I am so happy to be a part of the tour for Of Silver and Beasts hosted by the Tuff Girl Legion.
Of Silver and Beasts
A Goddess Wars Novel #1
April 19, 2013
ebook, 305 pages
Summary:
When nineteen-year-old Kaliope is chosen as head of the Nactue Guard, she becomes the sworn protector to her empress. In the midst of an invasion on a neighboring land, Kaliope is placed in charge of guarding Prince Caben, the last heir to his kingdom. But when they’re attacked by the feared Otherworlders, Caben and Kaliope are abducted and taken below to a realm where they must fight for their life in a caged arena.
Kaliope struggles to protect her princely charge, keeping him and herself alive while battling inhumanly opponents, and trying to save the stolen, sacred relic that will restore her empress’s life force and all of Cavan. And if she can somehow awaken the goddess within her, she may save what’s most important.
Review:
This was an easy book for me to devour. Trisha Wolfe is beyond awesome at two things, creating a kick-ass heroine and creating swoon worthy relationships. She does so once again in Of Silver and Beast, I am dying I mean dying for the next installment.
Definitely an interesting spectrum of characters, there were the bad guys that you like anyway because they weren’t necessarily bad. Then of course the good guys that aren’t as good as they seem. Although those are not completely obvious, I’ve still got my suspicious goggles on.
Kaliope, Kal, is a great female lead. She is strong and clever and I like how she takes a step often to really assess a situation. She also has a definite hot temper. One of the challenges that Kal faces is that she must hide the Mercury that flows in her blood. She has a device that allows it to pump away from her heart but when she becomes emotional it comes to the service. Her mother believes that Alyah one of the goddesses has blessed Kal and that is why she is alive. Kal suffered an abusive childhood which has made her strong and brave. I love her devotion to her mother, it shows her softer side.
Okay so I loved the relationship that develops between Caben and Kaliope. At the beginning they basically can’t stand each other for the most part because they keep getting in the others way of doing what they actually want to do. Caben challenges Kal in a way that I think she is not used to, especially coming for a society where the women are dominant. I also think it’s hard for her to see men really clearly with the past experiences she has had with her father. Caben definitely challenges her belief that men are useless. I found myself smiling at many of their exchanges, short of giggling because I loved them.
The world that the story place in is very interesting. There are 3 different main kingdoms and of those we really only spend time in Cavan. This is a society where the women are the dominant ones and they have an Empress, Iana, who runs the kingdom. Kaliope is actually has spent her time previous to where we pick her up at training to be a protector and in hopes to get promoted to Nactue, which is basically the Empress personal bodyguards. The Nactue is made up of only women. The other area that the majority of the book takes place is the Otherworlders realm which is underground. This turns out to be more developed and elaborate then the surface dwellers seem to believe.
Trisha is great with weaving her unique mythology into stories. This of course has a strong mythology background (The Goddess Wars) but it’s not specific to a region, these Goddesses are ones that Trisha as created but you can tell they are based off some of the other know ones. The Moon Goddess has a very strong presence being she is what fuels a lot of the story, she is not on the side of good though. Bale was banished by the other Goddesses for her hate of humanity. The Otherworlders however worship her almost blindly and this is what is believed to fuel their attacks on the other kingdoms.
The plot was filled with plenty of action that kept it moving. When we get to the Otherworlders realm things get a little crazy. It reminds me a lot of Gladiator competitions that they used to have in the Coliseums. There is a bit of mystery intertwined as we learn the how and why of the attacks of Otherworlders and even as to why they are abducting people as they go. I don’t like giving away too much of the story because I was on my toes the entire time and I want you to feel the same way as I did when I read.
Okay the best part of this ending. It was one of those that was a cliffhanger, but it also wrapped up enough that you won’t be stomping your feet too hard. What I loved about it is that it kept me thinking after I read the book. How are they going to get out of this, what could she have done differently. Could Kal have tried doing this instead, will this work later. What happens if she poos? (You have to read it to understand that one. :) )I love a book that has me going over different scenarios in my head after I’m done reading. It means it really invested me in the story and got me caring enough about the characters enough to worry about them after the fact.
