SYNOPSIS

Rue wants to see her sister. She knows the rules say she can’t leave Ghizon, but on the anniversary of her mother’s death, with the help of her newfound friend Bri, she leaves to go to Houston and leave a gift for her sister. After their mother was shot dead, she was forced to leave and go with her absent father to Ghizon, where she was given the gift of magic.

While at home, she sees her sister leave the bus stop to get in the car with a man with a snake tattoo. She’s about to get into a car accident when Bri breaks two other rules, using magic and touching a human. Not only do people around notice that something strange happened, but Patrol from Ghizon come to bring her back and reprimand her. The punishment being the person she touched, her sister, must be killed. Rue will do anything to protect her sister.

What could possibly happen?

RECAP AND REVIEW

This is the first book in a series. It’s a contemporary, fantasy, sci fi book that brings magic into the real world.

Rue lives in Houston and the entire block is her community, practically family. They were all getting by, helping each other the best way they could while staying afloat themselves. She barely had time to process seeing her mother’s body, before she left the next day to go Ghizon leaving everyone she cared for behind.

Rue is the only brown skinned, half human in Ghizon, which made her stand out. She did what she could not to dwell on microagressions. Something about their ideologies didn’t sit right with her and she comes to find out why as the story progresses.

This book got me out of a reading slump. I have some unanswered questions about the plot, but they don’t take away from how the story made me feel. At the end of the day, I appreciate the story the author was telling. Also, I haven’t read the second book yet, so maybe my questions are answered there.

OVERALL

Overall, I give this book a 4 out of 5 stars. I read it in two or three days, which is quickly for me since I’m a mood reader and I’m usually reading multiple books at once. If you like strong female black leads and characters that’ll fight for their families, this book is for you. I’ll definitely read the second!