Sci Fi & Fantasy , Teens & YA
Description
“Last of the Talons is a stunning blend of dark
romance and Korean mythology. Sophie Kim writes enemies to lovers with
heart-pounding intensity, blurring the line between love and hate.
Bloodthirsty, addictive, and searingly romantic.” —Axie Oh, New York Times bestselling author of The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea
After
the destruction of her entire Talon gang, eighteen-year-old Shin
Lina—the Reaper of Sunpo—is forced to become a living, breathing weapon
for the kingdom’s most-feared crime lord. All that keeps her from
turning on her ruthless master is the life of her beloved little sister
hanging in the balance. But the order to steal a priceless tapestry from
a Dokkaebi temple incites not only the wrath of a legendary immortal,
but the beginning of an unwinnable game…
Suddenly Lina finds
herself in the dreamlike realm of the Dokkaebi, her fate in the hands of
its cruel and captivating emperor. But she can win her life—if she
kills him first.
Now a terrible game of life and death has begun, and even Lina's swift,
precise blade is no match for the magnetic Haneul Rui. Lina will have to
use every weapon in her arsenal if she wants to outplay this cunning
king and save her sister...all before the final grain of sand leaks out
of the hourglass.
Because one way or another, she'll take Rui's heart.
Even if it means giving up her own.
4.5 STARS
What a fantasy this was! So superb in it's world building that sometimes I almost got lost; especially in the mythology. The other thing that caught me a bit off guard was the flashbacks. Although well written it sometimes seemed to happen so suddenly, that it kind of jarred the reading of the story for me. Although even with that said, it still had depth that added to the story. I finally found my footing though and just sat back and enjoyed the story.
Oh my Lina was one tough cookie although she had to be didn't she? To not only survive but also to protect her young sister so that not only will Eunbi live safely but not have to follow in Lina's footsteps as a thief and assassin. She is one fierce warrior with so many regrets about the loss of her family of friends. Not only does she have grief but also a sense of guilt about their deaths. I didn't take long to want her to win against all odds although it became tougher and tougher to see how that would happen. Good one author!
Haneul Rui (the Emperor of that strange magical realm) had me scratching my head more than once. Good guy? Bad guy? Is he just bored and floating between those two options? Yes well, that will be something that will have to be answered. Rui's friends are also a part of his inner court of counselors and they sure do add more emotion and personality. The conversations between Lina and Rui kept things interesting and often funny!
The dangers that Lina goes through even in this magical kingdom does keep the reader on the edge of their seat. But even in pain, Lina just keeps getting back up. After all, she is reminded that she is Shin Lina—the Reaper of Sunpo, the Last of the Talons, someone who shows no fear or quit. The other motivator to put one foot in front of the other is of course, Eunbi. She would do anything for her.
OUTSTANDING, twists erupt towards the end of the book with a surprise Ending..for now. I sense there can be another book from what happened here. Worked for me.
“I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.”
(Through Netgalley)
No comments:
Post a Comment