Community Reviews
I had such a good time with this book, exploring its world and meeting all of the different characters. The author did a wonderful job with multiple elements so that it's a book that can be thoroughly enjoyed by readers of a wide age range.
This book found its way into my hands because it is one of thirty allotted to Team Bookborn for SPFBO9. When I read the description, I felt positive it would be a book I'd enjoy and was really excited it was assigned to me. It had a bit of an urban fantasy feel, a subgenre that is one of my favorites.
I quickly became invested in learning about the different fey living in Central Park - also to learn they immigrated there was a nice bit of intrigue that catered to the history lover in me. There were rules the fey lived by, as well as the mortal mages who resided in New York City that often worked with the fey court that was ruled by Triona. The mages usually swore allegiance to a fey court in exchange for protection. In addition to Triona's court, there was the Wild Hunt, presided over by Lord Faolan. These two factions had a flimsy peace between them, one that gets tested and broken when someone begins murdering mages.
So there's intrigue, history, magic, mystery, murder - there's also some great characters and their relationships with one another. I enjoyed seeing the rules and etiquette of how fey and mortals interact with one another, as well as how mortal mages navigate their own society. Depending on your ability, you may be considered a lesser mage, therefore not welcome in higher mage society. Mage families who had a child that only had one singular ability, known as a Blessed, were hidden from society, lest the family be shamed.
The world building was so well done. The author did not just describe New York as it was in those times, but also took care to describe the magical world of the fey that resided in Central Park. We even got some brief descriptions from before the fey immigrated, when they lived in Ireland. There was mention of some venture in California, so it gives me hope that this could become a series and that would be where the next book takes us.
The magic system was not overly complex, it was explained how it was done for mortal mages - words or gestures were used to channel the magic and intent. Blessed mages were a little different and readers are only given a bit of insight to these types. I really liked that the fey seemed to perform magic based on need. They often didn't even understand how it was they performed a spell, it just happened because it was their will, their desire to accomplish their need.
Once I started reading this one, I was reading it every opportunity that I could. Naomi P. Cohen did an amazing job creating interesting characters and building a fantastical world in a familiar location. (I eloped in Central Park, so the setting was near and dear to me.) The writing style was so easy to read and the mystery, magic system and character relationships kept me turning page after page.
I am very much hoping to read more adventures from this world and its characters!
This book found its way into my hands because it is one of thirty allotted to Team Bookborn for SPFBO9. When I read the description, I felt positive it would be a book I'd enjoy and was really excited it was assigned to me. It had a bit of an urban fantasy feel, a subgenre that is one of my favorites.
I quickly became invested in learning about the different fey living in Central Park - also to learn they immigrated there was a nice bit of intrigue that catered to the history lover in me. There were rules the fey lived by, as well as the mortal mages who resided in New York City that often worked with the fey court that was ruled by Triona. The mages usually swore allegiance to a fey court in exchange for protection. In addition to Triona's court, there was the Wild Hunt, presided over by Lord Faolan. These two factions had a flimsy peace between them, one that gets tested and broken when someone begins murdering mages.
So there's intrigue, history, magic, mystery, murder - there's also some great characters and their relationships with one another. I enjoyed seeing the rules and etiquette of how fey and mortals interact with one another, as well as how mortal mages navigate their own society. Depending on your ability, you may be considered a lesser mage, therefore not welcome in higher mage society. Mage families who had a child that only had one singular ability, known as a Blessed, were hidden from society, lest the family be shamed.
The world building was so well done. The author did not just describe New York as it was in those times, but also took care to describe the magical world of the fey that resided in Central Park. We even got some brief descriptions from before the fey immigrated, when they lived in Ireland. There was mention of some venture in California, so it gives me hope that this could become a series and that would be where the next book takes us.
The magic system was not overly complex, it was explained how it was done for mortal mages - words or gestures were used to channel the magic and intent. Blessed mages were a little different and readers are only given a bit of insight to these types. I really liked that the fey seemed to perform magic based on need. They often didn't even understand how it was they performed a spell, it just happened because it was their will, their desire to accomplish their need.
Once I started reading this one, I was reading it every opportunity that I could. Naomi P. Cohen did an amazing job creating interesting characters and building a fantastical world in a familiar location. (I eloped in Central Park, so the setting was near and dear to me.) The writing style was so easy to read and the mystery, magic system and character relationships kept me turning page after page.
I am very much hoping to read more adventures from this world and its characters!
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