Kat Ross

City of Wolves (Nightmarked, #2) ♦ Kat Ross | Review

After I was already convinced by the first volume of the Nightmarked series, Kat Ross has upped the ante with City of Wolves.

The series of Nightmarked is flawlessly continued in City of Wolves. The story’s suspense keeps increasing by every single chapter. Also, the pace won’t slow down nor will the thrill lessen even when you reach peak scenes. There has already been a lot of activity in the first volume, and I couldn’t imagine that there was still that much more to come.



City of Wolves ♦ Kat Ross

Opinion

City of Wolves, the second book in Kat Ross‚ Nightmarked series, is an exhilarating adventure. As the three main characters are dispersed over the fictional realm of the Via Sancta, there is plenty of action right away. The inexplicable disappearances of multiple youngsters from the town of Kvengard are being looked into by the story’s hero, Alexei, who is both a soldier and a priest.

After surviving an attack by the pseudo religious group of the Black Sun, Kasia, the wicked cartomancer, is sailing toward Nantwich on a ship. While the night mage, Malach, is in Bal Kirith falling more and more for Nikola, an unmarked charwoman.

And as a new evil was on the rise and threatened the whole humanity, the vanished children, Alexei was looking for, seemed to hold the key to everyone’s redemption. All of these contradictory threads were skillfully woven together into an intriguing story. Kat Ross really did an amazing job with the sequel.

The characters were still developing throughout the book, and occasionally they even caught me off guard! Also, the incredible variety of personalities and trait was refreshing and entertaining. The elicit waves of emotion they went through made me both laugh and sometimes shed a tear. It was also tremendously energizing to see the growth of the plot into areas and characters.

Conclusion

★★★★★

City of Wolves does contain a variety of points of view, which aids in expanding the overall narrative as the individuals strive to figure out exactly what role they play as all these events develop. Due to the numerous turns and surprises, I could hardly stay away from this book.


I received an advance review copy for free at BookSirens, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.


This review was first published at The Art of Reading.… (mere)

City of Dawn (Nightmarked, #4) ♦ Kat Ross | Review

I am honored to have received and read this fourth and final volume in the Nightmarked series as an ARC.

And damn, Kat Ross did it again and created another deliciously twisty and unexpected ending to one of her amazingly detailed worlds.



City of Dawn ♦ Kat Ross

Opinion

City of Dawn was, after I already read the first three volumes of this series, one of my most anticipated books for this year. The final installment City of Dawn did not disappoint but totally captivated me! I cherished each and every chapter and plot twist as each character was molded into a specific role for the ultimate showdown. The way Kat Ross managed to cram in so many narratives while maintaining a tempo that felt urgent without being forced or undermined really astounded me. Everyone and everything is covered, and we learn a lot about the ley, the characters, and the lore.

With how everything turned out in the end, I'm still in awe. Ross issued a lot of answers to questions which built up during the series, and it all made so much sense in the end. The characters were rich and detailed and their stories heartfelt and intriguing. Without getting too deep into the plot as a whole and trying to avoid spoilers as good as I can, I can assure you, that you'll be cheering for all of our heroes and villains!

While Balaur carries out his scheme to become immortal and manipulate the world to his desires, everyone else is scattered all over the continent. The main hazard to Malach and Alexi as they attempt to return to civilization in order to contact the others while magically stranded in the desert is their animosity toward one another. Following a lead to Balaur, Kasia, Nikola, and a group of priests, magicians, and witches travel south and find more than they bargained for. Before their involvement further intensifies Balaur, Mikail, Lazarus, and Morvana are holding the North and seeking to reach an agreement with the Mages. As they all struggle toward a collective goal, they start to understand that these occurrences were foreseen a long time ago and that everyone, notably Kasia and Malach, has a crucial duty to fulfill.

Conclusion

If you're in the mood for an epic action-packed high fantasy read that comes with magical and dystopian elements, then I can not only recommend City of Dawn, but the entire Nightmarked series. It was such a pleasure to follow each character.


I received an advance review copy for free from BookSirens, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.


