Review: Mordizan by Alyssa Roat with Giveaway!

 While I reviewed a fantasy just a couple of days ago (The Legend of Black Jack by A.R. Witham), and it was a exciting, unique read, my desire for fantasy just was quenched. (Don't you hate it when that happens?) So, the only solution was to dive into another fantasy. This one is the second in The Wraithwood Trilogy...and before you ask, no, I didn't read the first book. Why would I do something as practical and sensible as that???

Anyway, I enjoyed the blurb on this one and decided to give it a go. Ready to hit another fantasy world?

MORDIZAN

by Alyssa Roat

The Wraithwood Trilogy, #2

 March 15th 2022

Young Adult Fantasy

 

The bane of Mordred, the son of Mordizan, and a millennia-old prophecy—together they may provide what Brinnie needs to defeat the world of magic’s greatest threat.

More than a year has passed since Brinnie left Wraithwood, never expecting to see it again. But when Mordred captures her sister, she is thrust back into the world of magic. She flees to Wraithwood, where she learns of a prophecy located in the dark wizard capital of Mordizan that reveals the identity of “Mordred’s bane,” something that could destroy Mordred for good.

Brinnie agrees to a rendezvous with Mordred to exchange herself for her sister, going undercover at Mordizan as a spy to find the prophecy and Mordred’s bane. There, she weaves a complicated web of secrets, lies, and tenuous friendships. She makes an unexpected ally in Marcus Vorath, son of the Master of Mordizan, who fears the implications of Mordred’s growing power. But in Mordizan, friends and foes may be one and the same.

In the midst of court intrigue, battle, ominous new depths to her power, and searching for Mordred’s bane, Brinnie struggles to draw the lines. How far is she willing to go to destroy Mordred? And how much of herself is she willing to give up along the way?

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MY TIDBITS

I didn't read the first book in the series, due to time reasons, and did have a little trouble sinking into the tale because of it. So, this is a series to be read from the start.

We meet Brinnie as she's settling back into normality after her first adventure. She's trying her best to follow her mother's rules to keep her magic locked up tight, but as more and more trouble is lurking around her, this becomes increasingly difficult. When her sister is kidnapped by the power hungry Mordred, Brinnie decides the only way to stop him and his evil plot is to figure out the key to a prophecy. After an exchange of her for her sister, she tries her best to gain trust of those in Mordizan, while trying to dig up the information. But nothing works as planned and she soon finds herself in much more trouble than she anticipated.

This isn't a light read but digs deep and weaves quite the plot...and that while the writing itself isn't actually that heavy. Brinnie comes across as a young teen, who is struggling to find balance with her family, her magic, and where all of this glides into her life. Her worries are, if anything, even on the young side for her age, and the dialogue as well as decisions flow naturally. She has a ton of heart, especially when it comes to those close to her, and her desire to take risks makes her easy to root for. She's an easy heroine to root for.

Things started out quick enough, but the writing did catch me a little off-guard, at first, as it almost felt like an upper middle grade more than a young adult. But as the story progresses, it's easy to get swept up and simply enjoy the ride. The author has been careful to weave the background, world building, and actions tightly, making sure that everything sits without holes. This, combined with the action and secrets, made for a smooth read, which grabs and holds.

The ending makes it clear that there is more to come. So, we'll see where all of this goes next. 

And here she is...

Alyssa Roat grew up in Tucson, Arizona, but her heart is in Great Britain. She has worked in a wide variety of roles within the publishing industry as an agent, editor, writer, and publicist. With 250+ bylines and 9+ books under contract in genres ranging from YA chat fiction to fantasy to sweet adult romance, you could say she dabbles in a bit of everything. Her name is a pun, which means you can learn more about her at www.alyssawrote.com or on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook as @alyssawrote.

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