“One has to have guts, y’know, to look oneself straight in the peepers, see oneself as one really is, plunge into one’s own reflection. Those who close their eyes, those who lie to themselves, those who see themselves as better than they are, they could never do it.”
HOW GOOD WAS IT?
8/10
BASICALLY…
Ophelia is an introvert with two magical gifts: the ability to read any object’s past, and the ability to travel through mirrors. Her world is turned upside down when her family engage her to Thorn, the rigid and taciturn Treasurer of the Pole. His clan and other rival families live on what they call the Citaceleste – a fortress structure floating in the middle of the sky.
Now, I know you’re all thinking of another guy with “Thorn” in his name. But allow me to burst your bubble – this Thorn is nothing like Mr. Thornton of North and South, even though their characters might have the same foundation. In fact, this guy would probably swallow Mr. Thornton alive.
Anyway, at the Citaleste, Ophelia finds herself entangled with the oddest people and the most unexpected events a reserved individual like her would want to avoid at all costs. Trapped among dangerous political plots, she has to learn whom to trust and whom to steer clear from.
THE GOOD THINGS ABOUT THIS BOOK
The world-building of this story is extremely intricate and original. The magical elements, the odd rules and locations, characters’ abilities, the different clans and their magic – all are woven skillfully into the narrative, and you learn about the Citaceleste gradually through Ophelia’s eyes as you follow her story.
In general: these characters live on gigantic air fortresses called Arks. Some of them can cast weather illusions which change according to their moods; some can attack others with their minds. There are rooms that change themselves around and sandglasses that take people to… places, etc. Think about all the weird things in Howl’s Moving Castle, and you have a rough idea.
A lovable protagonist. If the world-building of this book reminds me of a Ghibli film, then Ophelia – its female lead – certainly has a Ghibli vibe to her personality. She’s strong, but not violent; compassionate, but not stupid. Most importantly, she’s flawed and consistent – yes, these might sound like basic things the main character in any book should have; but trust me, a female lead whose flaws are treated like flaws is not something you see that often in YA fantasy books.
She’s funny too. In a world of blackmail, murderous courtiers, indifferent immortals, and ruthless laws, a narrator with a sense of humor is the best thing you could ask for. Similar to the way Harry observes the world in Harry Potter, Ophelia’s silly yet acute conclusions she draws from her observations can crack you up several times throughout the book.
Thorn and Ophelia’s relationship – To be honest, I had no idea this relationship was going to be explored at all and that Thorn was only a guy Ophelia was going to drop as soon as she started fighting back and escaped her arranged marriage. The main reason for my assumption is that their scenes only occupy about 5% of the book. Besides, Thorn is downright rude and coarse and not at all the conventional image of a male lead you usually see in a YA book. And I applause the writing for being extremely efficient in making me hate Thorn.
Still, their dynamic draws you in from their first encounter, and as you read further, their defined personalities create a one-of-a-kind chemistry whenever they share a scene. He’s impossibly tall, she’s tiny; he’s colder than a block of ice, she’s full of questions; he’s full-time alert with his every movement, she can’t go through a day without accidentally kicking something over. He’s the definition of orderly, she literally can make objects fly everywhere according to her moods.
Then, at one point…
“I think I’m starting to get used to you.” (Thorn to Ophelia, The Treasury)
Soooo… yes, it looks like this guy will probably stick around for a while.
Further in, reading about Thorn and Ophelia getting to know each other is pretty much the same as watching a turtle carrying a snail to a destination. But because each of their characters gets the appropriate time to be fleshed out and develop, their relationship is all the more convincing.
The main characters are not insanely beautiful – Don’t get me wrong, I have nothing against beautiful characters. In fact, several characters in this story are described as breathtakingly beautiful. However, with the overwhelming number of books in which the male and female leads are as beautiful as sparkling vampires nowadays, Ophelia’s description of Thorn – her future husband – in the beginning is both hilarious and relatable.
Thorn wasn’t a bear, even if he seemed like one.
This man has the stature of a giant. The top of his head was pressed agaisnt the ceiling of the carriage, forcing him to bend his neck.
Pale eyes, sharp nose, light hair, scar across temple, the whole profile was full of disdain.
She doesn’t like the guy, and you easily believe her.
It’s no use saying that a particular guy is cold, detestable, and rude if the female lead keeps focusing on his perfectly conditioned hair, his dreamy eyes, and his superman’s muscles. So, let’s be glad that’s not the case here.
Following Christelle Dabos’ descriptions, Ophelia and Thorn’s outlooks can be clearly pictured in the readers’ mind, but their personalities and development ultimately play a major role in how they look.
WHAT COULD HAVE BEEN BETTER
The pacing – This book is rather slow in the middle. The book as a whole feels more like a set up for the next instalment with many details which won’t get mentioned again by the end. As a standalone, it leaves you with many unanswered questions; but as the first book of a series, it certainly does a good job in making you eager for the next one.