This review was first published at The Art of Reading.… (mere)

City of Storms (Nightmarked, #1) ♦ Kat Ross | Review

A tarot reader who is hiding a sinister secret. A priest whose damaged heart prevents him from falling asleep. A fallen angel determined to destroy them both.
City of Storms by Kat Ross captured me whole.

When I first started reading City of Storms, I had some hiccups with the story. Because there was a lot of information presented initially that was confusing. But after reading a few pages, and with the aid of the glossary, a mystical world brimming with magic became clear to me.



Opinion

The setting is incredibly immersive and dark, and the characters are quite well-developed and very interesting. Kat Ross does a brilliant job of capturing the reader in a world that is both very different from our own and appears to be so very similar to it. Furthermore, her perspective on magic and how everything is interconnected is magnificent.

City of Storms is the first installment of a quadrology called Nightmarked. The story comes around with a lot of unexpected twists, which drew me deeper and deeper into the plot. I was very intrigued by the whole of it. The world building and the three main characters excited me, that I could hardly put my Kindle down.

Fra Alexei Bryce reacts to the Markhounds (special bred dogs) alarm about someone turning insane and Kasia Novak, a cardomancer (tarot reader), who ran for her life because of the mad one. That’s how Ross threw me into the action as the novel begins. Although the rapid-fire introduction of new vocabulary and terms initially makes reading difficult due to the absence of prior context, it was a strong and enthralling beginning. Given that the world building seems to draw extensively from both Latin and the Catholic Church, some knowledge with both would come handy. But as I stated already, the glossary helps a lot as well.

The pace of the story was perfect. I never felt like I had to rush through the pages to keep up. Also, there weren’t any boring sections that contained too many explanations or described unimportant dialogues and actions.
City of Storms is really well written, and I didn’t even lose touch with the characters. They did take a little time before I took a liking to them, including the antihero.

Conclusion

★★★★★

I really did enjoy reading City of Storms, and I am really excited to dive right into the next installment. I can’t really say why I am excited, because I am not willing to leave any spoilers. But I can recommend this book for readers who enjoy Dark Fantasy paired with Mystery, Magic and Paranormal.

I received an advance review copy for free at BookSirens, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.


This review was first published at The Art of Reading.… (mere)

A Thrilling Ride Through a Fantastical World – 4 Stars!

A captivating and inventive story, Savage Skies by Kat Ross takes readers to an intriguing world full of magic, intrigue, and adventure. The book has a lot of positive qualities, but a few minor flaws keep me from giving it a perfect rating.



Savage Skies ♦ Kat Ross

Opinion

Above all else, the entire book showcases Ross’s talent for narrative. The world-building is fascinating and detailed, providing a rich and realistic experience. It is very amazing how well the author was able to construct a distinct world with its own set of magical and social norms. With their distinct motivations and complexities, the characters are well-developed, and the action-packed plot is sure to keep you interested all the way through.

The tale moves along at a generally good pace, striking a nice mix of tension and character growth. I couldn’t stop turning the pages in anticipation of the next development in Ross’s excellent job of holding the reader’s interest.

But the reason Savage Skies only received four stars instead of five is that the plot occasionally appeared a little confusing. Though fascinating, the world’s intricacy and the numerous narratives occasionally made it difficult to keep track of everything. It would have been nice to have had a little more clarity in several places.

The characters are interesting, but I thought some of their motives and acts could have been explored more in order to build stronger links between the reader and the characters. I found myself wanting to explore their inner lives even more at times. I guess I have to wait for part two.

Conclusion

To sum it up, Savage Skies is an exciting and inventive piece of fantasy literature that will surely enthrall readers who enjoy the genre. Even with the small issues I pointed out, Kat Ross’s writing abilities are evident, and the book is an incredibly captivating and engaging read. To everyone looking for an exciting adventure through a fascinating realm, I wholeheartedly suggest it. Offering an entertaining escape into a world of magic, mystery, and adventure, it’s a terrific 4-star read.


This review was first published at The Art of Reading.… (mere)