Name: The Beholden
ISBN: 9781645660255

Cassandra Rose Clarke

In the latest novel by critically acclaimed author Cassandra Rose Clarke, two noblewomen and the pirate who once accompanied them to seek a bargain with a goddess find themselves at the center of a conflict between the immortal being Decay and the Emperor himself, as the goddess calls on them to repay their debt by seeking out this elusive god, before the world crumbles around them all.

The Beholden

HanaKyle Moranz

Sometimes chaotic world building, somewhat frustrating storyline for some reason I cannot identify. But I read it!

vania vela

“I’m tired of being evil,”Kjari said, before Ico could lash out again. “Tired of being the monster human children fear before they go to bed. River has no idea what it is to fill the role I fill.”

The Beholden tells the story of Izara and Celestia, two sister who summon the Lady of the Seraphine and demands a favor. But a favor from the river goddess always comes at a cost. Years later, rumors of war and disease are spreading, and the Lady of the Seraphine is back to collect her due; together, they must repay their debt to the Lady—embarking on a mission that will put them on a collision course with a god even more powerful than her.

The cover of this book is just beautiful. From the colors to the drawings, all the elements combine perfectly. It fascinated me from the moment I saw it for the first time. 

The characters are unique in their own way. I really liked the way each of them brings something important to the plot. The sister relationship between Izara and Celestia is very real. They can get angry with each other and disagree on certain issues, but they always have unconditional love for each other. 

The elements of magic seemed incredible to me. The concept of gods and diseases was very creative in my opinion. The combination of magic with the characters, and how it helps them on their journey is fascinating.

The descriptions are also very detailed and I liked that too much. I was able to imagine each place and setting in a detailed way and that allowed me to read the story more realistically.

It was a book that I enjoyed.It is a plot driven book, so it is a bit more difficult to read if you are used to read character driven books. Still, it is very enjoyable.

I am grateful to NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read this ARC. It is simply wonderful. I hope I can buy a physical copy very soon :)