Thursday 19 February 2015

The Thorn and the Sinking Stone by CJ Dushinski



*Received ARC for an honest review, thank you!

Warring families. Forbidden love. And danger they can't escape.
Daggers. Roses. Cowboys. Boat Men. Survivors of Earth's Last War, four "families" vie to rule the dreary streets of Rain City through violence and blood. Valencia Hara, Princess of the wealthy Black Roses, is raised in warrior ways with sharpened steel. But she is no ordinary Rose. She is cursed-tainted with the ability to see seconds into the future...
To avenge his father's death, Sebastian Leold, of the rival gang Two Daggers, must face off against the Black Princess, he with his dagger, she with her katana sword. Yet a secret from a shared past leaves him unable to kill the beautiful Valencia; nor can she kill him. For they once knew each other beyond their blood feud...and they have more secrets in common then they know.
But in a world filled with vengeance and violence, there can be no room for love.

My review can really be summed up in two words. 'World Building'. The opening scene drew me straight away into a world of blood and death and vengeance. I could actually see each little detail in my mind, throughout the entire book. Rain City is bleak, dark and dreary, without a single hint of sunshine being able to penetrate the cloying grey clouds. But despite this lack of colour, the world was filled with life and the characters really bring this story to a whole other level. The viciousness of their world turned both Valencia and Sebastian into warriors, not just fighters. But despite the brutality of their gangs, neither are killers, and neither are heartless. Their story is very Romeo and Juliet, but these two characters aren't infatuated pre-teens who just discovered the opposite sex. Even if rival gangs and star-crossed lovers aren't your thing, there is still the magical aspect of it! Seriously, katanas, blood, magic, love, betrayal and vengeance are only the surface aspects of this beautifully written new series. I loved every moment and still wish for more. 

Rating: 4/5 


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