I consider this another win by Trisha Wolfe! Every time I read a new book by her I think oh wait this is my favorite of her books now. I’m so excited for book 2!
Excerpt
The cool sensation of the fresh water on my skin helps me forget my nerves and I lie back, floating just below the top of the water. My body dulls, the cold soothing my sore muscles, and I welcome the numbness. The ceiling of the cave is sprinkled with tiny clusters of white lights, dotting the canopy above our heads like stars in the sky. I feel as if I’m sitting on the rooftop of my apartment, staring at the night sky, not here in the Otherworld, awaiting my death.
The water rolls, rocking my body, and I glance over as Caben floats up beside me. He’s on his back also, and points to the lights dusting the cave ceiling.
“Diamonds,” he says.
“Really?” I don’t know much about any minerals other than mercury. And somehow, diamonds as our stars makes my chest heavy. It’s too beautiful. “How can you tell?”
“The ultraviolet light shows the impurities,” he says. “The imperfections actually absorb the dark light, causing the diamond to emit a visible glow.” He chuckles. “A very expensive lighting effect.”
I laugh. “Quite expensive.” They twinkle as they reflect the rippling water. “But almost more heavenly than the stars.” I lower my voice at the end, hoping he didn’t hear my spoken thoughts.
Caben doesn’t speak, and the trickling of the stream and lap of the pool becomes the only sound as we float in compatible silence. I could drift off, fall asleep in this peaceful place, but I know we still have a mission to complete before the Reckoning.
This thought awakens me, and I touch my feet to the bottom of the pool and begin to wade toward the edge.
I hear Caben’s heavy groan. “No you don’t,” he says, and captures the bottom of my tunic. He tugs me through the water, back to the pool’s center. “Not yet. This could be our last reprieve, and I plan for us to enjoy it.”
As I turn to face him, his fingers slip from my shirt to my waist, grazing my stomach. My skin prickles, and I shiver, matching the trembling water around us. His deep blue eyes meet mine, and he swallows, his Adam’s apple working. Slowly, he begins to inch up my tunic—
“Wait.” I place my hand on top of his.
He cranes an eyebrow. “It should really have time to dry before we go back.”
Logically, that makes sense. But the heated look he’s giving me says so much more. And regardless of the attraction I may feel for the prince—a woman would have to be blind—and whether or not we actually escape this hell ... what then? We share an intimate moment once, and go back to our stations in life, simply pretending nothing happened?
Or maybe I’m reading too much into his gaze. He’s a man, and physical desire is self-serving. He may die ... and he probably wants to bed a woman one last time. Everything about his character screams he’s not one who thinks past the moment.
I could lose myself for now, give in to the pulse quickening my blood with need, but I’ve never shown a man the clamp over my heart. It would have to be something I did for a different reason if I ever chose to do so. Not merely because I may die soon.
As I push his hand away and start to swim off, he grasps my waist, encircling his firm arms around my stomach, and pulls my back to his chest.
“Don’t run from me,” he breathes into my ear. “I’m not asking for anything. Not even whatever it is you’re hiding. Just stay here.”
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Giveaway
Trisha Wolfe is the author of the YA Steampunk DESTINY'S FIRE (Omnific Publishing), the NA Historical/Supernatural ASTARTE'S WRATH, and the upcoming YA Utopian FIREBLOOD from Spencer Hill Press, October 2013. Her NA Dark Fantasy OF SILVER AND BEASTS available May 2013.
She’s the creator of YA Bound, a promotional site for the Young Adult genre. Also a member of SCWW and The Apocalypsies. Check out www.TrishaWolfe.com for more on her books and bonus material. Follow Trisha on Twitter @TrishWolfe and like her Facebook page for updates.