Hi Cara,
Today I am reviewing the first book in Rebecca Zahabi series The Collarbound.
On the other side of the Shadowpass, rebellion is brewing and refugees have begun to trickle into the city at the edge of the world. Looming high on the cliff is The Nest, a fortress full of mages who offer protection, but also embody everything the rebellion is fighting against: a strict hierarchy based on magic abilities, and the oppression of the Kher community.
When Isha arrives as a refugee, she attempts to fit in amongst the other mages, but her Kher tattoo brands her as an outcast. She can't remember her past or why she has the tattoo. All she knows is that she survived. She doesn't intend to give up now.
Tatters, who wears the golden collar of a slave, knows that this rebellion is different from past skirmishes. He was once one of the rebels, fought beside them, and technically, they still own him. He plans to stay in the shadows, until Isha appears in his tavern. He's never seen a human with a tattoo, and the markings look eerily familiar. Despite his fear of being discovered, Tatters decides to help her.
As the rebellion carves a path of destruction towards the city, The Collarbound follows an unlikely friendship between a man trying to escape his past and a woman trying to uncover hers, until their secrets threaten to tear them apart.
(Synopsis from Goodreads.com)
The Collarbound is an interesting book that opens up a whole new fantasy world.
PLOT: The Collarbound follows two character Tatters and Isha, Tatters is Collorbound and in hiding. Where Isha wants to become a powerful mage but can’t hide with a tattoo cover half her face. As Isha is new to the Nest we learn a lot about the world, politics, the rebels and the world that looks down on you if your not a mage. Both have interesting back story that i can see will impact the next books. One of the aspects that I really enjoyed is learning the different culture and races in the world especially that of the Khers. To me this book is the welcome to the world showing what tips the iceberg and changes their world as they no it.
Characters: I like Tatters he is charming cheeky chap who uses his charm to get away with a lot of things other wouldn’t. There is a lot hidden in his past that we only scratch the surface, the addition of Lai in his life and his ability to mindbrawl makes him an interesting character.
There is more mystery to Isha as she is missing a lot of her memories, I like Isha strength and her willingness to do hardwork to become a better mage. I like when Isha and Tatter are together as they have a great connection.
WRITING STYLE: Zahabi writing style is very details and descriptive, she does really well of building the world and making it interesting without overwhelming the reader with to much information.
THEME: Magic, Politics, Racism, slavery, mystery, flights, Fantasy, corporal punishment
Overall The Collarbound is an interesting book with an amazing world and lots of potential.
My Rating for The Collarbound is 3.8 out of 5.
Thank you to Netgalley and Gollancz for gifting me a copy of The Collarbound for review.
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Thanks for reading,
