Review: Court of Snakes by Tycho Dwellis with Giveaway!

 Today's read comes through a tour company I've worked with...well, since they started up. I've cut back on tours over the years but still am more than happy to jump aboard when something catches my eye. While the cover on this one isn't quite my thing, the blurb sounded more than a little intriguing. So, I decided to give it a go.

Ready to see if the tale is worth a peek?

COURT OF SNAKES

This Desert Cage, Book One

by Tycho Dwelis

Precursor Publishing

YA Dystopian

317 pages

 

In the city of Segeno, it’s eat or be eaten. Someone has to rule the masses. A boy has lost his birthright. His parents killed. Dead and gone. A girl has lost her father. She means nothing to him now.

The city of Segeno stands tall after a great war, the only city left of its kind. Terran has lost both of his parents and is now on the run from a tyrant eager to kill him and cut off the royal bloodline. Parisa struggles with her own identity as even her father rejects her for the color of her skin as he claws for the throne. Along their journeys, they meet unexpected allies and encounter unprecedented magick, but, most importantly, they learn what it is to stand up for themselves and take back their city from corruption.
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The Court of Snakes: This Desert Cage is the first of a two book series intended for ages 13 – 18. If you like the Hunger Games, Divergent, and Inkheart, you’ll love these books.

This series talks about systemic oppression, racism, oligarchy, and, of course, magick.

AMAZON
Goodreads

 

MY TIDBITS

An unique, dystopian world meets a touch of magic, a coup, and tons of action to form an exciting read, which promises more to come.

Terran's parents have been murdered. He managed to escape but is now being hunted by the Sovereign's guards. When a strange man known as The King saves his life, Terran's only option is to join him and learn how to fight against the injustice brought by the Sovereign's rule. At the same time, the Sovereign's own daughter, Parisa, tries her best to please her father through her studies, but he never has time for her and seems to avoid her at every turn. He claims that neither he nor her will have any rest until the last rightful heir to the throne is killed, and that just happens to be Terran.

This read grabs quick. While the opening scene left me a little confused, the rich imagery and fantasy made it clear that it was going to be quite the ride. Switching back and forth between Terran and Parisa, the tale works from two, very different positions with one purpose, to stop the injustice and corruption. Both Terran and Parisa have much to learn and discover, and the tale lays out a well-developed character arc for both of them. Both are introduced with raw personalities, which mold and shine as the story continues. It's fun to root for them, despite their issues, and see where everything will take them.

The side characters are as rich as the main ones and make the scenes come to life. Especially The King and his magical cards offer unexpected moments and imagination. The fight scenes are exciting and would be amazing to see in a visual form. The world building, which is rich at times, falls behind in other scenes as the characters' dialogue often propels the story. While the pacing is mostly steady and quick, the discussions between characters sometimes slows things down a little. But it was still grabbing to the point that I wanted to see what would happen next.

This one almost flows with a kingdom atmosphere but holds enough other aspects to keep it from falling completely into that trope. It's original and holds more than a few secrets and intrigue to keep the pages turning. Action fans who enjoy magic, power grabs, and fights for justice will enjoy this one.

Meet the Author:

I’m Tycho (I also use the pen name Cassidy), and I love storytelling! I’m incredibly passionate about writing, art, and anything that allows me to create my own worlds. My goal is to write dreamy fiction for all ages that is unique, inspiring, and imaginative. I like to write about themes that include coming of age, magic realism, identity, relationships, and bullying. My books are intended for readers ages eight to twenty-five, and are meant to connect the world of the fantastical to everyday life.

I currently live in Colorado and have an MA in Publishing.

connect with the author:  website ~ twitter ~ facebook ~ instagram ~ goodreads

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Tour Schedule: Join us for this tour from August 8 to August 26, 2022!

Aug 8 – Cover Lover Book Review – book spotlight / giveaway
Aug 9 – Literary Flits – book spotlight / author interview / giveaway
Aug 9 - Splashes of Joy  - book review / giveaway
Aug 10 – 411 ON BOOKS, AUTHORS, AND PUBLISHING NEWS – book spotlight / giveaway
Aug 11 – JB's Bookworms with Brandy Mulder – book spotlight / guest post / giveaway
Aug 11 - Rockin' Book Reviews – book review / guest post / giveaway
Aug 12 – The Momma Spot – book review / giveaway
Aug 15 – Leels Loves Books – book review / giveaway
Aug 16 – Locks, Hooks and Books – book review / giveaway
Aug 17 – Book Corner News and Reviews – book review / giveaway
Aug 18 – The Page Ladies – book review
Aug 19 – Jazzy Book Reviews – book review / giveaway
Aug 22 – Sadie's Spotlight – book spotlight / giveaway
Aug 23 – Kam's Place – book review
Aug 24 – Bookworm for Kids – book review / giveaway
Aug 25 – Sefina Hawke's Books – book spotlight
Aug 26 – Books and Zebras – book review
Aug 26 - Books for Books – book review

Giveaway!

COURT OF SNAKES by Tycho Dwellis Book Tour Giveaway