Ice Crown by Kay L Moody

Ice Crown (The Elements of Kamdaria, #1)

by Kay L Moody

The competition could save her life...
But only if she wins.

Talise can manipulate the elements with ease. Water, air, earth, and fire all bend to her will. As a citizen of the Storm—a crime-laden land where death is the only constant—her only chance for a better life is to become Master Shaper.

A competition for the position takes place at the end of her training years. If she wins, she would live in the palace, work for the emperor, and escape her inevitable death in the Storm. But she’s not the only one with a chance to win.

Aaden is another talented student. As a citizen of the Crown, he was born with unlimited privilege and resources. When someone from the Crown wants to win, they do. End of story. And his shaping is unlike anything Talise has ever seen.

Complicating matters, Talise’s loved one in the Storm gives her reason to abandon the competition altogether, forcing her to make an impossible choice.

Torn between duty and freedom, she must learn that clinging to the past, might destroy her future.

For fans of Throne of Glass and the Grishaverse, this desperate fantasy world has elemental magic and tension you could cut with a knife.

Reviewed by Nessa Luna on

3 of 5 stars

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Disclaimer: I received an advance review copy for free, this has not changed my opinion in any way.

I really liked the premise of this book, especially the magic system (yes give me more elemental based magic please) and I enjoyed the worldbuilding (though I had hoped for a bit more). Unfortunately, I felt like it was way too short for me to make a proper connection to this book. I didn't really like any of the characters, but I think if the story had been longer I would have. I do think I am going to read the sequel asap partly also because it ends RIGHT BEFORE the competition which the whole build-up was for. That's mostly why I gave it a lower rating. At least make it a bit longer and add the actual competition, come on! but yeah, unfortunately, this book fell a bit flat for me.

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Reading updates

  • Started reading
  • 30 November, 2019: Finished reading
  • 30 November, 2019: Reviewed