Vicki
Written on Jun 29, 2019
“At once fresh, at once classic, Onyx and Ivory is a page-turning blend of monsters, magic, and romance.” —Susan Dennard, New York Times bestselling author of Truthwitch
Acclaimed author Mindee Arnett thrusts readers into a beautiful, dangerous, and magical world in this stunningly epic and romantic fantasy for fans of Leigh Bardugo and Sarah Raasch.
They call her Traitor Kate. It’s a title Kate Brighton inherited from her father after he tried to assassinate the high king of Rime.
Cast out of the nobility, Kate now works for the royal courier service. Only the most skilled ride for the Relay and only the fastest survive, for when night falls, the drakes—deadly flightless dragons—come out to hunt. Fortunately, Kate has a secret edge: She is a wilder, born with forbidden magic that allows her to influence the minds of animals.
And it’s this magic that leads her to a caravan massacred by drakes in broad daylight—the only survivor Corwin Tormaine, the son of the king. Her first love, the boy she swore to forget after he condemned her father to death.
With their paths once more entangled, Kate and Corwin must put the past behind them to face this new threat and an even darker menace stirring in the kingdom.
- ISBN10 0062652672
- ISBN13 9780062652676
- Publish Date 13 June 2019 (first published 15 May 2018)
- Publish Status Active
- Publish Country US
- Publisher HarperCollins Publishers Inc
- Imprint Balzer and Bray
- Format Paperback
- Pages 528
- Language English
Reviews
cornerfolds
Written on Jan 28, 2019
Onyx and Ivory has been on my shelf since before it was published. I kept intending to read it, but it's just SO long that I never committed. Recently I joined a local YA book club and our first read was this book, which finally gave me a good reason to pick it up. I'm glad I started early because it took me a solid 3 weeks to get through this 15 hour audiobook.
Kate, also known as Traitor Kate, is the main character of this story. After her father was executed for being a traitor, she left her town and began a new life with new friends and a new job. She also has wilder magic that could get her killed if found out. When Kate's childhood friend Prince Corwin reappears in her life, things begin to spiral and she finds herself in one dangerous situation after another.
I mostly enjoyed Kate and Corwin and their romance. Kate was the kind of strong heroine I like reading about and it was easy to sympathize with her tragic backstory. Corwin was probably my favorite character in this story. I enjoyed seeing him grow as a character, especially towards the end of the book. The romance between the two was okay, but needed something more. It seemed almost like an afterthought, and wasn't really given enough of the story to develop into something amazing. Perhaps these two will be more fleshed out in the next book. Overall, no strong feelings about either of these characters.
My biggest gripe about Onyx and Ivory is the length. Somehow it managed to be massive at 500 pages, while also taking forever to get anything done, AND cramming in a ridiculous amount of plot points. There were so many silly side plots that really don't need to exist at all. It's both way too much and not enough. I was legitimately bored through most of the first half, though it thankfully picks up later on. Thankfully it did have a pretty good plot twist towards the end.
Another issue is the lack of world building. This book focuses on one kingdom and mostly one town in that kingdom and there's really no mention of the outside world or how they function. The main threat from the beginning are the nightdrakes, which develop a bit throughout the book. I wish more had been written about how they're handled in other kingdoms. Are they a threat everywhere? Is wilder magic a threat everywhere? How do other kingdoms manage these threats? There was a lot that was unclear. Again, maybe things will be further explained in the coming books, but I feel like 500 pages should be enough to make the world pretty clear.
I really wanted to love Onyx and Ivory and really expected to! Unfortunately, it just wasn't for me. I was bored and confused. I wanted more world building and character development and less random side plots. The other two girls who read it for the book club really enjoyed it! Sadly, I doubt I'll be picking up the next book in the series.
bookishzelda
Written on Jan 6, 2019
I love the world of Rime. I thought the magic system was extremely interesting as well as the politics. It was so easy to understand, which is always a plus in my book. I really loved the use of the Relay Riders to get messages places. Which helps to set up the events. I thought the plot was executed so well and really drew me in.
I love the characters especially Kate. For all of that she has been through she manages to stay strong. I loved how fierce and protective of her friends she is. She wants to know what truly happened with her father and she is willing to take steps to do so. So she can find closure for what has happened to her. She is also a Wilder. Someone who posses magic outside what is accepted.
Oh Corwin. What a kind human being. I love how he is sees the world fairly. Trying to understand why things happen instead of casting a net over everything. It’s a struggle for him because of the way he lost his mother but he is able to see past anger.
The romance between Corwin and Kate is so sweet. I loved it!! It was so nice to have a history established so nothing seemed like it was happening too fast. Sometimes it felt not fast enough. Ha ha. Really though it made everything feel both easier and harder between the two.
I also loved loved the supporting characters. Especially Kate’s and Corwin’s closest friends. Dal and Signe most of all. I feel like there is still more to be explored with them. I almost want little novellas for them and their past.
Such a great book and I hope more people pick it up and give it the love it deserves.
Cocktails and Books
Written on Jul 31, 2018
I'm hoping there is more for this cast of characters. The ending of the book lead to me think there is, so I'll keep my fingers crossed.
Leigha
Written on Jul 29, 2018
I did not expect to completely and totally fall in love with this world and these characters. I picked this book up from the library on a whim, but now I just want to buy a hard copy for myself.
The story shifts between two narrators, Kate and Corwin. While their romance drives much of the novel, they each have separate character arcs. I'm a sucker for a romance when both characters aren't only defined by their romance! With chemistry in spades and an angst-filled past, these two will definitely pull at your heart strings. And I absolutely love how these two are together romantically in the end. They don't get separated, they don't make it too complicated, they just choose each other through thick and thin. *squee* The secondary characters are as richly drawn as the main characters.
The world-building is a little murky, particularly the dragons. Are they actually small dragons? Are they big lizards? Still not sure, but they aren't necessarily the antagonists in the story. The setting seemed to hover between medieval England and a generic fantasy realm. The plot slowed considerably in the middle, but it ended with tons of action and a surprising twist!
Listen, I'm not sure if the novel is really great or if it just tickled my fancy at the right time and the right place. All I know is I enjoyed myself immensely while reading this book, and I can't wait to get my greedy hands on the next book in this series.
tl;dr Epic romance with great character moments and a surprising twist make this a must read for fans of fantasy romance.
liz089
Written on Jul 19, 2018
I loved it the moment I opened my FairyLoot box and... it is just so gorgeous. Those black sprayed pages are amazingly cool.. combined with that white cover it is just beyond pretty !!!
But well, enough with the cover appreciation ! The story itself was really awesome. It has a very interesting magic system, with two different kinds of magic. The world building was good, the plot was exciting and the MC's were likable enough. I did not completely love them... but they were okay. At some point I did guess who the BIG ENEMY was, but who he REALLY was, was a surprise to me.
Also, I did not know this was a series ?? Towards the ending, there were so many things left unanswered that either it would be way to rushed to have a good ending or well.. The ending is not an ending XD So when will the second part come ?? Neeeeed
emruth13
Written on Jun 10, 2018
Ashley
Written on Feb 4, 2018
I liked Corwin and Kate's relationship. It was definitely complicated because Corwin was prince of a kingdom that outlawed wilders, and Kate secretly was a wilder.
This book definitely sets up the series and I think the next book will have higher stakes.
I knocked off a star because Onyx and Ivory did feel kind of long. Although I enjoyed it, I was also ready for it to end.