Hand and Talon
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4.8 • 14 Ratings
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- $3.99
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- $3.99
Publisher Description
Steal the bag. Don’t get caught. Repeat. Not the most glorious existence, but Krea likes it just fine.
When Sorin, a cranky old soldier, barges in and decides to take over her life, Krea is less than enthused. Sure, he saved her from a brutal death at the hands of the guards, and he did stop decrepit faerie monsters from eating her. But declaring she isn’t human and dragging her through a cursed forest to the Royal City is going too far.
Now, she is eyeball deep in magic wielding nobles, shapeshifting dragons, assassins and an ancient elf war that could destroy the Empire. Her cloak is too small. Her horse thinks she wants to eat it and her companion resents her very existence.
And then there’s Dane.
Customer Reviews
Solid World Building
This review was first published on Kurt's Frontier.
Synopsis:
Krea is a young thief searching for marks on the streets of Trasdaak. When a theft turns sideways on her, a magic-wielding soldier saves her. This soldier tells her she is a Kyrni, a magical shape-shifting being. He also tells her she is nearing her first change and has to be trained. With that, they set off for the royal city. They happen upon another young thief named Dane, who also is more than just a thief. Their adventures take them through a magical forest. Soon she is embroiled in a magic elf war that threatens to bring down the empire.
Review:
Melonie Purcell has brought together the elements of high fantasy to write an epic adventure. Krea is unaware of her heritage as she prowls the streets of Trasdaak. A bit of filching goes awry, and she finds herself saved by Soran, a caller who recognizes what she is. What follows is an adventure with a reluctant partnership. Krea can’t quite leave her old habits behind. All the while, an ancient enemy dogs their steps. Meanwhile, the empire is preparing for a royal wedding that has the entire population in a tizzy.
The world building in this book is solid. Krea, Soran, and Dane seem less like a team and more like a family. Krea and Dane squabble like siblings but are there for each other, with Soran acting as the tired mentor. The story was fun, the action believable, and the magic made sense. I’m looking forward to Book 2 (Claw and Steel).
Impatiently waiting next installment...hope there is one!
What a fun world and interesting approach. Hope Melonie is planning on continuing this story!