one that no one would ever place their hopes on because he’s a Grieve, the only family that hasn’t ever won the tournament; Isobel Macaslan, branded as the pretty face of the tournament, even though she never asked for the fame - a formidable spellmaker; Briony Thorburn, determined to be the hero of this story, excellent at casting enchantments; Finley Blair, the golden boy; Carbry Darrow, and Elionor Payne. Each of these champions have been raised to kill from the start, with or without magick, and they will each get the chance to bring honor, fame, and indisputable power to their family. But that’s not all - it seems that there might be a way to make things take a turn for the better this time around, a way to break the tournament’s curse that afflicts them all. But what will it cost to get there?
Rating: 4/5 - better than most
Opinion: Personally, when I first picked up this book, I expected it to be like the Hunger Games - children from different groups, fighting to the death for something they all want. But I was so, SO wrong. This book has its own unique, compelling characters, a government and other characters behind the scenes manipulating the course of events, and of course, Ilvernath’s magick and the fascinating mechanics, details, and traditions of the tournament itself. The most compelling aspect of this book is the struggle between doing what everyone expects of you, or breaking free from this centuries-old pattern and trying to do something out of the ordinary, maybe even finding a way to break the curse. Another thing I love is how this book is told from the perspective of four different champions, revealing their ambitions, goals, and what exactly made them the way they are. I did give this book a four out of five, but this is only because I’ve read the sequel at this point and I cannot STAND not knowing what finally happens to the characters at the end of a book! Also, like all fantasy fiction books these days, there is a smidge of romance in this book, but only a SMIDGE - if you’re like to read romance, this is not the book for you. I’d recommend this book for anyone who loves books with action, mystery, fantasy, and doesn’t mind a good cliffhanger. ;)