I was reckless, and I was foolish, and I’d probably never be safe
Unfortunately Andrew Shvarts is one of those authors who doesn’t not seem to be able to carry a series to a good conclusion, already by the second book.
Book Review: City of Bastards by Andrew Shvarts
Rating:
Title & Author: City of Bastards by Andrew Shvarts
Genre: Fantasy, Adventure
Release date: June 5 2018
Series: Royal Bastards
Publisher: Disney-Hyperion
Synopsis
Tilla, bastard of House Kent, has it made. Safe from her murderous father in the dazzling capital of Lightspire, she lives a life of luxury under the protection of the Volaris King, alongside her boyfriend Zell and best friend, Princess Lyriana.
So why isn’t she happy? Maybe it’s the whispers and stares that follow her wherever she goes, as the daughter of the traitor waging war against Lightspire. Or maybe it’s the memories of her beloved brother, Jax, who lies cold in his grave even as she tries to settle into a life in the city’s prestigious University.
Then, Tilla stumbles upon the body of a classmate, a friend. The authorities are quick to rule it a suicide and sweep it under the rug, but when Tilla herself is attacked by a mysterious man with terrifying powers, she’s convinced of a conspiracy. Her friends beg her to stay silent; what she’s suggesting is impossible… and treasonous.
But Tilla can’t, won’t, let it go. And the deeper she digs, the more questions she uncovers. How is the West beating the supposedly invincible Lightspire Mages in battle? Is it connected to the shadowy cult wreaking havoc in Lightspire? Nothing is as it seems in the glorious capital, and Tilla’s presence might just be the spark that sets the Kingdom aflame.
I give City of Bastards by Andrew Shvarts two out of five hearts because it was build on a slippery slope and it slit down instead of put or stabilised. I expected it to be like this, but I still hoped.
Tilla and her friends get to Lightspire, where they are integrated into society. Zell struggles because he doesn’t fit in and when Tilla’s roommate is killed, she is the suspect, because of her father. Jax died, which didn’t move me, which was odd.
There was a lot of banter that was fun and not in inappropriate places. But the story is slow and I kept wondering where the story was going because I felt this story had almost nothing to do with the things that happened during Royal Bastards.
Overall I think City of Bastards could just have been a loos story set in the same world with the characters, but it wasn’t all that great either.
Let me know what you thought of this book!
If you have any requests for which book I should talk about next, please let me know in the comments down below.
For now, let books enrich your life!