THE RHODI SAGA
by
Megan Linski
Today Connie's Bookmark is a stop on the official Rhodi's Saga blog tour. This groundbreaking new series was just released at the beginning of September. They are all now available to purchase in both print and ebook. I've already had the pleasure of reading them in advance. Here are my thoughts on each book.
BOOK ONE
Synopsis:
Flight. Hyperspeed. Clairvoyance.
These
are some of the powers gifted to the Rhodi, an ancient sect of
assassins who defend Crescentia, a dystopian world with a dying hope.
Dyliana
Fairsson is one of them. After losing her parents to a suspicious
accident, she and her twin brother, Devin, join the Rhodi to avoid
starvation. Under the direction of her master, Dylan struggles to learn
the strength of her magic …as well as hide the growing scars on her
wrists. Can Dylan become the warrior, the hero, she’s destined to be? Or
is she fated to fall from the light into the darkness?
The first
installment in the epic fantasy series by bestselling author Megan
Linski, Rhodi’s Light is an action-packed thrill ride that will leave
readers begging for more.
Review:
I
was really anticipating this series because Megan Linski has earned
herself a spot on my favorite authors list ever since her Arabian
fantasy "Kingdom From Ashes". This new series doesn't seem to be much
like that at all in terms of tone, setting, and era. The overall "feel"
of the setting and characters, with their dormant magic and dark pasts,
reminds me of a modern Final Fantasy universe. (think FF13-2 or 3) I
definitely felt nostalgic all throughout reading it and I'm DYING to
play FF now!
But anyway, the first installment in the Rhodi's
Saga has good qualities, as well as a few things I hope improve with the
next book. For example, Linski puts us in a very unique, yet somehow
familiar world, with out the reader getting to explore much of it. And I
don't mean like they didn't go anywhere. It's just that I would have
liked to have known more about culture a little about the people in the
background, not just the handful of characters we get to interact with.
The Rhodi are another thing. Their history is very intriguing, but
they're so secretive, no one knows who they are. So I didn't really
understand why they mattered to the Hunter's Guild so much. Or why they
continued even after their numbers nearly died out.
But speaking
of characters, Linski doesn't fail to make great ones. The main
characters, Dylan and Devin, who are twins, felt very realistic since
they were close, but not presented as carbon copies of each others mind,
body, and spirit, like so much of media would have us believe. The two
definitely had different personalities and that was very refreshing.
Dylan has a darkness in her. One she's trying to overcome. I think
that's something we all can appreciate. But don't worry, there's no
shortage of comic relief with the teens and their quirky friends. It
didn't take long for me to fall in love with Taladin's soft heart and
the other characters all got my attention, too. The villains didn't
really get fleshed out until the end and even though they were the main
problem, I felt their influence was lacking throughout the story. But at
the end of book one, it's clear what the villain's motives are.
Overall
this book just felt like the introduction to something bigger. There
are still questions to be answered. Still places that need to be filled
in on my mental map. There are definitely still things the Rhodi need to
do and I'm tagging along for the ride.
4 Stars
* * * *
BOOK TWO
Synopsis:
Forced into hiding.
Desperate to find their masters.
In
the past few months since the attack on their home, twin assassins
Dylan and Devin have grown restless. With the Rhodi facing extinction,
they search for their masters Talidin and Tavana, only to discover
they’ve gone missing. With nowhere to turn, the twins seek help from a
pair of mysterious spies, only to find the trail gone cold, marked by
hints of torture and destruction.
Dylan and Devin piece together
the events that led to the disappearance of their fellow Rhodi. As
their enemies close in for the kill, Dylan discovers that some things
are impossible for a Rhodi…but not for a tigress.
The stakes and
romance are heightened in this epic dystopian sequel to Rhodi’s Light.
Bestselling author Megan Linski brings readers a young adult fantasy
with magic, mystery, and an epic adventure that races quickly to a
breathless conclusion.
Review:
I
was much more enchanted with "Rhodi Rising" than I was the first book.
The story was set at a much quicker pace and the action came out of
nowhere! One minute, they would be just hanging out, doing what
teenagers do, and the next something would attack and there would be
Crafts and shapeshifting all over the place!
We get to explore a
new country, as well as learn more about the original one. I especially
enjoyed the Celtic theme of Dunedinne and the characters that were
introduced there. They were a fresh, comic relief, as well as devices of
strong character development for our girl Dylan. A bit of romance is
what "Rhodi's Light" lacked and "Rising" makes up for it.
The
ending came with a twist I wasn't expecting, which is always much
appreciated. The book sets everything up for the (what I hear is) epic
conclusion, but stands on it's own with page turning plot and lots of
action and adventure.
5 Stars
* * * *
BOOK THREE
Synopsis
Cities burn.
Governments fall.
Lives are lost in a desperate war...one the Rhodi are losing.
The
world has been devastated by the tyranny of the Red Huntress. To save
Crescentia, Dylan and Devin attempt to decipher the mystery of the
ancient letter their ancestors left behind, the only hope of salvation
for their kind. Dylan continues to fight foes both on the battlefield
and within her own mind, all while wrestling with the confused feelings
she has for Enfys, the alluring spy who has become devoted to her cause.
In the epic conclusion to the thrilling Rhodi Saga, one brave
warrior will stand in the way of corruption, to take place before her
destiny…or her death.
Rhodi’s Lullaby is the third installment in
the suspenseful young adult dystopian series fans and critics are
calling an original masterpiece in the epic fantasy genre.
Review:
It's really hard for me to write a review on the third book in the series since it's almost impossible for me to not hand out spoilers, so in case you haven't read this book yet, I would skip this review.
When I'd started this series I had originally said that it reminded me of a modern final fantasy game. Not so much any more, since the setting is more fleshed out in the third book and we have a better sense of the of the environment. That said, the world is holding onto it's own now and feels much more original.
The third installment in the story opens with the cast preparing for a wedding, which is nice, since the story has been a bit dark so far. But it's clear with the impending war and tensions in the crowded house rising that things are about to get a bit chaotic. Especially when an antagonist quickly decides to change sides. Not everyone is agreeable to the change.
My favorite part about this book was actually more of a side story. Devin and Nellie's tragic love story carried me through the pages and was more emotional for me than anything in this book chuck full of feels. I appreciated how almost every single character went through their own struggles and journey, (probably why the darn thing was so long) but I happened to enjoy Devin and Nellie's the most.
The ending was satisfying, giving the readers a very unexpected twist and fulfilling conclusion. I felt like it wrapped up the other two books nicely.
All of that said, it did take me quite a long time to get through this one. Granted, like 90% of the planet's population, I'm super busy and have little time for books. But when I really gravitate towards a story, there's no stopping me on finishing it. I've had that happen with several other of Megan Linksi's books. Just not this series so much. It was a bit slow, and I just didn't connect with many of the characters like in her previous books. By the third book, I figured out that it was the voice, which is so important to me. Her voice doesn't flow in third person the way it does in first person or passive.
None of that is enough for me to give up on one of my favorite authors though. She has a vampire/werewolf series coming out next year, which normally isn't my thing, but there is an added element of an Anastasia retelling which I just can't resist. I hear it's first person too, so my hopes are high.
4 stars
* * * *
