Of ash and shadow
Synopsis
Mys is twenty years old and has a strange mark on her wrist, which she can't remember. She's a skilled thief, but in the slums of Eidinn, the corrupt capital of Calydon, she must fight every day to survive. It's even harder when you're one of the ashlings, people with supernatural abilities who have been hunted and killed for centuries for their magic, which is then sold on the black market to the highest bidders among the powerful and wealthy. That is, to the nobles of the ten Scions families, those who rule Calydon from the impregnable Council Hall and their wealth. But Mys is more than just a tormented soul lost among the masses struggling to survive, and when her powers attract the attention of a notorious criminal boss, her only chance for salvation seems to be an unlikely alliance with Liam, a dandy who tries to escape his demons by fighting in clandestine wrestling matches. It's a hard life, full of escapes, suspicions, and betrayals: everyone against everyone else, but between the two of them there's something that goes beyond that hostile reality, something that dates back to a distant past and projects them, perhaps, into a future yet to be written.
Reviews
Marco Bertaina
De Amicis High School of Cuneo, Class 2A
I didn't enjoy the book very much. I think the story is very confusing. Although the characters are described realistically at the beginning, as the book progresses, the descriptions become excessive and unnecessary. The author focuses on secondary people and events, which are of little use to the story's development. Only towards the end does the reader's attention catch hold, and the narrative builds suspense and tension.
Chiara Cometto
De Amicis High School of Cuneo, Class 3G
I found the narrative very engaging and flowing, although I couldn't truly identify with the protagonist. The story, however, really struck me because, although it seems to depict a fantastical world far removed from our own, it has something very realistic about it. The reality it depicts is similar to our own in its cruelty, poverty, division and social difference, abuse of power, and much more. This is precisely why I enjoyed reading this novel, seeing between the lines the choice not to depict a world of roses but rather a harsh and ruthless life, a struggle for survival.
Gaia Pascucci
De Amicis High School of Cuneo, Class 2A
I quite enjoyed the book. The first half is fairly easy to read, but there are some overly long descriptions that slow down the story. I also didn't particularly enjoy the presence of some characters; I found them superfluous. The second half, however, is more intriguing: I was struck by the twists and turns, especially those concerning Liam's history and past.
The language is quite simple, but I would add a glossary at the beginning to clarify all the fantasy vocabulary.
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