Review: Onyx and Ivory (Rime Chronicles #1) by Mindee Arnett

Title: Onyx and Ivory
Series: Rime Chronicles #1

Author: Mindee Arnett
Publisher: Balzer + Bray
Published: May 15, 2018
Pages: 500
Genres: Young Adult, Fantasy
Source: Audiobook, Ebook
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They call her Traitor Kate. It’s a title Kate Brighton inherited from her father after he tried to assassinate the high king years ago. Now Kate lives as an outcast, clinging to the fringes of society as a member of the Relay, the imperial courier service. Only those most skilled in riding and bow hunting ride for the Relay; and only the fastest survive, for when dark falls, the nightdrakes—deadly flightless dragons—come out to hunt. Fortunately, Kate has a secret edge: she is a wilder, born with magic that allows her to influence the minds of animals. But it’s this magic that she needs to keep hidden, as being a wilder is forbidden, punishable by death or exile. And it’s this magic that leads her to a caravan massacred by nightdrakes in broad daylight—the only survivor her childhood friend, her first love, the boy she swore to forget, the boy who broke her heart.

The high king’s second son, Corwin Tormane, never asked to lead. Even as he waits for the uror—the once-in-a-generation ritual to decide which of the king’s children will succeed him—he knows it’s always been his brother who will assume the throne. And that’s fine by him. He’d rather spend his days away from the palace, away from the sight of his father, broken with sickness from the attempt on his life. But the peacekeeping tour Corwin is on has given him too much time to reflect upon the night he saved his father’s life—the night he condemned the would-be killer to death and lost the girl he loved. Which is why he takes it on himself to investigate rumors of unrest in one of the remote city-states, only for his caravan to be attacked—and for him to be saved by Kate.

With their paths once more entangled, Kate and Corwin have to put the past behind them. The threat of drakes who attack in the daylight is only the beginning of a darker menace stirring in the kingdom—one whose origins have dire implications for Kate’s father’s attack upon the king and will thrust them into the middle of a brewing civil war in the kingdom of Rime.

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MY REVIEW

DISCLAIMER: This review DOES contain SPOILERS. 

This book has restored my love for fantasy! For most of 2019, I have been in a fantasy slump. I have been reading mostly contemporary books or rereading old favorites. Sure, there are tons of new fantasy books (and plenty of backlist titles) that I am eager to read, but I just have not been in the mood whatsoever. This incredible book changed that!

The first thing that I noticed when I started this book is the way that I was drawn into the story. It instantly caught my attention and didn't let up for a moment. Arnett's writing voice, or style, really spoke to me immediately. I loved how smooth and engaging the writing was. 

The world-building in this book was superb. The author paints a rich fantasy world with its own lore and magic system. Everything about this world is interesting and leaves the reader wanting to know everything. The world is so vivid that you could close your eyes and feel it all around you. 

The plot of this story really blew me away. There were so many components assembled to create something truly incredible. What initially made me want to read the book was the promise of monsters that come out at night and hunt people. The idea fascinated me and excited me. After finishing the book, I realized that this was only a small piece of the story. The main focus of the story goes so much deeper. There is political intrigue, different magical elements, and a rich history housed in this plot. The revelations in this book are ones that you will not anticipate. 

One of the best things about this series was the characters. The two main characters have so much growth and character development. I liked how they were both good at their core, but that didn't mean that they were without flaws either. They felt so real. Like I could sit down with either of them and have a conversation. Who they both are at the beginning and who they end up becoming by the end of the book are vastly different people. I adored the side characters. Signe, Dal, and Bonner were amazing. Their individual personalities brought so much more depth to the story. 

The romance was a slow-burn friends-to-lovers style romance that was so very satisfying. I love how Arnett was able to capture the love that the two main characters had for each other through a deep childhood friendship that ended up meaning more. Their shared past was evident and really made their romance work well. I liked the tentativeness that they had with each other after seeing each other again after being apart for three years, having ended things on bad terms. Watching them rebuild their friendship and realize that their romantic feelings were still present was a delightful journey. I am rooting for these two so very much!

Overall, this is a fantasy story that will capture your heart. It boasts complex world-building, magic, realistic characters, and a heroic girl that saves a prince! (That's right, the girl saves the prince in this one, folks!) I implore everyone to read this and I am so glad that I already have a copy of the final book because I don't think that I could have waited!

This had such an incredible world! What was the last fantasy that you read that had impeccable world-building? What have you added to your TBR lately?