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Written on Aug 23, 2015
I absolutely loved this book. Can’t you tell? Here are some of the reasons why:
World building is amazing. As I mentioned before, this is series is set up in the same world as a previous one and it shows. The setting is very well developed and thought out, in this book Maia travels through several countries to complete her quest and the author does an excellent job on making each two, each mountain, and their inhabitants distinct from each other. It’s like having a picture painted with words and I loved every one of them. The Medium is like ‘the force’, like a deity sort of. Even though ‘religion’ is a big part of the story, the book doesn’t feel preachy at all.
Maia – Marciana, the princess of Comoros, has suffered a lot in her short life. Due to the rift between her parents, she is separated from her mother and banished in order for her father to be able to marry again and name new heirs. Maia has a very strong will and character and refuses to let all the many injustices, slights, abuses – I mean, she is treated so badly and I’m not sure how a person endures so much without anger and hate eating her insides. Instead her troubles give Maia maturity, appreciation for the beauty and kindness of other.
“…Your mother is banished. I’m seeking to have our marriage annulled.” He looked at her pointendly. “For that to happen, Maia, I must banish you as well.”
That is not to say that the other characters weren’t well developed, because they were. Her guide and champion Jon Tayt and his hound Argus and loyal and fierce, the kishion, a killer hired by Maia’s father to ‘protect’ her, and Collier, the dashing prince of Dahomey.
“…Very well. Then give one boon at least.”
She sighed. “I will not tell you my name,” she answered stubbornly.
He shook his head, his expression serious, his tone intimate. “Not that, lass. Just give one thing.”
“…And what is that?”
“A dance,” he said, extending hishand to her. “If you must go tonight, then give this memory to take with me. Please, my lady. Dance with me.”
Writing – Full of images, feelings, enthralling… Love it!
Plot – Well, it you like intricate, political, plots, then this one’s for you! It seems like all the countries are always at war with each other. People are used as pawns, they bestow favors to the underserving, they marry and divorce at will, they betray bows and abuse power. It was fascinating to read, but easy enough to understand. The twists and turns kept my interest piqued with the turn of every page.
“The supreme art of war is to subdue the enemy without fighting”
Do you need more? There is also a budding romance and we get to see more of it in the next book.
Overall, The Banished of Muirwood is an amazingly good start of the series that kept me so enthralled that I immediately started reading The Ciphers of Muirwood (which was just as awesome!) and I cannot wait for The Void of Muirwood! If you love fantasy, do yourself a favor and star reading it now!
This review was originally posted on Reading With ABC
