REVIEW: Imber

I received a copy of this book for free from the author in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Imber (Thanatos Trilogy #1) by Tyffany Hackett

Page Count: 422 pages

Release Date: June 12, 2018

My Rating: 5/5 Stars

Goodreads Synopsis:

The locks are failing. The keys are calling. The Titans are waking. Crowned before her time, nineteen-year-old Natylia is thrust into an unpleasant reality—her people don’t want her, her family doesn’t need her and, despite her best efforts, she can’t seem to shake an incorrigible suitor. But when rumors begin to swirl throughout her kingdom the young queen shifts her focus and realizes that the world she loves could be destroyed in an instant. An ancient enemy, long thought gone, is trying to return. Forgotten legends have resurfaced, stories that tell of three scepters: the keys to unleashing these foul beings. Across Araenna the hunt rages for this trio of formidable power—to command the keys is to hold the power of mortal gods. Aided by her snarky elven bodyguard, an unassuming blacksmith, and a clever nature witch, Natylia races to correct the mistakes of the past… before they can destroy her people’s future.

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My Review:

I am lucky enough to be in a writing group (shoutout to my #LitHappens ladies!) with the author of Imber, Tyffany! A few of our group had beta read for her, but I hadn't, so I had the pleasure of reading Imber once it was in actual book form! And I certainly was not disappointed!

I was so excited for Imber because I love a good fantasy (who doesn't!?) and a journey/quest storyline, and OH MY does Imber deliver.

It's a wonderful debut and such a strong start to the Thanatos series. The writing flows really well and kept up a good pace throughout, making equal time for action but also for descriptions of the land and the worldbuilding! The worldbuilding was so well done; it is interesting and mysterious. The story hinges around the mythology of the world so it's obviously necessary that it be fleshed out and fully detailed: it certainly was, and it never felt like a dump of information. Now: the characters! The characters were probably my favorite part of this book. They're so believable and overwhelmingly likable. Natylia, the main character, is smart and capable while still being sometimes unsure. It made for an incredibly "real" character. The supporting cast was also very strong, with complex emotions and relationships to each other. There is also one of the purest, most adorable romances I've ever read!

I would've loved to see more of Meryn, a supporting character who is a sincere, clever nature witch, but hopefully she'll be in book two even more! And while there are a few typos and grammatical errors, they are far and few between and don't impact readability of enjoyment at all! All in all, Imber is great fantasy read and I can't wait for the second book to come out!