#BookReview: Riven by Mindee Arnett

Synopsis: An epic, adventurous story of a young mercenary magic-user trying to escape the oppressive island of Riven—and a young noblewoman trying to change it forever.

Mars Darksvane wants out. Out from under the thumb of Una, the crime boss who pulled him off the streets as a child and trained him as an assassin; out from the island country of Riven, where magic, in the form of a dangerous material called Ice, allows the rich to live in luxury and keeps the poor in thrall. Mars is a secret adept—a person born with the ability to channel the magic that flows beneath Riven—and while his power gives him abilities useful to an assassin, it also makes him a target. And when his last mission ends in tragedy, Mars finally decides it’s time to escape to the mainland. No magic, no history, a new life on his own.

But Una has other ideas. If Mars wants his freedom, he’s going to have to perform a final job: protecting Fura Torvald—the heiress of the rich and powerful Torvald kith, and the daughter of the last man Mars was sent to kill—and stealing from her a mysterious object known only as the Primer.

Mars has no interest in Fura or whatever the Primer is, nor in Riven’s corrupt and oppressive politics; he just wants to do his job and get out. But as Mars comes to know more about Fura, the Primer, and the true nature of the power in Riven, he realizes that he will soon have to take a side in a fight he has avoided his entire life. Which side, however, he does not yet know.



Goodreads | Amazon

Rating: 4 Stars
My Review: This was an amazing fantasy that I could not put down. I loved this beautiful world that she has created and every page was better than the last. I was completely lost in this world and can not wait for book two.

From School Library Journal

Gr 7 Up—Arnett delivers a rich fantasy world with plenty of action. Mars Darksvane is an accomplished mercenary held in bondage to the crime boss Una Almadòttra, who rescued him from poverty as a child. His legendary status as "The Shadow Fox" comes from his secret ability to directly channel the magic which permeates Riven. Magic, however, also exists in the form of Ice, a toxic substance that is mined and tightly controlled by nine clans (kiths). Mars receives a contract to protect Fura Torvald, the daughter of a kith lord he killed. Fura doesn't know Mars's role in her father's death, and he must hide this fact from her while posing as her beloved. He's also secretly tasked to steal her father's work on a formula known as The Primer, which has the power to destroy Ice completely. Fura wants to benefit all of Riven by destroying Ice at its source, while her rivals want to steal it for personal gain. While they start at cross purposes, Mars and Fura eventually team up to a common goal and face down the threats arrayed against them. Arnett builds a consistent and vivid world, and the plot contains some good twists and tension given characters' secret agendas. But fantasy veterans will recognize a lot of familiar and predictable tropes, with a tidy and somewhat unsatisfying ending. VERDICT Recommended for larger collections with a strong fantasy readership.—Michael Van Wambeke  --This text refers to the hardcoveredition.

Review

"Mindee Arnett is an absolute boss in the fantasy genre, and Riven is no exception." --Kristen Simmons, author of Article 5  --This text refers to the audioCD edition.

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Posted in: 4 Stars, Balzer + Bray, Edelweiss, Review, Young Adult