***I received a free e-ARC of this book through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review***
DANCE OF THIEVES
by Mary E. Pearson
Release Date: August 7th, 2018
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy
Publisher: Henry Holt & Company
Oh man, returning to bookish world of The Remnant Chronicles made my heart soar! But was this start to a new series as great as The Kiss of Deception? Sadly, I have to say that Dance of Thieves did not live up to the standard TKoD set. I really enjoyed the book overall, so I wouldn’t say it was a disappointment, but it was a letdown in certain aspects.
This book follows the perspectives of two characters, Kazi and Jase. Kazi is one of the Queen of Venda’s Rahtan (think elite guards/soldiers). She and a few other Rahtan are sent to Hell’s Mouth to investigate transgressions occurring with a new Vendan settlement and to follow up on rumors of a wanted war criminal the Queen is determined to bring to justice. Jase is the new leader of the Ballenger Empire, an illegal dynasty that includes Tor’s Watch, Hell’s Mouth, and the largest trading arena. With all new appointments of leaders, power struggles follow in its wake, and Jase is struggling to maintain an image of security and stability to his power hungry cousins. As Kazi and Jase are forced together, they find themselves simultaneously growing closer and constantly dancing around one another as they tackle a multitude of problems and their growing feelings for one another.
First of all, I loved all the nods to and the special appearances from the original cast of characters of The Remnant Chronicles (DoT takes place 6 years later). Dance of Thieves has its own original cast of characters, so you technically don’t have to have read the original trilogy (though I would strongly recommend doing so because otherwise you’ll miss out on a lot of great little details). The original characters are now on the sidelines, but it was still great to see them and where they ended up.
Another great aspect of this book was the cast of characters. Though the exposition that shed light on their characters could have been toned down, Mary E. Pearson did a great job of fleshing out her characters and giving them complexity & backstories, not just for both the protagonists, but for the side characters too. She also did a great job of putting them in interesting situations that challenged them. I was almost never bored as I swiped through the pages on my phone. I would have to say that my favorite character was for sure Kazi. I loved her hardcore exterior, supreme thieving skills, and inner kindness that radiated out in the smallest of moments.
The final detail that I adored, but I think is definitely worth mentioning, is the subtle magic woven into the background; the Gift. I loved how despite the exposure we see to this language (as it’s described as in this world) in the original trilogy, Kazi experience showcases the dimensions and uniqueness of the Gift. How Kazi interacts and sees the Gift is differently from how the original characters did, and I loved that Pearson didn’t just cut & paste this quality over to Kazi. Like Lia, Kazi is a badass, but she’s a badass in a different way and fully her own character.
Now despite enjoying this book, my biggest complaint with Dance of Thieves is the FRICKING INSTA-LOVE. This book could have easily been a 4.5 or even 5 stars, but the insta-love ruined it. Insta-love is my most hated trope and biggest pet peeve. It’s so unrealistic, especially for two characters at odds with one another, which Kazi and Jase definitely were. Everything about the romance was rushed, and it made the writing in these instances seem cheap. The characters literally meet at 9% (which by itself already felt a bit quick) and then by 22% they were already kissing! Literally, a week had only gone by in the storyline! And this was quickly followed up by the stirrings of strong emotions and the protagonists questioning their feelings for one another. And not only was that annoying, but the romance felt rushed in order to make the rest of the plot convenient. Aaaaah, I was so aggravated and disappointed by this aspect.
The final thing that irked me was the ending of this book. It wrapped up too nicely, like happily ever after with a bow. But of course, there’s going to be a sequel, so the author sneakily slipped in a short chapter in the end, turning the sickeningly sweet ending into a cliffhanger! In regards to the happily ever after bit, I feel like Mary E. Pearson’s weakness is writing endings. I had the exact same issue with the ending of The Remnant Chronicles; she does a great job of building up tension only to quickly cut it off with an anticlimactic and easy ending. Yes, the vague cliffhanger will lead into the sequel, but I feel like at this point there should still be more loose ends.
Overall, I enjoyed this book a lot, but the insta-love hampered the quality of this book, bringing it just short of the standard that the original trilogy set for it. If you enjoyed The Remnant Chronicles, definitely pick this book up and give it a try, but if you haven’t read them, I would recommend reading them first, for both a better understanding of the side characters and to prevent spoilers should you later decide to read the trilogy. Not to mention, I find Lia and The Remnant Chronicles to be more worthy of praise. 😁
Are You My Book? 