Amber & Dusk(Amber & Dusk #1)
by Lyra Selene
November 27, 2018
368 pages
Goodreads Summary:
Sylvie has always known she deserves more. Out in the permanent twilight of the Dusklands, her guardians called her power to create illusions a curse. But Sylvie knows it gives her a place in Coeur d'Or, the palais of the Amber Empress and her highborn legacies.
So Sylvie sets off toward the Amber City, a glittering jewel under a sun that never sets, to take what is hers.
But her hope for a better life is quickly dimmed. The empress invites her in only as part of a wicked wager among her powerful courtiers. Sylvie must assume a new name, Mirage, and begin to navigate secretive social circles and deadly games of intrigue in order to claim her spot. Soon it becomes apparent that nothing is as it appears and no one, including her cruel yet captivating sponsor, Sunder, will answer her questions. As Mirage strives to assume what should be her rightful place, she'll have to consider whether it is worth the price she must pay.
Sylvie has always known she deserves more. Out in the permanent twilight of the Dusklands, her guardians called her power to create illusions a curse. But Sylvie knows it gives her a place in Coeur d'Or, the palais of the Amber Empress and her highborn legacies.
So Sylvie sets off toward the Amber City, a glittering jewel under a sun that never sets, to take what is hers.
But her hope for a better life is quickly dimmed. The empress invites her in only as part of a wicked wager among her powerful courtiers. Sylvie must assume a new name, Mirage, and begin to navigate secretive social circles and deadly games of intrigue in order to claim her spot. Soon it becomes apparent that nothing is as it appears and no one, including her cruel yet captivating sponsor, Sunder, will answer her questions. As Mirage strives to assume what should be her rightful place, she'll have to consider whether it is worth the price she must pay.
Review
Amber & Dusk is a real treat for fantasy lovers. It's a tale of danger, deceit and defiance. Though the story can feel formulaic at times the characters were memorable and the writing's beautiful. "Regret changes nothing. Only action can undo the ravages of the past." (p. 301).
If I can only say one thing about Amber & Dusk it would be the prose is breathtaking. "...where shadows spawned secrets and justice was a kind of farce. Hope smeared sunlit colors against my heart..." (p. 247). The story took time to get into so it wasn't the most fast-paced read. The slower pacing definitely worked in favour of the storyline as it gave me more time to take in the elegant wording since I sometimes found them hard to absorb in one go.
If I can only say one thing about Amber & Dusk it would be the prose is breathtaking. "...where shadows spawned secrets and justice was a kind of farce. Hope smeared sunlit colors against my heart..." (p. 247). The story took time to get into so it wasn't the most fast-paced read. The slower pacing definitely worked in favour of the storyline as it gave me more time to take in the elegant wording since I sometimes found them hard to absorb in one go.
As an avid YA reader one thing I noticed about Amber & Dusk was how it stuck close to typical YA plots: a heroine who didn't know exactly how special she was being thrust into court life while trained by a kind mentor and subtly pining for a cruel yet intriguing royalty which ultimately leads her to facing off with an evil ruler. (Did I miss anything?) Although all of the above were present in Amber & Dusk they felt different enough to keep me hooked. I loved the politics, the legacies, the mysteries and the actions. "There were many kinds of danger. And there were worse things than facing it." (p. 6).
I admire Sylvie. Her natural instincts and ambitious nature helped her navigate and survive tough situations. She's full of herself but at the same time she knows right from wrong. "Wanting something badly enough doesn't make it real. And it certainly doesn't make it right." (p. 276). Her stubborn resolve and unabashed attitude led to some delicious confrontations with her love interest. In regards to their romance- I liked it but it barely began in Amber & Dusk so I will reserve further thoughts for now.
Amber & Dusk was marked as a standalone when I started reading it but I believe there is a sequel in the making now. The story does have an unfinished feel to it so I'm happy! I'll definitely be picking up the next book when the time comes.
I admire Sylvie. Her natural instincts and ambitious nature helped her navigate and survive tough situations. She's full of herself but at the same time she knows right from wrong. "Wanting something badly enough doesn't make it real. And it certainly doesn't make it right." (p. 276). Her stubborn resolve and unabashed attitude led to some delicious confrontations with her love interest. In regards to their romance- I liked it but it barely began in Amber & Dusk so I will reserve further thoughts for now.
Amber & Dusk was marked as a standalone when I started reading it but I believe there is a sequel in the making now. The story does have an unfinished feel to it so I'm happy! I'll definitely be picking up the next book when the time comes.
*I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own and not affected in any way. All quotes were taken from the copy I received.
Glad there might be a sequel, it's nice when that happens, especially when there is an unfinished feel to it. Wonderful review!
ReplyDeleteThank you! Truth be told I'm a little annoyed that we didn't know this was going to be a series till after the book's release. I guess at least I'm not left hanging XD
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