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Spirits and Swords!

Onyx and Ivory, by Mindee Arnett, was a complete spur of the moment buy at the bookstore and I am forever patting myself on the back because this YA fantasy novel is a hit! The cover caught my attention on the shelf, but the synopsis-- a "traitor's" daughter at a point of finding out secrets and rekindling love with an unsuspecting partner? Count me in!

Following Kate's story was simple and riveting from the get-co. Magic influenced Kate from birth and she spends her adolescence hiding it -- a final rule and request from her father before he was executed by the crown. The crown being Kate's supposed love -- Price Corwin. Corwin undergoes his own growing pains and turmoil as he's set up against his older brother to, literally, contend for the future of the crown! Between personal discovery and growth both individuals deal with, magic has a stronghold influence on the storyline, primarily between those who fear it and those who wield it. Sinister forces are at work and weaving webs underneath both the hierarchy and commonfolk. Kate, Corwin, and gathered forces defend and discover what is at hand with their supposed enemies. In turn, this leads to the foreseeable sequel: Shadow & Flame! A sequel that jumps into forging ahead with battle that should unravel the aforementioned unpromising fate for Kate, Corwin, the kingdoms and land!

Arnett's writing is littered with detail and thoroughly easy to comprehend when reading. Both character description and development is done beautifully. Location settings and travel scenes bask in attention to character/reader relationship (connections between personal experiences). I also didn't mind the jump between Kate's and Corwin's points of views. I believe it did the story justice as far as pacing and story-arc!

All in all, I'd highly recommend this novel to anyone interested in a new YA fantasy worldbuilding creation! I so look forward to diving into the sequel (I'm even starting it tonight!)

:) 

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