Review: Knightmare Arcanist by Shami Stovall

Hi all my Bookworms!

My name is Chiara and I am a Bookworm.

How are you all?

I am glad to say that it is now my turn on the WriteReads blog tour for the Knightmare Arcnanist by Shami Stovall. This is the first book in the Frith Chronicles , and an excellent start to the series it is. I want to thank the author, Shamis Stovall, and Dave at the WriteReads for gifting me a copy of this excellent book.

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Knightmare Arcanist by Shami Stovall

Synopsis

Magic. Sailing. A murderer among heroes.

Gravedigger Volke Savan wants nothing more than to be like his hero, the legendary magical swashbuckler, Gregory Ruma. First he needs to become an arcanist, someone capable of wielding magic, which requires bonding with a mythical creature. And he’ll take anything—a pegasus, a griffin, a ravenous hydra—maybe even a leviathan, like Ruma.

So when Volke stumbles across a knightmare, a creature made of shadow and terror, he has no reservations. But the knightmare knows a terrible secret: Ruma is a murderer out to spread corrupted magic throughout their island nation. He’s already killed a population of phoenixes and he intends to kill even more.

In order to protect his home, his adopted sister, and the girl he admires from afar, Volke will need to confront his hero, the Master Arcanist Gregory Ruma.

My Thoughts

I have a terrible habit not re-reading the blurb of a book before I actually begin to read it. I read it when I request it, or when I buy it, but that can be weeks or months between that and me actually reading it and in this case I am so glad that I do that. Re-reading the blurb now as I write this review I have realised that the synopsis gives away far too many things that are better left as surprises and that I enjoyed being surprised by. There were many twists and turns that made me gasp and sit up straight on the edge of my seat.

Goodreads also described this as a fast paced book. I didn’t find that it was. The books plodded along at a medium pace and you don’t realise that you are slowly reaching the climax of the book until you are suddenly there and you are in the middle of a fight and your characters are being amazing heroes. I could very easily say that the pace of the book was a negative thing but I really loved the way that it all snuck up on you.

I liked the variety of characters in the book. I’m honestly not sure that I could pick a favourite. They were all wonderful and unique in their own way. I expect a lot from these characters in the next book.

The ending I thought was quite brilliant. There are many ways that the author could have left it there and there never be a book two, but she didn’t and there is so much suspense in what our young arcanists will face next.

This is a young adult book that is perfect for adults and teens and I immediately recommended it to my dad. If you love magical creatures and coming of age stories this will be right up your street.

About the Author

Shami Stovall is a multi-award-winning author of fantasy and science fiction, with several best-selling novels under her belt. Before that, she taught history and criminal law at the college level, and loved every second. When she’s not reading fascinating articles and books about ancient China or the Byzantine Empire, Stovall can be found playing way too many video games, especially RPGs and tactics simulators.