CBR16 Bingo: Rage – Roz and her friends rage against the machine, trying to make a change in the very workings of their city-state.
In a city-state where there is a sharp class divide between those blessed by the saints and those without magic, ex-lovers Roz and Damian must work together to uncover the identity of a ritual murderer.
I don’t read as much fantasy as I used to nowadays – certainly I don’t read much YA fantasy anymore, especially from authors I am unfamiliar with. But I enjoy a good mysterious dark fantasy, and I was intrigued by the inclusion of a second chance romance, which would undoubtedly add a great deal of tension.
There’s plenty to keep Roz and Damian apart, but they are drawn to in a convincing manner and I understood and appreciated the obstacles and differences between them that needed to be surmounted before they could get together. I also enjoyed how the two lead characters were drawn out, with plenty of realistic fears and flaws that are acknowledged and make an impact on the story.
However, I did think the world-building was haphazard – we learn a lot about how things are but not why, which is frustrating in a book that has a lot going on. Perhaps some of it will be answered in the sequel, but in the meanwhile we get left with a lot of questions and hints at things that may be revealed in the future, but not a lot at the current moment. I also thought the ending became somewhat rushed, especially as the characters accept a lot of long-coming change without much reaction. It left me unsatisfied.
Disclaimer: I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley. This is my honest and voluntary review.