Neve March has a closely guarded secret. Despite being
stained and UNLIT, she can still hear the whispers on the
wind. She keeps quiet about her minor magical ability, not
wanting to be potentially forced into a life breeding other
magic users. Instead, she serves as a soldier with the
Nightwatch for Winterborne where she guards against attacks
from the flesh-eating Adlin. However, a beacon catches her
eye one night while she is on duty, and Neve unexpectedly
finds a woman named Saska, a missing witch from one of the
ruling houses. Now Neve finds herself deep in conspiracies,
ruling and nonruling houses, and ancient foes. She'll have
to work with Blacklake Prime Trey Stone if Winterborne and
Blacklake have any hope of surviving.
Neve is an intriguing heroine. I love her spunk, especially
considering she's considered inferior by many of the ruling
class (and some who aren't in the ruling class) because
she's stained. Keri Arthur does a great job at tackling this
difficult societal issue within the context of UNLIT as we
see Neve navigating a world where the color of one's skin
can and does affect how she's treated.
And oh, Trey! Who can't help but love a man with his
history? I don't want to reveal spoilers but readers will
understand clearly why he's such a hero once his past is
revealed. And while we learned many of Trey's secrets in
UNLIT, Lord Kiro also has secrets I want to know more about
as his role within the political structure intrigues me
quite a bit.
I've been a fan of Keri Arthur since her first novel and
UNLIT is yet another stellar novel from this very talented
author. UNLIT is the first book in the Kingdoms of
Earth & Air and oh wow, what an amazing start to
this new series! I love the depth of world building and
character development as I was immediately immersed in this
fantasy world. I'm curious to see what direction Keri Arthur
will take with future books in the series, as each one is
scheduled to be a fantasy standalone set in the same world.
I hope Neve's friends, Ava and April, get their own stories
even as I want to see more of Neve and Trey.
Winterborne has long been a city divided between
those who have magic, and those who do not. Between those
who are free, and those who are not…
Though classified as having no magic, Neve March can hear
the whispers of the wind and sometimes even control her. But
it’s a secret she must hold close if she wishes to continue
as Nightwatch—the soldiers who guard Winterborne against
those who roam the wastelands and feast on human flesh.
But when Neve investigates a faint SOS signal, she not only
unearths a woman close to death, but a plot involving an
ancient enemy long thought dead.
In an effort to expose those behind the plot, Neve goes
undercover amongst Winterborne’s elite—a dangerous step that
could expose her secret and rip away all that she holds dear.
But the trail of treachery leads her from Winterborne’s
golden halls to the heart of the enemy’s hive, and it will
shake her belief of not only who she is, but what she is.