📕 Title: Blood of Silver
✏️ Author: Allie Nguyen
📖 Genre: YA Fantasy
⭐ Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Seeking answers about her mother’s past leads a teen to a magical realm where she must learn to wield a rare magic to keep ravenous monsters at bay.

Linh’s mother was just buried this morning. At the funeral, Linh is visited by a strange boy who hints at secrets to her mother’s past. Desperate to learn more, Linh is thrust into another world – Ebrirene, a realm governed by ancient magics – where the mysterious boy, Elior, happens to be Crown Prince.

Here, Linh learns that the kingdom is under attack by vicious demons who threaten to break free from a portal her mother sealed years ago, and the Crown believes Linh possesses the power to seal it once more. But not everyone in Ebrirene wishes Linh well. Someone enters Linh in a deadly Tournament against her will, and a mysterious Captain, leader of the mage hunters, is determined to seek her out. Now Linh must fight for her own survival or surrender to the monsters that might be closer to her than she thinks.

REVIEW

Thank you Simon & Schuster Children’s UK for the digital copy of Blood of Silver by Allie Nguyen!

This is a young adult fantasy written mainly in first person point of view from Linh’s perspective, with some third person chapters from other characters.

I loved the writing and felt drawn into the story immediately. Ebrirene feels like a truly magical world, from the awesome elemental and space magic to talking plants and unique creatures, but it’s also dangerous and scary. The royal family is full of secrets, and even while Linh is initially ambivalent about her mother’s past, as a reader I was deeply intrigued. There is plenty of political intrigue and commentary on class divides and privilege.

The story felt well paced and exciting, especially with the tournament. While there are humorous moments throughout the story it also gets pretty dark at times, with some grotesque imagery and moments of nightmarish horror.

I loved the slow burn relationship between Linh and Elior, and how they are very black cat/golden retriever coded! I did see it described as “rivals to lovers” and I guess that’s true in the sense that they are from rival Houses, but less so in other ways; they never really have opportunity to be competitive against each other and they mostly get along well from the beginning. The initial stage of their relationship felt more like reluctant friends or allies, especially given the forced proximity aspect. Regardless, I enjoyed their relationship arc and I am really hoping for a sequel! I also loved the supporting characters, especially Linh’s friends and her mentor.

I read this over several days, mostly while on my morning treadmill exercise, and got so immersed in the story at one point that I accidentally walked beyond my mile goal without even realizing it! To say less, I really loved this book.