Review: An awesome book by a very talented author.
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 05 5, 2013
Of Silver and Beasts was the first novel by Trisha Wolfe that I've read. I'm glad it was. I didn't start the book with any preconceived notions of what to expect from her. I didn't know her writing style, characterization, and it was the first time I'd read a true dark fantasy. So I really got to feel the full experience Of Silver and Beasts right from the beginning. And I loved it.I can usually tell by the first sentence, or at least the first chapter, of a book if I'll continue reading it or not. As an author, I'm always reading books on writing to better myself and my craft. I once read a book dedicated almost entirely to the importance of the first chapter of a story. The majority of the book, however, repeatedly pounded into the reader's brain that the first sentence is essential, crucial, almost the life-breath of a story. Most readers, not all, but a lot look at the first sentence and decide from there if they will continue reading that book or not."The Mercury in my blood nearly boils."Yeah, that's a great first line. It immediately drew me in. I wanted to know why her blood was nearly boiling. And, most of all, why does she have mercury in her blood and where did it come from? And finally, who is she...or is it a he? There are a lot of questions in that one sentence that demand an answer and I kept reading, because I wanted to know...I'm nosey that way! And Trisha didn't disappoint. I got the answers and then some.Of Silver and Beasts begins on a very important day of Kaliope's life. She's getting ready for a Nactue ceremony, one she's trained and waited for her entire life. Trisha does an exceptional job of giving bits of information about the characters around Kaliope, like Willa and Lilly, her best friends, and the surroundings. What the city looks like, what the market is like, the opulence of the palace, even the weather and how it feels on Kaliope in her uniform. She weaves this information together so expertly, giving little pieces here and there while keeping the momentum of the story going. This is an exceptionally hard thing for an author to accomplish without it feeling as though a checklist of information is being dropped in the reader's lap. Trisha not only accomplished this in the first few chapters of the book, but throughout the entire story. I was very impressed by the way she was able to insert information that the reader needed to know without interrupting the story to do so. Everything flowed seamlessly. A feat every author strives for but few ever fully accomplish.I knew Of Silver and Beasts was going to be full of action and I didn't have to wait long for it to begin. Almost as soon as the big event Kaliope had been waiting for was over things started moving quickly and they didn't stop. Scene after scene the tension ramped up and I found myself flipping the electronic pages on my Kindle faster and faster to find out what was going to happen next.And while I was flipping pages reading scene after scene I found myself falling in love with the characters Trisha introduced. Kaliope is one kiss-ass leading character. She's tough, brave and loyal to her position. But she isn't so tough that she's unlikable. In fact, she's flawed in a way that makes your heart hurt for her and you just want to grab her and give her a hug. Her softer side shows in the way she loves and cares for her mother. And, really, what a great name!Caben. Sigh. Caben, Caben, Caben. He comes off as a jerk, but quickly redeems himself. All I can say is I need more Caben in my life. Yummy. Trisha definitely hit a homerun with him in my opinion. I loved him as the male lead. He had trouble understanding some of Kaliope's country's customs, which turned into some slightly heated moments between them, but that only made me love him more. He, like Kaliope, is flawed in a way that you can't help but feel for him.The secondary characters were developed just as well as the two main characters and I found myself rooting for my favorites and hoping they made it through the events they were forced to endure throughout the book.The world building was expertly done. I could picture myself in the surroundings with the characters. I could see the crowds, the buildings, the caverns. The descriptions were written so subtly. It never felt like she was giving me a checklist of information, but rather giving me just enough information when I needed it to keep me in the scene. And I found myself immersed in each scene.Of Silver and Beasts was one of those rare books that when you read the last sentences you are sad it's over, and maybe even a little mad, too. I thoroughly enjoyed it and I'm not so patiently waiting for the sequel Of Darkness and Crowns. But while I'm waiting for the sequel (and more Caben) I'll be reading Trisha's other books (see links below). She's a very talented author and as awesome as Of Silver and Beasts is, I know her other books are going to be terrific!Astarte's Wrath (Kythan Guardians)Destiny's Fire