Incendiary is the first instalment in the proposed Hollow Crown series and showcases Zoraida Cordova’s prowess in crafting compelling and richly-imagined young adult fantasy fiction. Set against the backdrop of fifteenth-century Spain during the Inquisition era we are introduced to Renata “Ren” Convida, a Robari who has the power to elicit memories from others with merely a touch leaving them a shell of their former selve. As a valid part of the Moria (those who possess magic) she is feared and

this is a very read-worthy story, in the way that most YA fantasy books tend to be. but i am unconvinced that this offers anything new to the genre. its quite tropetastic - a minority group with magical abilities is hunted/persecuted by the royalty in power, one girl has a unique and sought-after ability, a group of rebels seek to bring down the kingdom, the girl works to ruin those who rule from the inside, a prince who has secrets of his own, and a bunch of predictable little twists and turns

Of course the first fantasy I've read in months that's left me desperately needing more , is the one fantasy I have to wait over a year to even get close to getting my hands on book two but THAT ENDING. I just... AHH.

UPDATE 3/18/20After much deliberation, we have decided to cancel the tour. Due to the CDC's recommendation to cancel or postpone events for 8 weeks, we don't want to risk the public safety of any reader. I'm so heartbroken to have to do this, but I hope that you still pre-order the book and share it! The book will still be published April 28th.Love, Zoraida ______UPDATE 3/5/20 I'M GOING ON TOUR! I hope I get to see you at one of the stops._______UPDATE 11/27/19: We have ARCs! If you've like a ch...

Actual Rating: ⭐⭐.5 Wow, I so called that.I think I've gotten tired of the whole "MC is a rebel who goes undercover to help overthrow the evil tyrant on the throne." Not that I hate it or anything, but I've read too many of them—most of them I liked, but this one......eh.🤷‍♀️I kinda hate how we got no new information from what we already knew in the synopsis until over halfway through the book. It pretty much made it hard to get through the beginning. It did start to get good from that point,

RATINGS: 4 STARSIncendiary is set in Inquisition-era Spain where the royal family of Puerto Leones are recklessly determined to kill the magical people called Moria. Renata Convida, a memory thief, was kidnapped by the royals to help them kill her own people. After being free from the royal's cage, she works for the Whispers, a rebel group formed by Moria. When Dez, the leader of her unit gets kidnapped by Prince Castian, Renata has to enter royal palace to save him. Oh, I forgot to mention tha

This is not great but it is still good, original, captivating! I truly cried liked a baby and maturely threw my remote controller against the wall and I cried more because I have no idea how to turn on the TV without it, after getting my rejection from the NetGalley for this book. I looked at the beautiful cover and sniffed more as if I’m looking at the photo of unrequited lover. Nope, it was something more torturing like looking at the cases of selected wines’ photos and price lists when you

I am a shadow. I am a drop of ink. Vengeance in the night. I am a Robari.While this wasn’t the most original of fantasy books- a rebellion plot, it was unique in its own way.Ren is a Robari and part of the Moira people- people who have “magical” abilities, whether this be persuading others emotions, illusions, mindreading or the most rare: the ability to steal memories. The Robari have the ability to steal memories and for this they are feared. Steal too many memories and a person is left to bec...

4.5 stars Incendiary was an action-packed fantasy set in a world inspired by 15th century Spain, reimagining the Inquisition. While it had many of the tropes that are common in YA fantasy such as a main character with rare/ special powers it didn't feel boring or unoriginal to me and managed to make those common tropes exciting. One of my favourite aspects of the book was the magic system. It was heavily based on the senses and the mind which is not something I see often (most magic systems I...

It wasn't that I didn't like this book. I did, for the most part. The problem was that it wasn't anything new. It was a little troupe heavy. There. Said it. This book was one massive troupe! I'm a little sick of the whole undercover rebel infiltration the royals thing at this point. I even see a love triangle coming in the next book! I read the synopsis for a book before I read it. That's a normal thing. Then why do we not get any more information past the synopsis until halfway through the book...

2.5 starstw: torture; gore While this book had a good premise, the execution of a lot of the elements was lacking. This felt like a second book more than the first book in a series. It felt like it started in the wrong place. There could have been a whole other book before this that laid a foundation, built character motivations, and made relationships more believable. That would have made this story stronger in my opinion. The first 1/3 of this book is very slow, and I almost gave up on it beca...

4.5 stars. Another YA fantasy that I very much enjoyed. It starts with a bang, slows a bit and then really ramps up with an unexpected murder about 10 chapters in, and from there it's pretty nonstop. The story was wonderfully plotted and has lots of great twists and turns that keeps the reader on their toes. The magic system was unique and the MC's power has some wonderful consequences and implications that had me thinking, well after I was done. The relationship between the MC and her "mentor"

“...loosely based on the Spain of the 15th century, reimagining the Inquisition...” Assassin’s Creed anyone?

2.5 stars Extra bonus BookTube Video is up - unboxing OwlCrate's Latest bookbox - plus a mini review of May's books - Incendiary and Witchy. June's Reading Vlog Video is up! Click the link to see where this one ranks (along with all my other June books! Full written review to come, but in the meantime, enjoy the book box pictures! The Written Review “Crooked smiles for crooked hearts.” It came as no surprise when Renata was stolen. She may have been just a child but she was a Robari.One of...

Renata Convida has a special type of magic. The kind that can rip your memories away. She can take a little: your first kiss, your biggest loss, the secret codes of a rebel army… Or she can take it all. Make you a ‘hollow’, nothing more than a shell of who you used to be. Ren is everyone’s nightmare. But now she works for the Whispers, renegades fighting against the persecution of those with magic, the Moria. Not an easy task when it emanates from the highest echelons of society. When her comman...

Loved the beginning and the rest was pretty goodNow I’m effing pissed!! I got my May Owlcrate today and it’s the same damn book as my April FairyLoot (everyone is behind due to covid, which is fine) and that’s two of the same books I’ve gotten from each the past two boxes. This doesn’t happen that I often, but I may have to cancel one or the other after all these years 😕Well my April FairyLoot just got here and while I love the sprayed edges, I like the cover with the girl on it better! Of cours...

Thank you Fantastic Flying Fiction Book Club and NetGalley for a complimentary copy. I voluntarily reviewed this book. All opinions expressed are my own. Incendiary Hollow Crown #1By: Zoraida Córdova REVIEW ☆☆☆☆☆"I thank the goddess every day that the Whispers came for me. Who would I be if I had never left? A monster. A killer."These words, spoken by Renata Convida, are at the heart of Incendiary. Ren is quite special because she is one of the Moria, those possessing magic, and her magic is rar...

Thank you to the publishers for providing me with a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.It took me a while to get into the book because not a lot was going on but the end is so fast paced that I burned through it. There were a lot of twists and while I was able to guess most of them, I stayed entertained. I also thought the magic with the use of memories and how that played out with the story was cool. That being said, I wish that the magic and world had been better explained...

I am a shadow. I am a drop of ink. Vengeance in the night. I am a Robari.Hello and welcome back to one of my reviews.It hasn't been a long since the last time I wrote a review, but I have to say for me this is a very different moment, because for the first time in a very very long time, I went speechless and awestruck after I finished it. First of all, when I discovered this book a few months ago (it wasn't still published), I was astonished by the cover of the book. Can we please talk about the...