My Rating ~ Five stars

5-gold-stars

RELEASE DATE: 9 October 2018

Publisher: Abrams Kids

Format: E-ARC

Source: Received from Abrams Kids via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

Blurb

In the city of Eldra, people are ruled by ancient prophecies. For centuries, the high council has stayed in power by virtue of the prophecies of the elder seers. After the last infallible prophecy came to pass, growing unrest led to murders and an eventual rebellion that raged for more than a decade.

In the present day, Cassa, the orphaned daughter of rebels, is determined to fight back against the high council, which governs Eldra from behind the walls of the citadel. Her only allies are no-nonsense Alys, easygoing Evander, and perpetually underestimated Newt, and Cassa struggles to come to terms with the legacy of rebellion her dead parents have left her — and the fear that she may be inadequate to shoulder the burden. But by the time Cassa and her friends uncover the mystery of the final infallible prophecy, it may be too late to save the city — or themselves.

Review

Many thanks to Abrams Kids for providing me with this E-Arc of Beneath the Citadel in exchange for an honest review.

Beneath the Citadel follows a group of teens, who all have reason to hate the council ruling over their home, Eldra. When one of their group betrays them to the council, by reporting their planned infiltration, they must try to escape in the tunnels under the citadel. What they find there will make them question who is telling the truth and whether they should succumb to the infallible prophecy they’ve been told.

Political unrest and intrigue are not usually subjects that interest me, and I often find books centred around those themes quite boring. That was not at all the case with Beneath the Citadel! This book was very character driven, in fact each chapter is dedicated to how the particular people in the story met and important memories between them. And the characters were fantastic. With a crew that put me in mind of The Dregs in the Six of Crows duology, each character was complex and interesting. I think Evander and Newt are two of my new favourite characters. The magic system in the book was really interesting too. Each of the characters had a different ability, and although some of the magic was a major plot point in the book, it didn’t overtake the story or become confusing.

Beneath the Citadel was fast paced and the action never stopped. For quite a long book, I read it fairly quickly because I couldn’t put it down. There were some really great twists and the ending still has me reeling!

Also, the cover, seriously look at that COVER. I immediately ordered the hardback edition after I finished the e-ARC, just because I need it on my shelves.

Beneath the Citadel pic by bookbookowl