Marrow Charm by Kristin Jacques | Blog Tour
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Synopsis
Azure Brimvine lives in a world decimated by magic. One where humans have retreated underground from the overwhelming dangers of the surface. But Below is no safer than Above. Magic borne plagues continue to eat away at the remaining human cities. A sickness that doesn’t merely kill, but creates aberrations from the stricken: people twisted by magic into something dark, dangerous, and powerful.
But when Azzy’s brother, Armin, is infected and cast out into the Above, she sets out after him, determined to be there for him no matter what he becomes. The world Above is full of monsters, both wild and cunning, some more human than Azzy was led to believe.
Her search for Armin leads her to Avergard, a ruthless city of inhuman lords and twisted creatures. Azzy must find allies and forge new bonds in this broken world, brave the perils of the Above, and reach Armin before his new power is used to open the Gate once more.
Marrow Charm Review
Buy the Book: Amazon UK
What I Liked
I’m a big fan of fantasy, dystopian books, especially when magic is involved and Marrow Charm had all of this. It was a bit overwhelming to begin with as you get thrown into this magical world, full of non-stop action. It then became extremely hard not to be consumed by the dystopian, creative world and I quickly became hooked until the very end!
The Story
Starting off in the Below with our main character Azzy, her brother Armin and her guardians. We start to learn the history of the world and the dangers of wild magic and monsters the Above holds. When the elders discover Azzy’s magic ‘tainted’ brother he is cast out to the deadly land of the Above. This is where Azzy’s action-packed journey to find her brother begins! The description of places, creatures, magical objects, even the gruesome food (you’ll know what I mean once you read it) is so vivid, making everything so easy to imagine. There are also a lot of fight scenes and they are intense. There is always something going on making it fun and addicting to read!
The Characters
I loved Azzy’s character. She is incredibly brave, caring and holds some sort of magical power. It’s so interesting to learn about her abilities while she does, and see her character develop, gaining confidence as she goes on. Some of this may or may not be to do with her Wolf friend that she saves at the very beginning of the book. I instantly loved him and really hoped he would return. I’m not going to spoil anything for you but you’ll have to read it to see why he is an amazing character!
As well as this bond with the wolf, she also has a special bond with her brother. Their relationship is amazing, they are so kind and loyal to one another, I was drawn to both characters instantly and this sibling bond they had. The book is mainly from Azzy’s point of view but I love that we got to see through chapters through Armin’s POV as well as a few other characters!
Overall Thoughts
Overall, this is a great dystopian fantasy full of action, adventure and magic! Apart from being a bit confused at the beginning, I was still gripped to the story. The characters really kept me invested. There is never a dull moment in this world of monsters and magic. So if you are looking for a unique, fast-paced fantasy, I definitely recommend this one!
Rating: 4/5
About the Author
Kristin Jacques is an author from small-town New England. She grew up in the sticks, surrounded by river wildlife, and various swamp inhabitants. Somehow she managed to keep all her toes despite a run-in with a snapper or two. She lives with her husband and sons in another small New England town. She is mighty attached to them. When not writing, she is likely reading, watching a terrific B-Horror flick, or further spoiling the family cats. Sometimes she has blue hair.
Comments
Great enthusiastic review, Ellie Mai Happy to hear you enjoyed this one.
Great review Ellie -Mai
Amazing review Ellie Mai, I can’t wait to finish this one soon! I’m so glad you enjoyed it!
This book/series sounds amazing. And I love the combination of dystopian fantasy- I found another book that I’d classified dystopian and the author disagreed, even though the government/monarchy lying to its people to subjugate them was a main plot point. I’m also a sucker for magical transformation, so this is ticking all my boxes. Can’t wait!
I’m really excited to see what happens next! I’m so glad your intrigued and hope you get to read it soon!