Realm Breaker: Victoria Aveyard

We meet again!

It feels like it was ages ago when I first picked up Red Queen and decided that I would give it a try. I had no idea that I would end up loving the entire series as much as I did, depending on the characters and their survival and being thoroughly invested in every single thing that happened throughout. So of course, you know I was so excited when Aveyard announced that she was coming out with a new fantasy series. And with that, here we go :)

Brief Synopsis:

Ahh, here we are again. We are delving into a world that Victoria Aveyard created, full of battle, fantasy and high-stakes romance. Corayne an-Amarat knows her worth, and just wants a chance to be able to prove it. However, her mother Meliz, who is a highly respected and feared pirate of the seas, will not give her a chance to show it. What neither Corayne or her mother realize, though, is that Corayne’s greatness is going to shine whether the two of them will it or not. Because it’s something that was willed already.

A war has begun that is more than any of the lives that exist within Allward could have prepared for. A Spindle was opened once more and the beings that are coming out of it are so ghastly and difficult to overcome that it seems impossible. Andry Trelland knows this firsthand, having been on-scene for the first battle of this upcoming fight, watching so many that he had respected for many years falling at the hands of these awful creatures.

One that fell was the twin of the man that wants this battle to come about; Cortael. Cortael fathered Corayne, and his Spindlebood runs in her veins. This makes her paramount to the upcoming war, and the Elder Domacridhan races toward her with the help of an assassin to ensure that she knows this to be true.

Though Corayne is not entirely sure that she believes Dom and this race against time and evil, she recognizes this for what it is at its base: her way out of her small coastal town. She’s tired of living under her mom’s shadow, doing everything that she asks and getting, well, not much in return. She’s more than ready to show the world what she’s capable of, and this Elder is offering her just that opportunity.

Corayne sets out with Dom and the assassin Sorasa to find the other piece of the puzzle that is needed, which is Cortael’s Spindleblade. The blade was taken, upon Dom’s urging, by Andry before he fled the gruesome scene of death at the opening of the Spindle. He didn’t tell his queen that, choosing to keep this secret and hide the blade. Once he realizes his queen is ready to keep the opening of the Spindle secret to save her own reputation, Andry is done holding back.

Traversing the land and sea, Corayne, Sorasa and Dom make it to Andry and the castle, and they plead the young queen to see the truth of the matter and assist them. They have no idea that a major betrayal is waiting for them within the walls of the castle, and when the four of them barely make it out with their lives, they realize that they’re more on their own with this fight than they had imagined. They come upon a witch, Valtik, who joins their ranks, though they aren’t sure whether or not they entirely trust her.

Meanwhile, Erida (Andry’s former queen) has officially pledged her alliance to the other side, marrying Cortael’s twin and Corayne’s uncle, Taristan. She sees it as the way out of having to marry someone that would just take from her, or demean her and her reign. I guess she doesn’t really care that the dude is evil personified, but you know. To each their own.

Valtik tells Corayne & co. that they’re going to need seven to accomplish what they need (is seven just a general magical number or is my Harry Potter flashback to the significance of seven justified?) and so, largely thanks to the assassin’s help, they find two more to add to their ranks, though it isn’t easy. Brawls, bets, and bad lucky ensue. And yes, I’m proud of myself for that line. However, the other side is also busy at work. Taristan and Erida work to open yet another Spindle and seriously, I can’t believe that I once thought that Erida could be a good person? I need full clown makeup. Though there’s this weird undeniable draw into Taristan and Erida’s chemistry. There’s probably a therapist out there that could make a lot of money off of me.

While they draw nearer to one of the Spindle’s (the good guys) hopefully getting to a point that they can close it and reverse at least some of the damage that Taristan wrought, they get entangled in what they believe to be another betrayal.

Of course, getting to the Spindle and closing it isn’t going to be that easy. When they finally reach their destination, they find it swarmed with monsters that are blood-thirsty and soldiers that are ready to kill. Corayne has to commit acts that she knows she wasn’t ready for, but she’s willing to do everything that she can to close this Spindle and protect those that have joined her on this journey and that they have been able to collect along the way.

With one Spindle finally closed, they know that they have a long road ahead of them before they can defeat Taristan and Erida. The journey has truly just begun.

My Rating:

9/10. I’ve heard that some people haven’t been crazy about the starting of Aveyard’s second fantasy series. I don’t know if they’re comparing it to Red Queen a lot, or what? But I very much enjoyed it and thought that there were some great scenes.

Favorite Quote(s):

“Better men and women than me died for nothing, it’s only fair I do the same.”

“She wanted to slap him away. She wanted to pull him closer, the heat of his fingers a threat and a promise.”

“It doesn’t matter what you call the thing ripping you apart. It will still devour you if given the chance.”

“It was a song she knew well, but she winced every time it was sung.”

A book I read with similar vibes:

I kept getting really strong Remnant Chronicles vibes from this one. Also, a little bit of Graceling, but not quite as strong. Definitely some great fantasy.

Check out my Goodreads (Traci Bishop) to see what I’m currently reading and to see a good chunk of the books I have already read. My Instagram can be found on the home page and I will share whenever a new post is up as well!

Until next time <3