In a galaxy powered by the current, everyone has a gift.
Cyra is the sister of the brutal tyrant who rules the Shotet people. Cyra’s currentgift gives her pain and power — something her brother exploits, using her to torture his enemies. But Cyra is much more than just a blade in her brother’s hand: she is resilient, quick on her feet, and smarter than he knows.
Akos is the son of a farmer and an oracle from the frozen nation-planet of Thuvhe. Protected by his unusual currentgift, Akos is generous in spirit, and his loyalty to his family is limitless. Once Akos and his brother are captured by enemy Shotet soldiers, Akos is desperate to get this brother out alive — no matter what the cost.
The Akos is thrust into Cyra's world, and the enmity between their countries and families seems insurmountable. Will they help each other to survive, or will they destroy one another?
A fantastic opening to what is sure to be a great series/duet. The characters were strong, complex, and intriguing. The worlds were diverse and nuanced. The plot was twisty and enthralling. There were multiple times I thought we'd reached a perfect cutoff point / cliffhanger to lead into the sequel, only to have half the book still to go. I don't know whether that speaks more to the length and depth of the story, or to my lowered expectations involving YA romance series.
And yes, this is definitely a romance, but don't let that put you off. This isn't one of those where the love interest is introduced and within twenty pages they've fallen hopelessly in love. Their relationship starts out troubled, with zero trust on either side, and it takes a long time, with multiple ups and downs, for any true relationship to develop. PLUS they aren't making goo-goo eyes while ignoring the world around them. They are 100% focused on their surroundings, but find comfort and support in each other to help them through it. And their romance isn't the point of the story, like the fact that they're in love will bring down the tyrannical regime, or they're being targeted specifically because their love is forbidden. They each have individual roles to play, and the fact that they start a relationship is not the main focus of their abilities. So refreshing.
I did have a couple hangups with this story revolving around the oracles. I wasn't sure how they worked. In some cases, they saw major events about to happen and told those involved how to plan accordingly. In other cases, they seemed to be caught completely off guard by HUGE events, especially involving themselves. Some of this is explained a bit, particularly involving Akos's mother, but another oracle's abilities seemed a bit inconsistent.
Also Part 4 was very abrupt and seemed to take things at breakneck speed, such that I had a hard time keeping up. New characters introduced in a couple pages, and then we're supposed to care about them and treat them like main cast. It was disorienting, to say the least, but I eventually got my bearings and got back in the rhythm.
This book has a lot of dark themes involving death, pain, torture, blackmail, espionage, and war. That said, I think this is an excellent story that explores those themes responsibly. I never felt as hopeless as I did in stories like The Hunger Games, though I guess I'll have to wait and see where the sequel takes us.
Overall, I'd definitely recommend for anyone looking for a YA story or romance involving complex characters, Quirk-like powers (see My Hero Acadamia), rich sci-fi worlds, and a dark-fantasy tone. I, for one, am looking forward to the sequel!
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
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